22. _Aristotelis Ethicorum Libri decem secundum traductionem Leonardi
Arretini._ _Paris, 1504 & 1510, per Henricum Stephanum_, & _1516, per
Ascensium_.
23. _Aristotelis Politicorum, Libri viii._ per _Leonardum Arretinum in
Latinum traducti. Venetiis, 1504, 1505, 1511, 1517._ _Basil. 1538._
24. _Oeconomicorum Aristotelis libri duo, a Leonardo Arretino in Latinum
conversi. Basileæ, 1538._
25. _Oratio Æschinis in Ctesiphontem a Leonardo Arretino in Latinum
conversa. Basileæ a Cratandro, 1528, 1540._
26. _Oratio Demosthenis contra Aeschinem a Leonardo Arretino in Latinum e
Græco traducta. Basileæ a Cratandro, 1528, 1540._
27. _De crudeli amoris exitu Guisguardi et Sigismundæ Tancredi
Salernitanorum Principis filiæ. Turon, 1467._ This version of Bocaccio’s
well known tale is also printed in the works of Pius II.
28. _Epistolarum Libri viii. ann. 1472, fol. ab Antonio Moreto et
Hieronymo Alexandrino._ A second edition was printed, ann. 1495—a third,
_Augustæ, 1521, apud Knoblochium_—a fourth, _Basileæ, 1535, apud Henricum
Petri_—a fifth, _Basileæ, 1724, apud Albertum Fabricium_—a sixth,
_Florentiæ, 1741, edente Meho_.
29. _Canzone Morale di Messer Lionardo._ This poem is printed in the
third volume of Crescimbeni’s Italian poetry.
The inspection of the foregoing catalogue will evince the diligence
with which Leonardo Aretino prosecuted his studies. The numerous
editions through which many of his works have passed afford a sufficient
indication of the esteem in which they were held by the learned men of
the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
[356] Poggio’s funeral oration for Leonardo is prefixed by Mehus to his
edition of Leonardo’s letters.
[357] _Poggii Oratio Funebris in obitu Leonardi Aretini, apud Mehi
editionem Leonardi Epistolarum, tom. i. p. cxxii._
[358] _Ibid._
[359] _Janotii Manetti Vita a Naldo, apud Muratori Rer. Italic. Script.
tom. xxx. p. 533, 534._
[360] _Tiraboschi Storia della Letter. Ital. tom. vi. p. ii. p. 328, 329._
[361] See the introduction to Poggio’s dialogue on Hypocrisy, in the
_Fasciculus Rer. Expet. et. Fug. tom. ii. p. 571._
[362] _L’Enfant Histoire de la guerre des Hussites et du Conseil de
Basle._
[363] _Mehi Vita Ambrosii Traversarii, p. ccccxix. ccccxx. ccccxxi._
[364] _Mehi Vita Ambros. Travers. ut supra._
[365] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 402._
[366] _Ibid, p. 406._
[367] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 410, 412._
[368] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 416._ The foregoing particulars of
the last illness and death of Eugenius were collected partly from a
narrative of those events by Æneas Sylvius, which is preserved in the
third vol. of Muratori’s _Rer. Italic. Script. p. ii. p. 890_, and partly
from the diary of one of the pontiff’s chamberlains, which occurs in _p.
902_ of the same volume.
[369] The unlettered Shakspeare was much better versed in the natural
history of ecclesiastics than the learned Gianozzo.
“Sometimes she cometh with a tythe-pig’s tail,
Tickling the parson as he lies asleep;
Then dreams he of another benefice.”
[370] _Janotii Manetti Vita Nicolai V. apud Muratori Rer. Italic. Script.
tom. iii. p. 921._
[371] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 417._
[372] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 417._
[373] _Ibid, p. 425._
[374] _Ibid, p. 419._
[375] _Ibid, p. 420._
[376] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 441._
[377] _Poggii Opera, p. 32._
[378] _Poggii Opera, p. 287-292._
[379] “Optimi sanctissimique viri Nicolai quinti summi pontificis
beneficentia id effecit, ut jam querelæ temporum sint prætereundæ, utque
in gratiam aliquando cum fortuà videar rediisse.”—_Poggii Opera, p. 32._
[380] _Poggii Hist. de Variet. Fort. p. 1, 2, 3._
[381] _Poggii Hist. de Variet. Fort. p. 6, 7._
[382] Poggio’s narrative of the discoveries made by Niccolo Conti was
translated into the Portuguese language, by the command of Emanuel I.
king of Portugal. From the Portuguese version, an Italian translation
was made by Giambattista Ramusio, who inserted it in the first volume
of his collection of voyages and travels, printed in folio at Venice,
in the year 1588. A small portion of the first book of the dialogue _De
Varietate Fortunæ_ containing the description of the ruins of Rome, is
printed in the Basil edition of the works of Poggio. A manuscript copy of
the entire dialogue was discovered in the library of the cardinal Pietro
Ottoboni, nephew of pope Alexander VIII., by Lionardo Adami da Bolsena,
who began to prepare it for the press. Lionardo having died before he had
finished the transcript of the first book, the execution of his design
was completed by the Abate Domenico Giorgi da Rovigo, who finished the
transcript of the dialogue, illustrated it with notes, and subjoined to
it fifty-seven of Poggio’s epistles, which had not yet seen the light.
