, an Italian author of the seventeenth century, was born at Vincenza,
, an Italian author of
the seventeenth century, was born at Vincenza, Feb. 21
1627. When only nineteen years old, he was honoured
by the king of France, Louis III. with the ribbon of St.
Michael and the title of chevalier. In 1649, his family
were promoted to the rank of nobility at Venice. In that
republic he distinguished himself at the bar, especially
when he returned to Venice, which he had been obliged
to leave for a time in consequence of some indiscretion.
At his leisure hours he cultivated polite literature, and particularly poetry and history. His poems are not without
ease and elegance, although in other respects they partake
largely of the vicious and affected style of his age. He
died at Venice, Dec. 17, 1713, and preserved to the last
his love of study. Besides five dramatic pieces, all set to
music, he wrote 1. “Istoria delle guerre d‘Europa delle
comparsa delle armi Ottomane nell’ Ungheria l'anno 1683,
”
Venice, 2 vols. 4to. These two parts were to have been
followed by four others, two of which were put to press in
1700, but it does not appear that they were ever published.
2. “Composizioni poeticheconsistenti inrimesacre,eroiche,
morali ed amorose,
” Venice, Opere de
Claudio Claudiano tradotte ed arrichite di erudite annotazioni,
” Venice,
, an Italian author of the last century, was born at Venice, October
, an Italian author of the
last century, was born at Venice, October 4, 1685. He
sludied for eight years in the Jesuits’ college of Bologna,
and on his return to his own country, after a course of civil
and canon law, was created doctor in 1706. He began
then to practise at the bar, where he had considerable success, until he arrived at the twenty-fourth year of his age,
when he suddenly changed his profession, and entered the
order of the Theatins, January 12, 1711. He was some
years after catled to Rome, by the general of the order, and
appointed their secretary; and such was his reputation
among them, that he obtained a dispensation, never before
granted by that society, to confess women, six years before
the time prescribed by their laws. He afterwards devoted
much of his time to preaching, through the principal cities
of Italy. On his return to Venice in 1726, he determined
to settle there, dividing his time between the duties of his
profession, and the study of the best ancient authors, and
those of his own country. His first publications were harangues, panegyrics, and funeral orations, few of which
survived him, but the following works were thought entitled
to more durable fame: 1. A translation of Thuanus “De
re Accipitraria,
” and of Bargee’s “Ixeuticon,
” under the
title of “II Falconiere di Jacopo Aug. Thuano, &c. with
the Latin text and learned notes, Venice, 1735, 4to.
2. A translation of Vaniere’s
” Pryedium rusticum,“entitled
” Delia Possessione di Campagna,“Venice, 1748,
8vo, unluckily taken from the edition of 1706, the translator not being acquainted with that of 1730. He translated
also cardinal de Polignac’s
” Anti-Lucretius,“Verona,
1752, 8vo, and published an improvement of the de la
Crusca dictionary, under the title
” Delia volgare
elocuzione, illustrata, ampliata e facilitata, vol. I. contenente
A. B." Venice, 1740, folio. The bookseller being unsuccessful in the sale, this volume only appeared, but the
author, in 1753, published a prospectus in which he professed to have re-modelled the work, and reduced it from
twelve volumes to six. This, however, still remains in manuscript, with many other works from his pen. Our authority does not mention his death.
, an Italian author of the end of the fifteenth century, was a native
, an Italian author of the end of the fifteenth century, was a native of Bologna, where he was much esteemed for his learning and moral character. His master Philip Beroaldo, in his commentary on Apuleius, speaks highly of him as a young man of many accomplishments, and distinguished for his taste in painting, and the knowledge of ancient medals. The time of his death is not known, but is supposed to have taken place before 1528. He published a life of Urceus Codrus, prefixed to that author’s works in various editions, and among others that of Basil, 1540, 4to; and a life of Philip Berualdo, printed with his commentary on Suetonius, Venice, 1510, fol. and in other editions of the same.
