![]() ![]() ![]() (5) Et si ad veram ac per se amicitiam torqueatur intuitus, nonne summorum illustriumque principum plerunque viros fortuna obscuros, honestate preclaros, amicos fuisse constabit? Quidni, cum etiam Dei et hominis amicitia nequaquam impediatur excessu? For if one should examine friendships which have been pleasant and profitable, it will be evident that in many cases the bond has been between persons of superior station and their inferiors. (4) Nor do I think that in assuming the name of friend I shall lay myself open to a charge of presumption, as some perchance might object inasmuch as unequals no less than equals are united by the sacred tie of friendship. Nam si delectabiles et utiles amicitias inspicere libeat, illis persepius inspicienti patebit preheminentes inferioribus coniugari personas. Nec reor amici nomen assumens, ut nonnulli forsitan obiectarent, reatum presumptionis incurrere, cum non minus dispares connectantur quam pares amicitie sacramento. Whence it came to pass that whereas through hearsay alone, with a certain subjection of mind, I had previously become well disposed towards you, at the first sight of you I became your most devoted servant and friend. And there was I witness of your splendour, there was I witness and partaker of your bounty and whereas I had formerly suspected the reports to be somewhat unmeasured, I afterwards recognized that it was the facts themselves that were beyond measure. (3) But that continued uncertainty might not keep me longer in suspense, even as the Queen of the South sought Jerusalem, and as Pallas sought Helicon, so did I seek Verona, in order to examine with my own trusty eyes the things of which I had heard. Quo factum ut ex auditu solo cum quadam animi subiectione benivolus prius exstiterim, sed ex visu postmodum devotissimus et amicus. (3) Verum ne diuturna me nimis incertitudo suspenderet, velut Austri regina Ierusalem petiit, velut Pallas petiit Elicona, Veronam petii fidis oculis discursurus audita, ibique magnalia vestra vidi, vidi beneficia simul et tetigi et quemadmodum prius dictorum ex parte suspicabar excessum, sic posterius ipsa facta excessiva cognovi. The report whereof, overtopping all deeds of recent times, I erstwhile did deem extravagant, as going beyond the appearence of truth. (2) The illustrious renown of your Magnificence, which wakeful Fame spreads abroad as she flies, affects divers persons in divers ways, so that some it uplifts with the hope of good fortune, while others it casts down with the dread of destruction. ![]() Huius quidem preconium, facta modernorum exsuperans, tanquam veri existentia latius arbitrabar aliquando superfluum. Inclita vestre Magnificentie laus, quam fama vigil volitando disseminat, sic distrahit in diversa diversos, ut hos in spem sue prosperitatis attollat, hos exterminii deiciat in terrorem. (1) To the munificent and most victoroius Lord, the Lord Can Grande della Scala, Victor-General of the most holy principality of Caesar in the city of Verona, and town of Vicenza, his most devoted servant, Dante Alighieri, a Florentine by birth, not by disposition, prayeth long and happy life, and perpetual increase of the glory of his name. The Princeton Dante Project (2.0) - Epistole (XIII, 1-90)Įpistole (XIII, 1-90) (1) Magnifico atque victorioso domino domino Cani Grandi de la Scala sacratissimi Cesarei Principatus in urbe Verona et civitate Vicentie Vicario Generali, devotissimus suus Dantes Alagherii florentinus natione non moribus, vitam orat per tempora diuturna felicem et gloriosi nominis perpetuum incrementum. ![]()
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