any province, city, or territory appertaining to the church, on any of his relatives, to the third generation inclusive. Poggio purchases a villa in Valdarno, and on account of the esteem in which he is held by the republic of Florence, he and his children are exempted from the payment of taxes. He decorates his villa with ancient sculpture and monuments of art. At the age of fifty-five he marries a young lady, whom he celebrates for her great beauty, modesty, and sense, in a number of letters which he writes to his friends, expressing his happiness in the married state. He publishes a collection of his letters, and composes a funeral oration on the death of Niccolo Nic coli. Chap. VIII. Proceedings of the council of Basil, which formally impeach the Pontiff in many accusatons, and summon him to appear within sixty days, under pain of incurring such penalties as the council, in case of his refusing to comply with its requisitions, should think fit to impose upon him. The Pontiff issues a bull, transferring the council to Florence, which the fathers of Basil by a formal act declare null and void, and soon after summon Eugenius to appear and plead to the charges which had been exhibited against him, and on his failing to appear, either in person or by proxy, they pronounced him contumacious, and unanimously decreed that he should be proceeded against accordingly. The Pontiff navjag issued a second bull, summoning the representatives of the Christian community to Ferrara, for the purpose of effecting a union between the Latin and the Greek churches, the Council prohibited all ecclesiastics, under pain of excommunication, from vielding obedience to the mandate of their spiritual sovereign. the conciliatory disposition of the Grecian monarch, they immediately issued a decree, whereby they en gaged to pay the expences which he should incur on his voyage to Italy, and during his residence in that country; and moreover undertook to maintain seven hundred persons of his retinue, including the ecclesiastics whom he might select to participate in their deliberations. But Eugenius being well aware that the Greeks would add considerable weight to the assembly they should resolve to countenance by their presence, sent a sufficient number of gallies to transport Palæologus and his attendants, and transmitted to the Grecian monarch a considerable sum of money to enable him to make his appearance in Italy with a splendour suitable to his exalted station. He decided in favour of the Pope's offer, and the union of the Greek and Latin churches was formed at Ferrara.-In this chapter are also the following contents: An account and censure of an obscene publication, entitled Hermaphroditus.-The council of Basil depose Eugenius and elect Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, Pope in his stead.-Birth of Poggio's eldest son.-Curious correspondence between Poggio and the Duke of Milan.-Continuation of the quarrel between Poggio and Filelfo, Poggio's dialogue on Nobility, and his correspondence with Gregorio Corriario in defence of that dialogue. -Death of Lorenzo de Medicis, and Poggio's funeral eulogium on him. Chap. IX. War between the Florentines and the Duke of Milan.Treachery and death of Vitelleschi.The Duke of Milan makes peace with the Florentines.-Death of Niccolo d'Este Marquis of Ferrara.--Character of his successor Lionello, with whom Poggio corresponds, and sells him a copy of Jerome's Epistles for one hundred ducats, which occasions The Grecian emperor, John Pazologus II. alarmed by the growing the following observation: "If the ower of the Turks, which threat- ducat be estimated at seven shillings ned his dominions with devastation English money, the Epistles of Jead ruin, was induced to hope, that rome were purchased by Lionello at he could by a personal conference, the expence of thirty-five pounds sterccommodate his religious differences ling. From the history of Filelfo it ith the representatives of the Latin appears, that at this time the salary hurch, the European powers might of a public professor of literature * persuaded to lend him effectual rarely exceeded four hundred ducats; ssistance against the hostile attacks so that the price of a couple of vo f the common enemy of the Chris- lumes absorbed one fourth of the sum ian name. When the members of he council of Basil were apprized of which was deemed an adequate annual recompense for the services of a man of consummate learning. The Siculus-Facetia-Historia discepta exhibition of these facts will demon- tiva convivialis, and his letter on the strate the difficulties which obstruct study of law. This chapter notic ed the paths of learning in the four- also his quarrels with George of Tre teenth and fifteenth centuries. It bisond and Tommaso da Rieti.-The will also tend to make the modern renewal of hostilities with Filelfo, and scholar sensible of the tribute of gra- their reconciliation. titude which he owes to the inventor of the typographic art." p. 377. Eugenius had with reluctance yielded to Francesco Sforza the government of Marca d'Aucona, and takes the opportunity of his absence to dispossess him of his government, which displeasing the Florentines, he quitted Florence, and continued a short time at Sienna, where his court was deprived of an illustrious member in the death of Nicolao Albergato, cardinal of Santa Croce, on whom Poggio writes a funeral eulogium.-Memoirs of Tommaso da Sarzano, to whom Poggio dedicates his dialogue on the unhappiness of princes, which dialogue is analized.-Death of Leonardo Aretino, the friend of Poggio in his youth, to whom great respect is paid in funeral honours.