Chapter 5

METASTASIO.

METASTASIO.

His obscure Origin185(13th of January.) His Birth; his Name1698.185His Adoption by Vincenzo Gravina185His first Tragedy, "Giustino"186His Letter to Algarotti187His Letter to Don Saverio Mattei188Death of his adopted Father Gravina189His Studies189His Imprudence189Commences the Study of the Law at Naples190He composes his "Orti Esperidi"190He quits his Legal Studies191And resides at the House of the Prima Donna MariannaBulgarelli191He studies Music192Operatic Dramas first introduced at Florence1594.192Metastasio composes his "Didone Abbandonato;" also his"Siroe"1724.192He accompanies the Prima Donna to Rome193He writes his Drama of "Cato"1727.193He is invited to become the Court Poet of Vienna1729.193Apostolo Zeno194Metastasio fulfils his Engagement to the Roman Theatre1730.194He enters on his Employments at Vienna; Success of his Dramas194Becomes Treasurer of the Province of Cosenza, in Naples195His Letters to Marianna Bulgarelli196Her Death1733.198Metastasio's Letters to his Brother on her Death198His Style200His "Attilio Regulo"201"Themistocles" and "Olimpiade:" his Dramas202His Canzonetti203Death of the Emperor Charles VI.1740.203Francis I. elected Emperor1745.204Several European Sovereigns invite Metastasio to their Court204His Malady204His Letters205His Letter to his Brother on the Death of his Father205Death of his Brother Leopold1770.208Farinelli1737.208Death of Philip V. of Spain1746.209Accession of Charles III.1763.209Physical Sufferings of Metastasio209Death of the Empress Maria Theresa209Doctor Burney's Account of Metastasio1772.210(12th of April.) Death of Metastasio1782.211

His obscure Origin

185

(13th of January.) His Birth; his Name

1698.

185

His Adoption by Vincenzo Gravina

185

His first Tragedy, "Giustino"

186

His Letter to Algarotti

187

His Letter to Don Saverio Mattei

188

Death of his adopted Father Gravina

189

His Studies

189

His Imprudence

189

Commences the Study of the Law at Naples

190

He composes his "Orti Esperidi"

190

He quits his Legal Studies

191

And resides at the House of the Prima Donna MariannaBulgarelli

191

He studies Music

192

Operatic Dramas first introduced at Florence

1594.

192

Metastasio composes his "Didone Abbandonato;" also his"Siroe"

1724.

192

He accompanies the Prima Donna to Rome

193

He writes his Drama of "Cato"

1727.

193

He is invited to become the Court Poet of Vienna

1729.

193

Apostolo Zeno

194

Metastasio fulfils his Engagement to the Roman Theatre

1730.

194

He enters on his Employments at Vienna; Success of his Dramas

194

Becomes Treasurer of the Province of Cosenza, in Naples

195

His Letters to Marianna Bulgarelli

196

Her Death

1733.

198

Metastasio's Letters to his Brother on her Death

198

His Style

200

His "Attilio Regulo"

201

"Themistocles" and "Olimpiade:" his Dramas

202

His Canzonetti

203

Death of the Emperor Charles VI.

1740.

203

Francis I. elected Emperor

1745.

204

Several European Sovereigns invite Metastasio to their Court

204

His Malady

204

His Letters

205

His Letter to his Brother on the Death of his Father

205

Death of his Brother Leopold

1770.

208

Farinelli

1737.

208

Death of Philip V. of Spain

1746.

209

Accession of Charles III.

1763.

209

Physical Sufferings of Metastasio

209

Death of the Empress Maria Theresa

209

Doctor Burney's Account of Metastasio

1772.

210

(12th of April.) Death of Metastasio

1782.

211

GOLDONI.

GOLDONI.

