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Poe's Piero Maroncelli
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2020
Extract
In his Literati Edgar Allan Poe has left for students of Italian literature and history a very precious contemporary picture of Piero Maroncelli, author of the Addizioni to Pellico's Le mie prigioni, a poet of some merit (especially if judged by American literary taste of the eighteen thirties), a musician of some distinction, and a promising composer whose career as author and musician was interrupted by the more exciting, though often distressing, vicissitudes of a political life. Maroncelli, well known to anyone who has read Pellico's Le mie prigioni, since in reality he is the hero of that book, is probably the most romantic figure—if we exclude Byron—of the early Italian Risorgimento.
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References
1 In Works, ed. Harrison (1903), xv, 43–14, from Godey's Lady's Book, xxxii, 271–272 (June 1846). There are two other sketches of Maroncelli (though written at a later date as reminiscences). One is contained in the introduction to the 1868 edition of Pellico's My Prisons (Boston, Roberts Bros. Entered etc. 1867, and printed by John Wilson & Son, Cambridge). It is by Epes Sargent, who became a good friend of Maroncelli. The other sketch is in The Sun of August 5, 1886, included in an article entitled Broadway Fifty Years Ago.
2 This judgment is personal and is based on a perusal of the American literary periodicals of this period in search of Maroncelli material.
3 The biographical notes presented here are a very brief summary of the result of extensive research for a complete biography of Maroncelli. The sources of information are, for the most part, contemporary memoirs, letters, newspapers, periodicals, biographies of Maroncelli's friends (especially of Silvio Pellico), state documents etc. One important source of information has been Maroncelli's autobiographical testimony to his judges at the trials previous to incarceration as a political prisoner in Rome and in the Spielberg. However, these costituti had to be used very cautiously, since Maroncelli's answers to his inquisitors, meant to conceal the truth, were often contradictory. Investigations into very small sections of Maroncelli's life with the purpose of ultimately writing his biography were made by Dr. Oliverotto Fabretti of Forlì who died, unfortunately, before finishing his task. What he was able to publish of these investigations has been of exceedingly great value, as have been, also, the many suggestions he made to me in an extensive correspondence we carried on concerning Maroncelli previous to his death. All the information concerning Maroncelli's life in the United States comes from unpublished correspondence between him and Andrews Norton, from the contemporary press and periodicals, and from unpublished correspondence of contemporary Americans. I shall indicate more specifically the sources for each section of Maroncelli's biography. Such biographical sketches as the one in Boccardo's Encyclopedia, for example, are totally inaccurate and unreliable.
4 A. Gennarelli, “Piero Maroncelli e i carbonari del 1815 al 1821,” Nuova Antologia, serie 11, vol. xviii (1879).
5 The information concerning Maroncelli's youth and his life up to the time he went to Milan has been obtained from the following sources, most of which had to be used with great caution because of their inaccuracy, bias, or (as in the case of the costituti) because intentionally false: A. Luzio, Il processo Pellico-Maroncelli secondo gli atti officiali segreti (Milano, 1903); A. Pierantoni, I carbonari dello stato pontificio. 2 vols. Vol. i (Roma, 1910); A. Gennarelli, op. cit.; A. Gennarelli, Il Governo Pontificio e lo Stato Romano-Documenti, etc., 2 vols. (Prato, 1860); A. Andryane, “Pietro Maroncelli” in Le Constitutionnel, 18 Septembre 1846 (this biographical sketch, written by a fellow prisoner, is not always reliable); S. Pellico, Le mie prigioni commentate da Domenico Chiattone (Saluzzo, 1907), which contains a few very valuable notes on Maroncelli; A. Vannucci, I martiri della liberlá italiana dal 1794–1848. Memorie raccolte (Milano, 1887)—inaccurate; L. A. Girardi, “Pietro Maroncelli” in G. d'Amato, Panteon dei martiri della libertà italiana, Vol. i, 1851—inaccurate; C. Bandini, Giornali e scritti politici clandestini della Carboneria romagnola (1819–21) (Roma-Milano, 1908); idem, “Piero Maroncelli ed il Quadragesimale italiano” in Rivista d'Italia, Vol. i (1906)—very valuable; I. Rinieri, Della vita e delle opere di Silvio Pellico. 3 vols. (Torino, 1898–1901), Vol. ii—entirely prejudiced against Maroncelli; Emilio del Cerro, Cospirazioni romane; rivelazioni storiche (Roma, 1899)—biased; O. Fabretti, “Per una compiuta biografia Maroncelliana: I primi anni” in La Romagna, Febb. 1914, and “Dal ritorno in Forlì alla partenza per Milano (Agosto 1818–Agosto 1819),” ibid.—exceedingly valuable.
