BERNARDO

ACCOLTI (1465–1536)  , Italian poet, born at Arezzo, was the son of Benedetto Accolti . Known in his own day as l' Unico Aretino, he acquired great fame as a reciter of impromptu verse . He was listened to by large crowds, composed of the most learned men and the most distinguished prelates of the age . Among others, Cardinal Bembo has left on record a testimony to his extraordinary talent . His high reputation with his contemporaries seems scarcely justified by the poems he published, though they give evidence of brilliant fancy . It is probable that he succeeded better in his ex-temporary productions than in those which were the fruit of deliberation . His works, under the title Virginia, Comedia, Capitoli e Strambotti di Messer Bernardo Accolti Aretino, were published at Florence in 1513, and have been several times reprinted .