The services rendered to the cause of literature by Poggio Bracciolini,
have been noticed with due applause by Mr. Roscoe in his celebrated Life
of Lorenzo de’ Medici. From the perusal of that elegant publication, I
was led to imagine, that the history of Poggio must contain a rich fund
of information respecting the revival of letters. A cursory examination
of the Basil edition of his works convinced me that I was not mistaken;
and I felt a wish to direct the attention of the public to the merits of
an author, whose productions had afforded me no small degree of pleasure.
Being apprized that Monsieur L’Enfant had given an account of the life
and writings of Poggio, in two 12mo. volumes, entitled “Poggiana,” I at
first bounded my views to a translation of that work. Upon perusing
it, however, I found it so ill arranged, and in many particulars so
erroneous, that I was persuaded it would be a much more pleasant task
to compose a new Life of Poggio, than to correct the mistakes which
deform the Poggiana. In this idea I was fully confirmed by the perusal of
Recanati’s Osservazioni Critiche, in which Monsieur L’Enfant is convicted
of no less than one hundred and twenty-nine capital errors.
I next turned my thoughts to the translation of the Life of Poggio,
written by Recanati, and prefixed by him to his edition of Poggio’s
History of Florence. But finding this biographical memoir, though
scrupulously accurate, too concise to be generally interesting, and
totally destitute of those minute particularities which alone can give
a clear and correct idea of individual character, I was persuaded that
the labours of Recanati by no means superseded any further attempts to
elucidate the history of Poggio. I therefore undertook the task of giving
a detailed account of the life and writings of that eminent reviver
of literature; and being convinced, from a perusal of his epistolary
correspondence, that his connexions with the most accomplished scholars
of his age would impose upon his biographer the duty of giving some
account of his learned contemporaries, whilst his situation in the
Roman chancery in some degree implicated him in the political changes
which, in his days, distracted Italy, I carefully examined such books
as were likely to illustrate the literary, civil, and ecclesiastical
history of the period of which I had to treat. From these books I have
selected whatever appeared to be relevant to my subject; and I have also
introduced into my narrative, such extracts from the writings of Poggio
as tend to illustrate, not only his own character, but also that of the
times in which he lived.
I now submit the result of my inquiries to the public inspection, not
without experiencing considerable anxiety respecting the fate which
awaits my labours; but at the same time, conscious that I have spared
no pains in searching for information, and that I have in no instance
wilfully deviated from the truth of history. The number and minuteness
of my references to authorities will indeed vouch for my industry, and
for my willingness to facilitate that examination which may occasionally
convict me of error. For errors and inadvertencies I could plead an
excuse, which would perhaps tend to mitigate the severity of criticism,
namely, that the life of Poggio was written during the short intervals of
leisure allowed by a laborious occupation. But of this excuse I cannot
conscientiously avail myself; for I have long been persuaded that the
habits of industry, acquired by the recurrence of daily employment, are
much more productive of that exertion of mind which is necessary to
the successful study of literary composition, than the dignified, but
enervating leisure of the dilettante.