The Correspondence of Coluccio Salutati (Vol. 1)

Greetings from the Bishop of Lincoln; certain letters extracted from his original book. To Master Lord Robert, Count of Bari.

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Although, magnificent Count, this writing may seem rash because it should ring in your ears having been written by others long ago; yet, since you are the pre-eminent one among his noble friends in whom the passing of that divine man can be fully noted, I shall speak out, both on account of the sincere love with which we understand you cherished him while he lived, and because the studies of others—who take pleasure in the famous writings of the ancients—are not applied to letters, but to I know not what other things, as if fleeing into the wild; let shameful, warlike, and idle? worldly? matters be recounted, so that they delight at last either in legacy-hunters or in snares.

I too shall speak with you, not with that eloquence or that ornament which would befit such a great man as you are, if they correspond to the subject I undertake, but according to my present ability. The charity with which I burned for that man of distinguished memory will excuse me; although regarding yourself, if I may endure it, you will grant me this pardon if you wish. If there were anything of the duty of one who loves so strongly, you would believe it was not so much the praises of the man, of which you might believe there was no merit in the purpose, or at least—as they affirm for certain—you will remember that no better thing has passed through any of my silences until now. Nor were trunks or stones not likewise moved by the passing of that man.

For it is not as that prophetic man says: "Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh of bronze?" I confess I am moved, having seen that glory of this flourishing city, that praised radiance throughout all Italy and the light of my age, extinguished. And who in his time might see that it was ordained that he has left me to share in mortality? Yet he could have been with us still longer, and soothed us with his mellifluous speech through the courses of many years. We were able, because we [with] him...