Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-07-10
From 1h0ndS CdiapLcirs Life ~ Pefrareb
TIE TRUTH ABOUT PETRARCH ANDIAI-

TIE TRUTH ABOUT PETRARCH AND lar.
RA
In that year he firstsaw Laura. Concerning this
lady, at one time when life of Perarch had been
yet written that VAS not crude and Inaccurate. his
biographers launched into The widest speculaions
One author considered her as an allcgorical being
another discovered her TO be a typo Of the Virgin
Niafyi another thought her aegory of poetry and
repentance Seine denied her even allegorical ex-
h'enee' and deemed her a mere phantom beauty
WIN winch The poet had fallen in love. like Pyg
mahon' with the work of his o,,n creation All Of
these oaprices about Laura bis,o,, r., L.o -,
SINCE dissipaed. though the princinal Gcs resnec,
'"s he' were never distinctly verified NH DE SaJe
her own descendant, wrote his life of Petrarcb :
Feaeh himself relates that in 1927. exactly nj te
us, hour OF the bh OF April. hc first behed Iopr,
IN the church OF ~ Clare OF Avi,,non ,,L-a ,,,t
the slcredness of the place. the solcmnv or ,ho
day, could pre-, cni him from being sn.icn f,r TCc
with human love. la that fatal hour he s,,, , -
a litter younger than himself in a green ,,,,,l
sIrinkled with vioeIs, WEIGH her golden hair G,
plated with tresscs. She Nas distinguished lr,,,
all others 10y her proud and delicate carriage.
The impression which she made on his heart was
/ sudden. yet II Was never cliaced While
many writer's have erred m considering Petrorcb's
attachment as Visionary, others who have allowed
The reality of his passion have been mistaken in
/ lher opinion OF its object They alege that Pc
iraroh was happy lover. and that his mistress was
accustomed TO meet him al Vancluse and make him
a iuli compensation for his iondncss No ono at al
| acquainted with the life and writings of Peirarch
VIII need TO be told that this an l. absurd Gclion
Laura.a married woman, who bore len children Il
Il raiher moruse husband. could not have gone tc
meet him at NanCluse, without the most lacrau
scar dal II Is evident from his writings that she re-
pudlaled hIs passion whenever Il threatened 10 ex
ceed Tie limits OF VlrtIOus friendship On one &C
cason' when he presume too far upon favor he
Nu HnfHr gNsag 4 d..
what You take me Tor" II his love lad been sue
ccssiul, he would have said less about IL OF IA,
TWO persons IN this love Affair." am more incline,
10 miv Laura than Petrurch. independently of he
personal charms, cannot conceive Laura oiher Isl
ihan as kindheurted. lovcahle woman. who coul,
mol Vel lac supposed 20 be totally Indifferent 10 IA,
ueNo'oh "i ihe most famous aud fascinating man q
hls age. On the other hand. what was the pcnalt
ihat she would paid II che had encouraged his at
dresses rs lar as he would have Carried theml
would not go 50 far as TO say that she did not a
times beiray an anxiety To retain him under n,
spell! OF her lascinatiun; as, for instance when Al
Is SAID To have cast her eyes lh- ground in sadne.
Nheh ne announced his intention To leave Avignni
but sill should like 10 hear her own exnlauatio
oelore condemned her. And. after oil she was on
anxious Tor The attentions respecting which she la
, male n liked understanding that they should moi @,
ceed ihc bounds Of innocence. We have no al
iinct account how her husband regarded the hon
age OF Peirarch 10 his wife, whether naiiered IA
vanity or moved his wrath. As tradition gives hi
no very good character Tor temper the latter sum
p, siton Is most probable. Every morning thai i
veal onl lie might hear from some hind friend II
praises ol some sonnet which Pcirarch had y,r;It,
i on has wliei and when lac came back 10 dinner.
. ms good humpur was moi improved by the intel
gence lie Was IN the habit of scolding her nh i
= wep' he married seven months after her death, al
1 from all that Is knowa him, appears 10 have b.,
e Dad husband suspect Iat Laura paid dear
1 her poets idOairy.