VIDA, MARCO GERONIMO, a very elegant Latin poet, was a native of Cremona, but the time of his birth is uncertain. Different writers have placed it in 1470, 1480, and 1500. His parents were noble, but not wealthy. He prosecuted his studies at Padua and Bologna, and at an early age was admitted into the congregation of the canons regular of St Mark at Mantua. Here however he did not long remain, but removed to Rome, where he became a canon of St John of the Lateran. His poetical talents recommended him to the favour of Leo the Tenth, who bestowed upon him the priorship of St Sylvester near Tivoli. VIDA published a collection of his poems at Rome in the year 1527. This collection, a quarto of 110 leaves, contains De Arte Poetica libri iii., De Bombyce libri ii., De Lilo Scacchorum, Hymni, Bucolica. Leo recommended to him the subject of a sacred poem, which was not completed till after the death of that pontiff. Under the title of "Christiados libri sex," it was published at Cremona in 1535. In 1532 Clement the Seventh had promoted him to the bishopric of Alba. Another pope, Paul the Third, destined him for the bishopric of Cremona, but died before he could fulfil his intentions. VIDA composed several other works in verse, and some in prose. When his episcopal city was attacked by the French and the imperials in 1542, he displayed his courage by urging the garrison to make a strenuous defence, and he afterwards contributed to the recovery of this conquest out of their hands. He accompanied the papal legates to the council of Trent; and upon that occasion composed a prose work, entitled "Dialogi de Republicæ Dignitate," and printed at Cremona in 1556. He died at Alba on the 27th of September 1566, and his remains were interred in the cathedral. VIDA possessed a very elegant taste, and was a great master of Latin versification. The art of poetry, the operations of the silk worm, and even the game of chess, he has discussed with singular grace and harmony. The encomium of VIDA rendered his name familiar to English ears: