Epistolography

Ariosto’s letters, for the most unknown until they were discovered by XIX century scholars and published by Cappelli in 1887, were 214, and written between 1509 and 1532, apart from one in Latin to Manuzio in 1498, in which the poet asks for some books by Marsilio Ficino, and a brief commendam dated 1505, drawn up on behalf of Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. The most important edition of his letters was put together and published by Angelo Stella in 1965. Most of the letters belong to the period when the poet was commissioner for Garfagnana and are for the most part addressed to Alfonso or the governors of  Lucca. There is also a nucleus written in1509-1510 and another group he wrote towards the end of his life (1531-1532). Lastly, there are some uncollected letters, probably written in the period 1520-1530. The Epistolario includes both conversational and private letters and public missives. In particular, the letters written during the stay in Garfagnana are modelled on the style of chivalrous language and denote the poet’s considerable diplomatic talent and understanding of his role. But in them the poet also reveals a talent for analysing human behaviour. The letters of the period 1509-1516, especially those addressed to Cardinal Ippolito, show a keen and independent sense of observation, and an understanding of  the economic and social aspects of the time.  His prose is stylistically austere and dry and alternates ‘practical’ and concrete descriptions to more emotional passages, with moments of irony and self irony. From a certain point of view, they are a testimony to be juxtaposed to the  Satires for the way they at close quarters reconstruct  Ludovico’s role as a courtier. Memorable is the letter to Ludovico Gonzaga, Prince of  Gazzolo and Sabbioneta, in which he describes his flight together with Alfonso in the face of an irate  Julius II, who had received the Duke in Rome in 1512.