tels et Masqvarudes. -9. Epitaphes. The first Edition of his poems was printed at Paris, par Robert Estienne, 1573, in-4.° SONNET I. « Je vous offre ces vers qu'Amour m'a fait escrire, Celebrant vos honneurs si ie suis bien traité, Accusant vos rigueurs si ie sens du martire. le n'agrandiray point riche d'inuentions, Vos beautez, vos dédains, ma foy, mes passions : Et puis ie n'escry pas pour gloire en acquerir, Ains plustost ie m'écrie au mal qui me transporte, PHILIP DES-PORTES, was born at Chartres, in 1556; and having come to Paris, was patronised by a Bishop, who took him to Rome, where he learned perfectly the Italian lauguage. On his return he applied himself to French Poetry; in which his success procured him many powerful protectors. In 1573, he attended, to Poland, the Duke of Anjou, after wards Henry III, who when he ascended the throne heaped promotions upon him. He used the favour of the King, and his great revenues, so nobly; as to raise no envy. Exempt from ambition, he sought not for dignity, but employed part of his wealth in forming a rich and numerous Library. All persons of merit were well received at his table, which was always well served; and his purse was ever open to those that wanted it. The criticisms excited by jealousy made no impression upon him a poet of his own time having written a book intitled, La rencontre de Muse, in which he pretended that Desportes had taken from the Italian Poets all that was good in his own poetry; he said gaily In truth if I had known that the Author of this book had designed to write against me, I could have furnished him with matter to enlarge it; for I have taken from the Italians much more than he thinks. The pleasure he took in poetry occupied him so entirely that he neglected the care of his own person; and did not take the pains to dress himself suitable to his situation. It is said that one day, apparently before he had obtained the benefices which were afterwards conferred on him, going to court improperly dressed, Henry III asked him how much pension he should confer on him; and having heard his answer, replied: 1 augment your pension to this sum, on condition that you no more appear before me in such dishabile. At the end of his life he renounced poetry of gallantry; and composed only religious pieces. And then it was that he laboured at his translation of the Psalms. He died the 5.th of Oct. 1606, aged 60. His poetry of gallantry is esteemed the best, and considered to be in the style of Tibullus, which obtained for him the name of Prince des Poëtes Erotiques de la France. See Niceron, vol. xxv, 307, etc., also Du Verdier, and De la Croix du Maine. ART. XII. RAFFAELLO, ET FRANCESCO GVALTEROTTI. Rime del Signor Raffaello Gvalterotti. Al Serenissimo Don Franscesco Medici Secondo Gran Duca di Toscana. In Fiorenza, Appresso Bartholomeo Sermartelli. M. D. LXXXI. sm. 4.o See Crescimbeni V. 99. who thus speaks: « RAFFAELLO GUALTEROTTI Fiorentino, del quale è impresso un Volume di Rime in Firenze 1581, fioriva in questi anni; e del suo abbiam veduto anche una Rappresentazione amorosa in versi volgari intitolata La Vergine, e stampate in Firenze, nel 1584. (1) Furono impresse in Firenze l'anno 1581, le Rime del Gualterotti, il quale poi riformolle, e scelsele; e nel 1586. ne fece ristampare la prima parte parimente in Firenze 8.o Notisi, che tra queste Rime vi sono alcune Canzonette intitolate Vaghezze; e per verità sono elleno molto vaghe, e graziose, e degne d'essere imitate. >> ALL' ILLUSTRISSIMO ET REVERENDISSIMO CARDINALE DON FERDINANDO MEDICI. VAGHEZZA TERZA. Mentre io di riua, in riua à l'onde, à l'hore Par che dentro al mio coré Quel mormorare il desio lor risuegli; Di trar lume per dir dal nuouo giorno. Esce, e fugge via l'Alba rugiadosa, [1] Del Gualterotti fu impresso da Cosimo Giunti in Firenze nel 1600. in 4.o un Poema intitolato : L'Universo, overo il Polemidoro, ma non sono che quindici Canti, cioè una parte sola, nè mi è noto, se dall' Autore sia poi stalo compiuto, e se ne abbia data l'altra parte alle stampe. Di lui parla il P. Giulio Negri a car. 478. dell' Istoria de' Fiorentini scrittori, Quella sempre m'accora Vccidendo ogni mia' gioia amorosa, Porger materia al desioso canto. Dolce vaghezza degli Amanti amati, La su per quei giardini almi beati, La consagran le Muse, Amor le inchina. Di porpora, e le chiome intesso d'oro; Dintorno i suoi tesor conduce Aprile Risouuiemmi di voi Principe, et primo honor de i sagri Heroi. Peroche ò glorioso alter FERNANDO Sotto quella odorata, e vaga fronde Il vostro aspetto, et voi il Ciel nasconde, Tal ch' io di lei cantando Canto di voi, e 'l canto al ver risponde: Anzi io fallo, io di lei Canto, et di voi mio Sir cantar vorrei : Che pure al suo simili odor soaui Sparge la Fama del bel nome vostro, E che piu non v' aggraui Non vestite ancor voi di lucid' Ostro? |