Matteo Palmieri and ‘The City of Life’—Burchiello and the Burlesque—The Romantic Epos—Bernardo and Luca Pulci—The ‘Ciriffo Calvaneo’ and the ‘Giostri’—Luigi Pulci and the ‘Morgante Maggiore’—The Epopee and the Courts of Medici and Este—Luigi Pulci’s Connection with Lorenzo de’ Medici—Angelo Poliziano’s Family and Youth—His Homeric Studies—Translation of the Iliad—Dedication to Lorenzo—Opinion of Cardinal Ammannati—Interruptions in the Work—The Dramatic Piece ‘Orfeo’—Tournament of Giuliano de’ Medici—The Stanzas—Small Latin Poems—Poliziano as a Latin Poet—The ‘Sylvæ’—Description of Lorenzo as a Poet—Description of Fiesole—Dedication of the ‘Sylvæ’—Son of Lorenzo, Pier Francesco de’ Medici, Lorenzo Tornabuoni, Antonio Pallavicino Gentile—Witches in an Academical Lecture—Poliziano as a Popular Song Writer—Rispetti—Poliziano as Translator and Letter Writer 41 CHAPTER IX. POLIZIANO IN THE HOME OF THE MEDICI. SCALA AND RUCELLAI. Poliziano as a Poet and Tutor of the Medici—Poliziano and Madonna Clarice—Winter Residence in Caffagiuolo—Ode to Gentile Becchi—Poliziano’s Letter to Madonna Lucrezia—Dissension between Madonna Clarice and Poliziano—Poliziano in Fiesole—Poliziano and others as Teachers of Piero de’ Medici—Giorgio Benigno—Giovanni Prato—Antonio Barberini—Piero de’ Medici in his Youth—Bartolommeo Scala—Benedetto Accolti—Scala and Lorenzo de’ Medici—Quarrel of Poliziano and Scala—Alessandra Scala—Poliziano’s Quarrel with Marullus—Alamanno Rinuccini—Bernardo Rucellai and the Platonic Academy 63 CHAPTER X. ERMOLAO BARBARO AND PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA. Bernardo Bembo—Ermolao Barbaro—Barbaro’s Visit to Florence and to Lorenzo de’ Medici at the Baths—Lorenzo’s Exertions in favour of Barbaro—Giovanni Pico de’ Mirandola—Pico in Florence and in the Medici Circle—The Cabbala—Pico’s Amorous Adventure at Arezzo—Disputation at Rome and Opposition—Denunciation and Apology—Lorenzo’s Interposition on behalf of Pico—Pico’s Country Life and Studies—Lorenzo’s Defence of Pico against his Romish Adversaries—Final Issue of the Difference—Pico’s Poetical and Philosophical Works—Pico a Type of the Age—Stefano Porcaro and Pandolfo Collenuccio 79 CHAPTER XI. PISA UNIVERSITY. MANUSCRIPTS AND CRITICISM. PRINTING. PLATONIC SYMPOSIA.