His Birth1707.213His Origin213Death of his Grandfather; Pecuniary Difficulties of his Family1712.214Education of Goldoni215His Departure with his Family from Perugia216Carlo Goldoni studies at Rimini216His Parents embark for Chiozza216Description of Chiozza216Goldoni escapes from Rimini217He arrives at Chiozza218He studies the Law under his Uncle, at Venice219His Success at the University of Pavia1723.220His Expulsion, and the Cause of it221Returns to his Parents221He pursues his Legal Studies at Modena222He determines to become a Monk223Prudent Conduct of his Parents on this Occasion223Goldoni becomes Coadjutor to the Chancellor of Feltri224He falls in Love224He joins his Father at Ravenna1731.225Death of the elder Goldoni225Goldoni enters the Profession of Barrister, at Venice225An Incident occurs which destroys his Prospects226His Tragedy of "Amalassunta"228Its Fate229Buonafede Vitali229Siege of Milan1733.230Journey of Goldoni to Modena230Disasters which he met with231His "Belisarius" acted at Vienna1734.232Good Fortune which he meets with at Genoa233His Marriage233He attempts to reform the Italian Theatre233The old Comedy of Italy234Goldoni obtains the Genoese Consulship at Venice235He meets with a Ragusan Adventurer235His Play on the Subject1741.235His Life at Rimini236His Journey to Cattolica, and the Misfortune that befel him237He becomes a Pleader at the Pisan Bar238His Comedies238His Style239The Plot of his "Donne Puntigliose"240Story of the "Donna Prudente"241His "Pettegollezzi"241The Subject of "Villeggiatura" and the "Smanie dellaVilleggiatura"242His other Comedies243He receives an Offer from the French Court1760.245His Debûbt as an Author in the French Capital1761.246His Death1792.246

His Birth

1707.

213

His Origin

213

Death of his Grandfather; Pecuniary Difficulties of his Family

1712.

214

Education of Goldoni

215

His Departure with his Family from Perugia

216

Carlo Goldoni studies at Rimini

216

His Parents embark for Chiozza

216

Description of Chiozza

216

Goldoni escapes from Rimini

217

He arrives at Chiozza

218

He studies the Law under his Uncle, at Venice

219

His Success at the University of Pavia

1723.

220

His Expulsion, and the Cause of it

221

Returns to his Parents

221

He pursues his Legal Studies at Modena

222

He determines to become a Monk

223

Prudent Conduct of his Parents on this Occasion

223

Goldoni becomes Coadjutor to the Chancellor of Feltri

224

He falls in Love

224

He joins his Father at Ravenna

1731.

225

Death of the elder Goldoni

225

Goldoni enters the Profession of Barrister, at Venice

225

An Incident occurs which destroys his Prospects

226

His Tragedy of "Amalassunta"

228

Its Fate

229

Buonafede Vitali

229

Siege of Milan

1733.

230

Journey of Goldoni to Modena

230

Disasters which he met with

231

His "Belisarius" acted at Vienna

1734.

232

Good Fortune which he meets with at Genoa

233

His Marriage

233

He attempts to reform the Italian Theatre

233

The old Comedy of Italy

234

Goldoni obtains the Genoese Consulship at Venice

235

He meets with a Ragusan Adventurer

235

His Play on the Subject

1741.

235

His Life at Rimini

236

His Journey to Cattolica, and the Misfortune that befel him

237

He becomes a Pleader at the Pisan Bar

238

His Comedies

238

His Style

239

The Plot of his "Donne Puntigliose"

240

Story of the "Donna Prudente"

241

His "Pettegollezzi"

241

The Subject of "Villeggiatura" and the "Smanie dellaVilleggiatura"

242

His other Comedies

243

He receives an Offer from the French Court

1760.

245

His Debûbt as an Author in the French Capital

1761.

246

His Death

1792.

246

ALFIERI.

ALFIERI.

