a Certaldum; studium fuit alma poesis."

A complete edition of Boccaccio's Italian writings, in 17 vols., was
published by Moutier (Florence, 1834). The life of Boccaccio has been
written by Tiraboschi, Mazzuchelli, Count Baldelli (_Vita di
Boccaccio_, Florence, 1806), and others. In English the best biography
is Edward Hutton (1909.) The first printed edition of the _Decameron_
is without date, place or printer's name; but it is believed to belong
to the year 1469 or 1470, and to have been printed at Florence.
Besides this, Baldelli mentions eleven editions during the 15th
century. The entire number of editions by far exceeds a hundred. A
curious expurgated edition, authorized by the pope, appeared at
Florence, 1573. Here, however, the grossest indecencies remain, the
chief alteration being the change of the improper personages from
priests and monks into laymen. The best old edition is that of
Florence, 1527. Of modern reprints, that by Forfoni (Florence, 1857)
deserves mention. Manni has written a _Storia del Decamerone_ (1742),
and a German scholar, M. Landau, who published (Vienna, 1869) a
valuable investigation of the sources of the _Decameron_, subsequently
brought out in 1877 a general study of Boccaccio's life and works. An
interesting English translation of the _Decameron_ appeared in 1624,
under the title _The Model of Mirth, Wit, Eloquence and Conversation_.
(F. H.)

BOCCALINI, TRAJANO (1556-1613), Italian satirist, was born at Loretto in
1556. The son of an architect, he himself adopted that profession, and
it appears that he commenced late in life to apply to literary pursuits.
Pursuing his studies at Rome, he had the honour of teaching Bentivoglio,
and acquired the friendship of the cardinals Gaetano and Borghesi, as
well as of other distinguished personages. By their influence he
obtained various posts, and was even appointed by Gregory XIII. governor
of Benevento in the states of the church. Here, however, he seems to
have acted imprudently, and he was soon recalled to Rome, where he
shortly afterwards composed his most important work, the _Ragguagli di
Parnaso_, in which Apollo is represented as receiving the complaints of
all who present themselves, and distributing justice according to the
merits of each particular case. The book is full of light and fantastic
satire on the actions and writings of his eminent contemporaries, and
some of its happie