Red-chalk note: a fable of the unwelcoming friend
With a jotted word 'er erobbia' and the name Ioannes Rupicissa, in red chalk, upside down
A page written in red chalk and turned upside down, carrying a short prose anecdote together with a jotted word and a name. A man comes before a friend he has not seen for a long time and is not received as warmly as he feels he deserves; when he complains, the friend answers that he had never been parted from him. Above the anecdote stand the memorandum 'er erobbia' and the Latin name Ioannes Rupicissa. Further faint underlying script and a large later inscription at the foot of the leaf are not part of the transcription.
On this page
Anecdote of the friend who was never parted
A man goes before a friend whom he had long not seen, and is not received as he thought he deserved. Complaining of this treatment, he is answered that the friend had never been separated from him.
Memorandum: 'er erobbia' and the name Ioannes Rupicissa
Above the anecdote Leonardo has jotted the word 'er erobbia' (robbia, madder) and the Latin name Ioannes Rupicissa, standing apart from the prose.