It requires a certain age and degree of experience to appreciate this kind of calamity, when we feel the desolation of losing our accustomed friends, and almost wish ourselves out of life that we may escape from its solitude.

Boccaccio returned to Florence early in September, 1363.
In 1364, peace was concluded between Barnabo Visconti and Urban V.
Barnabo having refused to treat with the Cardinal Albornoz, whom he personally hated, his Holiness sent the Cardinal Androine de la Roche to Italy as his legate.

Petrarch repaired to Bologna to pay his respects to the new representative of the Pope.

He was touched by the sad condition in which he found that city, which had been so nourishing when he studied at its university.

"I seem," he says, "to be in a dream when I see the once fair city desolated by war, by slavery, and by famine.
Instead of the joy that once reigned here, sadness is everywhere spread, and you hear only sighs and wailings in place of songs.