you are to beware as though they came from an enemy because she does
not know the man who brought them; he is the father of your Pisan
courier who broke his leg.
By the bearer I send you the opinion of Messer Bartolommeo Sozzino.
Every hour I have been entreating him to finish it and found a copyist
who made all the haste he could, but it was impossible to get it done
quicker.[232]
Piero is well and I take every care of him, all the others are also in
good health; but I get all the kicks; yet _te propter Libyeæ_.[233]
I am longing for news that the plague has ceased on account of my
anxiety for you and in order to return and serve you; for I hoped and
I thought to be with you; but as you have, or rather my evil fortune
has assigned to me this post in the service of Your Magnificence, I
endure it, _quamvis durum, nec levius fit patientia_. I commend myself
to Your Magnificence.--Pistoja, August 24, 1478.[234]
Agnolo Poliziano _at Pistoja to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici
_Magnifice mi Domine_, &c.,--Madonna Clarice is well and so are all
the others. Here we knew nothing of the tumult until the bearer of
this gave me Franco’s[235] letter and calmed our fears which were
aroused by his former one; Madonna Clarice suspected that things were
more serious and that you _de industria_ made light of them. So now
she is comforted _et acquievit_. We want for nothing; only we grieve
sorely over your worries, which are of a truth great. God will help
us. _Spes enim in vivis est, desperatis mortui._
If you have not absolute need of Giovanni Tornabuoni Madonna Clarice
wishes you would send him here, she is lonely without him, and for
many reasons she thinks it would be well if he came.
I look after Piero and incite him to write; in a few days I think he
will write to you in a fashion that will astonish you, we have here a
master that teaches writing in fifteen days, he is excellent at his
trade. The children play about more than usual and are in splendid
health. God help them and you. Piero never leaves me or I him. I wish
I had to serve you in some greater thing, but as this has fallen to
my lot I do it willingly. _Rogo tamen, ut aliquid aut literarum aut
nuntii huc perlatum ivi cures, desque operam, ne quidquid est in me
auctoritatis, patriaris exolescere, quo et puerum facilius in officio
teneam, et meo munere, ut par est defungar. Sed hæc si commodum; fin
minus, quod fors feret, feremus æquo animo._ Be of good cheer and take
courage, for great men are formed by adversity. _Durate, et vosmet
rebus servate secundis._ I commend myself to you.--Pistoja, August 26,
1478. Your servant,
Ang. Pol.[236]
Agnolo Poliziano _at Pistoja to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici
_Magnifice mi Domine_,--All the family here are well. Piero studies
but little, every day we go out enjoying the country. We visit the
gardens of which the town is full, and sometimes the library of
Maestro Zambino, in which I have found several good things, both
in Greek and in Latin. Giovanni is on his pony all the day, and
all the people run after him. Mona Clarice is very well; but takes
little pleasure in aught save any good news we get from Florence.
She rarely goes out. We want for nothing. Presents we refuse, save
salad, figs, and a few flasks of wine, some _beccafichi_ or things of
that sort. These citizens would bring us water in their ears. From
Andrea Panciaticchi we have received so much kindness that we are all
indebted to him. We keep good watch and have begun to put a guard at
the gates. Be of good cheer and conquer; and when you have time come
and see your family who expect you with open arms. I commend myself to
Your Magnificence.--Pistoja, August 31, 1478.[237]
Agnolo Poliziano _at Pistoja to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _at Florence_
_Magnifice Domine mi_,--Madonna Clarice has not felt very well since
yesterday evening.... Piero went out to meet the Lord[238] this
morning, and was the first to greet him. He spoke a few words of the
sentence you wrote for him very well, and the Lord set him on his
horse before him and thus entered Pistoja. Mona Clarice sent him a
fine bunch of partridges, and this evening we all go to visit him at
twenty-two of the clock, it being now nineteen. Giovanni Tornabuoni
was with Piero and finished his little speech. Judging from what
his people say, the Illustrious Lord is most anxious to do himself
honour and to satisfy the Most Excellent Signoria and especially Your
Magnificence.
Clarice sends you I know not how many partridges of those given to her
to present to this Lord. I shall see how things go and as in duty
bound shall inform Your Magnificence, whom God preserve. I commend
myself to you.--Pistoja, September 7, 1478.