-Remarks upon Gianozzo Manetti's oration on that occasion. Poggio disapproving of the oration writes an eulogium on his departed friend, which is followed by his character and the character of his successor Carlo Marsuppini. This chapter closes with the death of Cardinal Julian, who advised the King of Hungary treacherously to attack the Turks, who had withdrawn their forces into Asia, in consequence of a truce just made by that prince with them, but rushing to arms they defeated the Hungarians, killed their King, and routed his forces; a body of the fugitives overtaking Julian, whose pernicious councils they considered as the cause of their calamities, fell upon him and dispatched him with many wounds." p. 400. On the Cardinal, Poggio writes an eulogium. Chap. X. Death of Eugenius IV. He is succeeded in the pontificate by Tommaso de Sarzana, who as sumes the name of Nicolao.-The state of affairs in Italy, and his exemplary conduct are noticed.-Poggio addresses the new pope, and obtains a Liberal reward.-A description of the following works of Poggio is given:— On the vicissitudes of fortune, and on hypocrisy-Invective against the anti-pope Felix-Translation of Xenophon's Cyropædia and of Diodorus Chap. XI. Death of Carlo Aretino -Poggio is chosen chancellor of th Florentine republic, and one of the priori degli arti.-War between th Florentines and the King of Naples.Peace of Lodi.-Death of Nicolas V Account of the quarrel between Poggio and Lorenzo Valla.-Poggio' Dialogue de Miseria humana Corditionis.-Murder of Angelotto, cardinal of St. Mark.-Poggio's transiation of Lucian's Ass, and his History of Florence. His death, character, and an account of his children, five sons and a daughter. His character closes the work. "Inspired by a zealous love of his country, he had constantly prides himself upon the honour of being a citizen of a free state, and he neglected no opportunity which presented itself of increasing and displaying the glory of the Tuscan republic. And this end he most effectually promoted by the splendour of his own accomplishments. He so faithfully improved the advantages which he enjoyed in the course of his education in the Florentine university, that amongst the multitudes of learned men who adorned his age, he occupied a station of the highest emnence. His admission into the Roman chancery, and his continuance in offices of confidence under eight successive pontiffs, afford an ampie proof, not only of his ability in busi ness, but also of his fidelity and inte grity. Honoured by the favour of the great, he did not sacrifice his independence at the shrine of power but uniformly maintained the inge nuous sentiments of freedom. whole tenour of his writings evinces that he united to the accomplish ments of literature an intimate know ledge of the world; and many pa sages might be quoted from his works to prove that the eye of his mind surveyed a wider intellectual horizon than fell to the general lot of the ag in which he lived. He was warm and enthusiastic in his friendly at tachments, and was duteously eager to diffuse the renown of those whom he loved. But acute sensations are The not productive of signal virtues alone; they too frequently betray mankind into capital errors. Poggio was as energetic in the expression of resentment as he was enthusiastic in the testimonies of his esteem. The licentiousness which disgraced the early part of his life, and the indecent levity which occurs in some of his writings, are rather the vices of the times than of the man. Those circumstances did not deprive him of the countenance of the greatest ecclesiastical dignitaries-they did not cause him to forfeit the favour of the pious Eugenius, or of the moral and accomplished Nicolas V. He seems indeed to have recommended himself to most of those with whom he maintained a personal intercourse, by the urbanity of his manners, by the strength of his judgment, and by the sportiveness of his wit. "As a scholar, Poggio is entitled to distinguished praise. By assiduous study he made a considerable proficiency in the Greek language, and became intimately conversant with the works of the Roman classic authors. In selecting, as his exemplar in Latin composition, that most elegant of all models, the style of Cicero, he manifested the discernment of true taste. His spirited endeavours to imitate this exquisite model, were far from being unsuccessful. His diction is flowing, and his periods are well balanced. But by the occasional admission of barbarous words and unauthorized phraseology, he reminds his readers, that at the time when he wrote, the iron age of literature was but lately terminated. His most striking fault is diffuseness diffuseness which seems to arise, not so much from the copiousness of bis thoughts, as from the difficulty which he experienced in clearly expressing his ideas. It must, however, be observed, that he did not, like many modern authors who are cele brated for their Latinity, slavishly confine himself to the compilation of cantos from the works of the ancients. In the prosecution of his literary labours, he drew from his own stores; and those frequent allusions to the customs and transactions of his own times, which render his writings so interesting, must, at a period when the Latin language was just rescued from the grossest barbarism, have rendered their composition peculiarly VOL. I. difficult. When compared with the works of his immediate predecessors, the writings of Poggio are truly astonishing Rising to a degree of elegance, to be sought for in vain in the rugged Latinity of Petrarca