Under the superintendence of the Abate Oliva, the work thus prepared was
printed at Paris, in 4to., an. 1723, by Coustellier.
_Zeno Diss. Voss. tom. i. p. 40. Dominici Georgii Prœfatio ad Poggii
Hist. de Variet. Fort._
[383] _Fasciculus Rer. Expet. et Fugiend. tom. ii. p. 570-583._ An
edition of Leonardo Aretino and Poggio’s dialogues on Hypocrisy was
published by Hieronymus Sincerus Lotharingus, _ex typograghiá Anissoniá,
Lugduni, 1679, in 16mo._
[384] _Poggii Opera, p. 159._
[385] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 417._
[386] _Poggii Opera, p. 155-164._
[387] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 431._
[388] This translation of Diodorus Siculus was printed, _Bononiæ, 1472,
in folio_. _Bandini Catalogus Bibliothecæ Laurentianæ, tom. ii. p. 819._
[389] _Poggii Hist. de Variet. Fortunæ, p. 3._ From the prefatory remarks
which Poggio prefixed to his version of the Cyropædia, and which are
quoted by Bandini, in his _Catalogus Bibliothecæ, Laurentianæ, tom. ii.
p. 351_, it should seem, that by omitting many of the dialogues and
speeches, he had considerably abridged the work of Xenophon, whose eight
books he had compressed into six. An Italian translation of Poggio’s
version of the Cyropædia, made by his son Jacopo, was published at
Florence by the Junta, _an._ 1521. It is worthy of remark, that Poggio
was the first literary character who declared his opinion (an opinion
now generally entertained) that the Cyropædia is not a history, but a
political romance. _Ton. Tr. vol. ii. p. 108._
[390] _Facii Opera, p. 98._
[391] Bartolomeo Facio was a native of Spezia, a sea-port in the Genoese
territory. The most curious inquirers into the history of literature
have not yet been able to ascertain the precise period of his birth.
From many passages however which occur in his works it appears, that he
was indebted for instruction in the Latin and Greek languages to Guarino
Veronese, whom he frequently mentions in terms of affectionate esteem.
Facio was one of the numerous assemblage of scholars that rendered
illustrious the court of Alfonso, king of Naples, by whom he was treated
with distinguished honour. During his residence at Naples, the jealousy
of rivalship betrayed him into a violent quarrel with Lorenzo Valla,
against whom he composed four invectives. The following list of his other
works is extracted from his life, prefixed by Mehus to an edition of his
treatise _De Viris illustribus_, published at Florence, _an._ 1745.
1. _De bello Veneto Clodiano ad Joannem Jacobum Spinulam Liber. Lugd.
1568._
2. _Aliud parvi temporis bellum Venetum_ was printed together with the
former.
3. _De humanæ vitæ felicitate ad Alphonsum Arragonum et Siciliæ regem.
Hanoviæ, typis Vechelianis, 1611. Post epitomen Felini Sandei de Regibus
Siciliæ, &c._
4. _De excellentiâ et præstantiâ hominis._ This work, which is
erroneously ascribed to Pius II., was printed together with the preceding
treatise, _Hanoviæ, 1611_.
5. _De rebus gestis ab Alphonso primo Neapolitanorum rege Commentariorum,
Libri x. Lugduni, 1560, apud hæredes Sebastiani Gryphii, in
4to._—_Ibidem, 1562 & 1566._ The seven first books of this work were also
published, _Mantuæ, anno 1563, a Francisco Philopono_. It has also been
reprinted in various collections of Italian history.
6. _Arriani de rebus gestis Alexandri, Libri viii. Latine redditi.
