, commonly called the marquis Malvezzi, an Italian writer of eminence,
, commonly called the marquis
Malvezzi, an Italian writer of eminence, was born of a
noble family at Bologna, in 1599. After having finished
his classical and philosophical studies, he applied to the
law, and became a doctor in that faculty in 1616, although
not quite seventeen years of age. After this he cultivated
other sciences, and spent some time and pains upon physic, mathematics, and divinity. He even did not neglect
astrology; in favour of which he always entertained high
prejudices, although he affected outwardly to despise it.
Music and painting were also among the arts in which he
exercised himself for his amusement. He afterwards became a soldier, and served under the duke Feria, governor
of the Milanese. Philip the Fourth of Spain employed
him in several affairs, and admitted him into his council
of war. Letters, however, occupied a good part of his
time, and he was member of the academy of the Gelati at
Bologna. He was the author of several works in Spanish
and Italian: among the latter were, “Discourses upon
the first book of Tacitus’s Annals,
” which he composed at
the age of twenty-three, and dedicated to Ferdinand II.
great duke of Tuscany. There is a great shew of learning in it; too much, indeed, for there are many quotations
from the fathers and scripture, which have but little to do
with Tacitus and modern politics. There are also in it
certain logical distinctions, and subtile reasonings, which
savour of pedantry, and had better become a professor of
philosophy, than a writer upon government and stateaffairs. He died at Bologna, Aug. 11, 1654. His discourses upon Tacitus were translated and published in
English, by sir R. Baker, Lond. 1642, folio. His “Davide
perseguitato
” was translated by Robert Ashley, Romulus and Tarquin,
” by lord H. Gary,
Successi della monarchia di Spagna
”
by Robert Gentilis,