, an Italian author of great authority in the science of which he
, an Italian author of great authority in the science of which he may be said to have been
professor, that which the Italians call Scienza cavalleresca,
which embraces all questions relative to nobility, the profession of arms, the ancient customs of chivalry, and the
laws of honour. He was born in 1562, of a noble Milanese
family, and lived and wrote as late as the year 1637, but
beyond that his history cannot be traced. Being the eldest of six brothers, he assumed, in his writings, the title
of signor Metono and Siciano, two fiefs belonging to his
family in the territory of Pavia. From Crescenzi, a contemporary, and author of a “treatise on the nobility of
Italy,
” we learn that Birago was arbitrator of all chivalrous
disputes in Lombardy and that in all parts of Italy he
was consulted as an oracle, and his opinions were decisive,
being considered as a gentleman who united honourable
spirit with high blood. He wrote several works on the
subject, enumerated by Ginguene“, the principal of which
were collected and published in one vol. 4to, under the
title
” Opere cavalleresche distinte in quattro libri, cioè
in discorsi; consigli, libro I e II e decisioni," Bologna,
1686.
, an Italian author, was born of a noble family at Milan in 1518.
, an Italian author, was born of a noble family at Milan in 1518. After he had studied polite learning, philosophy, and physic, in the universities of Italy, he was chosen professor of ethics and politics, in the college founded by Paul Canobio at his instigation; and held this place eighteen years. The senate of Venice engaged him afterwards to remove to Padua, where he explained the philosophy of Aristotle, with so much skill and elegance, that Vimerat, who was professor at Paris under Francis I. returning to Italy upon the death of that king, fixed upon him, preferably to all others, for the publication of his works. He continued at Padua four years, and then returned to Milan; where he continued to teach philosophy till his death, which happened in 1586. Though he was excellently skilled in polite literature, yet he was principally famous for philosophy, being esteemed a second Aristotle, nor was he less illustrious for his probity than for his learning.
eing the cause of their generation; a doctrine which had, indeed, been attacked some years before by an Italian author named Aromatari, but not with that weight of
, an ancient Italian scholar and physician, was born of a noble family at Arezzo, in 1626. He
studied at Padua, where he took the degree of doctor in
philosophy and physic: and very soon afterwards rendered
himself so conspicuous by his talents and acquirements in
these sciences, that he was appointed first physician to the
grand dukes Ferdinand II. and Cosmo III. At this time
the academy del Cimento was occupied in a series of philosophical experiments which gave full scope and employment to Redi’s genius; and at the desire of his noble patron, he undertook the investigation of the salts which are
obtainable from different vegetables. With what success
these experiments were conducted, may be seen by referring to his works. His principal attention, however, was
directed to two more important subjects: viz. the prison of
the viper, and the generation and properties of insects. In
the first of these inquiries he shewed the surprising difference there is between swallowing the viperine poison, and
having it applied to the surface of the body by a wound.
He also proved that, contrary to the assertion of Charas,
the virulence of the poison does not depend upon the rage
or exasperation of the animal, since the poison collected
from a viper killed without being previously irritated, and
dropped into a wound produces the same fatal effects, as
that which is infused into a wound made by the animal
when purposely teazed until it bites. On the subject of
insects, he refuted the doctrine, maintained by all the ancients and by many moderns, of putrefaction being the
cause of their generation; a doctrine which had, indeed,
been attacked some years before by an Italian author named
Aromatari, but not with that weight of facts and force of
argument which are so conspicuous in this treatise and the
rest of Redi’s writings. His observations on various natural
productions brought from the Indies, and on animals that
live within other living animals, “osservazioni intorno agli
animali viventi che si trovano negli animali viventi,
” exhibit
many curious experiments and discoveries. But while he
was thus engaged in philosophical pursuits, he did not neglect the duties of his profession, as a physician. His
letters contain numerous histories of diseases and of their
treatment; for he kept a register of all remarkable cases
and consultations. He was particularly diligent in noticing
the operation of remedies, and in many disorders enjoined
a very abstemious diet. Kedi’s merits, however, were not
confined to philosophy and medicine. He was also an excellent philologist and an elegant poet. His “Bacco in
Toscana
” has lately been edited by Mr. Mathias. All his
writings possess the attraction of a pure and polished style;
and the Academy della Crusca justly regarded him as one
of the best authorities, in the composition of their celebrated
Dictionary. This indefatigable philosopher and amiable
man died at Pisa in 1698, having previously suffered much
from epileptic attacks. After his death, a medal was struck
in honour of his name, by order of Cosmo III. His works
have gone through various editions; but that which was
printed at Naples in 7 vols. 4to, is esteemed the best.