On Love (Commentary on Plato's Symposium)

Tuscan; so that in whatever manner they prefer, they may put their own pronunciation into print: So that whoever desires to speak Tuscan entirely, may, like a bee in a flowering meadow, be able to choose and take the best from each, and make one [version] that is entirely pure, and clean of every discordant sound, or extravagant accent. Which will never be able to be done entirely, if these pronunciations cannot be confronted at one stroke, and all together. Nor will the common [pronunciation] ever be able to be noted better or more than this selection, just as was done with the Greek. But returning to our purpose, I say that being myself a true Florentine, I cannot, nor ought I be justly blamed, for having—if not perfectly, at least as an adult man—made the Florentine pronunciation intelligible (I say intelligible only to those who love it, and to those who observe it), without having altered the writing in such a way that every other man cannot make use of it as before: and without any impediment, as is seen by reading.

Similarly, I ought not, except by great wrong, be held of little judgment: If by myself, or guided by others—who, whether they have walked well or badly, have taught me through their experience to walk to the same place by a better way; or known