Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1882-03-11
of the Duke, Tasso became ueeply
aud passionately attached to Leonora
d'Este, sister Of Alfonso. Imprudent

Of the Duke, Tasso became ueeply
and passionately attached to Leonora
t'Este, sister Of Alfonso. Imprudent
by nature. and urged by his feelings,
the poet declared himself too plainly
for his own safety, and q courticr
whom he had trusted betrayed him.
Tasso attacked the false friend, with
his sword, in the palace, and beth
we're banished. From Sorrento, Tasso
over Italy he was refused
at Turin, but warmly
welcomed at all tho other cities.
Friends imterceded for him, and Al
fonso permitted him to return to
Ferrara, at the time Of his own mar
riage to Margaret Of Gonzsga. 1t has
been said, that in his joy at again be-
Leonora Tasso 90 far forgot
himself as to embrace the princess in
the presence of the court. Alfonso |
turning 70 his attendants, gravely re-
marked that he regretted to see so
great q man as Tssso bercft of his
senses. Soon afterward the poet was
confined in the hospital Of st. Anne.
an asylum for lunAtics. Through
grief, resentment, alarm aud disap-
pointed love, the unfortunate author
became really mad though still able
to read and write, if not irritated.
His madness took the form of dread
full melancholy, and in his worst days
he was never violent por malicious.
During his confinement his poem was
published without his leave. aud
from an imperfect copy. 1t was Inn
mediately popular. and passages set
to music became, in some measure,
national songs throughout Italy. But
the Jesuits criticised some parts of
the poem with great bitterness, and
even suggested complaints Of horesy,
to be Investigated by the Inquisition.
Tasso tried to jcstify himself by pub
fishing true version Of his poem
from his corrected manuscript, and
urged by his life-long respect and af-l
fection for the Jesuits, explained the
passages in question and showed that
they had no heretical meaning. The
priests, however, remained uncon-
ciliated and even suggested more
rigorous confinement and deprivation
OF his literary empleyments. Fstigued
by his incessant labors for. publica.
tion aud Tor his d,fsnse. the unhappy
poet became very i'll, aud after par
tial recovery, remained as was feared.
hopelessly insane. After seven years
of imprisonment the princes Of Italy
united in requesting his freedom. aud
Alfonso unwillingly set him at liber.
ty. Italy and all Europe was ringing
with his fame the "Jerusalem" wat
read in France and in England almost
as " widely as in Ferrara, and the study
of Italian b,came ss fashionable iu
the society of London and Paris, al
French became century later. Yet
the famous author, whose poetry wal
SO enthusiastically admired, was or
his liberation 80 poor that he Wal
obliged to ask aid from the Duke q
Guastaila. That prince generously as
slated him. but, having no. incom,
from his poems, and too much broker
in health to pursue any settled &c
cupation, Tasso was, for the-rest o
his life. harassed by money troubles
Nine years after hisrelease he wen
to Rome. where he was kindly ant
honorably welcomed by Cardina
Aidolrandini. Tho Cardinal aud othe
princes, clerical aud secular, prepared
q festival for the coronation of Tass
, iu tho Capitol. Tho honor came to-
; late. Worn out by sickness, sorrow
and ill-usage. the poet died III Rome
) on the very day appointed for hi
triumph, April 25. 1895. Thus. at th
age Of fifty-one, the greatest Italia
poet, after Dsnte, died of q broke
i heart.
Eyes. for him. the victor,
Singl but low, sing low!
q A soft, sad missrere chant.
For soul about to CO."
4 Mrs. Hemans.