GOZZI, COUNT CARLO, brother to tho preceding, was born in .Eared 1772. At a very early age he displayed a taste for literature, and applied himself wjth such knmodcmte diligence to reading as to subject himself to frequent fits of syncope, in the course of which he was at four different time% supposed to be actually dead. Equally precocious in his passion for literary composition, before ha had well completed hie sixteenth year he produced four poems of conaidemblo length (' II Berlinghieri," Don Chisciotte," La Filosofia Morale,' and in twelve cantos), besides a great number of fugitive pieces both in prose and verse, and a translation of Marivaux's ' Pharsamon.' At length, in order to escape front rapidly-increasing family embar maimenta occasioned by his father's extravagance and by his brother Oasparo's bad management, he accompanied the Proveditor Querini to Dalmatia, where ho continued about throe years, and while there he began to apply himself assiduously to the study of mathematics and fortification. On his return to Venico he was for a long time occupied entirely with domestic matters, and in endeavouring to rescue the mortgaged and alienated estates of the family; till, grown weary of constant litigation, he again took up his pen, and in 1761 brought out his first dramatic piece, entitled the ' Three Oranges,' and written for the purpose of supporting the Sacchi company, whose theatre had become almost deserted for that of Goldoni. Its success was so complete that he followed it up with a succession of similar dramas, all founded upon Venetian Fi6b6, or stories of wonderful adventures and enchantments, derived from eastern countries, where their scene is uuiformly laid. For tho Venetian public these pieces had the novel attraction of abundant spectacle, action. and stage bustle, in addition
to that of the Masehero of the Italian theatre, and their impromptu dialogue, which Goldoni had endeavoured to banish, and which Gozzi was anxious to revive. They also abound in varied and striking situations, both tragic and comic, and in scenes of Arietophanic humour and licence, in which the author did not at all spare either Goldoni or his other dramatic rival, Chiari. The fame of these romantic tragic and comic pieces soon extended itself to Germany, where the wildness and marvellousness of their plots gained them many admirers; among the rest, of Schiller himself, who has given his countrymen a free translation of that entitled ' Turandotte.' Besides which, a complete German translation of them appeared at Berne, in five volumes, in 1777. In fact, Gozzi has been more liberally commended by foreigners, Ginguen6, Schlegel, De stael, &c., than by Italian critics, some of whom have accused him of being trivial both in his language and his sentiments.
He afterwards composed a number of other dramas, partly trans lated, partly borrowed from various Spanish authors; also a humorous poem in twelve canton, entitled 'Marfisa Bizzarra.' Further be has, like his rival Goldoni, given us his autobiography under the whim sical title of ' Memorie Inutili della sua Vita, scritte da lui ined6ahno, e pubblicate per Math.' This work was never completed by him, but he discontinued it after the part printed in 1798, notwithstanding that he lived several years longer, for his death did not take place till April 6, 1806, when he had attained the age of eighty-four.