| Description Of Item | The first poem is titled 'Sopra Venezia - Bettinelli', probably by Saverio Bettinelli (1718-1808), an Italian Jesuit priest and writer. There then follow titles which are either the names of poets or poems: Coppetta; sonnet by Bennedetto dell'Uva during the seige of Famagusta, 1571; sonnet by Salandri to a young bride; Guarini; Frugoni; Tasso; Trionfo d'Amore; Trionfo della Castita; Trionfo della Morte; Trionfo della Fama; Morte desiderata dall'apparenza di su visioni; and sonnets. There then follows a short text on the Italian lyrical minstrels (in English) then 'Canzone - Di Celio Magno di Venezia Segretario della Repubblica mori nel 1502'; Michelangelo Buonarotti Fiorentino; and further sonnets. Some of the poems have English introductions. Loose in the rear of the volume is another Italian poem. At the front are a draft and fair copy of a poem about a woman (in English); English translation of part of canto 33 of Dante's Inferno; and a draft letter addressed to Dr Balfour from the editor of the 'Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal' (probably Andrew Duncan) returning his papers dated 3 November 1821. |