The Italian Poets of the early Ages247(17th of January.) Birth of Vittorio Alfieri1749.250His noble Origin250His Childhood251His Education252Account of the Academy of Turin252System of Education253Effect of Music on the Mind of Alfieri255Circumstances of his Life altered by the Death of his Uncle256Change of his Situation in College1763.256Effect of this on his Conduct256His Extravagance257His Confinement257His Liberation on the Marriage of his Sister Julia1764.258His Return to College259His Journey to Genoa1765.259He enters the Provincial Army of Asti1766.260His dislike of Military Discipline; he obtains Leave ofAbsence260His Tour261His second Leave of Absence; his second Tour265His first Entrance into Paris265His enthusiastic Feelings on visiting England266He returns to Turin, and resides with his Sister267He takes another Tour1769.268His second Visit to England; his Love Adventure269He returns to Paris271His Quarrel with his Servant271Returns to Turin, and becomes a Cavaliere Servente1772.272He determines to break off this disgraceful Intercourse1774.274His first Attempt at Composition274He enters into an Engagement with the Public to writeTragedies1777.276He visits Siena; his Friendship with Francesco Gori278He visits Florence279His Attachment for Louisa de Stolberg, Countess of Albany280He makes a Donation of his Property to his Sister Julia280The distinguishing Marks of his Dramas282Distinction between Shakspeare and other Dramatic Writers283Alfieri, his Tragedy of "Philip," its Subject284He continues the _Amico di Casa_ of the Countess of Albany286Cruel Conduct of her Husband286She is separated from him286Alfieri at Rome with the Countess287He completes his fourteen Tragedies1782.288His Intercourse with the Countess of Albany begins to exciteCensure289He goes into voluntary Exile in consequence of his Sufferings290He visits England to purchase Horses1783.290He returns to Italy291His Visit to the Countess of Albany at Alsatia291He composes his "Agis," "Sofonisba," and "Mirra"291Death of his Friend Gori292Returns to Siena292Countess of Albany visits Paris293She goes to Baden, where she is joined by Alfieri293Residence of Alfieri at Colmar293His Illness; visited by his Friend the Abbate Caluso1787.293The Countess at Paris; Alfieri joins her293Death of her Husband294Corrected Editions of Alfieri's Tragedies294His Translation of the Comedies of Terence1790.294His Treatise on "Princes and Literature;" Critique on hisStyle295He accompanies the Countess of Albany to England1791.296They return to Paris296(10th of August.) The French Revolution1792.296Imprisonment of Louis XVI.296Departure of the Countess and Alfieri from Paris; theirFurniture, Horses, and Books confiscated297They return to Florence297The Tragedy of "Saul" acted, Alfieri performing the Part ofthe King298He studies the Greek Language299Invasion of Italy by the French299Alfieri and the Countess leave Florence299French driven from Tuscany299Second Invasion of the French; Effect of these political Eventson the Mind of Alfieri300(8th of October.) His Death301His Tomb301

The Italian Poets of the early Ages

247

(17th of January.) Birth of Vittorio Alfieri

1749.

250

His noble Origin

250

His Childhood

251

His Education

252

Account of the Academy of Turin

252

System of Education

253

Effect of Music on the Mind of Alfieri

255

Circumstances of his Life altered by the Death of his Uncle

256

Change of his Situation in College

1763.

256

Effect of this on his Conduct

256

His Extravagance

257

His Confinement

257

His Liberation on the Marriage of his Sister Julia

1764.

258

His Return to College

259

His Journey to Genoa

1765.

259

He enters the Provincial Army of Asti

1766.

260

His dislike of Military Discipline; he obtains Leave ofAbsence

260

His Tour

261

His second Leave of Absence; his second Tour

265

His first Entrance into Paris

265

His enthusiastic Feelings on visiting England

266

He returns to Turin, and resides with his Sister

267

He takes another Tour

1769.

268

His second Visit to England; his Love Adventure

269

He returns to Paris

271

His Quarrel with his Servant

271

Returns to Turin, and becomes a Cavaliere Servente

1772.

272

He determines to break off this disgraceful Intercourse

1774.

274

His first Attempt at Composition

274

He enters into an Engagement with the Public to writeTragedies

1777.

276

He visits Siena; his Friendship with Francesco Gori

278

He visits Florence

279

His Attachment for Louisa de Stolberg, Countess of Albany

280

He makes a Donation of his Property to his Sister Julia

280

The distinguishing Marks of his Dramas

282

Distinction between Shakspeare and other Dramatic Writers

283

Alfieri, his Tragedy of "Philip," its Subject

284

He continues the _Amico di Casa_ of the Countess of Albany

286

Cruel Conduct of her Husband

286

She is separated from him

286

Alfieri at Rome with the Countess

287

He completes his fourteen Tragedies

1782.

288

His Intercourse with the Countess of Albany begins to exciteCensure

289

He goes into voluntary Exile in consequence of his Sufferings

290

He visits England to purchase Horses

1783.

290

He returns to Italy

291

His Visit to the Countess of Albany at Alsatia

291

He composes his "Agis," "Sofonisba," and "Mirra"

291

Death of his Friend Gori

292

Returns to Siena

292

Countess of Albany visits Paris

293

She goes to Baden, where she is joined by Alfieri

293

Residence of Alfieri at Colmar

293

His Illness; visited by his Friend the Abbate Caluso

1787.

