Internal structures and thematic lines in Fulvio Testi’s Poesie liriche (1627)

Abstract

This article explores the work Poesie liriche by Testi, beginning with an analysis of its internal structure. The collection is organized in a circular fashion, as evidenced by the strong connections between its opening and closing odes, as well as the first and last odes of each of the two parts in which the book is divided. The article examines several important themes that recur throughout the odes, including the pursuit of virtue, the immortalising power of poetry, and reflections on poetics, which contribute to the collection’s sense of thematic unity. Finally, the essay focuses on Testi’s reception of both Horace and other poets (such as Propertius, Tibullus, and Della Casa).