The learned men to whom he submitted his poem criticised it so freely that the poet's sensitive nature was greatly injured thereby.

Almost at the same time the duke discovered the poet's passion for his sister.

Furious to think Tasso should have raised his eyes to a princess, yet afraid he should carry his talents elsewhere, the duke, pretending to deem him insane, placed him under close surveillance.

While Tasso was thus a prisoner, sundry false accusations were brought against him and his poem was published without his consent.
Although Tasso contrived several times to escape from Ferrara, he invariably came back there, hoping to be reconciled to the duke.

It was only in 1586 that he left this place for good and betook himself to Rome and Naples, where he was forced to live on charity.