Many among them have left passages recording the happy days spent on that fortunate island. The social circle was doubtless a charming and brilliant one, and the more so, as contrasted with the general tone and habits of the society of the period. But the style of the following sonnet by Bernardo Tasso, selected by Visconti as a specimen of the various effusions by members of the select circle upon the subject, while it accurately illustrates the prevailing modes of thought and diction of that period, will hardly fail to suggest the idea of a comparison—mutatis mutandis—between this company of sixteenth century choice spirits, and that which assembled, and provoked so severe a lashing in the memorable Hôtel de Rambouillet, more than an hundred years afterwards. But an Italian Molière is as wholly impossible in the nature of things, as a French Dante. And the sixteenth century swarm of Petrarchists and Classicists have, unlike true prophets, found honour in their own country. [Sidenote: BERNARDO TASSO.] Gentle Bernardo celebrates in this wise these famed Ischia meetings:— "Superbo scoglio, altero e bel ricetto Di tanti chiari eroi, d'imperadori, Onde raggi di gloria escono fuori, Ch'ogni altro lume fan scuro e negletto; Se per vera virtute al ben perfetto Salir si puote ed agli eterni onori, Queste più d'altre degne alme e migliori V'andran, che chiudi nel petroso petto. Il lume e in te dell'armi; in te s'asconde Casta beltà, valore e cortesia, Quanta mai vide il tempo, o diede il cielo. Ti sian secondi i fati, e il vento e l'onde Rendanti onore, e l'aria tua natia Abbia sempre temprato il caldo e il gelo!" Which may be thus "done into English," for the sake of giving those unacquainted with the language of the original, some tolerably accurate idea of Messer Bernardo's euphuisms. "Proud rock! the loved retreat of such a band Of earth's best, noblest, greatest, that their light Pales other glories to the dazzled sight, And like a beacon shines throughout the land, If truest worth can reach the perfect state, And man may hope to merit heavenly rest, Those whom thou harbourest in thy rocky breast, First in the race will reach the heavenly gate. Glory of martial deeds is thine. In thee, Brightest the world e'er saw, or heaven gave, Dwell chastest beauty, worth, and courtesy! Well be it with thee! May both wind and sea Respect thee: and thy native air and wave Be temper'd ever by a genial sky!"