293

The Countess at Paris; Alfieri joins her

293

Death of her Husband

294

Corrected Editions of Alfieri's Tragedies

294

His Translation of the Comedies of Terence

1790.

294

His Treatise on "Princes and Literature;" Critique on hisStyle

295

He accompanies the Countess of Albany to England

1791.

296

They return to Paris

296

(10th of August.) The French Revolution

1792.

296

Imprisonment of Louis XVI.

296

Departure of the Countess and Alfieri from Paris; theirFurniture, Horses, and Books confiscated

297

They return to Florence

297

The Tragedy of "Saul" acted, Alfieri performing the Part ofthe King

298

He studies the Greek Language

299

Invasion of Italy by the French

299

Alfieri and the Countess leave Florence

299

French driven from Tuscany

299

Second Invasion of the French; Effect of these political Eventson the Mind of Alfieri

300

(8th of October.) His Death

301

His Tomb

301

MONTI.

MONTI.

Arcadian Poetry303(19th of February.) His Birth1754.305His Parentage305Italian Farmers305Early Boyhood of Monti306Anecdote of him306His Studies at Faenza307Destined by his Father to Agricultural Labour; his Dislike ofthis Occupation307Ineffectual Attempts of his Father to overcome this308His first Italian Poem; he adopts Alighieri as his Model308His "Vision of Ezekiel"308Cardinal Borghese takes Monti under his Protection; heaccompanies the Cardinal to Rome309The Arcadians of the Bosco Parrasio celebrate the Quinquenalliof Pius VI.1780.309Monti made Secretary to the Duke of Braschi309His want of political Integrity310His Ode on the Marriage of the Duke of Braschi311His Ambition excited by the Emulation inspired by Alfieri1779.311His "Aristodemo" acted at Rome with great Success1787.312Plot of this Tragedy312Marriage of Monti313Hugh Basseville314Sent by the French to spread their Revolutionary Tenetsbeyond the Alps314His History of the French Revolution315His Assassination1793.315(January 19th.) Louis XVI. beheaded315Monti, his Poem, the "Basvilliana"315His Poem on the French Revolution316His Plagiarism316Spread of French Republicanism317Defeat of the Austrians317(January 3d.) Cisalpine Republic erected1797.318Monti meets General Marmont at Rome318He proceeds with him to Florence318Monti, his Admiration of Napoleon318Made Secretary of Foreign Affairs at Milan319He suffers Persecution319A Law passed by the Cisalpine Republic319Monti loses his Situation in consequence319His "Musogonia"319Subject of his Poem entitled "Prometeo"320He obtains the Professor's Chair of Belles Lettres in Brera321Suvaroff and the Austrians drive the French from Italy1799.321End of the Italian Republics321Deplorable Destitution of Monti during his Exile321Goes to Pans on the Invitation of Mareschalchi322He composes a Hymn and an Ode on the Victory of Marengo322He returns to Italy323His Poem, the "Mascheroniana"323His Tragedy, "Caius Gracchus"325The Cisalpine Congress meet at Lyons1802.326Bonaparte made President326Monti, his Ode to Napoleon in the Name of the Congress326He obtains a Professorship at Pavia327Goes to Milan, where a Number of Offices are conferred on him327Napoleon crowned King of Italy1805.327Monti commanded to celebrate the Event327He composes his "Il Benificio"328His "Spada di Federico"329His "Palingenesi"329His "Jerogamia"331Remarks on "the Winged Horse of Arsinoe"332Translation of the Iliad332Visconti, his Praise of Monti's Iliad333Overthrow of Napoleon1814.333Monti loses all his public Employments333Pensions bestowed on him by the Emperor of Austria333He composes the "Mistico Omaggio"334His other Works335Marriage of his Daughter1812.335Her Poem "On a Rose"335The Della Crusca Controversy336Different Dialects of Italy336Bocca Romana337Florentine Dialect337Dispute of Monti with the Tuscans338Extracts from his Letters to his Friend Mustoxidi338Monti resides at Milan340Beauty of his Recitation341Extract of his Letters to a Friend on the Classic and RomanticSchools341Monti resides with his Daughter and Son-in-law, atPesaro1821-1822.343Monti, his Letter to his Wife1821.343Another Letter to his Wife344His Letter, giving a Picture of Italian Manners1822.345His Visit to Pesaro on the Death of his Son-in-law347His Letter to his Friend Mustoxidi347His Illness1823.348(13th of October.) His Death1828.350His Character350His Person351

Arcadian Poetry

303

(19th of February.) His Birth

1754.

