[216] Poggii Opera, p. 365.
[217] 'Adolescens quidam auditor meus,' says Valla in the Antidotum, p. 2. The story is told at length, p. 151. I quote from the Cologne edition of 1527: 'Laurentii Vallæ viri clarissimi in Pogium Florentinum antidoti libri quatuor: in eundem alii duo libelli in dialogo conscripti.'
[218] See Shepherd's Poggio, pp. 470, 471, for specimens of the scurrility on both sides.
[219] The invectives against Valla fill from p. 188 to p. 251 of Poggio's collected works. Part of them is devoted to a defence of his own Latinity, and to a critique of Valla's Elegantiæ. But by far the larger part consists of vehement incriminations. Heresy, theft, lying, forgery, cowardice, filthy living of the most odious description, drunkenness, and insane vanity—such are the accusations, supported with a terrible array of apparent evidence. As in the case of Filelfo, Poggio does not spare his antagonist's father and mother, but heaps the vilest abuse upon everyone connected with him. Valla's Antidote is written in a more tempered spirit and a purer Latin style.
[220] Shepherd, Life of Poggio, p. 474.
[221] Ambrogio Traversari, General of the Camaldolese Order, called her 'fidelissima fœmina.'
[222] Tiraboschi, vol. vi. lib. ii. cap. 2, sect. 15.
[223] Vespasiano, p. 146.
[224] See Platina's panegyric, quoted by Tiraboschi, vol. vi. lib. i. cap. 3, 22. Platina and Perotti were among his Italian protégés.
[225] A striking instance of the want of literary enthusiasm at Venice.