John Baptist, a celebrated Italian poet, born at Naples in 1569. His father, who was an able civilian, obliged him to study the law; at which being disgusted, he left his parents, and retired to the house of the Sieur Manzi, who was a friend to all persons of wit. He at length became secretary to Matthew of Capua, great admiral of the kingdom of Naples, and contracted a friendship with Tasso. A short time after, he went to Rome, and entered into the service of Cardinal Aldobrandini, nephew to Pope Clement VIII, who took him with him to Savoy. Marino was in great favour with the court of Turin; but afterwards created himself many enemies there, the most furious of whom was the poet Galpard Murto, who, attempting to shoot him with a pistol, wounded one of the duke of Savoy's favourites. Marino being obliged to leave Turin, went to Paris at the desire of Queen Mary de Medicis, and published there his poem on Adonis. He afterwards went to Rome, where he was made prince of the academy of the humoristi; from thence to Naples, where he died while he was preparing to return home. He had a very lively imagination, but little judgment; and, giving way to the points and conceits then in vogue, his authority, far from correcting the false taste of the Italians, served rather to keep it farther from reformation. His works, which are numerous, have been often printed.