received the best reward of his labours in the gratitude of his country.

of Lorenzo,

Beyond the limits of Tuscany, the character of this illustrious Florentine was more eminently conspicuous. High reputation The glory of the republic appeared at a distance to be concentered in himself. To him individually, ambassadors were frequently dispatched by the first monarchs of Europe; who as their concerns required, alternately courted his assistance or solicited his advice (a). In the year 1489, when the emperor Frederick III. sent an embassy to Rome, he directed them to pass through Florence to obtain the patronage of Lorenzo; being, as he said, convinced of his importance in directing the affairs of Italy. An interchange

of kind offices subsisted between this eminent citizen and John II. king of Portugal, who was deservedly dignified with the appellation of great, and was desirous that the transactions of his life should be recorded by the pen of Politiano (b). From Matteo Corvino, whose virtues had raised him to the throne of Hungary, many letters addressed to Lorenzo are yet extant, which demonstrate not only the warm attachment of that monarch to the cause of science and the arts, but his esteem and veneration for the

man

(a) C'étoit une chose aussi admirable qu'éloignée de nos mœurs, de voir ce citoyen, qui faisait toûjours le commerce, vendre d'une main les denrées du Levant, & soutenir de l'autre le fardeau de la republique; entretenir des facteurs, & recevoir des ambassadeurs; résister au pape, faire la guerre & la paix, être l'oracle des princes, cultiver les belles-lettres, donner des spectacles au peuple, & accueillier tous les scavans Grecs de Constantinople. Il égala le grand Cosme par ses bienfaits, & le surpassa par sa magnificence.

Volt. Essai. v. ii. p. 284.

(b) Pol. Epist. lib. x. Ep. 1. 2.

man whom he considered as their most zealous protector(a). As the reputation of Lorenzo increased, the assiduities of Louis XI. of France became more conspicuous, and in exchange for professions of esteem, which from such a quarter could confer no honour, we find him soliciting from Lorenzo, substantial favours (b). The commercial intercourse between Florence and Egypt, by means of which the Florentines carried on their lucrative traffic, in the productions of the east, was extended and improved by Lorenzo; and such was the estimation in which he was held by the sultan, that in the year 1487, an ambassador arrived at Florence, bringing with him as a mark of his master's esteem, many singular presents of rare animals and valuable commodities; amongst the former of which, a camelopardalis principally attracted the curiosity of the populace.(c)

This epoch forms one of those scanty portions in the history of mankind, on which we may dwell without weeping over the calamities, or blushing for the crimes of our species. Accordingly, the fancy of the poet, expanding in the gleam of prosperity, has celebrated these times as realizing the beautiful fiction of the golden age (b). This

(a) These letters are preserved in the Palazzo Vecchio, at Florence. Filz. xlvii. (b) A letter from Louis XI. to Lorenzo, most earnestly intreating his assistance in promoting the interests of the king's favourites in a proposed nomination of cardinals by Innocent VIII. is preserved in the Palazzo Vecchio. Filz. lix.

(c) Of these articles Pietro da Bibbiena, the secretary of Lorenzo, gives an inventory to Clarice his wife. v. App. No. XLIX. Fabr. ii. 337.

(d) From the numerous pieces which allude to this period, I shall select the

66

66

This season of tranquillity is the interval to which Guicciardini so strikingly adverts, in the commencement of his history, as being prosperous beyond any other that Italy "had experienced, during the long course of a thousand years. When the whole extent of that fertile and beau"tiful country was cultivated, not only throughout its "wide plains and fruitful vallies, but even amidst its most "sterile and mountainous regions; and under no control "but that of its native nobility and rulers, exulted, not "only in the number and riches of its inhabitants, but in "the magnificence of its princes, in the splendour of many superb and noble cities, and in the residence and "majesty of religion itself. Abounding with men emi"nent in the administration of public affairs, skilled in every honourable science and every useful art, it stood

66

66

66

66

high in the estimation of foreign nations. Which ex"traordinary felicity acquired at many different opportu"nities, several circumstances contributed to preserve, "but among the rest, no small share of it was, by general consent ascribed to the industry and the virtue of Lorenzo de' Medici; a citizen, who rose so far beyond the mediocrity of a private station, that he regulated by his "counsels the affairs of Florence, then more important by its situation, by the genius of its inhabitants, and the promptitude of its resourses, than by the extent of its “dominions; and having obtained the implicit confidence "of the Roman pontiff, Innocent VIII. his name became

66

poem of Aurelius (or Lippo) Brandolini, De laudibus Laurentii Medicis; as it is given in the Carmina illust. Poet. Ital. v. ii. p. 439. A collection now very rare. ly met with. v. App. No. L

66

66

"great, and his authority important in the affairs of Italy. "Convinced of the perils that might arise, both to the "Florentine republic and to himself, if any of the more powerful states should be allowed to extend their do"minions, he used every exertion that the affairs of Italy might be so balanced, that there should be no inclination "in favour of any particular state; a circumstance which "could not take place without the permanent establish66 ment of peace, and the minutest attention to every event, "however trivial it might appear." Such are the representations of this celebrated historian. It is only to be regretted that these prosperous days were of such short duration. Like a momentary calm that precedes the ravages of the tempest, they were scarcely enjoyed before they were past. The fabric of the public happiness, erected by the vigilance, and preserved by the constant care of Lorenzo, remained indeed firm and compact during the short remainder of his days, but at his death it dissolved like the work of enchantment, and overwhelmed for a time in its ruins even the descendants of its founder.

CHAP. VII.

DIFFERENT progress of Italian and classical literature— Latin writings of Dante, Petrarca, and BoccaccioEffects produced by them-Emanuel Chrysoloras-Consequences of improvement-Progress of the Laurentian library-Introduction of printing in Florence-Early editions of the classic authors-Politiano corrects the Pandects of Justinian-Miscellanea of Politiano-His controversy with Merula-Establishment of the Greek academy at Florence-Joannes Argyropylus-Demetrius Chalcondyles-English scholars at Florence-Political importance obtained by men of learning-Florentine secretaries-Bartolommeo Scala-His controversy with Politiano-Learned statesmen in other governments of ItalyMen of rank devote themselves to study-Pico of Mirandula-Learned women-Alessandra Scala-Cassandra Fidelis-Result of the attention shewn to classical learningTranslations-Italian writers of Latin poetry-LandinoUgolino and Michael Verini-Other Latin poets of the fifteenth century-Character of the Latin poetry of Politiano.-General idea of the state of literature in Florence in the latter part of the fifteenth century.