Petrarch, the First Modern Scholar and Man of Letters

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Petrarch, the First Modern Scholar and Man of Letters

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTORY

I. BIOGRAPHICAL

Francesco Petrarca to Posterity

Petrarch's Preface to his First Collection of Letters

II. PETRARCH AND HIS LITERARY CONTEMPORARIES

Petrarch's Passion for Work—The Trials of a Man of Letters

The Visit to the Goldsmith at Bergamo

Petrarch Disclaims all Jealousy of Dante

The Story of Griselda

On the Italian Language and Literature

His Aversion to Logicians

III. THE FATHER OF HUMANISM

To Marcus Tullius Cicero[1]

The Old Grammarian of Vicenza,

On the Nature of Poetry

On the Scarcity of Copyists

Ignorance and Presumption Rebuked

The Young Humanist of Ravenna

IV. TRAVELS

An Excursion to Paris, the Netherlands, and the Rhine

The Ascent of Mount Ventoux

The Charms of Pavia

V. POLITICAL OPINIONS. RIENZO AND CHARLES IV

VI. THE CONFLICT OF MONASTIC AND SECULAR IDEALS

VII. PETRARCH'S CONFESSIONS

VIII. FINALE

Petrarch's Intention to Work until the Last

Отрывок из книги

Francesco Petrarca

A Selection from His Correspondence with Boccaccio and Other Friends, Designed to Illustrate the Beginnings of the Renaissance

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He chose Venice as the most appropriate place to establish his library. The letter in which he offers to leave his books to that city gives us a clear notion of his purpose. Laying aside all regard for classical models, he addressed the Venetian Government in the current Latin of the chancery:

"Francesco Petrarca desires, if it shall please Christ and St. Mark, to bequeath to that blessed Evangelist the books he now possesses or may acquire in the future, on condition that the books shall not be sold or in any way scattered, but shall be kept in perpetuity in some appointed place, safe from fire and rain, in honour of the said saint and as a memorial of the giver, as well as for the encouragement and convenience of the scholars and gentlemen of the said city who may delight in such things. He does not wish this because his books are very numerous or very valuable, but is impelled by the hope that hereafter that glorious city may, from time to time, add other works at the public expense, and that private individuals, nobles, or other citizens who love their country, or perhaps even strangers, may follow his example and leave a part of their books, by their last will, to the said church. Thus it may easily fall out that the collection shall one day become a great and famous library, equal to those of the ancients. The glory which this would shed upon this State can be understood by learned and ignorant alike. Should this be brought about, with the aid of God and of the famous patron of your city, the said Francesco would be greatly rejoiced, and glorify God that he had been permitted to be, in a way, the source of this great benefit. He may write at greater length if the affair proceeds. That it may be quite clear that he does not mean to confine himself in so important a matter to mere words, he desires to accomplish what he promises, etc.

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