the authentic particulars of their lives and literary exertions are principally to be drawn in detached and scanty portions, from volumes of rare occurrence, and which lie concealed in situations not always easy of access. If, from the materials which have occurred to the author in his researches, he should appear to have selected too sparingly-his plea is, that he preferred this extreme, to that of entering into a minuteness of detail, which might probably fatigue rather than interest the reader.

Of the authenticity of these biographical and literary notices the intelligent reader will form an estimate from the authorities which have been carefully adduced. It could afford little satisfaction to those who desire to exercise their own judgment, to peruse a collection of mere anecdotes unsanctioned by the vouchers of historic truth.

Much valuable information respecting these learned men, might probably be obtained from sources which the author has not yet had an opportunity of exploring. "Videlicet hoc illud est præcipuè studiorum genus, quod vigiliis augescat-ut cui subinde ceu fluminibus ex decursu, sic accedit ex lectione minutatim quo fiat uberius." He will continue to feel sufficient interest in such a subject, to render him desirous of doing it more justice hereafter, if his present essay should be favourably received by the candid public.

+ Ang, Politiani "Miscellaneor. Præfatio."

MEMOIRS,

&c.

PETRI BEMBI IN OBITUM ANGELI POLITIANI.

While Death exults Lorenzo! o'er thy bier,
And leads triumphant the funereal throng,
High thron'd on sable car ;-his startled ear
Deep tones pervade of elegiac song.

He turns, when lo! a bard, with frenzied air,
In keenest anguish sweeps the golden strings:
Wild is the dirge, in strains that breathe despair,
As thus,-unmindful of himself, he sings:
"Ye Gods! could worth commend affliction's cry,
Could hearts celestial be with pity mov'd,
Yet had he liv'd, had liv'd his people's joy,
Our tears accepted, and our suit approv'd."
Astonish'd, checks his steeds the indignant Pow'r ;
His rankling breast the deep offence retains
That Orpheus once could Erebus explore,

And snatch one victim from his drear domains.

Thou too, presumptuous bard! he sternly cries,
With spells harmonious wouldst my realm invade;
Perish the hand that thus our pow'r defies,
And rashly dares recal a fleeting shade.

He said, and gives the wound; the golden lyre
As sorrowing, vibrates in the master's hand;
So fall'st thou, sweetest of the tuneful choir,
POLITIAN! glory of the Ausonian land.

MEMOIRS,

&c.

POLITIAN.

ANGELUS POLITIANUS (a) was born July 14th. 1454, at Monte Pulciano in Tuscany; and from the name of this town, in Latin Mons Politianus, he derived the surname of Politiano.—His father was a Doctor of the civil law.

His name, according to M. Baillet,

was

(a) This eminent scholar has lately been introduced to the notice of the public with great advantage, in an elegant and judicious work, entitled, "The Life of Lorenzo de' Medici," by W. Roscoe, Esq. Many interesting particulars concerning Politian, and his exertions in the cause of literature, are interspersed in that work; a great part of which I have for that reason omitted. Others have been slightly touched upon, with a view to preserve something like connection in my own narrative.

was Benedictus de Cinis or de Ambroginis; for he considers the former as a corruption of the latter.

Politian, who gave early proofs of an extraordinary genius, (b) had the advantage of Christoforo Landino's instructions in the Latin language. His preceptors in the Greek, were Andronicus of Thessalonica, and Joannes Argyropylus. Fortunate in the endowments of nature, and not less so in the exterior circumstances which brought to light the rich resources of his intellectual powers, and exhibited them to the greatest advantage, his abilities, at a very early period of his life, attracted the notice of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici. An Italian poem, (c) the production of his juvenile

(b) Politian is enumerated by Baillet among his " Enfans célébres par leurs études." Jugemens des savans tom 5. première partie. p. 87. 12mo. Amst. 1725.

(c) "Lucas autem Pulcius nobilis poeta novo et illustri poemate equestres Laurentii ludos celebravit. Cæterum Politiani ludicrum equestris pugnæ spectaculum quod in gratiam Juliani Medicis scripsit, omnium sententiâ præstantius judicatum est, quod e Græcis atque Latinis delectos flores contineret." P. Massonus in vitá Laur. Medicis.