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C H A P. Il

EARLY accomplìjhments of Lorenzo — Education —Lorenzo vifits dìjferent parls of ltaly—Conduci ofPiero — Conjpiracy oj Luca Pitti—Frujlrnted byLorenzo—The exiles injììgate thè Vcnetians loattach thè Florentines—Botile near Bologna—Pieropromotes thè interejls of learning—Leo BatlifìaAlberti—Crifloforo Landino—Piero patronizes ol/iereminent fcholars—Giojìra of Lorenzo and Giuliano—Poern oj Luca Pulci—Poem of Angelo Poliliano— Disputationes Camaldulenses — Lorenzo'sdefcription of ìris mìfirefs—Sonnets in her praife —L.ucreiìa Donati thè objeCl of his pajfion—Lorenzomarries Clarice Orfini—Vfils thè duke oj Milan—Death oj Piero de’ Medici .

ILorenzo de’ Medici was about fixteen years ofage when Cofmo died, and had at that time givenfìriking indications of extraordinary talents. Fromhis earlieft years he had exhibited proofs of aretentive and vigorous mind, which was culti-vated , not only by all thè attention which hisfather’s infirmities would permit him to beflow,but by a frequent intercourfe with his venerablegrandfather. He owed alfo great obligations in thisrefpedì to his mother Lucretia, who was one of