Aldus Manutius Romanus [2] Angelo Politiano salutem dicit.[3]
{1} Annum abhinc tertium, quo [4] Veneti Ferrariam oppugnabant, me, ut vel Dei (ut aiunt) [5] nedum hominum bellum fugerem, ex urbe Ferraria Mirandulam contuli ad Ioannem Picum, principem aetatis nostrae doctissimum, quod et amaret literatos viros et faveret ingeniis. Ibi Emanuel Adramyttenus [6], familiarissimus meus, tuam mihi Graecam quam ad se dederas ostendit [7] epistolam, ornate quidem et docte atque copiose scriptam, quae non a Romano viro sed [8] a mero Attico qui Athenis semper fuisset elucubrate [9] videbatur [10]. Quam ob rem coepi [11], mi Angele, amare te vehementer, doctrinam tuam atque ingenium non mediocriter admiratus.
{2} Deinde [12] Emanuel [13] suo cum principe Ticinum [14] profectus est, ubi paucis ante mensibus quam ad te scriberem excessit e vita. Cuius interitu ita quidem moveor ut multis annis gravius nihil et molestius tulerim. Erat enim homo et moribus apprime ornatus et Graecis literis sane quam doctus meique amantissimus [15]. Non possum igitur non moerere, tali amico orbatus, quanquam meo magis ipsius incommodo quam illius. Nam illi ad superos facillimum fuisse cursum, quoniam et bene et beate semper vixit, non sum nescius. Quapropter malum si quid accidit, meum est.
{3} Ivit, inquam [16], ille Ticinum [17]. Ego vero Mirandula [18] Carpum perrexi, quo cum aliquot post mensibus venisset [19] et Picus noster, Rusticum mihi ostendit tuam, quae, mi Angele, mirifice auxit amorem erga te meum. Ibi enim perspici facile potest quantum abundes ingenio, quanti homo sis studii, quanta tibi bonarum literarum sit copia. Nec vereor tibi me adulari ducas, εἰ σαυτὸν [20] γινώσκεις. Scis enim quam ipse scripserim esse impendio plura. Taceo autem et quae de te mihi dixit is ipse Picus et dicit quoties in tui incidimus sermonem (nactus es enim dignum praeconem laudum tuarum) et quae retulit mihi Alexander Sarcius Bononiensis, homo verus ac ‘integer vitae scelerisque purus,’ necnon, quantum ex ipsius sermone colligere potui, tui studiosissimus] [21]
{4} Quid plura? Hisce tuis impulsus laudibus, non potui ad te non aliquid literarum dare, ut facerem te certiorem me ita esse tuum ut posses omnia de me tibi constantissime polliceri [22]. Incredibilis enim erga doctissimum quenque meus est amor, qui me etiam coegit ut ad te scriberem peteremque ut me [23], pro tua erga studiosos viros humanitate [24], inter tuos, mi Angele, connumerares. Quod ut facias te, quantum possum rogare, rogo. Quod profecto feceris, si me uteris familiarissime, mihique quoties usu venerit [25] non secus iusseris ac [26] cuivis ex domesticis tuis. Sic enim tua virtus postulat facitque ut sim tuus [27], quoad vivam.
Vale.
Carpi, quinto Calendas Novembres
Notes to the Text
The texts of this letter in Episc (which is based on Ald) and in M are edited in parallel columns by León Dorez, “Études Aldines III: Alde Manuce et Ange Politien,” Revue des Bibliothèques6 (1896), 319–20.
[2] Aldus Manutius Romanus Ald: Altus Mannucius M
[3] M adds in margin Angelo Politiano homini utriusque linguae doctissimo suo et amico honorando
[4] Annum abhinc tertium quo Ald: Annis exactis quo tempore M
[5] ut aiunt Ald: M omits
[6] Emanuel Adramyttenus Ald: Manuel Adramittenus M
[7] ostendit Ald: legit M
[8] a Romano viro sed Ald: ab homine Romano verum M
[9] elucubrata M : elucubarata Ald
[10] M places videbaturafter quae non.
[11] Quam ob rem coepi Ald: Coepi equidem M
[12] Deinde Ald: Demum (or Deinde) M
[13] Emanuel Ald: Manuel M
[14] Ticinum Ald: Papiam M
[15] meique amantissimus Ald: M omits
[16] inquam Ald: M omits
[17] Ticinum Ald: Papiam M
[18] Mirandula Ald: M omits
[19] quo … venisset Ald: ubi cum esset M
[20] σαυτὸν Ald: σὲαυτὸνM
[21] mihi … studiosissimus Ald: Martinus Iohannis principis scribae frater, homo, quantum ex ipsius sermone colligere potui, tui amantissimus M
[22] M adds Sed mihi parcas velim si ego, homo tenui litteratura praeditus, ad te scribere ausus sum, principem huius aetatis eruditorum.
