CHAPTER IX

ST. ONOFRIO AND TASSO

Church of St. Onofrio--Monastery--Garden--Tasso's Oak--Grand View of Rome and Neighbourhood--Tasso's Birthplace at Sorrento--Remarkable Epoch--Bernardo Tasso--Prince of Salerno--Youth of Tasso--Visit to Rome--Sojourn at Venice--Student of Law at Padua--First Poem _Rinaldo_--University of Bologna--House of Este--Leonora--Composition of _Gerusalemme Liberata_--Death of Tasso's Father--Visit to France--_Aminta_ and Pastoral Drama--Publication of _Gerusalemme Liberata_--Della Cruscan Academy--Ariosto--Cold Treatment of Tasso by Alfonso--Confinement in Hospital of St. Anne--Story of Hapless Love--Alleged Madness--Hospital of St. Anne--_Torrismondo_--Release of Tasso--Pilgrimage to Loretto--Residence at Naples--Connection with Milton--_Gerusalemme Conquistata_--Universal Recognition of Poet--Better Days--Closing Scenes of Life at St. Onofrio--Proposed Coronation at Capitol--Too Late--Death--Estimate of Life and Work