PETRARCO, on PETRARCH, FRANCIS, a cerebrat ed Italian poet, was descended of an ancient and respect able family of Florence, but was born (1304) at Arezzo in Tuscany, whither his parents had fled for refuge, in consequence of some internal commotions to which that republic was then subjected. His father and grandfather,' who followed the profession of the law, were equally es teemed for the probity of their character, and the emi nence of their talents.* The mother of Tetrarch, about seven months after his birth, ventured to return with the child to Ancise, a villa belonging to her husband in the vale of Arno, fourteen miles from Florence. The family of Tetrarch afterwards settled at Carpentras, in the vici nity of A ignon, then the residence of the Pope, where the subject of this sketch received his scholastic educa tion. Displaying, at an early age, great talents and a de cided taste for literature, he made much greater profi ciency in his studies than any of his contemporaries; he made himself acquainted when at school with books known to few at his age ; and among other works which caught his youthful admiration, Cicero was his greatest favourite, and continued to he so at every future stage of his life. ii is father, who intended him for the law, sent him, at the age of fourteen, to the University of Montpelier ; whence he afterwards removed him to Bologna; at both which places, instead of applying himself to the study of law, he devoted his time to the cultivation of poetry and ele gant literature. In vain was parental authority interposed. Petrarch, though distinguished for filial affection, found the natural tendency of his mind altogether irresisti ble ; and had his father lived, his good principles would undoubtedly have induced him to sacrifice his own views and wishes to those of so affectionate and promis ing a son.
But Pctrarch was not destined long to enjoy the advan tages of parental tenderness and wisdom. His mother died in 1324; and his father, overwhelmed with grief at the sense of his loss, survived her only a short time, and left two sons, who had scarcely reached the age of manhood, without friends, and almost without fortune.
In such circumstances, Petrarch left Bologna, and set tled at Avignon, a place distinguished at that time for luxury and licentiousness, where he soon became re markable, as much for the magnificence of his dress and the gaiety of his life, as for the brilliancy of his talents, and the intensity of his application. But though a vota ry of fashion, lie was never insensible to the charms of literature. Every leisure hour he could command, he devoted to the study of ancient learning and of poetry, and sheaved at that time a trait of character by which he was ever afterwards distinguished; namely, that of collecting manuscripts of classical authors, and of taking new copies of them, many of which he transcribed with his own hand.
And this devotedness to literature was cherished and confirmed by the character of some of those eminent per sonages whose friendship he at this time acquired. The individual whose salutary advice and warm encouragement first gave him confidence in his own genius and talents, was the venerable Canon of Pisa, a person eminent alike for an intimate acquaintance with ancient literature, and for purity of character. But the most important incident in the life of Petrarch at this time was, his introduction into the illustrious family of Colonna, to whose kind and patronising attention he owed some of the happiest mo ments of his existence, and most of the preferments and honours to which he was afterwards raised. After having spent a summer with James Colonna, bishop of Lombes, in the bishopric near the foot of the Pyrennees—a place, and the delights it afforded him, he never ceased to re member,—he was kindly solicited to reside with that pre late in the house of his brother, Cardinal Colonna, then at Avignon. This invitation he did not hesitate to accept; and he thus found an agreeable home, where he enjoyed every opportunity for the indulgence of his favourite stu dies, and where he became known to the most distinguish ed persons of that period; and the friendship of all to i whom he was introduced, his amiable manners and exqui site genius never failed to secure.