The article contains a commentary and a critical edition of a letter by stanisław Rakowski. the letter is part of an anonymous silva rerum edition (jagiellonian li- brary, manuscript 2568, p. 92r-93r) from the first half of the 17th century, contain- ing also collections of orations and poems. Its author, a canon and king ladislaus IV's secretary, sent it probably in the spring of 1639 from wilno to a friend in Italy. the correspondence is a brilliant example of familiar, jocose, and erudite writing in which the author offers a comparison between wilno and Rome. His description of the lithuanian capital is based on a rhetorical theme and allusions to the classics as summoned up in a comical mention of Pogoń (Chase) — the emblem of the Great duchy of lithuania. the letter concludes with a personal, pessimistic reflection about a lifestyle that was new to Rakowski (who was only starting his career at the court)
