and
Signer Gotti, and my reasons for thinking that Vaichi and Michelangelo
the younger were right in assuming that the sonnets addressed to
Tommaso de' Cavalieri (especially xxx, xxxi, lii) expressed the poet's
admiration for masculine beauty. See 'Renaissance in Italy, Fine Arts,'
pp. 521, 522. At the same time, though I agree with Buonarroti's first
editor in believing that a few of the sonnets 'risguardano, come si
conosce chiaramente, amor platonico virile,' I quite admit--as what
student of early Italian poetry will not admit?--that a woman is
generally intended under the title of 'Signore' and 'amico.'
[7] _Ridurle_ is his own phrase. He also speaks of _trasmutare_ and
_risoluzione_ to explain the changes he effected.
[8] See Guasti's 'Discorso,' p. xliv.
[9] See in particular 'Orazioni Tie in Salmodia Metafisicale ...
Canzone Prima ... Madrigale iii;' and 'A Berillo, Canzone di
Pentimento, Madrigale ii.'
[10] 'De Libras Proprus,' I 3, quoted by Orelli and Alessandro
d'Ancona. 'Opere di Tommaso Campanella,' vol. I. p 3.
[11] 'Opere di Tommaso Campanella,' vol. I p. ccci.
[12] Campanella's own poetry justified this curious _nom de plume_
adopted for him by his editor. See in particular 'Salmodia
Metafisicale,' canzone terza, madrigale ix.
'Tre canzon, nate a un parto
Da questa mia settimontana testa,
Al suon dolente di pensosa squilla.'
[13] These are the sonnets entitled by Adami 'La detta Congiunzione
cade nella revoluzione della Nativita di Cristo,' and 'Sonetto cavato
dall' Apocalisse e Santa Brigida,' D'Ancona, vol. 1. pp. 97, 98.
[14] In this respect _rifacimento_ of 1623 has greater literary merits--
the merits of mere smoothness, clearness, grammatical coherence, and
intelligibility--than the autograph; and I can understand the
preference of some students for the former, though I do not share it
Michelangelo the younger added fluency and grace to his great-uncle's
composition by the sacrifice of much that is most characteristic, and
by the omission of much that is profound and vigorous and weighty.
PROEM.
_THE PHILOSOPHIC FLIGHT._
_Poi che spiegate._
Now that these wings to speed my wish ascend,
The more I feel vast air beneath my feet,
The more toward boundless air on pinions fleet,
Spurning the earth, soaring to heaven, I tend:
Nor makes them stoop their flight the direful end
Of Daedal's son; but upward sti
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