N92. Ttahian literature. 23% 
‘gan to find they were ignorant of ; and, as his good 
nature would not suffer that the true manner of 
composing fhould be concealed, he easily persuaded 
‘his companions to accept the offers, and the earnest 
intreaties' of those who wifhed to increase their 
number. Thus a select band was formed, of about 
thirty people, all inclined to write, both in prose and 
in verse, according to the directions of Leonio, 
who was many years older than any of his rising 
pupils. 
Although their meetings were held in remote 
‘parts, and only in the nature of simple recrea- 
tions, they could not remain so concealed, but the 
reputation of them was at last spread in Rome, until 
it came to the ears of some of the most conspicuous 
people. The queen of Sweden would be minutely in- 
formed about it, and finding that it was the pleasure 
of this literary meeting to afsemble in the open air, 
_ and on the verdant fields, fhe very kindly exprefsed her 
wifhes that these well deserving genuises fhould no 
more wander here and there, but offered them her own 
gardens, where they might repeat their productions 
in her presence. Cardinal Azzolini took upon him- 
self to have her withes fulfilled, and Guidi being ac- 
quainted with several of them, was chosen to treat 
the businefs with them. He very willingly accepted 
this employment ; for, as he was very much inclined 
to domineer, by putting himself at the head of a select 
company, which he foresaw would soon get a high 
place in ‘the literary world, he was thus in hopes 
to distinguifh himself from Menzini, whom he con- 
sidered rather as a rival than a cordpanion. But 
the queen’s death overturned all these fine plans ; both 
