"STUDIES IN CRITICISM." "MY JOURNAL IN FOREIGN LANDS." 66 UNDER THE SECOND RENAISSANCE." VOLUME I. - "Of men the solace, and of gods the everlasting joy.” POLIZIANO. VINCENZO CIOCIA STAMPERIA ITALIANA 85 Centre Street, New York. 1903. CALIFORNIA PQ4038 1200-1400 CHAPTER I. The Mediaevalists. The dark clouds of the eleventh century had rolled away. The Latin language had risen to life again in union with the native dialects of Provence, Portugal, Castile, and Normandy, and each of these was efflorescing in a new and brilliant literature. Italy alone, of all the southern nations, seemed to play the sluggard, while party strife and superstitious zeal consumed her genius. Suddenly, at the close of the 12th century, all eyes were turned towards Sicily; for, inspired by the enthusiasm of the troubadours, and encouraged by the example of the brilliant Fre-derick II, Emperor of Germany and King of the two Sicilies, men were discovering in that fair land that they, too, could write in their own language; and the beautiful era of the Trecento (as the Italians call the 14th century) was to be ushered in not only with the fervor of the Flagellants, the exquisite creations of Christian Art and the genesis of the Drama, but with a school of gifted, polished poets. Both the language and the literature of 265442 |