Folgoré

Folgoré, an Italian poet who flourished at the end of the 13th century, the dates of whose birth and death and the incidents of whose life are unknown. He wrote a number of sonnets, all of which have been translated into English by Dante Rossetti and Mr J. A. Symonds. Their poetic merit is far from contemptible, and they are particularly interesting from the vivid light which they throw on Italian society. Their prevailing tone is one of refined epicureanism, and their style is mainly remarkable for affluence of imagery. 'Every line,' says Mr Symonds, 'presents a picture, and each picture has the charm of a miniature fancifully drawn and brightly coloured on a missal marge.' See Rossetti's Dante and his Circle (1874), and Navone's Le Rime di Folgore (Bologna, 1880).