In Sanzi's Chronicle we seek in vain for the riper beauties of succeeding epics; but the flashes of poetry which it embodies are not the less effective from their simple diction, nor from the comparatively unpolished narrative which they adorn.
No. 699 of the Urbino MSS. contains the collected minor poems and songs of Angelo Galli of Urbino, knight, and secretary to Duke Federigo. They are three hundred and seventy-six in number, all in Italian, and unedited, but beautifully transcribed on vellum by Federigo Veterani. Although varied by the introduction of sacred subjects, most of them are occasional amorous effusions, wherein names of the Montefeltri, Malatesta, Sforza, and other Umbrian families frequently occur. The dates affixed to them extend from 1428 to 1457. It appears that the author attended the Council of Basle in 1442, and he is said by Crescimbeni to have survived until 1496. His mellowed versification is in general superior to that of the age, while his trite and limited matter is pleasingly relieved by many happy turns of thought and graces of language. Though unable to supply any particulars of one who has almost escaped notice, we give place to two specimens of his muse. His canzonet addressed to Caterina, "the noble, beautiful, discreet, charming, gentle, and generous Countess of Urbino," runs thus:
The other is upon Costanza Varana, wife of Alessandro Sforza, and mother of Battista Countess of Urbino.
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"Che la sua faccia bella Mostro d'inverno sempre primavera, Real costume, aspetto di signora, Viso di dea e d'angioli a favella. Ma questa donna, ch'a la mente diva, Depinge di honestà omne suo gesto: Non pur suo guardo honesto, Ma li suo panni, gridan' pudicitia. Questa madonna è el mar' de tutto el senno Renchiuso, e posto dentro da bel ciglio, Chi vuol vecchio consiglio Recinga ai teneri anni di costei. Mille viole e fiore Sparge sopra la neve el suo bel viso; E dolce del suo riso Faria piatoso Silla a la vendetta, E spontaria de Giove omne saetta." |
Federigo Veterani has been repeatedly mentioned as a transcriber of MSS. for Duke Federigo, whom he also served as librarian and secretary, besides being one of the judges at Urbino. Those who have had occasion to examine the library formed by that prince, are well acquainted with his beautiful autograph, and might imagine his whole life to have been spent upon its fair volumes. One of them, containing the Triumphs of Petrarch, No. 351, is subscribed by him, with a memorandum that it was the last of about sixty volumes he had written out before the death of Federigo, which he thus deplores:—
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"Fedrico Veterano fui, che scripse Questo e molti altri, cum justa mercede, Usando diligentia, amore et fede Al Duca Federigo in sin ch'el vixe: Le cui memorie sempre al mondo fixe Sonno e seranno; e ben certo si crede, Mentre sta el mondo e la natura in pede Ch'ogni virtù dal cielo in lui venisse. Quello mi piango, e mai ho 'l viso asciutto; Quel chiamo, quel mi sogno, e quel mi stringo Ai labri, sculpto in cara tavletta; La qual, così machiata del mio lucto, Adoro, honoro in verso, e vivo el fingo, Per lenimento di mia vita abiecta."[90] |
But, in addition to his miscellaneous avocations, Veterani was a copious versifier. Besides an epic, De Progenie Domus Feretranæ, there are other volumes of poetry, apparently his, remaining unedited in the library,[91] of which he continued custodian until the reign of Francesco Maria I. One of those beautiful manuscripts, the fair vellum and gem-like illuminations of which have been the theme of many a eulogy, contains the collected verses of Cristoforo Landini and six other less-known poets of the fifteenth century. On the concluding page, in a trembling and blotted hand, we read these touching lines, the tribute of its lettered scribe to the temporary eclipse of his sovereign's dynasty:[92]—