Magnificent Patron,—My last letter was from Ferrara. In Padua I found some good books, i.e. Simplicio, on the Sky; Alessandro, on the Topica; Giovan Grammatico, on the Posteriora and the Syllogism; a David on Aristotle; none of which we have in Florence. I also found a Greek scribe in Padua and arranged with him at a ducat for every fifteen pages.
Maestro Piero Leoni showed me his books: among them I found M. Manlio, an old astronomer and poet, which I have brought with me to Venice to compare with one I have bought; I have never seen a more ancient book. Similiter he possesses certain books of Galieno de dogmate Aristotelis et Hippocratis in Greek, of which he will give us a copy in Padua, so we shall have gained something.
In Venice I have found some books of Archimedes and Eron, mathematicians, which we have not got, and a Frunuto de Deis, and other valuable things. So papa Janni[389] will have writing enough to do for some time.
Niceno’s [Cardinal] library we were not able to see. Messer Aldovrandini, the Duke of Ferrara’s ambassador, in cujus domo habitamus, went to the Prince but was met with a blunt refusal. He asked for Count Giovanni [Pico della Mirandola], not for me, as I thought it better not to mention your name in the affair. Messer Antonio Vinciguerra and Messer Antonio Pizamanno, one of the two philosophers who came incognito to Florence to see the Count, and a brother of Messer Zaccheria Barbaro, are engaged in trying to overcome this obstinacy; everything possible will be tried. This is all I have to say about books.
Messer Piero Leoni has been greatly persecuted in Padua and has no patients either there or in Venice. Yet he is a good doctor and held in high esteem. I have caused him to be sounded by the Count as to coming to Tuscany, but I think it will be difficult. He does not like Padua and the society does not please him, ut ipse ait; negut tamen se elle in Thusciam agere.
Nicoletto would come to Pisa but wants a benefice, hoc est one of those canonries. His name stands high in Padua and his method is good; but, nisi fallor, he is one of these odd fantastical men. He it was who mentioned the benefice to me; so I warn you.
This morning I paid a visit to Messer Zaccheria Barbaro and assured him of your affection &c.; he replied tearfully et ut visum est from his heart: all resolved itself into in te uno spem esse. Ostendit se nosse quantum tibi debeat: so do what you intended, ut favens ad majora. The Legate, who has returned from Rome, et qui tecum locutus est Florentiæ, is not at all of their way of thinking, ut ajunt.
Messer Zaccheria showed me a very beautiful antique earthen vase which was sent to him lately from Greece, and told me that if I thought you would like it he would send it to you with two smaller ones. I said it was just what Your Magnificence would admire et tandem it will be yours. To-morrow morning the box shall be made and I will send it off. I do not think you have so fine a one in eo genere: it is about three spans high and four wide.
The Count [Pico della Mirandola] has bad eyes and has not been out of the house since he came to Venice.
Item yester evening I paid a visit to the learned Cassandra Fidele and greeted her in your name. She is no less wonderful, Lorenzo, in the vulgar tongue than in Latin; most discreet, et meis oculis etiam handsome. I came away astounded. To you she is most partial and talked about you with such understanding quasi te intus et in cute norit. One of these days she intends to go to Florence to see you, so prepare to do her honour.