_Magnifice mi patrone_,--I hope and trust Your Magnificence has not been disturbed by my letter written this morning under the influence of anger; the want of patience is my great fault. I hope in _bonam partem acceperis rebusque nostris prospectum curabis_. Madonna Clarice sends you three pheasants and a partridge. She says you are to beware as though they came from an enemy because she does not know the man who brought them; he is the father of your Pisan courier who broke his leg. By the bearer I send you the opinion of Messer Bartolommeo Sozzino. Every hour I have been entreating him to finish it and found a copyist who made all the haste he could, but it was impossible to get it done quicker.[232] Piero is well and I take every care of him, all the others are also in good health; but I get all the kicks; yet _te propter Libyeæ_.[233] I am longing for news that the plague has ceased on account of my anxiety for you and in order to return and serve you; for I hoped and I thought to be with you; but as you have, or rather my evil fortune has assigned to me this post in the service of Your Magnificence, I endure it, _quamvis durum, nec levius fit patientia_. I commend myself to Your Magnificence.--Pistoja, August 24, 1478.[234] Agnolo Poliziano _at Pistoja to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _Magnifice mi Domine_, &c.,--Madonna Clarice is well and so are all the others. Here we knew nothing of the tumult until the bearer of this gave me Franco’s[235] letter and calmed our fears which were aroused by his former one; Madonna Clarice suspected that things were more serious and that you _de industria_ made light of them. So now she is comforted _et acquievit_. We want for nothing; only we grieve sorely over your worries, which are of a truth great. God will help us. _Spes enim in vivis est, desperatis mortui._ If you have not absolute need of Giovanni Tornabuoni Madonna Clarice wishes you would send him here, she is lonely without him, and for many reasons she thinks it would be well if he came. I look after Piero and incite him to write; in a few days I think he will write to you in a fashion that will astonish you, we have here a master that teaches writing in fifteen days, he is excellent at his trade. The children play about more than usual and are in splendid health. God help them and you. Piero never leaves me or I him. I wish I had to serve you in some greater thing, but as this has fallen to my lot I do it willingly. _Rogo tamen, ut aliquid aut literarum aut nuntii huc perlatum ivi cures, desque operam, ne quidquid est in me auctoritatis, patriaris exolescere, quo et puerum facilius in officio teneam, et meo munere, ut par est defungar. Sed hæc si commodum; fin minus, quod fors feret, feremus æquo animo._ Be of good cheer and take courage, for great men are formed by adversity. _Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis._ I commend myself to you.--Pistoja, August 26, 1478. Your servant,