Chapter 25

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

UGO FOSCOLO.

UGO FOSCOLO.

His Birth1778.354His Origin354The Ionian Islands355Foscolo studies at Padua under Cesarotti355His Tragedy of "Thyestes" represented at Venice1797.357Foscolo becomes a voluntary Exile357His "Letters of Jacopo Ortis"357His Opinion of Bonaparte359He visits Tuscany360And Florence360He goes to Milan; Description of the Cisalpine Republic361Foscolo becomes acquainted with Monti361Likeness between him and his imaginary Hero, Ortis362His unfortunate Attachment for a Pisan Lady362He joins the Lombard Legion363Invasion of the Austrio-Russians1800.363Foscolo joins the French Army at Genoa363Siege of Genoa364Foscolo, his Letter to Bonaparte364(June 4th.) Surrender of Genoa365Conveyance of the Garrison to France by the English Fleet;Foscolo accompanies them365"Ortis"366Comparison between Goethe's "Werter" and "Ortis"366Person and Manners of Foscolo369Meeting of a Congress at Lyons to reform the CisalpineRepublic1802.370Foscolo, his "Oration to Bonaparte"370Foscolo holds a Commission in the Italian Legion372His Translation of Sterne's "Sentimental Journey"373He becomes intimate with General Caffarelli1805.375The Brescians375Foscolo, his "Ode on Sepulchres"375He is made Professor of Eloquence in the University of Pavia;his Introductory Oration1808.377He incurs the Displeasure of Bonaparte378Loses his Professorship, and retires to the Lake of Como375Description of the Lake375His Tragedy of "Ajax"379Its Politics found fault with; he is persecuted in consequence380He is exiled from Milan, and visits Tuscany380Manifesto of Lord William Bentinek1813.382Treaty of Fontainebleau382Foscolo, his Adherence to the Cause of Liberty384His Conversation with Pecchio385He resides in Italy385Lord Castlereagh386Arrival of Foscolo in England386His Retreat at St. John's Wood387Pecchio visits him1822.387Foscolo, his "Ricciarda"388The Story on which it is founded388Dedicated to Lord William Russell388Lady Dacre interests herself in behalf of Foscolo1823.389Description of Foscolo's House at South Bank389Imprudence of Foscolo; his pecuniary Difficulties392(October 10th.) His Death1827.392His Character393

His Birth

1778.

354

His Origin

354

The Ionian Islands

355

Foscolo studies at Padua under Cesarotti

355

His Tragedy of "Thyestes" represented at Venice

1797.

357

Foscolo becomes a voluntary Exile

357

His "Letters of Jacopo Ortis"

357

His Opinion of Bonaparte

359

He visits Tuscany

360

And Florence

360

He goes to Milan; Description of the Cisalpine Republic

361

Foscolo becomes acquainted with Monti

361

Likeness between him and his imaginary Hero, Ortis

362

His unfortunate Attachment for a Pisan Lady

362

He joins the Lombard Legion

363

Invasion of the Austrio-Russians

1800.

363

Foscolo joins the French Army at Genoa

363

Siege of Genoa

364

Foscolo, his Letter to Bonaparte

364

(June 4th.) Surrender of Genoa

365

Conveyance of the Garrison to France by the English Fleet;Foscolo accompanies them

365

"Ortis"

366

Comparison between Goethe's "Werter" and "Ortis"

366

Person and Manners of Foscolo

369

Meeting of a Congress at Lyons to reform the CisalpineRepublic

1802.

370

Foscolo, his "Oration to Bonaparte"

370

Foscolo holds a Commission in the Italian Legion

372

His Translation of Sterne's "Sentimental Journey"

373

He becomes intimate with General Caffarelli

1805.

375

The Brescians

375

Foscolo, his "Ode on Sepulchres"

375

He is made Professor of Eloquence in the University of Pavia;his Introductory Oration

1808.

377

He incurs the Displeasure of Bonaparte

378

Loses his Professorship, and retires to the Lake of Como

375

Description of the Lake

375

His Tragedy of "Ajax"

379

Its Politics found fault with; he is persecuted in consequence

380

He is exiled from Milan, and visits Tuscany

380

Manifesto of Lord William Bentinek

1813.

