“Yesterday we quitted the city of storms to take refuge in this harbour, and taste the sweets of repose.  We have nothing but coarse clothes, suitable to the season and the place we live in; but in this rustic dress we will repair to see you, since you command us; we fear not to present ourselves in this rustic dress; our desire to see you puts down every other consideration.  What matters it to us how we appear before one who possesses the depth of our hearts?  If you wish to see us often you will treat us without ceremony.”

His visits to Vaucluse were rather infrequent; business, he says, detained him often at Avignon, in spite of himself; but still at intervals he passed a day or two to look after his gardens and trees.  On one of these occasions, he wrote a pleasing letter to William of Pastrengo, dilating on the pleasures of his garden, which displays liveliness and warmth of heart.

Petrarch had not seen his brother since the latter had taken the cowl in the Carthusian monastery, some five years before.  To that convent he paid a visit in February, 1347, and he was received like an angel from heaven.  He was delighted to see a brother whom he loved so much, and to find him contented with the life which he had embraced.  The Carthusians, who had heard of Petrarch, renowned as the finest spirit of the age, were flattered by his showing a strong interest in their condition; and though he passed but a day and a night with them, they parted so mutually well pleased, that he promised, on taking leave, to send them a treatise on the happiness of the life which they led.  And he kept his word; for, immediately upon his return to Vaucluse, he commenced his essay “De Otio Religioso—­On the Leisure of the Religious,” and he finished it in a few weeks.  The object of this work is to show the sweets and advantages of their retired state, compared with the agitations of life in the world.

From these monkish reveries Petrarch was awakened by an astounding public event, namely, the elevation of Cola di Rienzo to the tribuneship of Rome.  At the news of this revolution, Petrarch was animated with as much enthusiasm as if he had been himself engaged in the enterprise.  Under the first impulse of his feelings, he sent an epistolary congratulation and advice to Rienzo and the Roman people.  This letter breathes a strongly republican spirit.  In later times, we perceive that Petrarch would have been glad to witness the accomplishment of his darling object—­Rome restored to her ancient power and magnificence, even under an imperial government.  Our poet received from the Tribune an answer to his epistolary oration, telling him that it had been read to the Roman people, and received with applause.  A considerable number of letters passed between Petrarch and Cola.