The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-07-11

'lAefis esse salts, ncque 81 qus Surihat, uti nos
sermoni pfopiora, rutes luue esse poetam,
lngenlhm chi sit, cni mems diviniur, atquc os
Magma sonaturum, dos nominis hnius honorem
Hon: SAT- !. Book l.
IARQuATo TAsso. the immortal
anthor of 1" The Gcrusalemme Libe
rata" was born in the town of Sor-
rento. in the kingdom OF Naples. on
the 18th day of March, 1914. Ne
yer was the classic maxim Pocta
nascitur," more forcibIy illustrated
than in the birth of Tasso-" he lis.
ped in numbers" and gave splcn-
did earnest of his future fame at the
age OF seven. His father, Bernardo
Iasso, occupied the distinguished
situation of Secretary to the Prince
of Salerno, San Seyerino, who had
the intrepidity and love of liberty 10
oppose his influence to the rapacity
of the Niceroy Of Naples, and who
made a spirited remonstrance to
Charles V. against the establishment
of the inquIsition. The landable CT
forts he made in resisting tyranny,
caused his expulsion, and a sentence
of death was pronounced against the
! father and son. The poet was then
in his ninth year, and wrote some
pathetic lines on the political pro-
sCription to which his father and
himself had almost fallen victims -
In the lines which bis indignant feel
ings drew from him, he represents
himself as the Young Ascanius, and
his father as Eneas, eHecting an CO.
cape from the conilagration Of Troy.
Rome was the first asylum which the
adventures sought, and the father
sent his son to Padua, a university
Of much celebrity at that time, TO
study law and qualify himself for the
exercise of the legal profcssion.-
After obtaining his degree, he seem
cd irresistibly carried along by his
inclination TO pocticaI composition,
and his experience convinced him
that the profession of the law, in
which judgment and memory arc or.
" cultivated, was calculated to with
er his imagination and violate and
destroy his rich taste and luxuriant
fancy.
At the age of II, he published a
small poem, which may be consider
ed as the star which announced the
sun Of his reputation, and which
speedily rose above the horizon in
the full blaze of meridian splendor.
lie commenced his Jerusalem Deli
yered, the poem which has placed his
statue on an indestruCtible pedestal
and in a secure niche i'll the temple
Of fame, at the age Of 30 and in
17G5, he placed himself under the
protection of the Duke of Ferra-
ra. This prince was at that time a
M9Cenas ; and by his fostering pat
ronage and pccuniary liberaIity,
Choercd and animated in their career
the aspIrants to literary fame. I he
poet obtained apartments in the du-
cal palace all his necessities were
removed ; all his wants snpplled--he
had an opportunity OF invoking the
muses. enjoying their rapturons and
ecStatiC conversation, and sclzlng
the Tyre which was destined to in
struct and to delight the world
The writer Of this notice has been IN
the room in which the principal part
of the Jerusalem Delivered was COM
posed, aud he approached it with
feelings of enthusiastic veneratl0n
for the names Of Tasso. The situa-
ton and aspect Of the country, must
have tended to to impart inspiration
to the mind. The venerable build
ings, the Iuxuriant and enchanting
verdure, the 20, gliding majestically
along, with its " amber-weeping'
trees, and rejecting from its placid
and unrippled bosom, celestial OBJ
iects the stiffness and death-ilkc 81
Hence which appeared to reign in the
place all these excited reflections
which will, Z" dunn mem0r tpSe mct,'
never be forgotten.
Tasso was treated with marked
distinction by the duke, and, free
from care, was permitted to converse,
u,disturbed by external ob,iects,wlth
the muses.. The duke interested
himself SO much in promoting has
haDpiness, as to recommend to hun
marriage. and had the name of one
of the attendant ladies Of his court
conveyed to the poet. with a request
that she might become has vic
The duke selected his secretary, a
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