yC-NRLF 
 
 B 4 102 537 
 
 it 
 
78 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 Wall of the Neptune Apartment, and concealed 
 by the Tapeftry, are two Clofets from whence 
 may be both feen and heard what pafTes in the 
 Chamber. In thefe Clofets, which have fre- 
 quently been ufeful for State Purpofes, I 
 intend to place you and Claudio Bertazzolo — " 
 
 "Ah!" ejaculated I. 
 
 " — Who will each give me, feparately, an 
 Account of what you fee and hear ; and by 
 the Correfpondence of your Reports I fhall 
 be enabled to judge of your Veracity." 
 
 My Soul recoiled from the Office. The 
 Duke, feeing me about to remonftrate, fternly 
 faid, " Operibus^ non Verbis ; are you pre- 
 paring to difobey me ? " 
 
 Thereupon I remembered how futile it 
 would be, as Bertazzolo would have the Game 
 in his own Hands ; and I replied, " No, my 
 Lord," though I inly winced. Without 
 another Syllable, his Highnefs coolly ban- 
 daged my Eyes himfelf, with his own Hand- 
 kerchief, and led me fome little Diftance, 
 when, without the fmalleft Notice, I found 
 myfelf fhut into a tight little Box, foftly 
 
EmbarraJJing Situation. 79 
 
 padded. Thereupon I took the Liberty of 
 removing the Bandage from my Eyes, and 
 found my Cell dimly lighted by a Couple 
 of little Eye-holes, which I inftantly availed 
 myfelf of, and found myfelf overlooking a 
 Chamber which Madama Leonora occafionally, 
 but not very often, occupied. She herfelf was 
 fitting on a Sofa, almoft immediately beneath 
 me, fo clofe that I could tell every Breath fhe 
 drew by the foft, gentle Rife and Fall of her 
 Lace Tucker, and count every Mefh in the 
 Gold Network which enclofed her beautiful 
 Hair. She was ftringing Pearls on a fine Sil- 
 ver Thread, taking them one by one from 
 a little Tortoife-fhell Box which ftood befide 
 her on a fmall Ivory Table : her little Foot, 
 flippered in white Satin, refted on a Footftool 
 of crimfon Velvet ; and, as fhe fl:rung her 
 Pearls, fhe hummed a little to herfelf, " Come 
 leggiadra, come vezzofa," &c., then paufed, 
 refl;ed her Face a little while on her Hand in 
 penfive Reflection, then refumed her Work, 
 with an Air more ferious, without being fad. 
 I felt like a dreadful Villain, thus lying in 
 
BERKELEY 
 
 .IBRARY 
 
 INIVERSITY OF 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
-'^i.'^^ 
 
 ^f- - 
 
 ^v^ 
 
 ^ o^J «'fl^^^ 
 
^ / 
 
 ■TASSO AND LEONORA. 
 
 T'fi, 
 
 COMMENTARIES 
 
 OF SER PANTALEONE 
 
 degli Gambacortiy 
 
 Gentleman Ufher to the auguft 
 MADAMA LEONORA D'ESTE. 
 
 Hcec scripsi 
 Non otii abmidantid, sed amoris. 
 
 The Author of " Mary Powell." 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed for Arthur Hall, Virtue, ^ Co. 
 
 2^5 Paternofter Rovv. 
 1856. 
 
London : PraNTtD by Richard Clay. 
 

 CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 0/ Ser Pantaleone'^ encountering a Friend iff 
 fame Enemies l 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 Of Mejjer Torquato'j- Jirft IntrcdiiSiion to a 
 Court Life 1 8 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 Of Madama Lucrezia ^ Madama Leonora . 4I 
 b 
 
 ^74 
 
vi Contents. 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Of Laura Ariente ; and of the Ffty Conclufons^ 
 or Points of Love 55 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 Of Ser PantaleoneV being placed in an exceedingly 
 embarrajfing Situation 71 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone'j Breakfaft al Frefco . . 90 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 Of the advantageous Marriage propofed by Ser 
 Pantaleone to his Friend 110 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 Of Ser Pantaleone'j getting into Jeopardy . .128 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone'^ reading a Letter that was 
 not intended for him 144 
 
Contents. vii 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Of the Proceedings of the Duchefs of Urbino . i6i 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 (T/' TafTo in the Guard-room 178 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 Of a Balcony by Moonlight 188 
 
 Chapter XIII. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone^^ Conference with the Duke 
 ofYerx^xz 211 
 
 Chapter XIV. 
 Of the Duke's third Wedding 234 
 
 Chapter XV. 
 
 Of the Interview iri Madama Leonora' j Dreff- 
 ing-Room 241 
 
Contents. 
 
 Chapter XVI. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Of Madama Leonora^j Illnefs. And of Ser 
 Pantaleone'j becoming weaned from the World 260 
 
 Chapter XVII. 
 
 Of a Death-bed^ of a Prfon^ and of glorifying 
 God 276 
 
 Sublatam ex oculis quarimm invidi. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering a Friend i5f some 
 Enemies. 
 
 '^^^Kk'^ WAS travelling Vetturino between 
 ^^B3 Vicenza and Padua, when a pretty 
 v<-^^,,i young Gentleman, likewife travel- 
 ling Poft, came up with me. He appeared 
 about eighteen Years of Age, was tall and 
 well-fhaped, with an oval Face and Head, 
 ftrait and beautiful Nofe, Eyes of a vivid 
 blue. Hair of a Mezzotint betwixt brown and 
 fair, white and even Teeth, a Mouth of moft 
 fweet Expreffion, and a winning, engaging 
 Addrefs. He cheerfully accofted me, and 
 we fell to talking of indifferent Matters, 
 which ferved to beguile the Monotony of the 
 
2 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 Road. I foon found him to be a Univerfity 
 Student, returning to Padua; and as we 
 became more familiar, we got upon the 
 proportionate Merit of Arms and Letters ; 
 whereupon my young Gentleman, warming 
 with his Subjedt, and unable to tell from my 
 peaceable Habit that I had once been a Soldier, 
 exclaimed, "Away with thofe who would 
 place Letters below Arms ! For, whether is 
 the more dignified and worthy to be praifed, 
 the Labour of the Mind or of the Body ? 
 The latter may be had any Time in the 
 Market, of the Peafant that delves as well 
 of the Ox that draws ; and a Soldier will 
 engage himfelf for a Giulio a Day, to flay 
 or be flain, without caring for what State 
 or Prince. The General whom he obeys 
 exercifes his Mind, indeed, in Stratagems 
 and Affaults of War, — how to circumvallate 
 this City, how to carry that Fortification ; 
 but all this which he pradifes in the Field, 
 he has ftudied in the Clofet ; wherefore I 
 ftill maintain that the Work of the Head is 
 fuperior to that of the Hand, fince a prudent 
 
a Friend &' some Enemies. 3 
 
 Commander needs not to ftrike a Blow, but 
 only to overlook and direct his Soldiers as fo 
 many Puppets." 
 
 " That being the Cafe/' faid I, who was 
 willing to put him up a little, and divert 
 myfelf with his Talk, " is not the General, 
 after all, to be placed above the mere Man 
 of Letters, fince he turns his Knowledge to 
 practical Account?" 
 
 " No," replied he warmly ; " for the higheft 
 Ufe of Letters is not that which teaches a 
 Man the Rules of Defence and Attack, but 
 that which raifes and conducts his Soul to 
 Heaven. To determine the comparative 
 Value of two Purfuits, we muft confider their 
 Aim and End. Where there is no Strife, 
 there can be no Need of Soldiers ; and Strife 
 came into the World with Sin, and is a Dis- 
 grace to Humanity. But, fince Sin and 
 Strife have entered the World, it has come to 
 pafs that numberlefs brave Men, who would 
 otherwife have done better to keep quiet, 
 have been impelled to redrefs Injuries, and 
 afiert Right by Might, oppofing Force to 
 
4 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 Force. But what Renown, I pray you, 
 would have been the Portion of thefe Heroes, 
 without the Bookmen ? Who would hear, 
 now-a-days, of Nestor ^ Ulysses^ Agamemnon^ 
 Achilles^ or Diomed^ but for Homer ? Or of 
 AEneas but for Virgil ? Wherefore I fay 
 and maintain that fo ufelefs a Thing as a 
 Sword ..." 
 
 At this Moment, three Banditti rufhing 
 out upon us from a little Thicket of Cheftnut- 
 trees, fell upon my young Squire and me, 
 who, without another Word whether Swords 
 were ufelefs or no, out with our Rapiers, 
 and began to ufe them to fuch good Purpofe 
 that the Villains prefently made off, none the 
 better, but all the worfe, for the Encounter. 
 As for our two Vetturini, they had difappeared 
 at the very Beginning of the Fray. 
 
 Though the whole Affair only occupied 
 a few Minutes, I could not but notice how 
 fmartly the Youth laid about him ; and. 
 Indeed, it was my involuntary Attention to 
 the pretty Ufe he made of his Weapon that 
 put me for a Moment off my Guard, and 
 
a Friend i^ some Enemies. 5 
 
 permitted one of the Rafcals to give me 
 a SlafK acrofs the Forehead, which made the 
 Blood run over my Eyes. 
 
 As foon as the Gang had difappeared, the 
 Youth, feeing me reel on my Horfe, 
 fprang from his own, and caught rhe in his 
 Arms, my Weight nearly bringing him to 
 the Ground. 
 
 " Soho ! gently, gently," fays he, haling 
 me up a little on the Bank. " How fares 
 it with you, Signor Cavaliere ?" 
 
 Inftead of anfwering him, I burfl out 
 a laughing. 
 
 "One would think you were not hurt," 
 fays he ; " but yet your Brow has a pretty 
 deep Gafh in it." 
 
 " Who could choofe but laugh," faid I, 
 recovering, " to fee you attack the Rogues 
 as you did, when the Conclufion was fcarce 
 out of your Mouth that Swords were 
 ufelefs .'* " 
 
 "Ah, I was fpeaking of comparative, not 
 of abfolute Values," faid he merrily, " and had 
 not Time for my Peroration. But let me 
 
6 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 draw the Sides of your Wound together, and 
 ftanch the Blood with fome of the Felt off 
 my Hat. Firft, though, I mujft wafh your 
 Brow a little." 
 
 And, going to a Fountain hard by, he 
 dipped his Handkerchief therein, and forth- 
 with cleanfed, dreffed, and bound up my 
 Wound very cleverly. I then noted fome 
 Blood trickling from his Sword-arm. 
 
 " You are hurt, too," faid I. 
 
 " A mere Scratch," replied he gaily. 
 *' You know, according to my own Rule, 
 the Head fhould take precedence of the Arm; 
 and now that you can ufe your Eyes once 
 more, you can twift this wet Handkerchief 
 round above my Elbow. The Rogues 
 needed not to have fallen on my ufeful Side, 
 neither. How fhall I write with my left 
 Hand ? There's no Courtefy to be looked 
 for from fuch Knaves ; but the old Laws 
 of Chivalry forbade a Man to ftrike at the 
 Arms or Legs of his Opponent." 
 
 Having bound up his Wound, which was 
 not very deep, as carefully as he had done 
 
a Friend & some Enemies. 7 
 
 mine, we remounted our Horfes, and were 
 prefently joined by the two Vetturini, whom 
 we rallied well for their Cowardice. 
 
 " And now that we have bled in each 
 other's Company," faid I, as we purfued our 
 Way, " I fhall be glad to know the Name 
 of my valiant young Brother-in-arms." 
 
 "I am too young," faid he, " for my Name 
 to have made any Noife in the World — it is 
 Torquato Tasso." 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed I, '■'^ the Son of my 
 efteemed old Friend, MefTer Bernardo ? " 
 
 " The fame," returned he with Surprife ; 
 '* but who, then, are you ? " 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone degli Ga-mbacorti." 
 
 " Ah ! Ser Pantaleone;" and drawing up our 
 Horfes, we cordially embraced one another. 
 
 " Pardon me, Ser Pantaleone" faid he with 
 the beft Grace in the World, " if I recognifed 
 you not at the firfl ; but your Habit is different, 
 though your Appearance is wonderfully little 
 altered fince I lafl: had the Pleafure of feeing 
 you, which was, you know, when I was a 
 very little Boy." 
 
8 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 cc 
 
 And a very clever little Boy, too," faid 
 I. " It feems but yefterday that I beheld 
 you on your Father's Knee, chopping Logic 
 with him, and then flipping down to recite 
 a String of his Verfes to me with the prettieft 
 infantine Grace. Your little Sifter Cornelia 
 promifed to marry me, though I underftand 
 fhe is now a younger Man's Wife. A lovely 
 little Girl ftie was ! the miniature Prototype of 
 your admirable Mother." 
 
 " Ah, don't name her ! " faid he, with 
 Tears trickling down his Cheeks. " The 
 bare Sound of her Name makes her Lofs feem 
 ever new ! She was driven to her Grave by 
 Cruelty, if ever Woman was ! My Uncles 
 were perfedl Tyrants, and deprived her not 
 only of her Inheritance, but of the Company 
 of her Hufband and Son, which fhe valued 
 much more." 
 
 " And your Sifter ? " 
 
 " They have compelled her into a Marriage 
 which may be a good or bad one, for I know 
 not which. To me fhe is loft." 
 
 " Your Father ? " 
 
a Friend & some Enemies. 9 
 
 "Is at /^(f^/Vd", printing his ^ Amadigi.' Ah, 
 Ser Pantaleoney what a Poem is that ! What 
 a Noife it will make in the World! What 
 Imagery, what Chara6ler, what Acflion ! 
 Allow me to repeat to you one or two 
 Stanzas." 
 
 And, with the Tears yet wet on his Cheek, 
 he began fpouting with exadtly the fame 
 Fervour as when he had amufed me at feven 
 Years old. I can't fay I paid much At- 
 tention to the Subftance of the Verfes, 
 though they feemed to fcan well enough ; 
 for my Mind had fled back to the Scene of 
 noble Simplicity prefented in his early Home, 
 before the excellent Meffer Bernardo had 
 been banifhed from the Neapolitan States 
 for his Adherence to his Benefactor Don 
 Ferrante. 
 
 Many a youthful Efcapade had I been 
 delivered from by the brotherly, I might 
 almost fay paternal, KIndnefs of that beloved 
 Friend, when, as an idle young Soldier, far 
 away from domeftic Influences, I was expofed 
 to many Temptations. Well did I remember 
 
lo Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 his feelingly pointing out to me the Danger 
 of young Officers and Courtiers indulging in 
 Games of Hazard, partly from Facility and 
 falfe Shame, partly from Idlenefs, and too 
 foon from Love of the Excitement itfelf ; — 
 ending with '^ The beft Throw of the Dice, 
 Ser Pantaleone, is to throw them clean 
 away." I remembered, too, his warning 
 me of the abominable Coquetry of Madonna 
 Silvia^ and averring that no Widow of thirty- 
 two could have real Delicacy of Mind who 
 would accept Love-gifts from a Youth of 
 nineteen ; nay, broadly hint to him that fuch 
 and fuch a Toy would be to her liking. 
 
 Stars ! what Sums did I expend in Serenades 
 and Morning-Concerts beneath her Window ! 
 in Nofegays of the choiceft Flowers ! in 
 EfTences for her Toilette ! in iced Peaches 
 and candied Apricots for her Table ! in Gold- 
 fringed Breaft-knots ! in Treffilas of Silver 
 Twift! — to fay nothing of a Set of coloured 
 Stones, comprifing Comb, Necklace, Crofs, 
 Heart, and Bracelets; which, though not 
 indeed real Rubies and Sapphires, (as how 
 
a Friend i^ some Enemies. 1 1 
 
 fhould they be for ten Ducats ?) yet were 
 fet in real — that is, Jewellers' Gold, and looked 
 extremely well for the Money. There did, 
 indeed, feem fome Caufe for apprehending 
 that what, in this Inftance, was intended for 
 the Lady, was appropriated by the Maid. 
 True it is that Madonna Silvia appeared 
 in them in Public ; but. In After-times, 
 when our Day of Recrimination came, fhe 
 declared and averred to me (which I could 
 not be fo injurious to her as to doubt), 
 that they had been sold to her by her Maid 
 Floretta, 
 
 Anyhow, I was cheated, defpoiled, and 
 laughed at ; which I needed not to have been, 
 had I heeded Mefler Bernardo. However, I 
 then knew little of the World, and fuffered 
 myfelf to be led by the Nofe by a heartlefs 
 Woman, who even perfuaded me to abandon 
 the ProfelTion of Arms and fue for Court 
 Patronage, becaufe, fhe faid, fhe preferred 
 Men of Peace; and yet, after dancing 
 Attendance on the Great for many good 
 Years, the Man I moft trufted ftepped 
 
1 2 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 in and got the Place and the Wife I was 
 toiling for. 
 
 However, while biting my Nails on this 
 double Difappointment, I obtained, through 
 the Kindnefs of Cardinal Ippolito, the Situa- 
 tion of Gentleman Ufher to Madama Leonora 
 of Este. This removed me from my old 
 Sphere of Aftion altogether ; and here was 
 I, a Man little paft the Prime of Life, falling 
 in with the Son of my old Friend when he 
 was juft about the Age at which his Father 
 had been fo ufeful and kind a Mentor to me. 
 
 " Is not that fine?" faid he, when he had 
 finifhed his Recitation. 
 
 " Doubtlefs," faid I with a competent Air. 
 " However, I would rather hear of my old 
 Friend, juft now, than of his Poem. What 
 are his Intentions refpedling yourfelf?" 
 
 "Ah," faid he, fhaking his Head with a 
 ruefulnefs that had fomething comic in it, 
 " I wifh I could tell you they were agreeable 
 to me. He fays Patronage and Painfulnefs 
 are twin Brothers, and he would by no 
 Means have me dependent on the Great ; 
 
a Friend l^ some Enemies. 13 
 
 wherefore, in Purfuit of an honeft Indepen- 
 dence, he deftines me to the Study of the 
 Law." 
 
 " How ! " faid I, '^ would you dance 
 Attendance, then, at Court ? " 
 
 " Quite otherwife," replied he ; " my Taftes 
 are much fimpler, I affure you. 
 
 Kura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes 
 Flmnina a?nem syhasque inglorius — 
 
 that is to fay, I fhould like to write Verfes 
 in a Country Cottage. Jurifprudence has 
 neither the Dignity of Philofophy, nor the 
 Charm of Poetry ; and, to tell you the 
 Truth, my favourite Reading is in Ro- 
 mances." 
 
 "Soho!" faid I, whiftling foftly, "all 
 your mighty Eloquence juft now was in De- 
 fence of Cynthid's Novelle and the Deca- 
 merone ! " 
 
 " Signor, you may laugh," returned he, 
 biting his Lip to avoid doing the fame, 
 " but, rely on it, the Imagination requires 
 its daily Meals, as much as do our Bodies. 
 
14 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 I am not eating Cakes and Gingerbread all 
 Day, neither am I always reading Boiardo or 
 Ariosto ; but yet I fit down to my Repaft on 
 the Writings of thefe divine Men with pretty 
 keen Relifh, I promife you ! I think my loved 
 Father, whofe Will to me is Law, (and quite 
 as much Law as I want !) would be wlfer in 
 letting me follow the Bent of my Inclinations, 
 which run precifely in the fame Channel as 
 his own, than in dire6ling me to Studies I 
 abhor. Jurifprudence I hate, whereas Poetry 
 I love ! " 
 
 " And Mufic too, I doubt not ? " 
 " Hum, — I touch the Lute a little." 
 " And are not indifferent to Dancing ? " 
 "Aha! 'Come fi hnWono n Comacchio !' '' 
 flipping his Feet out of the Stirrups, and 
 gavotting, or rather plvotting on his Saddle, 
 till I wondered he did not fall off. 
 
 " Doubtlefs, you have alfo been In 
 Love ? " 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone ! your Inquiries become 
 rather too fearching — " and he coloured 
 extremely. 
 
a Friend & some Enemies. 15 
 
 " Your Pardon," faid I. " And how go 
 Affairs at Padua ? " 
 
 "Furioufly. The Pupils of two of our 
 Profeilbrs, Sigonio and Robertello, are at 
 Daggers-drawing, and have frequent Street 
 Frays. For my Part, I fide with Sigonio, 
 who is an amiable Man, and a profound 
 Aristotelian. Give me the Pleafure of your 
 Company this Evening, and I will make you 
 acquainted with him. Annibale di Capua 
 and I, who lodge together, are engaged 
 to meet him in the Apartments of our 
 mutual Friend, Scipio Gonzaga. Will you 
 come ? " 
 
 As I hefitated a little, he prefied me more 
 urgently, faying, with a gay Laugh, " You 
 know what a poor Scholar's Portion is, — a 
 bare Larder, a Bed without Sheets, Walls 
 without Hangings, Shirts without Buttons, 
 and Shoes that want mending. Concerning 
 which, my only Reply is, give me an empty 
 Larder, and a Clofet full of Books ; let me 
 read a Romance while J dine, and I know not 
 what I am eating. I need no Sauce but Salt ; 
 
1 6 Of Ser Pantaleone's encountering 
 
 and if my Bed be fmall, I can go to it the 
 earlier and lie in the Middle." 
 
 In fhort, he won me over to accept his 
 Invitation, which, after all, was to another 
 Man's Houfe. When we entered Padua^ 
 Dondi's great old Clock in the Piazza de" 
 Signori was juft ftriking the Hour at which 
 one of the moft popular Profeffors concluded 
 his Lecture ; and the vaulted Footways were 
 crowded with Students, not only from every 
 Capital in Christendom, but from Turkey^ 
 Arabia^ and Persia. My young Companion 
 nodded gaily to one and another among the 
 Crowd ; and prefently we reached a very 
 handfome Lodging, where, having difcharged 
 our Vetturini, we afcended a wide Staircafe 
 and entered a lofty Apartment furnifhed with 
 Opulence, at the upper End of which a 
 handfome young Man lay carelefsly flung 
 on some Velvet Cushions, intently reading, 
 while Wine and Fruit stood near him on a 
 Silver Salver. 
 
 I raifed my Eyebrows and faid foftly, " Is 
 this the poor Student's Lodging?" On which. 
 
a Friend i^ Jome Enemies. 1 7 
 
 'torquato burft out laughing, and faid, "All is 
 one. We Bookmen know both how to want 
 and how to abound. I owe all to my dear 
 Friend here — " 
 
 And, embracing the young Man, who 
 rofe to receive him, he introduced him to me 
 as the Signor Annibale di Capua. He it was 
 that has fince been made Cardinal. 
 
m 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Of Mejfer Torquato's firft lntrodudio7i to a Court 
 Life. 
 
 _^INES, Cofines, — Angles, right, ob- 
 V, tufe, ifosceles Triangles, right-angled 
 ^' Triangles — Rhombs, Spheroids, — 
 Cycles, Epicycles, — Things that are and are 
 not, that appear to be, and appear not to be, 
 — Judgments, contradi6lory, contrary, diftri- 
 buted, — Ideas, fimple, complex, — Definitions, 
 Propofitions, Syllogifms, — Examinations, 
 Degrees, — Stars, Satellites, circumjovian 
 Planets, — Fees, Regulations, — Gowns, Caps, 
 Sizes, — Prefeds, Vice-prefeds, Almoners — 
 ProfefTors of Canon Law, Protonotaries — 
 Ices, Jellies, — Flefh-wounds, Rapiers, — Man 
 found ftabbed. 
 
Introdu^ion to a Court Life. 19 
 
 I believe all thefe and a great many other 
 Things made up the difturbed Dreams that 
 infefted my poor wounded Head, my firft 
 Night in Padua. 
 
 We had both had our Wounds featly 
 enough drefTed by a dapper Barber-furgeon, 
 who, while applying his Strapping Plafter, 
 had told us the laft Piece of News, to wit, 
 that a Street Fight had occurred between the 
 Partizans of Robertello and Sigonio, in the 
 Courfe of which, Sigonio, coming up, had got 
 his Face flafhed with a Poniard. 
 
 My young Friend, who was one of his 
 warm Difciples, became much excited at this, 
 and talked loudly about it afterwards when 
 we joined an evening Party in the Rooms of 
 Signor Scipio Gonzaga. Here, Philofophy, 
 Poetry, and local Politics were ftrangely 
 jumbled in Difcourfe, and canvafTed with 
 much Heat. Annibale di Capua read a pun- 
 gent Pafquinade on Robertello, the Author of 
 which he would not give up, but which elicited 
 Roars of Laughter ; and I guefied from young 
 Tajfo's felf-fatisfied Look that he knew more 
 
20 Of MeJJer Torquato's firft 
 
 about It than he chofe to tell. Afterwards 
 he, at the vehement Inftance of the Company, 
 recited pretty nearly a whole Book of his 
 Father's forthcoming Epic, refpefting which 
 Italy was burfting with Curiofity ; but in 
 fpite of the Plaudits It elicited, I confefs I 
 found it heavy, and thought it infinitely lefs 
 agreeable than a Fragment of the " Rinaldo" 
 which my young Friend even then had privately 
 in Hand, and of which the Signor di Capua^ 
 having pofleffed himfelf of a few Sheets, 
 gave us a Sample. Though immature and 
 imperfed, there was a Fervour and Harmony 
 in it which the Verfes of MefTer Bernardo 
 altogether wanted ; and when I ventured to 
 exprefs my Opinion to this EfFedl, afide to 
 Signor Cejare Parefe^ he gave it unqualified 
 Approval, faying It was the Produdion of 
 Youth, but of a youthful Homer. 
 
 The following Day I vifited my Kinfmen, 
 tranfadled my Affairs, was nobly entertained, 
 and, at five the next Morning, was on my 
 PafTage down the Brenta^ in a convenient 
 Barge drawn by Horfes. 
 
Introdu5lion to a Court Life. i\ 
 
 While at Venice^ I fought out MeiTer 
 Bernardo^ and found the excellent old Gentle- 
 man a good deal broken fince our laft Meeting, 
 but full of his Poem, the Importance of which 
 he could hardly be accufed of over-rating, 
 fince all who had feen it in Manufcript were 
 accuftomed to think of it as he did. When 
 I mentioned my Rencounter with his Son, and 
 fpoke of the Figure he made in Society, the 
 Colour rofe in the old Man's Cheek, for he 
 loved the Youth dearly ; but when I broached 
 the Subjedl of his Poetry, he heard me with 
 evident Diftafte, and faid fo many fage Things 
 againft the Purfuit of it, that I could not but 
 be amufed at his Difpofition to crufli In his 
 Son the Inclination which he, a Septuagenarian, 
 was following to his Bent, though it furely 
 was a more excufable Prediledlion in a young 
 Man than an old one. 
 
 I faw no more of my young Friend till two 
 Years afterwards, when, to my no fmall Sur- 
 prife and Pleafure, he made his Appearance at 
 Ferrara^ as under the Patronage of Cardinal 
 Luigi d' Efte. 
 
