Of the Abbe de SADE. 165 



both meaning the refentment of every fpecies of rivalfhip. In 

 the firft of the fonnets above mentioned, it is raoft probable that 

 the poet meant that Laura's own jealoufy had frequently de- 

 prived him of the happinefs of feeing her *. What gives the 

 ftrongeft fupport to this interpretation, is the affociation of dif- 

 dain with jealoufy : 



E 7 bel vifo cValtrl m ''afconde 

 Chefdegno gelojia celato tiemme. 



And we know, from fome particulars of the life of Petrarch, 

 that Laura had fufficient caufe both of difdain and jealoufy "f^ 

 It is in this mortifying feature, of an otherwife mod virtuous 

 and exemplary character, that we are to feek for the true reafon 

 of thofe changes of deportment which Laura manifested 



towards 



* On this paflage Castelvetro thus remarks : " Si potrebbe intendere di 

 Laura che, fdegnata col Petrarca, gli nafcondefie il vifo : O t perche foffe innamo- 

 rata di fe fteffa, aveffe gelofia che il Petrarca la vedeffe : 



Seforfe ognifuo gioia 

 Net fuo bel vifo e folo, 

 E di full' altro efcbiva. Canz. 13. 



Ma meglio e d'intendere de' parenti, 



-•• 

 Dogliofe per fua dolce campagnia 



La qual Tie toglie invidia e gelojia. — Son. 185." 



■ 



i We learn from his familiar letters, that hhs paffion for Laura had hot reurain- 

 ed him from the indulgence of a meaner amour, with a woman of low manners 

 and of a difagreeable temper ; a, paffion, of courfe, in which the heart had no fhare ; 

 and that, in confequence of this connexion, which was even of fome years duration, 

 and was a fource to him of much difguiet, he had a natural fon and daughter i of 

 the former of whom we find frequent mention made in the courfe of thofe letters. 



Vol. V.— P.JL ¥ 



