PICO -DELLA MIRANDOLA. -(1463-1494.)

Whenever an illustration of youthful precocity was sought by my writer at the close of the fifteenth century, the name of Pico della Mirandola, the young noble who abandoned his social position to devote himself to study, and who on one occasion offered to carry on a discussion upon every branch of human knowledge, at once occurred to him, and this name has become renowned, not only in Italy, but throughout Europe.

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola was the third son of Giovanni Francesco, signor of Mirandola and Concordia. His mother was almost as famous as he was, and one of the greatest artists of the day represents, in a well-known work, young Giovanni in his mother's arms, as if to typify her tender care for an infant who gave so much promise, even from his cradle, of the knowledge which was to make him one of the wonders of his age. When only ten years old he made a speech in public, and read some of his own poetry. When he had mastered with surprising facility the instruction given him at home, he was sent to Bologna, where he studied philosophy and theology. Wealthy and independent, he determined to visit all the greatest universities in Europe, and instead of listening to the lectures of the most eminent professors, be was able to embarrass them by his questions, and argue successfully with them.

Unfortunately for his fame, the study of the Syrian, the Arabian, and the Chaldean languages led him to indulge in vague and speculative views, and in the unprofitable examination of the Cabala. He had formed a library of the Cabala, the catalogue of which, published by Gaffarel, is still extant.

He was not one of those modest scholars who love science for its own sake, and Nature, while lavishing her gifts upon him, had endowed him with a feeling of pride which impelled him to air those gifts before the world. Thus it was that in 1468 Pico Bella Mirandola, then in the plenitude of his faculties, arrived at the Court of Innocent VIII. with a list of nine hundred propositions, " De omni re scibili," which he undertook to sustain in public debate against all the savants who chose to enter the field. As he was very wealthy he further declared his willingness to defray the expenses of all those who would make the journey. The list of propositions has been preserved, and it has been well remarked that the learning of any one who answered them all would not amount to very much.

The immediate result of this challenge was to raise up enemies for him among those whom he attempted to outshine, and thirteen of his propositions were denounced as being tainted with heresy. He, of course, had his answer ready, and his first argument was to prove that these very propositions had been sanctioned by theologians whose orthodoxy was unimpeachable. He turned the laugh against his accusers, who had made the blunder of representing the Cabala as a man who had spoken evil of Jesus Christ. Innocent VIII., however, condemned the propositions, and Pico left Rome for France, where he was held in great esteem. He was again denounced during his absence, and the Pope summoned him to appear before his tribunal; but though he did so, and had no difficulty in clearing himself, the mortification for him was very great.

This was the close of his public career, and having abandoned his titles and property in favor of his nephews, he lived in the intimacy of learned men at the Court of his friend Lorenzo the Magnificent, being very regular in his attendance at the Academy of Plato, where Marcilio Ficino and Politian bore him company. He died in the prime of youth, at the age of thirty-one, having been preceded to the tomb only two months before by Politian. Charles VIII. entered Florence on the very day of his death, and the French King, who had received him at the Court of Paris, hearing of his serious illness, sent two of his physicians to him, but he had breathed his last before they could arrive. He died in the true faith of a Christian, bequeathing all his fortune to his servitors and to the poor of Florence.

His works comprised a poem upon the creation of the universe, in which he attempts to conciliate the Bible with the doctrines of Plato a favorite theme in the fifteenth century ; a scholastic treatise entitled " De Ente et Uno," eight volumes of " Letters," a commentary upon " Platonic Love," a harangue upon " The Dignity of Alan," several pieces of poetry, and twelve books denouncing judicial astrology, the last named being looked upon as the most important of his many compositions. The only work of his in the vulgar tongue was his commentary of his friend Benivieni's "Platonic Love."

Pico della Mirandola, prodigy of learning as he was, and one of the most popular men of his age, did not as a writer make any great contribution to the sum of human knowledge, and his science was Platonic, and professed with a view to effect.