MENTZINI, BENEDETTO. – Priest, poet, born in Florence on 29 March 1646, died in Rome on 7 November 1704. Of lively intellect and solid classical culture, he taught rhetoric in Florence and Prato. In Rome, where he moved in 1685, he enjoyed the protection of Pope Innocent XII, who granted him a canonry and the teaching of rhetoric at the Archigymnasium; in 1701, he was appointed assistant to the same chair at the University. He was among the first members of the Accademia degli Arcadi.
He wrote: *L’arte poetica*, five books in terza rima, published in 1690, following the poetic theories of Aristotle and Horace. His other works, such as *Il terrestre paradiso* and the *Poesie*, published in 1680, show the influence of Tasso and Chiabrera; while the *Satire*, published posthumously in 1718, are a satire of the society of his time (especially that of Florence), and an unchecked outburst against rivals and envious critics. Though not highly original, M. merits recognition for his lively and straightforward language, his easy verse, and his frequent use of popular turns of phrase.