Agnolo Pol.[239]
Agnolo Poliziano _at Pistoja to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici
My letters cannot but be acceptable to you, for I only write to give
you news of your family. All, by the grace of God, are well; Piero
continues to learn to write and will soon be so good a penman that I
hope he will relieve me of the trouble of writing _sine argumento_ as
I do now to you, so that I am ashamed of myself. But may it please God
that I shall always have to write the same words to you, which are
that we are all well. Madonna Clarice is much happier and better in
health. We keep good guard and watch here, but we are anxious about
you. God keep you, for it seems to me that all depends upon that. Have
no fear about us, for we are very careful. As far as I am concerned
neither care nor goodwill shall be wanting. I know how much I owe to
Your Magnificence, and the love I bear to Piero and to your other
children is hardly second to your own. If anything unpleasant and
unkind does sometimes happen I shall endeavour to bear it for love of
you, _cum omnia debeo_. I commend myself to you.--Pistoja, September
20, 1478.
Agnolo Poliziano.[240]
Piero de’ Medici (_born 1472_) _to his father_ Medici
_Magnifice Pater mi_, &c.,--I write this letter to tell you we are
well, and although I do not as yet know how to write well, I will
do what I can. I shall try hard to do better in the future. I have
already learnt many verses of Virgil, and I know nearly the whole
of the first book of Theodoro by heart;[241] I think I understand it.
The master makes me decline and examines me every day. Giovanni comes
to mass sometimes with the master. Madonna Clarice and the others are
well. I commend myself to you.--Pistoja, September 21, 1478.
V. M. filius Petru de Medicis.[242]
[Illustration:
_Alinari_
PIERO DI LORENZO DE’ MEDICI.
_Detail from the fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Church of S.
Trinità, Florence._]
In October or November of 1478 Clarice and the children left Pistoja
and went to the great fortress-villa Cafaggiuolo in the Mugello, which
in winter must have been terribly cold and dreary.
Clarice de’ Medici _to_ Lucrezia
_Magnifice Mater honoranda_,--On account of the bad roads and the much
rain we have not sent in the carrier for three days. Now either he or
another will go to you with this: because I wish to know how you and
Lorenzo are, and the others. I beg of you to write and tell me. We,
by God’s grace, are all quite well but in the water above our heads.
We remain all day in the house, and nothing gladdens us so much as
letters and news from you all. I commend myself to you.--Cafaggiuolo,
December 16, 1478.[243]
Agnolo Poliziano _to_ Lucrezia de’ Medici
_Magnifica Domina mea_,--The news we can send you from here are these.
That the rain is so heavy and so continuous that we cannot leave the
house and have exchanged hunting for playing at ball, so that the
children should have exercise. Our stakes are generally the soup, the
sweet, or the meat; and he who loses goes without; often when one of
my scholars loses he pays tribute to Sir Humid.[244] I have no other
news to give you. I remain in the house by the fireside in slippers
and a greatcoat, were you to see me you would think I was melancholy
personified. Perhaps I am but myself after all, for I neither do, nor
see, nor hear anything that gives me pleasure so much have I taken
our calamities to heart. Sleeping and waking they haunt me. Two days
ago we began to spread our wings for we heard the plague had ceased;
now we are again depressed on learning that it still lingers. When
at Florence we have some sort of satisfaction, if nought else that
of seeing Lorenzo come home in safety. Here we are in perpetual
anxiety about everything. As for myself I declare to you that I am
drowned in weary sloth, such is my solitude. I say solitude because
Monsignore[245] shuts himself up in his room with only his thoughts
for company, and I always find him so full of sorrow and apprehension
that my melancholy is only increased in his company. Ser Alberto di
Malerba mumbles prayers with these children all day long, so I remain
alone, and when I am tired of study I ring the changes on plague and
war, on grief for the past and fear for the future, and have no one
with whom to air my phantasies. I do not find my Madonna Lucrezia in
her room with whom I can unbosom myself and I am bored to death. Our
sole relief is in letters from Florence, from Malerba, who has written
these last few days, but I must tell you he generally sends good news
which we believe for a little while, such is our desire that they may
be true. But these plums usually turn into sloes. However I am trying
to arm myself with hope and cling to everything in order not to sink
to the bottom. I have nought else to say. I commend myself to Your
Magnificence.--Cafaggiuolo, December 18, 1478. _Servitor_
