Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni at the Baths of Petriolo [near Siena]

Most dear Son,—The reason I write is that this morning at table Cosimo told me that Maestro Mariotto had gone to spend eight days with thee, and said that when Maestro M. returns he will let me come to be with thee, so I pray thee to ask him to remain with thee as long as thou art there, as I think thou hast need of him, and also Cosimo is well pleased that he should remain, and bids thee arrange so that he may be content. Let me know, for if he comes away nothing shall prevent my coming, for on no account will I permit thee to be there without him or me, so tell me his intentions. Had I known when he left I would have saved him the trouble and come myself. Tell me whether thou hadst rain on the day of thy departure, and if thou hast need of anything write to me. I say no more. Christ protect thee.—In Florence on the 13th day of September 1443.

Mona Contessina di Cosimo.[44]

Karissimo figliuolo, la chagione di questa si è che essendo io stamane a tavola Chosimo mi disse che maestro Mariotto era venuto chostà per stare techo otto dì et Chosimo dicie che tornando qua il maestro M., ch’ elli si contenta ch’ io venghi costà a star techo Sicchè io ti priegho che ttu lo prieghi ch’ elli stia techo tanto quanto tu chè mi pare che ttu n’abbia nicissità et anche Chosimo si chontenterebbe ch’ elli stesse techo et profferali che ttu lo provederaj per modo che da sarà contento Avisambti che sse delli torna che rimosso ogni chagione io verrò costà ch’a niun modo io voglio che ttu stij chostì sanza lui et sanza me sicchè avisami di sua intenzione che ss’ io l’avessi saputo quando di qui si partì non bisogniava che delli pigliasse questa faticha che io sarei venuta chostà Avisami se avesti dell’aqua il dì che andasti et se vuoi nulla schrivimelo Altro no dicho Xpo ti guardi. In Firenze a dì XIII di settembre MCCCCXLIII.

Ma Chontessina di Chosimo.[45]

Alberto Averardo de’ Alberti, from Rome, to Giovanni de’ Medici

The condition of this city thou must have heard from others, so I shall be brief. There are many splendid palaces, houses, tombs, and temples, and other edifices in infinite number, but all are in ruins; much porphyry and marble from ancient buildings, and every day these marbles are destroyed by being burnt for lime in scandalous fashion. What is modern is poor stuff, that is to say the buildings; the beauty of Rome lies in what is in ruin. The men of the present day, who call themselves Romans, are very different in bearing and in conduct from the ancient inhabitants. Breviter loquendo, they all look like cowherds. Their women are generally handsome in face; all the rest is uncommonly dirty; the reason, they tell me, is that they all cook. They seem agreeable, but one seldom sees them. Amusements there are none, save to go to these pardons (indulgences) which are perpetual, and in these days of Lent the women frequent them, as well as those who, like me, have nothing else to do.

Ex Urbe delacerata (From the ruined City), 22nd March 1443 (1444).

Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni in Rome