Savigny to exhibit more practical
intelligence and more originality of thought than are found in any
commentary on Roman law since the time of Accursius. As a poet he also
distinguished himself greatly. He was the friend and correspondent of
Dante's later years, and possibly of his earlier also, and was
certainly, with Guido Cavalcanti and Durante da Maiano, one of those who
replied to the famous sonnet _A ciascun' alma presa e gentil core_ of
the _Vita Nuova_. In the treatise _De Vulgari Eloquio_ Dante refers to
him as one of "those who have most sweetly and subtly written poems in
modern Italian," but his works, printed at Rome in 1559, do not
altogether justify the praise. Strained and rhetorical as many of his
outcries are, however, Cino is not without moments of true passion and
fine natural eloquence. Of these qualities the sonnet in memory of
Selvaggia, _Io fui in sull' alto e in sul beato monte_, and the canzone
to Dante, _Avegnache di omaggio piu per tempo_, are interesting
examples.
The text-book for English readers is D.G. Rossetti's _Early Italian
Poets_, wherein will be found not only a memoir of Cino da Pistoia,
but also some admirably translated specimens of his verse--the whole
wrought into significant connexion with that friendship of Cino's
which is perhaps the most interesting fact about him. See also Ciampi,
_Vita e poesie di messer Cino da Pistoia_ (Pisa, 1813).
CINQ-MARS, HENRI COIFFIER RUZE D'EFFIAT, MARQUIS DE (1620-1642), French
courtier, was the second son of Antoine Coiffier Ruze, marquis d'Effiat,
marshal of France (1581-1632), and was introduced to the court of Louis
XIII. by Richelieu, who had been a friend of his father and who hoped he
would counteract the influence of the queen's favourite Mlle. de
Hautefort. Owing to his handsome appearance and agreeable manners he
soon became a favourite of the king, and was made successively master of
the wardrobe and master of the horse. After distinguishing himself at
the siege of Arras in 1640, Cinq-Mars wished for a high military
command, but Richelieu opposed his pretensions and the favourite talked
rashly about overthrowing the minister. He was probably connected with
the abortive rising of the count of Soissons in 1641; however that may
be, in the following year he formed a conspiracy with the duke of
Bouillon and others to overthrow Richelieu. This plot was under the
nominal leadership of the king's brother Gaston of Orlea
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