CHAPTER XVI. Other editions of the Jerusalem, and grief of its author on this account.—Letter, in which he gives a narrative of his melancholy condition.-Publication of his 'Rime,' corrected by Guarini.-Offence given by his Dialogue, "Gonzaga, or of Honest Pleasure."-Tasso's prolonged indisposition.-Continuation published of his Jerusalem.-He employs himself in writing dialogues. CHAP. XVI. Act. 37. THE edition of the Jerusalem Delivered by Malaspina, although on his part a most unjustifiable proceeding, had the A. D. 1581. good effect of bringing forward others less mutilated and imperfect. The first of these was by Angelo Ingegneri, a friend and admirer of Tasso, who, in the space of six nights, had transcribed a manuscript of the Jerusalem, which, as Ingegneri affirms in his preface, had been revised by the author himself. As of the different editions of this poem, however, a very full account shall be given in the Appendix, it is not CHAP. XVI. A. D. 1581. Arguments of necessary to examine here their different merits. It will be sufficient at present to observe, that seven large impressions, one of Lyons, and the others of different cities of Italy, were disposed of in the year 1581.* In the following year, six editions saw the light; and, in short, the diligence of the printers could scarcely keep pace with the avidity of the public. The arguments, which were generally prefixed to the cantos in the early editions, and which are still most the Jerusalem, commonly printed, were composed by Horace Ariosto, whom I have already mentioned as grand-nephew of the poet. From one of the letters of Tasso to Coccapani, who had applied to him for arguments to his poem, it appears that in Italy it was thought disgraceful to be under the necessity of composing these for one's own compositions. "Whenever,” says he," my poem shall be printed with my consent, (which I cannot at all bring myself to give,) I should wish that it might carry along with it so much authority as to merit, from some person of talents, the honour of arguments. If I myself composed them, it would seem, either that it did not deserve this compliment from any one, or that I thought nobody equal to the task; the one of which opinions would be false, the other overweening. If you wish to see how I can make arguments, I am ready to compose them, either for Ariosto, or for the book of Sig. Erasmus Valvasone.... One of these editions was to the extent (as we are informed by the editor,) of thirteen hundred copies, and some of the others were probably equally numerous. Lett. di Ingegneri. Edit. Viotti. Parma, 1581, in 8vo. CHAP. XVI. If Ariosto be your choice, send me a copy, and you shall see that I will do my endeavour that he may want no honour A.D. 1581. which it is in my power to bestow; nor have reason to envy Virgil, for whom they were made by Ovid."* While the editors and booksellers were thus enriching themselves at his expence, Tasso himself was still languish ing in confinement. Had he allowed his poem to be printed three years before, that is, in the year 1578, he tells us that he would have gained at least many hundred scudi, and that a thousand scudi had also been offered him for that purpose, by one of the Lords of Este.† "I have been disfavoured," says he, in a letter written some years afterwards, " or rather oppressed, as every body knows, though nobody will acknowledge it. This oppression too is of that sort which weighs the heaviest, I mean in my studies, and the fruits of my labours. Of my Godfrey alone, more than three thousand ducats have been already made, as I am credibly informed."+ Tasso particularly complains of one Febo. + Aet. 37. wrongs com mitted against its author. * Opere, vol. X. p. 77. Ibid, p. 471. &c. Ibid, p. 18. + Ibid, vol. IX. p. 308. See too a pathetic sonnet on this subject, Io sparsi ed altri miete, Guarini likewise often makes heavy complaints against the printers and booksellers of that age. "Hoggi," says he, on one occasion, " dunque ci stilleremo noi il cervello, per arrichire gli stampatori; e quei privilegi, che dovrebbon esser propri de Vertuosi, si concederanno a gli Avvoltoi, alle Arpie degli altrui Scritti?" &c. Lettere, p. 49. "Io son (writes Torquato of his booksellers,) Io son pure il buon Tasso, il caro Tasso, l'amore vol Tasso, e sono ancora l'assassinato Tasso; ma son risoluto che la cosa per l'avvenire vada in un altro modo." Opere, vol. IX. p. 484. A. D. 158 L. CHAP. XVI. Bonnà, who had given two very good editions of the Jerusalem, of which he had promised to the author a share of the profits. "Febo," says he, " is very avaricious; after having published my book, he feasts in Paris among dames and knights, without giving me any share of the profit, a thing which he had promised me to do by a written note.”* Some of the editors (particularly Ingegneri,) by dedicating the work to different great men, laid the foundation of patronage to themselves; while Tasso had nothing but the barren praise. Even this was soon afterward denied him; and a cruel conspiracy was formed against his fame. It certainly gives very little encouragement to those who pursue the study of poetry, as a source of profit, that, for the two noblest poems ever composed, the author of the one received only ten pounds, paid by instalments, the author of the other, nothing. Fortunately, nature has annexed to the exercise of great talents, the most exquisite pleasure ; and the creators of such works were sufficiently rewarded, by the glorious images which had fascinated their imaginations, and by the generous sentiments which had warmed their hearts. But though Tasso derived no immediate emolument from his poem, yet, in other respects, the publication of that Opere, vol. IX. p. 359. Tasso's great anxiety on hearing that his Jerusalem was also printing in Naples, appears from a letter to his sister, vol. X. p. 275. See too about the Genoa edition, IX. p. 36. Aet. 37. work appears to have been of use to him. His reputation, CHAP. XVI. till now, had been rather a concession than a right; and A.D. 1581. those even who had examined his poem could not be certain of the extent, nor, perhaps, of the justice of their approbation, without the concurrence of that very public, whose opinions they directed, and of which they were the most enlightened. One of the causes of Alphonso's suspicion was removed by the publication of the Jerusalem; and, as its author was viewed by the public with greater respect, he was treated in the hospital with more attention. The uncomfortable apartment which he at first occupied, had been exchanged, in December, 1580, for one more large and convenient; and to this some other chambers were now added.* * "With what mingled emotions of pain and horror," says Mr Walker, [Historical Memoir on Italian Tragedy, p. 128,] "did I explore this dungeon [where Tasso was confined,] in the year 1792! Damp, dimly lighted, and too low in many parts to allow me to stand erect; I could scarcely persuade myself that I was visiting the prison house of the greatest modern epic poet, and of a truly amiable and accomplished man, whose only crime was ambitious love." In a letter to my learned friend, I took the liberty to remark, that it is not improbable, that at Tasso's first admission into the hospital, a system of coercion was used, and his apartment might be bad; but that it is certain, that, during the greater part of his residence at St Anne's, his chamber was comfortable. In an epistle to Curzio Ardizio, (Opere, IX. p. 151. Serassi, pp. 307, 311,) written in December 1580, our poet says, Paga desidero che rimanga V. S. di questo, che rispondendo a due sue dimande ho scrit to, almeno sino a tanto, che oltra questa stanza, la qual per cortesia del Sig. Agostino (Mosti,) m'è stata data assai comoda, mi sia data l'altra che m'è vicina, assai più ampia, ove possa filosofando passegiare." Tasso was visited in the hospital by many illustrious persons, and an universal indignation would have been excited, had his abode been such as is now pointed out. The Ciceroni of Ferrara, however, according to the usual practice of such persons, have no doubt fixed upon the most loathsome den in the hospital as the apartment of Tasso, by which means they excite in a greater degree the wonder |