Life of Petrarch (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1841. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... LIFE OF PETRARCH. CHAPTER III. Petrarch falls in love with Laura -- Absurd opinions about Ijaura entertained by the Poet's early biographers -- He is invited by James Colonna to accompany him to his diocese at Lombes--Circumstances which drew the Pope's favour towards James Colonna--Petrarch accepts the Bishop's invitation, and travels with him through Languedoc--They visit Montpelier, Narbonne, and Toulouse--Provencal Poetry -- Floral Games -- Horrible Event in a Monastery of Toulouse -- Their Tour to the highest Mountain of the Pyrenees, and their meeting with an hospitable old Saracen, who invites them to his Castle --Liberal idea of the Mussulman respecting the Prophet's Law about drinking Wine. CHAPTER III. Such is the portrait which our poet gives of James Colonna. A faithful and wise friend is among the most precious gifts of fortune; but, as friendships cannot wholly feed our affections, the heart of Petrarch, at this ardent age, was destined to be swayed by still tenderer feelings. He had nearly finished his twenty-third year without having ever seriously known the passion of love. In that year he first saw Laura. Concerning this lady, at one time, when no life of Petrarch had been yet written that was not crude and inaccurate, his biographers launched into the wildest speculations. One author considered her as an allegorical being; another discovered her to be a type of the Virgin Mary; another thought her an allegory of poetry and repentance. Some denied her even allegorical existence, and deemed her a mere phantom beauty, with which the poet had fallen in love, like Pygmalion with the work of his own creation. All these caprices about Laura's history have been long since dissipated, though the principal facts respecting her were never distinctly veri...