|
That which the human mind can comprehend of eternal truths we can teach ourselves, through long study, guided by rare insight, I believe your soul has comprehended, so it's not that I mean to add a prop or light to your massive near unique faith-- so obvious to anyone who learns from your work that there is another world-- in offering you this image of Christ offering his heart up to the spear as he hangs on the cross to stream holy life from His body to you, but because, Sir, a more learned book was never opened-- this will give you your immortality. |
An image of the Italian text from Visconti's 1840 edition |
|
Notes: From V CCVI:366. See also B S1:136:153; MSs V2 (Ve2); Valgrisi 137. Translation: Jerrold 137-138. A second to Michelangelo. The context is a series of letters between them (1539-40); see Linda Murray, Michelangelo, pp. 160-162. Key |
