CHAP. A. D. 1518. A. Pont. VI. A. Et. 43. was his memory and so highly was he de- (a) This Navagero has himself commemorated in the following lines. VOTA ACMONIS VULCANO. "Has, Vulcane, dicat sylvas tibi Villicus Acmon; 66 Jamque erat ipsa bonis frugibus umbra nocens. "Ure simul sylvas, terra simul igne soluta "Fertilior largo fœnore messis eat. "Ure istas; Phrygio nuper mihi consita colle "Fac, pater, a flammis tuta sit illa tuis." XVII. Musurus at Venice, Navagero became one of CHAP. his most assiduous pupils, and by his indefatigable attention, acquired such a thorough acquaintance with the Greek tongue, as enabled him not only to understand the authors in that language, but to perceive their most refined excellences and convert them to his use in his own writings. (a) For this purpose, it was his custom not only to read, but to copy the works of the authors whom he studied, and this task he had executed more than once in the writings of Pindar, which he always held in the highest admiration.(b) Not confining himself, however, to the study of languages and the cultivation of his taste, he repaired to Padua for the purpose of obtaining instructions in philosophy and eloquence from Pietro Pomponazzo; and it was in that distinguished (a) Vulpius in vitá Naugerii, p. 14. (b) Sic delectaris hoc poeta, ut sæpe eum tua manu accurate descripseris; puto, ut tibi magis fieret fa"miliaris, tum ut edisceretur à te facilius, et teneretur "memoria tenacius. Id quod describendo Thucydidem fe"cit Demosthenes, qui, ut Lucianus ait gos aπaideuтor, "octies illum descripsit; idque ad suam ipsius utilitatem." Aldi Manutii Ep. ad Nauger. in Ed. Pindar. Ven. 1515, 66 66 A. D. 1518. A. Et. 43. A. Pont. VI. XVII. A. Et. 43. A. Pont. VI. CHAP. distinguished seminary of learning that he formed connexions of friendship with FraA. D. 1518. castoro, Rannusio, the three brothers of the Torriani and other men of rank and eminence, which continued unbroken throughout the rest of his life. On his return to Venice he became one of the most able and active supporters of the academy of Aldo Manuzio, and was indefatigable in collecting manuscripts of the ancient authors, several of whose works were published with his emendations and notes, in a more correct and elegant form than they had before appeared. (a) It was, indeed, chiefly (a) Among these were the Orations of Cicero, composing three volumes of the edition of Cicero in eight volumes, printed at the Aldine press in 1519, and the second volume of the edition of the works of Cicero (printed by the Junta at Venice, 1534, in 4 vols. fo.) which were edited by Petrus Victorius, under the title, TOMUS SECUNDUS M. T. ORATIONES HABET, AB ANDREA NAUGERIO, PATRICIO VENETO, SUMMO LABORE AC INDUSTRIA IN HISPANIENSI, GALLICAQUE LEGATIONE, EXCUSSIS PERMULTIS BIBLIOTHECIS, ET EMENDATIORES MULTO FACTAS, ET IN SUAM INTEGRITATEM AD EXEMPLAR CODICUM ANTIQUORUM LONGE COPIOSIUS RESTITUTAS. To which may also be added his Varia Lectiones in omnia opera Ovidii, printed in the Aldine edition of 1516, in three volumes, and again in 1533. These readings are also met with in other editions derived from the Aldine. XVII. ly by his exhortations that Aldo was induced, CHAP. amidst all the calamities of the times, to persevere in his useful undertaking (a) and the obligations which this great scholar and eminent artist owed to Navagero, are expressed in several dedicatory epistles, addressed to him with a warmth of gratitude that evinces the deep sense which Aldo entertained of his merits and his services. An infirm state of. health, occasioned by incessant study, rendered some relaxation necessary, and Navagero therefore accompanied his great patron D'Alviano to his academy at Pordonone, where he had an opportunity of enjoying once more the society of his friend Fracastoro, (b) and where he some time afterwards delivered public instructions. The high reputation which he had now acquired induced the senate to recall (a) Aldi Ep. ad Nauger. Pindari Ed. præf. Ven. 1513. (b) On the reconciliation which took place between Julius II. and the Venetian republic, in the year 1509, and which first broke the formidable league of Cambray (v. ante, vol. ii. chap. viii. p. 109) Navagero addressed to that pontiff, in terms of the highest commendation, a Latin eclogue, which deserves notice, as well from its intrinsic merit, as from the particularity with which it applies to the events before related. A.D. 1518. A. t. 43. A. Pont. VI. XVII. CHAP. recall him to Venice, and to intrust to him the care of the library of cardinal Bessarion, (a) and the task of continuing the history of the republic of Venice, from the termination of the work of his preceptor Sabellicus.(b) It soon, A. D. 1518. A. Pont. VI. A. Et. 43. (a) This collection, which was the foundation of the celebrated library of S. Marco, had in the year 1468 been presented by Bessarion to the Venetians. v. Life of Lor. de' Medici, i. 54. (b) To this work Navagero alludes in the following truly Horatian lines, addressed, "AD BEMBUM, "Qui modo ingentes animo parabam, "Nempe Amor magnos violentus ausus, "Sic eat; fors et sua laus sequetur, "Frontis honores. "Nota Lesboæ lyra blanda Sapphus, "Scripserit quamvis animosum Homerus |
