The little idyllic narrative _Ninfale Fiesolano_ is one of the most attractive of Boccaccio’s minor writings. It relates the breach of “Diana’s law” by one of her nymphs, and its tragical consequences--the suicide of the lover, and the metamorphosis, or rather the assumption of the nymph into the waters of a river; although the fruit of their union survives to become a hero and found the city of Fiesole. If, as is probable, somewhat later than the _Filostrato_, this pleasing little story evinces Boccaccio’s increasing mastery of the octave couplet, ease of narrative, and power of natural description. Had he continued to compose in verse, he would probably have ranked higher among Italian poets than he does now. The _Amorosa Visione_ is an earlier and very different work. It is written in _terza rima_, and betrays an evident ambition to imitate Dante, while in its turn it has not been without influence on Petrarch’s _Trionfi_. Like the latter, it testifies to the mediæval love of allegories and stately shows, and may well have aided to inspire the _Polifilo_ of Francesco Colonna. The poet is conducted through a number of visions illustrative of the pomps and vanities of the world, and the poem leaves off just as, by command of his mistress, he is about to attempt the narrow way which he should have taken at first. Written apparently for the entertainment of a courtly circle, and encumbered with fantastic acrostics, it reveals little of the deep feeling of its predecessor or its successor; but if regarded simply as the description of a series of pageants, must be allowed the merits of fertile invention and glowing colour. Boccaccio’s enthusiastic praise of Dante, whom he calls the lord of all science, and the source of everything, if there be anything, excellent in himself, is highly honourable to him. A good example of Boccaccio’s epic vein is afforded by the prayer of Emilia to Diana in the _Teseide_, uttered when Palamon and Arcite are about to fight for her sake. For this, as for several other versions, the writer is indebted to Miss Ellen Clerke: _She thus in broken vows 'mid sighs began: “Chaste Goddess, who dost purify the glades, And of a maiden train dost lead the van, And him chastises who thy law evades, As lost Actæon learned in briefest span, Who, young and hapless, smit 'mid sylvan shades, Not by scourge whip, but by thy wrath celestial, Fled as a stag in transformation bestial._ _“Hear, then, my voice, if worthy of thy care, While I implore by thy divinity, In triple form, accept my lowly prayer, And if it be an easy task to thee To perfect it--I prithee strive, if e’er Soft pity filled thy heart so cold and free For maiden client who in prayer addrest thee, And who for grace or favour did request thee._