M' sentirai ben tosto alzar lo stile."

Antonio Malatesti was a man of mark in his time, being distinguished for
his talent as an improvisatore. Among his friends were Galileo,
Coltellini, and Valerio Chimentelli, who have all commendatory poems
prefixed to Malatesti's "Sphinx," a collection of poetical enigmas,
which has been frequently reprinted. Beside his poetical talent, he
studied astronomy, probably under Galileo; and painting, in which he was
a pupil of Lorenzo Lippi, author of the "Malmantile Raqquistato," who
thus designates him under his academical name of _Amostante Latoni_
(canto i. stanza 61.):--

"E General di tutta questa Mandra
Amostante Laton Poeta insigne.
Canta improviso, come un Calandra:
Stampa gli Enigmi, 'Strologia, e Dipigne."

Malatesti was a member of the Academy degli Apatisti, of which Milton's
friends Coltellini and Carlo Dati had been the principal founders. The
house of the latter was a court of the Muses, and it was at the evening
parties there that all who were distinguished for science or literature
assembled: "Era in Firenze la sua Casa la Magione de' Letterati,
particolarmente Oltramontani, da lui ricevuti in essa, e trattati con
ogni sorta di gentilezza."[1] Heinsius, Menage, Chapelain, and other
distinguished foreigners were members of this academy; and it is more
than probable that, were its annals consulted, our poet's name would
also be found there.

S.W. SINGER.