Other information (such as the exact date of Maroncelli's birth, which varies in all the sketches) comes from the Museo di Forli, where some still inedited Maroncelli material has been consulted.
6 The only copy of this biography I have been able to find is in the British Museum.
7 For reminiscences of the Milan of this period and especially of the Marchionni Company see A. Brofferio, I miei tempi, Vol. viii (Torino, 1859); and F. Cusani, Storia di Milano dall'origine a'nostri giorni. 8 vols. Vol. vii (Milano, 1861–1884)—inadequate and inaccurate in spots.
8 There are many sources of information for the brilliant, liberal, Romantic Milanese group that surrounded Count Lambertenghi at this time. The most important, besides the two references of the preceding note, are the following: Sydney (Owenson), lady Morgan (Italy, London, 1821)—translated into French in 1821; F. Confalonieri, Memorie e lettere; publicate per cura di Gabrio Casati. 2 vols. (Milano, 1889); C. Cantù, Il Conciliatore e i carbonari; episodio (Milano, 1878); G. Arrivabene, Un'epoca della mia vita (Mantova, 1875); D. Chiattone, op. cit.; P. Maroncelli, Addizioni; P. A. Menzio, Dal “Conciliatore” (Torino, 1927); E. Clerici, Il “Conciliatore” periodico Milanese (1818–1819). A most vivid picture is contained in Silvio Pellico's letters (published in Rinieri, i., op. cit., Vol. i). Pellico, who was secretary to Count Lambertenghi, tutor of his children, and editor of the Conciliatore, resembled in no way the later Pellico of Le mie prigioni. For Pellico's activities as a carbonaro, see G. Sforza, “Silvio Pellico a Venezia 1820–1822” in Miscellanea di Storia veneta della Deputazione di Storia patria, serie iii, Vol. xiii; D. Chiattone, op. cit.; A. Pierantoni, I carbonari dello stato pontificio. 2 vols. Vol. i (Roma, 1910). An excellent study of the effect of the French Revolution on Italian liberalism as a whole is to be found in P. Hazard, La révolution française et les lettres italiennes (Paris, 1910).
9 Cf. A. Luzio, op. cit.
10 Cf. S. Pellico, Le mie prigioni.
11 A. Sorbelli, “Il primo abbozzo della ‘Mia Prigionia di Spielberg’ di Piero Maroncelli,” in Biblioteca de L'Archiginnasio, Serie ii, n. xxiv—serie 18–24 (Bologna, 1922).
12 For Maroncelli's peregrinations in Italy after his liberation from prison and before going to Paris, cf. S. Pellico, Le mie prigioni; P. Maroncelli, Addizioni; A. Sandonà, Contribute alla storia dei Processi del Ventuno e dello Spielberg. Dagli atti officiali segreti degli archivi di stato di Vienna e dal carteggio dell' imperatore Francesco I co'suoi ministri e col presidente del Senato lombardo-veneto del tribunale supremo di giustizia (Milano, 1911); D. Chiattone, op. cit.; N. Morini, “Piero Maroncelli, in alcuni documenti dell'Archvio di Stato di Bologna,” in Archiginnasio, a. 1914, Bologna. (This article, which publishes for the first time important Maroncelli documents among the Atti privati del Legato of the R. Archivio di Stato of Bologna, is exceedingly important because it contains the foglio di via of the two prisoners (Pellico and Maroncelli). The foglio attests the absolute truth and accuracy of Maroncelli's account in the Addizioni and refutes Rinieri's hostile criticism of it. Cf. La verità storica nel processo Pellico-Maroncelli etc. (Roma: Befani, 1904), pp. 113 ff., where Rinieri says concerning Maroncelli's description of his wanderings, “Stenterà il lettore a credere quante bugie si contengano in queste Iinee … !” Cf. also A. De Rubertis, “Piero Maroncelli a Firenze di ritorno dallo Spielberg,” in Nuova Antologia, 1918, sesta serie, Vol. 198; C. L. Pedraglio, Silvio Pellico, cenni biografici con un' appendice di documenti inediti (Como, 1904); A. Sorbelli, op. cit., G. Capponi, Lettere etc. Vol. v.