Angelus.[246]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to the_ King of Spain
Most Serene and Excellent Lord my King: after humble recommendation,
&c.,--I have been informed during the last few days that your Majesty
wrote me a letter full Of affection and benevolence at that terrible
time when my beloved brother Giuliano was so cruelly torn from me
in the centre of the church, and when I was wounded. This letter, I
know not why, never reached me; would to God it had, for the emotion
evinced by so great a King would have been a great comfort to me when
I was oppressed by such a terrible sorrow. Had I only known that the
letter had been sent by your Majesty and delayed in the journey, it
would have been no small comfort, and I should have at once thanked
your Majesty for such a proof of kindly feeling towards me. Even
now I send most heartfelt thanks and express my deep obligation. I
desire nothing more than that an opportunity may arise for me to show
my devotion to your Majesty. It is far beyond my power to repay not
alone the letter, but even the slightest sign from so great a King,
all I can do is to place myself entirely at your Majesty’s orders. I
commend myself ever to your Majesty O my Lord and King, and beg to be
taken under the shadow of your wings. Your Majesty is I know fully
acquainted with our affairs. We are preparing for war and working hard
to be able to resist the forces of the enemy. Resist we shall, as I
hope, because we shall not fail to ourselves, and I trust God will aid
the good cause. Again I commend myself to your Majesty, whom may God
preserve in happiness.--Florence, April 3, 1479. Your Serene Majesty’s
most devoted servant,
Lorenzo de’ Medici.[247]
Agnolo Poliziano, _from Cafaggiuolo, to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _at
Florence_
Agnolo Poliziano to his patron Lorenzo de’ Medici greeting.
Our little friend Piero writes you about what is happening here
at Cafaggiuolo; it is my part to explain that his last letter was
not, like the previous ones, submitted to me for suggestions while
he composed it and then a fair copy made. It was completed in one
sitting, as the saying is, and by himself alone. I only suggested in
course of conversation what he should write about. The words and the
composition are all his own.
I am training him in such a way that I have no fear but that he will
fulfil the expectations I have formed of him, although you fear his
excessive impetuosity.
As for Giovanni, you will have seen for yourself. His mother has taken
it upon herself to change his course of reading to the Psalter, a
thing I did not approve of. While she was absent he had made wonderful
progress. He was already able to select, without any help from me, all
the letters and syllables in his exercise in composition.
My only petition to God is that I may be able to prove to you some day
my loyalty, diligence, and patience. This I would willingly purchase
even at the expense of death.
I omit much lest I should weary your busy mind.
Farewell and remember me with all the rest.--From Cafaggiuolo, April
6, 1479.[248]
Piero de’ Medici _to his father_ Lorenzo
_Magnifice pater mi honorande_, &c.,--Till this day I have not written
to you because nothing of importance has happened. A few days ago
three well-armed boats arrived in the port of Cafaggiuolo from the
village of Mozzete to offer us their services, and we made them
welcome. We do not know what to do; I wish you would send us the best
sporting dog that can be had. Nothing more. We all commend ourselves
to you, I above all. I beg you will guard yourself from the plague and
that you will remember us because we are little and have need of you.
We are all well, thanks be to God, and so is Giuliano. I attend to my
studies and the master commends himself to you.--Cafaggiuolo, April
16, 1479.[249]
Agnolo Poliziano _to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici
_Magnifice mi Domine_,--I am here at Careggi, having left Cafaggiuolo
by command of Madonna Clarice. The cause and the manner of my
departure I should wish, indeed I beg of you as a grace, to explain by
word of mouth, it is too long to write. When you have heard me I think
you will admit that all the fault is not mine. Out of respect, and not
wishing to come to Florence _præter jussa tua_, I am here to await
the commands of your Magnificence as to what I am to do, because I am
yours even if the whole world was against me. If I have had but small
success in serving you it was not that I did not serve with all my
heart. I commend myself to Your Magnificence, at whose commands I am
most entirely.--Careggi, May 6, 1479. Ever Your Magnificence’s servant,
Angelus Pol.[250]
Piero de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo to his father_ Lorenzo (_in Latin_)
Magnificent Father,--Lucrezia and I are trying who can write best.
