Benedetto Tagliacarne, or Teocrèno (as he chose to call himself), was named tutor to the son of Francis I of France, who appointed him to the bishopric of Grasse. Teocrèno had spoken slightly of Erasmus; and hence we may understand why Olivarius called him a pedant. He is generally considered to have been a learned man.
Cèlio Calcagnini, a learned man, but an affected writer, highly esteemed by Erasmus. Before Copernicus published his astronomical system in 1543, Calcagnini published a book to demonstrate “quod coelum stet, terra autem moveatur.” Having followed the cardinal d’Este to Hungary, he was appointed professor of literature at Ferrara on his return; whilst Ariosto, who did not like to go, lost his eminence’s good graces. Calcagnini is also praised above, canto XLII st. 90.
Niccolò Maria, or Mario Panizzato, of Ferrara; a poet of some note, according to Giraldi. He was professor of literature in that city, and it has been said that Ariosto studied under him. ↩
Bernardo Capello, a Venetian nobleman, and a pupil of Bembo. He was iniquitously banished by the Council of X on account of his freedom of speech in the senate. He went to Rome, where he was well received by Cardinal Farnese, and died an exile. His lyric poetry is excellent. He was a poet, not a timid imitator of Petrarch.
Pietro Bembo, a Venetian, whose family ranked among the very first of that proud republic. He was a learned and accomplished man, of a kind and amiable disposition. He wrote the most Ciceronian Latin, and his name stands very high in the annals of Italian literature. He deserves more credit for the patronage which he granted to literature than for his own works. He was, with Sadoleto, secretary to Leo X; and to this excellent colleague he owed his cardinalship, as it was only by his intercession that Paul III was induced to pass over Bembo’s juvenile levities. He was then bishop, first of Gubbio, and afterwards of Bergamo.
Gaspar Obizzi, a friend of Bembo, who addressed to him his fifty-eighth sonnet, praising his poetry. I do not know whether he was the one who married Ginevra Malatesta, mentioned above, stanza 5.
Girolamo Fracastòro, whose name is well known as that of a man who in his Latin poem De Morbo Gallico vied with Virgil. Fracastòro was, moreover, a great physician, zoologist, astronomer, and geographer. He is said to have been the first to use a kind of telescope to observe the stars. He was highly respected and esteemed by all those who knew him, for his kind and generous disposition.
Agostino Bevazzano, or Beazzano, a great friend of Bembo, who introduced him to Leo X, by whom he was patronised. He was an indifferent Italian poet, but wrote very elegant Latin verses.
Trifon Gabriello, of a patrician family of Venice, is celebrated as a learned and upright man. A sonnet of his to Bembo, which is printed, gives a very poor opinion of his poetical talents. Bernardo Tasso confesses himself highly indebted to his suggestions respecting his poem Amadigi.
Bernardo Tasso, father of Torquato, a distinguished lyric poet, peculiarly soft and sweet, and the author of a romanesque poem, the Amadigi, in 100 cantos, in which he tried to surpass Ariosto. Although he failed in this, the work is full of poetry. The Furioso, the Innamorato, the Morgante, and the Amadigi are the best poems of this class. The first and last distant “longo intervallo” no doubt. ↩
Niccolò Tiepolo, of a patrician family of Venice, was honoured by Pope Julius II, who conferred upon him the degree of doctor with his own hands, as, according to Bembo, in a letter to the duchess of Ferrara, the famous Lucrezia Borgia, he had given proofs “d’essere il più valente disputante e filosofo che per avventura in Italia oggi sia.”
Niccolò Amanio is mentioned by Bandello in his first novel, who calls him “dotto Dottore e soavissimo poeta.”
Antonio Fulgoso, or Fregoso, or Campofregoso, of a patrician family of Genoa, and whese relation, Federigo Fulgoso, was mentioned in so friendly and playful a manner by Ariosto, canto XLII stanza 20. Antonio wrote some Latin verses now forgotten, and was surnamed Fileremo, on account of his fondness of seclusion.
Giovanni Francesco Valerio, an illegitimate son of a nobleman of the patrician family Valerio of Venice. He was a prelate, and was put to death as a traitor to his republic, for having bribed the secretaries of the senate, and communicated the secrets of the state to the Turks. A volume of tales which he wrote was never published; and I consider it fortunate for young readers, as one may deduce from the story of Fiammetta, the merit of which Ariosto attributes to him.—See canto XXVII stanza 137, and canto XXVIII stanza 78. Giovio praises him as a poet.
Pietro Barignano, a poet, of whom Giovio said, “He is praised for his terse, sweet and flowery diction.” ↩
Gian Francesco Pico, Lord of Mirandola, son of the famous Giovanni Pico, had as much talent as his uncle, and used it much better. He was one of the most learned men of his day, and highly esteemed by his cotemporaries.
Alberto Pio, Lord of Carpi, son of a sister of Giovanni Pico, aunt of Gian Francesco. He was a learned man, and a great patron of literature. His name is connected with that of Erasmus, on account of a theological dispute which took place between them. He was accused of having excited Leo X, to make war on the Duke of Ferrara, who eventually succeeded in depriving Pio of his dominions. It is remarkable that Ariosto, living at the court of Ferrara, could so nobly praise Pio, who appears to have been a great friend of his.
Jacopo Sannazzaro, who, on entering
