I despise all the world, and myself most of all.  I fear only those whom I love.  I desire only a good end.  I dread a company of valets like a troop of robbers.  I should have none at all, if my age and weakness permitted me.  I am fain to shut myself up in concealment, for I cannot endure visits; it is an honour which displeases and wears me out.  Amidst the Euganean hills I have built a small but neat mansion, where I reckon on passing quietly the rest of my days, having always before my eyes my dead or absent friends.  To conceal nothing from you, I have been sought after by the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of France, who have given me pressing invitations, but I have constantly declined them, preferring my liberty to everything.”

In this letter, Petrarch speaks of a sharp war that had arisen between Venice and Padua.  A Gascon, named Rainier, who commanded the troops of Venice, having thrown bridges over the Brenta, established his camp at Abano, whence he sent detachments to ravage the lands of Padua.  Petrarch was in great alarm; for Arqua is only two leagues from Abano.  He set out on the 15th of November for Padua, to put himself and his books under protection.  A friend at Verona wrote to him, saying, “Only write your name over the door of your house, and fear nothing; it will be your safeguard.”  The advice, it is hardly necessary to say, was absurd.  Among the pillaging soldiery there were thousands who could not have read the poet’s name if they had seen it written, and of those who were accomplished enough to read, probably many who would have thought Petrarch as fit to be plundered as another man.  Petrarch, therefore, sensibly replied, “I should be sorry to trust them.  Mars respects not the favourites of the Muses; I have no such idea of my name, as that it would shelter me from the furies of war.”  He was even in pain about his domestics, whom he left at Arqua, and who joined him some days afterwards.

Pandolfo Malatesta, learning what was passing in the Paduan territory, and the danger to which Petrarch was exposed, sent to offer him his horses, and an escort to conduct him to Pesaro, which was at that time his residence.  He was Lord of Pesaro and Fossombrone.  The envoy of Pandolfo found our poet at Padua, and used every argument to second his Lord’s invitation; but Petrarch excused himself on account of the state of his health, the insecurity of the highways, and the severity of the weather.  Besides, he said that it would be disgraceful to him to leave Padua in the present circumstances, and that it would expose him to the suspicion of cowardice, which he never deserved.

Pandolfo earnestly solicited from Petrarch a copy of his Italian works.  Our poet in answer says to him, “I have sent to you by your messenger these trifles which were the amusement of my youth.  They have need of all your indulgence.  It is shameful for an old man to send you things of this nature; but you have earnestly asked for them, and can I refuse you anything?  With what grace could I deny you verses which are current in the streets, and are in the mouth of all the world, who prefer them to the more solid compositions that I have produced in my riper years?” This letter is dated at Padua, on the 4th of January, 1373.  Pandolfo Malatesta died a short time after receiving it.