[Footnote 1:  The materials for this notice have been chiefly collected from the poet’s own writings (rich in autobiographical intimation) and from his latest editor Panizzi.  I was unable to see this writer’s principal authority, Baruffaldi, till I corrected the proofs and the press was waiting; otherwise I might have added two or three more particulars, not, however, of any great consequence.  Panizzi is, as usual, copious and to the purpose; and has, for the first time I believe, critically proved the regularity and connectedness of Ariosto’s plots, as well as the hollowness of the pretensions of the house of Este to be considered patrons of literature.  It is only a pity that his Life of Ariosto is not better arranged.  I have, of course, drawn my own conclusions respecting particulars, and sometimes have thought I had reason to differ with those who have preceded me; but not, I hope, with a presumption unbecoming a foreigner.]

[Footnote 2:  See in his Latin poems the lines beginning, “Haec me verbosas suasit perdiscere leges.” De Diversis Amoribus.]

[Footnote 3: 

  “Mio padre mi caccio con spiedi e lancie,” &c.

Satira vi.

There is some appearance of contradiction in this passage and the one referred to in the preceding note; but I think the conclusion in the test the probable one, and that he was not compelled to study the law in the first instance.  He speaks more than once of his father’s memory with great tenderness, particularly in the lines on his death, entitled De Nicolao Areosto.]

[Footnote 4:  His brother Gabriel expressly mentions it in his prologue to the Scholastica.]

[Footnote 5: 

“Gia mi fur dolci inviti,” &c.

Satira v.]

[Footnote 6:  See, in the present volume, the beginning of Astolfo’s Journey to the Moon.]

[Footnote 7: 

“Me potius fugiat, nullis mollita querelis,
Dum simulet reliquos Lydia dura procos. 
Parte carere omni malo, quam admittere quemquam
In partem.  Cupiat Juppiter ipse, negem.”

Ad Petrum Bembum.]

[Footnote 8:  Panizzi, on the authority of Guicciardini and others.  Giulio and another brother (Ferrante) afterwards conspired against Alfonso and Ippolito, and, on the failure of their enterprise, were sentenced to be imprisoned for life.  Ferrante died in confinement at the expiration of thirty-four years; Giulio, at the end of fifty-three, was pardoned.  He came out of prison on horseback, dressed according to the fashion of the time when he was arrested, and “greatly excited the curiosity of the people.”—­Idem, vol. i. p xii.]

[Footnote 9: 

“Che debbo fare io qui? 
Agli usatti, agli spron (perch’io son grande)
Non mi posso adattar, per porne o trarne.”

          
                                                                                                        Satira ii.]