Lettere [...] All'illustrissima Sig. Bianca Cappello

4to. (12), 136 pp. a⁴b²A-R⁴. With the printer's device on the title-page, ornamental woodcut initials. 18^th century vellum over boards, red label with gilt title on spine, marbled endpapers, contemporary marginal annotations, entry of ownership by count Leonardo Trissino (1780-1841) dated 1837 (cf. D. Bortolan, Leonardo Trissino, celebre avventuriero, in: “Nuovo Archivio Veneto”, 1892, pp. 5-46).

Adams, B-2489; Basso, pp. 278-279; Edit 16, CNCE 7094; Quondam, p. 290.

FIRST EDITION, edited by Francesco Salce and dedicated by the author to Bianca Cappello (Padua, August 11, 1578), first lover and then from 1579 wife of Ferdinando de' Medici, of Diomede Borghesi's Lettere famigliari, so called to distinguish them from the Lettere discorsive, which he published in three parts (La prima [-II, -III] parte delle lettere, Padua, Lorenzo Pasquati, 1584; Venice, Francesco de' Franceschi, 1584; Siena, Luca Bonetti, 1603) and in which he exposed his grammatical theories on the Italian language.

The collection contains 158 letters, arranged more or less in chronological order. “Un certain nombre est daté, de 1564 à 1578; leur classement est chronologique à l'exception de la première lettre du livre, du 1^er juillet 1578, la plus récente, et des dernières qui marquent un retour en arrière. La plupart des lettres sont de compliment et assez brèves. Parmi les exceptions, on relèvera la première lettre du livre addressée à Scipion Gonzague prince d'Empire pour souligner l'estime attachée ‘oggidì' à ‘il parlar nobilmente et lo scriver con vaghezza et regolatamente' en général, et en particulier à la forme épistolaire, puis une lettre qui traite de la supériorité de la nature sur l'art c'est-à-dire de la poèsie sur les sciences (pp. 26-39) et une longue lettre de consolation (pp. 51-58). Le commerce littérarire tient aussi une certaine place dans ce recueil. Les destinataires principaux, parmi lesquels Bianca Capello, reçoivent entre 5 et 6 lettres” (J. Basso, Le genre épistolaire en langue italienne (1538-1662). Répertoire chronologique et analytique, Rome-Nancy, 1990, I, p. 279).

“La reputazione del Borghesi assai più che alle Rime e alle Orazioni si raccomanda alle Lettere familiari e discorsive. Infatti mentre queste vanno lodate dei buoni precetti che porgono su vocaboli e frasi e su la più retta intelligenza della lingua nostra, quelle si pregiano di eleganza non artificiosa né studiata. Esse possono offrirsi ad esempio ai giovani e a chi voglia perfezionarsi in tal sorta di componimenti così necessaria ad ogni condizione di persone, perché non si discostano dall'uso moderno se non in quanto la purezza della lingua che negli scrittori moderni così raramente s'incontra scompagnata dall'artifizio e dalla fatica, appare nel Borghesi affatto naturale e spontanea” (Diomede Borghesi, Lettere, G. Campori, ed., Bologna, 1868, pp. 14-15).

Gonzaga, Scipione. Padova, July 1, 1578 (p. 1)

Gonzaga, Federico, Cardinal of Mantua. Verona, 1564 (p. 3)

D.F.R. Verona, January 10, 1565 (p. 4)

Baglioni, Astorre. Mantova, April 20, 1565 (p. 5)

Boccali, Elena. Venezia, January 7, 1566 (p. 6)

Gonzaga, Francesco, Count of Novellara. Venezia, 1566 (p. 7)

Baglioni, Astorre. Venezia, January 12, 1566 (p. 8)

Cumani, Gasparo. Bergamo, 1566 (p. 10)

Malaspina, Ludovico. Padova, 1567 (p. 10)

Velato, Camillo. Padova, 1567 (p. 11)

F.R. Venezia, 1568 (p. 12)

Borghesi, Claudio, Bishop of Grosseto. Venezia, 1568 (p. 13)

Baglioni, Astorre. Villa della Cucca, July 10, 1568 (p. 14)

Barbarano, Cristoforo. Padova, November 17, 1568 (p. 14)

Valvassone, Erasmo. Padova (p. 15)

