The poet's eloquent tribute to Florentine freedom, and its value to the cause of liberty, must close our sparing extracts.[89] "Perche privato el popul Fiorentino Della sua libertade, era cavare Un occhio a Italia, e metterla al declino." For to curtail fair Florence of her freedom Were to pluck forth an eye from Italy, And cause her orb to wane. [Footnote 89: See others in vol. I., and _passim_ in Book II.; also in IV. of the Appendix below.] In Sanzi's Chronicle we seek in vain for the riper beauties of succeeding epics; but the flashes of poetry which it embodies are not the less effective from their simple diction, nor from the comparatively unpolished narrative which they adorn. * * * * * No. 699 of the Urbino MSS. contains the collected minor poems and songs of ANGELO GALLI of Urbino, knight, and secretary to Duke Federigo. They are three hundred and seventy-six in number, all in Italian, and unedited, but beautifully transcribed on vellum by Federigo Veterani. Although varied by the introduction of sacred subjects, most of them are occasional amorous effusions, wherein names of the Montefeltri, Malatesta, Sforza, and other Umbrian families frequently occur. The dates affixed to them extend from 1428 to 1457. It appears that the author attended the Council of Basle in 1442, and he is said by Crescimbeni to have survived until 1496. His mellowed versification is in general superior to that of the age, while his trite and limited matter is pleasingly relieved by many happy turns of thought and graces of language. Though unable to supply any particulars of one who has almost escaped notice, we give place to two specimens of his muse. His canzonet addressed to Caterina, "the noble, beautiful, discreet, charming, gentle, and generous Countess of Urbino," runs thus: "El mirabil splendor del tuo bel viso Pusilanimo famme, a tanta parte Che l'ingegno in tal carte Non tangeria, s'il ver ch'io non errasse. Forsa che la natura in paradiso Per aiuto sali ad informarte, E poi per divin arte A gloria de se eterna giù te trasse. Qual oro si micante s'aguagliasse Cum sua chiareza a tui biondi capegli! E gli occhi, ch'a vede gli L'invidia affreccia el sol a ricolcarse. Qual perle, qual coragli, al riso breve! Le guance han sangue, spirto in bianca neve!" The other is upon Costanza Varana, wife of Alessandro Sforza, and mother of Battista Countess of Urbino. "Che la sua faccia bella Mostro d'inverno sempre primavera, Real costume, aspetto di signora, Viso di dea e d'angioli a favella. Ma questa donna, ch'a la mente diva, Depinge di honestà omne suo gesto: Non pur suo guardo honesto, Ma li suo panni, gridan' pudicitia.