13 Information concerning Maroncelli's sojourn in Paris has been obtained from the extensive research in the contemporary Parisian press, from state records in the Archives Nationales, from Maroncelli's Addizioni, from Pellico's letters (published by Pedraglio, op. cit., and Rinieri, op. cit.), from contemporary memoirs, etc. Cf. also O. Fabretti, “Paolina Andryane e Piero Maroncelli,” in Rivista d'Italia, Luglio, 1914; R. Barbiera, La Principessa Belgiojoso (Milano, 1902); idem, Passioni del Risorgimento (Milano, 1903); A. Andryane, op. cit.; G. Mazzini, Epistolario (Mazzini did not like Maroncelli because the news had erroneously spread in Paris that Maroncelli was an Austrian spy). Cf. also A. Luzio, op. cit., p. 209, note; A. Sorbelli, op. cit.; G. Mazzatinti, “Per Piero Maroncelli,” in Rivista d'Italia a. v, Vol. i, 1902 (maggio), pp. 794 ff.; A. Vannucci, op. cit.; A. Andryane, Memoirs of a prisoner of state in the fortress of Spielberg; with an appendix by Maroncelli, the companion of Silvio Pellico. Tr. by Fortunato Prandi … (London, 1840), 2 vols.; A. Malvezzi, Cristina di Belgiojoso (Milano: Treves, 1936–37), 3 vols.
14 Sources of information for Maroncelli's life in the United States are periodicals and newspapers of 1833, 1834, etc.; contemporary diaries and letters possessed by the Norton family; unpublished letters in the Harvard College Library and in the New York Public Library, etc. Cf. too A. H. Lograsso, “Piero Maroncelli in America” in Rassegna storica del Risorgimento italiano, Fasc. 4, 1928; G. Sforza, op. cit.; Sister M. Jerome Keeler, O.S.B., “A Note on Silvio Pellico” in P. Q., July, 1930; A. H. Lograsso, “Piero Maroncelli in Philadelphia,” R. R., xxiv, No. 4 (Oct.–Dec., 1933), 324 ff.; C. F. Secchi de'Casali, “Trent'otto anni d'America” in L'Eco d'Italia, Dec. 9, 1883.
15 Cf. H. E. Krehbiel, Chapters of Opera (New York, 1908).
16 P. Hone, The Diary of Philip Bone, 1828–1851. 2 vols. (N. Y., 1889). Mr. Hone (1780–1851) was mayor of New York in 1825–26, and was afterward appointed naval officer of New York by President Taylor. His diary is famous. Cf. Dictionary of American Biography.
17 Information derived from letters written to Andrews Norton by Maroncelli and from The Evening Post, April 11, 1834.
18 Cf. my articles cited above.
19 From an unpublished letter in the New York Public Library. Sismondi was the great Swiss historian and economist; he was of Italian origin.
20 Printed by Charles Folsom, Cambridge.
21 The list is owned by the Norton family.
22 Longfellow's copy of the Addizioni contains Maroncelli's autograph. The late Miss Alice Longfellow kindly showed me her father's copy.