She writes to grandmother Lucrezia, I, my father, to you. The one
who obtains what he asks for will win. Till now Lucrezia has had all
she wished for. I, who have always written in Latin in order to give
a more literary tone to my letters, have not yet had that pony you
promised me; so that I am laughed at by all. See to it therefore, Your
Magnificence, that she should not always be the winner. The war as
far as I understand goes in our favour this year, but we do not quite
understand how the sword that wounded us is to be broken if only the
sheath is hit. For if the enemy makes war on us even outside his own
country, on what does he rely for again attacking us another year when
tired out. We only hope for peace through victory. Scipio is to be
driven to Carthage in order to get Hannibal out of Italy. We beseech
you, we your children, to have the more care for yourself the more you
see that the enemy rather lays hidden snares than dares open warfare.
I commend Martino to you, who aids me not to forget my Greek and
to improve my Latin.[251] He would have been named chaplain of S.
Lorenzo by his patrons, Antonio and Lorenzo Tornabuoni, had not Your
Magnificence recommended another. It is but just that they should
bestow their patronage on their own people, and not be prevented in
so doing by you, who in general give to others what is yours. I hope
therefore to have letters recommending my Martino to those to whom he
has already recommended himself. God save you.--26th May 1479.
Your son Piero.[252]
Clarice de’ Medici _to her husband_ Lorenzo
_Magnifice Conjux_, &c.,--I hear the plague is committing more ravages
in Florence than usual. Your wife and children pray with all their
might that you will take care of yourself, and if you can, with due
precaution, come here and see the festival we should be greatly
consoled. I should be glad not to be turned into ridicule by Franco,
as was Luigi Pulci, and also that Messer Agnolo [Poliziano] should not
be able to say that he will live in your house whether I like it or
no, and that you have put him into your own room at Fiesole. You know
I told you that if you wished him to remain I was perfectly content,
and although I have endured a thousand insults if it has been by your
permission I will be patient, but this I can hardly believe. I quite
understand that Ser Niccolò has entreated me to make peace with him.
The children are all well and long to see you, I long even more, for I
have no other torment than that you should be at Florence during such
times. I commend myself always to you.--Cafaggiuolo, May 28, 1479.[253]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to his mother_ Lucrezia _in Florence_
Most beloved Mother,--You will have heard from Ser Niccolò that there
has been a case of plague at Cafaggiuolo, I have nothing more to add.
For precaution sake we left there at once and came to Trebbio. I
enclose a list of things Messer Stefano has prescribed in order to be
prepared should anything happen. Please God it may all end in nothing.
Do not be at all anxious. No more.--Trebbio, May 31, 1479.
Your Lorenzo.
Send the things here quickly.[254]
Piero de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo to his father_ Lorenzo
Magnificent Father mine,--That pony does not come, and I am afraid
that it will remain so long with you that Andrea will cause it to
change from a beast to a man, instead of curing its hoof.
We are all well and studying. Giovanni is beginning to spell. By this
letter you can judge where I am in writing; as for Greek I keep myself
rather in exercise by the help of Martino than make any progress.
Giuliano laughs and thinks of nothing else; Lucrezia sews, sings, and
reads; Maddalena knocks her head against the wall, but without doing
herself any harm; Luisa begins to say a few little words; Contessina
fills the house with her noise. All the others attend to their duties,
and nothing is wanting to us save your presence. We hear that things
are better than last year, and hope that you being well there will be
nought but victory in the future. Strong and brave men are not good at
subterfuges but shine in open warfare. Thus we confide in you, as we
well know that besides your goodness and valour you bear in mind the
heritage left to us by our ancestors, and the injury and outrages we
have endured. God save you--1479.
Your son Piero.[255]
Piero de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo to his father_ Lorenzo
Magnificent Father mine,--I fear that some misfortune has happened to
that pony, for had it been well I know you would have sent it to me
as you promised. I beg of you therefore as a grace that you will take
this fear from me; for I think of it night and day, and until the pony
comes I shall have no peace. In case that one cannot come be pleased
to send me another. For, as I have already written to you, I am here
on foot, and sometimes it is necessary for me to go in the company of
my friends. See to this therefore, Your Magnificence.
