Transition from Florence to Rome -- Vicissitudes of Learning at the Papal Court -- Diplomatic Humanists -- Protonotaries -- Apostolic Scribes -- Ecclesiastical Sophists -- Immorality and Artificiality of Scholarship in Rome -- Poggio and Bruni, Secretaries -- Eugenius IV. -- His Patronage of Scholars -- Flavio Biondo -- Solid Erudition -- Nicholas V. -- His Private History -- Nature of his Talents -- His unexpected Elevation to the Roman See -- Jubilation of the Humanists -- His Protection of Learned Men in Rome -- A Workshop of Erudition -- A Factory of Translations -- High Sums paid for Literary Labour -- Poggio Fiorentino -- His Early Life -- His Journeys -- His Eminence as a Man of Letters -- His attitude towards Ecclesiastics -- His Invectives -- Humanistic Gladiators -- Poggio and Filelfo -- Poggio and Guarino -- Poggio and Valla -- Poggio and Perotti -- Poggio and Georgios Trapezuntios -- Literary Scandals -- Poggio's Collections of Antiquities -- Chancellor of Florence -- Cardinal Bessarion -- His Library -- Theological Studies -- Apology for Plato -- The Greeks in Italy -- Humanism at Naples -- Want of Culture in Southern Italy -- Learning an Exotic -- Alfonso the Magnificent -- Scholars in the Camp -- Literary Dialogues at Naples -- Antonio Beccadelli -- The 'Hermaphroditus' -- Lorenzo Valla -- The Epicurean -- The Critic -- The Opponent of the Church -- Bartolommeo Fazio -- Giannantonio Porcello -- Court of Milan -- Filippo Maria Visconti -- Decembrio's Description of his Master -- Francesco Filelfo -- His Early Life -- Visit to Constantinople -- Place at Court -- Marriage -- Return to Italy -- Venice -- Bologna -- His Pretensions as a Professor -- Florence -- Feuds with the Florentines -- Immersion in Politics -- Siena -- Settles at Milan -- His Fame -- Private Life and Public Interests -- Overtures to Rome -- Filelfo under the Sforza Tyranny -- Literary Brigandage -- Death at Florence -- Filelfo as the Representative of a Class -- Vittorino da Feltre -- Early Education -- Scheme of Training Youths as Scholars -- Residence at Padua -- Residence at Mantua -- His School of Princes -- Liberality to Poor Students -- Details of his Life and System -- Court of Ferrara -- Guarino da Verona -- House Tutor of Lionello d'Este -- Giovanni Aurispa -- Smaller Courts -- Carpi -- Mirandola -- Rimini and the Malatesta Tyrants -- Cesena -- Pesaro -- Urbino and Duke Frederick -- Vespasiano da Bisticci 155 CHAPTER VI THIRD PERIOD OF HUMANISM