23 Poe is quite right in attributing to Fitz-Greene Halleck the translation of “Winds of the Awakened Spring,” included in the second volume. Fitz-Greene Halleck (1790–1867), American poet, and another figure of Poe's Literati, had cordial relations with Maroncelli, who in a letter to him dated January 25, 1834, expressed his gratitude to “the first English poet of America” for the honor of having so beautifully translated his poem. Every intelligent person would call the Halleck translation an original composition, and, therefore, an addition to American Literature, declared Maroncelli, who claimed also that “taste and spontaneity flow together with words and thoughts” in Halleck's “little ode.” “Allow me, Mr. Halleck,” he continued, “to say that I no longer recognize my ‘Primaverili aurette’ in such lovely verses. Certainly the grief is faithful, the accent, true; I recognize in them my grief and the words plucked from my heart; but the grace with which both of them are embellished is entirely yours.” Maroncelli concluded the letter with the hope that Mr. Halleck might translate some of his more important poems, such as some of his Psalms, one of his series of Spielberg poems (Spielbergica) or the Italian Tradition group (Tradizione itala), or perhaps one of the Fifteen Roses (Quindici Rose), especially the Nativity poem (il Natale). As has been indicated, some of these poems did appear in translation in this country; others are still in manuscript form at Forlì. The account of the Halleck-Maroncelli friendship is to be found in James Grant Wilson, Life and Letters of Fitz-Greene Halleck (New York, 1869), pp. 361–364; and Nelson F. Adkins, Fitz-Greene Halleck (New Haven, 1930), p. 259. Halleck's translation of Maroncelli's poem is now more accessible in Wilson than anywhere else.
24 Vol. iii, pp. 398–402.
25 Cf. especially D. Chiattone, op. cit.; A. Sandonà, op. cit.; A. Luzio, op. cit.; idem, Antonio Salvotti e i Processi del Ventuno (Roma, 1901); G. Arrivabene, op. cit.; M. abbé Maynard, Jacques Cretineau-Joly (Paris, 1875); N. Morini, op. cit.; F. Confalonieri, op. cit.; Vol. i; A. Andryane, op. cit.; G. Pallavicino, Memorie.; C. Solitro, Un martire dello Spielberg (Moretti); C. F. Secchi de'Casali, op. cit.
26 No. iii, Dec. 1, 1834, Vol. v (a misprint for Vol. iv), pp. 166–168. Mrs. Elizabeth Fries Ellet frequently wrote poetry for the contemporary magazines. A volume of her poems was published by Carey & Lea, Philadelphia, 1835. She was particularly fond of translating French and Italian poetry.
27 Preserved in the mss. division of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The letter bears no other address but Albany, N. Y. However, among other letters addressed to Mr. Bloodgood, one was found addressed to him in care of the Albany Advertiser, but the available numbers of that newspaper—the series is incomplete—contain no articles by Maroncelli.
28 This fact was announced to the Norton family in a letter of September 14, 1835, and again in a letter of September 16. The name chosen was that of Maroncelli's beloved friend, Silvia Pellico-Maroncelli.
29 From some manuscript letters that I have consulted in the Biblioteca Comunale of Forlì, it would appear that at one time Maroncelli taught Italian at New York University. One letter signed, “Henry Cas. Anderson, Prof. Math. & Astron. Col. Coll.,” bearing the heading and date, “Columbia College New York, May 31, 1841,” and addressed to Dr. Gessner Harrison, Chairman of the Faculty of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, recommends Piero Maroncelli for the Chair of Modern Languages. The letter, a long one, contains biographical details (with some inaccuracies). The last part of the letter contains the following biographical information about Maroncelli's life in our country, some of it inaccurate, some, impossible to verify: “After his liberation he spent 3 years in exile in France, where he married a German lady and came to this city with warm letters of introduction from Gen. Lafayette to several of our most distinguished citizens. He has now for seven years resided with us, esteemed & respected by all who know him. During this time he has taught, without interruption in our various institutions the languages and literatures of the principal nations of Europe & more especially the Italian, French, German & Spanish. He maintains at the same time an animated correspondence with many European authors of high standing, & thus keeps himself informed of the progress of science & the Arts. In this city he was on terms of intimate friendship with the elder & younger Da Ponte both highly distinguished for their literary attainments, the former, Professor for many years of Italian Language & Literature in this Institution, the latter holding for a time a similar Chair in the University. On the appointment of the younger Da Ponte to the Historical Professorship in the University, Maroncelli was by common consent named as his successor. A beautiful edition of the Memoir of Pellico & Maroncelli in English appeared in 1836. Prof. Norton of Harvard University translated the first