ABSTRACT
“Oh divine light, which in three persons and one essence governs the heavens and the earth with a just love and eternal reason, giving law to the stars and to the round motion of the sun, ruler there as we discern from here below; with that ardor that so warmly surges from my heart I rise to thank you, and along with you, I thank these fair ladies. For it was not so hard for you to endure such toil (so that you might reveal yourself to me, who virtually did not know you) that you did not descend from the skies to this wicked life, revealing to me through the effort of Mopsa and with her speech the force that frees one from the evil of this world; for a fog, which had completely removed you from my sight, clouded my intellect. Then Emilia, following as was expected, turned me to your holy countenance, guiding the sword of Astrea. 1 And then the one through whom the praises of Pomona are sung here measured all my zeal for your pleasures, with Acrimonia after her fortifying me in your desires in such a way that I no longer fear the powers of the world. Then Agapes ignited me with your eternal fire, and I burn so deeply that scarcely can I believe any other person equal to me. And Fiammetta, more charming than any, has so made my soul have hope in you that my mind does not care for anything else. And like me, my Lia has bestowed herself on me with her actions, which I follow completely.
