these eminent men, "diu catechumenos in philosophia vester sum.(2)

A friendly dis

tribution of studies was afterwards made To Picus, were assigned

among them.

theological subjects; to Ficinus, his beloved Plato; while Politian undertook publicly to explain the writings of Aristotle. (3) ·

To the kindness of Lorenzo, he had been indebted for his education. (4)

The same kindness,

the struggle betwixt fear and inclination he had actually twice set out, and turned back as often; not being able to collect courage enough to pursue his walk. "Quod mense superiore tardior admodum quam soleam ad te accesserim in causâ sit Saturnus mense etiam superiore retrogradus, postquam ipse ex Capricorno solem in Tauro per Triangulum coepit aspicere. Quod autem heri, bis ad te, et manè et vesperè proficiscens, bis retuli pedem, si qua apud superos culpa est, in culpa sit Jupiter,-heri namque incoepit Jupiter retrogradarius esse, &c." (Ficini Ep. Jo. Pico Mirandulano, lib. viii.) Picus who it is well known, was not addicted to this superstition, by a delicate and ingenious play upon words, rallies the astrologer while he compliments the man. See his letter, inter ep. Ficini lib. viii. Operum tom 1.

kindness had early procured him the citizenship of Florence; placed him in easy and affluent circumstances; probably conferred on him the secular priory of the college of S. Giovanni, which he held; and on his entrance into clerical orders, appointed him a canon of the cathedral of Florence. (f) He generally resided under the same roof with his patron: and was intrusted with the. care of his manuscripts which he assisted in collecting'; and the arrangement of his extensive library. Lorenzo took a peculiar pleasure in his society, and honoured him with his unreserved friendship.

(f) Ad Laurentium pro sacerdotio accepto in templo Divi Pauli, cum adhuc sub judice lis est.

Gratatur Laurens venienti nuper in urbem
Quantum hominum totâ vivit in urbe, mihi.
Atque omnis taceam studium quos copulat, aut tu,
Quosque vetus nobis vinxit amicitia;

Caupo, auceps, lanius, pistor, cocus, institor, urgent
Hinc me unguit tactu fartor, at inde cocus.
Hic me veste trahit: hinc basior, inde salutor:
Occurro his vultu, lumine, voce, manu.
"Gratamur Paulum, quod habes," vox omnibus hæc est,
"Non habeo Paulum," dico.-"Quid ergo?""Nihil."

Inter Polit. Poemata.

the most pleasing and satisfactory evidence, respecting the confidence to which he was admitted by his illustrious benefactor. From them, also, much accurate information may be obtained, with regard to the temper and character of the one, and the other, in scenes, and on occasions, when the human disposition displays itself in its native colours, untrammeled by forms, and unrestrained by disguise. The following sportive effusions of Politian's pen, if not otherwise of importance, deserve to be ranked among testimonies of this nature.

Ad Laurentium Medicem.

Cum referam attonito Medices! tibi carmina plectro,
Ingeniumque tibi serviat omne meum,
Quod tegor attritâ ridet plebecula veste,
Tegmina quod pedibus sint recutita meis:
Quod digitos calige disrupto carcere nudos.
Permittunt cælo liberiore frui:

Intima bombycum vacua est quod stamine vestis,
Sectaque de cæsâ vincula fallit ove.

Ridet, et ignavum sic me putat esse poetam,
Nec placuisse animo carmina nostra tuo.
Tu contra, effusas toto sic pectore laudes
Ingeris, ut libris sit data palma meis.
Hoc tibi si credi cupis, et cohibere popellum,
Laurenti! vestes jam mihi mitte tuas.

While to your praise I consecrate my
With all the zeal devotion can inspire,

lyre,

The

The croud deride my vest grown old and bare,
My slippers sol'd with oeconomic care,

My time-worn hose, where recent chinks betray
Their slender texture, and admit the day:
My tunic too,decay'd by length of years
Its silken warp, nought but the woof appears.
"Sloven"! they cry-" nor think Lorenzo deigns
Thee to admire, or listen to thy strains."

Nathless your suffrage still exalts my lays,
And crowns my temples with the tuneful bays.
To check these sceptics,-still to doubting prone,
Replace my suit, Lorenzo! with your own.

Ad eundem gratiarum actio.

Dum cupio ingentes numeris tibi solvere grates,
LAURENTI! ætatis glória prima tuæ,
Excita jamdudum, longo mihi murmure tandem
Astisit argutâ Calliopeia lyrâ.

Astitit, inque meo preciosas corpore vestes
Ut vidit, pavidum rettulit inde pedem :
Nec potuit culti faciem dea nosse poetæ,
Corporaque in Tyrio conspicienda sinu.
Si minus ergo tibi meritas ago carmine grates,
Frustrata est calamum diva vocata meum.
Mox tibi sublato modulabor pectine versus,
Cultibus assuerit cum mea Musa novis.

Anxious to pay the thanks your bounties claim,
LORENZO! glory of the Tuscan name,
See at my call, Calliope appear!

Her lyre's shrill warblings strike my listening ear.
She stood confest ;-but gaz'd with wild surprize,
Nor knew her poet in his gay disguise.

The

The purple glare,-the rustling of brocade,
Startled each sense; and quick she fled, dismay'd.
Since, oft invok'd, she illudes my feeble lay,
Nor aids, the debt of gratitude to pay :
Excuse the strain, and reconcil'd e'er long,
The tuneful maid shall prompt a nobler song.

He seems to have increased in favour with his patron, in proportion to the numerous testimonies of esteem and admiration which he received from his learned contemporaries. In one of his letters to Donatus, (5) he thus expresses himself: "Lorenzo perused your letter; and although he always esteemed me beyond my desert, yet since the perusal of it, I cannot help observing that he seems to think more favourably of me, and caresses me more than before. When your avocations will permit, write I entreat you, now and then to your friend; under the conviction that you are conferring on me, not merely the obligation of a letter, but stipends, titles of honour, ecclesiastical preferments, and, in a word, all the conveniences of life. For these things I am indebted to the unceasing kindness of Lorenzo: who seems inclined to augment his favours,

(5) Lib. i. ep. 13.