Basileæ, 1539. in fo. a Roberto Winter._ _Pisauri, 1508._ _Lugduni, 1552._
7. _Epistolæ._ Several of Facio’s epistles are subjoined by Mehus to
his edition of the treatise _De Viris illus_. It is justly observed by
Tiraboschi, that Facio’s style is much more elegant than that of any of
his contemporaries. _Mehi vita Bartolomei Facii._—_Tiraboschi Storia
della Letter. Ital. tom. vi. p. ii. p. 80._
[392] _Facii Opera, p. 99, 100, 101._
[393] _Ton. Tr. vol. ii. p. 110._
[394] _Apostolo Zeno Dissert. Voss. tom. ii. p. 2._
[395] _Ibid, p. 4._
[396] _Ibid._
[397] _Hodius de Græcis Illus. p. 104._
[398] Valla, in his _Antidotus_, tells a ridiculous story of a pugilistic
contest which on occasion of this quarrel took place between Poggio and
George of Trebisond in Pompey’s theatre. This story was related as a fact
in the first edition of this work; but, on further reflection, I agree in
opinion with my Italian translator, that it is a fiction. See _Tonelli,
vol. ii. p. 114._
[399] _Bandini Catalogus Biblioth. Laur. tom. iii. p. 438._
[400] _Muratori Annali, tom. ix. p. 438._ Muratori informs us, that
the joy occasioned by the celebration of this jubilee experienced only
one interruption, which was occasioned by the following accident. As
an innumerable multitude of people were returning on the nineteenth of
December from receiving the pontifical benediction, they were on a sudden
so much alarmed by the braying of an ass, that they trampled upon each
other in such precipitate disorder, that upwards of two hundred perished
in the throng.
[401] It is properly remarked by the Cavaliere Tonelli, _vol. ii. p.
115_, that the whole of the _Facetiæ_ were not published at this time,
and that they came out at uncertain intervals as Poggio increased his
stock of entertaining anecdotes.
[402] _Poggii Opera, p. 420._
[403] Bugiale is derived from the Italian word _Bugia_, a falsehood, and
is interpreted by Poggio “_mendaciorum officina_;” i. e. the manufactory
of lies.
[404] Antonio Lusco was celebrated for his knowledge of the civil law,
which procured him the honour of being selected as a proper person to
assist Francesco Barbaro in revising the municipal regulations of the
city of Vicenza. In the course of his journey to that place he overtook
a Venetian, in whose company he rode to Siena, where they took up their
lodgings for the night. The inn was crowded with travellers, who, on the
ensuing morning, were busily employed in getting their horses out of the
stable in order to pursue their journey. In the midst of the bustle,
Lusco observed his Venetian friend booted and spurred, but sitting with
great tranquillity at the door of the inn. Surprised at seeing him thus
inactive, he told him, that if he wished to become his fellow traveller
for that day’s journey, he must make haste, as he was just going to
mount; on which the Venetian said, “I should be happy to accompany you,
but I do not recollect which is my horse, and I am waiting till the other
guests are gone, in order that I may take the beast which is left.” This
anecdote Lusco communicated to his fellow secretaries; and Poggio did not
fail to insert it in his _Facetiæ_. The horsemanship of the Venetians
appears to have been a fruitful subject of mirth to the frequenters
of the _Bugiale_. The following story proves what utter ignorance of
equestrian affairs the wits of the pontifical chancery imputed to that
amphibious race of men. “As a Venetian,” says Poggio, “was travelling
to Trivigi on a hired horse, attended by a running footman, the servant
received a kick from the beast, and in the first emotion of pain took up
a stone and threw it at the aggressor; but missing his aim, he hit his
master on the loins. The master looking back, and seeing his attendant
limping after him at some distance, asked him why he did not quicken his
pace. The servant excused himself by saying, that the horse had kicked
him: on which his master replied, I see he is a vicious beast, for he has
just now given me a severe kick on the back.” _Agostini Istoria degli
Scrit. Viniz. tom. ii. p. 53_—_Poggii Opera, p. 444, 464._
[405] _Poggii Opera, p. 491._
[406] _Recanati Vita Poggii, p. xxiii._
[407] _Vallæ Antidotus in Poggium, p. 227, 228, et seq._
[408] _Fabliaux ou Contes du xii. et du xiii. Siecle, Fables et Romans
du xiii. traduits ou extraits d’aprés plusieurs manuscrits du tems; avec
des notes historiques et critiques, et les imitations qui out été faites
de ces contes depuis leur origine jusqu’à nos jours. Nouvelle Edition,
augmentée d’une dissertation sur les Troubadours. Par M. le Grand. En
cinq tom. in 18mo. à Paris, 1781._
For the following enumeration of the _Facetiæ_ of Poggio, which appear
to correspond with some of the _Fabliaux_, I am indebted to the friendly
diligence of the late Rev. John Greswell, for many years master of the
college school at Manchester.