and Coluccio Salutati, he prepared the way for the correctness of Politiano, and of the other eminent scholars whose gratitude has reflected such splendid lustre on the character of Lorenzo de Medici." p. 485-487. This work contains the history of the popes, the affairs of the church, and of the states connected with the papal authority, during the life of Poggio, as well as the biography of his contemporaries. sion of Alfred: a Poem in Eight Books. By the Rev. JOSEPH SYMPSON, B. D. 4to. Embellished with two descriptive Plates drawn by Pernotin, and engraved by Minasi. HE author commences this work THE with an advertisement to his readers, describing the nature of his poem, informing them that he has introduced supernatural agents, a species of embellishment to which criticism has given the name of machinery;" to which he adds: “my superna tural agents are denominated Sylphs, though I have represented them as possessing qualities, and performing offices different from such as have been hitherto assigned to those -Gay creature of the elements, "This liberty I thought might be taken without violation of propriety, as Sylphs are beings of modern invention, whose characters are not yet fixed, like those of pagan mythology, from the mention of which the reader would now turn away with contempt." Thy youthful strength has crush'd the savage Dane, Full fifty times his thickest battle torn †, And Victory's standard through his legions borne, Th' audacious hopes of fierce invasion quell'd, And rape and rapine from the land expell'd. Now wisdom's gentler lore, and counsels sage Shed a mild lustre o'er thy riper age; To science now thy vows are all address'd, Science, by whom alone a state is blest, Science, the object of my warmest love, With whom I daily rapturous pleasures prove, Who of my kingdom shares an equal part, And still shall reign sole empress of my heart. "Go then beneath her guidance, and behold All that high Heav'n allows us to unfold, *Logic, Rhetoric, Geometry, History, Harmony, Astronomy, and Morality. + Historians relate that Alfred engaged the Danes in fifty-six pitched battles, with various success, though generally victorious. And much high Heav'n allows. Be her's the task To solve whatever may solution ask; When Europe's sons shall catch the gen'rous flame, A love of knowledge, liberty, and fame; And while they spread from breast to breast the ray, Up the proud steep of glory urge their way. Wake the sweet spirit of th' harmonious lyre, To earth once more divine Astræa call, BOOK III. THE ARGUMENT. A prodigious host of Sylphs, at the command of the Goddess, assemble before her-She directs them to form representations or pictures of the principal events destined to be subservient to the advancement of civilization and knowledge-A view of England invaded by William the Conqueror, and the battle of HastingsObservation of the Goddess on those events-The influence of the popes in promoting the crusades The book concludes with some remarks made by the Goddess on the introduction of the learning of the Saracens into Europe. MICHAEL from Adam's eye the film removed, Which that false fruit that promis'd clearer sight Had bred; then purg'd with euphrasy and rue The visual nerve, for he had much to see, And from the well of life three drops instill'd. See Paradise Lost, Book XI. Notes, p. 213. The Goddess introduces Alfred to the Sylphs, and gives him the follow ing character: BOOK IV. THE ARGUMENT. The wretched condition of learn "Know, ALFRED courts your grace; a ing during the fourteenth and fifteenth chief whose name The guardian virtues: Honour without stain; After a figurative description of the rise and progress of the papal power, the poet thus proceeds, in explanation: "An eye of keen enquiry on his guide The sage astonish'd bent. She thus replied. "Yon phantom, prince! invol'd in dusky gloom, Shadows the giant pow'rs of papal Rome; His head in darkness. Grasping in his hand Bolts forg'd in hell, he shakes the prostrate land. Taught to suppose, with credence weak and blind, Heaven's awful thunder to his arm consign'd, Affecting in Religion's name to bless While, as thou see'st, beneath the open sky, centuries-The art of making gunpowder discovered by ROGER BACON-Observations on the persecutions to which men of science were exposed at that period-The invention of printing-The happy conse. quences of that invention-A personification of Discovery-Columbus arrives at the Bahamian Islands in America-Nasco de Gama doubles the Cape of Good Hope, and prose cutes his voyage to the East IndiesRefinement and knowledge diffused over the globe by commerce. The invention of printing is thus introduced: "At length thy spectres, Ignorance, shall Aly Before the press, and ease the burthened sky. Hail rare device! to favour'd mortals giv'n In the full bounty of indulgent heav'n! Oppression's terror, Freedom's surest guard, Guilt's sharpest scourge, and Virtue's best reward! From the redoubted engine, shake the world. The catapult, with argument's strong blow, Haerlem is the place named where printing was first invented; and after describing the method of using the printing-press, and the advantages resulting from it in the_rapid circulation of knowledge, the Prince suggests the following enquiry, to which we add the reply of the Goddess: "But will the instrument, celestial guide! Return'd the prince, be still to good apply'd? Man prone to evil oft perversely bends The choicest blessings to the worst of ends. Again the Goddess. No, with side-long glance Low cowering, Slander shall by stealth advance, The battery seize, and thence, with hellish |