22 Of MeJJer Torquato's firjl 
 
 He was now twenty Years of age, a moft 
 beautiful Youth, tall, flender, and fupple in 
 Perfon, graceful in A6lion, dignified in De- 
 meanour, full of Life, Hope, Merriment, 
 and of dazzling and acknowledged Genius. 
 For, during the two Years I had loft fight 
 of him, he had puhlifhed his " Rinaldo " at 
 the Inftance of the moft eminent Judges in 
 Padua ; and while yet infpirited by the 
 immenfe Senfation it created, he had con- 
 ceived the Idea of what afterwards became 
 the fineft Thing he ever did, to wit, the 
 " Jerujalem." From Padua he had gone to Bo- 
 logna, where he le6tured on heroic Poetry, and 
 made a rough Draught of the firft three Cantos 
 of his immortal Epic. Thence to Padua 
 again, to win new Laurels, and lay them at 
 the Feet of Mefter Bernardo; who with 
 Rapture confefTed himfelf as happy a Father 
 as Diagoras^ when he faw three Sons crowned 
 at Olympia in one Day. He confented to his 
 abandoning the Law, and procured him an 
 Appointment among the Gentlemen of 
 Cardinal Luigij which would afford him the 
 
Introduction to a Court Life. 23 
 
 Competence and Lelfure neceflary for him to 
 improve his Vein. 
 
 Well do I remember his firft appearing 
 among us ! Returning one Day from the 
 Belvedere Palace without the Walls, where 
 Madama Leonora then lay fick, to my 
 Lodging in the Piazza Grande, I there found 
 awaiting me a young Man genteelly drefled in 
 Black, who was contemplating very clofely a 
 fmall Nativity of Garof aid's which I had lately 
 bought, not becaufe it was by any means one of 
 his firft-rate Works, but becaufe it was a Speci- 
 men of our firft Mafter that came within 
 reach of my Purfe. Turning about, he 
 falls upon my Neck, and cries, — 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone ! here am I, you fee, 
 come to be one of you, after all that my 
 Father faid, and that I have myfelf faid 
 againft Courts ! " 
 
 I replied, — " Since it is fo, you are welcome. 
 Ferrara cannot but be honoured by the 
 Reception of fuch a Gueft as yourfelf. You 
 come, moreover, at a bufy Time, for our 
 Duke's Marriage with the Archduchefs 
 
24 0/ MeJJer Torquato's Jirji 
 
 Barbara Is to take place in a few Days, and 
 we are preparing to receive half-a-dozen of our 
 greateft Cardinals, befides the AmbafTadors of 
 Poland^ Venice^ Florence^ and Lucca, the Duke 
 and Duchefs of Mantua, the Counts of 
 Mirandola and Novellara, and a Hoft of other 
 diftinguifhed Perfonages. This being the 
 Cafe, I fear you may have fome Difficulty in 
 procuring a Lodging; for fuch Throngs of 
 Satellites and Underlings are drawn together 
 on this Occafion, that even the inferior 
 Accommodations, which are paid for dearly, 
 are already befpoken." 
 
 " I had fome Apprehenfion of this," faid 
 he, " for, of courfe, the Rumour of this 
 Solemnity has fpread far and wide, and I was 
 eager to be in time for it." 
 
 " Well," faid I, " you fhall dine with me, 
 and afterwards we will fee what can be done. 
 Meantime, I am about to repair to Madama 
 Lucrezia, and If you will come with me, we 
 will chat as we go along." 
 
 "Am I fit to go as I am, think you?" 
 faid he, fomewhat eagerly, twifting his Head 
 
Introdu£fion to a Court Life. -25 
 
 over his Shoulder, as if he would view him- 
 felf all round if he could. 
 
 " You are point-de-vice" faid I, " and 
 muft, I think, have come by the Canal, for 
 you have not a Speck of Dull about you. I 
 will prefent you to her Excellency as one of 
 the Cardinal's Gentlemen, and, after that, 
 you will make your own Way." 
 
 " Tell me fomething about this Princefs," 
 faid he, running lightly down the Stairs after 
 me ; '' I have written Verfes of Ceremony to 
 the whole Houfe of Efie at a Diftance, but 
 know nothing perfonal about them, fave that 
 they are great Patrons of Arts and Letters. 
 PrincefTes are always beautiful, are not they ? 
 Will fhe do to write Verfes about ^. " 
 
 "^ Her Excellency is a moft admirable and 
 charming Lady," replied I, " and you cannot 
 do her a more appropriate Grace than by 
 addreffing to her fome elegant and laudatory 
 Sonnet. She and Madama Leonora may fitly 
 be compared to twin Rofes on one Stalk ; 
 they are equally courteous, erudite, beauteous, 
 and replenifhed with womanly Perfedlions. 
 
26 Of MeJJ'er Torquato's firfi 
 
 My auguft Miftrefs, I am forry to fay, is at 
 prefent drooping in Health, and unlikely to 
 be able to take Part in any of the Wedding 
 Feftivities." 
 
 " There's the grand old Caftle ! " cried he, 
 flopping fhort, and gazing at it with Earneft- 
 nefs. '' Some awful Tragedies have been 
 ena6led in its Dungeons ! " 
 
 " We don't talk of thofe Things here," faid 
 I quietly. 
 
 " Well, but which is the Lion's Tower ? " 
 
 " That at the End of the Street. Come 
 along, you will have plenty of Time for all 
 our Lions hereafter." 
 
 " Aye, and among them, Ariojld's Houfe and 
 Manufcripts ! Dear old Ariofto ! I wonder 
 if I fhall ever make my Name ring in the 
 World like his. I want to fee your famous 
 Library, and School of Painting, and Cathe- 
 dral, and Churches — " 
 
 Here, the Throng in the Street prevented 
 our keeping together awhile, and when we 
 reunited, we were clofe to the Palace Draw- 
 bridge. 
 
Introduction to a Court Life, 27 
 
 The grand Court-yard was in a high State 
 of Confufion, in Preparation for the Tourna- 
 ment which was to take place in it on the 
 fifth Day of the Efpoufals. The Centre was 
 being thickly ftrewn with Sawduft, and Car- 
 penters were bufily erecting the Scaffolds for 
 the temporary Theatre at the upper End. 
 Everywhere Pages, Servants, and Workmen 
 were running to and fro and joftling one 
 another; Soldiers were relieving Guard, Stable- 
 keepers lounging about, talking to Grooms 
 and Falconers, while here and there fome 
 Perfonage richly plumed, with Velvet 
 Cloak, Gold Chain, and white Gauntlet- 
 gloves, pafTed to or from the ducal Apart- 
 ments. 
 
 As we went through the Suite of Rooms 
 hung with Family Portraits, and choice Spe- 
 cimens of the early Ferrarefe Maflers, my 
 young Companion continually plucked at 
 my Cloak, with an energetic half-whifpered 
 " Whofe is this ? — whofe is this } " 
 
 " Oh, that's a Gelajio. — That's Garofalo. — 
 That's Galajo GalaJJi. — Thofe Frefcoes were 
 
28 Of Mejfer Torquato's Jirji 
 
 painted by Giotto on his Way through 
 Ferrara." 
 
 " This beautiful Woman ! — " 
 
 " Lucrezia Borgia^ — come along." 
 
 " And this curtained Pi6lure. — Some rare 
 Mafterpiece, furely ! The Transfiguration, 
 maybe ? " 
 
 And reverently, but ardently, he laid his 
 daring Hand on the Curtain. 
 
 " Pian^ — piano ! What are you about ? 
 That muft not be touched ! " 
 
 " What is it ? " — 
 
 " Our laft Duchefs. The Duke does not 
 choofe to have her Pidture removed, — though 
 /he was ! . . . . you underftand ? Hufh, 
 hufh— " 
 
 He gave a quick, alarmed, intelligent 
 Look, dropped the Curtain, and parted on. 
 We found Madama Lucrezia furrounded by 
 a Circle of Ladies and Gentlemen, fome of 
 whom were of high Quality. Her Excellency, 
 who, like her Sitter, was a blonde Beauty, 
 which gave her the Air of being much younger 
 than fhe really was, wore a Suit of rich corn- 
 
Introduction to a Court Life. 29 
 
 coloured Satin, flafhed with white, and guarded 
 with Silver. She had a fine Jewel in her 
 Breaft-knot, and a fmall Tuft of white and 
 coloured Feathers in her fair Hair, the 
 TrefTes of which were braided with Pearls. 
 Altogether, her Appearance was magnificent 
 and impofing. 
 
 I could not but be aware that the Perfon 
 and Carriage of my young Friend, feen befide 
 one fo much his inferior in Externals as my- 
 felf, muft be highly advantageous to him ; as, 
 indeed, it proved. As we approached, he 
 was eyed by feveral Perfons with Curiofity 
 and Intereft, which were not lefTened on my 
 pronouncing to Madama Lucrezia the Name 
 which he, though fo young, had already made 
 famous. His being little converfant with 
 Court Life imparted an agreeable Deference 
 and Modefty to his Addrefs, without any 
 awkward Embarraflment ; and I could per- 
 ceive by the encouraging Smile of the Princefs 
 on my prefenting him to her, that flie was 
 favourably imprefled. She complimented him 
 on his early Reputation, and avowed her Hope 
 
30 Of Mejfer Torquato's /r/? 
 
 that Ferrara might fee the Fruits of his riper 
 Genius mature beneath its foftering Rays. 
 To which he replied with fome fuitable 
 concettiy and then fell modeftly back. 
 
 She foon, however, called him forward 
 again, and engaged him in agreeable Converfa- 
 tion; and being fo intimately acquainted with 
 her Excellency's turn of Mind as I was, I could 
 difcern that fhe was at the Pains of fhining 
 before this gifted young Man, and of letting 
 him perceive that her Mind was well ftored 
 with Learning and Knowledge. I need not 
 fay, that, when the Conference ended, which 
 was not till fhe had bidden him to her Con- 
 verfazione, he retired with me to my Lodging, 
 highly elated with his Reception. 
 
 During Dinner, I difcourfed with him on 
 many Matters refpefting his new Life, concern- 
 ing the Details of which, no one could be better 
 able to give him valuable Information than 
 myfelf. I told him who was who, and what 
 was what ; whom he fhould conciliate, whom 
 beware of; and, above all, recommended to 
 him Prudence, Circumfpedion, and Economy, 
 
Introduction to a Court Life. 31 
 
 without expelling to be much heeded. For 
 the young will ftill be young : who will 
 profit by the Experience of a graver Man ? 
 
 Youngsters hate 
 What old Men prate. 
 
 After Dinner, we went in queft of fuitable 
 Apartments for him; but Inns, Lodgings, 
 and private Houfes were full to overflowing ; 
 fo that it ended in my offering him, and his 
 accepting with the beft Grace in the World, 
 fuch forry Accommodation as I had for him, 
 till he could find Quarters elfewhere. We 
 took my good-humoured Landlady, Monna 
 Onefta, into our Councils ; and, as I generally 
 tabled at the PrincefTes' " tavola or dinar ia^' it 
 was agreed that a light Bedftead fhould be 
 introduced for his Ufe into a Recefs in my 
 Sitting-room, for which at prefent I had 
 very little Demand. We made very merry 
 upon it ; and he apologized a thoufand 
 Times for the Inconvenience to which he 
 was putting me ; howbeit, I grudged it not, 
 for the Love I bore to his Father. After- 
 
32 Of Mejfer Torquato's Jirji 
 
 wards, he went out by himfelf, and, returning 
 towards Dufk, told me he had found his 
 Way to Ariofids Houfe, and {^.^n his Buft, 
 his Manufcripts, his Chair and Inkftand, and 
 had alfo attended Vefpers in the Cathedral, 
 and heard the famous Echoes. 
 
 Then we went to the Converfazione, which, 
 for Friendlinefs of Tone and Diverfity of 
 Subjedls, proved one of the moft agreeable 
 I ever knew. In the firfl: Place, there were 
 none but picked Vifitants ; for her Excellency 
 was very choice and faftidious in her Inti- 
 mates, and matched or contrafted them like 
 the Colours of her Drefs. Secondly, thefe 
 favoured Vifitants included feveral newly 
 arrived from foreign Courts, who gave Zeft 
 to the Converfation ; thirdly, there was in- 
 finite Intereft excited about the Details of the 
 approaching Joufts, Tournaments, Mafque- 
 rades. Concerts, and theatrical Performances 
 which were to enliven the Marriage Rites. 
 Charafters, Groups, and Drefies were dif- 
 cuffed. Jewels brought forth and ex- 
 hibited. Draperies caft, Difguifes fuggefted. 
 
Introduction to a Court Life. 33 
 
 Dances walked. Tunes hummed and thrum- 
 med. All this was perfeft Enchantment to 
 young T^ajfo^ who, if he were charmed, cer- 
 tainly charmed Others by the Readinefs of 
 his Fancy and amazing Fecundity of his 
 Wit and Imagination. I remember Madama 
 Lucrezia afking him if he could fing, and 
 his anfwering, " Oh no, Madama ! " — yet im- 
 mediately taking up a Lute, careleffly running 
 over its Strings, and then warbling (for I 
 never knew Singing that could more fitly be 
 fo defcribed,) fome impromptu Verfes on his 
 firft Sight of her in the Morning, when fhe 
 appeared to him as beautiful and glorious as 
 the Sun. Good or bad, the Y tr^ts pleajed ; 
 and fo I remarked to him as we went Home 
 by Moonlight. 
 
 I was fo bufied, during the enfuing Fefti- 
 vities, as to have little Leifure for my young 
 Friend, fave at Night, when we were almoft 
 too tired to talk; however, through my 
 Means, he went everywhere and faw every- 
 thing. I fay, through my Means, but it 
 fliortly became at the exprefs Command of 
 
34 0/ Mejfer Torquato's fir ft 
 
 Madama Lucrezia^ for ftie took a kindly 
 Intereft in the young Man, and was much 
 amufed at the Fervour with which he . de- 
 fcribed his new Impreffions of a Scene fo 
 dazzhng. He for his Part was in Fairy- 
 land or Dreamland, Day and Night, for I 
 can certify to his talking and finging in his 
 Sleep loud enough for me to hear him through 
 the Wall. Still, there were fo many New- 
 comers in Ferrara, of vaftly more Importance 
 than himfelf, that he was but one among a 
 Crowd, and if he had fuddenly dropped out 
 of Exiftence, it would fcarcely have been noted 
 fave by myfelf. For me, I was well pleafed 
 to have fuch a frank, cheerful Creature in 
 my Lodging, and troubled myfelf lefs than 
 1 might otherwife have done to get rid of 
 him. However, as the Feaftings waned to 
 their End, the City began to empty ; and 
 through my Recommendation, or rather, that 
 of Monna Onesta^ he got a pretty Apart- 
 ment enough, confifting of Bed-chamber 
 and Sitting-room in the Houfe of Jacintha 
 Goloja^ Widow of the Duke's late Pantler, a 
 
Introduction to a Court Life. ■;i,c^ 
 
 Man much given to Greed and Peculation, 
 who was thought well to pafs, and yet ma- 
 naged to die poor ; of whofe Delinquencies the 
 lefs faid at this Time and in this Place the 
 better. There was no Need to carry on his 
 Faults to the Account of his Wife, a ftirring 
 Woman as ever was, with good black Eyes 
 of her own, and three fmall Children. The 
 Sitting-chamber overlooked the Canal ; and, 
 with its ftriped Sun-blind flapping over the 
 vine covered Balcony, looked cool and pleafant 
 enough. There was a heavy carved Table, 
 and an Arm-chair almoft equally immoveable ; 
 alfo a worm-eaten but curioufly inlaid Bureau, 
 with many Drawers in it, which took my 
 young Friend's Fancy at once, becaufe he 
 faid it would be fo convenient for his Papers. 
 In fhort, when Monna Jacinthd's Litters, in- 
 cluding a Child's Go-cart and fundry Ham- 
 pers of keeping Apples, were cleared out, 
 the Lodging feemed habitable enough, and I 
 was glad to fecure the poor Woman fo 
 eligible an Inmate. Indeed, during his Abode 
 with me, I conceived a Regard for him which 
 
 D 2 
 
^6 Of Mejfer Torquato's fir ft 
 
 never decreafed, but, on the contrary, went on 
 increafing to the End. 
 
 I remember that one Night I was awoke 
 out of Sleep by hearing him give one or two 
 Groans, and then rap fmartly with his Fift 
 againft the Wall. Underftanding it for a 
 Signal of Diftrefs, I haftily went in to him, 
 and found him fitting up in Bed looking 
 quite aghaft. 
 
 " I'm a dying Man ! " cries he. — " Fetch 
 a Dodor ! — fetch a Prieft." 
 
 Inftead of which, I fetched him a good 
 Dofe of Cherry Brandy, which he haftily 
 fwallowed without knowing what it was, till 
 he had taken a good Gulp. Giving a deep 
 Sigh, " I'm better now," fays he, " but pofi- 
 tively I thought I was dying ; and I felt fo 
 unwilling ! " 
 
 " Life is dear to the Young," faid I ; " you 
 fhould not have fupped on Peach-ice, fo late 
 in the Seafon." 
 
 " It can't be all right with me," refumed he, 
 much perturbed, " to be feized with fuch a 
 Panic at Death ; — but Life feems fo pleafant 
 
IntroduSlion to a Court Life. 37 
 
 to me juft now! everything I fee, fo beau- 
 tiful ! — every Sound, Melody ! — every Smell, 
 
 Perfume ! — every it can't be all right 
 
 with me, I fay ! hey, Ser Pantaleone ? " 
 
 And in lefs than a Credo, the young 
 Fellow was afleep ! 
 
 " Ah," thought I, as I lay awake afterwards, 
 (for it was December, and I had got chilled 
 and could not get warm again,) " he and I 
 fee different Sides of the Tapeftry. What to 
 him is now all rainbow-hued, and rayed 
 with Gold, will fome of thefe Days appear, 
 as it does to me, nought but Fag-ends and 
 Fuftian." 
 
 And then I thought how fubdued to what 
 it worked in, my better Part had become ; 
 how all the trivial Details of Court Dinners, 
 Dreffes, the Length of a Sword-knot, the 
 Pile of a Velvet, the Fall of a Plume, the 
 Cruft of a Pafty, were the Impertinences 
 that even diftracted my Thoughts from my 
 Prayers, without my taking the leaft real 
 Intereft in them. And fo I kept painfully 
 pondering on the Vanities and Frivolities of 
 
38 Of MeJJer Torquato's firji 
 
 Life, and thinking I would some Day become a 
 cowled Monk, till at laft I began to confider 
 whether too heavy a Supper of Wild-boar 
 might not be as provocative of diftrefsful 
 Images as Peach-ice. 
 
 All this Time, the gracious and excellent 
 Madama Leonora kept her Chamber, confined 
 thereto by fevere Indifpofition. Her Name 
 was frequently mentioned in the ducal Circle, 
 in the Way of Inquiry and Regret ; many 
 lamenting that the Feftivities were deficient in 
 the Prefence of her who would have been 
 their faireft Ornament. I am not aware that 
 Tajfo's Curiofity was at all excited about her, 
 till one Evening, happening to approach him 
 where he ftood a little apart from the Reft, 
 hanging over Something that lay on a Side- 
 table, I heard him utter in a low, emphatic, 
 almoft paffionate Voice, the fingle Word 
 " Divine ! " — and, cafting my Eye on the 
 Object which thus abforbed him, I faw it was 
 the Miniature Portrait of Madama Leonora^ 
 taken when fhe was a young Girl of fifteen or 
 fixteen. 
 
Introdu5lion to a Court Life. 39 
 
 " Who is this ?" cried he hurriedly to me. 
 
 " Is it poffible," faid I, " that you can 
 afk ?— Madama Leonora." 
 
 " Ha ! — How fhould I have known ? " 
 
 " Why, fhe is as like to her royal Sifter as 
 one Star to another." 
 
 " Stars differ from one another in glory. — 
 Pftiaw! fhe is no more like Madama Lucrezia 
 than I am like you ! " 
 
 " That Likeness was taken a long while 
 ago. Wait till you fee her Excellency." 
 
 "Was ftie ever at Comacchio?" 
 
 "Certainly — Why do you afk?" 
 
 He did not appear to hear me, but con- 
 tinued gazing on the Pifture, like one en- 
 tranced ; drumming on the Table with his 
 Fingers as if hammering out Rhymes to fome 
 mental Tune. 
 
 A Day or two after, all the gay Pageantry 
 melted away as if at the Wave of a Magician's 
 Wand, on the News arriving of the Pope's 
 Death. Cardinal Luigi immediately haftened 
 to Romey to take Part in the Eledtion of the 
 new Pontiff, accompanied by fome of his 
 
40 Introduction to a Court Life. 
 
 oldeft and moft trufted Attendants; but 
 young Torquato was left behind with the 
 inferior Members of his Suite, to employ or 
 mifemploy his precious Leifure in any Way 
 he chofe. His Fancy, being warm with the 
 Whirl of Pleafure in which he lately had 
 lived, found Vent for itfelf in a Variety of 
 graceful Rhymes and Sonnets, infpired by the 
 mereft, moft trivial Occafion; fo that Madama 
 Lucrezia could fcarcely change Colour, or 
 have a flight Cold in her Head, or lofe her 
 Thimble, or break her Needle, without finding 
 the Event verfified and embellifhed with a 
 thoufand claflic Conceits ; which, I am bold 
 to fay, were in the main folely worked out 
 for the Purpofe of mental Exercife and fleight 
 of Hand ; but which Madama Lucrezia began 
 to value fomewhat beyond their Deferts. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Of Madama Lucrezia and Madama Leonora. 
 
 ' AD AMA Leonora being now convalef- 
 ^|h cent, quitted her private Apartments 
 
 iri^vj ^3 {qow as the Wedding Guefts had 
 difperfed, and reappeared among us in the 
 Belvedere Palace. The Languor of recent 
 Indifpofition had imparted additional Delicacy 
 to her Complexion and Softnefs to her Eyes, 
 while it excufed the Negligence of a Toilette 
 which boafted not a fingle Ornament, and 
 confifted of a fimple white Robe of fome 
 flowing and foft Fabric and a Treffila of 
 green and gold Network over her Hair. 
 
 'Torquato, as foon as he faw her, whifpered 
 eagerly to me, " The very Counterpart of her 
 Picture!" I made no Reply, knowing that 
 the Judgment of a Boy, (and he was not 
 much more,) is worth Nothing, and that the 
 
42 Of Madama Lucrezia 
 
 excellent and ftill lovely Madama had exadly 
 doubled her Age fince the Portrait was taken. 
 It was notorious that fhe had the fweeteft Mouth 
 in Italy; and as a conventional Matter, of 
 courfe, it would never have done for any one 
 of her Suite to have implied or admitted that 
 there was the leaft Diminution of her Bloom ; 
 nay, there were thofe who would probably 
 have defended the fenfelefs Queftion with their 
 Swords ; but I, for my Part, had long become 
 a Man of Peace in the minute Affairs of Life, 
 and held my Tongue refpecting many Matters 
 which my Eye could not but note. Hence I 
 betrayed not by the flighteft Movement of Lip 
 or Eyebrow my Amufement at the Fervour of 
 Young Tajfo's Declaration, but waited till 
 Madama Leonora was fettled on her Couch 
 with her various little Invalid Comforts about 
 her, and till Madama Lucrezia had kifTed and 
 greeted her, and feated herfelf at her Side. 
 I then, at the firft encouraging Look, ftepped 
 forward and prefented my young Friend, who 
 kneeled and kiffed the Princefs's Hand with 
 the profoundeft Refped. 
 
and Madama Leonora. 43 
 
 She fweetly exprefTed to him the Pleafure 
 fhe had experienced in perufing his " Rinaldo,'^ 
 and defired to know on what Theme his 
 Genius was now developing itfelf. With a 
 Flutter of mingled Modefty and gratified 
 Vanity, the young Man replied that he was 
 now engaged on the " Jerujalem Delivered^' 
 which was as yet but roughly fketched out. 
 She requefted to have an Outline of the Plot ; 
 he detailed it, and fhe greatly admired the 
 Conception of the Charadlers of Clorinda and 
 Erminia^ (o beautifully oppofed. She defired 
 to know whether their Love-fl:ories were to 
 have fortunate Terminations ; he replied in 
 the negative ; fhe pleafantly chid him for this, 
 and faid young Poets found fuch a Luxury in 
 imaginary Woes that they had no Mercy on 
 the Feelings of tender-hearted Readers. He 
 faid that fooner than cofl her a Tear, he 
 would recaft his Poem or throw it into the 
 Fire. She fweetly begged him to do neither, 
 but to be guided folely by the Bent of his 
 own inimitable Genius, or Italy and the 
 whole civilized World would fuflain a Lofs. 
 
44 0/ Madama Lucrezia 
 
 To all this did Madama Lucrezia liften 
 with manifeft Pleafure ; and, opening a fmall 
 Cafket, fhe drew therefrom feveral of the 
 complimentary little Pieces Torquato had 
 addrefTed to her, and gave them to her Sifter 
 to read. At this Epoch, the Duke and 
 Duchefs entered to congratulate Madama 
 Leonora on her Recovery ; we Courtiers fell 
 back; but before the Circle broke up, our 
 Sovereign Prince's Eye refted on Tajfo, whom 
 he beckoned forward to inquire how he got 
 on with his Poem.. With great Reverence he 
 replied, that fmce his Arrival in Ferrara, he 
 had been fo tranfported and carried out of 
 himfelf by the dazzling Feftivities of the 
 Court, as to have been little able to make 
 Progrefs ; but that his Intention was, under 
 favour of the illustrious Prince he had the 
 Honour to addrefs, to make Rinaldo^ the 
 Anceftor of the Houfe of EJie^ the romantic 
 Hero of his Poem, fecond in Place only to 
 Godfrey. The Duke appeared pleafed with 
 this Notion, and made fome Remarks on it 
 ere he difmifled him. In Fad, his Highnefs 
 
and Madama Leonora. 45 
 
 liked well to think himfelf a fecond Aiigufius, 
 with Virgil on one Hand, and Horace^ which 
 is to fay Guarini, on the other. 
 
 The next Time I met '^ajfo, which was 
 when I was full drefled and on my Way to a 
 ftate Dinner, he eagerly feized me by the Arm, 
 and drew me afide to hear him read fome 
 Stanzas he had written on the Occafion of his 
 Eyes firft refting on the beautiful Serene of 
 Madama Leonora's Countenance, when, if 
 Reverence and Wonder had not turned his 
 Heart into Stone, he would have perifhed with 
 a double Death. 
 
 Dreadfully afraid of being too late for 
 Dinner, I haftily exclaimed, " Double Death ! 
 why double Death ? — excufe me, my dear 
 'T'ajfo, I have no Time juft now for Expla- 
 nations and Rejoinders, but will talk it over 
 with you another Time." 
 
