Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-03
ROSA TADDEI.
HY THE REV. CHARLES BROOKS.
" "Poetd naScitur non ft.D

ny THE REV. CHARLES BROOKS.
"Poeta nascitur non ft."
This distinguished Improvisat17ce obtained
the honorable title of "Corinna of Italy"
Having heard her wonderful performances at
Rome, propose giving some account Of them.
A few words on the general topic, by way Of
introduction.
IMPRov1sAToRI is the name given in Italy
to poets who compose and declaim verses ex-
temporaneously, accompanying their recitations
with music Among the ancient Greeks, poe
try, music, and dancing, were united For
minstrels to rehearse their own lines in the
street was not uncommon. 1t was in Thrace
that the Greek MUSES. first appeared; but the
Lyric poetry, which was sung extemporaneols-
ly with most effect, obtained between the times
of Solon and Alexander. OF the nine lyric
poets Anacreon and Pndar bear the palm.
Anacreon sings of woman, and roses, and wine
Pindar of heroes, of public contests, of victo-
ries, and laurels. The one melts away in am
atory softness the other is ever like the foam
ing steed of the race, vaulting in the pride of
conscious strength. Under these masters, Gre
clan lyrics advanced to their highest excel
lence.
In modern Europe, Spain has had some ex-
amples of extemporaneous poetry; and our own
native Indians of America have not been with
out their improvisatori. But in Italy the cx-
ercise of this talent has been marked and sue
cessful. Petrarch practiced it, and accompa-
MED his recitation with the Lutte The Latin
language was used until the end of the 5th
century, and Pope Leo X, with the courts of
Urbino, Milan, and Naples, signally patronized
extemporaneous poets. In the 10th century
lived Accolti, whose fame was so great, that
when he improvised in the street, all shops
were shut, and all houses emptied, that the
people might rush to hear him. During this
century lived Leoniceno, Filelso, Sassi, Ippo-
Tito, Strozzi Peso, Franciotti and three blind
poets Sordi, Brandolini, and Rafaello. The
Pope patronized these men of genius, but more
especially Masone and Quemo. Of this last
it is said, that he obtained permission to drink
from the Pope's own glass at table, if he would
make at least two Latin verses on every sub
ject proposed to him; and, if the verses were
bad, his wine was to be mixed with at least an
equal quantity of water. After the death Of
Leo, the Italian language was used in these
feats of mind.
Cardinal Antonano was so famous for his
improvisations that he was surnamed Poetino
One evening he was singing in the woods to
some friends and so melodious was his voice
that nightingale came and perched near him,
and soon began to sing her sweetest. The
poet left his story, and composed verses on the
bird of night So fully did he succeed in this,
that his whole audience were melted to tears.
Pcrfett, born at Sienna in 1850, lefntwo vol
umes of extemporaneous verse. He wished to
have guitar played softly as he spoke, and
for an hour he would keep up his creations,
and conform to the tune. He received at the
capital in Rome the laurel-crown which had
graced the brows of Petrarch and Tasso. In
this species of poetry, Metastasio gained dis
tinction; but an effort so exhausted his physi-
cal strength, that he was obliged to lie in bed
one or two days under medical treatment.
Females have excclled in this department of
literature and Cecilia Michele, Giovanna de
SAINT, and the nun Barbara, are named as ex-
amples; but Maddalena Morelli, of Tuscany,
acquired European fame for Francis ! in
vited her to Vienna, and the Empress Catha-
rne to Petersburg She was publicly crowned
at Rome in 1776. There were others after
her. such as Bandettini, Fantastici, and MAJ
zei, who attempted tragedies As late as 1916,
Tomasso Sgricci, of Arezzo was signally dis
tingushed in cxtemporaneous tragedy. He
took the subject and the characters from the
audience At Paris, in 1926 he went through
the terrible story Of Missolonghi with entire
success and received, as reward, letters of
nobility At Turin he composed and declaim-
Cd cxtempore, the tragedy of Hector and the
stenographer printed it; but the printed lines
of improvisatori do not bear critical exam
nation Some beautiful flowers, of the swift
est growth, lose their fragrance as soon as they
are plucked.
History tells curious tale in saying that al
most all the extempore poets have been born in
Tuscany or Venice; principally at Sienna or
Verona. In Germany, a peasant girl, named
Karschin, attained considerable distinction
and Wolf professor of languages at Weimar,
appeared with success in 1925 At Paris,
about the same time appeared Eugene de Pra-
del, who astonished the gay metropolis by his
evening exhibitions.
The effects produced on tho audience by these
improvsatori are sngularly similar The idea
of such an effort, before large numbers Of cult
waited listeners. is itself appalling Our SYM
pathics arc Immediately awakened in favor of
the poet, and we secretly wish he may succeed
to the utmost His whole air and manner are
prophetic, and the agitation of his frame is nc
greater than the anxiety of our minds. When
he first enters we examine every feature, to dis.
cover any sign Of failure. When the music
begins, we sit brcathless for the first keynote
of verse, which is to answer to the steady
march Of the piano. We ask ourselvos--car
such creations of fancy and such beauty of die
ton, such fexibility Of mind and such accu
racy of rhythm, be commanded at will?
To answer these questions, let me now give {
brief account of the exhibitions of Rosa Tad
del
Her card, which she gave me, reads thus
Rosa Taddei La Poctessa Estemporanea-
l I I FOL
Sacra Profana; Declamazione, Via dell'