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l with a greater man； while he was thoroughly competent to describe the mixed nature of Filippo Maria； and in and through it to represent with accuracy the conditions； the forms； and the consequences of this particular kind of despotism。 The picture of the fifteenth century would be incomplete without this unique biography； which is characteristic down to its minutest details。 Milan afterwards possessed； in the historian Corio； an excellent portrait…painter； and after him came Paolo Giovio of Como； whose larger biographies and shorter 'Elogia' have achieved a world…wide reputation； and become models for subsequent writers in all countries。 It is easy to prove by a hundred passages how superficial and even dishonest he was； nor from a man like him can any high and serious purpose be expected。 But the breath of the age moves in his pages； and his Leo； his Alfonso； his Pompeo Colonna； live and act before us with such perfect truth and reality； that we seem admitted to the deepest recesses of their nature。
Among Neapolitan writers； Tristano Caracciolo； so far as we are able to judge； holds indisputably the first place in this respect； although his purpose was not strictly biographical。 In the figures which he brings before us； guilt and destiny are wondrously mingled。 He is a kind of unconscious tragedian。 That genuine tragedy which then found no place on the stage； 'swept by' in the palace； the street； and the public square。 The 'Words and Deeds of Alfonso the Great；' written by Antonio Panormita during the lifetime of the king； are remarkable as one of the first of such collections of anecdotes and of wise and witty sayings。
The rest of Europe followed the example of Italy in this respect but slowly； although great political and religious movements had broken so many bonds； and had awakened so many thousands to new spiritual life。 Italians； whether scholars or diplomatists； still remained； on the whole； the best source of information for the characters of the leading men all over Europe。 It is well known how speedily and unanimously in recent times the reports of the Venetian embassies in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries have been recognized as authorities of the first order for personal description。 Even autobiography takes here and there in Italy a bold and vigorous flight； and puts before us； together with the most varied incidents of external life； striking revelations of the inner man。 Among other nations； even in Germany at the time of the Reformation； it deals only with outward experiences； and leaves us to guess at the spirit within from the style of the narrative。 It seems as though Dante's 'Vita Nuova；' with the inexorable truthfulness which runs through it； had shown his people the way。
The beginnings of autobiography are to be traced in the family histories of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries； which are said to be not uncommon as manuscripts in the Florentine librariesunaffected narratives written for the sake of the individual or of his family； like that of Buonaccorso Pitti。
A profound self…analysis is not to be looked for in the 'Commentaries' of Pius II。 What we here learn of him as a man seems at first sight to be chiefly confined to the account which he gives of the various steps in his career。 But further reflection will lead us to a different conclusion with regard to this remarkable book。 There are men who are by nature mirrors of what surrounds them。 It would be irrelevant to ask incessantly after their convictions； their spiritual struggles； their inmost victories and achievements。 Aeneas Sylvius lived wholly in the interest which lay near； without troubling himself about the problems and contradictions of life。 His Catholic orthodoxy gave him all the help of this kind which he needed。 And at all events； after taking part in every intellectual movement which interested his age； and notably furthering some of them； he still at the close of his earthly course retained character enough to preach a crusade against the Turks； and to die of grief when it came to nothing。
Nor is the autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini； any more than that of Pius II； founded on introspection。 And yet it describes the whole man not always willinglywith marvelous truth and completeness。 It is no small matter that Benvenuto； whose most important works have perished half finished； and who； as an artist； is perfect only in his little decorative speciality； but in other respects； if judged by the works of him which remain； is surpassed by so many of his greater contemporariesthat Benvenuto as a man will interest mankind to the end of time。 It does not spoil the impression when the reader often detects him bragging or lying； the stamp of a mighty； energetic； and thoroughly developed nature remains。 By his side our modern autobiographers； though their tendency and moral character may stand much higher； appear incomplete beings。 He is a man who can do all and dares do all； and who carries his measure in himself。 Whether we like him or not； he lives； such as he was； as a significant type of the modern spirit。
Another man deserves a brief mention in connection with this subjecta man who； like Benvenuto； was not a model of veracity： Girolamo Cardano of Milan （b。 1500）。 His little book； 'De propria vita；' will outlive and eclipse his fame in philosophy and natural science； just as Benvenuto's Life； though its value is of another kind； has thrown his works into the shade。 Cardano is a physician who feels his own pulse； and describes his own physical； moral； and intellectual nature； together with all the conditions under which it had developed； and this； to the best of his ability； honestly and sincerely。 The work which he avowedly took as his modelthe 'Confessions' of Marcus Aureliushe was able； hampered as he was by no stoical maxims； to surpass in this particular。 He desires to spare neither himself nor others； and begins the narrative of his career with the statement that his mother tried； and failed； to procure abortion。 It is worth remark that he attributes to the stars which presided over his birth only the events of his life and his intellectual gifts； but not his moral qualities； he confesses （cap。 10） that the astrological prediction that he would not live to the age of forty or fifty years did him much harm in his youth。 But there is no need to quote from so well…known md accessible a book； whoever opens it will not lay it down il＇ the last page。 Cardano admits that he cheated at play； that e was vindictive； incapable of all compunction； purposely cruel in his speech。 He confesses it without impudence and without feigned contrition； without even wishing to make himself an object of interest； but with the same simple and sincere love of fact which guided him in his scientific researches。 And； what is to us the most repulsive of all； the old man； after the most shocking experiences and with his confidence in his fellowmen gone； finds himself after all tolerably happy and comfortable。 He has still left him a grandson； immense learning； the fame of his works； money； rank and credit； powerful friends； the knowledge o