The first occurs in _tom. i. p. 299_ of the _Fabliaux_, entitled
_La Culotte des Cordeliers_, and is, with some variations in the
commencement, the _Braccæ Divi Francisci_ of Poggio, _p. 236_ of the
small edition of 1798. In _vol. iii. p. 107_, _Le Testament de l’Ane_,
is in Poggio’s _Facet._ _p. 45, Canis Testamentum_. Same vol. _p. 197_,
_Du Villain et de sa femme_, is in Poggio, _p. 69_, the _Mulier Demersa_,
whose body is to be sought for as floating against the current, _vol.
iii. p. 201_. _Du pré tondu, alias De la femme contrariante_, is the
_Pertinacia Muliebris_ in the _Facetiæ_, _p. 68_. Again, _vol. iii. p.
292_, _Le Meunier d’Aleus_, is in Poggio the story entitled _Quinque
Ova_, _p. 278_ of the _Facetiæ_. _Vol. iv. p. 192_, _Le Villain de
Baïlleul, alias La femme qui fit croire à son Mari qu’il étoit mort_, is
mentioned as imitated by Poggio, but resembles his _Mortuus loquens_,
_p. 275_, only at the close. In Poggio, the young man persuaded that he
was dead, hearing himself abused during the procession of his corpse
to burial, _erecto capite, si vivus essem, sicut sum mortuus, inquit,
dicerem, furcifer, te per gulam mentiri_. In _le Villain de Baïlleul_,
the husband persuaded by his wife that he is dead, Le Curé lui-méme entre
pour chanter ses _oremus_ aprés quoi il emmene la veuve dan la chambre.
Pendant tout ce tems le Villain convaincu qu’il était mort, restait
toujours sous le drap, sans remuer non plus qu’un cadavre. Mais entendant
un certain bruit dans la chambre, et soulevant son linceul pour regarder:
coquin de Pretre s’ecrie-t-il, tu dois bien remercier Dieu de ce que je
suis mort, car sans cela, mordie, tu perirais ici sous le baton. _Vol.
iii. p. 287_, _De la Bourgeoise d’Orléans, alias De la dame qui fit
battre son Mari_, is said to be imitated in Poggio’s _Fraus Muliebris_,
_p. 20_, but with much variation. _Vol. iv. p. 304_, _De l’Anneau ...
(Par Haisiau)_. All the account of this is as follows: Quoique le grave
President Fauchet ait donné l’extrait de ce _Fabliau_, je n’en parlerais
point si je n’avais à remarquer sur celuici, comme sur le précédent
qu’il a été imité. Ou le trouve dans Vergier sous le titre de _l’Anneau
de Merlin_. This is the _Annulus_ which Poggio (_Facet. p. 141_) gives
Philephus.
In addition to the above, _Le Médecin de Bral, aliàs le Villain dévenu
Médecin_, _tom. ii. p. 366_, from which Moliere has borrowed his _Médecin
malgré lui_, is in some parts imitated in the _Poggiana_, where an
account is given of an expeditious method of clearing the sick list of
an hospital on his estate, by an Italian cardinal. Deguisé en Médecin il
leur declara qu’ on ne pouvait les guerir qu’ avec un onguent de graisse
humaine, mais des qu’il eut proposé de tirer au sort à qui serait mis
dans la chaudiere, tous viderent l’hôpital. _Vol. iii. p. 95_, _Les
deux Parasites_, (une assez mauvaise plaisanterie) in the _Facetiæ_
of Frischlinus is attributed to Poggio, and is in his _Facetiæ_, _p.
67_, _Danthis Faceta Responsio_. When Dante was dining with Canis
Scaliger, the courtiers had privately placed all the _bones_ before
him. Versi omnes in solum Dantem, mirabantur cur ante ipsum solummodo
ossa conspicerentur, tum ille, Minimè inquit mirum, si Canes ossa sua
commederunt; ego autem non sum _Canis_. Le Grand does not notice this as
contained in the _Facetiæ_ of Poggio; but the resemblance is as great as
between most of those that he notices.
[409] _Poggii Opera, p. 219._
The popularity of the _Facetiæ_ is evinced by the number of editions
through which that work has passed; seven different impressions of it are
thus enumerated by De Bure, who erroneously gives to Poggio the prœnomen
of Franciscus.
1. _Francisci Poggii Florentini Facetiarum Liber; editio vetustissima et
originalis absque loci et anni indicatione, sed cujus in fronte apparet
Epistola prœfatoria Bernardi cujusdam in senium deducti ad militem
Raymundum Dominum Castri Ambrosii dicata, in 4to._
De Bure conjectures, that this edition was printed at Rome by George
Laver or Ulric Han, in 1470.
2. _Ejusdem Edito vetus et secunda originalis absque loci et anni
indicatione ulla, sed typis Vindelini Spirensis, aut saltem Nicolai
Jenson Gallici excusa Venetiis circa, an. 1471, in fol._