MARSILIO FICINO

Of Florence, humbly commends himself to the Most Reverend Father in Christ, Lord Giovanni de' Medici, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church.

An ornamental woodcut of the initial letter 'Q' is decorated with floral and vine patterns.

When I had decided to write a letter to you to congratulate you on the Cardinal’s dignityThe rank and office of a Cardinal, to which Giovanni de' Medici was elevated in 1489 at age 13, though he did not take up the role fully until 1492. recently conferred upon you, and was considering to whom I might best give it to be delivered—someone who would make our congratulations much more pleasing—I suddenly betook myself to the academy, hoping that in its inner sanctum, at least, some greeter most welcome to you would not be lacking. There, by some divine chance, I first encountered Iamblichus, known among the Academics by the surname "the Divine," and a great priest there. To him I said: "Greetings, Iamblichus, great priest. At this moment (as you see), I am about to congratulate Giovanni de' Medici, a new prelateA high-ranking member of the clergy. of the Christian religion; I pray you, if my request is just, that you will make our congratulations, otherwise meager, more full with your divine words and mysteries."

He nodded to my prayers, and with this sentiment—"Giovanni, great priest"—comes that great priest original: "Ioannes sacerdos magne, venit magnus ille sacerdos." Ficino is drawing a parallel between the newly appointed Cardinal Medici and the ancient Neoplatonist philosopher Iamblichus.. Therefore, joyfully receive such a messenger, and after the first greeting, after the letter has been read, listen more attentively, if you please, to what that divine man has to say. For he promised that, in order to speak things worthy of both his persona and yours, he would express to you in brief what the Egyptian and Assyrian priests thought about religion and divine matters.