This paper will try to demonstrate how the second part of the sentence "Venetia, chi non ti vede non ti pretia, ma chi ti vede ben gli costa" had pregnant significance for Michelangelo Florio, in connection with the indignant and irrefutably documented invective that was hurled against Venice by the most famous Italian preacher of the Protestant Reformation, Bernardino Ochino, during Lent of 1542.

Wide summary of the 2017 Italian study, with a Documentary Appendix, which contains a letter dated January 23rd , 1552, in Latin, addressed by Michelangelo to Lord Cecil, Secretary of the English King Edward VI (with translation into English); it is absolutely striking to note how concepts and words, written in Latin by Michelangelo (who asked Cecil for mercy for an act of uncleanness), are literally reproduced in English by the Dramatist in Portia’s fundamental speech on praise of mercy in “The Merchant of Venice”.

Michelangelo Florio and Venice (490.83 kB)