Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 7.djvu/63

 TORQUATO TASSO 35 in 1563, at Bologna, where Tasso was then prosecuting his studies. The first sketch of it is still preserved in a manuscript, dated 1563, in the Vatican Library, and printed at Venice in 1 722. Unfortunately, while thus engaged, he was brought into collision with the civil authorities, in consequence of some satirical attacks on the University, which were falsely attributed to him. The charge was re- futed, but not until his papers had been seized and himself imprisoned. This dis- gusted him with Bologna, and he returned to Padua in 1564. There he applied all his faculties to the accomplishment of his epic poem ; collected immense ma- terials from the chronicles of the Crusades ; and wrote, to exercise his critical powers, the " Discorsi " and the " Trattato sulla Poesia." While thus engaged, the Cardinal Luigi d'Este appointed him a gentleman of his court. Speroni en- deavored to dissuade the young poet from accepting that office, by relating the many disappointments which he had himself experienced while engaged in a sim- ilar career. These remonstrances were vain ; Tasso joined the cardinal at Fer- rara at the end of October, 1564, and soon attracted the favorable notice of the Duke Alfonso, brother of the cardinal, and of their sisters ; one of whom, the celebrated Eleanora, is commonly supposed to have exercised a lasting and unhappy influence over the poet's life. Ferrara continued to be his chief place of abode till 1 571, when he was summoned to accompany his patron the car- dinal to France. The gayeties of Ferrara, celebrated in that age for its splen- dor, did not prevent his prosecuting his poetic studies with zeal ; for it appears from his will, quoted by Mr. Stebbing, that, at his departure for France he had written a considerable portion of the "Jerusalem," besides a variety of minor pieces. His reputation was already high at the court of France, where he was received by Charles IX. with distinguished attention. But he perceived, or fan- cied that he saw, a change in the cardinal's demeanor toward him, and, impa- tient of neglect, begged leave to return to Italy. In 1572 he was at Rome with the Cardinal Ippolito d'Este. In the same year he entered the service of the Duke of Ferrara, and resumed with zeal the completion and correction of the " Jerusalem." In 1573, Tasso wrote his beautiful pastoral drama " Aminta." This new pro- duction added greatly to his reputation. He chose simple Nature for his model; and succeeded admirably in the imitation of her. The "Jerusalem Delivered" was completed in 1575. Tasso submitted it to the criticism of the most learned men of that age. The great confusion which prevailed in the remarks of his critics caused him extraordinary uneasiness. To answer their objections, he wrote the " Lettere Poetiche," the best key to the true interpretation of his poem. During 1575, Tasso visited Pavia, Padua, Bologna, and Rome, and in 1576 returned to Ferrara. His abode there never was a happy one ; for his talents, celebrity, and the favor in which he was held, raised up enemies, who showed their spleen in petty underminings and annoyances, to which the poet's suscepti- ble temper lent a sting. He was attracted, however, by the kindness of the duke and the society of the beautiful and accomplished Eleanora, the duke's sister, for