ARIOSTO, ir-y6e-to, Ludovico, an Italian poet: b. Reggio, 8 Sept. 1474; d. Ferrara, 6 June 1533. His father, who was commander of the citadel of Reggio, proposed that he should study law, but, as he showed no indi cation of being fitted for this profession, he was finally permitted to follow his own in clinations. These led him to the study of literature, especially the classics, and he soon developed so much ability as a poet that, as early as 1495, he wrote several comedies. Two of them were acted about 1512, and they attracted the attention of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este, who sent him as an ambassador to the court of Pope Julius II. In 1517 he offended the cardinal by refusing to accompany him to Hungary, but he immediately entered the serv ice of Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, by whom he was appointed governor of Garfagnana, a posi tion which he filled successfully for several years. The last years of his life were spent in writing comedies and in completing his prin cipal work, a romantic epic,
Horatian style were not published until after his death. His last days were spent in a modest home of his own in Ferrara. It has been care fully preserved. Recent editions of (Orlando Furioso) are those by Casella (Florence 1877), and Popini (ib. 1903). His minor works were edited by Polidori (2 vols., Florence 1891) under the title