 " How does it ftrike you at the firft 
 Hearing ? " perfifts he eagerly ; " is it too 
 forward ? too prefumptuous ? Can she for- 
 give it, think you ? " 
 
 " Aye, aye, Women forgive every Thing in 
 
46 Of Madama Lucrezia 
 
 their own Praife," faid I ; " let it be ever 
 fuch Nonfenfe." 
 
 " You think it Nonfenfe then ? " cries he, 
 ftill holding on to me. 
 
 " My dear Taffo^ it is capital, capital ! I 
 fliall be too late for Dinner. Adieu for the 
 prefent." 
 
 And I efcaped from him, hardly able to 
 help laughing at his rueful Look. 
 
 Of courfe the Verfes were forgiven, as well 
 as plenty of others that followed, fometimes 
 addreffed to one Sifter, fometimes to the 
 other. They feemed equally charmed with 
 his fmooth Verfings; and continually engaged 
 him, whether together or apart, in Difcourfes 
 on Poetry, Friendfhip, Love, Sympathy, 
 Heroifm, Self-facrifice, Fame, Glory, and 
 fuch-like Cafuiftries, fome of which I liftened 
 to with Pleafure, while others appeared fenti- 
 mental and profitlefs. They took up fo 
 much of the young Man's Time, however, 
 that it was wonderful how he got through the 
 amount of Writing he certainly did, in the 
 Way of Lyrics, Epiftles, Dialogues, Dif- 
 
and Madama Leonora. 47 
 
 courfes, to fay Nothing of his great Poem, and 
 Heaps of familiar Letters to his Intimates at 
 Padua. He was induftrions, that Yoimgfter ! 
 I fhould have wondered when he flept, had I 
 not had him in my own Lodging, and known 
 that he took out as much Reft from an Hour's 
 profound Repofe as moft Men would get in 
 Half a Night. Such Learning, too, as he 
 would pack into his mere occafional Effufions 
 for the Hour ! he muft have ftored his Cells 
 with Honey and Wax when at the Univer- 
 sities, for there feemed no End to what he 
 could draw out, little as he now repleniftied 
 them. 
 
 Thus, I fay, he went on, to the infinite 
 Content of both the Princefles, of whom he 
 was now the chofen Friend ; and their Efteem 
 for him went that Length as to induce them 
 to caufe him to be admitted to the Tavola ordi- 
 naria, which made many of the older Courtiers 
 ready to split with Envy. They were already 
 prepared to accufe him of Pride, Vanity, 
 Prefumption, Conceit, Pedantry, Taciturnity 
 except towards his Betters, and a fcore of 
 
48 Of Madama Lucrezia 
 
 other Faults, befides defpifing him for the 
 fcantinefs of his Wardrobe and the fhallownefs 
 of his Purfe. 
 
 Indeed, this tabling with the Duke and 
 PrincefTes carried ferious Difadvantages with 
 it, independent of the Envy it occafioned ; 
 for, fimple and unoftentatious as were the 
 Youth's Habits, he yet needed to have finer 
 Linen, either laced or fringed, than would 
 otherwife have ferved his Turn ; nor was it 
 always poffible to efcape Invitations to Games 
 of Chance without giving Offence. The 
 PrincefTes flood his Friends, however, in this 
 Matter ; frequently calling him from the 
 Players to converfe with them, or giving him 
 a fmall Stake to venture in their Names. 
 
 It may be afked, were they not already fo 
 furfeited with poetic Adulation as to be fick 
 of Sonnets and Laudations ? Of the common 
 Staple they were ; but I'ajfd's Verfes, befides 
 their uncommon Beauty and Harmony, had 
 the magic Charm of Truth ! His Raptures 
 and Ecftafies were real; too real, unfortunately, 
 to be fafe. 
 
and Madamcl Leonora. 49 
 
 I foon noticed that a good many more of 
 his Sonnets were addrefled to Madama Leonora 
 than to Madama Lucrezia : fhe Teemed to 
 occupy his Thoughts from Morning to Night. 
 l^ Madama Leonora appeared in a Mantle 
 of myrtle-green Satin, straightway fhe was 
 compared to a Lily-of-the-valley fheltered 
 by its dark green Leaf; if in a rofe-coloured 
 Brocade, to the Pride of the Garden, a Mofs- 
 rofe, — if in Jewels, to ftarry Night, more 
 beautiful than Day ! — if in Saffron-colour, 
 to Aurora ; if with Flowers in her Hair, to 
 Flora. If her Head ached, the Heavinefs of 
 her Eyes gave them a heavenly Languor ; if 
 a Catarrh made her pale, 
 
 Non era palUdezza^ ?na candor e ! 
 
 and I almoft think if it had likewife made 
 her Nofe red, he would have found fome 
 claffic Parallel for it. 
 
 One Day at Belvedere, on his fliowing me 
 a Copy of Verfes, and afking if I could 
 fuggeft any Improvement, I coolly took his 
 Pencil from him and fubftituted the name 
 
50 Of Madama Lucrezia 
 
 of Lucrezia for Leonora. He looked hard 
 at me when he faw what I had done. 
 
 " You will get into a Scrape, if you don't 
 take Care," said I. 
 
 " Do you think fo ? " faid he with Surprife, 
 as if the Idea were prefented to him for the 
 firft Time. 
 
 " My dear Tajfoj I not only think it, but 
 am fure of it. You are young and unverfed in 
 Courts. I have lived in them long, and 
 feen much as a Bystander. The Envy and 
 Rancour to be found in them are enormous, 
 and you are drawing them on yourfelf, even 
 by what is harrnlefs and laudable ; beware, 
 then, of increafing your Dangers by what is 
 heedlefs and recklefs." 
 
 ** But I cannot transfer thefe Verfes to 
 Madama Lucrezia^ for they are inapplicable 
 to her." 
 
 " Supprefs them, then, and write her fome 
 that are applicable." 
 
 " But fhe doefn't infpire me." 
 
 " Wait till fhe does, then ; only don't fend 
 thefe." 
 
and Madama Leonora. 5 1 
 
 " Ah, Ser Pantaleone ! — here are fome 
 good Lines ! " 
 
 " Pifh ! you can make good Lines when 
 you will. — Don't 'be foolifli. Be guided by 
 your Father's old Friend." 
 
 He tore them in Half with the utmoft 
 Good-temper, and flung them over the Baluf- 
 trade ; then call: his Arm round my Neck and 
 walked off with me, talking of his Father. 
 
 As we quitted the Terrace, I happened to 
 look round, and faw Claudio Bertazzolo walk- 
 ing along the Path beneath the Terrace, and 
 earneflly endeavouring to piece together two 
 Fragments of Paper, which, the next Liftant, 
 he thruft into his Pocket. I flopped fhort and 
 fald, " Claudio has your Verfes ! He'll make 
 Mifchief ! " 
 
 " I'll run after him, and get them of him ! " 
 fays I'ajfo. 
 
 " Stay," cried I ; ^' he could not fee you and 
 me on the Terrace above him, and the pen- 
 cilling was fo cramped, I don't believe he can 
 identify it. Better leave It alone — he has 
 read the Verfes, and your reclaiming them 
 
52 Of Madama Lucrezia 
 
 would only make him fufpect you thought 
 them dangerous." 
 
 'Torquato here began to chafe, and faid, 
 " Dangerous or not, they're miney and he has 
 no Right to keep them." 
 
 " Well," faid I, " I know not that you can 
 make a Grievance of it, when they were torn 
 and thrown away. You or I might have 
 picked up Fragments of Verfes in that Way 
 with perfe(5i: Innocence." 
 
 " But not to turn them to Account and 
 make Mifchief of them !" 
 
 "How do we know that he will? — Our 
 own Mifgivings lliow there was Something 
 unfafe in them. Let the Matter be : only take 
 Warning by it to be more cautious in future." 
 
 " Befides," rejoined he, " where was the 
 Harm in them, after all ? What fcores of 
 Verfes have I avowedly written to Madama 
 Leonora^ that have been read and praifed by all 
 the Court ! " 
 
 " Yes ; only thefe were a little too warm 
 for conventional Feeling." 
 
 " Mine is not conventional Feeling ! " 
 
and Madama Leonora. 53 
 
 " Pihaw, my dear Tajfo ! — " 
 
 " It ifn't, I vow ! " 
 
 " Then it ought to be." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " Yes, Ser Pantaleone. I fuppofe you have 
 heard qf the old Adage, that a Cat may look 
 at a King ; and I humbly hope a Poet may 
 love and admire a Princefs, be fhe who flie 
 may, as long as he does not expedl her to love 
 and admire him in return." 
 
 " Dangerous Work, my dear Taffo." 
 
 " As long as the Danger is only mine, it 
 fignifies not; and I do not believe there is 
 any. By-the-bye, I want to fhow you the 
 new Epifode 1 have fketched out for my firft 
 Canto, — Olindo and Sophronia ; will you come 
 to my Lodging, and hear it?" 
 
 " Oh no, I have to audit all the PrinceiTes' 
 Butchers' Bills for the laft Twelvemonth!" 
 
 "Ah, what Bathos! Farewell, dear Ser 
 Pantaleone. I am about to write to my 
 Father, and will tell him you are as well and 
 as profaic as ever." 
 
54 0/ Madama Lucrezia. 
 
 *^ Tell him, alfo, I wifh I could impart a 
 little of my Profe to his Son." 
 
 He laughed and ran off, finging as gaily as 
 a Bird ; and I went my Ways mufing in my 
 Mind whether Poetry or Profe have the beft 
 of it in the long Run. 
 
 For, look you, Profe pays his Bills, and 
 keeps his Credit, and keeps his Friends, and 
 lulls his Enemies, and digefts his Meals, and 
 enjoys his Reft, and lives in Quiet. But 
 Poetry cares for none of thefe Things, if fo be 
 he may purfue his own wild Fancies, that 
 ferve him for Meat and Drink and Fuel and 
 Bedding; and as for his Foes, he bites his 
 Thumb at them all ! 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Of Laura Ariente, and of the Fifty Conclufions, or 
 Points of Love. 
 
 5^^^ HERE was a very lovely Girl, named 
 
 If"'' 
 
 v^ Laura Ariente^ at this Time in 
 
 r, Attendance on Madama Leonora, 
 whom every one liked and admired, and who 
 being well nurtured, modeft, goodnatured and 
 cheerful, I heartily wifhed might become the 
 Objedl of Torquato's Devotion in place of her 
 exalted Miftrefs. There had been a good 
 many Paftorals aded this Year at Court; as 
 "Z(? Sacrifizio" and ^^ Arethufa'' ; poor Things 
 at the beft, yet which, with fplendid Deco- 
 rations and Mufic, had pafTed mufter ; and 
 
 L.aura had taken inferior Parts in thefe, and 
 appeared in them to great Advantage. When 
 I praifed her, perhaps fomewhat too broadly, 
 to 'Tajfo, he burft out laughing, and faid, " Are 
 
56 Of Laura Ariente, 
 
 yoUj then, caught in the Toils at lafl: ? If 
 I had waited fo long, I would have at leaft 
 feledled fome one better worth waiting for 
 than that chubby-cheeked Damfel." 
 
 I faid, " Her Eyes are a good deal like 
 Madama Leonora s'' 
 
 He faid, " You might as well fay an Owl is 
 a good deal like a Porcupine ; " and walked 
 off. 
 
 However, I foon found that Count Annibale 
 'Turchi was in love with the Girl, and meant to 
 marry her ; fo it was as well I had not further 
 entangled the Web of Torquatds Affairs by 
 getting him into Odium in that Quarter. Juft 
 after we had parted, as mentioned in the fore- 
 going Chapter, I fuddenly came upon Claudio 
 Bertazzolo^ with his Arm linked in that of 
 Pigna^ the Duke's Secretary, with whom he 
 was in earneft Confabulation. Claudia's Eyes 
 looked uncommonly round as they met mine, 
 but I took no Notice, though I could not help 
 fancying that my imprudent Friend's Sonnet 
 was the Subjedl in Hand. This worried me ; 
 and inftead of going Home, I proceeded to 
 
and the Fifty Conclufions. 57 
 
 his Lodgings, where I found him, not in his 
 Sitting-room, but heard him making a prodi- 
 gious Buftle and Stir in his Sleeping-chamber, 
 where he Teemed to be alternately ftamping 
 on a new Pair of Riding-boots, cording a 
 heavy Box, and pradifing a Coranto with the 
 Box for his Partner. On the Table lay a 
 confufed Medley of his Papers, open to the 
 infpedlion of any impertinent or mifchievous 
 Chance-comer : and, as I knew that Claudia 
 Bertazzolo or any others of that Clique would 
 have glanced at them without Scruple, I juft 
 made free, as his Father's old Friend, to do 
 the very fame Thing, in order, look you, to 
 fee how far the Boy's Imprudence would carry 
 him. Firft I came to a Knot of ftale Violets; 
 then to a Bit of watchet-coloured Ribbon I 
 recognised at once for Madama Leonora's; 
 then to a Lock of Hair, which I was forry to 
 fee was hers too, or fo like that I could have 
 fworn to it — how he came by it, he beft knew, 
 fince it was hardly to be thought fhe would 
 give it him. After this, I infpedled fome half 
 dozen Madrigals and Canzone, which were 
 
5 8 Of Laura Ariente, 
 
 chiefly remarkable for this, that the Name of 
 Leonora was fcratched through wherever it 
 occurred, and Laura fubftituted, with the 
 Addition of bella^ cara^ or fome other epithet 
 to make it fcan. This tickled my Fancy, the 
 Artifice feemed fo fhallow; I thought I would 
 touch up his Verfes a Bit, fo took up a Pencil, 
 and fubftituted for every Word that could 
 be conftrued dangerous^ another of the fame 
 Sound but of fafer Import ; as for Example, 
 inftead of " Ardire, fofpiro, delirando, fuoco, 
 amiamo," " Udire, refpiro, ambulando, gioco, 
 pranziamo." 
 
 I was juft contemplating my Performance 
 with a filent Grin, when 'Tajjo^ haftily entering, 
 cries, 
 
 ^^ Co/petto! what are you about with my 
 Papers?" then, fweeping them haftily up 
 without obferving what I had done, he thruft 
 them into the Bureau, and withdrawing one of 
 them, ftiowed it to me with great Glee, faying, 
 
 " See what a capital Device I have hit upon 
 for efcaping Danger, if my Papers ftiould be 
 feized in my Abfence ! — I am off" immediately 
 
and the Fifty Condufions. 59 
 
 to Padua, on the preffing Invitation of Sctpio 
 Gonzaga, and am going to take the fix fi- 
 nifiied Cantos of my '■Jerujalem' with me; but 
 I fhall leave thefe Perfonalities behind, now I 
 have made them fafe under Lock and Key." 
 Saying which, he replaced the Paper with the 
 reft, turned the Key and put it in his Pocket. 
 I thought the Lock a better Security than the 
 Emendations^ fo let the Matter reft; and was 
 right glad to hear he was going to Padua, 
 where he would undoubtedly be carefi~ed and 
 run after fo as to put all his Love-fancies out 
 of his Head. I faid, " Have you Plenty of 
 Money ? " 
 
 " Well," faid he, pulling out a few Scudi, 
 " this is all. But Scipio won't let me want." 
 
 " Nay," faid I, " don't begin yotir Vifit by 
 borrowing of him. Rather than that, you 
 ftiall be welcome to all I have about me, and 
 we can fettle it fome future Time. As Pliny 
 faid to ^inctiiian, ' The Smallnefs of the 
 Prefent will make it acceptable.' " So I gave 
 him a few Lire, for which he thanked me 
 moft cordially, and then wifhed him a plea- 
 
6o Of Laura Ariente, 
 
 fant Journey. The Vetturino was at the 
 Door when I went forth, and, before I reached 
 the End of the Street, 'Tajfo trotted paft me 
 and merrily waved his Hand. 
 
 A few Months had paiTed, when, one Day, 
 I faw fome one in advance of me in the Street, 
 whom, if it had not been for a fomewhat 
 more ftaid and dignified Gait than was his 
 wont, I fhould have concluded to be 'Tajfo. 
 He it was, however; for, on entering the 
 Princefles' Reception Chamber, I found hun 
 bending his Knee to Madama Leonora^ and 
 kifling her Hand with Ardour ; while fhe, on 
 her Part, was receiving him with a heightened 
 Colour which fhowed anything but Indiffe- 
 rence. The next Moment he had rifen, and 
 fhe began' to afk him many Queflions con- 
 cerning his Stay at Padua, Pavia, Milan, 
 and Mantua; at which laft Place, it appeared, 
 he had vifited his Father, whofe Joy at feeing 
 him, he faid, had been far more delightful 
 to him than the flattering Attentions he 
 had received from his old Univerfity Com- 
 panions. 
 
and the Fifty Concluftons. 6i 
 
 The next Day, I met Manzuoli, the Car- 
 dinal's Secretary, who fhook off // Farfallone^ 
 with whom he was walking, and joined me. 
 I chatted with him for a While, and afked 
 him what Progrefs young Tajfo made in the 
 Efteem of his Patron and the Gentlemen 
 his Attendants. His Reply was, " Everybody 
 likes him ; as how fhould they do otherwife ? 
 Howbeit, the young Fellow has juft gone to 
 the Duke, foaming with Rage, becaufe he fays 
 fome one has been meddling with his Bureau 
 in his Abfence, and rummaging among his 
 Papers, and he is refolved to have Redrefs." 
 
 I faid, "Redrefs? what Redrefs can he get? 
 He cannot make the Thing undone, if any- 
 one has been fo fhabby as to fearch and read 
 his Papers." 
 
 " It is an unpardonable Offence, however," 
 faid Manzuoli, " and I cannot wonder at his 
 Anger, even though he gets no Good by it." 
 
 I faid, "He will get Flarm inftead of 
 Good, and only make himfelf Enemies. 
 Whom does he fufpedt ? " 
 
 Manzuoli fhrugged his Shoulders, and faid. 
 
62 Of Laura Ariente, 
 
 " He has Enemies, as you know as well as 1 
 do ; but 'tis ill mentioning Names." And To 
 pafTed on. 
 
 It never occurred to me at the Time, that 
 I might have created the ImprefTion the 
 Bureau had been broken open, by the ridicu- 
 lous Alterations I had made in his Verfes, for 
 the Sake of making him laugh when he joined 
 me; inftead of which, having other Matters 
 in his Head, he had locked up his Papers 
 without looking at them, and the Thing had 
 pafTed from me. 
 
 At this Time, the Paftoral Comedy of 
 "Z(? Sfortunato" which had been for fome 
 Time in Rehearfal, was to be reprefented in 
 the Duke's private Theatre ; which was merely 
 a Saloon fitted up with a Stage, Curtain, and 
 a few Scenes, T^ajfo fate at Madama Leonoras 
 Feet to witnefs it ; and, as the Poetry was 
 very poor, fhe alked him if he did not think 
 he could do Something better in the fame Way, 
 in Confequence of which, he fome time after- 
 wards wrote the " Amintar 
 
 Meantime, however, the Court was con- 
 
and the Fifty Conclufions. 6^ 
 
 tinually in Admiration of the pretty Pieces 
 he was producing in Honour of Laura Ariente^ 
 which were circulated from Hand to Hand, 
 and on every Lip. She herfelf took the 
 Homage mighty little to Heart, being full of 
 her Engagement to the Count ; and the 
 worft of it was that I knew, all the While, 
 they were really written for Madama Leonora^ 
 and offered to her and read by her with that 
 Knowledge, while Lauras Name was only 
 ufed for a Colour. This was both wrong 
 and highly dangerous ; and the Matter was 
 made very little better by his ufing precifely 
 the fame Artifice with Madama Lucrezia ; 
 writing Verfes to her from Time to Time 
 which were currently fuppofed to be addreffed 
 to Signora Lucrezia Bendidio. This nearly 
 got him into a Scrape with one who was not 
 too well difpofed towards him already, Pigna^ 
 the Duke's Secretary, who was paying his 
 AddrefTes to Lucrezia Bendidio, and who, 
 being a Poet himfelf, though a very bad one, 
 conceited 'Tajfo to be his Rival in more Ways 
 than one. 
 
64 Of Laura Ariente, 
 
 Now, thefe Verfes to the Signora Bendidio 
 had fo very little Imprefs of real Feehng in 
 them, that they might juft as well have been 
 infcribed openly to Madama Lucrezia, with- 
 out the leaft Offence in the World ; and my 
 Opinion was, that they would never have 
 been concocted at all, whether to this Lucrezia 
 or that, but to ferve as a Kind of Counter- 
 poife to the Verfes to Leonora and Laura. 
 And this argued a Kind of Subtlety and Sub- 
 terfuge in our young Poet, by no Means 
 natural to him, and which I was very forry to 
 fee. Becaufe, where there's Myftery, there's 
 Something to be hid ; and where there's Some- 
 thing to be hid, there's Something that had 
 better not fee the Light. And that's my 
 plain Thought, for as old a Courtier as I 
 am. 
 
 Approaching within Earfhot of them one 
 Day, I heard Madama Leonora fay, laughing, 
 " You will certainly make him your Enemy 
 if you pay her fuch open Attention. Take 
 my Advice, and make him your Friend and 
 Partizan inftead." 
 
and the Fifty Conclufions. 6^ 
 
 " But how is that poffible ? " fays Taffb. 
 
 " Oh ! praife his Verfes." 
 
 " His Vtrksl" 
 
 " Yes, his Verfes, bad as they are — he is 
 very eafily flattered about them. Do try to 
 conciliate him." 
 
 TaJ/o fhrugged his Shoulders ; but in the 
 Courfe of a few Days, we were made the 
 Auditors of a mock-laudatory Criticifm on 
 Pigna's Poetry, fo delicately and cleverly 
 written that he and his Friends took it for 
 real Compliment, and were highly gratified 
 by it, while in Fa6l it was Irony from Be- 
 ginning to End. Again I faw Danger ; but 
 he was blind or recklefs, and either could not 
 or would not admit any. 
 
 At this Epoch, however, ^aj/b could do no 
 Wrong, for he was the Darling of fo many 
 Hearts and the admired of fo many Eyes, 
 that even his Enemies were obliged to be at 
 Peace with him. There was a fine Show of 
 Wit, one Evening, between him and the 
 Signora Orfina Cavaletti^ a Woman of Gifts 
 as rare as her Beauty, who provoked him by 
 
66 Of Laura Ariente, 
 
 faying that Women were capable of deeper 
 and more conftant Love than Men. He 
 took up the Glove with great Spirit, to the 
 Delight and Recreation of all prefent, till at 
 Length a Circle clofed round them, hanging 
 on the Lips of each in Turn. Madama Leonora 
 took a fine Emerald from her Finger, to 
 beftow on the ViAor ; but neither would give 
 in, nor could the Queftion be decided by- 
 Vote ; and even the royal Sifters were divided, 
 Madama Leonora fiding with Tajfo., and Ma- 
 dama Lucrezia with Signora Orfina., who, 
 with a great many Words, which Ladies 
 always ufe, and with very pretty A6tion and 
 ingenious Application, cited Dido deferted by 
 ^neaSy Ariadne forfaken by 'The/eus, Argia 
 {lain for burying Polynices, Artemijia, who 
 drank the Afhes of Mausolus^ Laodamia^ who 
 burnt herfelf for Protefilaus^ with many other 
 Inftances more than I can count. To which 
 TaJJo, after picking Holes in the Sleeves of 
 moft or many of the before-named Heroines, as 
 that the Idolatry of Artemifia^ the Impatience 
 of Laodamia^ the Suicide of Ariadne^ the Jea- 
 
and the Fifty Concluftons. G-j 
 
 loufy of Medea ^ were no true and infallible 
 Signs and Parts of Love, did proceed from 
 Hiftory (wherein I mufl fay I thought 
 Signora Orfina had the better Ground,) to 
 Logic ; and winnowed and fifted the Caufes of 
 Things, with fuch confummate and mafterful 
 Art, that opinions were divided as to which 
 the Meed fhould be awarded to. Signora 
 Orfina^ like another Clorinda, came down 
 upon her Antagonift the Moment he flopped 
 to draw Breath, with the notable Example of 
 Alceftis^ felf-facrificed for Admetus, and with- 
 drawn from Hell by Hercules. Tajfo met her 
 with OrpheuSj voluntarily entering the Gates 
 of Hell to fave Eurydice. Signora Orfina 
 faid, that was only one Inftance to fet againft 
 many, and that either his Memory was bad 
 or his Caufe was bad : that everybody prefent 
 knew he had a good Memory, and therefore 
 it muft be that he had a bad Caufe. '^affo 
 laughed and faid that was a disjunctive 
 Syllogifm ; and he would give her another : 
 Either Women could not be proved to love 
 better than Men, or Signora Orfina was no 
 
 F 2 
 
68 Of Laura Arlente, 
 
 Reafoner. Signora Orfina was a Reafoner. 
 Women could not be proved to love better 
 than Men. 
 
 I noted Madama Lucrezias Colour vary 
 a good deal during the Controverfy, and at 
 length, when Tajfo received the Ring, flie 
 abruptly said, " I wonder at you, Leonora ; 
 I had thought you truer to your Sex ; " with 
 which Words fhe rofe and fwept away from 
 the Circle, followed by fome of her Suite, 
 myfelf among the reft. On my reftoring 
 to her her Fan, which ftie had dropped, ftie 
 faid to me in a low voice, " 'Tajfo would 
 almoft perfuade my Sifter that black is white;" 
 and bit her Lip pretty ftiarply. 
 
 The Duke and Duchefs were at Play, and 
 challenged her to ftake, which prefently en- 
 gaged her Thoughts in another Direction. 
 On my returning to Madama Leonora, I 
 found her and her Party arranging with much 
 Zeft the Preliminaries of a Defence of fifty 
 Conclufions or Points of Love, which Tajfo 
 declared himfelf ready to make publicly 
 againft all Comers. It was at length propofed 
 
and the Fifty Conduftons. 69 
 
 that this Encounter of Wits fhould take 
 place in the Academy, which fhould be turned 
 for the Occafion into a Theatre of Ladies and 
 Cavaliers. 
 
