Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/58

68 two distinguished Tuscan gentlemen, who have labored much for a better state of popular education, and to whom I had letters of introduction from persons in Turin, I have unfortunately been unable to meet with, because both are residing in the country—fanno la Villeggiature. I have nevertheless had the opportunity of conversing with some of the most deep-thinking Tuscan patriots, who have aided me in acquiring a better knowledge of the present condition of the country.

I had a great wish to become acquainted with the poet Nicolini, the author of the tragedy, Arnoldo da Brescia, who lives in Florence, where the Grand Duke gave him an asylum, and also a situation in the library, at the time he was under prosecution and would have been imprisoned in Rome, on account of his liberal opinions and anti-papal writings. But Nicolini—I was told—had become misanthropic and melancholy, and did not like to see strangers. I respected his unwillingness, but, oh! how gladly would I have repeated to the noble poet, now tormented with scruples of conscience, on account of his authorly activity, his own heroic words in Arnoldo—io forse errai, Meglio e errar che fermarsi! Amongst the latest most distinguished poets and writers of Tuscany, are Guerazzi and Guisti. The former is a proud and vigorous champion of freedom, of a bitter and caustic spirit. He is the author of various novels, written in the spirit of the time, as La Battaglia di Benevento, L'Asseduta di Firenze, and many others, which are greatly esteemed. The Italians call him the Mathematician of Liberty, because he measures out political rights so accurately,