Francis, a celebrated Italian poet, was born at Arezzo in 1304, and was the son of Petraro di Parenzo. He studied grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy, for four years at Carpentras; from whence he went to Montpellier, where he studied the law under John Andreas and Cino of Pistoa, and probably from the latter received a taste for Italian poetry. As Petrarch only studied the law out of complaisance to his father, who on his visiting him at Bologna had thrown in the fire all the Latin poets and orators except Virgil and Cicero; he, at 22 years of age, hearing that his father and mother were dead of the plague at Avignon, returned to that city to settle his domestic affairs, and purchased a country-house in a very solitary but agreeable situation, called Vauclo; where he first knew the beautiful Laura, with whom he fell in love, and whom he has immortalized in his poems. He at length travelled into France, the Netherlands, and Germany; and at his return to Avignon entered into the service of Pope John XXII. who employed him in several important affairs. Petrarch was in hopes of being raised to some considerable posts; but being disappointed, he applied himself entirely to poetry; in which he met with such applause, that in one and the same day he received letters from Rome and the chancellor of the university of Paris, by which they invited him to receive the poetic crown. By the advice of his friends, he preferred Rome to Paris, and received that crown from the senate and people on the 8th of April 1341. "The ceremony of his coronation (says Gibbon) was performed in the Capitol, by his friend and patron the supreme magistrate of the republic. Twelve patrician youths were arrayed in scarlet; six representatives of the most illustrious families, in green robes, with garlands of flowers, accompanied the procession; in the midst of the princes and nobles, the senator, count of Anguillara, a kinsman of the Colonna, assumed his throne; and at the voice of a herald Petrarch arose. After discharging on a text of Virgil, and thrice repeating his vows for the prosperity of Rome, he knelt before the throne, and received from the senator a laurel crown, with a more precious declaration, 'This is the reward of merit.' The people shouted, 'Long life to the Capitol and the poet!' A sonnet in praise of Rome was accepted as the effusion of genius and gratitude; and after the whole procession had visited the Vatican, the profane wreath was suspended before the shrine of St Peter. In the act or diploma which was presented to Petrarch, the title and privileges of poet-laureat are revived in the Capitol after the lapse of 1300 years; and he receives the perpetual privilege of wearing, at his choice, a crown of laurel, ivy, or myrtle; of assuming the poetical habit; and of teaching, disputing, interpreting, and composing, in all places whatsoever, and on all subjects of literature. The grant was ratified by the authority of the senate and people; and the character of citizen was the recompense of his affection for the Roman name. They did him honour, but they did him justice. In the familiar society of Cicero and Livy, he had imbibed the ideas of an ancient patriot; and his ardent fancy kindled every idea to a sentiment, and every sentiment to a passion." His love of solitude at length induced him to return to Vaucluse; but, after the death of the beautiful Laura, Provence became insupportable to him, and he returned to Italy in 1352; when, being at Milan, Galeas Viceconti made him counsellor of state. Petrarch spent almost all the rest of his life in travelling to and from the different cities in Italy. He was archdeacon of Parma, and canon of Padua; but never received the order of priesthood. All the princes and great men of his time gave him public marks of their esteem; and while he lived at Arcqua, three miles from Padua, the Florentines deputed Boccaccio to go to him with letters, by which they invited him to Florence, and informed him, that they restored to him all the estate of which his father and mother had been deprived during the dissensions between the Guelphs and Gibelines. He died a few years after at Arcqua, in 1374. He wrote many works that have rendered his memory immortal; these have been printed in four volumes folio. His life has been written by several authors. Amongst these there was one by Mrs Sufanna Dobson, in 2 volumes 8vo, collected and abridged from the French. In this work we have the following elegant and just character of Petrarch.

"Few characters, perhaps, have set in a stronger light the advantages of well-regulated dispositions than that of Petrarch, from the contrast we behold in one particular of his life, and the extreme misery he suffered from the indulgence of an affection, which, though noble and delightful when justly placed, becomes a reproach and a torment to its possessor when once di- Petrarch reflected to an improper object. For, let us not deceive ourselves or others; though (from the character of Laura) they are acquitted of all guilt in their personal intercourse, yet, as she was a married woman, it is not possible, on the principles of religion and morality, to clear them from that just censure which is due to every defection of the mind from those laws which are the foundation of order and peace in civil society, and which are stamped with the sacred mark of divine authority.

"In this particular of his character, therefore, it is sincerely hoped that Petrarch will serve as a warning to those unhappy minds, who, partaking of the same feelings under the like circumstances, but not yet suffering his misery, may be led, by the contemplation of it, by a generous regard to the honour of human nature, and by a view to the approbation of that all-seeing Judge who penetrates the most secret recesses of the heart, to check every unhappy inclination in its birth, and destroy, while yet in their power, the seeds of those passions which may otherwise destroy them.

"As to the cavils or censures of those who, incapable of tendering themselves, can neither enjoy the view of it when presented in its most perfect form, nor pity its sufferings when, as in this work, they appear unhappily indulged beyond the bounds of judgment and tranquillity; to such minds I make no address, well convinced, that, as no callous heart can enjoy, neither will it ever be in danger of being misled, by the example of Petrarch in this tender but unfortunate circumstance of his character.

"To susceptible and feeling minds alone Petrarch will be ever dear. Such, while they regret his failings, and consider them as warnings to themselves, will love his virtues; and, touched by the glowing piety and heart-felt contrition which often impressed his soul, will ardently desire to partake with him in those pathetic and sublime reflections which are produced in grateful and affectionate hearts, on reviewing their own lives, and contemplating the works of God.

"Petrarch had received from nature a very dangerous present. His figure was so distinguished as to attract universal admiration. He appears, in his portraits, with large and manly features, eyes full of fire, a blooming complexion, and a countenance that bespoke all the genius and fancy which shone forth in his works. In the flower of his youth, the beauty of his person was so very striking, that wherever he appeared, he was the object of attention. He possessed an understanding active and penetrating, a brilliant wit, and a fine imagination. His heart was candid and benevolent, susceptible of the most lively affections, and inspired with the noblest sentiments of liberty.

"But his failings must not be concealed. His temper was, on some occasions, violent, and his passions headstrong and unruly. A warmth of constitution hurried him into irregularities, which were followed with repentance and remorse.—No essential reproach, however, could be cast on his manners, till after the 23rd year of his age. The fear of God, the thoughts of death, the love of virtue, and those principles of religion which were inculcated by his mother, preserved him from the surrounding temptations of his earlier life."

A resemblance has been traced, in several instances, between this admired poet and our late famous Yorick. Petrarch—Both, we know, had great wit and genius, and no less imprudence and eccentricity; both were canons, or prebendaries, the Italian of Padua, &c. and the Englishman of York; they both "ran over France, without any business there." If the bishop of Lombes patronized and corresponded with the one, a prelate * of Dr Gilbert, the English church, now deceased, desired, in a letter, Arch to bandyfe † with the other. In their attachments to ‡ His, Laura and Eliza, both married women, these two prelates' bendaries were equally warm, and equally innocent. own ex. And, even after death, a most remarkable circumstance pression has attended them both; some persons, we are told, stole Petrarch's bones, in order to fell them; and, in like manner, Yorick's body, it is confidently affirmed, was also stolen, and his skull has been exhibited at Oxford.