A dying man's jest about 'Madonna Bona'
A facezia (witticism) written in red chalk
The page is filled with a facezia (jest) written in red chalk: a man at the point of death hears a knock at the door and, learning that the caller is a woman named Madonna Bona ('Lady Good'), thanks God aloud and begs to see her, so that he might behold one good woman before dying, having never met one in his life. It is a comic anecdote, not a scientific note, turning on the pun of the visitor's name. A short vertical inscription and a flourish-like mark are visible in the left margin and lower area of the sheet that are not included in the supplied transcription.
On this page
The dying man who wished to see one good woman
A sick man near death hears knocking at the door and asks a servant who is there; told it is a woman called Madonna Bona, he raises his arms to heaven and thanks God loudly. He asks that she be let in quickly, so he might see one good woman before he dies, since in all his life he never saw a single one. The jest hinges on the visitor's name, 'Bona' meaning 'good'.