ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



But the great soldier was far from despising learning ; 

 on the contrary, he devoted every moment of leisure 

 to the study not only of contemporary but of ancient 

 literature. We find him quoting Seneca and bringing 

 forward numerous instances from Roman history in 

 his letters, while Boccaccio relates how, during his 

 wars in Sicily, he actually composed a history of the 

 Crusades in the French language, of which, unfor- 

 tunately, nothing more is known. Above all, he 

 delighted in the society of poets and men of letters, 

 and endeavoured by every means in his power to bring 

 Petrarch to live at Naples, sending him the most 

 pressing invitations again and again, and promising 

 him a new Parnassus between Salerno and Vesuvius. 

 In this he never succeeded, but many of Petrarch's 

 dearest friends, Francesco Nelli, Zanobi da Strada, 

 Giovanni Barili, were his constant guests and chosen 

 companions. So also at times was Boccaccio, who, 

 although he frequently lived at his charge and dedi- 

 cated his work on illustrious women to Niccol6, was 

 not always satisfied with the treatment he received 

 from the Grand Seneschal's dependants, and makes 

 bitter complaints of the neglect he suffered on one 

 occasion. But of all these, the friend whom Niccolo 

 most loved and valued was Zanobi da Strada, a Floren- 

 tine poet, who, little known to posterity, seems to 



have been famous in his own day and received the 



208 



