160 | Account of Fohn of Ravenna. 
ingly fcarce: the materials alfo are, in and treated him as if he had been his own’ 
general, fofcattered, many of them in fon. Ina letter to John de Certaldo*, 
books now almoft forgotten, and buried Petrarch highly extols him, not only for’ 
under the duft of libraries, that it would his genius and talents, but alfo for his 
require a confiderable fhare of time and prudent and virtuous condutt. He 
patience to colleét them. Should ever a poffeffes,” fays he, «© what is very rare in 
hiftory of this kind, however, be at- our times, a great turn for poetry, and a 
tempted, no one would deferve a more noble defire to become acquainted with” 
eonipicuous place im it than John de Ra- every ufeful and ornamental part of 
venna, the feholar of Petrarch, who, knowledge. He is favoured by the 
though he left no works behind him to Mufes, and already attempts verfes of 
atteft his merit, may be jultly conftdered his own; from which one can _foretel, 
as one of the firft revivers of the Greck that, if his life be fpaved, and if he goes” 
dnd Latin languages in the fourteenth on as hitherto, fomething great may be — 
and fifteenth ceuturies. This learned expeéted from hyn.” 4 Ow’ 
man taught with as much fuccefs ashis . Not long, however, after this panegy- 
rafter, Petrarch, wrote; and, by the ric was written, young Malpaghino con- ~ 
oral inftruction which he gave in the ceived an infuperable defire to fee the’ 
rincipal cities of Europe, contributed world; and, notwithftanding all Pe-- 
greatly tothe fupport of that revolution trarel:’s remonftrances, perfifted in his re-" 
3n the arts of teaching and learning, folution of quitting him. Petrarch’s” 
which Petrarch, by his example and paternal care and regard for his pupil ap- 
writings, began. Without him, the pear, on this oceafton, in the moft fa- 
ight which Petrarch had kindled would, vourable light, as may be feen in his 
in all probability, have bee either ex- letters to Donatus; and his whole be- 
tincuifhed, or at leaft obf{cured: and had haviour, though the young man inffted 
he not excited in Italy a defire of being on leaving him, without afligning a fuf- 
acquainted with the treafures of Roman ficient réafon for his precipitate and un- 
literature, Manuel Chryfoloras would grateful conduét, does as much honour” 
wot have been invited to that country, to his head as to his heart. 
and the Greek language would not have — Fhe precipitation with which John de 
been cultivated fo early, and with fo much Ravenna carried kis plen into execution 
aidour.---As little, in general, is known was not likely to make it anfwer his ex- 
refpecting the life and character of this peétations. He departed without taking 
friend to letters, the following account with him letters of recommendation which 
ef him may,,perhaps, not be unaccepta- Petrarch offered him to his friends. He;_ 
ble to thofe fond of hiftorical refearches--- however, purfued his journey over the 
John Malpaghino, commonly called Appenines, amidé contingal rain, give: 
John de Ravenna, from the place of his ing out that he had been difmifled by ' 
birth, was born in the year 1352, of a Petrarch; but, though he experienced 
family diftinguifhed neither by riches nor from many a compaflion to which he wae 
®ability. His father, however, committed not entitled by his condaét, he now be- 
him to-the care of Donatus, the gram- gan to awaken from his dream. He’pro- 
marian, an intimate friend of Petrarch, ceeded, therefore, to Pifa, in order te 
wihio 2t that time tawght the Latin with procure & veel fa carry hin baek to- 
great applaufe at Venice. . Donatus wards Pavia; but being difappointed, 
thoveht he difcovered {uel happy di{po- while his money walted as much as his 
fitions in young Malpaghino, that he re- patience decreaied, he faddenly refolved 
commended him to Petrarch, not only as to travel back ‘acrofs the Appenines. 
an excellent affittant to facilitate bis la- When he defcended into the Ligurian 
‘bours, by redding or tranfcribing for plains, he attempted to wade through @ 
him, but asa youth of the mott promtl- river in the diftri@ of Parma, which was 
tng talents, and worthy of being formed much fwelled by the-rains, and being car- 
under the infpeGion ef the greateh man ried by the force of the ftream into 4 
ef the fourteenth century. whitlpool, he would have loft his life, ha¢ 
It appears from fome of Petrareh’s he not been faved by fome people whs 
letters, for it is frem thefe chiefly we can  were'accidentally pafling that way. After * 
obtain information sefpeéting John de efcaping this danger, “he’atrived, penny — 
Ravenna, that he fully anfwered the ex- cit 
pectations formed of him 3 and that hes *Becter known under the name of Bos- 
rs 3 é i , I7 O° re os = recy ed A ad 
2ven gained the favour and aftettion of  ececin or Beccace.  Ceértaide was the place of 
a 


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Bis pytton {6 muuch, that ne loved bia “his birt : 
a Sot iets 
