CHAPTER LI

Torquato Tasso, a subject of mystery and contradiction 308

Count Alberti's recent impositions 311

Dr. Andrea Verga's theory of his insanity 312

Is sufficient justification of the Duke of Ferrara 313

1556. Torquato's arrival at Pesaro 313

His early devotion to the muses 314

1565. His first visit to Ferrara 314

His compliments to the family of Urbino in the Rinaldo 315

His devotion to Princess Lucrezia d'Este, afterwards Duchess of Urbino 316

1571. His sonnet to her, and canzone on her marriage 318

1573. His _Aminta_ performed at Pesaro 318

1574. His dangerous intercourse with her at Urbania 319

" She is separated from the Duke and returns to Ferrara 320

1575. Tasso at Florence,--his portrait 321

1576. Symptoms of mental disease 321

1577. Outbreak of insanity 321

1578. He seeks shelter at Pesaro from imaginary wrongs 321

" His canzone to the Duke 321

His long letter to him 323

1579. He is shut up in the hospital of Sta. Anna at Ferrara for seven years 326

1587-1594. His subsequent wanderings 326

Are closed at Rome 327

1595. Apr. 25. His farewell letter and death at S. Onofrio 327

Retrospect of his life 328

His rivalry with Ariosto 329

His the latest of Italy's great names 330

1537-1611. Battista Guarini of Ferrara 331

1602-1604. Invited to Urbino 332