Satire: autobiography and main themes

The Satires are a sort of ‘autobiographical dialogue’ in which the author indicates his position in the world and states his ‘point of view’ on the historic condition of his time. Satire I, in 265 verses, written the autumn of 1517, dedicated to Alessandro Ariosto and Ludovico di Bagno, illustrates the personal reasons that impeded the poet from following Cardinal Ippolito d’Este to Hungary. Satire II, in 271 verses, addressed to Galasso Ariosto, was written between November and December 1517 before Ludovico went to Rome. In this satire a great deal of attention is given to food and wine, and ecclesiastical nepotism is violently attacked. Satire III, in 313 verses, sent to his cousin Annibale Malaguzzi, was almost certainly composed in May 1518, after Ariosto had entered the service of Duke Alfonso I d’Este. At the heart of this satire is the defence of the poet’s personal freedom against courtly life. Choosing to serve the Duke of Este meant not having to leave Ferrara and the woman he loved. Satire IV, dedicated to his cousin Sigismondo Malaguzzi, is composed of 232 verses. It starts with the recollection of the first anniversary of the poet’s arrival in Garfagnana and describes Ludovico’s sombre mood, obliged at having to live in an impervious and isolated place, far from the women he loves. Satire V, in 328 verses, probably written at the end of 1519, is again dedicated to Annibale Malaguzzi and discusses the theme of ‘taking wife’, prompted by the news that his cousin Annibale was about to marry. Satire VI, in 247 verses, written between 1524 and 1525 is addressed to Pietro Bembo, and contains a request for advice on how to best educate his son Virginio. Satire VII, in 181 verses, dedicated to Bonaventura Pistofilo, written at the beginning of 1524, again deals with the theme of ‘refusal’, this time linked to Ariosto’s refusal to be the Duke’s ambassador at the court of Clement VII.