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！
something beautiful； or perfect； or characteristic in themthe blue fields of waving flax； the yellow gorse which covers the hills； even tangled thickets； or single trees； or springs； which seem to him like wonders of nature。
The height of his enthusiasm for natural beauty was reached during his stay on Monte Amiata； in the summer of 1462； when plague and heat made the lowlands uninhabitable。 Half…way up the mountain； in the old Lombard monastery of San Salvatore； he and his court took up their quarters。 There； between the chestnuts which clothe the steep declivity； the eye may wander over all Southern Tuscany； with the towers of Siena in the distance。 The ascent of the highest peak he left to his companions； who were joined by the Venetian envoy； they found at the top two vast blocks of stone one upon the otherperhaps the sacrificial altar of a prehistoric peopleand fancied that in the far distance they saw Corsica and Sardinia rising above the sea。 In the cool air of the hills； among the old oaks and chestnuts； on the green meadows where there were no thorns to wound the feet； and no snakes or insects to hurt or to annoy； the Pope passed days of unclouded happiness。 For the 'Segnatura；' which took place on certain days of the week； he selected on each occasion some new shady retreat 'novos in convallibus fontes et novas inveniens umbras； quae dubiam facerent electionem。' At such times the dogs would perhaps start a great stag from his lair； who； after defending himself a while with hoofs and antlers； would fly at last up the mountain。 In the evening the Pope was accustomed to sit before the monastery on the spot from which the whole valley of the Paglia was visible； holding lively conversations with the cardinals。 The courtiers； who ventured down from the heights on their hunting expeditions； found the heat below intolerable； and the scorched plains like a very hell； while the monastery； with its cool； shady woods； seemed like an abode of the blessed。
All this is genuine modern enjoyment； not a reflection of antiquity。 As surely as the ancients themselves felt in the same manner； so surely； nevertheless； were the scanty expressions of the writers whom Pius knew insufficient to awaken in him such enthusiasm。
The second great age of Italian poetry； which now followed at the end of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth centuries； as well as the Latin poetry of the same period； is rich in proofs of the powerful effect of nature on the human mind。 The first glance at the lyric poets of that time will suffice to convince us。 Elaborate descriptions of natural scenery； it is true； are very rare； for the reason that； in this energetic age； poetry had something else to paint nature vigorously； but no effort to appeal by their reader； which they endeavor to reach solely by their narrative and characters。 Letter… writers and the authors of philosophical dialogues are； in fact； better evidence of the growing love of nature than the poets。 The novelist Bandello； for example； observes rigorously the rules of his department of literature； he gives us in his novels themselves not a word more than is necessary on the natural scenery amid which the action of his tales takes place； but in the dedications which always precede them we meet with charming descriptions of nature as the setting for his dialogues and social pictures。 Among letter…writers； Aretino unfortunately must be named as the first who has fully painted in words the splendid effect of light and shadow in an Italian sunset。
We sometimes find the feeling of the poets； also； itself with tenderness to graceful scenes of country Strozzi； about the year 1480； describes in a Latin elegy the dwelling of his mistress。 We are shown an old ivy…clad house； half hidden in trees； and adorned with weather… stained frescoes of the saints； and near it a chapel much damaged by the violence of the River Po； which flowed hard by； not far off； the priest ploughs his few barren roods with borrowed cattle。 This is no reminiscence of the Roman elegists； but true modern sentiment； and the parallel to ita sincere； unartificial description of country life in generalwill be found at the end of this part of our work。
It may be objected that the German painters at the beginning of the sixteenth century succeeded in representing with perfect mastery these scenes of country life； as； for instance； Albrecht Durer； in his engraving of the Prodigal Son。 But it is one thing if a painter； brought up in a school of realism； introduces such scenes； and quite another thing if a poet； accustomed to an ideal or mythological framework； is driven by inward impulse into realism。 Besides which； priority in point of time is here； as in the descriptions of country life； on the side of the Italian poets。
Discovery of Man
To the discovery of the outward world the Renaissance added a still greater achievement； by first discerning and bringing to light the full； whole nature of man。 This period； as we have seen； first gave the highest development to individuality； and then led the individual to the most zealous and thorough study of himself in all forms and under all conditions。 Indeed； the development of personality is essentially involved in the recognition of it in oneself and in others。 Between these two great processes our narrative has placed the influence of ancient literature because the mode of conceiving and representing both the individual and human nature in general was defined and colored by that influence。 But the power of conception and representation lay in the age and in the people。
The facts which we shall quote in evidence of our thesis will be few in number。 Here； if anywhere in the course of this discussion； the author is conscious that he is treading on the perilous ground of conjecture； and that what seems to him a clear； if delicate and gradual； transition in the intellectual movement of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries； may not be equally plain to others。 The gradual awakening of the soul of a people is a phenomenon which may produce a different impression on each spectator。 Time will judge which impression is the most faithful。
Happily the study of the intellectual side of human nature began； not with the search after a theoretical psychologyfor that； Aristotle still sufficedbut with the endeavor to observe and to describe。 The indispensable ballast of theory was limited to the popular doctrine of the four temperaments； in its then habitual union with the belief in the influence of the planets。 Such conceptions may remain ineradicable in the minds of individuals； without hindering the general progress of the age。 It certainly makes on us a singular impression； when we meet them at a time when human nature in its deepest essence and in all its characteristic expressions was not only known by exact observation； but represented by an immortal poetry and art。 It sounds almost ludicrous when an otherwise competent observer considers Clement VII to be of a melancholy temperament； but defers his judgement to that of the physicians； who declare the Pope of a sanguine…choleric natur