Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 7.djvu/67

 TORQUATO TASSO 37 Europe rang with its praises ; yet the author lay almost perishing in close con> finement, sick, forlorn, and destitute of every comfort. In 1548, Camillo Pellegrini, a Capuan nobleman, and a great admirer of Tasso's genius, published a " Dialogue on Epic Poetry," in which he placed the "Jerusalem" far above the "Orlando Furioso." This testimony from a man of literary distinction caused a great sensation among the friends and admirers of Ariosto. Two academicians of the Crusca, Salviati and De Rossi, attacked the "Jerusalem " in the name of the academy, and assailed Tasso and his father in a gross strain of abuse. From the mad-house Tasso answered with great modera- tion ; defended his father, his poem, and himself from these groundless invec- tives ; and thus gave to the world the best proof of his soundness of mind, and of his manly, philosophical spirit. At length, after being long importuned by the noblest minds of Italy, Al- fonso released him in 1586, at the earnest entreaty of Don Vincenzo Gonzaga, son of the Duke of Mantua, at whose court the poet for a time took up his abode. There, through the kindness and attentions of his patron and friends, he improved so much in health and spirits that he resumed his literary labors, and completed his father's poem, " Floridante," and his own tragedy, " Torrismondo." But, with advancing age, Tasso became still more restless and impatient of dependence, and he conceived a desire to visit Naples, in the hope of obtaining some part of the confiscated property of his parents. Accordingly, having re- ceived permission from the duke, he left Mantua, and arrived in Naples at the end of March, 1588. About this time he made several alterations in his "Jeru- salem," corrected numerous faults, and took away all the praises he had be- stowed on the House of Este. Alfieri used to say that this amended "Jeru- salem " was the only one which he could read with pleasure to himself or with admiration for the author. But as there appeared no hope that his claims would be soon adjusted, he returned to Rome in November, 1588.' Ever harassed by a restless mind, he quitted, one after another, the hospitable roofs which gave him shelter ; and at last, destitute of all resources and afflicted with illness, took refuge in the hospital of the Bergamaschi, with whose founder he claimed rela- tion by the father's side ; a singular fate for one with whose praises Italy even then was ringing. But it should be remembered, ere we break into invectives against the sordidness of the age which suffered this degradation, that the way- wardness of Tasso's temper rendered it hard to satisfy him as an inmate, or to befriend him as a patron. Restored to health, at the grand duke's invitation he went to Florence, where both prince and people received him with every mark of admiration. Those who saw him as he passed along the streets, would exclaim, " See ! there is Tasso ! That is the wonderful and unfortunate poet ! " It is useless minutely to trace his wanderings from Florence to Rome, from Rome to Mantua, and back again tc Rome and Naples. At the latter place he dwelt in the palace of the. Prince of Conca, where he composed a great part of the "Jerusalem Conquered." But having apprehended, not without reason,