volume & Miss Sedgwick, Mrs. Ellet & Mr. Halleck, the second. The interest these individuals, of whose discriminating criticism the proofs are so abundant, exhibited in bringing out the work, is as honorable to them as to the author whom they have thus introduced to the American reader. I will add here that Maroncelli gave in 1838 a course of lectures on the literature of the Middle Ages beginning with the decline of the Latin language and tracing in due succession the origin & filiation of all the modern languages of Europe. In these lectures he entered at length into the history of the Troubadours & the Provençal poets & discussed the merits of the early Spanish literature from the era of ‘the Cid’ to the time of Boscan and Garcilaso. In these courses, he also proved himself familiar with the infant literature of the North of Europe, showing a due appreciation of the merits of the best German & Scandinavian authorities. These inquiries had led him to the study of the Northern Sagas & the two Eddas, and a comparison of these legends with the Minnesänger of later date. With these investigations he has united some consideration of the Anglo-Saxon & the various modifications by which it has gradually passed into the English of Chaucer & Spencer. Mr. Maroncelli has in the meantime not been neglectful of the history of his own country & has gained great credit by the light he has thrown upon the origin of the Guelph & Ghibelline feuds & the relations which the early political religious & literary history of Europe bear to this celebrated controversy. I may add that Mr. Maroncelli is the author of some poetical compositions small in number, but, in the estimation of the critics, of striking merit. I ought not to omit to state that Mr. Maroncelli's character is in every respect exemplary, & is one of the causes of the interest which his friends feel in his welfare. It is wishing well to your institution to wish that he may obtain your suffrages. …” Additional letters of recommendation, all favorably concurring, at Forlì, are by John McVickar, Professor of Moral Philosophy in Columbia College (cf. DAB) ; M. W. Chester, “one of the Council of the Univ. of N. Y.,” and Theodore Frelingshuysen, Chancellor of the University of New York (1839–50). Mr. Frelingshuysen's letter, dated June 14, 1841, reads as follows: “I take pleasure in stating of Mr. Maroncelli, that he is very favorably known here for his classical qualifications & ability to instruct.—His character is greatly esteemed, as a scholar & gentleman.” There seems to be no information available as to whether or not Maroncelli obtained the post at the University of Virginia, or why these letters of recommendation happen to be among his papers. Perhaps they were returned to him from the University of Virginia. The mystery of his having taught at New York University is solved by the following information furnished by Dr. Theodore F. Jones, Director of the Library of New York University: “His name (Maroncelli's) does not appear on any list of officers or teachers of the University. Being interested in Maroncelli myself, however, I decided to pursue the question further, and have been through with some care the records of our Corporation. I find that when Lorenzo da Ponte, our first professor of Italian, died early in 1840, two nominations were made for his successor—(1) Felix Foresti and (2) ‘Mr. Maroncelli.‘ Maroncelli was nominated by Mr. William W. Chester of the Corporation. There was apparently a long conflict in the Corporation between the two names. Finally, on December 14th 1842, Felix Foresti was unanimously elected.”
30 This interesting fact was accidentally discovered from a perusal of the catalogue of the Peabody Institute of Baltimore, the only place (so far as I know) where the book is preserved. The librarian very generously sent me the volume for examination.
31 The catalogue is now preserved in the New York Public Library. The classification of the books in the catalogue shows the breadth of Maroncelli's literary interests. First were listed the poetical works in Italian, French, Spanish, English, and Latin. Next came dramatic works, novels, and books on religion, followed by philological works, including a list of dictionaries of the above languages and of Greek and German, as well. The last group consisted of scientific, philosophical, aesthetical, historical and miscellaneous works, also in the various above-mentioned languages.
32 For the date of the issue from the press of Poe's sketch, I am indebted to Prof. T. O. Mabbott, who kindly furnished also the exact references for footnote 1, and the information from the records of Greenwood Cemetery.
33 This information was first obtained from a scrap of newspaper preserved in the Harvard College Library only because of its reference to William Dean Howells. After that it was easy to go directly to the contemporary press (July, 1886) for further information.
34 The late Dr. Luigi Roversi of the Corriere d'America, who was the speaker for the occasion, related to me his personal reminiscences of the ceremony in two memorable interviews.