cried out with great vehemence, "There is the friendly fpirit that

"is come to converfe with me: "look, and be convinced that "what I have faid is true." Manfo looked, not without fome furprise, but faw nothing except the funbeams which fhone through the window he was just going to afk where the pretended fpirit was, when he was prevented by Taffo's fpeaking with great earneftnefs to fome imaginary being, fometimes putting queftions, and fometimes giving answers, in a manner fo pleafing, and with fuch elevation of expreffion, that Manfo had no defire to interrupt him: the converfation at laft ended by the fuppofed departure of the fpirit; when Taffo, turning round to his friend, afked if his doubts were removed; to which he made no reply, being so much amazed that he gladly waved all farther converfation on the fubject.

Finding his law-fuit not likely to be foon determined, he went from Naples to Rome, where he continued about a year, in high favour with pope Sextus Quintus, and then went to Florence, at the preffing invitation of Ferdinando, grand duke of Tufcany, who had been cardinal at Rome when Taffo first refided there.

Having spent about another year at Florence, he returned again to Naples, taking Rome in his way; and the old prince of Conca being then dead, he accepted an apart ment in the palace of the young Count of Paleno, who fucceeded him, and there applied himself to correct his Jerufalem Delivered, or rather to compofe a new work, which he called the Jerufalem Conquered. The young prince of

Conca, knowing how frequently Taffo had eloped from his friends without warning, and being very anxious to keep poffeffion both of the poet and his work, caufed him to be very narrowly watched, which Taffo obferving, and being difpleafed at it, found means to elude his diligence, and retired to his friend Manfo's, where, however, he still continued upon good terms with the prince of Conca.

His Jerufalem Conquered was the Jerufalem Delivered altered, or rather new written, with a view to obviate the objections of the critics, by a conformity to their rules; and about this time, being now in his 48th year, he published his new and elaborate performance; but it ferved only to prove that the critics were mistaken, for it was received with much lefs approbation than that in which he had delivered himself up to the enthusiasm of his genius, and in a short time was almoft forgotten. It is faid, that he began a third correction of his poem, compounded partly of the Ferufalem Delivered, and partly of the Jerufalem Conquerea; but this he never compleated.

Soon after the publication of his Jerufalem Conquered, Hippolito Aldrobandini fucceeded Sextus Quintus to the papacy, by the name of Clement the VIIIth; and his two nephews, Cynthio and Pietro Aldrobandini, were created cardinals. Cynthio, who was a great patron of learning and genius, and had known Taffo when he laft refided at Rome, prevailed with him once more to leave his retreat at Naples, and live with him in that city.

When Taffo fet out on this journey, the confines of the ecclefiaftical ftate being greatly infefted with

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ban

banditti, it was ufual for travellers to go together in large companies, for fecurity. Taffo therefore joined himself to one of these companies; but when they came within fight of Mola, a little town near Gaeta, they received intelligence that Sciarra, a famous captain of robbers, was at hand with a body of men too numerous for them to refift. Tafso advised that they should continue their journey, and if they fhould be attacked, ftand refolutely upon their defence; but this was over-ruled; they threw themfelves for fafety into Mola, where they remained for fome time in a manner blocked up by the banditti; but their captain, Sciarra, hearing that Taffo was one of the company, fent a meffage to affure him that he might pafs in fafety, and offered himself to conduct him wherever he pleased. Taffo returned him thanks, but declined his offer, perhaps not thinking a man of his character could be fafely trufted; but Sciarra fent a fecond meffage, by which he informed Taffo, that, upon his account, he would withdraw his men, and leave the ways open. He accordingly did fo, and Taffo continuing his journey, arrived fafely at Rome, where he was gracioufly welcomed, not by the two cardinals only, but by their uncle the pope himfelf. Here he continued till his 50th year, and being then again weary of his fituation, and defirous to profecute his law-fuit, he obtained permiffion to retire once more to Naples, where he took up his abode with the benedictine fathers, in the convent of St. Severin. Cardinal Cynthio, however, found means to recall him again to Rome, after a very fhortiabfence, by hav

ing prevailed with the pope to confer upon him the honour of being publicly and folemnly crowned with laurel in the Capitol,