[23] M adds non qui ipse sim dignus, sed
[24] erga studiosos viros humanitate Ald: humanitate erga studiosos viros M
[25] quoties usu venerit Ald: si forte contigeritM
[26] ac Ald: atque M
[27] Sic … tuus Ald: M omits
Translation
Aldo Manuzio, a Roman, to Angelo Poliziano
{1} Three years ago [1], at the time of the Venetian assault on Ferrara, in order to escape what, as they say, was maybe God’s war as much as it was one between men [2], I left Ferrara and took refuge in Mirandola at the house of Giovanni Pico, the most learned prince of our age, since I had been told he loves literary men and encourages their talents. There Manuel Adramitteno, my very dear friend, showed me the Greek letter you had given him, written with style, learning, and variety, smelling not of the lamp of a Roman, but of that of a pure Athenian who had spent his life there. I accordingly began, my dear Angelo, to love you earnestly, having felt no little wonder at your learning and talent.
{2} Manuel then left, in the company of his prince, for Pavia, where he died a few months before my writing you. I am distressed by his death to a degree deeper and more upsetting than anything I have endured in many years. For he was a man dressed to the hilt in good character, thoroughly educated in Greek literature, and very loving of me. I cannot, therefore, not grieve, bereft of such a friend, though the disadvantage is more mine than his [3]. For I am not unaware that his path to heaven was very easy, since his was ever a good and happy life. Accordingly, any misfortune is mine alone.
{3} He went, I was saying, to Pavia. I instead made my way from Mirandola to Carpi. When our friend Pico too had come there a few months later, he showed me your Rusticus, which, my dear Angelo, marvelously increased my love toward you. There it was easy to see how rich you are in talent, how great a scholar you are, how deep is you store of fine literature. Nor do I worry that you will think I am flattering you, if thou knowest thyself [4]. For you know there are many more things than I myself write. I say nothing about what Pico himself told me, things he says every time he finds himself in conversation about you (you have snagged a worthy trumpeter of your praises!), or about what Alessandro Sarti of Bologna [5] related to me, a man who is true and “decent in his living, unstained by vice,” [6] to say nothing of being, as far as I can tell from what he himself says, utterly devoted to you. [7]
{4} What more? Compelled by these accomplishments of yours, I could not refrain from sending some sort of letter, in order to let you know that I am so yours that you can count on me with complete assurance. [8] My love toward every man of great learning is incredible, and it is also what has driven me to write you and ask, my dear Angelo, in accord with your humanity toward scholars, that you count me among your friends. As insistently as I can, I ask you to do this. And you will do so completely, if you make most familiar use of me, and if, whenever the occasion presents itself, you will command me no less than you would any of your household servants. So demands your virtue, making me yours for as long as I shall live.
Farewell.
Carpi, October 27 [9]
Notes to the Translation:
[1] Based on the letter’s manuscript date of 1482, Manuzio here seems to be counting inclusively (in ancient Roman fashion) and so to mean “two years ago.”
[2] The War of Ferrara, or the Salt War, 1482–84. Manuzio’s description of it as “God’s war,” softened by the insertion of “as they say” (ut aiunt) in the Aldine, is presumably a reference to the central involvement of Pope Sixtus IV. Ascensius (Josse Bade) here provides an interesting personal note: “In that year I myself was living in Ferrara and there saw Poliziano, on his way to Venice.”
[3] Manuzio’s language and sentiment are strongly reminiscent of Cicero’s On Friendship
[4] Manuzio here switches to Greek, in words that generally reflect Socratic language and, more pointedly, the famed inscription of “Know thyself” on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
[5] In his preface to the 1498 editio princeps of P.’s Opera omnia, Manuzio names Alessandro Sarti as the volume’s principal editor, along with various other unnamed “friends.” Comparison with manuscript M reveals that Sarti (the presumed culprit) has here substituted his own name and more extensive praises for those of Martino Da Casale, whose surname is revealed by a similar alteration in the next letter. The switch was first noticed and discussed by León Dorez, “Études Aldines III: Alde Manuce et Ange Politien,” Revue des Bibliothèques 6 (1896), 317–18. As Dorez would later work out in “La mort de Pic de la Mirandole et l’édition aldine des oeuvres d’Ange Politien (1494-1498),” Giornale storico della letteratura italiana 32 (1898): 360–4, the substitution was no mere matter of impish self-aggrandizement: Cristoforo Da Casale, Martino’s brother, was none other than Pico della Mirandola’s murderer. [Check also Campana and Perosa; Pico 900 (Tempe) 177–8]
[6] Horace, Odes 1.22.1.
[7] As noted above, the Aldine text, from “Alessandro Sarti” to the end of the sentence, replaces that of manuscript V, “Martin, the brother of the secretary of Prince Giovanni [Pico della Mirandola], a man, as far as I can tell from what he himself says, who loves you very much.”
[8] The Laurentian manuscript adds, “But please indulge me if I, a man equipped with slim literary learning, have dared write you, the prince of the learned men of this age.”
[9] The same adds a year (1484) and then this note: “I sent you another letter, transcribed from the same original. But since I was unsure whether it was delivered to you, I have sent you this one. I emphatically want you to know how much I love you. Farewell.”
Neo-Latin Lab 