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the carnival, the ambassadors visited the bride's chamber, and presented her with costly gifts. First of all, Duke Ercole gave his daughter-in-law his own magnificent jewels. Then the French ambassador presented the bride with a rosary of golden beads, perfumed with musk, and her chief maid-ofhonour, Angela Borgia, with a precious chain. At the same time he gave the Duke a golden shield with an enamelled figure of St. Francis, made in Paris, and Don Alfonso a similar shield, bearing an image of the Magdalene, no doubt, remarks Cagnolo, because he had taken to himself a bride who in virtues and charms resembled this saintly maiden, and of whom it might be said, as it was of Mary Magdalene, "to her much is forgiven, because she loved much!"

The other ambassadors followed with gifts of rich brocades and bronze and silver ewers and bowls, but the most remarkable presentation was made by the Venetian envoys, who took off the magnificent crimson velvet and ermine mantles which they had worn all the week, and laid them at the feet of the bride-" upon which," wrote the Marchesa di Cotrone to Francesco Gonzaga, "every one who was present burst out laughing."

A ball took place afterwards, at which the royal ladies appeared in their most gorgeous costumes, and Isabella wore a violet velvet robe embroidered with gold acorns, and a magnificent jewelled tiara. The last comedy, the "Cassaria," was performed with a series of elaborate musical interludes and recitations in honour of the happy pair. Don Alfonso, who was an accomplished musician, played the viol, and took part in a concerto for six instruments, and at the close of the last ballet — a a war-dance of Swiss

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soldiers-a golden ball melted away in the air and revealed the forms of four Virtues, who sang a delicious quartette. But the musical part of the entertainment was decidedly superior to the comedy, which Isabella declared to be "lascivious and immoral beyond words," so much so that she refused to allow any of her ladies to be present.

The next morning, being Ash Wednesday, was spent by Isabella in religious exercises with her family. But in the afternoon, by way of relaxation, she was present with the whole court at a performance given by a youth named Cingano, who anticipated Blondin by walking on a rope from the roof of the bishop's palace to the Sala Grande in the ducal palace. The Duke's son and the royal ladies, as well as all the foreign envoys, came out to witness the feats of this performer, who danced with his eyes blindfolded, walked backwards in a steel cuirass, and was seen hanging by his feet to the rope suspended in mid-air above the square, to the infinite amusement of the august company. That evening the Marchesa received farewell visits from the foreign ambassadors, and made use of this opportunity to ingratiate herself and her husband with the Signory of Venice, as we learn from the following letter, which her secretary Capilupi addressed to the Marquis :—

66

"My dear Lord,-To-day my Madonna and the Duchess were in the bride's room when the Venetian ambassador came to take leave of her, and at the same time pay their respects to Her Excellency and the Duchess of Urbino. But they first of all addressed my Madonna, in a long speech, saying that the Signory had charged them to call upon Your 1 Muratori, Diario Ferrarese, vol. xxiv. 404

THE VENETIAN AMBASSADORS 213 Highness if you had been at the wedding, and that since you were not present, they wished to pay the same honour to the Marchesa, because of the services rendered by Your Excellency to their State, whose loyal son they count you to be, and on whose good offices you may always depend. Madonna then took up her speech and answered them in a clear voice, with as much elegance and prudence as if she had been a consummate orator. I am quite unable to write down all that she said, but I must tell you one thing which every one thought very wise and admirable. 'If this illustrious Signory,' she remarked, had made trial of Your Excellency in your youth, and had employed you in the defence of Italy at that time, now that you are older and more experienced, they might avail themselves of your services with more advantage.' These and other appropriate words amazed the ambassadors and others present so much that they all confessed themselves her slaves. The ambassadors then turned to the Duchess of Urbino, and in their words plainly showed that they honoured her in the first place as Your Excellency's sister, and in the second as the Duke of Urbino's wife, and she also replied discreetly. Last of all Donna Lucrezia spoke, but although she has had more husbands than either your wife or sister, she could not attain by a long way to the wisdom of their answers. Your Excellency will rejoice to learn what an excellent impression Madonna your wife has made on all these lords and ambassadors. Her disgust and displeasure at the foul comedy of yesterday was evident to all, so that the Duke had good cause to be ashamed; her conduct was only praised, since, as Your Highness knows,

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she would not allow any of her maidens to be present. Your faithful servant, BENEDICTUS CAPILUPUS. Ferrara, Feb. 9, 1502.

The next day Isabella took leave of her relatives, and, accompanied by the Duchess of Urbino, returned to Mantua, where she arrived on Monday the 14th, and joyfully embraced her little Federico once more. A few days afterwards she addressed a courteous note to Lucrezia, announcing her safe arrival and signing herself "Your loving sister.” 2

Lucrezia on her part was unfeignedly anxious to cultivate Isabella's friendship. In a letter which Laura Bentivoglio addressed to the Marchesa a few months afterwards, from Ferrara, she described a visit which she had paid to Alfonso's wife, in the following terms :

"She made me sit down, and asked with charming sweetness after Your Excellency, begging to hear about your clothes, and especially about your headdresses. Afterwards, in speaking of her Spanish robes, she said if she had anything that you would care to see or possess, she would gladly oblige you, being most anxious to please Your Excellency. And she expressed a wish that you would write to her sometimes and be more familiar in your intercourse with her, and asked repeatedly if the betrothal of Duke Valentino's daughter with your son had been arranged. To-day she wore a camora of black satin and gold foliage, with a hem that looked like a flame of pure gold, and flowing sleeves, such as Your Excellency wears, and a necklace of the finest pearls. Her head was dressed in her usual fashion, 1 Luzio, Precettori, p. 36.

2 F. Gregorovius, "Lucrezia Borgia," App.

HER RELATIONS WITH ISABELLA 215 with a very bright emerald on her forehead and a green velvet cap wrought with beaten gold. Her manners and gestures were most natural and quite charming, and she looked very pretty, but has grown rather thinner, although she is not ill.”

Lucrezia always showed great curiosity about the Marchesa's clothes, and on one occasion, Lucrezia d'Este, who visited her while she was undergoing a cure, wrote as follows to Isabella: "I found her lying on the bed wearing a black silk robe with tight sleeves and frills at the wrist, and after many caresses and affectionate greetings, she inquired what were the latest Mantuan fashions and praised my head-dress. I promised to make some caps in our style, and send them to her. Certain rosettes which I wore on my forehead also pleased her, and she begged me to show them to a jeweller and have them copied for her." 1

But, in spite of mutual compliments and fine speeches, the two ladies were never on intimate terms, and Dr. Luzio points out that most of the letters from the Gonzaga archives quoted by Lucrezia's biographer Gregorovius were in reality addressed to the Marquis and not to Isabella.2 In later years

some rivalry arose between the two princesses, and Isabella could not forgive her old friends, Niccolo da Correggio and Ercole Strozzi, for transferring their devotion and dedicating their poems to her sister-in-law. Lucrezia, however, proved an excellent wife to Alfonso, by whom she was fondly beloved, and who sincerely lamented her early death in 1519. She bore him four children, the eldest of whom, 1 Luzio in N. Antologia, 1896. 2 Luzio, Precettori, p. 37.