-
Articles/Ads
Article SKETCHES OF CELEBRATED CHARACTERS. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of Celebrated Characters.
tions on marble , and other authentic documents , frequently elucidated and determined what might otherwise have remained in darkness or doubt . The s ) 7 stern of jurisprudence which in the fifteenth century prevailed throughout ' the greatest part of Europe , was that of the Roman or civil law , which was principally found on the pandects or
consitutions of Justinian . Hence the correction and explication of the ex- , isting copies of this work became of high importance to the community . This task was reserved for the indefatigable industry of Polstiano , whose labours , in this department , entitle him to rank not only with the earliest , but with the most learned moctern professors of this science . In his letters he has himself given some account of his
progress in this laborious work . Much additional information may be found in the narrative of his life by Menckenius ; and Bandini , who has lately had the good fortune to recover the commentary of Politiano , and restore it to its former station in the Laurentian library ^ has published an historical narrative expressly on this subject .
POGGIQ . This extraordinary man , whose writings throw considerable lighton the history of the age , and whose Latin style pleases by its unaffected simplicity , was born in the 3 ear 1381 , of the noble family of Bracciolini , originally of Florence ; and , having spent his youth in travelling through different countries of Europesettled at length at
, Rome . He remained in this city , as secretary in the service of eight successive popes , till he was invited to Florence in the } ear 1452 , being then upwards of seventy years of age , to succeed Carlo Mursuppini as secretary to the republic . After his return to Florence , he began to write the history of that state ; but dying before he had brought it to a conclusionit was afterwards completed by his
unfor-, tunate son Jacopo . His numerous works have been several times reprinted : the most general collection of them is that of Basil , 153 8 . Of all his productions , his ' Liber Facetiarum' is the most singular . The gross indecency of some of his tales can onty be equalled by the freedom in which he indulges himself respecting the priesthood ' . It is difficult to conceive how he escaped in those times the resentment
of that order ; but we must remember , that this work was produced in the bosom of the church , and was probably an amusement for the learned leisure of prelates and of cardinals . In a short preface , Pogg io explains the motives that led him to this composition , and attempts to excuse its licentiousness . Although Poggio was an ecclesiastic he had several children
, whom he openly acknowledged . His friend , the Cardinal of St . Angelo , having remonstrated with him on the irregularity of his conduct , Poggio , in his reply , acknowledges his fault , but at the same time attempts to extinguish the g lare of it in the general blaze of licentiousness that involved the age . Plis letter , on this occasion , af ~ . fords a striking proof of the depravity of the times . He afterward *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of Celebrated Characters.
tions on marble , and other authentic documents , frequently elucidated and determined what might otherwise have remained in darkness or doubt . The s ) 7 stern of jurisprudence which in the fifteenth century prevailed throughout ' the greatest part of Europe , was that of the Roman or civil law , which was principally found on the pandects or
consitutions of Justinian . Hence the correction and explication of the ex- , isting copies of this work became of high importance to the community . This task was reserved for the indefatigable industry of Polstiano , whose labours , in this department , entitle him to rank not only with the earliest , but with the most learned moctern professors of this science . In his letters he has himself given some account of his
progress in this laborious work . Much additional information may be found in the narrative of his life by Menckenius ; and Bandini , who has lately had the good fortune to recover the commentary of Politiano , and restore it to its former station in the Laurentian library ^ has published an historical narrative expressly on this subject .
POGGIQ . This extraordinary man , whose writings throw considerable lighton the history of the age , and whose Latin style pleases by its unaffected simplicity , was born in the 3 ear 1381 , of the noble family of Bracciolini , originally of Florence ; and , having spent his youth in travelling through different countries of Europesettled at length at
, Rome . He remained in this city , as secretary in the service of eight successive popes , till he was invited to Florence in the } ear 1452 , being then upwards of seventy years of age , to succeed Carlo Mursuppini as secretary to the republic . After his return to Florence , he began to write the history of that state ; but dying before he had brought it to a conclusionit was afterwards completed by his
unfor-, tunate son Jacopo . His numerous works have been several times reprinted : the most general collection of them is that of Basil , 153 8 . Of all his productions , his ' Liber Facetiarum' is the most singular . The gross indecency of some of his tales can onty be equalled by the freedom in which he indulges himself respecting the priesthood ' . It is difficult to conceive how he escaped in those times the resentment
of that order ; but we must remember , that this work was produced in the bosom of the church , and was probably an amusement for the learned leisure of prelates and of cardinals . In a short preface , Pogg io explains the motives that led him to this composition , and attempts to excuse its licentiousness . Although Poggio was an ecclesiastic he had several children
, whom he openly acknowledged . His friend , the Cardinal of St . Angelo , having remonstrated with him on the irregularity of his conduct , Poggio , in his reply , acknowledges his fault , but at the same time attempts to extinguish the g lare of it in the general blaze of licentiousness that involved the age . Plis letter , on this occasion , af ~ . fords a striking proof of the depravity of the times . He afterward *