De Sade tells us that Petrarch was not successful in the young man's education; and, from a natural partiality for the hero of his biography, lays the blame on his pupil.

At the same time he acknowledges that a man with poetry in his head and love in his heart was not the most proper mentor in the world for a youth who was to be educated for the church.

At this time, Petrarch's passion for Laura continued to haunt his peace with incessant violence.

She had received him at first with good-humour and affability; but it was only while he set strict bounds to the expression of his attachment.

He had not, however, sufficient self-command to comply with these terms.