The manuscript is an autograph letter featuring a 9-line poem in Latin. The introductory poem, praising Voltaire’s phenomenal literary talent, wishes Voltaire longevity and prolificacy. The body of the letter discusses Pezzana’s translation of L’Orfano della Cina (Parma [1762]), sent to Voltaire from Parma in 1762. The letter also mentions Pezzana’s recent edition of Ariosto’s Opere varie (Parigi 1776), produced in collaboration with Libraio Delalain.

Knebel sends Goethe a copy of de Staël’s Réflexions sur le suicide and notes that he has received from Duchess Luise a copy of M.H. Lichtenstein’s Travel in South Africa. He goes on to mention a variety of literary figures and pieces including: Voltaire, the Marquise Du Deffand, Ariosto’s Orlando furioso and the Pentateuch. He concludes by offering news of their friends.

The writer expresses deep admiration for the recipient’s poetry, praising its elegance and flexibility, which overcome the limits of French compared to Italian. Despite these constraints, the poem achieves a grace reminiscent of Ariosto and Tasso. He regrets that his own work, bound by a serious subject, cannot match this fluidity, but is grateful to be refined by the recipient’s superior craftsmanship.

The writer expresses profound gratitude and honour for the promise of receiving a complete and annotated edition of Ariosto’s works from the recipient. He acknowledges the significant contribution this will make to French literature, particularly in shedding light on the lesser-known final canto of Ariosto’s epic – a canto unfamiliar even to scholars in Florence.