COSTANZO

costanzo, angelo di (c 1507-1591), italian historian and poet, was born at naples about 1507. he lived in a literary circle, and fell in love with the beautiful vittoria colonna. his great work, _le istorie del regno di napoli dal 1250 fino al 1498_, first appeared at naples in 1572, and was the fruit of thirty or forty years' labour; but nine more years were devoted to the task before it was issued in its final form at aquila (1581). it is still one of the best histories of naples, and the style is distinguished by clearness, simplicity and elegance. the _rime_ of di costanzo are remarkable for finical taste, for polish and frequent beauty of expression, and for strict obedience to the poetical canons of his time. see g. tiraboschi, _storia della letteratura italiana_, vol. vii. (florence, 1812).