GARDENS OF FLORENTINE HUMANISTS 



green meadow full of flowers, a rivulet murmuring in 

 the grass, and a single bird pouring out its love-song 

 in the hedge. 



Lorenzo's friend, Angelo Poliziano, weaves the same 

 thoughts into still sweeter verse. For delicate charm 

 and grace no poem of the century equals his Ballata 

 " F mi trovai, fanciulle, un bel mattino," 1 in which, 

 forestalling our English poet, he bids fair maidens 

 " gather the roses while they may." 



" Sicche, fanciulle, mentre e piii fiorita, 

 Cogliam la bella rosa del giardino." 



Poliziano was the most distinguished of all the 

 brilliant circle which flourished " in the balmy airs of 

 Careggi as in the shade of the Elysian myrtles." His 

 fame drew visitors from all parts of Italy, and his 

 poetic gifts were in constant requisition. 



" Does a man want a motto for a sword-hilt," he writes 

 from Fiesole to his friend Donato, " a posy for a ring, 

 a device for his bed, his plate, or even his pots and 

 pans, he runs like all the world to Poliziano. There is 

 hardly a wall that I have not besmeared, like a snail, 

 with the effusions of my brain. One man teases me 

 for a glee or a drinking song, another asks for a grave 

 discourse, a third begs for a serenade, a fourth for a 

 carnival ballad." 



1 " I went a roaming, maiden, one bright day, 

 In a green garden, in mid month of May." 



J. A SYMONDS. 



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