But it was the fate of distinguished men in that age to plunge into those quicksands.

Guarini had a character and intellect suited to the conduct of state affairs; and he shared the delusion prevalent among his contemporaries, that the petty Italian principalities could offer a field for the exercise of these talents.

'If our country is reduced to the sole government of a prince,' he writes, 'the man who serves his prince will serve his country, a duty both natural and binding upon all.'[177] Accordingly, soon after his marriage to Taddea of the noble Bendedei family, he entered the service of Alfonso II.

This was in 1567.
Tasso, in his quality of gentleman to Cardinal d'Este, had already shed lustre on Ferrara through the past two years.

Guarini first made Tasso's friendship at Padua, where both were Eterei and house-guests of Scipione Gonzaga.