This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ...was less happy than the age of Charlemagne. 88 See the character of Barlaam, in Boccaee de Genealog. Deorum,.. xv. c. 6. 89 Cantacuzen. 1. ii. c. 38. 90 For the connection of Petrarch and Barlaam, and the two interviews at Avignon in 1339, and at Naples in 1342, see the excellent Memoires sur la Vie de Petrarque, tom, i p. 406--410, torn ii. p. 75 91 The bishopric to which Barlaara retired, was the old Locri, in the middle ages. Seta. Cyriaca, and by corruption Hieracium, Geraee, (Dissert. Chorographica Italise Medii JEvi, p. 312.) The dives opum of the Norman times soon lapsed into poverty, since even the church was poor: yet the town still contains 3000 inhabitants, (Swinburne, p. 340.) n I will transcribe a passage from this epistle of Petrarch, (Famil. ix. 2;) Donasti Homerum non in alienum sermonem violcnto alveo The p.ize which eluded the efforts of Petrarch, was obtained by the fortune and industry of his friend Boccace,93 the father of the Tuscan prose. That popular writer, who derives his reputation from the Decameron, a hundred novels of pleasaniry and love, may aspire to the more serious praise of restoring in Italy the study of the Greek language. In the year one thousand three hundred and sixty, a disciple of Barlaam, whose name was Leo, or Leontius Pilatus, was detained in his way to Avignon by the advice and hospitality of Boccace, who lodged the stranger in his house, prevailed on the republic of Florence to allow him an annual stipend, and devoted his leisure to the first Greek professor, who taught that language in the Western countries of Europe. The appearance of Leo might disgust the most eager disciple, he was clothed in the mantle of a philosopher, or a mendicant; his countenance was hideous; his face was...