We thus meet with a Sforziad, a Borseid, a Laurentiad, a
Borgiad, a Trivulziad, and the like. The object sought after was
certainly not attained; for those who became famous and are now
immortal owe it to anything rather than to this sort of poems, for
which the world has always had an ineradicable dislike, even when they
happen to be written by good poets. A wholly different effect is
produced by smaller, simpler and more unpretentious scenes from the
lives of distinguished men, such as the beautiful poem on Leo X's 'Hunt
at Palo,' or the 'Journey of Aulius II' by Adrian of Corneto. Brilliant
descriptions of hunting-parties are found in Ercole Strozzi, in the
above-mentioned Adrian, and in others; and it is a pity that the modern
reader should allow himself to be irritated or repelled by the
adulation with which they are doubtless filled. The masterly treatment
and the considerable historical value of many of these most graceful
poems guarantee to them a longer existence than many popular works of
our own day are likely to attain.
In general, these poems are good in proportion to the sparing use of
the sentimental and the general. Some of the smaller epic poems, even
of recognized masters, unintentionally produce, by the ill-timed
introduction of mythological elements, an impression that is
indescribably ludicrous.
Pages:
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305