Upon arriving in Naples, Rao appears to have faced many hardships, complaining of constant poverty and an adverse fate. Although the details of these hardships are not known, it is clear that his health was compromised, with references to an “unhealthy stomach” and a “weak complexion.”
His stay in Naples was short-lived, due to the misfortunes that befell him, and he subsequently moved to Pavia, attracted by the education of a certain Portio, who taught Aristotelian philosophy.
Cesare Rao's character seems to have been taciturn and meditative. The figure of Valocerca (a pseudonym he used to mask some of his subtle invectives) was represented almost as a philosophical hermit, who preferred the company of silence to the crowd and the salons.
His aversion to detractors and those who hindered his learning was well known. His wisdom is further underlined by his patience and willingness to study not for the sake of financial gain, but for the pure desire of knowledge.
One of his maxims, in this regard, says: “don't tire yourself out, cockroach, because there is dung for every man”, which appears as an ironic reflection on human nature and its miseries.
Among the most significant works of Cesare Rao, there are “The witty and facetious letters” and “The rustic kindness”.
Rao’s letters are characterized by the use of accumulations, oxymorons, anaphoras and word games, creating comic and paradoxical effects. These works reflect a deep knowledge of ancient and modern literary models, drawing on figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Doni and Aretino, with a mix of quotations and cultural references.
The text continues with a chronology of Rao's life, mentioning his stay in Pavia in 1573 and his relationship with the Marquis Scipione de' Monti.
Finally, the next decade of his life is shrouded in shadow. It is known that he lived until his death, probably around 1587, continuing to produce satirical and cultured works in his beloved Alessano.
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