TASSO, BERNARDO, an Italian poet of considerable distinction, but most famous as the father of the illustrious Torquato, was b. at Bergamo, Nov. 11, 1493. Both by his father's and mother's side he was connected with the ancient family of the Tassi, known in the 13th c. for having organized and superintended the postal service in Italy, Spain, and Germany. His uncle, Luigi Alessandro, bishop of Recanati, took charge of his education, and under his care he turned out a fine classical scholar, his love of poetry at the same time becoming every year more ardent. The assassination of the cardinal in 1520, deprived him at once of protection and support, and for several years he wan dered about Italy in a rather necessitous condition. Like his. son, he was exceedingly fond of the patronage of noble lords and the smiles of noble ladies. After 1525 we find him high in favor with persons of influence. Guido Rangone, gen. of the pontifical forces. 7ntrusted him with several missions, among others to the prince of Salerno, who appointed him his secretary; and Tasso accompanied the prince on the expedition against Tunis in 1534. In 1539 he married, at Salerno, a young lady of Sorrento, Porzia de' Rossi, who added genuine merit to the advantages of birth, beauty, and fortune, and by whom he became the father of Torquato. The fall of the prince of Salerno (who had
incurred the emnity of Charles V.) brought with it the ruin of Tasso's worldly prosper ity, and he was obliged to seek for a new patron. He was not long in finding friends. Guidubaldo, duke of Urbino, and Gugielmo, duke of Mantua, strove for the honor of attaching the poet to their court. The latter succeeded, and named him governor of the city of Ostiglia, where he died Sept. 4, 1569.
Tasso's principal writings, chronologically arranged, are: Rime (Ven. 1531); I Ire Libri degli Amori (Ven. 1537); Ode e Salmi (Ven. 1560); L' Amadigi, Poema (Yen. 1560); and /1 itloridante, Poema (Mant. 1587). Of these the principal is L' Amadigi (Amadis), which some Italian critics have not hesitated to place above the poem of Ariosto; but without adopting this extravagant- estimate, we may justly admire it for the sweetness and ele gance of its language, and for the beauty of its descriptions and comparisons.—For a good idea of the politics and literature of the time, see Seghezzi's edition of his Lettere (3 vols., Padua, 1733-51), to which there is prefixed a biographical notice.