l
see, an Italian Jew, who copied Italian models. Though, therefore, the
Hebrew poetry of Italy scarcely reaches the front rank, it is
historically of first-rate importance. It represents the only effects of
the Renaissance on Jewish literature. In other countries, the condition
of the Jews was such that they were shut off from external influences.
Their literature suffered as their lives did from imprisonment within
the Ghettos, which were erected both by the Jews themselves and by the
governments of Europe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

S. Morals.--_Italian Jewish Literature_ (_Publications of the
Gratz College_, Vol. 1).

IMMANUEL AND KALONYMOS.

Graetz.--IV, p. 61 [66].

J. Chotzner.--_Immanuel di Romi_, _J.Q.R._, IV, p. 64.

G. Sacerdote.--_Emanuele da Roma's Ninth Mehabbereth_,
_J.Q.R._, VII, p. 711.

JUDAH (LEONE) ROMANO.

Graetz.--IV, p. 68 [73].

MOSES RIETI.

Graetz.--IV, p. 230 [249].

MESSER LEON.

Graetz.--IV, p. 289 [311].

CHAPTER XIX

ETHICAL LITERATURE

Bachya Ibn Pekuda.--Choboth ha-Lebaboth.--Sefer
ha-Chassidim.--Rokeach.--Yedaiah Bedaressi's Bechinath
Olam.--Isaac Aboab's Menorath ha-Maor.--Ibn Chabib's "Eye of
Jacob."--Zevaoth, or Ethical Wills.--Joseph Ibn Caspi.--Solomon
Alami.

A large proportion of all Hebrew books is ethical. Many of the works
already treated here fall under this category. The Talmudical,
exegetical, and philosophical writings of Jews were also ethical
treatises. In this chapter, however, attention will be restricted to a
few books which are in a special sense ethical.

Collections of moral proverbs, such as the "Choice of Pearls,"
attributed to Ibn Gebirol, and the "Maxims of the Philosophers" by
Charizi, were great favorites in the Middle Ages. They had a distinct
charm, but they were not original. They were either compilations from
older books or direct translations from the Arabic. It was far otherwise
with the ethical work entitled "Heart Duties" (_Choboth ha-Lebaboth_),
by Bachya Ibn Pekuda (about 1050-1100). This was as original as it was
forcible. Bachya founded his ethical system on the Talmud and on the
philosophical notions current in his day, but he evolved out of these
elements an original view of life. The inner duties dictated by
conscience were set above all conventional morality. Bachya probed the
very heart of religion. His soul was filled with God, and this
communion, despite the ascetic feelings to which it