independent of hope, or its other appliancesthe sentiments of a mind like this find their way into all hearts, and by their mild and quiet influence, often make a deeper impression than others of a more stirring character. It is hence that the Sonnets of Petrarch possess such a power of charming us; that they have so long retained their popularity, and have been taken as models by so many writers, but have scarcely ever been successfully imitated. Petrarch's other poetry, his "Canzoni" and "Trionfi," are more imaginative, and written altogether in a bolder strain, but they abound too much in allegory and classical allusion, to be agreeable to modern taste; and though there are passages in them which strike us with admiration for their force and brilliancy, they are far from possessing the same charm as the Sonnets. This observation may be applied with still greater propriety to his Latin poetry, which, notwithstanding the time and care he expended in its composition, has been long forgotten by the world. His prose works, which are all in Latin, are in many respects valuable. Though his style is not purely classical, it is clear and energetic, and, acquainted as he was with the best writers of antiquity, and the fathers of the 6. Christian Church, besides being constantly reflecting on the subjects which employed his pen, a most valuable volume might be compiled from the best portions of his miscellaneous Treatises and Epistles. The following list of his productions will suffice to show how various and laborious were his literary pursuits. I place them as they stand in the edition of 1581. 1. De Remediis Utriusque Fortunæ. 2. De Vita Solitaria. 3. De Otiis Religiosorum. 4. De Vera Sapientia. 5. De Contemptu Mundi. Psalmi Penitentiales. 7. De Republica Opt. Administranda. 8. De Officiis et Virtutibus Imperatoriis. 9. Rerum Memorandarum lib. iv. 10. Vitarum Virorum Epitome. 11. Liber Augustalis. 12. De Pacificanda Italia Exhortatio ad Carolum IV. &c. 13. Ad Mi. Laurentii de Capessenda Libertate, Hortatoria. 14. De Obedientia ac fide Uxoria, Mythologia. 15. De Avaritia Vitanda. 16. Itinerarium Syriacum. 17. Epistolæ Familiares. 18. Ad Viros quosdam e Veteribus Illustriores. Epistolæ de Rebus Senilibus. Epistolæ Variæ. 19. De Ignorantia sui ipsius et Multorum. 20. Apologia contra Galli Calumnias. Invectivæ contra Medicum. 21. De Sumenda et Recepta Laurea poetica. 22. Eglogæ duodecem. Africa, Epistolæ Poeticæ. Boccaccio. THE family of Boccaccio was originally of Certaldo, a town situated in the vale of Elsa, but owing to his commercial engagements, the father of Giovanni, Boccaccio di Chellino di Buonaiuto, following the example of his predecessors, found it necessary to settle in Florence, where he amassed some wealth, and filled many of the most important offices in the Republic. Not, however, being of a disposition to confine himself to that city, he travelled to France, and during his residence in Paris, became acquainted with a lady, who is described as occupying a rank between that of the nobility and the commonalty.* The fruit of * Baldelli. Filippo Villani. |