Familiar Letters

For it pleases me to address you thus, for it makes one human and has less harshness, and just as I loved you before, so now I love you, and just as I received the greatest pain from your most unjust captivity, so I receive the greatest pleasure from your most just liberation. And since I am placed in this position: search whatever the Roman Curia has, if there is anything that might be of use to you, make it known to me. I profess that whatever I can accomplish by my work, study, and diligence is entirely in your power. Farewell.

LEONARD TO NICCOLÒ. Your diligence in sending the books I hastily endowed was very pleasing to me. Whether Cerberus here or the one who adorned them has fashioned them, they are very beautiful; I am surprised, however, that they came without your letter. The Pope, with the whole Curia, is soon to depart for the city. I, knowing your desire to see Rome, having already called you to me, would have completed this middle journey with noble companions and associates, which certainly would have been a pleasure for you, I think. The matter has been drawn out to this day such that it will be in doubt whether the journey would actually take place, not to mention the words. Truly, it happened contrary to what usually happens in this deliberation of ours. For the greater did not conquer the equal with the better, but the better and at the same time greater was surpassed by the lesser and the worse.
To love.

How the friend offers [his help].

Some small [missing text].