BRUNI, LEONARDO (1369-1444). An Italian humanist, horn at Arezzo, and hence styled 'Are lino.' He was one of the most learned men who flourished during the epoch of the revival of Greek learning in Italy. He first studied law in Florence and Ravenna, but afterwards turned his attention to classical literature. In Rome he was Papal secretary under four Popes, and in 1414 attended John XXIII. to the Council of Constance. On the deposition of that Pope, he returned to Florence, where he was of service to the Republic in several important matters. Ilis Historiarum Florentinarum libri XII. (Strass burg, 1610) procured for him the rights of citi zenship, and in 1427, through the favor of the Sledicean family, he was appointed State Secre tary. He died in Florence, :March 9, 1444. Flor ence and Arezzo vied with each other in the splendor with which they celebrated his obsequies.
He aided in advancing the study of Greek litera ture mainly by his literal translations into Latin of Aristotle. Plato, Demosthenes. Plutarch, and others. Of his numerous original works the following may be mentioned: Commentarius Reruns van TemporeOestarum (1476) : Dr Rama. Origine: Poliscenc Camellia and Epistoiw (1472) and lives of Dante and Petrarch in Italian (16721.
BleljNIG (brn'n1K1 PASS. A pass in the Swiss Alps, on the frontier-line between the Can ton of Bern and Obwalden (Slap: Switzerland, C' 2). It lies at an altitude of about 3300 feet. It is crossed by a read leading from Lucerne to Brienz, constructed in 1857-62. Since 1S89 there has been a railway line leading over the pass. and connecting Lucerne with Aleiningen and Brienz.