He fet out from Naples to receive this honour, with a prefage that he should never return; and, in his way, ftopped at the monaftery of mount Caffino, to pay his devotions to the reli&ts of St. Benedict, for whom he had a particular veneration; having spent the feftival of Christmas at this place, he proceeded to Rome, where he arrived in the beginning of the year 1595, being then about 51 years old: her was met at the entrance of the city by many prelates and perfons of diftinction, and was introduced by the two cardinals to the pope, who complimented him by faying,

That his merit would confer as much honour on the laurel he was about to receive, as the laurel had formerly conferred on others." Orders were immediately given to decorate not only the pope's palace, and the Capitol, but all the principal ftreets through which the proceflion was to pafs: but Taffo, whether from an habitual dejection of mind, or a fecret fenfation of the firft approaches of a difeafe which he apprehended would be fatal, declared, that all these pompous preparations would be in vain; and being fhewn a fonnet that was compofed on the occafion, by Hercole Taffo, a relation, he replied by the following verfe of Seneca,

Magnifica verba mors propè admota

excutit.

It happened, that while they were waiting for fair weather to celebrate the folemnity, cardinal Cynthio fell fick, and before he Was

was perfectly recovered, Taffo himself was taken ill. Though he was no more than fifty-one years of age, yet his ftudies and his miffortunes had brought on all the languor and infirmities of old age. Being now confirmed in the opinion that his end was near, he expreffed a defire of being removed to the monaftery of St. Onuphrius, and he was accordingly carried thither in cardinal Cynthio's coach, and received with the utmoft tenderness by the prior and brethren of that order. Many medicines were administered by the advice of the most eminent phyficians of Rome, but without effect; and a violent fever coming on, occafioned, as it is faid, by his having unadvisedly eaten fome milk, Rinaldini, who was phyfician to the pope, and Taffo's intimate friend, told him that his laft hour was at hand. Taffo received the information with great compofure, and embracing Rinaldini with great tenderness, thanked him for it. He then looked upwards, and pronounced a fhort ejaculatory prayer, and from this time his mind feemed to be wholly difengaged from earthly things. He was conducted to the chapel of the monastery by the brethren, where he received the facrament; and when he was brought back to his chamber, he was afked, where he wished to be interred? he anfwered, In the church of St. Onuphrius; and being defired to leave fome memorial of his will in writing, and to dictate fome epitaph to be engraven on his tomb, he fmiled and faid, That, as to the firft, he had but little to bequeath; and, as to the fecond, a plain ftone would fuffice to cover him. He did, however,

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make a will, by which he made cardinal Cynthio his heir, and left his picture to Manfo his friend. On the 14th day of his fickness he received the extreme unction, and the pope's benediction, which was brought to him by cardinal Cynthio, and was a grace never conferred in this manner but upon perfons of the firft diftinction: Taffo was fenfible of the honour, and acknowledged it with great humility and devotion; " This, fays he, is the crown I came to receive at Rome."- The cardinal then asked him if he had any other defire which his furvivors could fulfill; upon which he requested, that all the copies of his works might be collected and burnt; he knew, he faid, that as they were numerous and widely difperfed, it would be difficult, but he trusted not altogether impracticable; in this ftrange request, in which it is difficult to fay whether vanity or humility had the greatest fhare, he perfifted with fo much earneftness, that the cardinal, unwilling to dif compofe him by a refufal, gave him fuch an answer as led him to believe it would be granted. Taffo then requefting the cardinal to leave him, he took his last farewel of him with tears in his eyes, and left with him his confeffor and fome of the brethren of the monaftery, He furvived till the middle of the next day, the 25th of April, being the feftival of St. Mark, and then finding himself fainting, he embraced his crucifix, uttering thefe words, In manus tuas Domine, but expired before he could finish the fentence: he was buried the fame evening, without pomp, according to his defire, in the church of St. Onuphrius, and his body covered