 Ill would it become me, a Man without the 
 leaft Eloquence or Imagination, to give the 
 Details of this fanciful and extravagant Per- 
 formance, which, for the Time, occupied 
 every one of the fmalleft Pretenfions to 
 Wit or Senfe. Ladies as well as Gentlemen 
 took up the Gauntlet, fentimental DifcufTions 
 were going on from Morning to Night, 
 Precedents and Allufions hunted up from old 
 Hiftories and Poets, till Nothing but Love, 
 Love, Love, was heard of from one end of 
 Ferrara to the other. It is enough to fay 
 that // Farfallo, the Butterfly of the Court, 
 had his Finger in the Pie and made the moft 
 of it. I was fick of it, for my Part, and 
 efteemed it Folly. I don't remember one of 
 the Conclufions, not I, nor took any Pains to 
 get up any of the Arguments at the Time ; 
 I remember lending Tajfo the Money to get 
 his beft Coat out of Pawn, and giving him 
 
yo Of Laura Ariente. 
 
 a new Pair of fringed Gloves, for I could not 
 bear that thofe who could not call him fdly 
 fhould call him fhabby. And I remember 
 Madama Leonora wore a pale lilac Suit fhot 
 with Silver, and looked extremely beautiful ; 
 and that Signora Orfina kept her Ground fo 
 well on the Queftion whether Women loved 
 more deeply and conftantly than Men, that it 
 was looked on as a drawn Battle, and Tajfo 
 called her his fair Enemy ever after. In the 
 Main, I am minded to think the Lady was in 
 the right on't, but in the particular Inftance, 
 I confider 'TaJfo to have fupported his Caufe 
 with Health, Liberty, and Life. But he was 
 one of a thoufand, and Heaven forbid there 
 fhould be many to run the fame fad Courfe ! 
 
m 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone's being placed in an exceedingly 
 embarrassing Situation. 
 
 ■HE third Day's Controverfy having 
 ended, with great honour to 'Tasso, 
 I haftened, while the Academy, the 
 Court, and the very Streets were ringing with 
 his Praifes, to congratulate him in his own 
 Lodgings, where I expected to find him in a 
 perfect Tumult and Ecftafy of gratified Pride. 
 Inftead of which, there fate the poor young 
 Fellow with his Arms caft upon the Table, 
 and his Head upon his Arms, crying and 
 fobbing like a Child. 
 
 " Who's there?" cries he, looking up with 
 his Face all fmeared with Tears, " Ser Panta- 
 leone ? Oh, Ser Pantaleone ! my dear Father 
 
72 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 is ill and dying at OJiia ; negleded, pillaged, 
 and deferted by his Servants, far away from 
 his Children and his Friends ! — Here's a 
 Sequel to my Conclufions ! Inftead of chop- 
 ping Logic and bandying fantaftic Speeches 
 with all Comers, I would I had been many 
 Miles on my Road to him ere this ! I am 
 about to repair the Evil as foon as I may, 
 and have already fent for a Vetturino." 
 
 I waited to fee him off, confoling and 
 cheering him all I could, and doing him the 
 moft fubftantial Service in my Power, by 
 giving him a little ready Money. He em- 
 braced me heartily, bade me convey his Grief 
 and Duty to the PrincefTes, promifed to write 
 to me, and charged me to write to him. 
 
 In Place of a Letter from him, I got one 
 fhortly from the Dodor he had called in to his 
 Father, telling me that Mefler Bernardo was 
 dead, and that his pious Son, after tending 
 him with a Woman's Duty and Affection, 
 Day and Night, was now experiencing fo 
 fevere a Readion as to be fick in Bed, without 
 Power to move Hand or Foot, but hoped 
 
Embarrajfing Situation. 73 
 
 foon to be fufficiently reftored to return to 
 Ferrara. 
 
 I fhed Tears for my excellent old Friend, 
 and felt drawn all the more towards his Son, 
 by the filial Duty with which he had fmoothed 
 his dying Pillow. I remembered them in my 
 Prayers, and thought a good deal on the Sub- 
 je6t of Death ; how that all muft die, whether 
 in Courts or Cottages, and fome a good Deal 
 fooner than they look for or like ; how that 
 we are all growing older Day by Day, whether 
 we look in our Mirrors or not, or are told of 
 it by our Companions, or have it carefully 
 concealed from us ; how that, next to the 
 Power of Death and old Age is the Power 
 of Habit, which makes us fancy ourfelves the 
 fame to-day we were yefterday, and able to 
 do the fame and be the fame this Year as 
 a Year ago, or the Year before that ; whereas 
 it is quite otherwife ; and every little ftifFen- 
 ing of the Joints, or attenuating of the Limbs, 
 or {looping of the Shoulders, or dulling of 
 the Faculties, which we are fo apt to think 
 accidental and vexatious, ought rather to be 
 
74 0/ Ser Pantaleone'j- 
 
 accepted as merciful Hints that we are getting 
 on towards being not quite To young as we 
 v/ere. 
 
 Having charged Monna Jacintha to let me 
 know when he returned, a little Lad dropped 
 in one Morning, to tell me he had come back 
 overnight. I therefore fought him Immedi- 
 ately, and found him wan, worn, and utterly 
 fpiritlefs. He wept on my Shoulder, and I 
 mingled my Tears with his, and had a long 
 Talk with him about MeiTer Bernardo^ he 
 giving me all the Particulars of his Death, 
 and I recalling many little Traits of him in 
 early Life, which It folaced us much to dwell 
 upon. After which I preffed him to go out 
 with me ; but he held back. " Come," faid 
 I, " we are reverfing the Parts of Pliny the 
 elder and Fliny the younger; for I want you 
 to walk, and you want to read." So he went 
 with me to Church. 
 
 About a Week after this, the Duke fum- 
 moned me to his Clofet, where I found his 
 Highnefs alone, and feemlngly much chafed. 
 He bade me clofe the Door carefully ; and 
 
Emharrajffing Situation. 75 
 
 then, fummoning me clofe to him, fhowed me 
 a Scrap of written Paper, and faid, " Whofe 
 Handwriting is that?" 
 
 I fcrewed up my Eyes, and looked nar- 
 rowly at it, this Way and that, though I knew 
 well enough whofe it was all the Time ; and 
 at laft said, — " It's a Queftion to puzzle the 
 Sphinx." 
 
 " You may at leaft hazard a Conjecture," 
 said the Duke, with impatience. 
 
 "Well — It has the Appearance of being 
 — either — Claudia Bertazzolo's, or 'Torquato 
 Tasso's — unless, indeed, it be Pinza's." 
 
 " Who writes not like either of them," 
 cried the Duke, Impatiently, " neither do 
 they write like one another. You name truly 
 the right Man along with the others — it Is 
 Tasso's." 
 
 " Indeed !" faid I, with a Look of Surprlfe. 
 
 " Evidently," faid the Duke. " Now read 
 what he has written, and fay what you think 
 of it." 
 
 I read the unfortunate Sonnet, which had 
 been torn and thrown over the Baluftrade, 
 
76 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 but had been carefully pafted together again, 
 and faid, quietly, 
 
 " Here appears to be a fort of Allegory." 
 
 " Allegory ! " cried the Duke. " How 
 make you out that?" 
 
 '' It feems to be a Sonnet in praife of 
 Honour," faid I ; "he avers that he thirfts, 
 he pines for Honour — " 
 
 " For Leonora^' interrupted the Duke. 
 
 I looked astoniflied. 
 
 He fnatched the Paper from me, impa- 
 tiently, and faid, 
 
 " How elfe render you ? 
 
 Coftei Leonora co'l hel nome ? " 
 
 " Aha !" cried I, as if the Pun firft dawned 
 upon me, " an ingenious Play upon Words ! 
 — and truly, more ingenious even of your 
 Highnefs to make out, than of the Poet to 
 frame ! One of thofe witty Conceits, worth 
 little or nothing in themfelves, on which 
 young Authors are fo fond of exercifing their 
 Invention — and a graceful Compliment, be- 
 fides, to Madama Leonora, who has been 
 
Embarr offing Situation. 77 
 
 pretty nearly furfeited with fuch Incenfe from 
 Childhood." 
 
 " Hark you, Ser Pantaleone" faid his 
 Highnefs, fternly, " here is Something a 
 good Deal worfe than mere Compliment : 
 this Youth, inflated and fpoilt by the Con- 
 defcenfion with which we have treated him, 
 has dared to raife his audacious Affections to 
 an Object whom it is next to Treafon for him 
 to think of, fave as. his Liege-lady — " 
 
 " On my Life, no," cried I, haftily. 
 
 *' Silence, Ser Pantaleone ! You are attached 
 to the young Man, and are ready to defend 
 him at any Hazard ; you are, however, a tried 
 and faithful Servant of our Houfe, and I am 
 about to enable you to give Proof of your 
 being fo. It is of import to our Honour 
 that this Matter ihould at once be feen to ; 
 according to the Refult, the young Man will 
 be dealt with feverely or kindly. He is now 
 about to repair into the Prefence of Ma- 
 dama Leonora, who, according to my Ar- 
 rangement, will fee him alone. The Nature 
 of the Interview muft be watched : in the 
 
78 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 Wall of the Neptune Apartment, and concealed 
 by the Tapeftry, are two Clofets from whence 
 may be both feen and heard what pafTes in the 
 Chamber. In thefe Clofets, which have fre- 
 quently been ufeful for State Purpofes, I 
 intend to place you and Claudio Bertazzolo — " 
 
 " Ah !" ejaculated I. 
 
 " — Who will each give me, feparately, an 
 Account of what you fee and hear ; and by 
 the Correfpondence of your Reports I fhall 
 be enabled to judge of your Veracity." 
 
 My Soul recoiled from the OfEce. The 
 Duke, feeing me about to remonftrate, fternly 
 faid, " Operibus, non Verbis ; are you pre- 
 paring to difobey me ? " 
 
 Thereupon I remembered how futile it 
 would be, as Bertazzolo would have the Game 
 in his own Hands ; and I replied, '' No, my 
 Lord," though I inly winced. Without 
 another Syllable, his Highnefs coolly ban- 
 daged my Eyes himfelf, with his own Hand- 
 kerchief, and led me fome little Diftance, 
 when, without the fmalleft Notice, I found 
 myfelf fhut into a tight little Box, foftly 
 
EmbarraJJing Situation. 79 
 
 padded. Thereupon I took the Liberty of 
 removing the Bandage from my Eyes, and 
 found my Cell dimly lighted by a Couple 
 of little Eye-holes, which I inftantly availed 
 myfelf of, and found myfelf overlooking a 
 Chamber which Madama Leonora occafionally, 
 but not very often, occupied. She herfelf was 
 fitting on a Sofa, almoft immediately beneath 
 me, fo clofe that I could tell every Breath fhe 
 drew by the foft, gentle Rife and Fall of her 
 Lace Tucker, and count every Mefh in the 
 Gold Network which enclofed her beautiful 
 Hair. She was ftringing Pearls on a fine Sil- 
 ver Thread, taking them one by one from 
 a little Tortoife-fhell Box which ftood befide 
 her on a fmall Ivory Table : her little Foot, 
 flippered in white Satin, refted on a Footftool 
 of crimfon Velvet ; and, as fhe flrung her 
 Pearls, fhe hummed a little to herfelf, " Come 
 leggiadra, come vezzofa," &c., then paufed, 
 refled her Face a little while on her Hand in 
 penfive Reflection, then refumed her Work, 
 with an Air more ferious, without being fad. 
 I felt like a dreadful Villain, thus lying in 
 
8o Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 Wait behind my auguft Miftrefs, to take Ad- 
 vantage of her in her apparent Privacy, and 
 felt it Sacrilege to be looking on, even while 
 fhe thus in Silence purfued a trifling Occu- 
 pation. How horrible did it feem, then, that 
 I was neceffitated to overhear and privately 
 report what might be of the moft fatal Con- 
 fequence to the two Perfons I moft cared 
 for on Earth ! — and how yet more horrible 
 to know, that even if I shut my Eyes and 
 stopped my Ears, Claudia Bertazzolo was 
 within a Stone's Throw of me, with equal 
 Facility to fee, hear, and report all, be it much 
 or be it little. 
 
 On Reflection, I was as glad I fliould be 
 there to be a Check on him, as forry he 
 fliould be there to be a Check on me. For, 
 glad as I fliould have been to fupprefs or glofs 
 over Anything to the Difadvantage of my 
 royal Miftrefs and my Friend, I knew Clau- 
 dia's Truth to be much lefs to be relied on 
 than mine, and that for his own malicious 
 Purpofes he would make the Harmlefs appear 
 bad, and the Bad appear worfe. 
 
Embarrajfing Situation. 8i 
 
 Likewife, knowing the high Tone of Feel- 
 ing of both the Parties, I was greatly in 
 Hopes that Nothing could occur to the 
 Detriment of either. 
 
 Meantime, Madama Leonora continued 
 ftringing her Pearls fo long (or at leaft it 
 feemed long to One in my Pofition), that 
 I began to doubt whether fhe would be in- 
 terrupted at all, or would not rather finifh 
 her Employment, and retire to fome other 
 Apartment, like a Bird efcaping from the 
 Snare of the Fowler. 
 
 Juft as Sufpenfe was becoming next to 
 unbearable, I heard a tapping or fcratching 
 againft the outer Door, which was the Mode 
 whereby any Courtier fignified a defire to 
 enter ; and immediately Madama Leonora faid, 
 in her fweet, calm, gentle Voice, " Come in." 
 
 'Tajfo immediately entered, bowed pro- 
 foundly, then approached, then kneeling on 
 one Knee, prefented her with a Nofegay of 
 choice Flowers, faying, 
 
 " Madama, his Highnefs commanded me 
 to convey thefe Flowers to the excellent 
 
 G 
 
82 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 whltenefs of your fair Hands, with his loving 
 Greeting." 
 
 " I accept them with Pleafure," replied fhe ; 
 " and thank my good Brother for fending 
 them by you," 
 
 " Madama," rejoined the young Man, " you 
 enrich by your Goodnefs One who in all Things 
 but Gratitude is a poor Beggar." 
 
 "Why, are you going?" fays fhe, cheer- 
 fully ; " cannot you ftay and chat a little ? 
 I have Something to fay to you." 
 
 He inftantly paufed, in an Attitude of pro- 
 found Refpect. I fhould premife, that in 
 what followed, his Voice, always harmonious, 
 was mournful Mufic. 
 
 " Sit down, Tap: 
 
 He fat down on a Cufhion at her Feet, 
 a few Paces off. 
 
 " Is there any News ftirring to-day ? " 
 
 " Indeed, Madama, I know not." 
 
 — " TaJJoj how changed you are ! Inftead 
 of being the cheerful, entertaining Companion 
 you ufed to be, you now deal only in Mono- 
 fyllables." 
 
Embarrajfing Situation. 83 
 
 " Madama, I have loft my Father." 
 
 " It is an irreparable Lofs, and one which it 
 does you Credit to feel fo deeply ; but yet 
 one that was liable to befal you in the Courfe 
 of Nature." 
 
 " I find Nothing in my own Mind, Ma- 
 dama, that can receive Confolation under a 
 Lofs, from the mere Confideration that it was 
 in the Courfe of Nature." 
 
 " l^ajfo-f what fhall I fay to you ! I want 
 to cheer you, but you deprive me of the 
 Means. What fhould you yourfelf fay to me 
 if our Pofitions were reverfed ? " 
 
 " For Mercy's fake, gracious Lady, do not 
 prefent fuch a Reverfal of Pofitions to my 
 Mind for a Moment ! I cannot ftand it." 
 
 " Nay, I will know." 
 
 " I would fay—" 
 
 " Come, proceed — What do you fear, 
 TaJ]o ? — you need not fear me.'' 
 
 " I would fay ... ' TaJJo—' " He burft 
 into Tears. 
 
 They were both profoundly filent for fome 
 Minutes. It was not difficult to judge how 
 
 G 2 
 
84 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 they felt. For my own Part, my Eyes be- 
 came To full of Tears, that I was obliged to 
 ^wipe them repeatedly, and I liftened with in- 
 tenfe Intereft for what fhould be faid next. 
 
 " Go," fhe faid at length, in ftifled Accents, 
 " this becomes too affecting to me. I am no 
 longer capable of offering you the Confolation 
 I defired." 
 
 " Madama — you are miftaken — your di- 
 vine Sympathy is the moft exquifite Confola- 
 tion my Soul is capable of receiving. For 
 every heavenly Tear you are fhedding for me, 
 I would willingly fhed the lafl Drop of my 
 Blood." 
 
 " Go, 'Tajfo . . . go, dear Tajfo ; I befeech, 
 I command you. I am not very well to- 
 day, and have been too eafily overcome. I 
 would not have any One find me thus, — go, 
 excellent young Man, and be affured that no 
 Monument raifed to your Father's Worth can 
 be fo precious as his Son's Tears." 
 
 Saying which, fhe rofe in Agitation from 
 the Couch, and, in fo doing, overfet the little 
 Cafket befide her, the Pearls in which rolled 
 
Embarrajfing Situation. 85 
 
 hither and thither ; while thofe which fhe had 
 been ftringing fell from the little Table to the 
 Ground a Pace or two off. Mechanically fhe 
 caught at them at the fame Time that TassOy 
 with an eager Spring towards them, would have 
 saved her the Trouble. Involuntarily, his Foot 
 touched her Hand, not fo as to tread on it and 
 mangle it, but ftill fo as to touch, and perhaps 
 even flightly to hurt it. His face became fuf- 
 fufed with the deepeft Blufh, he caft himfelf on 
 the Ground before her, caught her Hand with 
 both his own, and kifled it pafTionately again 
 and again, as though in Contrition for the 
 Hurt he had unintentionally given it. Not 
 a Word was fpoken by either, but I could tell 
 from her Attitude, and the varying Colour of 
 her downcaft Face, that fhe was deeply moved. 
 The next Inftant fhe drew her Hand from his, 
 and with a Geflure of Farewell quitted the 
 Apartment. Being flill on his Knees, he was 
 no fooner alone, than he flung himfelf all 
 along on the Ground, with total Self-abandon- 
 ment, and remained fo for a Minute or two — 
 then haflily rifmg, ftood with folded Arms 
 
86 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 a little while, as If to regain his Self-pofTefTion, 
 and then rapidly walked off. 
 
 My whole Heart was fo engaged in the 
 Scene and the Actors, that I forgot, for the 
 Time, the Reafon of my being placed where 
 I was, and only gazed, liftened, and wept, as 
 a fympathizing Spectator. I had fcarcely 
 come to myfelf, when fome One behind me 
 whifpered, " Replace your Bandage," which 
 I immediately did, and was again led forth. 
 In a couple of Minutes, the Duke uncovered 
 my Eyes, and I then found myfelf with him, 
 not in his Clofet, but in the Gallery adjoining 
 it. He prefTed his Hand heavily on my 
 Shoulder, as if for Support, as we proceeded 
 to his Clofet ; and on the Way thither, we 
 pafTed Claudia Bertazzolo, who glided by, 
 looking as if Butter would not melt in his 
 Mouth, though I was pretty fure he had 
 feen and heard all that I had, and reported 
 it too. 
 
 Arrived in the Clofet, the Duke caft him- 
 felf into a Chair, and then faid, " Now, tell 
 me all that pafTed." 
 
Embarrajfing Situation. 87 
 
 I faid, " My Lord Duke, allow me to 
 refledl a little." 
 
 He fmiled grimly, as though fufpeding 
 I was going to prepare a garbled Account. 
 I had no fuch thought in my Head, however, 
 knowing it to be ufelefs ; but the real Fad: 
 was, that having liftened, not as a Spy, but as 
 a deeply interested Party, Feeling had, for the 
 Nonce, overpowered Recolleftion, and I could 
 not, at the Inftant, recal a fingle Word. 
 
 A Minute or two, of intenfe Effort, re- 
 ftored to me the Whole, verbatim; and I at 
 the fame Time became aware that, apart from 
 Tone, Gefture, and dumb Show, there was 
 Nothing that could give Umbrage. 
 
 I told off the whole Dialogue, literally, 
 from Beginning to End, without the leaft 
 Inflexion of my Voice, juft as a Schoolboy 
 would run off his Leffon. 
 
 The Duke fhaded his Eyes with his Hand 
 while he heard me, with what I feared was a 
 finifter kind of Smile on his Lips, Then, 
 after a Paufe, he raifed himfelf from his half 
 recumbent Pofition, looked up at me, and faid. 
 
88 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 " Well, — fo far corredl — as far as bare 
 Words, — without any Mention, however, of 
 the KifTing." 
 
 " My Lord," cried I, " if Claudio faid the 
 young Man kilfed her Lips or Cheek, he lied 
 like a Traitor and Villain ! " 
 
 " He faid neither one nor the other," 
 replied the Duke, drily ; " neither did yoUj 
 Ser Pantaleone, make any Allufion to the 
 Paffion with which he kifled her Hand." 
 
 " Something got into my Eye," faid L 
 
 " It was well, then, that I kept mine open," 
 faid the Duke. " I changed my Mind after- 
 wards, about putting Claudio into the other 
 Clofet, and thought it as well to make Ufe of 
 it myfelf. I find you, as I expected, a faith- 
 ful, though fomewhat dry Reporter. Had 
 Leonora's Heart been aifailed only by Tones 
 as monotonous as yours, I ihould be in little 
 Fear for her, S^rPantaleone ! — But the Young- 
 fter has the very Soul of Love in every Accent 
 of his Voice — it is genuine ! it is real ! — " 
 
 " And it is reftrained," faid L 
 
 " Y— es," faid the Duke, doubtfully ; " but 
 
EmbarraJJing Situation. 89 
 
 it Is dangerous. Ser Fantaleone, you may- 
 no w go." 
 
 " Have mercy on him, your Highnefs ! 
 He is young! he is good! — " 
 
 " He is the Honour of our Court ! — But 
 we muft alfo look to the Honour of our 
 Family." 
 
 " My Life on his V 
 
 " Enough. I will care for him. Have no 
 Fears." 
 
 And he waved his Hand, which was as 
 much as to bid me retire. I did fo, with 
 a full Heart. And he aflumed a refledlive 
 Air, which was occafionally his Wont, when 
 he was about to meditate fomething Cruel. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Of Ser PantaleoneV Breakfast al Fresco. 
 
 ^^f'"¥JJ Italian, gets it into his Head that 
 ^,-^ifc^ the Honour of his Hoiife is af- 
 fronted, or in anyi Way endangered, there 
 is no knowing what may come next. You 
 lofe Sight of your Man ! What has become 
 of him ? No One knows. Peradventure 
 he is fick, or fulky, or has abfconded from 
 his Creditors, or has been fent on fome fecret 
 MifTion of importance. No One knows, for 
 no One inquires ; till, fome Day or other, 
 he is found at the Bottom of a Well ; or a 
 Fifh-pond proves to have its Secrets as well 
 as the Lake of Lerna ; or a Bit of his Hair or 
 
Breakfast al Fresco. 9 1 
 
 his Cloak Is perceived flicking out of the 
 Ground, and People fearch and find his bloody 
 Corpfe, and fhrug their Shoulders, and go 
 their Ways. 
 
 Befides, there are other and quieter Ways 
 of fettling thefe Matters. Drugged Wines, 
 poifoned Gloves, poifoned Fruits, Ices, and 
 Sweetmeats, Acqua di 'Toffania^ Trap-doors, 
 Chefts with Spring-locks. — 
 
 His Highnefs's firft Duchefs had been 
 removed. That had not hindered him of 
 winning a fecond ; a young and beautiful 
 Archduchefs, too ! What a mere Trifle, 
 then, would be the removal of a young Poet, 
 with no Family or Faction to fupport him ! 
 Tajfo was, indeed, well born, his Connexions 
 were excellent, but they would not take up 
 his Quarrel. Befides, quarrel? with a reigning 
 Duke? Piha!— 
 
 Altogether, I felt very uneafy about my 
 young Friend. He was endeared to me by 
 his pleafant Ways even more than by his 
 noble Gifts ; he was agreeable to me, inte- 
 refting to me, — I loved him. Befides, my 
 
9-2 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 Nature was tender; — though bred a Soldier, 
 I had never drawn Blood in a private Quarrel, 
 being of a placable and amiable Difpofitlon ; 
 had never bit my Thumb at a Man, never 
 lain In Walt, never hired a Bravo. We had 
 had no Occurrences of the Sort In our Family, 
 which. Indeed, made Its Annals rather tame, 
 but was agreeable to Its Reprefentatlves ; fince 
 If we were not arrogant, we had certainly 
 never given Reafon for our Neighbours to 
 call us cowardly. We were of the younger 
 Branch of the Gambacorti^ who had fided with 
 the Este Guelfs ever fince the Days of Ec- 
 celino da Romano^ and had never fwerved In 
 the leafl: Degree to the Ghibellines ; yet were 
 not, for that Reafon, always trying to pick 
 a Bone with them, treading on their Heels, 
 or plucking their Beards. My Great-grand- 
 father, Gentikj had even overlooked having 
 his Head nearly broken by a Flower-pot 
 being caft down upon It (purpofely), from 
 the third Story of the Palazzo DiscadutOj by 
 the Heir of that Houfe, then In his fixth 
 Year; and had merely remarked, " By a Child's 
 
Breakfaft al Frejco. 93 
 
 being pert no Honour is hurt," inftead of 
 rufhing into the Houfe, ftriking off the 
 Offender's right Hand, and burying it in a 
 Flower-pot ; and yet he had fo boldly 
 fought the Turks that no Man dared 
 accufe him of Pufillanimity. It may be faid 
 that I inherited his Difpofition — which like- 
 wife came to me, through my Mother, from 
 the Soavi^ v/ho were chiefly Men of Peace, 
 and addi(5led to the Patronage and Cultivation 
 of Letters. 
 
 Now, as I came forth from the Duke's 
 Clofet, I noted without noting, if One may fay 
 fo, a Fold in the Curtain over the Door that 
 looked uncommonly fat and full, which I 
 afterwards extremely regretted I had not 
 pricked with my Sword, for I was perfuaded 
 that if I had, I fhould have heard a little 
 Squeak, In fad. Events gave me Reafon to 
 fufpect that it was highly probable the Duke, 
 who had been playing the Spy, had in his 
 Turn been fpied by that Monkey Page 
 Maddalo, or him whom we were accuftomed to 
 call Brunello, on Account of his mifchievous. 
 
94 Of Ser Pantaleone'j ] 
 
 Impifh Tricks. How elfe fhould what was \ 
 
 known only to the Duke and to me, who had ^ 
 
 every Motive for keeping our own Counfel, 
 creep out and become the Theme of Court 
 GofTips, // Far f alio and others, mahcioufly ; 
 
 diftorted and exaggerated ? 
 
 Thus, it became whifpered about, that 
 Tajfo had kifled the Princefs in the Duke's \ 
 
 Prefence ; which was and yet was not true ; the ' 
 
 Duke being behind the Tapeftry, which was 
 not as though the Liberty had been taken before i 
 
 his Face ; and, befides, he had but kiffed her i 
 
 Hand, which was done twenty Times a Day ' 
 
 by one or another. ! 
 
 However, I no fooner heard the Story 
 from the fneering Lips of AJcanio Geraldini \ 
 
 than I contradicted it flatly to his Face, i 
 
 averring it neither was nor could be true ; \ 
 
 and, having put him down, I pofted off to \ 
 
 Tajfo himfelf, whom I found fcribbling with j 
 
 all his Might. | 
 
 He coloured up when he faw me, con- \ 
 
 cealing what he was writing under fome other \ 
 
 Papers, fo inartificially that if my Curiofity ! 
 
