按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
every conceivable excess have retained the strength and the spirit to write critical treatises on the 'Natural History' of Pliny like Filippo Strozzi。 Our business here is not to deal out either praise or blame； but to understand the spirit of the age in all its vigorous individuality。
Besides Florence； there were many cities of Italy where individuals and social circles devoted all their energies to the support of humanism and the protection of the scholars who lived among them。 The correspondence of that period is full of references to personal relations of this kind。 The feeling of the instructed classes set strongly and almost exclusively in this direction。
But it is now time to speak of humanism at the Italian courts。 The natural alliance between the despot and the scholar； each relying solely on his personal talent； has already been touched upon； that the latter should avowedly prefer the princely courts to the free cities； was only to be expected from the higher pay which they there received。 At a time when the great Alfonso of Aragon seemed likely to become master of all Italy； AEneas Sylvius wrote to another citizen of Siena： 'I had rather that Italy attained peace under his rule than under that of the free cities； for kingly generosity rewards excellence of every kind'。 Too much stress has latterly been laid on the unworthy side of this relation； and the mercenary flattery to which it gave rise； just as formerly the eulogies of the humanists led to a too favourable judgement on their patrons。 Taking all things together； it is greatly to the honour of the latter that they felt bound to place themselves at the head of the culture of their age and country； one…sided though this culture was。 In some of the popes； the fearlessness of the consequences to which the new learning might lead strikes us as something truly； but unconsciously； imposing。 Nicholas V was confident of the future of the Church； since thousands of learned men supported her。 Pius II was far from making such splendid sacrifices for humanism as were made by Nicholas； and the poets who frequented his court were few in number； but he himself was much more the personal head of the republic of letters than his predecessor； and enjoyed his position without the least misgiving。 Paul II was the first to dread and mistrust the culture of his secretaries； and his three successors； Sixtus； Innocent； and Alexander； accepted dedications and allowed themselves to be sung to the hearts' content of the poets there even existed a 'Borgiad'； probably in hexameters but were too busy elsewhere； and too occupied in seeking other foundations for their power； to trouble themselves much about the poet…scholars。 Julius II found poets to eulogize him； because he himself was no mean subject for poetry； but he does not seem to have troubled himself much about them。 He was followed by Leo X； 'as Romulus by Numa' in other words after the warlike turmoil of the first pontificate； a new one was hoped for wholly given to the muses。 The enjoyment of elegant Latin prose and melodious verse was part of the programme of Leo's life； and his patronage certainly had the result that his Latin poets have left us a living picture of that joyous and brilliant spirit of the Leonine days； with which the biography of Jovius is filled； in countless epigrams； elegies； odes； and orations。 Probably in all European history there is no prince who； in proportion to the few striking events of his life； has received such manifold homage。 The poets had access to him chiefly about noon； when the musicians had ceased playing； but one of the best among them tells us how they also pursued him when he walked in his garden or withdrew to the privacy of his chamber； and if they failed to catch him there； would try to win him with a mendicant ode or elegy； filled； as usual； with the whole population of Olympus。 For Leo； prodigal of his money； and disliking to be surrounded by any but cheerful faces； displayed a generosity in his gifts which was fabulously exaggerated in the hard times that followed。 His reorganization of the Sapienza has been already spoken of。 In order not to underrate Leo's influence on humanism we must guard against being misled by the toy…work that was mixed up with it； and must not allow ourselves to be deceived by the apparent irony with which he himself sometimes treated these matters。 Our judgement must rather dwell on the countless spiritual possibilities which are included in the word 'stimulus'； and which； though they cannot be measured as a whole； can still； on closer study； be actually followed out in particular cases。 Whatever influence in Europe the Italian humanists have had since 1520 depends in some way or other on the impulse which was given by Leo。 He was the Pope who in granting permission to print the newly found Tacitus； could say that the great writers were a rule of life and a consolation in misfortune； that helping learned men and obtaining excellent books had ever been one of his highest aims； and that he now thanked heaven that he could benefit the human race by furthering the publication of this book。
The sack of Rome in the year 1527 scattered the scholars no less than the artists in every direction； and spread the fame of the great departed Maecenas to the farthest boundaries of Italy。
Among the secular princes of the fifteenth century； none displayed such enthusiasm for antiquity as Alfonso the Great of Aragon； King of Naples。 It appears that his zeal was thoroughly unaffected； and that the monuments and writings of the ancient world made upon him from the time of his arrival in Italy； an impression deep and powerful enough to reshape his life。 With strange readiness he surrendered the stubborn Aragon to his brother； and devoted himself wholly to his new possessions。 He had in his service； either successively or together； George of Trebizond； the younger Chrysoloras； Lorenzo Valla； Bartolommeo Facio and Antonio Panormita； of whom the two latter were his historians； Panormita daily instructed the King and his court in Livy； even during military expeditions。 These men cost him yearly 20；000 gold florins。 He gave Panormita 1；000 for his work： Facio received for the 'Historia Alfonsi'； besides a yearly income of 500 ducats； a present of 1；500 more when it was finished； with the words； 'It is not given to pay you； for your work would not be paid for if I gave you the fairest of my cities； but in time I hope to satisfy you'。 When he took Giannozzo Manetti as his secretary on the most brilliant conditions； he said to him； 'My last crust I will share with you'。 When Giannozzo first came to bring the congratulations of the Florentine government on the marriage of Prince Ferrante； the impression he made was so great； that the King sat motionless on the throne； 'like a brazen statue； and did not even brush away a fly； which had settled on his nose at the beginning of the oration'。 His favourite haunt seems to have been the library of the castle at Naples； where he would sit at a window overlooking the bay； and listen to learned debates on the Trinity。 For he was pro