“[…] Because Art is offered to us as Beauty, with flesh and form, amidst the perishable, for eternity. Among these magicians, Leopardi is at the forefront. […] First of all, Leopardi is the greatest poet of Italy after Dante. His patriotic poems, Tyrtaean, ignited the flame that today created a great nation, his homeland. His erudition is astonishing. His philosophical poetry, which denounces the indifference and lack of love of nature, encourages man to face it with an uplifted forehead and to scorn and elevate himself; it is poetry that, despite all its pessimism, is athletic and heroic. The national poet of the Italians, Iosias Cardutzis, a student and admirer of Leopardi, refers to him with these words: “As it is the duty of the good citizen, as our great Leopardi teaches us, the life of action is more worthy and natural than the life of study...” However, regardless of its content, this poetry is joy, because it is offered to us in the golden cup of art.

The memories

Precious stars of the Ursa Major, it seems incredible to me, that returning again, as before, I see you shimmering above the paternal courtyard and converse with you from the windows of this little house, where I lived as a child; here, where I saw my joys come to an end.

How many images once, and how many illusions did not arise in my mind, both your gaze and that of other stars that are your companions!

When in my nights, sitting silently on the grass, I often spent hours gazing at the sky and listening to the distant song of the frogs, there in the countryside!

A firefly was wandering among bushes and flower beds, while the gentle breeze whispered among fragrant alleys and beneath the cypress trees, in the distant grove; and beneath the paternal roof, voices conversed, echoing now one and now the other, as well as those of the servants in their quiet tasks.

And how many countless thoughts and sweet dreams the distant view of the sea and the blue mountains inspired in me, which I can see from here, and which I thought one day to cross, traveling through mysterious worlds and perhaps to bring secret happiness to my life!

Being unaware of my fate and many times willingly I would have exchanged my painful and poor life for death.