305

His Parentage

305

Italian Farmers

305

Early Boyhood of Monti

306

Anecdote of him

306

His Studies at Faenza

307

Destined by his Father to Agricultural Labour; his Dislike ofthis Occupation

307

Ineffectual Attempts of his Father to overcome this

308

His first Italian Poem; he adopts Alighieri as his Model

308

His "Vision of Ezekiel"

308

Cardinal Borghese takes Monti under his Protection; heaccompanies the Cardinal to Rome

309

The Arcadians of the Bosco Parrasio celebrate the Quinquenalliof Pius VI.

1780.

309

Monti made Secretary to the Duke of Braschi

309

His want of political Integrity

310

His Ode on the Marriage of the Duke of Braschi

311

His Ambition excited by the Emulation inspired by Alfieri

1779.

311

His "Aristodemo" acted at Rome with great Success

1787.

312

Plot of this Tragedy

312

Marriage of Monti

313

Hugh Basseville

314

Sent by the French to spread their Revolutionary Tenetsbeyond the Alps

314

His History of the French Revolution

315

His Assassination

1793.

315

(January 19th.) Louis XVI. beheaded

315

Monti, his Poem, the "Basvilliana"

315

His Poem on the French Revolution

316

His Plagiarism

316

Spread of French Republicanism

317

Defeat of the Austrians

317

(January 3d.) Cisalpine Republic erected

1797.

318

Monti meets General Marmont at Rome

318

He proceeds with him to Florence

318

Monti, his Admiration of Napoleon

318

Made Secretary of Foreign Affairs at Milan

319

He suffers Persecution

319

A Law passed by the Cisalpine Republic

319

Monti loses his Situation in consequence

319

His "Musogonia"

319

Subject of his Poem entitled "Prometeo"

320

He obtains the Professor's Chair of Belles Lettres in Brera

321

Suvaroff and the Austrians drive the French from Italy

1799.

321

End of the Italian Republics

321

Deplorable Destitution of Monti during his Exile

321

Goes to Pans on the Invitation of Mareschalchi

322

He composes a Hymn and an Ode on the Victory of Marengo

322

He returns to Italy

323

His Poem, the "Mascheroniana"

323

His Tragedy, "Caius Gracchus"

325

The Cisalpine Congress meet at Lyons

1802.

326

Bonaparte made President

326

Monti, his Ode to Napoleon in the Name of the Congress

326

He obtains a Professorship at Pavia

327

Goes to Milan, where a Number of Offices are conferred on him

327

Napoleon crowned King of Italy

1805.

327

Monti commanded to celebrate the Event

327

He composes his "Il Benificio"

328

His "Spada di Federico"

329

His "Palingenesi"

329

His "Jerogamia"

331

Remarks on "the Winged Horse of Arsinoe"

332

Translation of the Iliad

332

Visconti, his Praise of Monti's Iliad

333

Overthrow of Napoleon

1814.

333

Monti loses all his public Employments

333

Pensions bestowed on him by the Emperor of Austria

333

He composes the "Mistico Omaggio"

334

His other Works

335

Marriage of his Daughter

1812.

335

Her Poem "On a Rose"

335

The Della Crusca Controversy

336

Different Dialects of Italy

336

Bocca Romana

337

Florentine Dialect

337

Dispute of Monti with the Tuscans

338

Extracts from his Letters to his Friend Mustoxidi

338

Monti resides at Milan

340

Beauty of his Recitation

341

Extract of his Letters to a Friend on the Classic and RomanticSchools

341

Monti resides with his Daughter and Son-in-law, atPesaro

1821-1822.

343

Monti, his Letter to his Wife

1821.

343

Another Letter to his Wife

344

His Letter, giving a Picture of Italian Manners

1822.

345

His Visit to Pesaro on the Death of his Son-in-law

347

His Letter to his Friend Mustoxidi

347

His Illness

1823.

348

(13th of October.) His Death

1828.

350

His Character

350

His Person

351


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