Jacopo Antiquario, Letter to Michele Ferno about the death of Pomponio Leto

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Pomponio, dedicated to the public good, had always led a virtuous life, but when he realized that death was approaching, having taken the last rites as a Christian, he acted accordingly and fittingly until the end. He inspired many people of talent and was well deserved to be buried by the church of Ara coeli. He had once wished to be buried on the Via Appia, but his pupils have found him a better place. In life the temptations of Rome did not attract him, even in his poor attire he held himself to be happier than the Persian king. Our ancestors triumphed over other peoples, Pomponio rescued their triumphs from oblivion. If we don't take care to praise him, posterity will accuse us of envy and ingratitude.

Ferno meo salutem.

Ferno meo salutem. Vixit Pomponius satis sibi: Publicae vero utilitati non vixit satis diu. Sanctissimum se praestitit in omni aetatis cursu. Sed cum mortem in propinquo adesse cerneret expiato ad christianum ritum animo, perbelle se ipsum consecutus est. Totam gloriae supellectilem ex paupertate quaesivit nec praeterquam annos septuaginta suum quicquam putavit. In quibus ingenia excitavit, et fovit, dignumque fuit ut in humeris lachrymisque urbis elatus in Capitolio, ut scribis, sepeliretur1 ad Aram Coeli. Destinaverat ille tamen sibi aliquando in via Appia alienum sepulchrum, sed, donec fata permisissent, testatus vixisse. At pietas discipulorum meliorem nunc locum delegit. Amissa sunt in eo incredibilia literarum emolumenta. Haec acerbitas jacturarum ad alios pertinet. Ipse sua nunc fruitur aeternitate, quam alioquin etiam vivens usurpabat: tum novercante fortuna palam calcata. Nec ullae unquam Romanae illecebrae virum sine reciprocatione sibi constantem attigisse visae sunt. In familiari lacerna quotiens amiculo caput circumdedisset, beatiorem se Persarum Rege longe putabat. Propagarunt majores nostri viri quidem clarissimi imperium de gentibus. Pomponius Imperii ornamenta excitavit de sepulchris. Triumpharunt illi re bene gesta. Iste aeque bene restituta Capitolium tenet. Qui eum ergo luget, hominem fortunatum luget, de cujus celebrandis laudibus nisi cura suscipiatur, omnium qui literas sciunt livorem aut ingratitudinem posteritas accusabit. Vale. Mediolano XVIII. Julii 1498.

Frater tuus Ja. Antiquarius.

J. Ramminger
(first published: 12 December 2012; corrections: 23 June 2013).

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