Breakfaji al Frefco. g^ 
 
 had made it worth my while to examine it, 
 I could have drawn it forth with the utmoft 
 Eafe, the Moment his Back was turned. It 
 was this awkward Way of attempting to hide 
 a Myftery when he had one, juft fo as to 
 draw One's Attention to it, which fo much 
 provoked me with him. He was too guilelefs 
 for a Courtier ; being as tranfparent as Mon- 
 teftno's glafs Caftle, while he fancied himfelf 
 as impenetrable as the faid Monteftno's Sub- 
 terrene : and this was inceflantly taken ad- 
 vantage of by thofe who had not a Quarter 
 of his Senfe. 
 
 He faid, " Ha, Ser Pantaleone ! you are 
 early this Morning." 
 
 I replied, " I am, purpofely, for I wanted 
 to find you at Home, and when People are 
 hawking, fowling, or in Church, fo that we 
 fhall not be interrupted. An awkward Report 
 of you has got about, which may do you great 
 Damage, unlefs you take care to prove, even 
 oftentatioufly, by the fcrupuloufnefs o^ your 
 Condu6t, that it was, as I am fure it muft 
 have been, unfounded." 
 
96 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 He faid, fomewhat excited, "What can 
 you mean ? " 
 
 " The Story goes," replied I, bluntly, " that 
 you have kifled Madama Leonora'' 
 
 He turned red, and burft out laughing. 
 " Who has dared fet that about ? " cried he. 
 
 " Nay," faid I ; " I'm not going to give up 
 Names. I heard it juft now, and I fuppofe 
 you don't doubt my Word." 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone, you are Truth itfelf. 
 You muft name the Man, however, for I 
 muft drive the Lie down his Throat." 
 
 "Firft,— zV it a Lie?" 
 
 " Ah ! how I wifb it were not ! " 
 
 " Tajfo ! your Imprudence literally petrifies 
 me ! How can you be fo mad ? fo 
 foolilli ? " 
 
 " What did you queftion me for, if you did 
 not want to hear the Truth ? I fbould not 
 have faid fo to Everybody, but I thought I 
 might to you." 
 
 "Ah, Torquato, my dear Fellow, I don't 
 want fuch Confidences as thefe. You ought 
 not to whifper them even to your own Heart." 
 
Breakfaji al Frefco. 97 
 
 " Love is a Tyrant, my good old Friend, 
 and will not be fettered." 
 
 " You talk like a Boy and a Coward ; 
 every human PaiTion may be fettered by 
 the Wilir 
 
 " And you talk, my dear good old Ser 
 PantaleonCy like One who has never known 
 what Love is, nor feen him except at the Top 
 of a Valentine, or in a Stage Play, tricked 
 out in Spangles and Gold Paper. But tell 
 me, for I am on Thorns to know, — has 
 Madama Leonora heard this infamous Fabri- 
 cation ? Ah, what Pain it muft have given 
 her ! Nothing but Blood can wipe it out." 
 
 " Juft as if that would make her one 
 Whit happier, jfhe who is all Humanity and 
 Kindnefs ! I have no Reafon whatever to 
 fuppofe fhe has heard it ; but if, as I fufpe6l, 
 that little Imp Maddalo has picked it up, 
 he may convey it to Madama Lucrezia, who 
 gives him only too much Encouragement ; 
 and fhe, flung at the fuppofed Indignity, 
 may carry it to her Sifter, and — " 
 
 " Ah, horrible ! you annoy me beyond 
 
9 8 Of Ser Pantaleone'^ 
 
 Endurance ! I will myfelf go to Madama 
 Leonora and tell her — " 
 
 " What ? Nonfenfe, you cannot. Leave 
 the Matter alone, and let it die out ; only 
 taking wholefome Warning by it to quench 
 a Prediledlion as abfurd as it is dangerous for 
 a Lady, who, however adorned with every 
 Virtue and Grace that can emhellifh a Woman 
 and a Princefs, is old enough to be your 
 Mother." 
 
 "Old enough to be my Mother!" repeated 
 he, crimfoning exceedingly. Then, quite 
 nettled, — 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone, let there not be another 
 Word between us. You have done it, now. 
 Though my own and my Father's Friend, 
 you and I mufl have a deadly Quarrel upon 
 this. Choofe your Weapon, and meet me at 
 Day-dawn To-morrow, in the Pra de' Fioriy 
 juft by where the great Hawthorn and old 
 Dog-rofe intermingle — " 
 
 " Hawthorn ! Dog-rofe ! " interrupted I, 
 burfting out laughing. " My deareft ^ajfo, 
 what a Place ! I will meet you there, I 
 
Breakfafi al Frejco. 99 
 
 promife you, but it muft be to eat Curds 
 and Cream ! " 
 
 " Ser Pant ale one — " 
 
 " Not another Word ! Do you bring 
 Appetite, and I'll bring Cates conforming. 
 I am quite in earneft, and fhall like it beyond 
 Meafure, for I have a thoufand Things I 
 want to talk over with you. If you love me, 
 though, bring your Lute." 
 
 " You are treating me like a Child," (ftill 
 very huffy.) 
 
 " Nonfenfe, I love you too much. Let it 
 be as I have fettled it, I entreat you. I am 
 engaged every Day of the Week and every 
 Hour of the Day, and can make no Arrange- 
 ment with you, if not this." 
 
 And, flinging my Arm about his Neck, 
 I looked eagerly and good-naturedly at him ; 
 till, burfting out a laughing, 
 
 " Let it be fo, then," cries he, with reflored 
 Good-humour. " A fmgular Character you 
 always were, Ser Pantaleone, and a fingular 
 Character you always will be ! " 
 
 "Aye, that I fhall, I dare fay," faid I 
 
lOO Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 merrily ; " I'm full of Faults and Foibles, I 
 very well know, and the only Reafon people 
 put up with me is that they know I've good 
 Intentions." 
 
 " Something more than that, my old Friend." 
 
 *'Oh no. Nothing more, Nothing more. 
 Adieu, adieu — I am off to the Barber -furgeon's 
 to buy fome Freckle-water for Madama 
 Leonora^ 
 
 And waving my Hand gaily to him, I ran 
 oiF, laughing in my Sleeve. 
 
 I might as well have faid the excellent 
 Princefs was old enough to be his Grand- 
 mother while I was about it ; for, in Fad:, fhe 
 was ten Years his fenlor and no more, fo that 
 he had been reafonably provoked by my 
 Exaggeration, which had folely refulted from 
 my Defire to laugh him out of his dangerous 
 Prediledlion at any Price, without my having 
 had fufficient Refpedl for the Perfon of my 
 auguft Miftrefs. 
 
 It was remarkable that the Duchefs Renee^ 
 herfelf the plaineft of Women, fhould have 
 given birth to two Daughters fingularly 
 
Breakfaft al Frejco. loi 
 
 beautiful, and alfo fingularly youthful in 
 their Appearance as they advanced in Life ; 
 fo that both of them became Objeds of 
 fincere PafTion to Men much younger than 
 themfelves. For, not only was Madama 
 Leonora the unqueftionable Objedt of 'Tor- 
 quato's profound Idolatry, but Madama 
 Lucrezia, her fenior by a year, was about 
 this Time fued for in Marriage by the young 
 Prince (foon afterwards Duke) of Urbino. 
 And though State Reafons, wholly indepen- 
 dent of real Preference, undoubtedly caufed 
 this Overture to be made in the firft Inftance, 
 when, indeed, his Highnefs had not fo much 
 as feen our Madama, yet direftly he did fo, 
 he immediately fell in Love with her, being 
 charmed with her Perfon, her Manners^ and 
 her Gifts. But this by the Way. 
 
 When I reached the Place of Appointment 
 the next Morning, attended by a Foot-page 
 bearing a Bafket, I found my young Gentle- 
 man there before me, and his Lute too, caft 
 under the Hawthorn. 
 
 "A fair Morning, my dear Friend," faid L 
 
I02 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 "A fair Morning," returned he, leaving 
 off biting his Nails ; " but, do you know, 
 Ser Pantaleoney the more I refledl on 
 that ugly and very untrue Saying of yours 
 Yefterday— " 
 
 "Hufh, hufh," whifpered I, "don't let's 
 quarrel before the Boy — keep that to the lafl ; 
 I've a fcore of Matters to fettle firft. — Mind 
 that Pie, Rofalvino ! — My dear 'TorquatOy do 
 you happen to have a Clafp-knife or two 
 about you ? " 
 
 " One I have," fays he, " but not two. 
 Here it is, at your Service." 
 
 " Then we muft * turn and turn about, as 
 the Tail faid to the Snout.' " 
 
 " Whence got you that?" fays he, grinning. 
 
 " I made it," faid I. " What a Shame that 
 fuch a Pafticcio as this fhould be invaded by 
 fuch a Knife ! " 
 
 " Send Rofalvino for another." 
 
 " No, I want him, to wait. And / don't 
 want to wait." 
 
 " Ser Fantaleone^ you are quite overcoming 
 this Morning ! " 
 
Breakfafi al Frejco. 103 
 
 " The Air infpires me — fo frefh and cool ! 
 I fhould like to bathe fomewhere. Now 
 I have made an Entry, at laft, into this for- 
 midable Cruft, the Gravy-fpoon comes into 
 Play. Let me give you fome Truffles and 
 Morells. Here's an Egg. And a Bit of 
 Ham. What will turn up next? The Liver- 
 wing of a Chicken. There, that will do to 
 begin with ! " 
 
 *' You are giving me too much." 
 
 " Nonfenfe ! Now then, Rofahino, take 
 that Roll and Saufage to yonder Bank, and 
 don't let me fee you within Ear-fhot till you 
 have finifhed both. Fill the tall Jug, firft, at 
 the Spring, and put that and the narrow- 
 necked Bottle within reach. Now depart ; 
 and if you look this Way till you are bidden, 
 look to have a Bone or a Stone thrown at 
 you. — My dear Torquato, you are fond of 
 Romances ; I am now going to relate to you 
 a true one, while you eat your Pie." 
 
 "Pray begin," faid he, "I am all Attention. 
 But why not have your Breakfaft firft ? " 
 
 " Becaufe it would ftick in my Throat, — or 
 
I04 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 elfe my Story would. I am going to relate to 
 you a Love-ftory of mine, which occurred 
 when I was a very young Man, and confidered 
 not ill-looking by the Ladies." 
 
 So I told him my unfortunate Affair with 
 Madonna Silvia Millamanti, and the Dance 
 fhe led me for Nothing, to which he liftened 
 with profound Attention. 
 
 " Now, fee," faid I in Conclufion, " what 
 Trouble, Expenfe, and Difappointment this 
 Attachment led me into ! and fee alfo, how 
 indifferent to her I am at prefent. I thought 
 I could not live without her — I find I can do 
 fo perfe6lly well. I thought I could never 
 forget her — on the contrary, I very feldom 
 remember her. I fancied the main Objeft of 
 my Life was gone ; whereas its real Bufinefs 
 had not even begun." 
 
 " Ser Pantakone" faid Torquato^ after a 
 Paufe, " all this is exceeding well, but what 
 has it to do with me ? " 
 
 " Your Cafe fomewhat refembles what mine 
 was." 
 
 "On the contrary, I cannot perceive the 
 
Breakfaft al Frefco. 105 
 
 leaft Llkenefs between them. You fixed your 
 Affections on a weak, worthlefs, worldly- 
 Woman ; I have anchored mine on One who is 
 all Virtue, all Sweetnefs, all Purity, all Con- 
 ftancy. Your Obje6l was to win your Prize. 
 I have never had the fmalleft Hope of doing 
 fo from Beginning to End ; I may have wifhed 
 much, but I have hoped little, and afked 
 Nothing. As foon as you found you were 
 flighted, you grew reftive, broke your Chains, 
 and diverted your Thoughts to another 
 Channel. I love my Chains, and would not 
 break them if I could." 
 
 *^ Which is very wrong and very fenfelefs 
 of you," faid I, 
 
 " I mufl be Judge of that. I hurt Nobody 
 but Myfelf ; and if I prefer the Pain to being 
 without it, where's the Harm and where's the 
 Wrong ?" 
 
 " There is both Harm and Wrong, and 
 you may hurt Somebody befides yourfelf." 
 
 " Never. This is no Affair of yours, dear 
 Ser Pantaleone. You are no Poet." 
 
 " No," faid I, " and you make me glad I 
 
io6 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 am not one. For if a poetic Genius of 
 the fineft Order only ferves to lead its 
 Owner aftray, or at any Rate does not 
 keep him from being fo led, — plain Profe for 
 me ! " 
 
 " Profe has nothing whatever to do with It. 
 One may be as profy as you pleafe, without 
 being one Whit the better Man." 
 
 " Granted ; but is it not to be deplored 
 that fo divine a Light fhould be only a 
 Beacon to warn us of Breakers on the Coaft, 
 inftead of a hofpitable Fire to warm and 
 cheriih us } " 
 
 " It both warms and cherifhes me. I can 
 aflure you, Ser Pantaleone, that if I could 
 not tag fo much as amore to ardore, I fhould 
 love the divine Leonora all the fame ; only 
 I fhould then be a miferable, grovelling 
 Wretch, fit only for her to crufh with her 
 Foot. Whereas, my divine Gift (for I 
 receive it, therefore may praife it !) is the 
 greateft, the only Solace my unfortunate Cafe 
 can know ; it cheers me in Heavinefs, is my 
 Companion in Lonelinefs, Wakefulnefsj and 
 
Breakfaji al Frejco. 107 
 
 Painfulnefs, makes me indifFerent to Want of 
 Money, Want of Kindred, Want of Friends, 
 Malice of Enemies, purifies me, ennobles 
 me, exalts me ! " 
 
 '' Does it purify you ? " 
 
 " It does. Imagination is the one Talent 
 I have received from my Maker, and I try 
 to fanctify it to his Service." 
 
 " Well, my dear Tajfo^ if you are pre- 
 fumptuous in one Refpedl, you are modeft in 
 another, to talk of having only one Talent — " 
 
 " I've no other, Ser Pantaleone ! " 
 
 " You are a capital Fellow, there's no 
 denying. But, forgive me, you nourifh and 
 fofter this unfortunate PafTion inftead of 
 trying to fupprefs it." 
 
 " No, I don't." (Tears running down 
 his Cheeks.) 
 
 " I think you do. — You think it tells well 
 for a Poet to be a Prey to a hopelefs, un- 
 governable Love. You think it makes an 
 interefting Feature in your fabulous Hero, and 
 you have no diflike to be a little Bit of the 
 Hero yourfelf, — hey, Taffo?" 
 
io8 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone, eat your Pie." 
 
 " Well, I will, now you are laughing. 
 What an April-day Fellow you are ! You 
 think, hecaufe I can't make Verfes, I have 
 no Refpect for Poetry. You are miftaken : 
 I have a very great Refpect for Poets who 
 make a religious and ennobling Use of their 
 Art. I had the greateft Refpe6l for your 
 Father, and I confider you infinitely the 
 better Poet of the two — " 
 
 " Ah, don't praife me at his Expenfe ! 
 I never like that." 
 
 " I will not, for I like your Feeling. All 
 I would fay is, that while I refpedl and 
 admire the legitimate Ufe of the creative 
 Power, I deprecate the excefTive and ex- 
 clufive Cultivation of the Imagination, which, 
 unlefs kept under very ftrong Control 
 by Reafon and Religion, becomes a Power 
 that delights but deftroys. And now, fall 
 to, like a Man that is a Meal or two behind- 
 hand ! " 
 
 We then diverted the Talk to Subjec5ls 
 which we could difcufs with Harmony ; after 
 
Breakfaft al Frejco. 109 
 
 which, we cheerfully parted, I finding myfelf 
 conftrained to acknowledge to myfelf, that if 
 he had a fomewhat perverfe Will, he had at 
 all events a very fweet Temper. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Oj the advantageous Marriage that Ser Pantaleone 
 propofed to his Friend. 
 
 \^^^^^ BOUT this Time, the young Prince 
 ^^Ra^ of Urbino made his Appearance 
 k^^-^j among us. He looked even younger 
 than he was, being nigh as Httle as the famous 
 Dolabella^ whofe Father-in-law fo ingenioufly 
 complimented him on being fo neatly tied to 
 his Sword. Perhaps it may have been owing 
 to this, that on his Excellency's being pre- 
 fented to the Princeffes, who were drefle'd 
 precifely alike — that is to fay, in azure Velvet 
 looped and fringed with Silver — we could per- 
 ceive that his Eye refted with moft pleafure 
 on Madama Lucrezia, who was lower of 
 Stature than her Sifter, even before he knew 
 her by name ; and thenceforth the Predile6tion 
 
Of the advantageous Marriage. 1 1 1 
 
 continued increafing in a moft fatisfactory 
 Manner, during the whole of his Vifit. 
 
 All that Time, Nothing was thought of 
 but hawking or fifhing Parties, Concerts, 
 Dances, and theatrical Entertainments. The 
 Confequence was, that Goffip and Slander held 
 their Tongues for a While ; Everyone, even 
 down to Maddalo and Bertazzolo, being more 
 agreeably occupied than in picking Holes in 
 his Neighbour's Doublet. The Sifters, who 
 had hitherto fcarcely lived out of each other's 
 Sight, and who were now about to be perma- 
 nently feparated, grudged each Moment be- 
 tween the Betrothal and the Efpoufals, that 
 was not fpent together ; and fo much Time 
 was neceftarily occupied in Arrangements for 
 the Marriage, that 'Tajfo either was, or ap- 
 peared to be, only one in a Crowd. 
 
 In the Courfe of the Summer, the young 
 Prince arrived to receive his Bride ; and the 
 Nuptials were celebrated with every Pomp 
 imaginable. Then followed Balls, Banquets, 
 and Entertainments, which, whether for the 
 Beauty of the Ladies, the Nobility of the 
 
112 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 Cavaliers, the Richnefs of their DrefTes, or 
 the Cofthnefs of the Receptions that were 
 given them, entitled Ferrara to be juftly 
 celebrated as the Sovereign Miftrefs of the 
 Arts and Luxuries of Peace. 
 
 Among the hoft of minor Minftrels who 
 piped their Lays on this Occafion, Torquato 
 naturally appeared like a Nightingale among 
 Sparrows, or a Turbot among Sprats . . . 
 hum ! I am not good at thefe metaphorical 
 Tropes ; fuffice it to fay that the Canzone he 
 compofed in Honour of the Wedding gave 
 the greateft Satisfadlion to the auguft Party, 
 who graced him with many Tokens of their 
 Approval. Nor did the Princefs of Urbino 
 fail to tell him fhe hoped he would vifit her 
 princely Hufband's Court ; to which he 
 replied with fuitable Expreilions of Gratitude 
 and Pleafure. 
 
 But my ImpreiTion is, that in Spite of the 
 Compliments that pafTed between them, 
 Torquato was thoroughly glad when the bridal 
 Train departed. At any Rate, I found him, 
 the following Morning, in one of the Garden 
 
propofed by Ser Pantaleone. 113 
 
 Pavilions of the Belvedere Palace, feated at 
 the Feet of Madama Leonora^ and reading a 
 new Portion of his Jerufalem to her with 
 great Spirit, while jfhe and a Couple of her 
 Ladies purfued their Embroidery. 
 
 This Way of fpending the Morning foon 
 became a Syttem ; and as the Afternoons 
 and Evenings were chiefly wiled away in 
 Converfation or Muiic, I conclude he wrote 
 at Night. Thus, the Autumn infenfibly 
 fliole upon us ; and it came to pafs that one 
 Day, we were all fitting in the Belvedere 
 Gardens, pretty much like a Group in the 
 ^^Decamerone" when fuddenly the Earth rocked 
 beneath our Feet, the Sky became darkened, 
 the River furged and ruflied with a terrible 
 Noife over its Banks, dreadful Rumblings 
 were heard underground, and all Nature 
 feemed reeling from her Seat. The Shrieks 
 and Cries that would enfue on fuch an Occaflon 
 may be fuppofed ; and when the Darknefs 
 began prefently to give Place to a difmal 
 Twilight, five-fixths of the Company were on 
 their Knees or wholly proftrate ; while 'Taffo, 
 I 
 
1 14 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 pale as Death, was fiipporting the fainting 
 Madama Leonora in his Arms. If our iirft 
 Thought had been of OurfeJves, our next was 
 for her ; we gathered about her, and would 
 have relieved him of his Burthen, but he 
 mutely repulfed us, and carried her himfelf 
 into the Palace ; there, deeply fighing, he 
 configned his precious Charge into the Arms 
 of her omen, but remained, caft on fome 
 Cufhions near her Door, with his Face refting 
 on his Hands, till affured fhe had recovered 
 her Confcioufnefs. 
 
 I dreaded this Difplay of Feeling, but 
 every One was too much troubled and terrified 
 to notice it ; indeed there was fo muciH felfifh 
 and flavifh Fear betrayed by many of the 
 Men, that it was well there was at leaft One 
 amongft them who took no Thought for 
 himfelf. 
 
 The whole City was full of Wailing and 
 Confufion, for Houfes and Church Towers 
 had fallen and crufhed many People, fo that 
 thofe who had fuftained no perfonal Hurt were 
 in Trouble for their Relations. Add to 
 
propqfed by Ser Pantaleone. 115 
 
 which, a Feeling of Infecurity remained among 
 us after the Shock had fubfided ; nor was 
 this without Reafon, for during the enfuing 
 two Months, repeated Earthquakes took 
 Place, fo that we never felt fecure of a 
 Moment's Safety. 
 
 You may believe thefe providential Warn- 
 ings fent us all to our Knees ; and in Spite of 
 the Hazard of being buried under the falling 
 Ruins of Churches, never were the Churches 
 more crowded. Among the foremoft of 
 thefe pious Supplicants was our excellent 
 Madama, who indeed almoft lived in Church, 
 making Prayers and IntercefTions at one 
 Shrine after another in behalf of the afflidled 
 City. She alfo beftowed Candlefticks and 
 large Tapers on various Saints, paid for 
 fpecial Services for the Dead, vifited, clothed, 
 and fed the Poor, fo that fhe became regarded 
 as little lefs than a Saint ; and it was the 
 Opinion of many that fhe ought, after her 
 Death, to be canonized. And it is my 
 Opinion that many have been fo who lefs 
 deferved it. 
 
 I 1 
 
1 1 6 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 I ufually accompanied her on thefe Occa- 
 fions, when, as we paffed through the Streets, 
 the reverent and grateful People fell back on 
 either Side to let her pafs between them, 
 following her with their Benedidions. But, 
 on one Occafion, having breakfafted with 
 T"^, I was too late for my Duty, and was 
 hurrying with him towards the Church, when 
 we faw Madama Leonora approaching us 
 from the other End of the Street. Certainly 
 fhe looked like a heavenly Votarefs, as fhe 
 was ; her white Veil, gently wafted by the 
 Breeze, flowed round her angelic Lineaments 
 like a fleecy Summer-cloud ; while her Attire, 
 though of the flmplefl:, was fo truly becoming 
 that it could not have been improved by the 
 utmoft Artifice and Study. She came along, 
 thoughtlefs of her Appearance, winning her 
 gentle Way like a light Bark among the 
 fmooth Waves, neither courting nor fliunning 
 Notice, but with her fweet Regards fattened 
 on the Ground. 
 
 I heard "^ajfo murmur, " How heavenly ! " 
 as flie approached ; and a Day or two after, he 
 
propofed by Ser Pantaleone. 117 
 
 brought me fome Stanzas which he told me 
 he meant to interpolate into the fecond Canto 
 of his Jeru/alem, and that he wanted me to 
 tell him my Opinion of them. One of them 
 ran thus : — 
 
 ' Jlone am'idft the Crowd the Maid proceeds, 
 Nor feeks to hide her Beauty^ nor difplay; 
 Downcaft her Eyes^ clofe veiT d in fnnple JVeeds^ 
 JVith coy and graceful Steps /he zvins her JVay 
 So negligently neat^ one fear ce can fay 
 If Jhe her Charms difdains or would improve^ 
 If Chance or Tafte difpofes her Array ; 
 NegleSls like hers^ if Artifices^ prove 
 Arts of the friendly Heavens^ of Nature and of Love. ' * 
 
 Diredlly I read this, I perceived it was the 
 exad: Defcription of Madama Leonora^ and 
 charged him with it. I told him Guarini^ 
 Pigna, and in fhort every One would recognife 
 it : at which he only laughed, and faid he did 
 not care if they did. 
 
 After this, the Cardinal carried him with 
 him to France ; and, after their Return, fent 
 him with Manzuoli on a fpecial MifTion to 
 
 * Wiffeii's Translation. 
 
I I 8 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 Rome J where he was honourably received. I 
 now found that he correfponded with Madama 
 Leonora, and indeed, with the Duchefs of 
 Urbino also; but, whereas the latter was 
 merely a Correfpondence of Kindlinefs and 
 friendly Offices, the other was of pure Frlend- 
 fhip, not to fay reciprocal Affedlion. I learnt 
 that he was difcontented with Cardinal Luigi's 
 Treatment of him, and defirous of exchanging 
 his Service for that of the Duke. To this 
 End, the Princefles exerted their Influence 
 with their Brother, it may be fuppofed with 
 good Effeft ; and the Conclufion was that 
 'Tajfds Attendance was transferred from the 
 Cardinal to the Duke, with the Promife of his 
 receiving from the latter a Salary of fifteen 
 golden Crowns per Month — no bad Pay for 
 One who had returned from France in the 
 fame Coat which he had worn when he went 
 there ! 
 
 In Truth, he now lived in Clover, — dining 
 daily with the Duke, funning himfelf in 
 Madama Leonoras Eyes, and jogging on with 
 his great Poem ; in Addition to which, he now 
 
-propofed by Ser Pantaleone. 119 
 
 wrote the ^'^Aminta" which was forthwith put 
 in Rehearfal. 
 
 " How comes it," I faid to him one Day, 
 " that you who have fo nice a Tafte in Drefs, 
 fhould now always wear plain Linen, neither 
 laced nor fringed ?" 
 
 He fmiled rather fadly and faid, " Tafte is 
 one Thing and Principle another. A Man 
 who cannot even fet up a Stone over his dead 
 Father without pawning his few Moveables, 
 has no Right to Lace or Fringe." 
 
 "Is that it?" cried I ; "why, Bertolazzi 
 fays it is your Humour, — your cynical, 
 fatirical . Way of faying, ^ Drefs fine, ye who 
 can win no Attention by other Means : I am 
 loved and carefled, you fee, without it.' " 
 
 " Let Bertolazxi fay his Say. He muft 
 needs be barking or growling at Some- 
 thing. I would wear my Coat infide out if 
 that would keep him from meddling with 
 higher Matters." 
 
 " But, my dear T^ajfo^ you have now fifteen 
 gold Crowns a Month : no bad Salary." 
 
 " Not if it be regularly paid., Ser Panta- 
 
I 20 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 leone. Befides, I had contra6led Tome fmall 
 Debts ; and I hate Debt like Dirt." 
 
