“Co’ santi in chiesa, e co’ ghiotti in taverna.”[251]
One example out of the many in Don Juan will suffice for quotation:—
“Adversity is the first path to truth.”[252]
Possibly the fact that the Morgante was first recited to the members of Lorenzo’s circle is chiefly responsible for Pulci’s habit of turning often to his listeners, inviting them, as it were, to draw nearer and share his confidence. Thus he confesses:
“Non so se il vero appunto anche si disse;
Accetta il savio in fin la veria gloria;
E cosi seguirem la nostra storia.”[253]
Byron speaks repeatedly in this sort of mocking apology:
“If my thunderbolt not always rattles,
Remember, reader! you have had before,