The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-16

the history Of papacy and its relations with
Italy are cpicay portrayed. and rational re-
form moro thoroughly In sympathy with mod
crn civilization ana the welfare OF the country
is advocated with characteristic fire.
Inferior IN II few points as superior in many
10 Alcardi is the classic Giosua Cnrducci-n
little man. now about ij. with large head thick
curly air. and sparkling restless eyes. He is
~" son OF 81 phys cian and was born ut Santa
Maria in Monte, u little village in Tuscany
He received his degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy
and Phiology from the university when only
~ years Of age. Nervous quick -motioncd.
misanthropic and Of fiery disposition of Spar-
tan manlincss. strong passions. immense tai
ent. and still greater learning and an indefat-
ieahle student. he began his literary career IN
/ 1857 Ms Professor Of Italian. Latn. and Greek
Literature IN the College Of 81. Miniat0. mi
/ croscoplr mcdiTvai city. built on the summit Of
/ mountain commanding magnificent view Of
/ tho valley Of the Arno Incapable Of ever sim
/ ulatng opinions that were not his own he could
not forbegr mnn.icsting Notnirian ideas and
/ contempt for the Granl Ducul Government. In
/ dependent as he thought he had right TO be
/ outside Of the school ROOM he asked Tor mcnt
/ In public restaurant on Good Friday. That
was too much for the inhabitants Of the city
/ and Mt the end Of the scholastic year he was
D
OF Psiorin. then NJ the height Of its fame. were
thrown open To- him. and he filled there the
sam1 Office with splendid success, until the
/ new order brought about 10y the revolution Of
/ 1859 secured for him the PROFESSIONALLY Of
Italian and Latin Literature in the University
Of Bologna. There his republicanism has often
endangered his commission. but his popularity
md worthinrss hnvo always influenced the
Government To bear with his pecularitics. In
+ 1857 he published IT little volume OF poems
which. though marked by depth OF thought and
purity ot language, eynced rather the authors
learning and industry than genuine poctical
inspiration. Seven or eight years later he pub
lished his Lcvia Gravia. and another volume.
OH Barbara" in 1871. The Improvement on
his previous efforts is immense. lie is the
inost original OF modern la,ian poets. and yet
/ he is thoroughly classical. Like Chenier.
I'll iait des yers anciens sur dos sucis nouyeaux"
He is worshipper OF Dante and Leopard.
and yet. strange to say. he has nothing Of the
formers idealsm. nor OF the latter's pcssi-
mism. There is nothing ciTemnate in his love
/ poems and yet he is full OF strong AMI exqui-
/ site feeling. He was once forced to write an
/ ode to the Virsin Mary on tho occasion OF u ics-
/ tival in his native town. there WAS nothing
/ Of religion in his song and yot it
satisfied the desire and devotion Of his
/ fellow citizens. lie is literary poet. as
/ Keats was. and he Is as modern as Swinburnc I.
/ as great "a thinker as Shelley. and as much In
/ sympathy with tho movement Of his age and
country Us Tcnnyson is with his. He IL n
/ reRs, but he worships the beautiful and tho
/ good wherever he finds them. and be
whatever the shape they assume. A republic
can. h. wrote the hymn to The Cross OF
/ Savoy when Victor Emanuel accomplished the
/ unication Of Italy. No less generously did his
| song now IN behalf Of the Heroes OF Men
| taua." This poem seems the terrible voice Of
the slaughtered rising from their bloody graves
/ Queen Marsurrit,-an angel Of goodness aud
/ bcauty-ascendel the throne OF Italy. and Car
/ ducri forgot his personal dislike for royal au-
thority. The poet saw in her but an angel Of
goodness and beauty. and his Tyre had Il song
| in her honor, such as no stern republican will
ever reproach him for writing.
The most spontaneous and popular OF the
/ Italian poets is now DR.. Oindo Guerrini.
/ journalist Of Bologna. His "Posthuma." pub
lished in 1877. has already passed through
six editions. aud "a new volume from his pen
will shortly appear. He is distinguished not
less for the simple elegance and caso Of his
I style than for his exaggerated ultra-reniism. He
/ possesses 10 AN eminent degree the plastic art
/ Of the Italian verse. though OF this happy gift
/ he occasionally makes too ample use. Strange
enough Tor the Messiah OF italian realism. as he
has been styled. he is full Of petty ldealistic
tricks. According 10 their title. these poems
appear 10 have been published after the au-
thor's death. though he is as healthy and ruOi-
cund rs any man ever was In the preface he
appears merely IA the editor AMI friend OF the
I poet. Lorenzo Stecchptti whose lie and untme-
/ ly death are by tho WAY. related in words that.
. AT least Us regards sentiment. are superior 10
ia ia "a uul "a u nj
lever. seems % believe in ghosts and tells OF his
coming into the world In a wild night when the
witches had assembled 10 celebrate their orgies.
He Is undoubtedly genuine poet. but also
a poet OF depraved taste. He has mistaken
reality for evil. love Tor animal instinct. and he
has become the painter Of vulgar characters
and low passions.
The efforts Of Lucretlus Chonier. and Goethe
to give scientific ground 10 poetry have lately
found an adept IN Italy. Signor Pieroni is now
boldly tempting this thorny path. Pleronis
efforts are those Of young man. and therefore
they leave a great deal 10 be desired: but what
he has done already proves that Saint Beuve
WAS wrong when he ayerred that science was
too far advanced 70 be welded 10 poetry.
Xanela. MaIei. Rapsardi. PanzAcch. and
Renato Fucin cannot be overlooked IN n review
Of contemporary Italian poetry. Moreover.
Italy is now more than ever alive to the
importance Of foreign literature; and no
country possesses as many and rs good
poeti al TRANSACTIONS o! nl the greatest poets in
whom other nations take pride. The render
ings Of Schiller. G. .ssner. Byron. Milton and
Moore by Andrea Maf,i; OF Heine by Carducci,
and Of Shakespeare by Carcano are real mon
uments Of glory TO the originals rs well MS 70
Itnly Itself. Giulo Carrano is ono OF the most
iiustrlous disciples OF Manzonl and the author