The Letters of Marsilio Ficino

BOOK I

That which is given freely is more pleasing than that which is owed.

Marsilio Ficino sends greetings to Giovanni Cavalcanti, his Unique Friend.

nThe hand cannot guide the pen unless the hand itself is moved by the soul. In these times, Marsilio could not write to the Hero original: "Heroem"; Ficino often uses elevated, quasi-mythological titles for his close circle. unless he were first invited by the Hero. But one thing troubles me above all others: you write to me because you promised to do so. Therefore, I credit this to a bargain rather than to love. I ask for letters of love, not of trade. Are you mine only by contract? Since I am yours, I want you to be mine through love. Farewell. January 5, 1474.

A provocation to write.

Marsilio Ficino sends greetings to Giovanni Cavalcanti, his Unique Friend.

qWhy have we been competing in silence for so long, my friend? In the end, what gain will go to the victor, and what loss to the defeated? Indeed, in this stubbornness of silence, I decided it was better to be defeated by you, so that I might be the victor in a contest of speaking. Thus, from now on, the first prize in keeping quiet is given to you; the first prize in speaking is given to me. Will you always need spurs in the race? Will you never run of your own accord? Why are you so harsh with me? Perhaps I seem to joke too sharply with you, my dear Giovanni. But you act most sharply; answer most sharply too, if answering pleases you; but if it pleases you less, remain sweetly silent. Be assured that beneath this sharpness of my words lies a heart-felt affection sweeter than honey. Farewell, and stay away only as long as your business requires. For it is enough for me when your business is being taken care of. October 7, at Careggi The location of the Medici villa where Ficino did much of his work..

That letters are necessary among friends.

Marsilio Ficino sends greetings to Giovanni Cavalcanti, his Unique Friend.

qSince I thought you would return to Florence shortly, I sent you no letters, hoping soon to hear your actual voice and to speak back to you. But now this perpetual serenity of the sky—if I may call it so—threatens me with your longer delays in the Trebbian hills. But who would not be captured by the sweetness of Trebbia? Certainly Bacchus The Roman god of wine, referring to the famous vineyards of the Trebbia region. loves these hills. My Giovanni has been twice captured. This is certainly the reason why I have not written until now. But why do you write nothing? "I have nothing to write," you will say. Write at least that very thing—that you have nothing to say—although a friend is never lacking a subject for letters. For what is dearer to a friend than a friend's life? Therefore, one must often indicate, in turn, how one's health is. I cannot declare my health to you unless you first declare your own. Indeed, I am well if you are well; or rather, if I understand that you are well. Farewell, from Careggi. October 13.

The loss of time is a living hell.

Marsilio Ficino sends greetings to Giovanni Cavalcanti, his Unique Friend.

oThe care of both my own and my father’s body original: "paterni corporis"; likely referring to the physical health or medical needs of his father, Diotifeci d'Agnolo, who was a physician. is a burden to me. Your absence is a burden. Both must be endured with a level mind, lest they become heavier through impatience. If you have any humanity, do not press me with a double load, nor burden me with a third weight on top. You burden me too much unless you send the books back to me. For the loss of time original: "Temporis... iactura" drives me to demand them more often. There is no loss more grievous than that of time. Alas, I demand more boldly things which perhaps I would not wish to receive. Whom I would truly wish to receive... The sentence is interrupted by the page break.