FOSCOLO

Ugo, an Italian poet and prose writer, born about 1776, died 10th Sept., 1827. He was educated at the University of Padua, and before the age of twenty he produced his tragedy Jl Tieste (Thyestes), which was received with applause. His next work of importance was a romance somewhat in the style of Goethe’s Werther, called Ultime Leitere di Jacopo Ortis (Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis). He then procured a commi ion in the army (First Italian Legion). After some military experiences under Ma éna at Genoa and elsewhere, in 1805 he retired and wrote I Sepolcri, one of the finest of his poems. He was subsequently appointed to a profe orship at Pavia, of which Napoleon, displeased at his treedom of speech, soon deprived him. In 1812 he produced his tragedy of Ajax, and soon after that of Ricciarda. On the fall of Napoleon, Foscolo, who was obnoxious to the Austrians, retired to Switzerland; but finally, in 1815, went to London, where he met with a most favourable reception, and where he died. Besides the works already mentioned his critical writings, H ays on Petrarch and Discourses on the J'ects of Dante and of Machi a vell i’s Il Principe, are well known.