Berni

Berni (also Bernia), FRANCESCO, a favourite Italian poet, from whom comic or jocose poetry has the name of Versi Berneschi, was born at Lamporecchio, in Tuscany, about 1496. He first entered the service of his uncle, Cardinal Bibbiena, and was afterwards for several years secretary to Ghiberti, chancellor to Clement VII. About 1530 he betook himself to Florence, where he was made a canon, and lived in favour with the two Medici, Duke Alessandro, and Cardinal Ippolito, till his death in 1536, which, however, according to another story, was brought about by the former, in consequence of Berni's refusal to poison the cardinal. His Opere Burlesche are to be found in the Classici Italiani (Milan, 1806). His recast or rifacimento of Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato was received with such favour that it was thrice reprinted from 1541-45; it is still read in Italy (and justly so) in preference to the original. He had a large share in establishing Italian as a literary language. A full account of Berni is given in his Life (Florence, 1882) by Virgili, who has also published a volume of his lyrics, letters, and Latin verses (1885).