Strona 192 z 310

There were none who knew Messer Antonio da Venafro as the servant

of Pandolfo Petrucci, Prince of Siena, who would not consider

Pandolfo to be a very clever man in having Venafro for his

servant. Because there are three classes of intellects: one which

comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others

comprehended; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor

by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the

second is good, the third is useless. Therefore, it follows

necessarily that, if Pandolfo was not in the first rank, he was

in the second, for whenever one has judgment to know good and bad

when it is said and done, although he himself may not have the

initiative, yet he can recognize the good and the bad in his

servant, and the one he can praise and the other correct; thus

the servant cannot hope to deceive him, and is kept honest.