New-York tribune., 1899-07-23

feel that one is in the presence OF as open
mind, as candid a temperament. as ever turned
the requirements of scholarship to the enrich
ment Of daily life.
There is among his epistles a captivating de-
scription Of his absorption in his library and
the uselessness Of attempting to lure him from
its joys. He is writing to the Abbot of St
Benigno. and he says: "One Of my very dearest
friends. seeing that l almost done for with
my immoderate toll. suddenly asked me to grant
him a very simple favor. Although was un-
aware Of the nature Of his request l could not
refuse one who l knew would ask nothing ex-
cept in the frendnest spirit He thereupon de-
manded the key Of my cabinet. l gave it to
him, wondering what he would do when he pro-
ceeded 10 gather together and lock up carefully
all my books and writing materials Then,
turning away he prescribed ten days Of rest
and ordered me. in view Of my promise, neither
to read nor write during that time. l saw his
trick; to him I now seemed to be resting, al
though in reality felt as If were bound hand
and foot That day passed YEARLY, seeming as
long as year The next day had headache
from morning til night. The third day dawned
and 7 began TO feel the first signs Of fever,
when my friend returned and seeing my plight
gave me back my keys I quickly recovered,
and perceiving that l lived on work as he ex-
pressed il. he never repeated his request" IT Is
the Petrarch Of this human and intensely mod
ern letter rather than the Petrarch Of the con-
temptucus references TO the Italian tongue,
whom we must remember If we are to see the
man in correct perspective His classical en-
thusiasms must be weighed not az pedantries
hut as-enthusasms 1t was his love Of letters
that made him the friend Of kings. Boccaccio
practising in the vernacular, regretted keenly
Petrarch's exclusive devotion to Latin especial
" as he knew from the "Canzoniere' the mas
terry Of his friend but he revered the latter. just
the same. as the most luminous Intelligence OF
his time In a letter describing his audience
with Charles ", he tells, with quaint compia-
c4ncv how he presented the monarch with
some ancient Roman coins, saying: Behold
Cesar those whose successor you are. thoSe
whom YOU should admire and emulate, and with
whose image you may well compare your own.
He then proceeded 10 give an outline of the
great events N the lives Of the rulers repre-
sented on the coins, adding such words as
might stimulate his courage and his desire "a
emulate their conduct" The Emperor Petrarch
tells us exhibited great delight Were his for
bearance and sympathy voUchsafed to the moni-
for or 10 the man Of letters? We doubt not
that they were given to the man OF letters
Professor Robinson and Professor Rolfe sketch
with clearness and animation the life OF their
subiect and their transations from the CORE
erondence are woven most effectively into the
survey Of the various special phases or Pc
trarchs activity. They show him IN ms atu-
tude toward literature in general and Ia MS
relations with his literary contemporaries Ihey
show him on his travels and they traverse ms
political and religious opinions. In every one
OF their chapters they hold fast 10 their oroad
conception Of Petrarch as a man 70 WAom
hooks were a profound happiness, and who ny
communicating his fresh thoughts and emo
tions 10 many of the best minds OF hls uHe'
fostered a more thorough and more flexible love
Of literature. and facilitated that efforesconce
Of the human spirit which We call the Renals-
sarce The book is a work Of sound scholar
shin destined 70 be of practical service TO the
student. and it has the lighter qualities "hich
will commend its learning to the general reader'
THE NEW DUMAS ROh4NcEs.