"There are only two king-poets," he says, "the one in Greece, the other in Italy.

The old bard of Maeonia occupies the former kingdom, the shepherd of Mantua is in possession of the latter.

As for me, I can only reign in my transalpine solitude and on the banks of the Sorgue." Petrarch continued rather languid during autumn, but his health was re-established before the winter.
Early in the year 1356, whilst war was raging between Milan and the Lombard and Ligurian league, a report was spread that the King of Hungary had formed a league with the Emperor and the Duke of Austria, to invade Italy.

The Italians in alarm sent ambassadors to the King of Hungary, who declared that he had no hostile intentions, except against the Venetians, as they had robbed him of part of Sclavonia.

This declaration calmed the other princes, but not the Viscontis, who knew that the Emperor would never forget the manner in which they had treated him.