Teachers, Scholars and Poets in Janus Pannonius’ Epigrams

Abstract

Janus Pannonius, the first great poet in Hungary, brought his skills to perfection in Italy. He attended Guarino Veronese’s school in Ferrara and studied law in Padua, where he came into contact with many poets and scholars. The paper deals with the references to those contacts in Janus’ epigrams.

Many a time Pannonius not only sneers at second-rate poets and inefficient scholars, but also ruthlessly ridicules their mental impotence and apparent erudition. On the other hand, he willingly praises people, whose output is really splendid and composed in accordance with the requirements of contemporary poetics. Janus’ scoffs are first of all addressed to his schoolmates. Being a poet aware of his own talent, Pannonius tends to point out the erroneous understanding of Renaissance theories, the misuse of the principle of imitatio antiquorum and the lack of self-invention in adopting other – both classic and modern – authors’ motifs. Neither does he approve of innovatory style of writing and considers that as an offence against pure Latinitas. Despite his severe criticism, he also manages to appreciate true talent, praise poetical skills or admire someone’s versatility. With unaffected pleasure and approval he is singing the praises of Guarino Veronese, his master from Ferrara. Janus highlights Guarino’s knowledge, eloquence, didactic powers and great command of Latin and Greek.

In his epigrams Pannonius shows oneself as a careful observer precisely describing features of persons from his own circle, many times showing them, if that is the word, in a distorting mirror, what does not, perhaps, creates complete picture of Renaissance humanists, but surely makes it more witty and florid.