XCIX
DANTE A MESSER BRUNO BRUNELLESCHI
Messer Brunetto, questa pulzelletta
con esso voi si ven la pasqua a fare:
non intendete pasqua di mangiare,
ch'ella non mangia, anzi vuol esser letta.
La sua sentenzia non richiede fretta,
né luogo di romor né da giullare;
anzi si vuol più volte lusingare
prima che 'n intelletto altrui si metta.
Se voi non la intendete in questa guisa,
in vostra gente ha molti frati Alberti
da intender ciò ch'è posto loro in mano.
Con lor vi restringete sanza risa;
e se li altri de' dubbi non son certi,
ricorrete a la fine a messer Giano.
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XCIX
DANTE TO BETTO BRUNELLESCHI
Messer Brunetto, this young girl comes
to keep Easter with you; not, you understand,
an eating Easter, for she doesn't eat, she is
meant to be read. Her meaning doesn't call
for hasty reading, or a place that's noisy,
or where players perform; in fact she'll require
to be coaxed more than once before
she'll enter a man's understanding.
And if you don't understand her in this way,
there are many brother Alberts in your company
to understand whatever's put into their hands.
Get together with them, but without laughing;
and if none of them are clear about the
difficult bits, in the last resort go and ask
Messer Giano.
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