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| (1) Serenissime atque piissime domine domine Margarite celestis miserationis intuitu Romanorum regine et semper Auguste, devotissima sua G. de Batifolle Dei et Imperii gratia largiente comitissa in Tuscia palatina, flexis humiliter genibus reverentie debitum exhibet. | (1) To the most serene and most gracious Lady, the Lady Margaret, by the merciful dispensation of Heaven Queen of the Romans and ever Augusta, her most devoted servant, G. di Battifolle, by the bountiful grace of God and of the Empire Countess Palatine in Tuscany, on her humbly bended knees presents her dutiful respects. | |
| (2) Regalis epistole documenta gratuita ea qua potui veneratione recepi, intellexi devote. Sed cum de prosperitate successuum vestri felicissimi cursus familiariter intimata concepi, quanto libens animus concipientis arriserit, placet potius commendare silentio tanquam nuntio meliori; non enim verba significando sufficiunt ubi mens ipsa quasi debria superatur. | (2) I received the favour of your royal letter with all possible reverence, and studied its contents with devotion. But when I perused your friendly intimation as to the prosperous issue of your most suspicious progress, with what great joy my heart was gladdened by the perusal I prefer to commend to silence, as to a more competent messenger; for words are not adequate as a means of expression when the mind itself is overcome as it were with inebriation. | |
| (3) Itaque suppleat regie Celsitudinis apprehensio que scribentis humilitas explicare non potest. | (3) May then the understanding of your Royal Highness supply what the humility of your correspondent is not able to convey. | |
| (4) At quamvis insinuata per litteras ineffabiliter grata fuerint et iocunda, spes amplior tamen et letandi causas accumulat et simul vota iusta confectat. Spero equidem, de celesti provisione confidens quam nunquam falli vel prepediri posse non dubito et que humane civilitati de Principe singulari providit, quod exordia vestri regni felicia semper in melius prosperata procedent. | (4) But although the news contained in your letter was unspeakably welcome and pleasing, yet a larger hope both heaps up fresh causes for rejoicing, and already sees the fulfilment of its just aspirations. I indeed hope, confiding in the providence of Heaven, which, as I firmly believe, can never be deceived, nor be hindered of its purpose, and which has provided for civilized mankind one sole Prince, that the happy inauguration of your reign may be confirmed by ever-increasing prosperity. | |
| (5) Sic igitur in presentibus et futuris exultans, ad Auguste clementiam sine ulla hesitatione recurro, et suppliciter tempestiva deposco quatenus me sub umbra tutissima vestri Culminis taliter collocare dignemini, ut cuiusque sinistrationis ab estu sim semper et videar esse secura. | (5) Exulting therefore in the present as in the future, without hesitation I commit myself to the clemency of Augusta, and humbly make early supplication that you may deign to place me in safekeeping beneath your Eminence's shadow, in such wise that I may ever be, and may be seen to be, sheltered from the fiery heat of all and every untoward chance. | |