The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch | Page 2

he is
crowned in the Capitol--repairs to Parma--death
of Tommaso da
Messina and James Colonna. xliii
1342. Goes as orator of the Roman people to Clement VI.
at Avignon--Studies the Greek language under
Barlaamo. xlviii
1343. Birth of his daughter Francesca--he writes his
dialogues "De secreto conflictu curarum
suarum"--is sent to Naples
by Clement VI. and
Cardinal Colonna--goes to Rome for a third and

a fourth time--returns from Naples to Parma. li
1344. Continues to reside in Parma. lviii
1345. Leaves Parma, goes to Bologna, and thence to
Verona--returns to Avignon. lviii
1346. Continues to live at Avignon--is elected canon of
Parma. lix
1347. Revolution at Rome--Petrarch's connection with the
Tribune--takes his fifth journey to Italy--repairs
to Parma. lxiv
1348. Goes to Verona--death of Laura--he returns again

to Parma--his autograph memorandum in the
Milan copy of
Virgil--visits Manfredi, Lord of
Carpi, and James Carrara at Padua.
lxvii
1349. Goes from Parma to Mantua and Ferrara--returns
to Padua, and receives, probably in this year, a
canonicate in Padua.
lxxiii
1350. Is raised to the Archdeaconry of Parma--writes to
the Emperor Charles IV.--goes to Rome, and, in
going and returning,
stops at Florence. lxxiii
1351. Writes to Andrea Dandolo with a view to reconcile
the Venetians and Florentines--the Florentines
decree the restoration
of his paternal property,
and send John Boccaccio to recall him to his

country--he returns, for the sixth time, to
Avignon--is consulted by
the four Cardinals, who
had been deputed to reform the government
of Rome. lxxx
1352. Writes to Clement VI. the letter which excites against
him the enmity of the medical tribe--begins
writing his treatise "De
Vita Solitaria." lxxxvii
1353. Visits his brother in the Carthusian monastery of
Monte Rivo--writes his treatise "De Otio
Religiosorum"--returns to
Italy--takes up his
abode with the Visconti--is sent by the Archbishop

Visconti to Venice, to negotiate a peace between the Venetians and
Genoese. xc
1354. Visits the Emperor at Mantua. xcix
1355. His embassy to the Emperor--publishes his "Invective

against a Physician." xcix
1360. His embassy to John, King of France. cxii
1361. Leaves Milan and settles at Venice--gives his library
to the Venetians. cxiii
1364. Writes for Lucchino del Verme his treatise "De Officio
et Virtutibus Imperatoris." cxvii
1366. Writes to Urban V. imploring him to remove the
Papal residence to Rome--finishes his treatise
"De Remediis
utriusque Fortunæ." cxviii
1368. Quits Venice--four young Venetians, either in this
year or the preceding, promulgate a critical judgment against
Petrarch--repairs to Pavia to negotiate
peace between the Pope's
Legate and the
Visconti. cxix
1370. Sets out to visit the Pontiff--is taken ill at Ferrara--
retires to Arquà among the Euganean hills. cxxii
1371. Writes his "Invectiva contra Gallum," and his
"Epistle to Posterity." cxxiii
1372. Writes for Francesco da Carrara his essay "De Republica
optime administranda." cxxx
1373. Is sent to Venice by Francesco da Carrara. cxxx
1374. Translates the Griseldis of Boccaccio--dies on the

18th of July in the same year. cxxxi
THE LIFE OF PETRARCH.
The family of Petrarch was originally of Florence, where his ancestors
held employments of trust and honour. Garzo, his great-grandfather,
was a notary universally respected for his integrity and judgment.
Though he had never devoted himself exclusively to letters, his literary
opinion was consulted by men of learning. He lived to be a hundred
and four years old, and died, like Plato, in the same bed in which he
had been born.
Garzo left three sons, one of whom was the grandfather of Petrarch.
Diminutives being customary to the Tuscan tongue, Pietro, the poet's
father, was familiarly called Petracco, or little Peter. He, like his
ancestors, was a notary, and not undistinguished for sagacity. He had
several important commissions from government. At last, in the
increasing conflicts between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines--or, as
they now called themselves, the Blacks and the Whites--Petracco, like
Dante, was obliged to fly from his native city, along with the other
Florentines of the White party. He was unjustly accused of having
officially issued a false deed, and was condemned, on the 20th of
October, 1302, to pay a fine of one thousand lire, and to have his hand
cut off, if that sum was not paid within ten days from the time he
should be apprehended. Petracco fled, taking with him his wife, Eletta
Canigiani, a lady of a distinguished family in Florence, several of
whom had held the office of Gonfalonier.
Petracco and his wife first settled at Arezzo, a very ancient city of
Tuscany. Hostilities did not cease between the Florentine factions till
some years afterwards; and, in an attempt made by the Whites to take
Florence by assault, Petracco was present with his party. They were
repulsed. This action, which was fatal to their cause, took place in the
night between the 19th and 20th days of July, 1304,--the precise date of
the birth of Petrarch.
During our poet's infancy, his family had still to struggle with an
adverse fate; for his