 " I have thought of an excellent Way for 
 you to repair your Fortunes ! " 
 
 " Aye ? Pray name it ! " 
 
 "■^ Rachaella the beautiful Jewefs, who in- 
 herits the Wealth of her Father the famous 
 Phyfician, is going to be baptized next Sunday. 
 Make Suit to her, my dear 'Tajfo ! ^ Domus 
 et placens Uxor ! ' " 
 
 " Truly, Ser Fantaleone, you oblige me by 
 your very Christian Propofal ! I happen to 
 be Anything but fond of Jews and JewefTes, 
 and fhall certainly not feek a Spoufe in the 
 Ghetto." 
 
 "She is fuperbly beautiful, and as good as 
 fhe is fair." 
 
 "I am glad to hear it. Fair^ indeed! — 
 with a Skin as yellow as an Orange ! " 
 
 " Have not you yourfelf fettled it that 
 ' il bruno il bel non togUe ? " 
 
 " Brown is not yellow. Befides, I object 
 to the Hebrew Perfuafion," 
 
 " She is converted." 
 
propojed by Ser Pantaleone. i 2 1 
 
 " I objeft to the Hebrew Extra6lion," 
 
 " My dear T^aJJo^ it was the Extradion of 
 the blefTed Virgin!" 
 
 " Hufh, Ser Pantaleone ! — you are now 
 bordering on the Profane." 
 
 " I aflure you, my Meaning was Anything 
 but Profanity. By the Way, Tajo, did you 
 ever happen to read the Bible?" 
 
 '* I am a good Catholic, Ser Pantaleone^ as 
 far as the reading prohibited Books is con- 
 cerned, though, alas ! far, far from being as 
 good as I fhould be." 
 
 *' Well, — I fhould have thought the Cardinal 
 would have given you a Difpenfation for the 
 afking." 
 
 "I never did afk him." 
 
 " Nor ever feel any Temptation to read 
 it?" 
 
 " Permit me to afk. Have you ever read it 
 yourfelf ?" 
 
 "Well, — my Mother was about the poor 
 Duchefs Renee^ who, you know, got into 
 Trouble through her Calviniftic Predile6tions; 
 and I felt fome Curiofity to read the Book 
 
122 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 which had been the Means of cafting the 
 Duchefs into Prifon and feparating her from 
 her Daughters. I have perufed Portions of 
 it, and certainly it is very fine, — very won- 
 derful — carries mightily the Air of Inspiration 
 with it." 
 
 " Of Courfe, only the Ignorant doubt its 
 Infpiration ; but Man cannot eat of the Tree 
 of Knowledge with Impunity." 
 
 " Well, I am furprifed to hear you fay fo — 
 you, a Student of Padua and Bologna ! " 
 
 " Are you furprifed I never meddled with 
 the occult Arts ? never fought the grand 
 Arcanum ? " 
 
 " That's another Thing." 
 
 " Do you think that Leo . . that Madama 
 Leonora has ever read the Bible ? " 
 
 " You have fo much more literary Con- 
 verfation with her than I have, that you are 
 the likelleft to know. This much I am aware 
 of, — that fhe pofTefles a Copy of the Scriptures 
 which belonged to her unfortunate Mother; 
 but I believe fhe only treafures it as a Keep- 
 fake." 
 
■propqfed by Ser Pantaleone. 123 
 
 "Ha!" 
 
 A Day or two after, I furprifed him in 
 earnell: Converfation with Madama Leonora^ 
 and heard her fay in a low Voice, 
 
 " No Matter — it is only Ser PantaleonCy 
 who is fomewhat hard of Hearing" — (which I 
 was not — ) ; " take it, my dear Friend, but 
 life it with due Caution." 
 
 And preffing a fmall Cafket to her Lips, 
 fhe wrapped it in a Piece of green Silk and 
 placed it in his Hands. He kifled her Hand, 
 and reverently took the Cafket, which he con- 
 cealed beneath his Mantle, and then withdrew. 
 
 Shortly after, on calling at his Lodgings, I 
 found him immerfed in Study, and heard him 
 mutter, 
 
 *' This is wholly unfit for Leonora to read — • 
 her divine Faith will become clouded. Ha, Ser 
 Pantaleone! you ftole upon me unawares — 
 you tread as ftealthily, fometimes, as Maddalo^ 
 
 " My dear 'Tajfo^ I fee no Merit in wearing 
 creaking Shoes. What curious little Cafl<:et 
 is this ? " 
 
 " Leave it alone, I pray you ! " — 
 
I 24 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 " Well, I think I have {^tn it before." 
 *' Poffibly — though not very likely." 
 " It looks to me for all the World like one 
 which Madama Leonora received from poor 
 Duchefs Renee, and which ..." 
 
 " I fee you know all about it. You are 
 right; it contains the poor Mother's dangerous 
 Gift to her devoted Daughter, who, however, 
 like an Angel as fhe is, has hoarded it like 
 a Talifman, without bewildering herfelf with 
 its Contents." 
 
 '^ What are its Contents ? " 
 " The Holy Scriptures . . . See—" 
 And he fhowed me a thick little Volume, 
 (brazen-clafped,) and bound in red Velvet, that 
 was interfperfed with Notes, References, and 
 Quotations, in the Hand-writing of the poor 
 Duchefs, whofe Cypher was on the Fly-leaf. 
 I looked at it over his Shoulder with Intereft. 
 
 " See," faid I, " here is a Lock of her Hair 
 between the Leaves, — and here, a dried Sprig 
 of Myrtle, — and here, a Strip of Ribbon 
 embroidered with her Liitials. How inte- 
 refting a Keepfake to Madama Leonora ! " 
 
propofed by Ser Pantaleone. 125 
 
 " Yes, but a very unfafe one for her to 
 ftudy. I have almoft bewildered myfelf with 
 what I have been reading in it. — If this be 
 the Wordof Truth— " 
 
 He paufed, and looked upwards with a 
 troubled and perplexed ExprefTion. 
 
 " What, then ? " 
 
 " Why, then, Ser Pantaleone, our Church- 
 men have committed fome ftrange Blunders — 
 I will not puzzle my Brains about them any 
 more at prefent ; let us go forth." 
 
 And, carefully enclofing the Bible in the 
 Cafket, he locked the Cafket in his Bureau, 
 threw on his Cloak, and fallied out with me, 
 chatting on indifferent Subjects. 
 
 As we entered the Street, Count 'Turchi 
 paffed us, and refponded to 'Tajfo's courteous 
 Removal of his Hat by a very flight and 
 negligent Inclination of his Head. Torquato 
 kindled at this, and muttered to me, 
 
 " That's what I cannot brook ! Who is he, 
 that negle(5ls to falute me as an equal .^ Surely, 
 my Family and the reputation of my Father 
 entitle me to that much, without faying Any- 
 
126 Of the advantageous Marriage 
 
 thing of the Pofition in which the Duke's 
 Condefcenfion places me, which I candidly 
 acknowledge is above my Deferts." 
 
 I faid, " You are not vain, but you are 
 Proud. Nobody takes lefs on himfelf for his 
 own acknowledged Merits than you do, but 
 you fire up if a Noble negle6ls to treat you as 
 if you were on the fame Level. You take 
 Pepper in your Nofe too foon. This gives 
 the Ill-natured an Opportunity of which they 
 continually avail themfelves, of wounding you 
 at a Point where they know you are vulnerable. 
 Set one Thing againft another. Set the Over- 
 eftimate, if you will have it so, of the Duke 
 and Madama Leonora^ againft the petty Ill- 
 breeding of thofe who have nothing but their 
 Titles to boaft of Is it not well purchafed at 
 fuch a Price ? " 
 
 " Ah, indeed is it ! " faid he gladly ; " but 
 this fame Pride, which has Something honeft 
 in it after all, is my befetting Sin, and the one 
 for which my Confeftbr ofteneft puts me to 
 Penance. Nor can I be fo infincere and fo 
 bafe as to affedt Refped, which I feel not, for 
 
propqfed by Ser Pantaleone. 127 
 
 thofe who have only a Purfe and a Pedigree 
 to value themfelves upon. As for the Arro- 
 gance of Men of Letters, let him laugh who 
 wins ! Why, now, there's Guarini, as proud, 
 between ourfelves, of his very ordinary Poetry 
 as of his very ordinary Wife — ! " 
 
 Turning a fharp Corner, who fhould we 
 come upon but Guarini himfelf, who looked 
 as black as Night at us. I laughed as we 
 pafled on, and faid, " You have now made an 
 Enemy of him, and he was not very friendly 
 before. When will you learn to keep a 
 prudent Tongue In your Head ? " 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone'i- getting into ^Jeopardy. 
 
 ^.f^^) ridiculous but highly dangerous 
 W^^^^ Adventure occurred to me on my 
 ^^^-^^ Return to the Palace. I was 
 pafling through the Gallery adjoining the 
 Neptune Apartment, when it occurred to me 
 to wonder whereabouts the Clofet could be 
 in which I had been concealed. The Gallery 
 had on one Side a Range of Windows, over- 
 looking the Moat, and the oppolite Wall 
 was hung with ftamped Leather, over which 
 were fufpended a dozen or more full-length 
 Portraits of the Princes of EJie, I could 
 give a pretty good Guess as to the Part of 
 the Gallery which correfponded to the Pofition 
 
Of Ser Pantaleone'j Jeopardy. 129 
 
 of the Couch on which Madama Leonora had 
 been fitting, and was paffing my Hand fome- 
 what curioufly over the Leather Hanging 
 thereabouts, when fuddenly I felt the Panel 
 behind it give Way, the Spring having been 
 imperfectly fnapped. I lifted the Flap of 
 the Hanging, and perceived, fure enough, 
 the Entrance to the Clofet ; when, at the 
 fame Inftant, as ill Luck would have it, the 
 Door of the Gallery at the other End opened, 
 and I caught a Glimpfe of a crimfon velvet 
 Shoe, with large white Rofette, which I knew 
 full well for that of the Duke. To fpring 
 into the Clofet and ihut myfelf in was the 
 Work of a Moment; but the next Inftant 
 the Thought occurred to me, how I was to 
 let myfelf out again, fince I had not had 
 Time to obferve the Pofition of the Spring 
 infide. I inftantly began to feel for it, but, 
 to my immenfe Difmay, could not find it ! 
 Here was a pofition for me Ser Pantaleone ! 
 The Duke had already quitted the Gallery, 
 for I had heard him clofe the Door oppofite 
 to that by which he had entered; fo that. 
 
130 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 even had it been fafe to cry out, Nobody 
 would have heard me. 
 
 I now, in confiderable Agitation, furveyed 
 the Neptune Apartment through the Eye- 
 holes, but it was empty. A Lute and Mufic- 
 book on the Couch, however, fhowed that it 
 had been recently occupied, and I hoped 
 Madama Leonora might return, and that I 
 might be able, without frightening her, to 
 make her privately acquainted with my ridi- 
 culous Situation. What a pretty Story flie 
 would have againft me, though, of finding 
 me occupying a Spy-clofet overlooking one 
 of her private Apartments ! What a hate- 
 ful Syftem is Efpionage ! thought I ; how 
 degrading, how fubverfive of Confidence ! 
 I wonder whether / have ever been liftened 
 to and fpied upon by Anybody, when I leaft 
 fufpedled it ? Well, they never found me 
 about much Harm, that's one Comfort. 
 
 See the Blefling of a good Confcience f 
 Happy thofe who have never faid or done 
 aught that could not ftand the Light of 
 honeft Day ! However, Dinner-time was 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 131 
 
 coming on, and my Appetite was not very- 
 bad, and I began to wonder whether I 
 had any Chance of having a Dinner, or 
 were to be pent up like a Rat behind the 
 Wainfcot for the fhort Remnant of my 
 Days. 
 
 I began, fomewhat nervoiifly, to renew my 
 Search for the Spring-lock, when I fuddenly 
 heard Voices in the Gallery. I liftened 
 eagerly to hear whether they were of Friend 
 or Foe, and found, to my Chagrin, they 
 belonged to the latter. In fact, Claudia 
 Bertolazzi and AJcanio Giraldini were dif- 
 cuffing, after their mifchievous Fafhion, the 
 approaching Performance of the " Aminta" 
 
 " He will be Pet of the Court, more than 
 ever," fays AJcanio^ " and all for what ? 
 Some ridiculous Flatteries of the Duke that 
 he has introduced into the Speeches of his 
 Tirfts^ whom he means for himfelf. Fancy 
 Tajfo in a Shepherd's Hat and Cloak, repre- 
 fenting himfelf as welcomed to Ferrara by 
 a Man of moft divine and auguft Prefence, 
 by whom, of courfe, he means his Highnefs ! 
 K 1 
 
132 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 ' I faw,' fays he, 'Phcebus and the Mu/es ; and 
 amongft the Mu/es, Elpino fitthig.' Pfha ! 
 pifh ! who could not write better Poetry 
 than that ? Guarini, and even Pigna, might 
 outdo him any Day. ' Inter Jlrepit Anjer 
 olores / '" 
 
 " He has propitiated Pigna," rejoined 
 Jfcanioy " by a tinkhng Compliment." 
 
 " He won't propitiate Guarini, though," 
 faid Claudia, '' by any fuch fhallow Artifice. 
 What a Blight, what a Mildew is this Fellow ! 
 I only wiiK he were fafe clapped up by the 
 Inquifition ! " 
 
 Here I fighed in a low Voice, which the 
 Hanging fufficiently muffled, — " O Claudio ! 
 Claudia ! " which, being prolonged to a dif- 
 TCiAJofienuto, made him ready to ftart out of 
 his Skin, and I prefently heard them both 
 fcampering out of the Gallery. 
 
 I fhook with fupprefled Laughter, but 
 then became aware that there were Voices on 
 the other Side of me. I peeped through 
 my Spy-hole, and perceived the Duke and 
 Madama Leanora feated on the Sofa beneath. 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 133 
 
 "Sifter," he was faying in his gentleft 
 Voice, " this averfion from Marriage is very 
 fingular, to fay no worfe of it. You have 
 Nothing to urge againft this very advan- 
 tageous Alliance but fimply your preference 
 for a fingle Life." 
 
 " Is that fo remarkable ? " returned fhe, in 
 Tones equally gentle. " I am no longer young ; 
 I am perfedly happy, my dear Brother, in 
 your Society, and in that of the diftinguifhed 
 and intelligent Circle you gather round you. 
 My Health is delicate, my Taftes are quiet, 
 and my Spirits, as you know, have been tender 
 ever fince my Separation from my beloved 
 Mother and my dear Sifter." 
 
 " Still, thefe are no Reafons, my Sifter, why 
 you fhould not carry out all your own Taftes 
 and Wifhes in a Home fo deftrable as that now 
 ofi^ered to you. Your Court will ftlll be 
 diftinguiftied for its Love of Letters, your 
 Health will be cared for by a fond Hufband." 
 
 " Ah, ceafe, dear Brother, I pray you — I 
 am no longer young and fprightly enough to 
 infpire real Fondnefs." 
 
134 0/ Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 *' Nay, is not Lucrezia a Year older than 
 you are? fee how beloved fhe is by a Hufband 
 fifteen Years younger than herfelf !" 
 
 " Dear Lucrezia is one in a thoufand, but 
 I have always confidered the Ages of the 
 Parties terribly difproportioned." 
 
 " Well, Leonora, your Mind feems in- 
 vincibly made up; but allow me to tell you, 
 my Sifter, that this Refolution ftrongly argues 
 the Exiftence of a prior and concealed Attach- 
 ment." 
 
 " Fie, Brother ! at my Age, one might 
 exped to be fafe from fuch Sufpicions." 
 
 "You make your Age a mere Bugbear; in 
 Reality it is Nothing more, for you are ftill 
 the handfomeft and moft graceful Woman in 
 my Court, and are bluftiing, this Moment, in 
 the Confcioufnefs that my Accufation is true." 
 
 " Only at your exceftive and unfounded 
 Praife, I affure you. Brother. Ah ! let us 
 continue to be happy as we are now ! Dear 
 Barbara is gone, you are hardly likely to 
 replace her; you need a Woman to take the 
 Lead in your Court ; I am popular among 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 135 
 
 your People, I love your Society, I love my 
 happy Home." 
 
 " Enough, Leonora,''' tenderly kiffing her 
 Hand, " I will never urge you to Aught 
 againft your confirmed and known Wifh, be 
 afTured of it, my Sifter ! Continue to be the 
 Praife and Ornament of my Court, where 
 every felfifh Feeling naturally prompts me to 
 retain you." 
 
 At this Moment, I aftounded myfelf as 
 much as the royal Pair by a loud Sneeze. 
 Courtiers ought never to Sneeze ; it is quite 
 contrary to all good Manners ; and I was 
 fufficiently punifhed for my Breach of Pro- 
 priety by the Difmay it occafioned. 
 
 " What is that ? who is that ? " cried 
 Madama Leonora, rifing in Alarm. 
 
 The Duke, ftarting to his Feet, with his 
 Hand clapped on his Sword, darted a fierce 
 Look up towards the Place in which I was 
 enfconfed, but wherein I was, happily, totally 
 concealed from View. 
 
 " Be at Reft, — I will fee to this," he haftily 
 faid to his Sifter; and, with a muttered Curfe, 
 
136 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 he haftily quitted the Chamber. Ah! I knew 
 he would come immediately to the Gallery 
 and open the Clofet ! — I remembered with a 
 Shudder the miferable Ercole Contrario, who 
 had entered that Gallery and . . . never came 
 back; and I Teemed already to feel the Duke's 
 Sword between my Ribs, I made a fecond 
 and defperate Effort at the Door, which, as 
 Luck would have it, yielded to me at the firft 
 Touch — I haftily fprang forth, clofed it after 
 me, flipped beneath the Hanging, and ruflied 
 from one End of the Gallery juft as the Duke 
 was entering the other. 
 
 As 'Tajfo faid afterwards of his Erminiay 
 
 '''• Non fcefe^ no, precipito da Sella^' 
 
 fo might it be faid of me, that I ran not, no, 
 I darted down the Stairs, along a Labyrinth 
 of Stone Paffages, into a low, vaulted Guard- 
 chamber that happened to be unoccupied, 
 where fcarcely had I paufed to draw Breath, 
 when the Sound of 
 
 "Ser Pantaleone! Ser Pantaleone! '' filled 
 me with frefli Confternation. Well I knew 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 137 
 
 the Voice for that of one of the Duke's 
 Pages ! I flung myfelf into the deep Embra- 
 fure of a grated Window in the Wall, and 
 compofed myfelf into the Attitude of one who 
 had been foundly fleeping for many Hours. 
 
 Enters to me Angelo, the Duke's Page. 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone" fays he, " his Highnefs 
 wants you immediately. Why, how now?" 
 fhaking me by the Shoulder. 
 
 "Hey? what?" faid I, waking reludantly, 
 and opening firft one Eye and then the other. 
 
 "Plow come you to be fo drowfy," faid he, 
 "when I faw you juft now darting down the 
 Stairs like mad ? The Duke requires you in 
 his Clofet, Ser Pantaleone! " 
 
 Moft unwillingly did I rife and walk off 
 with as good a Grace as I could. Proceeding 
 towards the Duke's Clofet, I pafled the cur- 
 tained Portrait of the Duchefs Lucrezia with 
 an inward Shudder, and thought, I too might 
 be about to be removed. 
 
 I faw by the finifter Expreflion of his High- 
 nefs's Countenance and the Twitching of his 
 Mouftache that he was exceedingly irate. 
 
138 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone" faid he, " look to the 
 Door, Sir ! and let us have no Eaves-droppers ! 
 — Draw near. You know the Clofet in which 
 I placed you for a particular Reafon fome 
 Time ago ? " 
 
 " Certainly, your Highnefs — That is, I 
 know that you placed me in it, but the Way 
 to and from it you concealed from me." 
 
 " Well — the Veracity which you difplayed 
 on that Occafion alTured me of your Fidelity. 
 To you, therefore, I confide that its Secret has 
 been difcovered." 
 
 " Is it poffible? " (with a well a6led Start.) 
 
 " Yes, Sir — I was in Conference with 
 Madama Leonora on private Affairs of Mo- 
 ment, when fome one who was in that Clofet 
 fneezed ! " 
 
 " What Perfidy ! what Ill-breeding ! " 
 ejaculated I. 
 
 "Ill-breeding, Sir?" repeated the Duke, 
 twifting his Mouftache. " That Man's life, 
 could I find him, would not be worth a Day's 
 Purchafe!" 
 
 "Ah! — who could it be?" 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 139 
 
 '' That I defire to afk you, Ser Fantaleone." 
 
 " My lord Duke, To many Perfons come 
 and go — and I, unfortunately, have been but 
 juft fummoned by Angela from the lower 
 Guard-room, where I was taking a Siefta. 
 But, what a perplexing Circumftance ! The 
 more I think of it, the more it perturbs me ! 
 Who knows what may have been overheard 
 in that Clofet ! Ah! what Mifchiefs our 
 Anceftors prepared for us in contriving fuch 
 Places ! What Converfations may have been 
 mifinterpreted, — what Anions may have been 
 vilified, — what Charafters may have been de- 
 ftroyed, — what Lives may have ..." 
 
 " Silence, I pray you, Sir ! " faid the Duke, 
 rifing in extreme Perturbation, and taking a 
 Turn up and down the Clofet with folded 
 Arms and knitted Brows. 
 
 Prefently, flopping fhort before me, he faid 
 abruptly, 
 
 " Can it have been 'Tajfo ? " 
 
 " ImpofTible, your Highnefs — I called at 
 his Lodging this Morning, and found him, 
 immerfed in Study." 
 
140 Of Ser Pantaleone'j" 
 
 " Giraldini ? Bertolazzi ? " 
 
 Here was an Opportunity for me to get 
 two troublefome Foes out of the Way ! But 
 I did not avail myfelf of it. 
 
 " Ah," faid I, " if your Highnefs could 
 but have condefcended to repair inftantly to 
 the Gallery, where you alone knew the exa6t 
 Pofition of the Clofet ! " 
 
 " I did ! " 
 
 " And found it — " 
 
 " Empty and clofe-fhut." 
 
 " Hum ! Could any one have fneezed ? " 
 
 " I can credit my own Ears, Sir ! " 
 
 " And Madama Leonora ? Did she judge 
 the Sound to ifTue from the Clofet ? " 
 
 " Madama Leonora knows Nothing of the 
 Clofet." 
 
 "Hold! aThought occurs to me. Madama's 
 favourite Greyhound, Fidelio, fneezes precifely 
 like a Man, and may have been under the Sofa." 
 
 " Pfha ! this fneeze^ I tell you, came from 
 over the Sofa, not under it. Ser Pantaleone, 
 you grow old and ftupid — you may go ; your 
 Suggeftions are worth Nothing." 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 141 
 
 1 retired, devoutly thankful for having 
 efcaped the Duke's Vigilance, though he was 
 down upon me as fharp as an Awl; — and 
 thinking that if Tajfo had been amenable to 
 Sufpicion, I fhould have been almoft as much 
 difmayed as if it had faftened on myfelf. 
 
 From this Time, however, he became the 
 Objedl of filent but dangerous Scrutiny — the 
 Duke's Eye was on him. This did not 
 produce any evil Confequences at firft ; on 
 the contrary, while the brilliant Succefs of the 
 " Aminta " was frefh in the public Mind, 'Taffo 
 was the Darling not alone of the Court and 
 City, but of all Italy. But his Cup of fweet 
 had bitter in it. 
 
 I noticed about this Time that Madama 
 Leonora became very fhy of him. This might 
 have' been in Confequence of the Duke's 
 having expreffed Sufpicions of a fecret Attach- 
 ment. She knew he never forgot a Thing of 
 this Sort, till he had tracked it out like a Slow- 
 hound. '^taJJ'o himfelf alfo may have given 
 her fome private Umbrage. Certain it is, fhe 
 publicly negle6led him for Guarini^ whofe 
 
142 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 Converfatlon fhe cultivated, whofe Adulation 
 fhe encouraged, whofe Verfes fhe liftened to 
 and commended. 
 
 "Tajfo was nearly crazy with Jealoufy, Rage, 
 and Mortification. I met him coming from 
 her one Morning in a Tumult of Angry 
 Feeling ; he pafled me without fpeaking, and 
 the next thing I heard was that he had 
 departed from Ferrara on a Vifit to the 
 Duchefs of Urbino, who, having been unable 
 to witnefs the Reprefentation of the ^^ Aminta" 
 had defired to hear him read it himfelf. 
 
 I hoped this would change his Current of 
 Thought, but have Reafon to believe he only 
 chafed, fumed, and bit his Chain during his 
 Abfence. My Reafon for thinking fo is this 
 — I received a Letter from him, infcribed to 
 me, but, direftly I opened it, I faw he had 
 addreffed it to me by miftake. It was to 
 Madama Leonora, and, being fo fairly (or 
 perhaps unfairly) placed in my Hands, I 
 could not deny myfelf the Gratification of 
 greedily reading it ; for our Family have 
 always been fond, to excefs, of reading 
 
getting into Jeopardy. 143 
 
 interefting Letters, or Letters that perhaps 
 might prove to contani Something interefting, 
 — whether addrefTed to ourfelves or to other 
 Perfons. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone reading a Letter that was not 
 intended for hitn to see. 
 
 ^^^ADAMA," he began, " I have been 
 J]^^feh thus long without writing to your 
 S^^^xi^^j Excellency, more from Want of 
 Subjed than of Inclination," (a falfe Excufe, 
 always, iince when we incline to talk to our 
 Friends we can always find Plenty to fay to 
 them ; but this was written in great Bitternefs, 
 as well as all that followed.) " I fend your 
 Excellency a Sonnet, as I think I recollect 
 having promifed to fend you all my new 
 Compofitions. It has little Refemblance, 
 indeed, to thofe beautiful ones which I believe 
 you are daily in the Habit of receiving," (he 
 means from Guarini, of whom he is defperately 
 
Ser PantaleoneV reading a Letter. 145 
 
 jealous,) " and, indeed. It is as poor in Wit 
 and Art, as I myfelf am in good Fortune. In 
 my prefent State of Mind, it is impoffible for 
 me to do better, and I fend it, as, whether 
 good or bad, it will efFedl what I defire. Do 
 not think, however, that I have at Prefent 
 fuch a Dearth of Thoughts as to have any 
 Room in my Heart for Love," (of Courfe not!) 
 " it exprefTes not my own Feelings, or it 
 might not have been fo bad, but was com- 
 pofed at the Requeft of a poor Lover," (poor 
 Tajfo ! one of your fhallow Feints!) "who, 
 having for fome Time pail quarrelled with his 
 Miftrefs, can hold out no longer, but is forced 
 to capitulate and fue for Mercy." 
 
 And then a Sonnet, the very Soul of 
 paflionate Entreaty and Self-upbraiding, far 
 too real in its Grief to have been written for 
 another Man. 
 
