PREFACE.

The present translation of Petrarch completes the Illustrated Library series of the Italian Poets emphatically distinguished as “I Quattro Poeti Italiani.”

It is rather a singular fact that, while the other three Poets of this world-famed series—­Dante, Ariosto, and Tasso—­have each found several translators, no complete version of the fourth, and in Italy the most popular, has hitherto been presented to the English reader.  This lacune becomes the more remarkable when we consider the great influence which Petrarch has undoubtedly exercised on our poetry from the time of Chaucer downwards.

The plan of the present volume has been to select from all the known versions those most distinguished for fidelity and rhythm.  Of the more favourite poems, as many as three or four are occasionally given; while of others, and those by no means few, it has been difficult to find even one.  Indeed, many must have remained entirely unrepresented but for the spirited efforts of Major Macgregor, who has recently translated nearly the whole, and that with great closeness both as to matter and form.  To this gentleman we have to return our especial thanks for his liberal permission to make free use of his labours.

Among the translators will be found Chaucer, Spenser, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Anna Hume, Sir John Harington, Basil Kennett, Anne Bannerman, Drummond of Hawthornden, R. Molesworth, Hugh Boyd, Lord Woodhouselee, the Rev. Francis Wrangham, the Rev. Dr. Nott, Dr. Morehead, Lady Dacre, Lord Charlemont, Capel Lofft, John Penn, Charlotte Smith, Mrs. Wrottesley, Miss Wollaston, J.H.  Merivale, the Rev. W. Shepherd, and Leigh Hunt, besides many anonymous.

The order of arrangement is that adopted by Marsand and other recent editors; but to prevent any difficulty in identification, the Italian first lines have been given throughout, and repeated in an alphabetical index.

The Life of Petrarch prefixed is a condensation of the poet Campbell’s two octavo volumes, and includes all the material part of that work.

York Street, Covent Garden,
  June 28, 1869.

LIST OF PLATES.

Page

1.  Portrait of petrarch to face title.

2.  View of Naples xliv

3.  View of nice li

4.  Coast of Genoa lxvi

5.  Bridge of sighs, Venice lxxviii

6.  Vicenza lxxxiii

7.  Milan Cathedral cvi

8.  Library of st. Mark’s, Venice cxv