[236] The MS. of Livy referred to above is now in the library at Holkham; see Roscoe's Lorenzo, p. 389.
[237] Published at Paris in 1791 among Quinque illustrium Poetarum Lusus in Venerem, and again at Coburg in 1824, with annotations by F.G. Forberg.
[238] A man of about sixty-three, and father of twelve legitimate children.
[239] Poggii Opera, pp. 349-354.
[240] Poggio, while professing to condemn the scandals of these poems, writes thus:—'Delectatus sum mehercle varietate rerum et elegantiâ versuum, simulque admiratus sum res adeo impudicas, adeo ineptas, tam venuste, tam composite, a te dici, atque ita multa exprimi turpiuscula ut non enarrari sed agi videantur, nec ficta a te jocandi causâ, ut existimo, sed acta existimari possint.'—Poggii Opera, p. 349.
[241] Especially Bernardino da Siena, Roberto da Lecce, and Alberto da Sarteano. See the note to p. 353 of [Vol. I., Age of the Despots].
[242] See Vespasiano, Vita di Giuliano Cesarini, p. 134.
[243] A curious letter from Guarino to Beccadelli (Rosmini's Vita di Guarino, vol. ii. p. 44, and notes, p. 171) describes the enthusiastic reception given in public to an impostor who pretended to be the author of Hermaphroditus.
[244] De Dictis et Factis Alphonsi Regis Memorabilibus. Æneas Sylvius wrote a commentary on this work, in the preface to which he says, 'Legere potui, quod feci, corrigere vero non potui; nam quid est quod manu tuâ emissum correctione indigeat?'—Opp. Omnia, p. 472. This proves Beccadelli's reputation as a stylist.
[245] What the biographers, especially Vespasiano, relate of Alfonso's ceremonious piety and love of theological reading makes the contrast between him and his Court poet truly astounding.