THE “GERUSALEMME LIBERATA.”

Problem of Creating Heroic Poetry—­The Preface to Tasso’s Rinaldo—­Subject of Rinaldo—­Blending of Romantic Motives with Heroic Style—­Imitation of Virgil—­Melody and Sentiment—­Choice of Theme for the Gerusalemme—­It becomes a Romantic Poem after all—­Tancredi the real Hero—­Nobility of Tone—­Virgilian Imitation—­Borrowings from Dante—­Involved Diction—­Employment of Sonorous Polysyllabic Words—­Quality of Religious Emotion in this Poem—­Rhetoric—­Similes—­The Grand Style of Pathos—­Verbal Music—­The Chant d’Amour—­Armida—­Tasso’s Favorite Phrase, Un non so che—­His Power over Melody and Tender Feeling—­Critique of Tasso’s Later Poems—­General Survey of his Character

CHAPTER IX.

     GIORDANO BRUNO.

Scientific Bias of the Italians checked by Catholic Revival—­Boyhood of Bruno—­Enters Order of S. Dominic at Naples—­Early Accusations of Heresy—­Escapes to Rome—­Teaches the Sphere at Noli—­Visits Venice—­At Geneva—­At Toulouse—­At Paris—­His Intercourse with Henri III.—­Visits England—­The French Ambassador in London—­Oxford—­Bruno’s Literary Work in England—­Returns to Paris—­Journeys into Germany—­Wittenberg, Helmstaedt, Frankfort—­Invitation to Venice from Giovanni Mocenigo—­His Life in Venice—­Mocenigo denounces him to the Inquisition—­His Trial at Venice—­Removal to Rome—­Death by Burning in 1600—­Bruno’s Relation to the Thought of his Age and to the Thought of Modern Europe—­Outlines of his Philosophy

CHAPTER X.

     FRA PAOLO SARPI.

Sarpi’s Position in the History of Venice—­Parents and Boyhood—­Entrance into the Order of the Servites—­His Personal Qualities—­Achievements as a Scholar and a Man of Science—­His Life among the Servites—­In Bad Odor at Rome—­Paul V. places Venice under Interdict—­Sarpi elected Theologian and Counselor of the Republic—­His Polemical Writings—­Views on Church and State—­The Interdict Removed—­Roman Vengeance—­Sarpi attacked by Bravi—­His Wounds, Illness, Recovery—­Subsequent History of the Assassins—­Further Attempts on Sarpi’s Life—­Sarpi’s Political and Historical Works—­History of the Council of Trent—­Sarpi’s Attitude towards Protestantism His Judgment of the Jesuits—­Sarpi’s Death—­The Christian Stoic

CHAPTER XI.

     GUARINI, MARINO, CHIABRERA, TASSONI.

Dearth of Great Men—­Guarini a Link between Tasso and the Seventeenth Century—­His Biography—­The Pastor Fido—­Qualities of Guarini as Poet—­Marino the Dictator of Letters—­His Riotous Youth at Naples—­Life at Rome, Turin, Paris—­Publishes the Adone—­The Epic of Voluptuousness—­Character and Action of Adonis—­Marino’s Hypocrisy—­Sentimental Sweetness—­Brutal Violence—­Violation