-
Articles/Ads
Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ← Page 2 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
the late Grand Duke Leopold , and the liberality of the Marquis Riccardi , been laid open to every enquirer ; and , under the regulations of tbe venerable Canonico Bandini , to whose labours the literary history of Naples is highly indebted , such arrangements have been adopted in the Laurentian library , that every difficulty , which mi ght retard research , is effectually removed , Unlike the immense , but ill-digested , and almost prohibited , collection of the Vatican , the libraries of Florence are the common property of the learned of
all nations ; and an institution , founded by Cosmo , and promoted bv Lorenzo cle Medici , yet exists , the noblest monument of their glory , the most authentic depositary of their fame . The enquiries of M . Roscoe and bis friend were crowned with the desired success ; and , among other interesting materials , have produced several beautiful poems of Lorenzo de Medici , which it would be injustice to the translator not to say have been happily translated into our language . But it is not merely minute details , or critical
disquisitions in notes at the bottom of the page , that form the merit of this work . Mr . R . shews himself master of his subject , by an acquaintance with the politics of the governments that surrounded Florence , and , from a spirit of rivalship , interrupted her tranquillity . These were , the republic of Venice , the kingdom of Naples , the duchy of Milan , and the Pope ; not to mention the lesser states of Fcrrara , Genoa , Sienna , and Lucca . The resources of Florenceset in the centre of all theseenabled her to hire troops to fiht her
, , g battles , to perform an' important part in the transactions of Italy ; and , if not powerful enough to act alone , she was , perhaps , more desirable as an ally , than any other state of that country . Mr . R . has discovered , and published in the Appendix , a cotemporary statement of her population and finances , and many other particulars . Mr . R . takes up the history of the house of Medici with the first of them
who was elected to the office of chief magistrate in the republic of Florence , 1375 ; but it was John , the great grandfather of Lorenzo , who laid the foundation of that greatness which his family possessed , and was succeeded by Cosmo j of whom an ample account is given , and whose character exhibits a combination of virtues and endowments , rarely to be found united in the same person , both in public and in private life . He died 14 6 4 , aged 75 , and was succeeded by his son Picro , who djdng 1469 , exhausted by bodily
sufferings , and wearied with the arrogant and tyrannical conduct of many of those who had espoused his cause ; and was succeeded by his son Lorenzo , between whom and his younger brother , Ginliano , a warm and uninterrupted affection subsisted . Lorenzo pursued the same successful branch of commerce as Ids grandfather , which is supposed to have been with the East , by way of Alexandria , first opened , 14 . 21 , at the port of Leghorn . Cosmo and his descendants had a very large income from their farms , and from the alum-mines
in different parts of Italy , and from the commercial banks established b y them in all the great trading towns of Europe , where the rates of interest de ' - pended on the necessities of the borrower , and were reported to his sovereign . The rise of Italian literature in the 14 . 1 b century , its subsequent degradation , its revival in the 15 th century , the character of Lorenzo as a poet , form tbe fifth chapter of this entertaining and informing work ; in which the writings of Burchiello , the Pulci , Matteo Franco , the various species of poetic
composition , tbe origin of the Italian sonnet , and the state of the Italian satire , are detailed and illustrated . " The writings of Lorenzo de Medici are distinguished by a vigour of imagination , an accuracy of judgment , an elegance of style , which afforded the greatest example of improvement , and entitle him , almost exclusively , to the honourable appellation of the Restorer of Italian literature . " [ JO BS CONTINUED . - ]¦
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
the late Grand Duke Leopold , and the liberality of the Marquis Riccardi , been laid open to every enquirer ; and , under the regulations of tbe venerable Canonico Bandini , to whose labours the literary history of Naples is highly indebted , such arrangements have been adopted in the Laurentian library , that every difficulty , which mi ght retard research , is effectually removed , Unlike the immense , but ill-digested , and almost prohibited , collection of the Vatican , the libraries of Florence are the common property of the learned of
all nations ; and an institution , founded by Cosmo , and promoted bv Lorenzo cle Medici , yet exists , the noblest monument of their glory , the most authentic depositary of their fame . The enquiries of M . Roscoe and bis friend were crowned with the desired success ; and , among other interesting materials , have produced several beautiful poems of Lorenzo de Medici , which it would be injustice to the translator not to say have been happily translated into our language . But it is not merely minute details , or critical
disquisitions in notes at the bottom of the page , that form the merit of this work . Mr . R . shews himself master of his subject , by an acquaintance with the politics of the governments that surrounded Florence , and , from a spirit of rivalship , interrupted her tranquillity . These were , the republic of Venice , the kingdom of Naples , the duchy of Milan , and the Pope ; not to mention the lesser states of Fcrrara , Genoa , Sienna , and Lucca . The resources of Florenceset in the centre of all theseenabled her to hire troops to fiht her
, , g battles , to perform an' important part in the transactions of Italy ; and , if not powerful enough to act alone , she was , perhaps , more desirable as an ally , than any other state of that country . Mr . R . has discovered , and published in the Appendix , a cotemporary statement of her population and finances , and many other particulars . Mr . R . takes up the history of the house of Medici with the first of them
who was elected to the office of chief magistrate in the republic of Florence , 1375 ; but it was John , the great grandfather of Lorenzo , who laid the foundation of that greatness which his family possessed , and was succeeded by Cosmo j of whom an ample account is given , and whose character exhibits a combination of virtues and endowments , rarely to be found united in the same person , both in public and in private life . He died 14 6 4 , aged 75 , and was succeeded by his son Picro , who djdng 1469 , exhausted by bodily
sufferings , and wearied with the arrogant and tyrannical conduct of many of those who had espoused his cause ; and was succeeded by his son Lorenzo , between whom and his younger brother , Ginliano , a warm and uninterrupted affection subsisted . Lorenzo pursued the same successful branch of commerce as Ids grandfather , which is supposed to have been with the East , by way of Alexandria , first opened , 14 . 21 , at the port of Leghorn . Cosmo and his descendants had a very large income from their farms , and from the alum-mines
in different parts of Italy , and from the commercial banks established b y them in all the great trading towns of Europe , where the rates of interest de ' - pended on the necessities of the borrower , and were reported to his sovereign . The rise of Italian literature in the 14 . 1 b century , its subsequent degradation , its revival in the 15 th century , the character of Lorenzo as a poet , form tbe fifth chapter of this entertaining and informing work ; in which the writings of Burchiello , the Pulci , Matteo Franco , the various species of poetic
composition , tbe origin of the Italian sonnet , and the state of the Italian satire , are detailed and illustrated . " The writings of Lorenzo de Medici are distinguished by a vigour of imagination , an accuracy of judgment , an elegance of style , which afforded the greatest example of improvement , and entitle him , almost exclusively , to the honourable appellation of the Restorer of Italian literature . " [ JO BS CONTINUED . - ]¦