 Of Courfe I was not going to be bafe enough 
 to injure my Friend, or to withhold his Letter 
 from the Party for whom it was defigned. 
 No, no ! his Secret was as fafe with me as in 
 his own Bofom ; and, though fhe had perhaps 
 
146 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 got his Letter for me inftead of her own, that 
 fhould not interfere with my immediately- 
 putting her in PofTeffion of what fhe was 
 likely enough to prize but too dearly, even at 
 fome Rifk to myfelf. 
 
 The Matter required delicate handling; I 
 had broken the Seal quite innocently, had 
 perufed the Contents not fo innocently, but 
 ftill fhe would never know whether I had read 
 them or not, fince, even if I had not done fo, 
 fhe might not have believed me. I refealed 
 the Letter with a Head of Virgily a Keepfake 
 of my Father's that I had never had Occafion 
 to ufe before — it was not, therefore, known 
 for mine, and might well, from its Subjecft, 
 pafs for a Seal of TaJfo'Sy or for one that he 
 had borrowed at Cafteldurante. 
 
 I placed the Letter, privately, where I knew 
 Madama Leonora would fee it, clofe befide 
 a Pofy of Lilies of the Valley which her Page 
 had laid befide her Gloves, and left Things to 
 take their Chance, 
 
 In Spite of my Difaffedlion for petty Li- 
 trigues, I was beginning to find that they who 
 
reading a Letter. 147 
 
 live in Courts can fcarce keep clear of them. 
 Hardly had I left the Madama's Chamber, 
 when Angela met me, with Anxiety on his 
 Countenance, and told me the Duke required 
 me immediately. My Heart palpitated like 
 that of a Culprit, juft becaufe I was Confcience- 
 flricken ; and on entering the Duke's Clofet, 
 my Alarm was not allayed by feeing him 
 ftanding with his drawn Sword in his Hand, 
 in a threatening and terrific Pofture, while 
 Maddaloy trembling like a Leaf, was kneeling 
 at his Feet. 
 
 This Maddalo was as thoroughly bad a Boy 
 as I ever knew about Court, where at the befli 
 the Training is not very improving. He was 
 about fixteen, but looked two or three Years 
 younger, being dwarfifh in Stature, Aim and 
 fupple as an Eel, of olivander Complexion, 
 narrow Brows, black, impenetrable Eyes, and 
 thin Lips ; and whereas he might lay fome 
 Claim to i Penfteri Jirettiy he could make none 
 whatever to // Volto fciolto, having an Ex- 
 preiTion as fly, fubtle, and malign as his 
 CharaAer. This Lad, not worth his Macca- 
 
 L 2 
 
148 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 roni, Vv^as the Peft of the Palace, always for 
 Malice even if he got Nothing by it, and it 
 was regretted by all but thofe who made him 
 a ferviceable Tool that the Duke and Madama 
 Lucrezia had always been partial to him, 
 whether aware of his Bafenefs or not I cannot 
 aver. This I may fay, that I always con- 
 fidered he had had Something to do with the 
 Removal of our firft Duchefs, becaufe I found 
 that Impreffion to exift when I firft was of the 
 Houfehold, though that was after her .... 
 Demife. 
 
 The Duke, in a low, quiet Tone, which he 
 always ufed when dangerous, faid, 
 
 '^ Come, Ser Pantaleone, here is News. 
 We have found the Spy in the Clofet." 
 
 " Indeed ? " cried I, my Heart leaping to 
 my Lips. 
 
 " I found him there myfelf. Sir ; and how 
 often he has been there already, what he heard 
 while there, and how he difcovered the Spring, 
 he is about to relate to us immediately." 
 
 " Or his Life is not worth an Anchovy," 
 faid I, involuntarily uttering what I believed 
 
reading a Letter. 149 
 
 the State of the Cafe, rather than playing into 
 the Duke's Hands by frightening the Boy, 
 who, however, took it fo completely in Earneft 
 that he could for a while only gafp, 
 
 " Altezza ! Altezza ! " holding up his 
 clafped Hands for Mercy. The Duke, ftill 
 frowning, commanded him to begin con- 
 fefTmg at once, or he fhould have the Truth 
 prefTed out of him with iron Weights ; and 
 fat down with his Sword, ftill unfheathed, 
 in his Hand. I fancy, from the incoherent 
 Medley of houfehold Scandal that the Page 
 now ran off his Tongue, he thought the 
 more he confefTed the more acceptable ; and 
 at the fame Time he forgot not his own 
 private Enmities, for fcarce a Member of the 
 Houfehold did he omit to fay Something fcan- 
 dalous of, fave Brunello^ AJcanio Giraldini^ and 
 Claudia Bertolazzi. As for Madama Leonora^ 
 he feemed afraid of meddling with her, but 
 T'ajfo he fpared not ; yet all he alleged of him 
 was fo inconclufive or manifeftly fabricated as 
 that I valued it not at a Walnut. From the 
 Duke's immoveable Countenance it was im- 
 
150 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 pofTible to gather whether he believed one 
 Thing more or lefs than another. When the 
 Page paufed, he remained iilent and meditative 
 awhile ; then faid to me, 
 
 " Ser Pantaleone^ you perceive we are now 
 fpared the Trouble of making further Search 
 for the Spy, and I will detain you no longer ;" 
 on which I, bowing, withdrew, but only into 
 the adjoining Ante-chamber, where I remained 
 Half an Hour before Maddalo came out and 
 pafled on without appearing to fee me. The 
 refult of this Conference, though I fay it not 
 of a Certainty, was, in my Opinion, malign, 
 and fatal to the Interefts of 'T'ajfo^ whom 
 Maddalo was inftrufted thenceforth to fpy, to 
 report upon, and to betray. I may be mif- 
 taken, but I think I am not. Soon after this, 
 I met 1'a[fo running up the Palace Steps. I 
 cried, "So foon returned!" which was a ftupid 
 Speech, for he had been abfent feveral 
 Weeks. 
 
 " Soon ? " he repeated, " I feem to have 
 been abfent long enough for little Boys to grow 
 old Men," and ran up the grand Staircafe. 
 
reading a Letter. 151 
 
 When we were next together, he fhowed me 
 a fine Ruby the Duchefs Lucrezia had given 
 him, and fundry other valuable Tokens of 
 Friendfhip he had received from her and her 
 noble Hufband; but he looked pale, thin, and 
 careworn, and fpoke with little Pleafure of his 
 Sojourn at C aft el durante. He now caft him- 
 felf into the Labour of Compofition with the 
 moft intenfe Zeal and Perfeverance, writingr 
 Day and Night, fcarcely paufing for Food or 
 Reft. I told him he was overdoing it. He 
 faid fadly, " It is the beft Thing for me — the 
 only Thing for me. My Pen is my only 
 Miftrefs — I love her ! fhe is true to me, 
 employs me, elevates me, confoles me — I only 
 wifh I had always been true to her.^^ 
 
 I faid, "You talk now like a good and 
 reafonable Man. Only practife what you 
 profefs, and you will be as happy as you 
 already are great. You will be no lofer, 
 even in a worldly View, for the more you 
 fhut yourfelf up from the World, the more 
 the World will follow you." 
 
 " The World's a Fool ! " faid he abruptly. 
 
152 Of Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 " A great, big, bloated Bubble. I value it at 
 what it is worth. But we have each a little 
 World of our own^ that is all the World to 
 us, like the Landfcape around us refleded in 
 a fingle Drop of Water. In that little World 
 of mine. Women have ever held a large 
 Place. They are better than we are, Ser 
 Pantaleone ; kinder, truer, purer, more un- 
 felfifh, more imaginative, with quicker 
 Fancies, with readier Intuition, with more 
 Tadt, with finer Perceptions, with holier Afpi- 
 rations. I confider It the greateft Privilege 
 of my Life to have known my Mother, my 
 Sifter, and Madama Leonora."' 
 
 " Thus formed for domeftic Life, my dear 
 TaJJo, I regret that you do not marry." 
 
 " Suppofe I fay the fame to yoUy Ser Pan- 
 taleone ! — Bafta ! I am now in the Middle 
 of a Combat between Tancred and Argantes, 
 and muft no longer leave them idle." 
 
 The foothing Kindnefs of Madama Leonora 
 to him at this Time was extreme, and doubt- 
 lefs proved Balm to his Heart. Had it been 
 lefs, he would probably have lacked Com- 
 
reading a Letter. 153 
 
 pofure to finlfh his immortal Poem ; which 
 being at length wound up, to the infinite 
 Admiration of all but his Ill-wifhers, was 
 fubmitted by him, with his ufual Modefty and 
 Good-temper, to the Criticifms of his Friends 
 at Rome. 
 
 In Truth, I believe not there ever was a 
 humbler-minded or gentler Man of Genius. 
 Ah ! what Irritations and Vexations did he 
 not meekly take from captious Cavillers ! 
 What fenfelefs Objedions ! what abfurd Emen- 
 dations ! He, the Darling and Glory of all 
 Italy ! 
 
 One profefTed to find Impiety in conneding 
 Fidion with a religious Subjed:, and thought 
 the Poem had better be fupprefied altogether. 
 Another recommended him, as a Friend, to 
 leave out all about Enchantment, — it was 
 dangerous to have any Dealings with the 
 black Art. A third would have Nothing 
 whatever to fay on the Subjed of Love ; oh 
 no ! Clorinda^ Armiday Erminiay and Sophro- 
 nia were all to be fcratched out. A fourth 
 confidered the Unity of the Fable would be 
 
154 Q/" Ser PantaleoneV 
 
 improved by the OmifTion of the principal 
 Hero, Rinaldo. A fifth would be content 
 with the SupprefTion of the Incident of the 
 buried Perfon ; a fixth requefted in the coolefl: 
 Manner imaginable that he would omit the 
 wonderful Ship ; a feventh, that the Garden 
 of Armida might be made more of a Gar- 
 dener's-ground, devoted to Onions, Carrots, 
 and Cabbages, inftead of fo dreadfully ro- 
 mantic ; an eighth, that there might be no 
 AUufion to Kifles. 
 
 And thefe were your profeffional Critics, 
 I warrant you ! Men who held their Heads 
 altogether above poor original Geniufes ; Men 
 who knew what ought to be done and what 
 ought to be faid according to this Rule and 
 t'other, and yet could not for the Life of 
 them write Anything themfelves that any One 
 but themfelves would take the leaft Pleafure 
 in reading ! 
 
 I think all this worried him a good Deal, 
 fweetly as he took it. He confented to one 
 Alteration after another, and even to making 
 Erminia not only a Chriftian but a Nun ; and 
 
reading a Letter. 155 
 
 faw one after another of his fweet Fancies 
 ftripped of their Bloflbms and robbed of their 
 Bloom, their Boughs, and their Branches, till 
 Nothing but a dry arid Trunk remained. He 
 went, fad yet not furly, to Madama Leonora^ 
 and told her to what he had yielded. 
 
 She would not hear of it ! would not part 
 with an Incident ! a Line ! a Syllable ! praifed 
 All and Everything with a generous Woman's 
 Warmth, and fatirized his Critics with a 
 Woman's Irony. " Ah, Madama ! " he faid, 
 " you have overpaid me " — and there were, if 
 I miflake not. Tears in his Eyes as he faid it. 
 
 But he had other Sources of Difquietude. 
 He told me in great Perturbation that during 
 his Abfence from Ferrara, his Bureau had 
 certainly had the Lock picked, and his Papers 
 had been examined — Papers which in malicious 
 or ignorant Hands might bring him under the 
 Sufpicion, not only of the Duke but of the 
 Inquifition : Notes and Comments, in Fad, 
 on fundry PafTages in Madama Leonora's 
 Bible which had appeared at Variance with 
 the Dodtrines of the Church. 
 
156 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 I thought this a ferious Matter, and helped 
 him to fift it out. We found that one Day 
 when Jacintha Golqfa was gone to Mafs, and 
 had left the Houfe in Charge of a little Girl, 
 a Lockfmith and another Perfon, who wore 
 a Doublet of fhamoy Leather, had come and 
 defired accefs to 'TaJJ'o's Sitting-room, alleging 
 Orders from himfelf which the Child was too 
 fimple to doubt. We proceeded to hunt up 
 all the Lockfmiths in Ferrara, and at length 
 found one, an honeft, poor Fellow, who 
 admitted without any Hefitation that he had, 
 on fuch a Day, at the defire of a Man he had 
 never before feen, who wore a fhamoy 
 Doublet, gone to fuch a Street, and fuch a 
 Houfe, where, at the Diredion of the Man, 
 whom he concluded its Owner, he had picked 
 the Lock of a Bureau, of which the Man faid 
 he had loft the Key. He added that, having 
 done fo, the Man paid him and faid, " You 
 may go now," which he did, and had thought 
 no more of the Matter, nor had he feen the 
 Man fince. 
 
 On getting him to defcribe him to us, he 
 
reading a Letter. 157 
 
 faid he was wall-eyed, had yellowifh Teeth, 
 and a Nofe fomewhat flattifh ; in fhort, the De- 
 fcriptlon no ways tallied with that of Giraldini 
 nor Bertolazzi, though he might have been 
 their Agent. 
 
 We therefore paid the Lockfmith for his 
 Trouble, and begged him to look about for 
 the Man, whom if he could find, and enable 
 us to identify, we would gladly make it worth 
 his While. 
 
 The Lockfmith retreated with a good 
 Afiurance that he fhould be able to hunt him 
 up ; but, however, Nothing came of it. 
 Tajp) was grievoufly perturbed, becaufe fome 
 of his Papers had been withdrawn ; and he 
 alfo mentioned to me incidentally, that a 
 Letter to Madama Leonora^ which it wounded 
 him to think fhould have met any Eye 
 but her own, had reached her with a 
 Seal different from that which he had fet 
 upon it, — Virgil's Head, which neither of 
 them could identify as that of any of their 
 Acquaintance. 
 
 I could have explained this to him; but 
 
158 Of Ser Pantaleone'j 
 
 however, as he faid it would wound hhn fo to 
 know that it had met any Eye but hers, and 
 as it had met mine, all through his own 
 Inadvertence, I let it pafs, for why fhould I 
 want to wound him ? I wanted 7wt to wound 
 him, and he had faid it would wound him, 
 and fo, as he faid it would wound him I faid 
 Nothing about it. 
 
 There were fo many other and greater 
 Things to vex him, manifeflly the Work of 
 an Enemy, that I would not add to them this 
 little Thing to vex him, coming from a 
 Friend. Befides, I did it inadvertently, and 
 for his own Good, that is to fay, for my own 
 Information, I only defiring Good to him ; 
 and a done Thing could not be undone, as 
 we know was faid long ago by Mqfca 
 Lamberti ; and it would be ftupid and fhame- 
 ful to fay Anything about it fo long after, 
 and fo I let it pafs. 
 
 Meantime, Madama Leonora^ witnefTing 
 the Perturbation and Trouble of 'Tajfo^ and 
 confidering that after fuch exhaufting Study, 
 and fuch haraffing Controverfy, and fuch 
 
reading a Letter. i^g 
 
 Self-diicipline in keeping down his too immo- 
 derate AfFedtion for her, he was ready to die of 
 Trouble and Grief, — did, of her heavenly 
 Kindnefs and Commiferation, carry him and 
 me and two or three others with her to her 
 delicious Country- feat of Co/ando/i, where, 
 remote from the Bickerings and Backbitings 
 of an envious Court, in a Palace and Gardens 
 as delightful as thofe of Armida, we led a 
 Life more innocent and improving than 
 AnnidaSy rifing early, hunting, hawking, 
 fowling, fnaring fmall Birds and Fifhes, 
 floating in a gilded Gondolet with filken 
 Awning on the fweet River, playing Lutes, 
 Flutes, Tabrets, and Dulcimers, (I myfelf 
 could touch the Triangle indifferent well,) 
 making Verfes, reading amuflng Tales, gather- 
 ing and eating of Fruit, ftraying among Beds of 
 choice Flowers, dining on the Grafs, fupping 
 in the fancy Dairy-houfe, warbling Canzoni, 
 writing Letters to this Friend and the 
 other to fay how happy we were, — and, in 
 fhort, enjoying ourfelves in a moft deledable 
 Fafhion. 
 
i6o Ser PantaleoneV reading a Letter. 
 
 I have always thought the Air particularly- 
 fine at Cqfandoliy and the Water particularly 
 wholefome. The Fiih, too, which one 
 catches there in the River, is fingularly well- 
 flavoured, and the Poultry and Dairy-produce 
 and Fruits, Legumes and Efculents are, or at 
 leaft were, the beft of their Kind. I never faw 
 fuch Medlars or Mulberries anywhere elfe. 
 We had Milk warm from the Cow, and 
 delicious little Milk-rolls hot from the Oven, 
 and broiled Fifii frefh caught, and Eggs juft 
 laid; and it is wonderful how much my 
 Appetite improved while I was at CoJandoU. 
 And fo did rajfds. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Of the Proceedings of the Duchefs of Urbino. 
 
 '•W^^iA ^'"low not if I can fay it was as 
 ^^l|^'3 wifely as kindly done of Madama 
 fe(-it5Jii\,5 Leonora to give my poor troubled 
 Friend this Haven of Reft in the Midft of his 
 tempeft-toft Voyage. True, he was over- 
 wrought, weary, and fick at Heart ; true, he 
 had Enemies without, and Trials and Tempta- 
 tions within : but where there's no Strife, 
 there's no Conqueft ; God does not willingly 
 grieve nor afflict the Children of Men, nor 
 fubmit them to any Temptation that has no 
 Way of Efcape. 
 
 '^ajfo loved Madama Leonora with all the 
 Purity and Fervour his Soul was capable of, 
 and that her exalted Goodnefs was calculated 
 
1 62 Of the Proceedings 
 
 to infpire. '^ajjo knew he could never win 
 Madama Leonora^ and fought manfully with 
 himfelf to conquer a too engrofling Love; 
 Madama Leonora faw him ftriving, wearying, 
 wafting, and had Compaffion on him, and did 
 her beft to recompenfe him by the fweet 
 Solace of her Companionfhip among a little 
 Circle of felect Friends, all in Amity with 
 him, and revering his Genius ; but was this 
 the Way to cure him ? Ah, was it not 
 bidding the poor Moth play round the 
 Candle ? 
 
 As I have faid, all our little Party were in 
 Amity and Harmony, and no hidden Foe 
 was among us to breed Rivalry and Jealoufy, 
 and carry back an evil Report of us to the 
 City. But, of Course, thofe who were 
 excluded were envious of us, and fet about 
 fpiteful Reports of our ten Days at Cajandoli. 
 However, thefe, being bafelefs, defervedly fell 
 to the Ground. 
 
 How clofe and noifome is the Atmofphere 
 of a great City, when one returns to it from 
 the gentle Gales, trickling Waters, Myrtle 
 
of the Duchefs of Urbino. 163 
 
 Shades, Jafmlne Odours and enamelled Paftures 
 of a delicious Villeggiatura ! Juft To does 
 the tainted moral Atmofphere of the City 
 offend us after the purifying Influences of 
 Seclufion, though I fay not there is never 
 a Snake in the Grafs, nor an Afp among the 
 Fruit, nor a Scorpion under the Mofs-grown 
 Capital. There was a lying Serpent even in 
 the Garden of Eden. It is not every one 
 that can, like St. Paul^ fhake off a Viper into 
 the Fire. Howbeit, our Anceflors did wifely 
 to raife Altars to Feronia, Goddefs of Woods 
 and Groves, and fable that her Votaries could 
 walk unhurt over red-hot Coals ; which was 
 only faying, in their veiled, pretty Way, that 
 the Lovers of calm Seclufion and Retirement 
 could abide, unharmed, the fiery Ordeal of 
 the World. 
 
 No fooner in the City, than a Clafb of 
 Swords ! I heard a Boy, running along the 
 Street, call in an excited Way to another, 
 " Four Men have fallen upon one, and he 
 has beaten them ! " 
 
 " Who is it ?" cries the other. 
 m' 2 
 
164 Of the Proceedings 
 
 '' 'Torquato T'aJJo ! " cries the firft. 
 
 And fo, furely enough, it proved. 
 
 — The Thing fell out thus. ^^^^ return- 
 ing from Cafandoli, found his Bureau had 
 again been invaded : the Duke, alfo, looked 
 on him coldly, and treated him with lefs 
 Confideration than ufual. Tajfo, meeting 
 unexpeftedly Brunello and Claudio, heard 
 them uttering fome Words which led him to 
 conclude they were Authors of the Mifchief, 
 and were rejoicing in it. He flopped fliort, 
 and fternly alked Brunello what he meant 
 by it. 
 
 Brunello^ merely muttering " Al foccorfo " 
 to Claudio, who pafTed on, faced about and 
 faid, " What do I mean by it ^. What do 
 I mean by what ?" 
 
 *^ By what you were juft faying," faid TaJfo. 
 
 "What was I juft faying?" fays Brunello 
 evafively. 
 
 " You know well enough. Had it or had 
 it not Reference to me ? " 
 
 " Hem ! — Had it or had it not Reference 
 to you?" fays Brunello^ juft to gain Time, 
 
of the Duchefs of Urbino. 165 
 
 and fqulnting over his Shoulder to fee if 
 Succour were coming. " Well, that's an odd 
 Queftion for one Gentleman to afk of another. 
 How if I anfwered — it had not Reference to 
 you ?" 
 
 " Then, though I had ftrong Reafons for 
 fuppofing otherwife, I muft accept that as the 
 Truth." 
 
 " How if I faid it had Reference to you ?" 
 
 " Then I fhould infift on your recalling 
 your bafe Words, or eating them." 
 
 " How if I chofe not to eat them ? " 
 
 " No more of this paltry Evafion, Sir ! 
 To the Point ! " 
 
 " Nay, an' if that be what you are driving 
 at, take It with a Vengeance," cries Brunello^ 
 whipping out his Toledo and making a def- 
 perate Lunge at T'ajfo^ who, having his Back 
 to the Corner of the Wall, alertly parried the 
 Stroke at the fame Moment that three Men, 
 KInfmen of Brunello's^ came fuddenly up and 
 drew upon him. 
 
 "A rajfo! A Tajfo! A Brunello ! A 
 Bruneilo !" rang through the Air at every 
 
i66 Of the Proceedings 
 
 Clafh of Swords ; and People coming up, 
 running from various Parts, faw to their 
 Admiration ^Tajfo keeping his Ground againft 
 all four till their Approach caufed the 
 Ruffians to make a hafty Retreat through the 
 narrow Paflage they had ifTued from, about 
 three Houfes from the Corner; juft over- 
 againft where the Cat's-meat Shop and the 
 Maccaroni Stall have ftood ever fince I was 
 a Boy. 
 
 The People raifed a " Viva ! " as TaJJo^ 
 merely breathing a little fafter than ufual, 
 wiped a few Drops of Blood from his Sword 
 with his Cloak, fheathed it with a Smile, and 
 nodded to them as he pafled on. The People 
 followed him down the Street, and one of 
 them, an Improvifatore, who had been in- 
 terrupted in the midft of " The Generous 
 Turk," cried out with Animation — 
 
 Con la Penna e con la Spada 
 Nessun val quanto Torquato ! 
 
 — which was eagerly caught up, and has re- 
 mained a Proverb among us even to this Day. 
 To my Mind, he was worth two of Horace^ 
 
of the Duchefs of Urbino. 167 
 
 and would never have difgraced himfelf at 
 Philippi. 
 
 If I heard of this Occurrence with mixed 
 Emotions of Pride in my Friend's Courage 
 and Concern for his Danger, it is not fur- 
 prifing that the fame Feehngs fhould be 
 experienced by Madama Leonora in a ftronger 
 Degree. The Duke, alfo, was highly incenfed 
 at the Outrage, and the Confequence was that 
 Brunello and his Partizans dared not fhow 
 their Nofes among us for a While ; fo there 
 was Peace in the Land. For the Reft, thefe 
 little Outbreaks are always occurring in Cities ; 
 and of courfe the judicial Inquiry into the 
 Affair came to Nothing. 
 
 It had for fome Time been bruited among 
 us that our Madama Lucrezia had not 
 bettered her Condition much by Matrimony, 
 but was living uncomfortably with the young 
 Duke; and though I looked on this as one 
 of the bafelefs Scandals always rife among us, 
 the more fo as Tajfo had faid Nothing about 
 it on his Return from Cafteldurante^ yet now, 
 when I mentioned it to him, he fhrugged his 
 
1 68 Of the Proceedings 
 
 Shoulders and faid 'twas ill meddling in the 
 Affairs of Man and Wife — he believed there 
 were Faults upon both Sides : they had been 
 kinder to him than they were to each other. 
 
 Rather fuddenly the Duchefs appeared 
 among us when we were leaft looking for her, 
 — came to ftay ; impelled thereto, it would 
 feem, by the Apprehenfion that Means for 
 her Removal by Poifon had been concerted. 
 As it could not be made clear to the Duke 
 that this impreffion refulted from Aught but 
 her own too vivid Fancy, and as, moreover, 
 his Highnefs had his own peculiar Views of 
 the occaiional Neceffity and Innocuoufnefs of 
 withdrawing a Confort from Connexion with 
 mundane Exiftence, he did not efteem it 
 neceffary to make a Scandal of it, but, never- 
 thelefs, kindly welcomed his Sifter back to 
 Ferrara, and made an amicable Arrangement 
 concerning her with the Duke of Urhino on 
 the ground of Incompatibility of Age and 
 Difpofitions. 
 
 Certainly we all felt very much aggrieved 
 for our Madama in the firft Inftance, and 
 
of the Duche/s of Urbino. 169 
 
 welcomed her back as a Dove efcaped from a 
 Hawk ; but after fhe had been a Httle While 
 among us, we began to have our private Mif- 
 givings whether the meek Dove were fo much 
 her Prototype as the contentious Sparrow. 
 Unqueftionably fhe lorded it a good Deal, 
 now, over Madama Leonora, with " Me, a 
 married Woman ! " which, I have obferved, 
 always goes very much againft the Grain with 
 Spinfters ; and, as all married Women were 
 once Spinfters too, of Courfe they fin with full 
 Knowledge. Aforetime, the two Sifters had 
 fo much held together, that I, for one, had 
 thought there was fcarcely a Pin to choofe 
 between them. True, Madama Leonora's 
 Eyes were violet-blue, deep, foft, and angelic, 
 and Madama Lucrezia's were of that clear, 
 cold, greenifti-blue which Is fomewhat cat-like ; 
 true, Madama Leonora's Hair was profufe, 
 filky, and of as lovely a colour as if dipped 
 in Scamander, and Madama Lucrezia's was 
 yellower, and lank, and without any Curl in 
 It ; true, the latter always took the Lead, and 
 the former always was content to follow it ; 
 
lyo Of the Proceedings 
 
 the one loved Admiration, and the other 
 preferred Affediion ; the elder could do polite 
 Unkindnefles, and the younger was known 
 for her gracious Kindnefles — but ftill, fome- 
 how, the reflected Light of one Sifter's Beauty 
 and Goodnefs fhed a Luftre on the other, which 
 no one difcovered to be borrowed as long as 
 their Taftes, Habits, and Inclinations were 
 the fame. 
 
