[328] Quirino is mentioned as "legitimatum, seu forsitan legitimandum," in La Casa's will (Opp. Venezia, Pasinelli, 1752, vol. i. p. lxxvii.). From his name and his age at La Casa's death we ought perhaps to refer this fruit of his amours to the Venetian period of his life and his intimacy with the Quirino family. His biographer, Casotti, says that he discovered nothing about the mother's name (loc. cit. p. lxxiii.).
[329] La Casa received a special commission at Venice in 1546, to prosecute Pier Paolo Vergerio for heresy. When Vergerio went into exile, he did his best to blacken La Casa's character, and used his writings to point the picture he drew in Protestant circles of ecclesiastical profligacy. The whole subject of La Casa's exclusion from the College is treated by his editor, Casotti (Opp. vol. 1. pp. xlv.-xlviii.). That the Bishop of Benevento was stung to the quick by Vergerio's invectives may be seen in his savage answer "Adversus Paulum Vergerium" (Opp. iii. 103), and in the hendecasyllables "Ad Germanos" (Opp. i. 295), both of which discuss the Forno and attempt to apologize for it.
[330] Opp. vol. i. pp. 237-306. Galateo is said to have been a certain Galeazzo Florimonte of Sessa.
[331] Vol. ii. of the Venetian edition, 1752.
[332] Take for instance this outburst from a complimentary sonnet (No. 40, vol. i. p. 70):
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O tempestosa, o torbida procella, Che 'n mar sì crudo la mia vita giri! Donna amar, ch'Amor odia e i suoi desiri, Che sdegno e feritate onor appella. |
Or this opening of the sonnet on Court-honors (No. 26):
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Mentre fra valli paludose ed ime Ritengon me larve turbate, e mostri, Che tra le gemme, lasso, e l'auro, e gli ostri Copron venen, che 'l cor mi roda e lima. |
Or this from a Canzone on his love (No. 2):
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Qual chiuso albergo in solitario bosco Pien di sospetto suol pregar talora Corrier di notte traviato e lasso; Tal io per entro il tuo dubbioso, e fosco. E duro calle, Amor, corro e trapasso. |