300 A R I O S T O. rioetry did not hinder him from engaging in public affair, for he was employed in embaflics and negotiations in differ- ent parts of Italy [B]. The cardinal of Eftf wanted to have carried him to Hungary, with feme other illuftrious perfons who attended him ; but Ariofto refufed to go, and loft all his interefl- with his patron. Upon the death of Hippolito he engaged in the fervice of Alfohfoduke of Ferrara, who treated him with great efteem Ibid. p. 419, and affection, and appointed him governor of Graffignana, which office he" difcharged with great honour 2nd fuccefs. After his return home, he dedicated the reft of his life to re- tirement, profecuting his iludies in a houfe which he built forhimfelfat Ferrara [c]. He tranflated fevera! pieces out of French and Spanifh into Italian ; and wrote alfo feveral fatires, which, according to Mr. Menage, are efleemed by the belt judges. There are likewife five comedies of his '* both delightful and profitable, to ' have a feat or refting- place tor the " reader j and even as if a man walked " in a fair long alley, to have a feat or ' refting-place here and there, is eafy " and commodious. But if at the fame
- c (cat were planted fome excellent tree,
" that not only with the fh.ide fliould " keep us from the heat, but wilh fome " pleaf ir and right wholefome fruit " fhould alhy our third and comfort " our flomach, we fliould think it for " the time a little paradife. Sr> are " A'ioflo's morals ;:nd preity d : gref- " fions fprinkled through h is !o,)g work,
- { to the no lefs pleafure than profit of
" the reader." There were feveral edi- tions arjH tranHation.s of -this poem : it vas tranflated into Lnjlilh by fir John the tl.ird edition of which d at L"jidon, in f<>ii", 1634, with" the fi'Howing title, " Urlando ' Furiofo, in English heroic verff , by
- .'ir Jol;n Harrington of Tathe
<( Knight ; now thirdly reviled and " iimrnded, with the Addition of the " Author's Epigrams." AnJ an ele- pant verfiriii has been ;,.;n by Mr. Hoole in 1723. [B] When pope Julius II. intended to make war upon the duke of Ferrara, cardinal Hippolito's brother, Ariofto was chofen as a proper perfon to p o upon, an embafTy to him. He tranfacled this affair with fo much fuccefs, that he gained a great character at his return. He went a fecond time to the fame pope, at a very difficult and dangerous junc- ture, when nobody would undertake the commiffion : he accordingly per- formed his journey, and prelented him- felfto the pope; but finding, by fome iVcrtt intelligence, that his emb^lVy vould be to no manner pf purpofe, but expofe him only to the utmoft danger, he returned home through all the diffi- culties and bazatds imaginable, and was highly honoured for his refolution and courage in this affair. [<C j It was but a fmall, though con- verient houfe : being afked, v.hy he had not built it in a more magnificent manner, fince he had given fuch nobie defcriptions of furnptuous palaces, beau- tiful porticos, and pleafant fountains, in his Orlando Furiofo ? He replied, That
o>dsvere ch>aptr laid together than ftones. Uponihe door was the follow- ing infcription : I'srva, Ud rpta mih!, f:d m.lli obnwxia, fed non Sordida, partameo fed tamen are domus. Whic': fl.in-ing.ton thus tranflatc*, This lioufet? fmall, b-jt fit for me, but huriful unto none; But y.-t ivjt iluuiHi, u y-vj fee, yet paid for with mine own. extant^