I am studying hard, and all here attend to their duties. It only needs
that you should diligently guard yourself from the plague and from
every other danger of death, and that you should come here sometimes
to see us. God save you.--1479.
Your son Piero.[256]
Piero de’ Medici _at Gagliano to his father_ Lorenzo
_Magnifico Patri meo_,--I cannot tell you, Magnificent Father, how
glad I am to have the pony, and how his arrival incites me to work.
If I desire to praise him, _Ante diem clause componet vesper Olympo_.
He is so handsome and so perfect that the trumpet of Maronius would
hardly suffice to sing his praises. You may think how I love him;
particularly when his joyous neighs resound and rejoice all the
neighbourhood. I owe you and I send you many thanks for such a fine
gift, and I shall try and repay you by becoming what you wish. Of this
be sure. I promise you that I shall try with all my heart. We are all
well, and we all long for your arrival. God save you.--1479.[257]
Your son Piero at Gagliano.[258]
Antonio Pucci _to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo_
_Magnifice Frater honorande_,--That priest from Imola has been
interrogated. He says Count Girolamo [Riario] sent him here to offer,
on the pretext that he had been badly treated, to poison the Count;
thinking that we, desiring the Count’s death, would entrust him with
poison. We were then to be accused to the Pope, and in the Consistory,
and the Count was to show the poison, saying, “See, Lorenzo de’
Medici has attempted to poison me.” He also offered to consign into
our hands one of the gates of Imola in order to accuse us before the
Pope and the Cardinals so that they might imagine that we were going
to make war on the Pope. He has been tortured and shall be put to
the question again in order to get everything out of him. God guard
thee.--Florence, June 18, 1479.
Till to-day there have been eighteen deaths and fourteen new cases [of
plague]. Benedetto Nori is one.[259]
Lucrezia de’ Medici (_daughter of Lorenzo_) _to her grandmother_
Lucrezia
Magnificent and loved as a Mother,--I send you news that we are all
well; and I hope you are so too, may God keep us so. I long to see
you and pray you to come, for it seems to me a thousand years since I
last saw you. Mona Lucrezia mine, I wish you would send me a sash of
the _palio_ of Sancto Giovanni, or better still that one from Volterra
which was given to you when you stood godmother to me. Piero and
Maddalena commend themselves to you and Giovanni begs you to send him
some sugar-plums, he says that last time you sent very few. I pray you
to answer, for reading your letters is a great comfort to me. No more.
Christ guard you from all ill.--Written on July 7, 1479.
Your Lucrezia in Cafaggiuolo.[260]
Nannina Rucellai _to her mother_ Lucrezia de’ Medici
To the honoured hands of the Magnificent Lady Lucrezia de’ Medicis at
Careggi.
Dearest Mother,--I must tell you that Bernardo has dismissed the tutor
to my great sorrow, as I do not know where to send him. At Figline,
from whence he comes, the plague is very bad; in his house two of his
brothers are dead and his father is ill. Vincenzo has not a farthing,
if he had anything he spent it here in clothes, and now we repay him
with “Go in peace.” Nothing could be more displeasing to me. Whoso
wants to do as they wish should not be born a woman. I should be so
glad if you will ask Lorenzo, if not inconvenient, to give him shelter
where he would not be in the way for two or three months until the
plague has ceased. I do not think he is capable of teaching any save
the little ones, whom he might look after and teach. You could not do
me a greater pleasure, as it will show that I have some one who is
willing to oblige me; there are others who do the reverse. If during
this time he should be in need of a little money for his clothes
I will provide it from my own pocket, for he seems to me in a bad
plight. Here I could give him nothing as I had no money. I should be
glad if any small sum comes into your hands or any small living you
would help him, for I do not like to repay him with ingratitude. We
are all well. I commend myself to you, commend me to Lorenzo and kiss
Giulio for me. Christ guard you and see that you guard yourself.--In
Casentino, July 12, 1479.
Your Nannina.[261]
Bianca de’ Pazzi _to her mother_ Lucrezia de’ Medici _at Careggi_