Of the social position of Italian women in this century[*50] we may gather many particulars from Ludovico Dolce's _Instituto delle Donne_: for although, like most writers on similar themes, he represents them "not as they are, but as they ought to be," still, knowing the then received standard of female perfection, we can form a pretty accurate estimate of their actual qualities. His views as to education are exceedingly orthodox. The Holy Scriptures, with the commentaries of the fathers, Ambrose, Augustin, and Jerome, ought to be day and night before a girl, and suffice for her religious and moral discipline. She should be familiar with her own language and with Latin, but Greek is an unnecessary burden. For mental occupation, Plato, Seneca, and such other philosophers as supply sound moral training are excellent, as well as Cicero for bright examples and wholesome counsels. History being the teacher of life, all classical historians are commended, but the Latin poets are vetoed as unfit for honest women, except most of Virgil and a few selections from Horace. Many modern Latin writers are commended, especially the _Christeida_ of Sannazaro and Vida, but all such prurient productions in Italian as Boccaccio's novels are to be shunned like venomous reptiles. On the other hand, the poetry of Petrarch and Dante is extolled beyond measure, the former as embodying with singular beauty an instance of the purest and most honourable love, the latter as an admirable portraiture of all Christian philosophy. Yet such literary occupations should never intrude upon more important matters, such as prayer, nor upon the domestic duties of married women. [Footnote *50: The books, pamphlets, poems, and stories, both contemporary and subsequent, dealing with the position, beauty, learning, dress, etc., of women would fill a library. I shall content myself by naming a very few among them under a few headings for the entertainment of the reader. The list of works I give is, of course, in no sense a bibliography. The best source is _Castiglione_ himself--for the sixteenth century and for court life, at any rate. But the picture he paints, remarkable as it is, was by no means altogether realistic, as a consultation with the following works will show. I have included a few dealing with earlier times, and have only quoted works with which I am familiar. GENERAL LIFE. CECCHI, _La Donna e la famiglia Italiana del Secolo XIII. al sec. XVI._, in _Nuova Antologia_ (new series), vol. XI., fasc. 19-20. FRATI, _La Donna Italiana secondo i più recenti studi_ (Torino, 1889). VARCONI, _La Donna Italiana descritta da Scrittrici Italiane in una serie di Conferenze_ (Firenze, 1890). VELLUTI, _Cronica Domestica_ (Firenze, 1887). DAZZI, _Alcune lettere familiari del sec. XIV._ in _Curiosità Letterarie_, fasc. XC. (Bologna, 1868). ANON., _Difesa delle Donne_ (Bologna, 1876). BIAGI, _La vita Italiana nel Rinascimento_ (Milano, 1897).