The university was being placed on a new footing, and to secure the presence of a young man already famous seemed desirable.

An exhibition was therefore offered as an inducement; and this Tasso readily accepted.

He spent about two years at Bologna, studying philosophy and literature, planning his Dialogues on the Art of Poetry, and making projects for an epic on the history of Godfred.

Yet in spite of public admiration and official favor, things did not go smoothly with Tasso at Bologna.

One main defect of his character, which was a want of tact, began to manifest itself.