[71] Canto ii. 3-11.
[72] Canto vii. 16-51.
[73] Canto vii. 3-11.
[74] Canto iv. 47.
[75] Canto v. 12-57.
[76] I may incidentally point out how often this motive has supplied the plot to modern ballets.
[77] Giov. Imperiale in the Museum Historicum describes him thus: 'Perpetuo moerentis et altius cogitantis gessit aspectum, gracili mento, facie decolori, conniventibus cavisque oculis.'
[78] 'La mia fiera malinconia' is a phrase which often recurs in his letters.
[79] 'Questo segno mi ho proposto: piacere ed onore' (Lettere, vol. v. p. 87).
[80] It should be said that as a man of letters he bore with fools gladly, and showed a noble patience. Of this there is a fine example in his controversy with Della Cruscans. He was not so patient with the publishers and pirates of his works. No wonder, when they robbed him so!