CHAP. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 48. A. Pont. VI. Ariosto. one of these productions, which was probably addressed to Ippolito de' Medici, and in which he laments that his young patron did not enjoy those opportunities of signalizing himself by his great talents, which would have been afforded him under the pontificate of Leo X. At the same time regretting the sudden extinction of those hopes which the virtues and munificence of that pontiff had inspired. Whilst many of the most distinguished scholars of Italy, attracted by the generosity of the pontiff, had taken up their residence in Rome, the celebrated Ariosto, the chief favourite of the muses and the glory of his age, remained at Ferrara, attached to the court of the cardinal Ippolito d' Este, in whose employment he had lived from the year 1503.(a) During (a) v. Ante, vol. i. chap. ii. p. 126. In the year 1507, he was sent by the cardinal Ippolito to Mantua, to congratulate his sister Isabella d' Este, the wife of the marquis Francesco Gonzago, on the birth of a child. A letter from Isabella to her brother yet remains, and shews that at this time Ariosto had made a considerable progress in his great epic poem, some parts of which he read for her amusement. This letter is also deserving of notice as the production of an elegant and accomplished woman of high rank in Italy. v. Appendix, No. CLXII. XVI. During this period he had rendered many im- CHAP. portant services to Alfonso duke of Ferrara, both in a civil and military capacity; in the former of which he had incurred no less danger than in the latter, particularly on his embassy to Rome in the year 1512, to appease the anger of that irascible pontiff Julius II.(a) The long and friendly intercourse which had subsisted between Ariosto and Leo X. before his elevation to the pontificate, induced the poet soon after that event to hasten to Rome, in the hopes of sharing that bounty which was so liberally bestowed on others of much inferior merit. Leo recognized his old friend; and raising him from the ground, and kissing him on each cheek, assured him of the continuance of his favour and protection.(b) The favour of the pontiff extended, however, no further on this occasion, than to grant him a special bull, to secure to him the emoluments. to arise from the publication of his celebrated poem. U 2 (a) v. Ante, vol. ii. chap. ix. p. 186. (b) "Piegossi a me da la beata sede "La mano, e poi le gote ambe mi prese, Ariosta, Sat. iii. ad. Annib: Malaguzzi. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. A. Pont. VI. 292 CHAP. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. poem. But if the sanguine expectations of the poet were disappointed, his good sense soon convinced him that the blame was not A. Pont. VI. wholly to be imputed to the pope; and whilst he describes, in the most lively manner, the demolition of his hopes, he furnishes even in the midst of his sarcasms a sufficient apology for the pontiff. "Some persons may per"haps observe," says he, in his epistolary satire to Annibale Malaguzzi,(a) "that if I "had gone to Rome in quest of benefices, I might have caught more than one before "this time; especially as I had long been in "favour with the pope, and had ranked among his ancient friends before his virtue "and his good fortune had exalted him to his high dignity; or the Florentines had opened to him their gates; or his brother Giuliano "had taken refuge in the court of Urbino, "where with the author of the Cortegiano, "with Bembo and other favourites of Apollo, "he alleviated the hardships of his exile. 66 When, too, the Medici again raised their "heads in Florence, and the Gonfaloniere THE LIFE OF แ flying from his palace met with his ruin; "and when he went to Rome to take the 66 name (a) Ariosto, Satire iii. XVI. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. "name of Leo, he still preserved his attach- CHA P. 66 ment to me. Often whilst he was legate "has he told me, that he should make no "difference between his brother and myself. A. Pont. VI. "On this account it may appear strange to 66 some, that when I paid him a visit at Rome, "he should have humbled my crest; but to "these I shall reply by a story. Read it, my "friend; for to read it is less trouble to you, "than it was to me to write it. "There was once a season in which the Apologue earth was so parched up with heat, that it of Ariosto "seemed as if Phoebus had again relinquished respecting "the reins to Phaeton. Every well and Leo X. every spring was dry. Brooks and streams, nay even the most celebrated rivers, might "be crossed without a bridge. In these times "lived a shepherd, I know not whether to "call him rich, or incumbered, with herds "and flocks, who having long sought for "water in vain, turned his prayers towards "that Being who never deserts those who "trust in him; and by divine favour he was "instructed, that at the bottom of a certain valley he would find the welcome aid. He immediately departed with his wife, his "children, and all his cattle; and according "to his expectations found the spring. The "well 66 CHAP. A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. A. Pont. VI. "well was not, however, very deep; and having only a small vessel to dispense the "water, he desired his followers not to take "it amiss if he secured the first draught for "himself. The next, says he, is for my wife, "and the third and fourth for my dear chil 66 66 dren, till all their thirst be quenched. The "next must be distributed to such of my "friends as have assisted me in opening the "well. He then attends to his cattle, taking care to supply those first whose death would "occasion him the greatest loss. Under these "regulations they pass on, one after another, to drink. At length At length a poor parrot, which "was very much beloved by its master, cried out, alas! I am neither one of his relations, "nor did I assist in digging the well; nor am "I likely to be of more service to him in fu"ture, than I have been in times past. Others, "I observe, are still behind me; and even I "shall die of thirst if I cannot elsewhere ob"tain relief. With this story, my good cou"sin, you may dismiss those who think that "the pope should prefer me before the Neri, "the Vanni, the Lotti, and the Baci,(a) his nephews 66 (a) Not the names of noble families of Florence, as some |