The most insignificant sign of neglect or coldness wounded his self-esteem.
Plaintive, sensitive to beauty, sentimental, tender, touchy, self-engrossed, devoid of humor--what a sentient instrument was this for uttering Aeolian melodies, and straining discords through storm-jangled strings! [Footnote 79: 'Questo segno mi ho proposto: piacere ed onore' (_Lettere_, vol.v.p.

87).] [Footnote 80: It should be said that as a man of letters he bore with fools gladly, and showed a noble patience.

Of this there is a fine example in his controversy with Della Cruscans.

He was not so patient with the publishers and pirates of his works.

No wonder, when they robbed him so!] From the Jesuits, in childhood, he received religious impressions which might almost be described as mesmeric or hypnotic in their influence upon his nerves.