constant observation and imitation of literary men of other ages and countries. It was in this light that the subject first presented itself to me as abounding in topics of the highest interest; nor is it in a purely literary point of view less deserving of attention. Italy was the cradle of modern learning, and to her poets we owe in great measure its present diffusion among the people of Europe. Princes have occasionally fostered men of learning, but it is the poets who have fostered learning itself; and while the lives of these great men are left unstudied,. we keep closed one of the most useful and valuable volumes in the history of the human mind. In addition to these considerations, there is one peculiarly applicable to English readers. The Italian Muse held early commerce with our own, and taught her some of the sweetest mysteries of her art; and in the present day several of our most elegant writers have thought themselves well employed in giving their countrymen an opportunity of enjoying the noble sentiments and brilliant inventions of Italian genius in their own language.

The names of Carey, of Rose, and Wiffen, need but be mentioned to remind the English reader, that in transferring the works of the three greatest poets of Italy into our mother tongue, translation has been carried to a degree of perfection scarcely in any instance before attained; while the name of Roscoe, so worthy in every respect of veneration, reminds us how much has been done in this country to make known the most important periods of Italian history. Nor is there any reason to fear that the literature which so many circumstances tend to make popular in this country, should at present lose any portion of its popularity. More than one of its most distinguished scholars have lived among us, employing their talents in facilitating its study; and in Dr. Panizzi, the judicious and accomplished Professor at the London University, we have another instance of the advantage a country reaps in becoming the sojourn of these learned and enlightened strangers.

In writing these volumes, I have avoided, to

the best of my ability, diminishing the value of the subject by any want of care in selecting the materials. The number of works I have read and compared has been very considerable, and the facts of every memoir have been drawn from the most authentic sources; all, with one or two slight exceptions, Italian, as will be seen by the references. Whatever other blame, therefore, I may incur, I shall not, I trust, when the size and nature of the work are considered, be accused of rendering it less valuable in point of information than it might have been made. There were many collateral subjects both of history and criticism into which my own taste would have led me at length, while writing the memoirs; but it has been with some difficulty that I have comprised within the limits allowed me, the details which more strictly belonged to my province as a biographer.

For the opportunities I have enjoyed of consulting a much greater variety of works than I possess myself, I have to acknowledge my obligations to the Library of the British Museum, which, besides

the valuable Italian collection it previously contained, has been lately enriched with that which belonged to the lamented Ginguené. For the facilities afforded me by the conductors of the Institution, and for their uniformly prompt and kind attention, I am, in common with many other literary men, most deeply indebted. The same thanks are also due from me to Mr. Rolandi, the Italian bookseller, of Berners-street, who has with great liberality afforded me the use of many valuable works.