New-York tribune., 1908-11-07
Monographs on Some Histor'f
Servants of the Humdmtles.

Horsbureh Ss ri n. = With twenty four IlqstFa-
lions and Two Maps. $40. PIP Xix AS q. I
Putnam's Sons
THE FIRST oiovERNEss OF THE NEITHER
LANDS. MARGARET OF AUSTRIA; lf1;,,s,rSE 6s
Eiesnor Z Tremayns; WIN 1Net,es nts,.s Sons
cs5Ar-CER AND HIS ENGLAND BY G G.
Couiton. II. a With Thirty-two lilastFatio"S-
svo Pr Xii 321. G. ?. Putnam's Sons
This latest batch Of historical memoirs con-
tains rather sweater and more edifying readlhg
than is to he found, a rule, in the DOCKS oi
old rossin which are now popular II Illus
tratee careers which. If occasionally marked hE
intrigue and violence. were nevertheless gov
s~ned bv humane motives II is. indeed, some
,z,s,s- Of a relief TO stray fer moment amongst
relehrsted figures Of the past without catching
,,-hisners of court scandal one may rejoice
shs+ the connpifers Of these picturesque nara
tires arc realizing that good material is to be
found outside the circle of this or that kings
faxerite-
-Four new books on the Medici have been
rror,ised for this season. The first TO make It's
appearance. Mr. Horsburgll's monograph on
Lorenzo the Magnificent" is good example OF
the newly current biographical literature 1t
has to be sure, one familiar fault 1t IS much
too long The authors preliminary skirn1ish-
tncs i'll too many pages. and then he makes the
body of his work so bulky that he can devote
onlv q single short chapter TO the interesting
social aspect OF his theme Still, he paints an
excellent portrait Of Lorenzo, and Tor thaI he
deserves credit. We especially appreciate 1he
emphasis placed apon the shrewd Florentines
notler traits In popular books on the hehalS-
sance we have heard enough, in all conscience
of the sinister side of that period. 1t Is not
neglected in this biography. hut neither is 1t al
lowed YlnduIy to color the authors pages
Though he pays proper attention to events like
Inc Pazzi Conspiracy. he keeps constantly in
the foreground that lover Of the things OF the
mind who even in his young manhood was ad-
s-asse5 as ..Afaruffco" on the other hand,
Mr.. Horsburgh comes dangerously near to using
the vhitewash at some stages Of his task lie
,o,,,d lessen. If he could Lorenzo's share Of re-
sper.sih:litv for the sack OF NolteTra he ooeS
all he can 10 discredt tie familiar story oil Ihe
despot's death-oed and Savonarola's refusal 10
give him absoiution because he would not ie-
store the liberties of Florence
It's wiser &c take this prince in MacchlaVellah
mood Ia admit that he had plenty of the cyni-
cisn Of his time and to applaud his merits WITH
o,,t a1fempting TO minimize his vices. MT.
ISorsb,1rgh * undoubtedly plausible in his ar
sslrnent when examine the nature anu
basis Of L-orenzo's absolutism, he says, we are
confronted at the outset with a fact OF primary
impo-tence-the fact that absolutisEn, in some
form stood between Florence and destruction
One may give some weight 10 IlhS poliItr anu
still protest that even the most ingenious de
veloprhent of il leaves Lorenzo justly accused
by Savonarola. and by all OF those who share
the monks point Of view. whether the death bed
episode belongs 70 history legend. For the
rest Nj Horsburgh we'll brings out his hero-s
urbanlty his love Of art and letters. and, above
all, the sanity Of his attitude toward the classic
past True penetration into his character is
shown in the following passage:
Lorenzo's Hunanism was of type more robust
and practical Scarcely yielding in elegance OF style
10 the most accomplished Latinist of his day. Yet
he regarded Latin. as ne regarded an lang9age' ;i
5Ie was of the first 10 appreciate and TO eXtol
.[fb I'll his passion for Antiquity his own contribu-
tons 70 literature we're written almost eXiuslyeIy
a native tongue Greek to him not a mere
distinctive accomplishment. but the key to the
treasury Of ancient thought He did not read Plato
for purpose of aesthetic qualification. but for
what Plato could tell him to how life should be
say. knowledge of his teaching il
LTnpoSsi.,'e 9 20 be d good citizen ana not easy 10
ism Is refreshing because il based on the con-
there Vas much which vitality touched the needs
sf the present He read them not exercises in
er96ition but the works Of men. who, being
dead. sim lived to direct and encourage the pur-
suit OF beauty and truth
It was a good idea ror Mr. Horsburgh to give
ample space not only to Lorenzo's generosity as
a patron Of Renaissance scholarship but to his
positive achievements as writer. His poetry
may not have stroke of genius in it. but if is
justly praised for grace. deIicacy Of touch. re
6nemeBt or fancy" This crafty OF affairs
was no insincere suppliant of the MUSES.. He
had imagination and ideals His present biog-
rapher shows him at mis- best.
Mrs Tremayne. the author of the new volume
IN Major Hume's series Romantic History
does not need to strain single point in order
to convey a winning impression Of her heroine,
that daughter Of Macmillan who had sorrow
for her portion nearly all her life long Margaret
Of Austria IS one OF the finest women IN history.
She was gentleness Itself. but she had rich
stores OF character Misfortune would reduce
her temporarily to despair. but she soon reoov-
t-red herself and Went to the proud execution
90 her duty The Spanish marriag ge which fol-
Ievved the breaking of her relations with the
Court Of France soon terminated in grief When
the young widow trusted 10 fate once more and
married Phlbert OF SAVOY the prospect for her
happiness seemed fair enough. but this husband,
too. had die. IN her twenty-fourth year she
wsx 50 convinced that all joy in lie had ended
FRAT she cut off her golden hair and went
into a seclusion that at the moment, she doubt
Jess hoped would be permanent The building Of
that church Brou. which readers Of one Of
Matthew A-nold's loy eiiest poems well remem-
her seemed to her task enough; but Macmillan
knew yhat his daughter was worth.
He made her ~GoVerness Of the Netherlands
and never was there better regent She
played the part of a wise statesman, controlled
by the conscience OF q good woman. and gave
20 tl7e young Charles, the future Emperor such
soiid services as Macmillan himself, If left to
his opn devices. could hardly have rendered.
ssh, vas wise and kindly. Her heart was easily
touched Even the sad conclusion OF each Of
her matrimonial ventures could not keep her
fror,, -es-cndin~ to the advances OF the un-