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 Niccolb 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. 
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