METASTASIO (originally TRAPASSI), PIETRO, one of Italy's most admired poets, was b. at Rotne in 1698, of humble parents, and gave early evidence of his genius by his boy ish improvisations. Metastasio having attracted the casual notice of Gravina, a famous jurisconsult of the day, the latter undertook the entire education and career of the youth, whose paternal Bailie of Trapassi became thenceforward Grccized into Metastasio, both words being identical in signification. The young poet speedily advanced in classical and general knowledge; and to his patron's enthusiastic devotion to the Greek drama may doubtless be traced much of the after-bent of Metastasio's own poetical tastes. By the early death of Gravina, Metastasio was placed in possession of considerable property. In 1724 be published one of his most celebrated dramas, La Didone, which, with Catone and Il Siroe, conferred on the poet a European name. In 1730 3letastasio accepted the post of poet-laureate to the imperial court of Vienna. During his sojourn in Vienna,
Metastasio coraposed his Giuseppe Iliconoscinto, Demofonte, and the Olimpiade. He died at Vienna in 1782. Metastasio was distinguished for the generosity, integrity, and candor of his nature, the sincerity of his friendships, and the disinterested warmth of his sentiments. His works are innumerable, embracing 63 dramas, 48 cantatas, besides ft vast number of elegies, CallZ011elte, S01111tIS, and translations. They enjoy unexampled popularity among all grades of his emintrymen; in their pure classical subjects and forms the educated student finds instruction and delight; while their facile musical ..race and verbal simp.icity adapt them to the popular appreciat-ion of the artless beauties o'''f poetry. The best editions of Metastasio are those of Turin (1757, 14 vols.); Paris (1755, 12 vols.); Paris (1780, 12 vols., large 8vo); Genoa (1802, 6 thick vols.); Mantua (1816-20, 20 vols.).