66 66 Returning to his immediate subject, he thus proceeds, "In my dialogues of Camaldoli, I have given a philosophical comment on the works of Virgil. I now mean to perform the office of a grammarian and critic on this "author. In my former attempt, as the subject is of more dignity, I have introduced your father as one of the disputants; but these observations, which are intended "to inculcate a knowledge of the Latin language, I con"sider as more properly addressed to a young man of your 66 66 66 promising talents, and cultivated understanding (a)." In the year 1482, Landino published also an edition of the works of Horace with numerous corrections and remarks, which he inscribed to Guido da Feltri, the son of Federigo, duke of Urbino(b), to whom he had dedicated, in terms of the highest commendation and respect his Disputationes Camaldulenses. Landino was one of the first scholars, who after the revival of letters, devoted himself to the important task of restoring and elucidating these favorite authors, and his labours were received with unbounded applause. Of his observations on Horace considerable use has been made by many subsequent editors. On their publication, Politiano accompanied "sævissime trucidatus, et ipse Laurentius, inter strictos, et undique eum peten"tes gladios, jam jam casurus, ita elapsus est, ut non humano, sed divino aux"ilio, et sua animi præstantia, quæ audacissimum quemque terrere poterat, "de manu inimicorum ereptus videatur." toir d (a) Band. Spec. Lit. Flor. v. i. p. 225. Band. Spec. Lit. Flor. v. i. p. 223. (b) Impressum per Antonium Miscominum, Florentia, anno Salutis MCCCCLXXXII. nonis Augusti. These commentaries were re-published at Venice, per Joannem de Forlivio & Socios, in the following year, and several subsequent editions have taken place.dupa stod a accompanied them with the following ode, not unworthy - of the poet whose praises it is intended to celebrate. (a) 1159.a won I ligni? to show sit to memaros Lodg aidt no citiro bas AD HORATIUM FLACCUM. To di toidua ali a aquoitz to ono Vates Threicio blandior Orpheo, Seu malis fidibus sistere lubricos I Amnes, seu tremulo ducere pollice ; Vates Aeolii pectinis arbiter, Qui princeps Latiam sollicitas chelyn, 22107 21 Nec'segnis titulos addere noxiis fold Nigro carmine frontibus; Quis te a barbarica compede vindicat ? Quis frontis nebulam dispulit, et situ - mitat Deterso, levibus restituit choris, Curata juvenem cute? * O quam nuper eras nubilus, et malo do i Nunc vultus referens, docta fragrantibus Cinctus tempora floribus! Talem purpureis reddere solibus Laetum pube nova post gelidas nives Serpentem, positis exuviis, solet Verni temperies poli. Talem te choreis reddidit et Lyrae,, b LANDINUS, veterum laudibus æmulus, Qualis tu solitus Tibur ad uvidum Blandam tendere barbiton. 1 T (a) This ode is not printed in the works of Politiano, and is very inaccu rately given by Bandini. Spec. Lit. Flor. It is here republished from the edition of Horace by Landino, Ven. MCCCCLXXXIII. Nunc te deliciis, nunc decet & levi Poet, than whom the bard of Thrace O whether from their deep recess The tenants of the wilds thou bring, To sweet Æolian numbers strung! When late impervious glooms o'erhung Thy front, O say what hand divine Thy rude barbaric chains unbound, And bade thee in new lustre shine, Thy locks with vernal roses crown'd? Such as thy TIBUR heard thy song, Midst her cool shades and gushing springs. Again with tales of whispered love, With sprightly wit of happiest vein, Through bands of vine-crown'd youths to rove, Or sport amidst the virgin train. It It is greatly to the credit of Politiano that these verses were addressed to the person who was his most formidable rival in those studies to which he had particularly devoted his talents. In restoring to their original purity the ancient authors, he was himself indefatigable, and if to the munificence of Lorenzo de' Medici, we are to attribute the preservation of many of these works, Politiano is perhaps entitled to our equal acknowledgments, for his elucidations and corrections of the text, which from a variety of causes, was frequently unintelligible, illegible, or corrupt. In the exercise of his critical talents he did not confine himself to any precise method, but adopted such as he conceived best suited his purpose; on some occasions only comparing different copies, diligently marking the variations, rejecting spurious readings, and substituting the In other cases he proceeded further, and added Scholia and notes illustrative of the text, either from his own conjectures, or the authority of other authors (a). Besides the true. (a) In the edition of Cato, Varro, and Columella, published at Paris, ex off. Rob. Stephani 1543, with the corrections of Pet. Victorius, that excellent critic, thus adverts to the labours of Politiano. "Non exemplar ipsum semper consului, sed ha"bui excusos formis libros, quos cum antiquis illis Angelus Politianus studiose olim "contulerat, eosque, quantum mihi commodum fuit, pertractavi; illi enim quo(6 que publici sunt. Eruditissimi igitur viri labor, magno me labore levavit ; "qui quidem, ut erat diligens, & accuratus, hac librorum collatione mirifice "delectabatur: & ita posse bonos auctores multis maculis purgari, vere existi"mabat. Quæcumque igitur in priscis exemplaribus inveniebat, in impressis se“dulo adnotabat. Quod si diutius ille vixisset, & quæ mente destinaverat per"ficere potuisset, opera sedulitasque ipsius magnos studiosis litterarum fructos "attulisset, multosque qui postea huic muneri corrigendorum librorum neces "sario incubuerunt, magna prorsus molestia liberasset." the advantages which he derived from various copies of the same work, which enabled him to collate them so as to ascertain the true reading, he obtained great assistance from the collection of antiques formed by Lorenzo and his ancestors, and amongst his coins, inscriptions on marble, and other authentic documents, frequently elucidated and determined what might otherwise have remained in darkness or in doubt (a). At the close of his remarks on Catullus, a memorial appears in his own hand writing, in which he indulges himself in an exultation of youthful vanity, in the idea of having surpassed all his contemporaries in the diligence which he has shewn in correcting the ancient authors. This memorial, which bears the date of 1473, at which time he was only eighteen years of age, is subscribed Angelus Bassus Politianus. Before however we accuse our youthful critic of an ostentatious display of learning, or an improper confidence in his own abilities, we ought to advert to another entry made two years afterwards at the close of the works of Propertius in the same volume, by which he confesses, that many of his previous observations do not approve themselves to his riper judgment, and requests the reader not to form an opinion of his talents, his learning, or his industry, from such a specimen. There being many things, says he, to use the words of Plautus, Me quoque, qui scripsi, judice digna lini. Which I, their author, well might wish to blot. (b) In (a) Menck. in vitâ Pol. p. 237. (b) The reader may consult these memoranda in the Appendix No. LII. |