A Romantic Love Letter written by Pietro Bembo (1470-1547) to Lucrezie Borgia

It is believed that this romantic love letter was written in Venice on October 18, 1503

Eight days have passed since I parted from f.f., and already it is as though I had been eight years away from her, although I can avow that not one hour has passed without her memory which has become such a close companion to my thoughts that now more than ever is it the food and sustenance of my soul; and if it should endure like this a few days more, as seems it must, I truly believe it will in every way have assumed the office of my soul, and I shall then live and thrive on the memory of her as do other men upon their souls, and I shall have no life but in this single thought.

Let the God who so decrees do as he will, so long as in exchange I may have as much a part of her as shall suffice to prove the gospel of our affinity is founded on true prophecy. Often I find myself recalling, and with what ease, certain words spoken to me, some on the balcony with the moon as witness, others at that window I shall always look upon so gladly, with all the many endearing and gracious acts I have seen my gentle lady perform–for all are dancing about my heart with a tenderness so wondrous that they inflame me with a strong desire to beg her to test the quality of my love.

For I shall never rest content until I am certain she knows what she is able to enact in me and how great and strong is the fire that her great worth has kindled in my breast. The flame of true love is a mighty force, and most of all when two equally matched wills in two exalted minds contend to see which loves the most, each striving to give yet more vital proof…

It would be the greatest delight for me to see just two lines in f.f.'s hand, yet I dare not ask so much. May your Ladyship beseech her to perform whatever you feel is best for me.

With my heart I kiss your Ladyship's hand, since I cannot with my lips.

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Pietro Bembo (1470-1547) had been born into an very aristocratic Venetian family growing up to a poet and a brilliant Scholar. Although he had not trained as a priest Pope Paul III called him to Rome in 1539 to become a Cardinal.

Prior to that he had been living his life in a  more pagan lifestyle than a truely Christian one but he almost immediately gave up the study of classic literture  to in order to apply himself to study of the Holy Scriptures and Catholic Church writing. After only two years he was made the Catholic Bishop of Gubbio, and then later becoming Bishop of Bergamo. 

After his death he was buried not far from Pope Leo in the Church of the Minerva. This particlur love letter was written to Lucrezie Borgia with whom he continued what was belived to be a purely platonic relationship for over five years. She was the daughter of the Spanish Cardinal, Rodrigo Borgia, later Pope Alexander VI.  At that time it was not uncommon for priests and even cardinals and Popes to have children.