http://trionfi.com/01/a
and from: Adriano Capelli La Bibloteca Estense nella prima meta del secolo XV, pages 12-30, (Giornale Storico della Letteratura Italiana, vol. 14), Turin, 1886
composed by Mari Hoshizaki
1. The Library included:
200 Latin, including classical writers, theologians and medieval authors
58 French MSS including a great number of romances
23 Italian MSS
Mostly minor works of Boccacio
2 Dante codices catalogued as
Libro une chamado Danti
Libro una chiamado el scripto sovra el purgatorio de Dante
2 French translations of the Bible
Greek MSS, unnamed
German MSS, unnamed
One treasure prserved at Modena is a Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico decorated with minatures by Giovanni Falconi of Florence and marginal annotations from Guarino
The Greek MSS disappeared but perhaps was a Strabo, as in May, 1470, Scipio Fortuna, one of the librarians wrote to Borso that he never had a Greek manuscript, but perhaps another librarian, Marco di Galaotto might have it (document published by Bertoni, op. cit p. 259, La Biblioteca Estense e la Coltura Ferrararese ai tempi del Duca Ercole I. Turin, 1903).
2. Additional under Leonello:
In 1428 Nicholas of Treir discovered a codex of Plautus containing sixteen comedies in a German convent. The codex was bought by cardinal Giordano Orsini and he refused to allow Poggio Bracciolini or Guarino Veronese to borrow it.* Guarino appealed to Leonello when he was installed as Leonello's tutor and Leonello wrote the request promptly. The Cardinal fulfilled the loan request and Leonello wrote of the triumph to Guarino, who was temporarily absent from the city.**
3. The segueway notes an affectionate exchange was established between Guarino and Leonello after this manuscript was otained Letters cited, show Guarino respectfully and admiringly calling Leonello "King and Lord" and "Flower of Princes" in thanks for Leonello's friendly exchanges.* Leonello was sometimes away in his country villa, engaged in hunting, he would send every day send to Guarino presents of game and also elegant and spirited Latin letters describing the sport. **
*Letter from Guarino to Giordano Orsini in Pez and Hueber Thesaurus Ancedotorum Novissimus, To., v., pars iii, p. 165, Volume 6, Augsburg, 1723.
**Thirteen letters from Guarino to Leonello (including the one quoted on the Plautine comedies) in Pez and Heber, op. cit. pp. 154-164. Cf. Rosmini, op. cit. i, pp. 62-69, and Voigt, i. pp. 561, 562.
4. Borso's additions included:
Italian versions of Merlin and Lancelot illuminated by 1460. A record indicates Duke Borso sending a library request for a Lancelot in French to correct the Italian one+
+CF Bertoni, op. cit., cap. iv.
Venturi , op. cit, pp. 692, 693, L'Arte Ferrarese nel periodo di Borso d'Este. (Rivista Storica, Italina, II. 4). Turin, 1885
Pio Rajna, Le Fonti dell' Orlando Furioso, Introduction, Second Edition, Florence, 1900.
Note: Duke Borso did not know Latin so humanists who sought his patronage had to write in the Tuscan vernacular of Ferarra. These included
Polismagna, translating Pier Candido Decembrio 's Laudi della citta di Milano in the vernacular