ge
had been lost in the West. Aurispa lectured for many years at Bologna and
Florence, and ended his days at the literary Court of Ferrara. Philelpho
was one of the most famous of the scholars who returned 'laden with
manuscripts' from Greece. To recover a lost poem or oration was to go far
on the road to fortune, and a very moderate acquaintance with the text
was expected from the hero of the fortunate adventure. When he lectured
on his new discoveries at Florence, where he had established himself in
spite of the Medici, Philelpho according to his own account was treated
with such deference on all sides that he was overwhelmed with
bashfulness; 'All the citizens are turning towards me, and all the ladies
and the nobles exalt my name to the skies.' He was the bitter enemy of
Poggio, and of all who supported the reigning family of Florence. Poggio
had the art of making enemies, though he was a courtier by profession and
had been secretary to eight Popes. He raged against Philelpho in a flood
of scurrilous pamphlets; Valla, the great Latin scholar, was violently
attacked for a mere word of criticism, and Niccolo Perotti, the
grammarian, paid severely for supporting his friend. Poggio was always in
extremes. His eulogies in praise of Lorenzo de' Medici, and Niccolo
Niccoli of Florence are perfect in grace and dignity; his invectives were
as scurrilous as anything recorded in the annals of literature.

Two generous benefactors preceded 'the father of his country' in
providing libraries for Florence. Niccolo Niccoli by common consent was
the great Maecenas of his age; his passion for books was boundless, and he
had gathered the best collection that had been seen in Italy for many
generations. The public was free to inspect his treasures, and any
citizen might either read or transcribe as he pleased; 'In one word,'
wrote Poggio, 'I say that he was the wisest and the most benevolent of
mankind.' By his will he appointed sixteen trustees, among whom was Cosmo
de' Medici, to take charge of his books for the State. Some legal
difficulty arose after his death, but Cosmo undertook to pay all
liabilities if the management of the library were left to his sole
discretion; and the gift of the 'Florentine Socrates' was eventually
added to the books which Cosmo had purchased in Italy or had acquired in
his Levantine commerce.

Another citizen of Florence had rivalled the generosity of Niccoli. The
Chancellor Coluccio Salutati was revere