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。 If in the 'Sofonisba' the portrayal of character gave place to brilliant declamation； the latter； with its half…sister； caricature； was used far too freely in comedy also。
The writing of tragedies and comedies； and the practice of putting both ancient and modern plays on the stage； continued without intermission； but they served only as occasions for display。 The national genius turned elsewhere for living interest。 When the opera and the pastoral fable came up； these attempts were at length wholly abandoned。
One form of comedy only was and remained nationalthe unwritten； improvised 'Commedia dell' Arte。' It was of no great service in the delineation of character； since the masks used were few in number and familiar to everybody。 But the talent of the nation had such an affinity for this style； that often in the middle of written comedies the actors would throw themselves on their own inspiration； so that a new mixed form of comedy came into existence in some places。 The plays given in Venice by Burchiello； and afterwards by the company of Armonio； Val。 Zuccato； Lod。 Dolce； and others； were perhaps of this character。 Of Burchiello we know expressly that he used to heighten the comic effect by mixing Greek and Slavonic words with the Venetian dialect。 A complete 'Commedia dell' Arte；' or very nearly so； was represented by Angelo Beolco； known as 'Il Ruzzante' （1502…42）； whose customary masks were Paduan peasants； with the names Menato； Vezzo； Billora； etc。 He studied their dialect when spending the summer at the villa of his patron Luigi Cornaro （Aloysius Cornelius） at Codevico。 Gradually all the famous local masks made their appearance； whose remains still delight the Italian populace in our day： Pantalone； the Doctor； Brighella； Pulcinella； Arlecchino； and the rest。 Most of them are of great antiquity； and possibly are historically connected with the masks in the old Roman farces； but it was not till the sixteenth century that several of them were combined in one piece。 At the present time this is less often the case； but every great city still keeps to its local maskNaples to the Pulcinella； Florence to the Stentorello； Milan to its often so admirable Meneghino。
This is indeed scanty compensation for a people which possessed the power； perhaps to a greater degree than any other； to reflect and contemplate its own highest qualities in the mirror of the drama。 But this power was destined to be marred for centuries by hostile forces； for whose predominance the Italians were only in part responsible。 The universal talent for dramatic representation could not indeed be uprooted； and in music Italy long made good its claim to supremacy in Europe。 Those who can find in this world of sound a compensation for the drama； to which all future was denied； have； at all events； no meagre source of consolation。
But perhaps we can find in epic poetry what the stage fails to offer us。 Yet the chief reproach made against the heroic poetry of Italy is precisely on the score of the insignificance and imperfect representation of its characters。
Other merits are allowed to belong to it； among the rest； that for three centuries it has been actually read and constantly reprinted； while nearly the whole of the epic poetry of other nations has become a mere matter of literary or historical curiosity。 Does this perhaps lie in the taste of the readers； who demand something different from what would satisfy a northern public？ Certainly； without the power of entering to some degree into Italian sentiment； it is impossible to appreciate the characteristic excellence of these poems； and many distinguished men declare that they can make nothing of them。 And in truth； if we criticize Pulci； Boiardo； Ariosto； and Berni solely with an eye to their thought and matter； we shall fail to do them justice。 They are artists of a peculiar kind； who write for a people which is distinctly and eminently artistic。
The mediaeval legends had lived on after the gradual extinction of the poetry of chivalry； partly in the form of rhyming adaptations and collections； and partly of novels in prose。 The latter was the case in Italy during the fourteenth century； but the newly…awakened memories of antiquity were rapidly growing up to a gigantic size； and soon cast into the shade all the fantastic creations of the Middle Ages。 Boccaccio； for example； in his 'Visione Amorosa；' names among the heroes in his enchanted palace Tristram； Arthur； Galeotto； and others； but briefly； as if he were ashamed to speak of them； and following writers either do not name them at all； or name them only for purposes of ridicule。 But the people kept them in its memory； and from the people they passed into the hands of the poets of the fifteenth century。 These were now able to conceive and represent their subjects in a wholly new manner。 But they did more。 They introduced into it a multitude of fresh elements； and in fact recast it from beginning to end。 It must not be expected of them that they should treat such subjects with the respect once felt for them。 All other countries must envy them the advantage of having a popular interest of this kind to appeal to； but they could not without hypocrisy treat these myths with any respect。
Instead of this； they moved with victorious freedom in the new field which poetry had won。 What they chiefly aimed at seems to have been that their poems； when recited； should produce the most harmonious and exhilarating effect。 These works indeed gain immensely when they are repeated； not as a whole； but piecemeal； and with a slight touch of comedy in voice and gesture。 A deeper and more detailed portrayal of character would do little to enhance this effect； though the reader may desire it； the hearer； who sees the rhapsodist standing before him； and who hears only one piece at a time； does not think about it at all。 With respect to the figures； which the poet found ready made for him； his feeling was of a double kind； his humanistic culture protested against their mediaeval character； and their combats as counterparts of the battles and tournaments of the poet's own age exercised all his knowledge and artistic power； while at the same time they called forth all the highest qualities in the reciter。 Even in Pulci； accordingly； we find no parody； strictly speaking； of chivalry； nearly humour of his paladins at times approaches it。 By their side stands the ideal of pugnacitythe droll and jovial Morgantewho masters whole armies with his bellclapper； and who is himself thrown into relief by contrast with the grotesque and most interesting monster Margutte。 Yet Pulci lays no special stress on these two rough and vigorous characters； and his story； long after they had disappeared from it； maintains its singular course。 Boiardo treats his characters with the same mastery； using them for serious or comic purposes as he pleases； he has his fun even out of supernatural beings； whom he sometimes intentionally depicts as louts。 But there is one artistic aim which he pursues as earnestly as Pulci； namely； the lively and exact description of all that goes forward。 Pulci