THE DIVINE LETTERS

OF THE GREAT MARSILIO FICINO

TRANSLATED INTO THE

TUSCAN LANGUAGE BY FELICE

FIGLIUCCI OF SIENA.

A decorative woodcut headpiece ornament featuring symmetrical stylized floral and leaf motifs.

FIRST BOOK.

TO THE MAGNANIMOUS GIULIANO DE' MEDICI.

An ornate historiated woodcut initial 'M' depicting two male figures in a dynamic wrestling pose within a landscape featuring a tree.

MAGNANIMOUS Giuliano, the
great Cosimo de' Medici your
grandfather Cosimo "the Elder" (1389–1464), the de facto ruler of Florence and Ficino's primary patron. and my master, used
to say many times—following the
opinion of Plato—that nothing is
more fitting, nor more
beneficial for doing great
and worthy things, than the goodwill
of prudent and learned men; and that no argument for justice and prudence is truer or more certain than having such friends near oneself. And conversely, that no sign of injustice and imprudence is more certain than the lack of such men. This precious commandment of Plato, Cosimo put into effect throughout his entire life much more through deeds than through words; he was a man certainly richer in money than any other, yet much richer in men, and richest of all in justice and prudence; beyond this (a rare and marvelous thing)