GUARINI, Battista, a celebrated Italian poet, born at Ferrara in 1538. He was great-grandson to Guarino of Verona, and was secretary to Alphonsio duke of Ferrara, who intrusted him with several important commissions. After the death of that prince, he was successively secretary to Vincenzo de Gonzaga, to Ferdinand de Medicis grand duke of Tuscany, and to Francis Maria de Feltri duke of Urbino. But the only advantages he reaped under these various masters were great encomiums on his wit and compositions. He was well acquainted with polite literature; and acquired immortal reputation by his Italian poems, especially by his Pastor Fido, the most known and admired of all his works, and of which there have been innumerable editions and translations. He died in 1612.