382

Treaty of Fontainebleau

382

Foscolo, his Adherence to the Cause of Liberty

384

His Conversation with Pecchio

385

He resides in Italy

385

Lord Castlereagh

386

Arrival of Foscolo in England

386

His Retreat at St. John's Wood

387

Pecchio visits him

1822.

387

Foscolo, his "Ricciarda"

388

The Story on which it is founded

388

Dedicated to Lord William Russell

388

Lady Dacre interests herself in behalf of Foscolo

1823.

389

Description of Foscolo's House at South Bank

389

Imprudence of Foscolo; his pecuniary Difficulties

392

(October 10th.) His Death

1827.

392

His Character

393

INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

A. D.PAGEPreliminary Remarks1Aborigines of Spain2Silius Italicus2Lucan2The Senecas2The Roman Power in Spain annihilated by the Visigoths3Anecdotes of the Goths3Conquest of Spain by the Moors3The University of Cordova founded by Abdorhaman III.4Settlement of the Jews in Spain4Arabic Authors5The Romances Moriscos5Troubadours5Mosen Jordi de Sant Jordi6The Redondillas7The Cancionero general and the Romancero general9Quotation from Doctor Bowring's Translation of theRedondillas9Romances of Chivalry10Vasco Lobeira1325.10Alphonso X., surnamed the Wise11The Cultivation which he bestowed on the Castilian Language11His Works11The Alphonsine Tables11Alphonso XI.11Spain desolated by Civil Wars12Juan Ruiz12John II., his disastrous Reign1407.12The Marquis of Villena institutes Floral Games13His Death1434.13Marquis of Santillana13Marcias, his melancholy Fate13Juan de Mena, the Ennius of Spain1412.14His Birth14His Origin14He studies at the University of Salamanca14His Works15His Death1456.15Quintano, his Opinion of the "Labyrinto"15Juan de Enzina, Author of the first Spanish Plays17His Birth17His Songs and Lyrics18His Name becomes proverbial in Spain by his Song ofContraries or Absurdities18A Quotation from Doctor Bowring's Translation18Union of the Crowns of Castile and Arragon19Castilian adopted as the classic Language of the Country20

A. D.

PAGE

Preliminary Remarks

1

Aborigines of Spain

2

Silius Italicus

2

Lucan

2

The Senecas

2

The Roman Power in Spain annihilated by the Visigoths

3

Anecdotes of the Goths

3

Conquest of Spain by the Moors

3

The University of Cordova founded by Abdorhaman III.

4

Settlement of the Jews in Spain

4

Arabic Authors

5

The Romances Moriscos

5

Troubadours

5

Mosen Jordi de Sant Jordi

6

The Redondillas

7

The Cancionero general and the Romancero general

9

Quotation from Doctor Bowring's Translation of theRedondillas

9

Romances of Chivalry

10

Vasco Lobeira

1325.

10

Alphonso X., surnamed the Wise

11

The Cultivation which he bestowed on the Castilian Language

11

His Works

11

The Alphonsine Tables

11

Alphonso XI.

11

Spain desolated by Civil Wars

12

Juan Ruiz

12

John II., his disastrous Reign

1407.

12

The Marquis of Villena institutes Floral Games

13

His Death

1434.

13

Marquis of Santillana

13

Marcias, his melancholy Fate

13

Juan de Mena, the Ennius of Spain

1412.

14

His Birth

14

His Origin

14

He studies at the University of Salamanca

14

His Works

15

His Death

1456.

15

Quintano, his Opinion of the "Labyrinto"

15

Juan de Enzina, Author of the first Spanish Plays

17

His Birth

17

His Songs and Lyrics

18

His Name becomes proverbial in Spain by his Song ofContraries or Absurdities

18

A Quotation from Doctor Bowring's Translation

18

Union of the Crowns of Castile and Arragon

19

Castilian adopted as the classic Language of the Country

20


Back to IndexNext