Familiar Letters

many people were raised. And first among them was your acquaintance, Iacobus Angelus Giacomo Angeli da Scarperia, who had spoken a word about that matter earlier and who now, though he says nothing, seeks it most fiercely. They incite, as I hear, certain supporters of his, affirming to themselves that if, while he has already been at the curia for four whole years, no account is taken of him, I am summoned instead, being absent and known only by name, especially since he is of such an age that he can appear more than mature for this duty.

Moved by that indignation and raised into hope, he now runs about with his supporters and sends many advocates to the Pope. And what is most annoying of all, hateful comparisons are introduced by them. Thus I see it happening by a certain fortune of mine, that the one with whom I long contended in Florence as a rival in the study of letters, with that same man I must now contend in Rome for honor and dignity. But my own action is legitimate, without the disparagement of anyone. I do not doubt, however, that his attempt seems wicked and unjust to you, and that it proceeds entirely from jealousy and twisted envy. For if he coveted this place, why had he not sought it before my arrival? If he did not covet it, why does he finally desire it now? He clearly wants my difficulty to be his opportunity, and to push me, while I was hanging in the balance and ought to have been helped, toward ruin with a cruel and inhuman force. I, certainly, although the very novelty of the place, the unfamiliarity of the people, and many other things at the same time disturb me in this matter

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