from my difficulties.  My prebend, it is true, yields me more bread and wine than I need for my own consumption.  I can even sell some of it.  But my expenses are very considerable.  I have never less than two horses, usually five or six amanuenses.  I have only three at this moment.  It is because I could find no more.  Here it is easier to find a painter than an amanuensis.  I have a venerable priest, who never quits me when I am at church.  Sometimes when I count upon dining with him alone, behold, a crowd of guests will come in.  I must give them something to eat, and I must tell them amusing stories, or else pass for being proud or avaricious.

“I am desirous to found a little oratory for the Virgin Mary; and shall do so, though I should sell or pawn my books.  After that I shall go to Avignon, if my strength permits.  If it does not, I shall send one of my people to the Cardinal Cabassole, and to you, that you may attempt to accomplish what I have often wished, but uselessly, as both you and he well know.  If the holy father wishes to stay my old age, and put me into somewhat better circumstances, as he appears to me to wish, and as his predecessor promised me, the thing would be very easy.  Let him do as it may please him, much, little, or nothing; I shall be always content.  Only let him not say to me as Clement VI. used to do, ’ask what you wish for.’  I cannot do so, for several reasons.  In the first place, I do not myself know exactly what would suit me.  Secondly, if I were to demand some vacant place, it might be given away before my demand reached the feet of his Holiness.  Thirdly, I might make a request that might displease him.  His extreme kindness might pledge him to grant it; and I should be made miserable by obtaining it.

“Let him give me, then, whatever he pleases, without waiting for my petitioning for it.  Would it become me, at my years, to be a solicitor for benefices, having never been so in my youth?  I trust, in this matter, to what you may do with the Cardinal Sabina.  You are the only friends who remain to me in that country.  These thirty years the Cardinal has given me marks of his affection and good-will.  I am about to write to him a few words on the subject; and I shall refer him to this letter, to save my repeating to him those miserable little details with which I should not detain you, unless it seemed to be necessary.”

A short time afterwards, Petrarch heard, with no small satisfaction, of the conduct of Cardinal Cabassole, at Perugia.  When the Cardinal came to take leave of the Pope the evening before his departure for that city, he said, “Holy father, permit me to recommend Petrarch to you, on account of my love for him.  He is, indeed, a man unique upon earth—­a true phoenix.”  Scarcely was he gone, when the Cardinal of Boulogne, making pleasantries on the word phoenix, turned into ridicule both the praises of Cabassole and him who was their object.  Francesco Bruni, in writing to Petrarch about the kindness of