GIUSEPPE, an eminent Italian poet, was born in the district of Boissio, in the Milanese territory, in 1729. Although brought up in the midst of poverty, and compelled to earn a scanty livelihood by copying manuscripts, he cultivated his poetical faculty with distinguished success. In 1752 he published a volume of anacreontic poems, a book which showed a remarkable lyrical talent; and in 1763 he produced the first part of his Giorno, a work which described in a fine vein of irony the frivolous occupations and insipid amusements of an Italian nobleman's day, and which raised the author to the position of one of the greatest moral poets of his native country. This success was the means of placing Parini in several high public offices at Milan; and he was thus enabled to appear to great advantage in more characters than that of a poet. In the chair of belles lettres in the Palatine schools, and in the chair of eloquence in the College of the Breni, he proved himself to be a clear, precise, learned, and successful teacher. In the office of magistrate, to which he was appointed by Bonaparte, he also showed all the liberal-minded sagacity and cool intrepidity of one of the great citizens of classical times. The death of Parini took place in 1799.

His works were published in 6 vols. 8vo, Milan, 1801-4; and in 2 vols. 8vo, Milan, 1825.