Sarego, Antonio. Padova, 1578 (p. 15)

[Della Rovere] Orsini, Virginia, Duchess of Gravina. Perugia, 1569 (p. 16)

Castiglioni, Camillo. Padova, 1569 (p. 16)

Baglioni, Astorre. Venezia, April 12, 1570 (p. 17)

Gonzaga, Lucrezia, Marquise of Incisa. Padova, 1570 (p. 18)

Gonzaga, Cesare, Prince of Molfetta. Padova (p. 18)

Martinengo, Ascanio. Villa della Cucca, August 14, 1570 (p. 19)

Mocenigo, Luigi, Doge of Venice. Padova, 1570 (p. 19)

Capra, Giulio. Padova, November 21, 1570 (p. 20)

n.r. Padova, 1570 (p. 20)

Anselmi, Anselmo. Roma, 1571 (p. 21)

Baglioni, Astorre. Roma, May 22, 1571 (p. 22)

Baglioni, Carlo. Viterbo, October 13, 1571 (p. 23)

Amulio, [Marco Antonio]. Viterbo, 1571 (p. 24)

n.r. Viterbo, 1571 (p. 25)

Madruzzo, Cristoforo, Cardinal of Trento. (p. 26)

Martinengo, Paolo Emilio. Siena, July 24, 1574 (p. 35)

Salviati Baglioni, Ginevra. Roma, 1571 (p. 36)

Cumani, Gasparo. (p. 37)

Colonna, Antonio, Duke of Tagliacozzo. Roma, 1571 (p. 38)

n.r. (p. 38)

Gonzaga, Lucrezia, Marquise of Incisa. Roma, 1573 (p. 39)

Pavesi, Cesare (p. 40)

Gonzaga, Scipione (p. 40)

Baglioni, Adriano. Roma, 1571 (p. 41)

Cumani, Gasparo. Roma, 1572 (p. 43)

n.r. Viterbo, 1572 (p. 43)

Capra, Giulio. Viterbo, 1572. (p. 44)

Baglioni, Adriano. Viterbo, 1572 (p. 45)

Durante, Castore. Roma, September 14, 1572 (p. 45)

Lorraine, Philippe [Emmanuel] de. Viterbo, 1572 (p. 46)

Salvatico, Girolamo. Viterbo, 1572 (p. 47)

Martinengo, Ascanio. Roma, 1573 (p. 47)

Venier, Domenico. Siena, 1573 (p. 48)

Capra, Giulio. Siena, June 12, 1573 (p. 49)

Baglioni, Adriano. Roma, 1573 (p. 50)

Sarego, Federico. Siena (p. 51)

Baglioni, Eufemia. Siena, March 20, 1574 (p. 51)

Giustiniani, Francesco. Padova (p. 58)

[Della Rovere], Guidobaldo II, Duke of Urbino. Siena, April 1, 1574 (p. 59)

Medici, Francesco de', Grand Duke of Tuscany. Firenze, April 29, 1574 (p. 60)

Perla, Cesare. Firenze, 1574 (p. 60)

Martinengo, Paolo Emilio. Firenze, 1574 (p. 61)

Peroni, Giovanni Francesco. Firenze, 1574 (p. 61)

Lavenzuola, Alberto. Siena, 1574 (p. 62)

Malaspina, Ludovico. Siena (p. 63)

Bulgarini, Bellisario. Firenze, May 9, 1574 (p. 64)

Castiglione, Camillo. Siena, 1574 (p. 65)

Cappello, Bianca. Siena, August 14, 1574 (p. 66)

Di Miranda, Giovanni. Siena, August 20, 1574 (p. 66)

Sarego, Federico. Firenze, 1574 (p. 67)

Baglioni, Eufemia. Siena, September 13, 1574 (p. 68)

Cappello, Bianca. Siena, September 24, 1574 (p. 69)

N.B. 1574 (p. 69)

Agazzari, Alessandro. Bologna, 1574 (p. 70)

Piccolomini, Alessandro. Bologna, 1574 (p. 70)

Avogadro, Antonio. Bologna, November 22, 1574 (p. 71)

Lavezuola, Alberto. Padova (p. 72)

Colombini, Pamfilo. Bologna (p. 72)

Cappello, Bianca. Bologna, 1575 (p. 73)

