THE CERTOSA OF FLORENCE 



to faith, pride to humility, despair to hope, and, 

 vanquished by the power of fortitude, every obstacle 

 disappears. Lately we saw you offer an heroic re- 

 sistance to the frowns of Fortune ; now we behold 

 you her conqueror. Now the royal youth sole object 

 of your cares and efforts receives the crown, and 

 before his countenance the clouds which darkened the 

 face of Italy shall melt away, the tears of the nation 

 shall be dried, and lost peace long sighed after 

 shall return to the distracted kingdom." 



He goes on to inform both king and minister that 

 as the rose is surrounded by thorns so the path of 

 glory is beset with difficulties, and exhorts Louis to 

 follow the examples of his uncle, King Robert, and 

 to learn of Niccol6 piety towards God, love of his 

 country, and the practice of virtue, advice which 

 Petrarch lived to regret had been given in vain. 



Numerous letters, still extant, bear witness to 

 the friendship which existed between Petrarch and 

 the Grand Seneschal, and prove the high estimation 

 in which this distinguished man was held by the poet 

 and his friends. For although Niccolo's life had been 

 spent in the active discharge of public duties both in 

 camp and court, his natural genius supplied the want 

 of scholarship, and there was a grace and charm about 

 his letters that excited the wonder of Petrarch, and 

 made him declare, in writing to another friend, that 



eloquence was more the fruit of nature than of study. 



207 



