The Letters of Marsilio Ficino

BOOK I

original: "PRIMVS"; referring to the First Book of Ficino's collected letters.

...rightly praise. The Peripatetics Followers of Aristotle’s philosophy, who emphasized observation and systematic study., seeing Lorenzo professing each subject so successfully, praise him in all things. The Platonists, on the other hand, praise everything in him. Truly, when they consider how suddenly he comes forth as a master of every art, they believe these arts were not sought through labor, but were both provided by nature and infused by God. I, therefore, esteem original: "diligo"; to value or hold dear. your person in me, and love original: "amo"; to love passionately. my person in you. I praise you in art. I approve of art in you. In nature, I honor you. I admire nature in you. I worship you through God. I venerate God through you. To God alone, therefore, be all glory from all people, from age unto age. Farewell.

A playful invitation to Giovanni to return, through pretense.

I had decided late last night to write to you this morning: "Return, hero. Hurry, I beg you; fly here, I implore you." But then, considering more maturely, it seemed better to hide this desire of mine. For it would be that you return more quickly if you thought I were a little angry. Behold, I am a little angry! What then? Will indignation move him whom love did not move? I think not. Therefore, I know not where to turn: to prayers, or to quarrels? But now I have found where to take refuge. I will trust in your heroic heart Giovanni Cavalcanti (1444–1509) was Ficino’s beloved friend and patron; Ficino frequently refers to him as his "hero." which is accustomed to run more rightly of its own accord than by the use of spurs. But in the meantime, how shall I restrain myself? Since I can hardly bear it for even a little while—O, you who are too forgetful of me! But I will hold back my reproaches; and lest it weary you to hear these same old songs too often, I shall move on to greater things. I shall write about public affairs. You ask what is being done in the city? Grave matters are being discussed—listen, but reveal it to no one. Many great citizens say: "O Marsilio, why are you so long alone in the city?" Because he wants me to walk alone now, he who never allows me to be alone. "Has he not returned yet?" Not yet. I have nothing else at hand to write to you. I have written to you of urban business; you write to me of rustic things. Alas, I have erred: I do not want you to write, but to speak. If we talk, my hero, we speak of the same things; while we write, we write of different things. I write of memory; Giovanni writes of forgetfulness. But do not say that. My Giovanni has not forgotten me, nor himself. Indeed, he comes now, having yielded to me; behold, he comes! Run to meet him, my fortunate feet. Receive him, happy arms The OCR "vltiæ" is likely a misreading of "ulnae" (arms/embrace)..

A genial letter concerning heroes.

I received a letter from Carlo Marsuppini A Florentine humanist and diplomat.. When I first set out to reply to it, and wished to write the heading "Marsilio to Carlo," my guardian spirit original: "genius"; in the Platonic tradition, a personal spirit that guides an individual's destiny and creative impulses. suddenly bent my pen so that I wrote "to Giovanni" instead of "to Carlo." Accept, therefore, this "genial" letter Ficino plays on the word "genialis," meaning both "pleasant/festive" and "pertaining to one's genius/guiding spirit.". God thought it a sin for me, while absent, to write to anyone before writing to my hero. I believe the gods favor heroes. Since, as Plato suggests, heroes are born from the love of the gods, I have experienced in reality that philosophers are reborn from the love of heroes. Farewell. 1 May 1473.

Printer's signature mark identifying the leaf's position in the gathering.