Baglioni, Eufemia. Bologna, 1575 (p. 73)

Cumani, Gasparo. Bologna, 1575 (p. 73)

Bianchetti, Achille. Ferrara (p. 74)

Figliucci, Flavio. Bologna, 1575 (p. 75)

Cavalca, Alessandro. Bologna, October 12, 1575 (p. 75)

Borghesi, Claudio, Bishop of Grosseto. Bologna (p. 76)

Baglioni, Guido. Bologna, 1576 (p. 76)

n.r. 1576 (p. 77)

Agazzari, Alessandro. Ferrara, 1576 (p. 77)

Capra, Giulio. Bologna, 1576 (p. 78)

n.r. Ferrara, 1576 (p. 78)

Turco, Alfonso. Villa dei Galli, 1576 (p. 79)

Coccapani, Guido. Villa dei Galli, August 24, 1576 (p. 80)

Carandini, Dalida. Ferrara, October 4, 1576 (p. 80)

Fornari, Cristoforo. Ferrara, 1576 (p. 81)

Malvezzi, Pirro. Ferrara, 1576 (p. 81)

Pellegrini, Camillo. Reggio Emilia, 1576 (p. 82)

Cappello, Bianca. Ferrara, 1577 (p. 83)

Parolino, Antonio Maria & Romagnolo, Girolamo. Ferrara, January 20, 1577 (p. 84)

Paolucci, Ascanio. Ferrara, February 11, 1577 (p. 84)

Sarego, Antonio. Ferrara, March 25, 1577 (p. 85)

Gallo, Cesare. Ferrara, 1577 (p. 86)

Argenti, Borso. Correggio, 1577 (p. 86)

Malvezzi, Pirro. Correggio, May 10, 1577 (p. 87)

Casali Malvezzi, Ottavia. Correggio, June 24, 1577 (p. 87)

Gambara, Giovanni Francesco. Bologna, 1577 (p. 88)

Venier, Maffeo. Bologna, 1577 (p. 88)

Pellegrini, Camillo. Ferrara, August 4, 1577 (p. 89)

Di Miranda, Giovanni. Ferrara, August 1, 1577 (p. 90)

Canigiani, Bernardo. Ferrara, August 20, 1577 (p. 91)

Spannocchi, Lelio. 1577 (p. 91)

Capra, Giulio. 1577 (p. 92)

Montecatino, Antonio. 1577 (p. 93)

Cumani, Gasparo. Reggio Emilia, November 21, 1576 (p. 93)

Strozzi, Palla. Reggio Emilia, November 23, 1577 (p. 95)

Gonzaga, Scipione. Reggio Emilia, November 27, 1577 (p. 96)

Argenti, Borso. Reggio Emilia, October 29, 1577 (p. 97)

Carrasa, Cesare. Padova (p. 98)

Buonvisi Malpigli, Luigia. Reggio Emilia, November 21, 1577 (p. 98)

Bonnà, Febo. Reggio Emilia, 1577 (p. 99)

Moresini, Andrea. Reggio Emilia, 1577 (p. 100)

Tolomei, Filippo. Reggio Emilia, December 2, 1577 (p. 100)

Cumani, Giovanni Battista (p. 101)

Manfredi, Muzio. Reggio Emilia, 1577 (p. 101)

Peroni, Giovanni Francesco. Reggio Emilia, December 3, 1577 (p. 102)

Martinengo, Ascanio. Reggio Emilia, February 28, 1577 (p. 102)

Malpigli, Vincenzo. Venezia, 1578 (p. 103)

Turco, Alfonso. Padova, March 13, 1578 (p. 103)

Carrasa, Cesare. Padova, 1578 (p. 104)

Lavezuola, Alberto. Venezia, 1578 (p. 104)

Pannilini, Emilio. Venezia, 1578 (p. 105)

Sarego, Federico & Sarego, Antonio. Padova, 1578 (p. 106)

Cappello, Bianca. Venezia, 1578 (p. 106)

Placidi, Aldello. Venezia, 1578 (p. 107)

Velato, Camillo. Venezia, 1578 (p. 107)

Capra, Giulio. Padova, 1578 (p. 108)

Samminiato, Paolo. Padova, 1578 (p. 109)

Martinengo, Ascanio. Padova, 1578 (p. 109)

