Philip Mazzei to Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1805
From Philip Mazzei
25 Luglio, 1805
Un concorso straordinario alla Locanda ove io sono, a motivo di un Corteggio magnifico mandato dal nuovo Rè d’Italia ad accompagnare un suo Cognato, al quale à regalato lo stato di Lucca (finora Repubblica) e il Principato di Piombino (che apparteneva alla Toscana); fece sì, che quando fui iersera per partire, non si trovarono i finimenti e altro appartenenti al mio legno, il che mi forza a trattenermi 3 giorni almeno per fargli rifare.
Mai si è potuto con più diritto esclamare: Oh Tempora! Oh mores!1
Questo inconveniente mi dà comodo di aggiungere quel che, per mancanza di tempo, non potei inserire nella lettera di ieri.
Subito che lessi nella sua dei 10 Marzo: with an ironical eye to the modern declaimers against Philosophy, deliberai di trascriverle per suo divertimento le 2 suguenti sestine del Poeta Casti, alcune novelle del quale, con altri miei scritti e libri; furon bruciate in Casa di Mr. Lewis, ⅌ ordine Il traditore Arnold.
“Felice Europeo &c.
Voglio trascriverle ancora il sonetto di un Prete di molto talento, (fatto in occasione di una gran festa religiosa per la celebrazione del sacramento.),2 molto stimato dai pochi che ne comprendono l’intenzione, e ammirato piamente dai molti che non l’intendono.
Entro nel Tempio &c.
Editors’ Translation
25 July 1805
On account of a magnificent retinue that the new king of Italy has sent to escort one of his brothers-in-law, to whom he has given the state of Lucca (until now a republic) and the principality of Piombino (which used to belong to Tuscany) has produced an unexpected crowding of the inn where I find myself now. When, yesterday evening, I was about to leave, neither the harness nor the other trappings of my coach could be found. I will be forced to stay here at least three more days, so that they may be remade.
Never one has been more right than now in exclaiming, “O tempora! O mores!”
This accident gives me ease to add what, for lack of time, I could not insert in my letter from yesterday.
Immediately upon reading in your letter of 10 March “with an ironical eye to the modern declaimers against Philosophy,” I decided to transcribe for your enjoyment the two following sextets by the poet Casti, some novellas of which, together with other writings and books of mine, were burned in the house of Mr. Lewis upon orders of the traitor Arnold.
“Blissful European,” etc.
I also transcribe for you the sonnet by a very talented priest, written on the occasion of a great religious feast for the celebration of the sacrament. It is highly appreciated by those who understand its actual meaning and piously admired by the many who do not understand it.
“I enter into the temple,” etc.
Dft (Archivio Filippo Mazzei, Pisa, Italy). Recorded in SJL as received 2 Nov. from Florence. Enclosed in Thomas Appleton to TJ, 8 Aug.
A ceremony at Lucca on 14 July marked the addition of that state to Piombino. Félix Pasquale Baciocchi and his wife, Napoleon’s sister Elisa, were prince and princess of the dominion (Florence Vidal, Élisa Bonaparte [Paris, 2005], 23, 61-74, 281; Boston New-England Palladium, 24 Sep.).
sestine del Poeta Casti: Mazzei referred to “La Mitologia degli Animali” by Giovanni Battista Casti (Casti, Gli Animali Parlanti, 3 vols. [Milan, 1802], 2:164-85; Vol. 38:563n).
Entro nel Tempio: Mazzei referred without attribution to a sonnet on the sacrament of the Eucharist (Margherita Marchione and others, eds., Philip Mazzei: Selected Writings and Correspondence, 3 vols. [Prato, Italy, 1983], 3:396-7).
1. Sentence written at foot of text and keyed for insertion here.
2. Passage in parentheses written below this paragraph and keyed for insertion here.