Fiesole. with every vegetable, either for ornament or use, which the most diligent research could supply(a). But Fiesole seems to have been the general resort of his literary friends, to many of whom he allotted habitations in the neighbourhood, during the amenity of the summer months. Of these Politiano and Pico were the most constant, and perhaps the most welcome guests. Landino, Scala, and Ficino, were also frequent in their visits, and Crinitus, the pupil of Politiano, and Marullus, his rival in letters and in love, were occasionally admitted to this select society (b). 66 Superior perhaps" says Voltaire (substituting however Lascar, and Chalcondyles, for Scala and Crinitus) "to that "of the boasted sages of Greece." Of the beauties of this place, and of the friendly intercourse that subsisted among these eminent men, Politiano, in a letter to Ficino, gives us some (a) of these a very particular account is given by Alessandro Braccio in a Latin poem addressed to Bernardo Bembo, and preserved in the Laurentian library. Plut. lxxxxi. sup. cod. 41. The history of the culture and introduction of useful and esculent plants is not uninteresting, and I shall therefore give this poetical description of the garden of Lorenzo in the Appendix No. LXIII. (b) Petrus Crinitus (or Piero de' Ricci) thus addresses Marullus. Nuper Fasuleis (ut soleo) jugis, Qua noster Medices pieridum Parens Laurens Camœnarum decus. * some idea(a)." When you are incommoded" says he, 66 you' Besides his places of residence before noticed, Lorenzo had large possessions in different parts of Tuscany. His house Other domains. at Caffagiolo, near the village of that name among the romantic scenes of the Appenines, had been the favourite residence of his grandfather Cosmo; who on being asked why he (a) Pol. Ep. Lib. x. Ep. 14. he preferred this place to his more convenient habitation at Fiesole, is said to have assigned as a reason, that Caffagiolo seemed pleasanter, because all the country he could see from his windows was his own. At Agnana, in the territory of Pisa, Lorenzo had a fertile domain, which he improyed by draining and bringing into cultivation, the extensive marshes that lay in its neighbourhood, the completion of which was only prevented by his death(a): Another estate in the district of Volterra was rendered extremely fruitful by his labours, and yielded him an ample revenue. Valori relates, that Lorenzo was highly gratified with the amusement of horse-racing, and that he kept many horses for this purpose, amongst which was a roan, that on every occasion bore away the prize. The same author professes to have heard from Politiano, that as often as this horse happened to be sick, or was wearied with the course, he refused any nourishment except from the hands of Lorenzo, at whose approach he testified his pleasure by neighing and by motions of his body, even whilst lying on the ground, so that it is not to be wondered at, says this author, by a kind of commendation rather more striking than just, that Lorenzo should be the delight of mankind, when even the brute creation expressed an affection for him(b). The autoluble G In (a) Valor, in vitâ Laur. p. 39. (b) Delectabatur maxime equorum cursu. Quare equos plurimos habuit in delitiis, in quibus ille fuit, quem de colore morellum appellabant, tantae pernicitatis, ut ex omnibus certaminibus victoriam semper reportaverit. De hoc equo ipse a Politiano audivi, quod mirum legentibus videatur, non tamen novum, eum, quoties vel aegrotaret, vel defessus esset, nisi a Laurentio oblatum cibum omnem fastidire solitum, & quotiescumque ille accederet, motu corporis, & In the year 1484, at which time Piero de' Medici, the eldest son of Lorenzo, was about fourteen years of age, his father judged it expedient to send him to Rome on a visit to the pope, and appointed Scala and Politiano as his companions. He did not however implicitly-confide in their discretion, but drew up himself very full and explicit directions for the conduct of his son during his absence. These instructions yet remain, and may serve as much as any circumstance whatever, to give us an idea of the sagacity and penetration of Lorenzo, and of his attention, not only to the regulation of the manners of his son, but to the promotion of his own views (a). He advises him to speak naturally, without affectation, not to be anxious to display his learning, to use expressions of civility, and to address himself with se riousness, and yet with ease, to all. On his arrival at Rome he cautions him not to take precedence of his countrymen who are his superiors in age; "For, though you "are my son," says he, " you will remember that you are only a citizen of Florence, like themselves." suggests to him what topics it will be proper for him to dwell upon in his interview with the pope, and directs him to express in the most explicit manner, the devotion of his father to the holy see. He then proceeds to the essential object of his mission. "After having thus recommended 66 He Piero de' Medici visits the pope. hinnitu, quamvis humi prostratum, animi laetitiam fuisse testatum, ut non jam mirum sit tantopere hominibus gratum, quem etiam ferae dilexerint. Valor. in vita p. 49. (a) This curious paper of private instructions from Lorenzo to his son yet remains, and is given in the Appendix, from the collection of Fabroni. (No. LXIV). Giovanni de' Medici raised of a cardinal 66 66 1 me to his holiness, you will inform him, that your af"fection for your brother induces you to speak a word in "his favour. You can here mention that I have educated "him for the priesthood, and shall closely attend to his learning and his manners, so that he may not disgrace his profession. That in this respect I repose all my hopes on his "holiness; who having already given us proofs of his kindness and affection, will add to our obligations by any promotion which he may think proper to bestow upon "him. Endeavouring by these and similar expressions to "recommend your brother to his favour as much as lies "in your power." 66 66 In whatever manner Piero acquitted himself on his to the dignity youthful embassy, it is probable that this interview accom plished the object on which the future fortunes of his house were so materially to depend, and Giovanni de' Medici, when only thirteen years of age, ranked with the prime supporters of the Roman church. It seems however, that although the pope had complied with the pressing instances of Lorenzo, in bestowing on his son the dignity of a cardinal, he was not insensible of the indecorum of such a measure, for he expressly prohibited him from assuming the insignia of his rank for three years, and requested that he would apply that interval to the diligent prosecution of his studies. He accordingly went to Pisa, where the regularity of his conduct, and his attention to his improvement, justified in some degree the extraordinary indulgence which he had experienced, in consequence of which his father made the most pressing instances to the pope to shorten the term of his probation. "Trust the "management |