Martinengo, Paolo Emilio. Padova, April 13, 1578 (p. 110)

Sarego, Federico. Padova, 1578 (p. 110)

n.r. Padova, April 20, 1578 (p. 111)

Guarini, [Giovanni] Battista. Padova, 1578 (p. 113)

Moresini, Andrea. Padova, 1578 (p. 113)

Baglioni, Guido. Padova, 1578 (p. 114)

Casali Malvezzi, Ottavia. Venezia, 1578 (p. 115)

Martinengo, Camillo. Padova, 1578 (p. 116)

De' Rossi, Sigismondo. Padova, 1578 (p. 116)

Canigiani, Bernardo. Padova, 1578 (p. 117)

Pinelli, Giovanni Vincenzo. Padova, 1578 (p. 118)

Coccapani, Lavinia. Padova, 1578 (p. 119)

Agaccio, Giovanni Maria. Padova, May 7, 1578 (p. 120)

Giustiniani, Francesco. Venezia, 1578 (p. 121)

Montaguti Canigiani, Ermelina. Venezia, May 12, 1578 (p. 122)

Abbioso, Ottavio. Padova, 1578 (p. 122)

Carli Piccolomini, Francesco. Ferrara, 1577 (p. 123)

D.L. Roma, 1572 (p. 123)

Carli Piccolomini, Emilio. Padova, July 31, 1578 (p. 124)

Martinengo, Ascanio. Padova, 1578 (p. 125)

Gerardini, Ascanio. Padova, 1578 (p. 125)

Argenti, Borso. Padova (p. 126)

n.r. (p. 129)

n.r. (p. 129)

n.r. (p. 130)

Diomede Borghesi was born in Siena around 1540. He was a pupil of Ludovico Meneghini, professor at the local “Studio”. At an early age he was banned from the city for unknown reasons and confined for two years to Portoferraio on the island of Elba. He managed to escape to Mantua, where he gained the protection of Cardinal Federico Gonzaga.

After the latter's death in 1564, he moved to Padua, and completed there his literary apprenticeship under Sperone Speroni, Francesco Piccolomini and Scipione Gonzaga. Although Borghesi had established his home in Padua, he nevertheless did not cease to roam through Italy. Between 1564 and 1587 he visited Venice, Bergamo, Verona, Rome, Viterbo, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Ferrara, Reggio Emilia, Correggio, and Turin, where he became particularly known as a poet, composing various occasional poems for Carlo Emanuele of Savoy. Between 1566 and 1571 he published five volumes of Rime.

In 1588 Borghesi entered the service of Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who established a chair of ‘lingua Toscana‘, the very first in any Italian university. This chair was especially created for Borghesi to teach Tuscan to the many German and North Italian students present in Siena at that time (cf. A. Cappagli, Diomede Borghesi e Celso Cittadini lettori di toscana favella, in: “Tra Rinascimento e strutture attuali. Atti del primo convegno della Società Internazionale di Linguistica e Filologia Italiana, Siena, 28-31 marzo 1989”, Torino, 1991, I, pp. 23-35; and P. Rossi, La prima cattedra di lingua toscana dai ruoli allo studio senese, 1588-1743, Torino, 1910, passim).

“His lecture notes, which are now in the Siena library and his tenure of the chair have been described by Rossi in his paper on the Tuscan language chair [see supra]. There are also two inaugural lectures by him delivered in connection with his academic duties [published respectively in 1589 and 1590], to which may be added an Oratione intorno agli onori della poesia e della eloquenza, printed in Siena in 1596. Most of Borghesi's extant philological works were written by him in epistolary form, and appear to have enjoyed some degree of popularity [...] Borghesi published some Lettere famigliari, the first [and only] volume bears the Padua imprint and the date 1578. In 1868 an edition of Borghesi's [unpublished] correspondence, edited by G. Campori, saw the light in Bologna from the press of G. Romagnoli” (R. Weiss, The Sienese Philologists of the Cinquecento. A Bibliographical Introduction, in: “Italian Studies” 3, 1946, pp. 44-45).

From then on until his death on January 28, 1598, he lived in Siena, completely devoting himself to the study of grammar and language (cf. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Rome, 1970, XII, pp. 643-646; and S. Valente, Diomede Borghesi, lirico e grammatico del secolo XVI, Bari, 1905, passim).

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