He biography in Rees's Cyclopædia, "he exhibited a strong inclination for a military life, which was checked and discouraged by his parents. At their death, he entered into the service of the Pope, as a man at arms. next engaged in the service of the King of Naples. In Venice, he undertook the guardianship of Francis Maria, whom he secured against the attempts of Cæsar Borgia; and then repaired to his own country, Genoa. Twice he subdued, and brought to their allegiance, the revolted Corsicans. "His enterprising spirit by land obtained for him the office of captain-general of the Genoese galleys, about the year 1513. His first essays on the new element were upon the African pirates, with whom he engaged, and by the conquest of whom he was so far enriched as to become master of four galleys in his own pay. At this period, Genoa was the prey to contending factions; and the city had, by one of them, heen put into the hands of Louis XII., of France, from whom it afterwards revolted. Doria attempted to compose the distractions of the republic; but, finding his efforts ineffectual, he entered into the service of Francis I., of France, to which country he was exceedingly useful; but, being neglected by the ministers, he joined himself to Pope Clement VII., and became admiral of his galleys. In this situation he did not remain very long, for, upon the capture of Rome under the constable Bourbon, Doria was persuaded to return to the service of Francis, who received him with open arms, and appointed him his admiral in the seas of the Levant. "Doria had, at that time, eight galleys of his own; and, notwithstanding his engagements to a foreign prince, he still maintained the independence of his mind; and when the French attempted to render Savona, long the object of jealousy of Genoa, its rival in trade, Doria remonstrated against the measure, in a high and animated tone, which so irritated Francis, that he ordered his admiral to sail instantly to Genoa, then in the hands of the French troops, to arrest Doria, and to seize his galleys. Doria was apprised of their intentions, retired with all his vessels to a place of safety; and, waile his resentment was thus raised, he closed with the offers of the emperor Charles V., returned his commission, with the collar of St. Michael, to Francis, and, hoisting the Imperial colours, sailed with his galleys towards Naples, not to block up the harbour of that unfortunate city, but to bring it protection and deliverance. "The ruin of the French army before Naples was the immediate.consequence of this change. This was an important object, but Doria's highest ambition was to deliver his country from the power and dominion of foreign sovereigns. The moment favourable to this project seemed to have arrived. Genoa was afflicted with a grievous pestilence; the city was, in a manner, deserted; and the French garrison was greatly reduced and very ill paid. Doria seized the opportunity; sailed with thirteen galleys to the Genoese coast, landed a body of 500 men, and took possession of Genoa itself, without the loss of a single man on either side. The French garrison retired to the citadel, where they were soon glad to capitulate; and, upon their departure, the people rushed to the fortress, and levelled it with the ground, as a monument and instrument of their servitude. "To the honour of the hero let it be mentioned that he scorned to take the advantage which his situation gave him, by making himself the master of the country. He nobly assembled the body of citizens, disclaimed all pre-eminence, and restored into their hands the right of establishing such a form of government as they should think best. Twelve persons were appointed to new model the constitution, which was settled nearly in the form in which it existed till within these few years. Doria was greeted by the titles of the deliverer and father of his country; and the highest honours were conferred upon him. He was exempted from all public burdens; and a palace was assigned to him for his habitation, purchased at the charge of the state. A marble statue was erected in his honour, on which was a Latin inscription, proclaiming him the founder of public liberty. He lived to the advanced age of 92 or 94, leaving behind him a name that can never die, while a spark of public spirit and public liberty survives." CHAPTER II. THE LAOCOON. THE LEANING TOWER AT PISA. Towards the close of the twelfth Letter, mention is made of the Laocoon, which my friend admired more than any sculpture he had ever seen. Laocoon, one of the sons of Priam and Hecuba, was a priest of Apollo and Neptune. Towards the close of the Trojan war, when the Greeks resorted to the clumsy though successful artifice of the wooden horse, there was much difference of opinion, amongst the Trojans, as to the propriety of entertaining the proposition that the wooden horse should be conveyed into the city, as a trophy of the raising of the siege and the departure of the Grecian army. Laocoon was one of the few who objected to the proposition. He expressed himself strongly as to the hostile projects of the besiegers, and threw his spear against the horse. Minerva, who espoused the cause of the Greeks, punished him for this act; for, some time afterwards, while he was on the shore, offering a sacrifice to Neptune, she sent two immense serpents, who came out of the ocean, and wound themselves round Antiphates and Thymbræus, his two sons, who stood near the altar. Laocoon flew to their assistance, and was himself involved in the fatal folds of the reptiles, who destroyed him and his offspring. The story is beautifully told by Virgil, in the second book of the Æneid, where Æneas relates to Dido the circumstances that attended the destruction of his native city. I extract the original passages, and also Dryden's translation of them. Primus ibi ante omnes, magna comitante caterva, Laocoon ardens summa decurrit ab arce; Et procul: O miseri, quæ tanta insania, cives? Creditis avectos hostes? Aut ulla putatis Dona carere dolis Danaum? Sic notus Ulysses? Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos, Solennes taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras. Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta, Horresco referens, immensis orbibus angues Incumbunt pelago, pariterque ad littora tendunt; Pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta, jubæque Sanguineæ exsuperant undas; pars cætera pontum Pone legit, sinuatque immensa volumine terga. Fit sonitus spumante salo; jamque arva tenebant; Ardentesque oculos suffecti sanguine, et igne, Sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora. Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum Corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque Implicat, et miseros morsu depascitur artus. Post ipsum auxilio subeuntem, ac tela ferentem, Corripiunt, spirisque ligant ingentibus; et jam Bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum Terga dati, superant capite, et cervicibus altis. Ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos, (Perfusus sanie vittas, atroque veneno,) Clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit: Quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram Taurus, et incertam excussit cervice securim. At gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones Effugiunt, sævæque petunt Tritonidis arcem; Sub pedibusque Deæ, clypeique sub orbe teguntur. Laocoon, followed by a numerous crowd, Ran from the fort; and cried, from far, aloud :"O wretched countrymen! What fury reigns? What more than madness has possessed your brains? Think you the Grecians from your coasts are gone, And are Ulysses' arts no better known? This hollow fabric either must inclose, |