Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 9.djvu/192

 UM^, byKholu«aDd&rti£taof whom be patron, and by theolopaos who looked fur energetic church refonna under a pacific ruler. Unfortunately be realised the hopes only of the artiats, literati, and worldUngs who looked upon the papal court as a centre of amusement.

Leo's personal appearance has been perpetuated for us in BaphBel'a celeDratcd picture at tue Fitti Gallery m Florence, which representa him with CardlDBU Uedici and Rossi. He was not a hjutrbome man. His fat, shiny, effenunate countenance with weak eyes pro- tnides in the piotura from under a cloae-IittJng cap. The unwieldy body is supported by Uiin legs. His movements were sluggish and during ecclesiastical functions his corpulence made him constiintly wipe the perspiration from his face and hands, to the distress of the bystanders. But when he laughed or spoke the unpleasant impression vanished. He had an agreeable voice, knew how to express himself with elegance and vivacity, and his manner was easy and gracious. " Let usenioy the papacy since God has given it to us", he is said to have remarked after his election. The Vene- tian ambassador who related this of him was not un- biased, nor was he in Rome at the timp, newrthtless

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Ouder such circumstances, it is not surprising that the large treasure left by Julius II was entirely dis». pated in two years. In the spring of 1515 the ex- chequer was empty and Leo never after recovered from his fimLnciai emt»rrassment. Various doubtful and reprehensible methods were resorted to for raising money. He created new offices and dignities, and the most exalted places were put up for sale. Jubilees and indulgences were degraded almost entirely into financial transactions, yet without avail, as the treas- ury was ruined. The pope's income amounted to be- tween 500,000 and 000,000 ducats. The papal houso- hold abnc, which Julius II had maintained on 48,000 ducats, now cost

him. He paid no attention to the dangers tbreatc ing the papacy, and gave hunself up unrestrainedly to amusements, that were provided in lavish abundant^. Be was possessed by an insatiable love of pleasure, that distmctive trait of his family. Music, the thea- tre, art, and poetiy appealed to him as to any pam- pered worldling. Though temperate himself, he loved to give lianquets and expensive entertainments, ac- companied by revelry and carousing; and notwith- standing his indolence he had a strong passion for the cbasCi which he conducted every year on the largest scale. From his youth he was an enthusiastic lover of music and attracted to his court the most distin- guished musicians. At table he enjoyed hearing im- provisations, and though it is hard to believe, in view of his dignity and his artistic tastes, the fact remains that he enjoyed also the flat and absurd jokes of buf- foons. Their loose speech and incredible appetites delighted him. In ridicule and caricature he was him- self a master. Pageantry, deur to the pleasure-seek- ing Romans, bull-lights, and the like, were not neg- lected. Every year he amused himself during the carnival with masques, music, theatrical perform- ances, dances, and races. Even during the troubled years of 1520 and 1521 he kept up this frivolous hfc. Id 1620 he took part in unusually brilliant festivities. Theatrical representations, with agreeable music and graceful dancing, were his favourite diversions. The

Kpal palace t>ccame a theatre and the pope did not gitate to attend such improper plays as the immoral "CflJendra" by Bibbiena and Ariosto's indecent " Sup-

Kiti ". His contemporaries all praised and admired .'s unfailing good tamper, which he never entirely lost even in adversity and trouble. Himself cheerful, bis wished to see others cheerful. He was good- natured and liberal and never refused a favour either to bis relatives and fellow Florentines, who flooded Rome and seiaed upon ail official positions, or to the numer- ous other petitioners, artists and poets. His gener- osity was boundless, nor was his pleasure in giving a pose or deaire for vajnglorj-; it came from the heart. He never was ostentatious and attached no impor- tance to ceremonial. He was lavish in works of clior- ity; convents, hospitals, discharged soldiers, poor stu- dents, pilgrims, exiles, cripples, the blind, the sick, the unfortunate of every description were generously ro- membered, and more than oOOO ducats were annually

about four and half million ducats during his pontifi- cate and left a debt amounting to 400,- 000 ducatM. On his unexpected death his creditors faced financial ruin. A lampoon proclaimed tliat "Leo X had consumed three pontiticati's; the treasure of J ulius 11, the revenues of his own reign, and those

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proper, how- to pay full credit to the good qualitiesofLeo. He Cond™ninE was liighly cultivated, susceptible to all that was beautiful, a polished orator and a clover writer, pos- sessed of good memory and judgment, in inanner dignified and majestic. It was genemllv acknowl- edged, even by those who were unfriendly towards him, that he was unfeignedly religious and strictly fulfilled his spiritual duties. lie heard Moss and read his Breviary daily and fasted three times s week. His piety cannot truly be described as deep or spiritual, but that does not justify the continued repetition of his alleged remark: ' Ilow much we and our family have profited by the l»«end of Christ, is sufQciently evident to all ages." John Bale, the apostate English Carmelite, the first to give cur- rency to these words in the tunc of Queen Elizabeth, was not even a contemporary of Leo. Among the many sayings of Leo X that tiavc come down to UB, there is not one of a Bccpticul nature. In his private life he preserved as pope the irrenroachuble reputation that he had borne when a carainal. His citaracler shows a remarkable mingling of ^;ood and bud traits.

The fame of Leo X is due to his promotion of litera- ture, science, and art. Under him Home became more than ever the centre of the literary world. " From all parts", wrot« Cardinal Riario in 131.) to Era.<;mu^ at Rotterdam. " men of letters are hurriing to the Eter- nal City, tneir common country, their support, and their patroness." Poets were especially numerous in Rome and few princes hai-e been so lauded in verse as Leo X. He lavished gifts, favours, positions, titles, not only on real poets and scholars, but often on poetasters and commonplace jesters. He esteemed particularly the papal secretaries Bembo and Sado- Icto, both celebrated poets and prose writers. Bembo cliarmed everyone by his polish and wit. His classic, Ciceronian letters exhibit a rcmaikably varied inter* course with almost all the celebrities of his day. .\mong other thinss, he prepared a critical edition of Dante's works and was a zealous collector of manu- scripts, books, and works of art. Ilia conduct was ncMi