He was a faithful friend, and a devoted lover, and appears to have been one of the most fascinating beings that ever existed.

Even when his failings were admitted, it must still be said that _even his failings leaned to virtue's side_, and, altogether we may pronounce that His life was gentle, and the elements So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, "This was a man!" [Footnote A: Before the publication of De Sade's "Memoires pour la vie de Petrarque" the report was that Petrarch first saw Laura at Vaucluse.
The truth of their first meeting in the church of St.Clara depends on the authenticity of the famous note on the M.S.Virgil of Petrarch, which is now in the Ambrosian Library at Milan.] [Footnote B: Petrarch, in his dialogue with St.Augustine, states that he was older than Laura by a few years.] [Footnote C: "The Floral games were instituted in France in 1324.

They were founded by Clementina Isaure, Countess of Toulouse, and annually celebrated in the month of May.

The Countess published an edict, which assembled all the poets of France, in artificial arbours, dressed with flowers; and he that produced the best poem was rewared with a violet of gold.

There were, likewise, inferior prizes of flowers made in silver.
In the meantime, the conquerors were crowned with natural chaplets of their own respective flowers.