84 society of Arcadia. S-fpt. T^*. 



\ezgVits,Eiilih'.oB7-e?:tcatico(Paolo Rcih*,) ayoung man. 

 of great vivacity, who had acquired much fame both in, 

 the public rehearsals, and in singing poetical composi- 

 tions extempore, rose up against the custode, pretenrl- 

 ing he had not fulfilled the lawr, because amongst the 

 six new colleagues, some had been named, who had 

 held that employment before. The complaint was 

 neglected at first, as inconsistent with the consue- 

 tude; but Etdibio insisting, and a strong party form- 

 ing in his favour ; in order to adhere to what is or- 

 dered in the sanction of the laws, the opinion was 

 afked of three experienced Arcadians, for the purpose 

 of directing the general afsembly to a more certain 

 determination. These were Opico Erimaiite'o, (Gra— 



* Pao/o R'j/H i kw yeMi after left Rome. A cardinal who was his- 

 friend, sent to Invite him to drink chocolate with him one morning ; af- 

 ter talking of sever.il things, tlie cardinal begTi :o persuade Ro/li that he 

 rtiouM change air on account of his health. The poet was much surpri- 

 sed at tliis discourse, and much more 0.1 the cardinal's insisting on his 

 going to another country for the benefit of the air, as he never had enjoy- 

 ed better health. However, considering that the cardiml belongeJ to 

 the Inpt'nit-.on, and that his conscience reproached him for having uttered 

 with imprudence, some free propositions in regard to religion, RoUi tonk 

 the hint that his good friend had wiflied to gjve hiro, without revealing t^e 

 inviolable secret of the Ir.quhition, immediately left Rome, and came 

 over to Ergland, where he was perhaps the first man of letters that undtv- 

 took teaching Italian, 3nd> if I vaere to except Vwcenzo MartbieUi, per- 

 haps, I m'ght almost say the last. While in England Rolli made an 

 ticgant translation of Milton's Paradise lost into Italian blank verse. 



I am no srrarger to the fame that Barrctti has acquired among a hw^ 

 but I am not, because of this, dispo'sd to alter' the above opinion. For 

 this SjfBcient reasons might be afsit;ned, were the subject diem; d. vvoj-- 

 thy of the attention of the reader; or were it not an ungracious tafk ta- 

 point out the faults of any one. From these considerations I forbear to 

 enlarge, diough to h.ve s.id J'tls, I IIiQuld have thought, wouldbc bianr.e- 

 able. 



