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Petrarch may not suit the standard of perfection which they have chosen；
they lie under great obligations to these very poems；that； but for Petrarch
the measure； concerning which they legislate so judiciously； would
probably never have attracted notice； and that to him they owe the
pleasure of admiring； and the glory of composing； pieces； which seem to
have been produced by Master Slender； with the assistance of his man
Simple。
I cannot conclude these remarks without making a few observations on
the Latin writings of Petrarch。 It appears that； both by himself and by his
contemporaries； these were far more highly valued than his compositions
in the vernacular language。 Posterity； the supreme court of literary appeal；
has not only reversed the judgment； but； according to its general practice；
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reversed it with costs； and condemned the unfortunate works to pay； not
only for their own inferiority； but also for the injustice of those who had
given them an unmerited preference。 And it must be owned that； without
making large allowances for the circumstances under which they were
produced； we cannot pronounce a very favourable judgment。 They must
be considered as exotics； transplanted to a foreign climate； and reared in
an unfavourable situation； and it would be unreasonable to expect from
them the health and the vigour which we find in the indigenous plants
around them； or which they might themselves have possessed in their
native soil。 He has but very imperfectly imitated the style of the Latin
authors； and has not compensated for the deficiency by enriching the
ancient language with the graces of modern poetry。 The splendour and
ingenuity； which we admire； even when we condemn it； in his Italian
works； is almost totally wanting； and only illuminates with rare and
occasional glimpses the dreary obscurity of the African。 The eclogues
have more animation； but they can only be called poems by courtesy。 They
have nothing in common with his writings in his native language； except
the eternal pun about Laura and Daphne。 None of these works would
have placed him on a level with Vida or Buchanan。 Yet； when we
compare him with those who preceded him； when we consider that he
went on the forlorn hope of literature； that he was the first who perceived；
and the first who attempted to revive； the finer elegancies of the ancient
language of the world； we shall perhaps think more highly of him than of
those who could never have surpassed his beauties if they had not
inherited them。
He has aspired to emulate the philosophical eloquence of Cicero； as
well as the poetical majesty of Virgil。 His essay on the Remedies of
Good and Evil Fortune is a singular work in a colloquial form； and a most
scholastic style。 It seems to be framed upon the model of the Tusculan
Questions；with what success those who have read it may easily
determine。 It consists of a series of dialogues： in each of these a person
is introduced who has experienced some happy or some adverse event： he
gravely states his case； and a reasoner； or rather Reason personified；
confutes him； a task not very difficult； since the disciple defends his
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position only by pertinaciously repeating it； in almost the same words at
the end of every argument of his antagonist。 In this manner Petrarch
solves an immense variety of cases。 Indeed； I doubt whether it would be
possible to name any pleasure or any calamity which does not find a place
in this dissertation。 He gives excellent advice to a man who is in
expectation of discovering the philosopher's stone；to another； who has
formed a fine aviary；to a third； who is delighted with the tricks of a
favourite monkey。 His lectures to the unfortunate are equally singular。
He seems to imagine that a precedent in point is a sufficient consolation
for every form of suffering。 〃Our town is taken；〃 says one complainant；
〃So was Troy；〃 replies his comforter。 〃My wife has eloped；〃 says another；
〃If it has happened to you once； it happened to Menelaus twice。〃 One
poor fellow is in great distress at having discovered that his wife's son is
none of his。 〃It is hard；〃 says he； 〃that I should have had the expense of
bringing up one who is indifferent to me。〃 〃You are a man；〃 returns his
monitor； quoting the famous line of Terence； 〃and nothing that belongs to
any other man ought to be indifferent to you。〃 The physical calamities of
life are not omitted； and there is in particular a disquisition on the
advantages of having the itch； which； if not convincing； is certainly very
amusing。
The invectives on an unfortunate physician； or rather upon the medical
science； have more spirit。 Petrarch was thoroughly in earnest on this
subject。 And the bitterness of his feelings occasionally produces； in the
midst of his classical and scholastic pedantry； a sentence worthy of the
second Philippic。 Swift himself might have envied the chapter on the
causes of the paleness of physicians。
Of his Latin works the Epistles are the most generally known and
admired。 As compositions they are certainly superior to his essays。 But
their excellence is only comparative。 From so large a collection of letters；
written by so eminent a man； during so varied and eventful a life； we
should have expected a complete and spirited view of the literature； the
manners； and the politics of the age。 A travellera poeta scholara
lovera courtiera reclusehe might have perpetuated； in an imperishable
record； the form and pressure of the age and body of the time。 Those
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who read his correspondence； in the hope of finding such information as
this； will be utterly disappointed。 It contains nothing characteristic of the
period or of the individual。 It is a series； not of letters； but of themes； and；
as it is not generally known； might be very safely employed at public
schools as a magazine of commonplaces。 Whether he write on politics to
the Emperor and the Doge； or send advice and consolation to a private
friend； every line is crowded with examples and quotations； and sounds
big with Anaxagoras and Scipio。 Such was the interest excited by the
character of Petrarch； and such the admiration which was felt for his
epistolary style； that it was with difficulty that his letters reached the place
of their destination。 The poet describes； with pretended regret and real
complacency； the importunity of the curious； who often opened； and
sometimes stole； these favourite compositions。 It is a remarkable fact
that； of all his epistles； the least affected are those which are addressed to
the dead and the unborn。 Nothing can be more absurd than his whim of
composing grave letters of expostulation and commendation to Cicero and
Seneca； yet these strange performances are written in a far more natural
manner than his communications to his living correspondents。 But of all
his Latin works the preference must be given to the Epistle to Posterity； a
simple； noble； and pathetic composition； most honourable both to his taste
and his heart。 If we can make allowance for some of the affected
humility of an author； we shall perhaps think that no literary man has left a
more pleasing memorial of himself。
In co