Berni, Francesco [key], 1497?–1535, Italian humorous poet, a priest. He was noted for his burlesque capitoli, light, often ribald verses in terza rima. He revised Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato, adding humorous touches and what he considered stylistic improvements. For many years Berni's rendering of Boiardo was the standard version; it has been generally discarded. For refusing to help murder Cardinal Salviati, Berni is thought to have been poisoned. One genre of satirical poetry is called bernesca after him.
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