BOCCALINI, TRAJANO (1556-1613), Italian satirist, was born at Loreto in 1556, the son of an architect. His most important work is the Ragguagli di Parnaso, in which Apollo is represented as receiving the complaints of all who present them selves, and distributing justice according to the merits of each particular case. To escape, it is said, from the hostility of those whom his shafts had wounded, he retired to Venice, and there died on Nov. 16, 1613. It was asserted, indeed, by contemporary writers that he had been beaten to death with sand-bags by a band of Spanish bravadoes, but the story is probably founded on his known hatred of the Spaniards. The only government, indeed, which is exempt from his attacks is that of Venice, a city for which he seems to have had a special affection.
The Pietra has been translated into French, German, English and Latin ; the English translator was Henry, earl of Monmouth, his version being entitled The Politicke Touchstone (1674). Another posthumous publication of Boccalini was his Commentarii sopra Cornelio Tacito (1669). Many of his manuscripts are preserved still unprinted.