 Now that they had each acquired a Habi- 
 tude of living apart, they were no longer 
 infeparable, though ftill continually together 
 in Public. But the Duchefs had her own 
 Attendants, Partizans, Correfpondents, and 
 Favourites, to occupy the Morning Hours, 
 which the delicate Health of Madama Leo- 
 nora occafioned her to pafs in comparative 
 Secluflon. 
 
 I may have done the Duchefs Injuftice, but, 
 fhortly after her Return to Ferrara, I thought 
 I perceived the diftinguifhing Regard with 
 which fhe at firft honoured 'Tajfo gave Place 
 to Stiffnefs, to Coolnefs, and finally to con- 
 cealed Enmity. I thought I perceived that 
 
of the Duchefs of Urblno. 171 
 
 fhe exercifed an Injurious Influence over the 
 Duke, which made him more and more dif- 
 truftful of Tajfo. I thought they watched 
 him, fet Spies upon him, and that fhe tried 
 not only to detect him in Evil, but betray 
 into it, or into its Appearance. None but 
 a Man of fpotlefs Integrity could have walked 
 unharmed, blindfolded, among the cunning 
 Pit-falls now c*ug in his Path. As it was, 
 he became fo confclous of a myflerious Web 
 fpun all about him, and of fnares fpread 
 for him, that his Life became Mifery to 
 him. One Evening, being at Supper with 
 the Duchefs, at her flattering and prefllng 
 Invitation, he faw, or thought he faw, Mad- 
 dalo, who was now her Cup-bearer, cafl; a 
 Pinch of whitifh Powder into his Goblet ; and 
 exclaiming — 
 
 "Ha! Villain!" 
 — he fprang up, and throttled him with his 
 left Hand, pinning him back agalnfl: the 
 Tapefl:ry, while he drew on him with his 
 right. The Duchefs fl:irleked, and, ftarting 
 up, overturned Tajfo's, Cup, whether by Chance 
 
172 Of the Proceedings 
 
 or otherwife, I know not, and then fell back, 
 as if fwooning, in her Chair. While her 
 Ladies rufhed to her Aid, her two Gentlemen 
 collared Tajfo^ and dragged him from the 
 Apartment, while Maddalo rufhed to relate 
 the Outrage in his own Way to the Duke, 
 who immediately ordered 'Tajfo to be kept 
 under Arreft. 
 
 I was carving for Madama Leonora^ who 
 was not very well, in her private Apartment, 
 when Olimpia, a Girl who was her favourite 
 Attendant, entered pale and in Tears, and 
 related that 'Tajfo, feized with fudden Mad- 
 nefs, had fallen on the Duchefs's Cup-bearer 
 and nearly flain him, and was now, by the 
 Duke's Command, under Arreft, 
 
 I thought Madama Leonora would have 
 fainted. She tried to rife, but could not ; and, 
 after a Moment's Struggle for Breath and 
 Voice, v/aved her Hand, and faid feebly — 
 
 " All of you go out, fave Ser Pantaleone 
 and Olim-pia" 
 
 The other Attendants immediately with- 
 drew. Then, with Tears in her Eyes — 
 
of the Duchejs of Urbino. 173 
 
 " Oh, Ser Pantaleofie" faid fhe, in a Voice 
 fcarcely above a Whifper, " I am fure this is 
 Lua'ezias doing. I have no Concealments 
 from you, my old Friend, for you are truthful 
 and faithful to me, and fhrewd enough to have 
 long feen how Things were going. You have 
 heard her little Hints and dark Sayings about 
 her ^ Fears that poor T'aJJo's Senfes were not 
 quite as his beft Friends would wifh them. 
 She did not know — fhe feared to fay — iTie 
 hoped fhe might be miftaken — but, indeed, 
 there were many who thought as fhe did of 
 him ; he had been very ftrange at Caftel- 
 durante — and even the Duke, who had not 
 her Safety ufually much in his Thoughts, 
 had faid it might be well not to have him 
 too much about her, as AccefTes of Frenzy 
 fometimes came on when leafl expected.' 
 All this, you know^ Ser Pantaleone, and 
 you know, Olimpa^ fhe has faid ; and 
 now — " 
 
 Here paufing, IKe hid her Face in her 
 beautiful Hands, and wept bitterly. 
 
 " My Life on 't, Madama," faid I, *' 'tis all 
 
174 Of the Proceedings 
 
 a Miftake, and will be cleared up To-morrow. 
 Tajfo is as fane as I am ; great Wits don't go 
 mad — 'tis unfteady Brains, not full ones, that 
 rattle. Maddalo, who deferves to be hanged 
 like a Cat, has been caught in fome of his 
 evil Practices, and 'Tajfo has given him the 
 fummary Punifhment he deferved. I truft 
 he has not beaten the Boy within lefs than an 
 Inch of his Life, however, for fo far I would 
 joyfully undertake his Corre6lion myfelf. I'll 
 go, however, and inquire into it on the Spot, 
 befeeching your Excellency to have Care for 
 your dear Health, and to compofe yourfelf 
 during my Abfence." 
 
 I found TaJfo beyond my Reach, being fhut 
 into the Guard-room, guarded by one of the 
 Duchefs's own Attendants, in addition to 
 two of the Duke's Guards, whom I might 
 otherwife have induced to admit me. I 
 then fought his Highnefs, who was playing 
 with Dice, and informed him that Madama 
 Leonora, being much indifpofed, was greatly 
 fhocked to hear of 'TaJJb'^ Arreft, and begged 
 the Thing might be inquired into, and his 
 
of the Duchefs of Urbino. 175 
 
 Liberation granted without Delay. The Duke 
 replied — 
 
 " It is fimply impofTible ; but tell my good 
 Sifter he fhall be treated with all Lenity, and 
 the Cafe adjudged To-morrow Morning. At 
 Prefent I have no Leifure for it, nor any 
 Defire to fee him while the Mania is on him. 
 I have Reafon to think the Fit has been im- 
 pending for fome Time, and a Night's Solitude 
 and Darknefs will cool his Brain and purge it 
 of ill Humours. Tell Madama Leonora I 
 hope {he will sleep refreshingly." 
 
 A vain Hope ! thought I, as I retired ill 
 at Eafe. In the Ante-chamber, I encountered 
 Antoniniy one of the Duchefs's Gentlemen, 
 whom I knew to have little Affection for 
 Tajfo ; and therefore inquired of him the Par- 
 ticulars of the Affray, without much Hope 
 of hearing them impartially stated. He 
 feemed little minded to fatisfy me; faid he 
 was carving a Pheafant, and the Duchefs was 
 inquiring whether Abrani the Jew Phyfician 
 had yet returned from Cyprus^ when fud- 
 denly T'aJJ'o ftarted up like a Maniac, pinned 
 
176 Of the Proceedings 
 
 Maddalo to the Wall, and drew upon him. He 
 and Guerazzi feized each an Arm, and had 
 the utmoft Difficulty in getting him to loofen 
 his Hold of the Boy, who was growing black 
 in the Face ; and the Duchefs fcreamed, 
 " Don't let him go ! Difarm him ! Remove 
 him, but don't hurt him ! " and then went 
 off into a Swoon. 
 
 I faid. What offence had Maddalo given ? 
 He faid he had not heard the Boy utter a 
 Word — it was not his Place to fpeak at 
 Supper, unlefs fpoken to. He had filled for 
 the Duchefs, and was juft filling Tajfo's Cup, 
 when the Fray occurred. 
 
 Here Bertolazziy who had come up, muft 
 needs put in, that Nobody would be fur- 
 prifed — many had noted great Strangenefs 
 in I'aJJo for fome Time paft, and, indeed, 
 many Things in his Conduct were wholly 
 indefenfible, fave on the Suppofition of a 
 difordered Mind. The Duke had noticed 
 more than one ftrange Vagary, and had 
 been heard to mutter, " Crack-brained." 
 Signor Maffei had afked Bertolazzi who and 
 
of the Duchefs of Urbino. 177 
 
 what the Epithet referred to ; and Bertolazzi 
 had faid — 
 
 I did not want to hear Bertolazzi's Com- 
 mentaries and Glofles, fo moved off. Juft 
 outfide the Door, I met Venieri, the Phyfician. 
 I faid, 
 
 " Doctor ! they may fwear Tajfo is mad, if 
 they will — but he's no more fo than you or I. 
 He has had enough to make him fo, though, 
 long ago !" 
 
 The good Phyfician, who was much in 
 Attendance on Madama Leonora y fmiled and 
 fliook his Head without any other Anfwer ; 
 and then turning back, after paffing on a few 
 Steps, faid, 
 
 " Bid Olimpia give Madama her Henbane- 
 draught the laft Thing, when All is hufhed 
 and ftill." 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 Of Tasso in the Guard-room. 
 
 g^^'^HEN I lay down in Bed, I could 
 ^^^ml ^^°^ fleep for thinking of my poor 
 t'^St^v-;, Friend, pacing with impetuous Steps 
 that gloomy Guard-room looking out on the 
 Court. As I could believe Maddalo bad 
 enough for Anything, it was Nothing incre- 
 dible to me that he fhould have caft Poifon 
 into Tajfo's Cup, provided it had been made 
 worth his While to do fo by fome one 
 fufficiently powerful to protect him. Nay, 
 he had Malignity enough to do it on his own 
 Account ; but would he then have dared 
 it at the Duchefs's Table, under her very 
 Eye? 
 
 How was it that fhe iided with him rather 
 
Of TafTo in the Guard-room. 179 
 
 than with T^ajfo^ at the Moment ? caufing 
 Tajfo to be difarmed and dragged out, inftead 
 of having the Cup examined and the Boy 
 arrefted ? I did not like to think of it. 
 
 I fell afleep only to dream of lighted Halls, 
 and Banquet-tables, and beautiful Women, 
 and Spies in Clofets, and Bravoes in dark 
 Doorways, and Pages drugging Goblets, 
 ending with 'Tajfo's wild Cry of " Ha, Vil- 
 lain ! " which woke me up in a Panic. 
 
 Then I lay me down again and thought, 
 with clofed Eyes and a Smile on my Lips, 
 that he for whom I was thus in Trouble was 
 very likely at that Moment enjoying far 
 better Dreams than mine had been ; of for- 
 tunate Love and Fairy Enchantments and 
 heroic Deeds fuch as he had fung in noble 
 Verfe, or wide awake purfuing Themes of 
 high Philofophy, and calm, original Thought, 
 fuch as his Enemies could not deprive 
 him of. 
 
 Thus placidly, but, alas, quite untruly repre- 
 fenting him to myfelf, I fell into a dreamlefs 
 Sleep. 
 
 N 2 
 
i?o Of Tafib in the Guard-room. 
 
 Next Morning, I repaired to the Guard- 
 room. " T^t^Jfo ftill under Arreft ? " 
 
 * Yes, Ser Pantakone" 
 
 '* But how ! " (chafing) " this cannot be 
 with the Duke's Orders ; he only meant him 
 to remain for the Night. Admit me to 
 him." 
 
 " Your Pardon, Ser Pantaleone. It is by 
 the Duke's Order he is detained, and by the 
 Duke's Order that he is to fee None but 
 the Court Phyfician, who is even now with 
 him." 
 
 Juft at this Moment, good Dr. Venieri 
 came forth. I took him by the Arm, and 
 pafTed on with him towards Madama Leonoras 
 Apartments. 
 
 " How have you found him, Dodor ? " 
 
 " Diftrafted, my dear Ser Pantaleone ^ by 
 imaginary Fears of Poifon, Accufations of 
 Herefy, the Duke's Difpleafure, the Duchefs's 
 Enmity, and I know not what all." 
 
 " Are they imaginary ? " 
 
 " Hufh ! we dare not doubt it ; thefe Fan- 
 cies fpring from the black, bilious Blood 
 
Of Taflo /;/ the Guard-room. 1 8 1 
 
 gathered upon the Heart, and fuming up to 
 the Brahi, — a lamentable Fact when we con- 
 fider his Worth and Genius." 
 
 *' Ah, Do6tor ! do not, I implore you, 
 adopt that ImprefTion ! do not convey it to 
 the Duke, or to any Ears but mine ! It 
 cannot, fhall not be ! — Ah, dear Dodor, don't 
 ruin him, I befeech you ! " 
 
 " What Idea are you running away with, 
 my dear Ser Fantaleone ? I fhall merely tell 
 his Highnefs that 1'aJJ'o is feverifh and excited 
 at the Idea of having acfted intemperately 
 in the Duchefs's prefence, and of having 
 thereby incurred her and his Highnefs's Dif- 
 pleafure." 
 
 " Ah, that will do ! Say Nothing elfe, I 
 befeech you." 
 
 The good Do6lor looked at me with a 
 little Reproach, as much as to fay, " Can't 
 you truft me ? " then, fignificantly tapped 
 his Head and Heart with his Forefinger in 
 Silence. 
 
 " You mean he has Something wrong 
 there .'' " 
 
1 8 2 Of Taflb in the Guard-room. 
 
 " Not in his Heart, — he has lofi it." 
 " Ah, don't beheve every Court GofTip ? " 
 "My dear Ser Pantaleone, I fhould not 
 hold the profefTional Eftimation I do, if I 
 drew my Inferences from Court Goflip. 
 Taffo is raving at this Minute to fee the Girl 
 Olimpia.'" 
 
 " Olimpia ! he cares not for her ! " 
 " Of Courfe not, fave that fhe might 
 impart to him Tidings of her Miftrefs. By 
 more than one Perfon he has been fuppofed 
 to court the Maid, and, between you and me, 
 it is as well to give the foolish Fancy Cur- 
 rency ; but we know too well it is not fo. 
 Farewell; I fear I fhall not find Madama 
 Leonora very well this Morning." 
 
 I parted with him full of Trouble, and 
 Olimpay prefently coming out of Madama 
 Leonora'^ Bed-chamber, gave me a little 
 Billet, which fhe defired me to carry to the 
 Duke. His Highnefs, who was breakfafting, 
 and feeding his Dogs, ran through it, and 
 coolly told me to aflure her Excellency, with 
 his kindeft AfFedion, that the Thing fhe 
 
Of Taflb /;/ the Guard -room. 183 
 
 defired could not be done at Prefent, but 
 that it was his Wifh as much as hers that all 
 fhould go well. I ventured to afk, of myfelf, 
 whether Accefs to T^ajfo might be permitted 
 to his Friends ; but was drily anfwered, " Not 
 at Prefent. Coccapani is with him." 
 
 Coccapani was the Duke's Treafurer, a 
 timid Man, but not unfriendly to TaJJb. I 
 fought himx out, being aflured any News I 
 could obtain of him would make me the 
 more welcome to Madama Leonora. 
 
 "^ I am going to him again even now," faid 
 he, with obvious Diftafte for his MifTion, 
 " he has over-perfuaded me to grant him 
 the Means of writing to the Duke, and I 
 am about to take Charge of his Letter, though 
 not without affuring his Highnefs, I promife 
 you, that I have had Nothing to do with its 
 Contents. Come with me, if you will." 
 
 So, as he invited me, I did not think it 
 neceffary to mention that I had already been 
 denied Accefs to him, but took what Fortune 
 offered. 
 
 The Moment we entered the Guard-room, 
 
184 0/Taflo in the Guard-room. 
 
 Tajfo^ who was pacing it like a caged Lion, 
 turned about, and, feeing me, exclaimed, — 
 " Ah, Ser Pantaleone ! Ser Pantaleone ! " and 
 throwing himfelf on my Neck, wept. He 
 was burning with Fever, and his Tears were 
 like fcalding Water. 
 
 " See ! " faid he, raifmg his Head from my 
 Shoulder, and looking me piteoufly in the 
 Face, " fee, I weep ! can Madmen do that ? 
 If they wanted to make me mad, could they 
 have devifed a better Method than to 
 fhut me up here, without the Means of 
 defending and juftifying myfelf, while my 
 Enemies are ranfacking my Papers, difcover- 
 ing and fabricating I know not what ? " 
 
 " Hufh, my dear 'Tajfo ; an innocent Man 
 fears no Difcoveries ; and Fabrications fall to 
 the Ground." 
 
 " How can you, how dare you fay fo, in 
 the Face of all human Experience?" 
 
 " Eventually, almoft always they do ; and 
 meantime — " 
 
 " Ah, that meantime ! — " 
 
 " Muft be borne with dignified Patience, 
 
Of TafTo in the Guard-room. 185 
 
 fuch as I am fiire your richly ftored Memory 
 can fupply you with a hundred claflic 
 Examples of, and fuch as your own Heroifm 
 will furely enable you to exert. What! over- 
 come by one Night's Solitude and Darknefs?" 
 
 " Ah, but how bufy may my Foes have 
 been during that fingle Night ! 'Tis that 
 which racks me, Ser Pantaleone. Had they 
 not already been bufy, the Duke would not 
 thus keep me in Durance — " 
 
 " His Highnefs only detains you for your 
 Recovery," interrupted Coccapani. " His 
 Motives are moft kind." 
 
 " Induce him then, dear Coccapani, m the 
 Name of Everything that is gracious, to 
 accelerate my Recovery, if I have indeed 
 Aught to recover from, by permitting my 
 immediate Return to my own Apartments, 
 where I promife to keep quiet and fubmit to 
 whatever Meafures he wills for my Cure. 
 But tell him that I have never in my Life 
 been able to endure Solitude and Confinement, 
 and that if he keeps me here, I fhall fall into 
 Defpair." 
 
1 86 Of Taflb in the Guard-room. 
 
 " I will, I will," Coccapani replied good- 
 naturedly, " and now, farewell. Give me 
 your Letter, and keep yourfelf quiet in the 
 Affurance that your beft Friends are caring 
 for you." 
 
 Tajfo fhook his Head ruefully, but wrung 
 Coccapani's Hand ; and finding that I mutt 
 depart with him, he embraced me and whif- 
 pered, " How fares it with Madama ? Oh, 
 commend me to her with the utmoft Devotion 
 and Tendernefs, and bid her be aflured I have 
 done no Wrong." 
 
 " She would be the laft to think you had," 
 returned I in the fame Way, " I wifh you 
 had no worfe Enemy." 
 
 An April Gleam fhone on his fad Face ; 
 he faid, " I thank you, dear Friend, for a 
 Word In Seafon — " and let me go. My 
 Heart ached when the heavy Door clofed 
 upon him. How joyfully would I have taken 
 his Place ! Becaufe, look you, my Mind was 
 quiet and my Body without Difinclination to 
 Reft ; and I could have fat immured there 
 for a While quite imperturbably, knowing it 
 
0/ TafTo in the Guard-room. 187 
 
 could not laft long, and going over the laft 
 Month's Bills in my Head, and thinking over 
 many pleafant Dinners, Balls, Hunting-parties, 
 and other Diveriions, and faying my Prayers, 
 and, at the worft, taking a Nap ; whereas 
 
 / suoi Pensieri in lul dormir non ponno. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 "^i'^M--' FEW Hours later, I had the great 
 Xx^^'- Satisfadlon of learning that 'Tajfo 
 ^T"??^^^: had been permitted to return to his 
 own Lodgings, on the Condition that he 
 fhould fubmit himfelf to very ftridl medical 
 Regimen, and be conftantly attended by the 
 Duke's Phyfician and the Duke's Servant. 
 Thefe Conditions I made free to attribute 
 to the Duchefs of Urbino ; fince, what Man 
 lives in Italy who would not have drawn 
 upon Maddaloy on the Suppofition, whether 
 groundlefs or not, of his having drugged 
 his Cup? 
 
 Madama Leonora's Mind was much relieved, 
 however, by this Arrangement, as fhe took it 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 1 8 9 
 
 for granted that Taffo's Reftoration to 
 Calmnefs would foon render the Reftric- 
 tions now impofed unnecefTary ; and fhe 
 made me the Bearer of a kind MefTage 
 telHng him fo, and praying him to be docile 
 and patient. 
 
 As foon as I faw him, I knew by the mild, 
 fteady Light of his Eye, that he was fo al- 
 ready ; and this kind MefTage was of great 
 Comfort to him. Luigi, one of the Duke's 
 Pages, was in waiting, coming in and out, but 
 he was a quiet Youth of whom Nobody was 
 afraid, and his flitting to and fro was of little 
 Moment to us. 'Tajfo told me in an Under- 
 tone, that he believed he had found his 
 Bureau as he had left it. 
 
 " But why preferve dangerous Papers in 
 it ? " faid I in the fame half Whifper. 
 
 " You are right, yet it would cofl me a 
 fevere Pang to deftroy them — however, it 
 mufl: be done ; but not under the Eyes of the 
 Duke's Servants." 
 
 " Certainly not ; but avail yourfelf of the 
 firft fafe Opportunity." 
 
190 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 " Yes, yes, — well, what's the News at 
 Court?" 
 
 "Oh, this Affair of yours is ftill the 
 Talk." 
 
 "What fay they of it?" 
 
 " They think you muft have been crazy to 
 fpring upon Maddalo as you did." 
 
 " My dear Friend !" in an excited Whifper, 
 " I faw the Powder he caft into my Cup as 
 plainly as I fee you !" 
 
 " Unluckily, no one elfe faw it, and the 
 Contents of the Cup were fpilled, and haftily 
 wiped up, fo that no Proof remains." 
 
 " He ought to have been fearched ! " 
 
 " No Doubt of it ; but when will Things 
 be done that ought to be done ? " 
 
 " What does Madama Leonora fay ? " 
 
 " She fays very little, except to Dr. Venieri" 
 
 "Isfheill?" 
 
 " You know fhe is always ailing." 
 
 " Ah ! . . ." he clafped his Hands on his 
 Knee, and fate in painful Thought a little 
 While, " Ser Pantaleone^ I fear me, fhe will 
 die, one of thefe Days." 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 191 
 
 fhall we all." 
 Ye?Si>ut prematurely." 
 
 " That's as God wills." 
 
 " I think it will be his Will." 
 
 '-'■ She is no longer in the Bloom of Youth, 
 even were fhe to be cut off to-morrow. How 
 fhort is even the longest Life, when we reach 
 its End ! " 
 
 " Mine appears but a Span long, when I 
 look back upon it ! How little have I done ! 
 How much remains to do ! " 
 
 " I think you have done a great Deal." 
 
 " Nothing is done, while Anything re- 
 mains incomplete. Ha ! a Letter from 
 dear Scipio Gonzaga ! " — taking it from 
 Luigi. 
 
 As he ran through it, his Look of Pleafure 
 became exchanged for one of Pain, Surprife, 
 and Indignation. 
 
 "Read that!" faid he to me. "There's 
 your true Friend for you ! " — and hid his 
 Face in his Hands. 
 
 I haftily perufed the Letter, which was a 
 moft bitter Invective. Whilft turning in 
 
192 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 my Mind what to fay of it, he fuddenly 
 exclaimed — 
 
 " Let me fee it again ! " 
 
 And having eagerly re-examined it, " This 
 is no authentic Letter," cried he, " but an 
 audacious Fabrication, It wants one or two 
 Tricks of Scipio's Manufcript which his Let- 
 ters are never without, I will fhow you." 
 
 And taking a Key from his Bofom, he 
 unlocked the Bureau, and drew forth a Letter 
 of Scipio's, which he compared with the other, 
 to our mutual Conviction that the Latter one 
 was indeed a Forgery. 
 
 *^ To whom am I indebted for this, I 
 wonder?" said he, fmiling meaningly; "to 
 fome kind Friend, no Doubt, who, fearing 
 Dr. Venieri did not find me mad, tried this 
 Means of making me fo." 
 
 He replaced the Letter carefully, and the 
 other with it, faying, " This fhall, if needful, 
 be fhown to the Duke." As he glanced over 
 the other Contents of his Bureau, I faw him 
 turn pale. I faid, " What is the matter ?" 
 
 " Nothing," he replied evafively ; for Luigi 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 1 93 
 
 had juft glided in. He came to announce 
 Dr. Venieri ; and as he entered, I retired. 
 
 What was my Chagrin to learn, the fame 
 Afternoon, that 'Tajfo had been examined by 
 the Inquifition for imputed Herefy ! 
 
 On repairing to Madama Leonora^ who I 
 trufted had not heard this Piece of News, 
 I found her trembling exceedingly. She faid, 
 " My Brother wants me to accompany him 
 and Liicrezia to Belriguardo^ but I cannot ! 
 I feel fure Something terrible will happen in 
 my Abfence." 
 
 I faid, "What kind of Thing, gracious 
 Lady?" 
 
 " Oh," ihe faid, clafping her Hands in 
 Trouble, " I dare not whifper, even to 
 myfelf! No, no, I cannot go! Dr. Venieri 
 fhall certify that I am not well enough to 
 leave Home at prefent." 
 
 Which Thing was done. Ah, deareft Lady ! 
 you overreached yourfelf! The Duke and 
 Duchefs repaired to Belriguardo a few Days 
 afterwards, leaving Madama Leonora behind, 
 and took Taflb with them. 
 
194 Q/" ^ Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 I faw him two or three Times in the 
 Interim, and noted a pale Abftraction that 
 had come over him. He Teemed always 
 trying to control a haunting Thought with 
 ftern Refolve ; to be living in the Abfent 
 rather than the Prefent, and to be constantly 
 purfuing two Chains of Ideas ; one of which, 
 that which occupied him moft, never appeared 
 above the Surface. He faw his ConfefTor 
 daily, was not content with that, but con- 
 tinually fat with his Head buried in his 
 Hands, repeating the general ConfeiTion to 
 himfelf, or abforbed in mental Prayer ; he gave 
 largely to the Poor — for fo poor a Man, that 
 is ; fighed frequently and deeply, and often 
 appeared not to hear what was faid to him. 
 On my afking him, with great Concern, what 
 ailed him, he put his Arm about my Neck, 
 and, in a low Voice, (though no one, to the 
 beft of my Belief, was within ear-fhot,) faid — 
 
 " I am fpied, I am betrayed ; fatal Papers 
 have been feized ; my Life has been attempted ; 
 it will be attempted again, and I have only to 
 make my Peace with God." 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 195 
 
 " I truft," faid I, " Nothing has been feized 
 which can compromife an excellent Lady — " 
 
 " How fhould there ?" cried he ; " unlefs, 
 indeed, their fiendiih Malice fhould induce 
 them to garble and forge, as they have not 
 fcrupled to do already. But oh ! who is 
 ready, who is fit to appear abruptly in the 
 Prefence of Him who is of purer Eyes than 
 to behold Iniquity ! — flufhed with angry Paf- 
 fion ! — with the Blood, it may be, of a Fellow- 
 finner on his hands ! Hark ! the Church-bell 
 is ringing — Farewell, Ser Pantaleone ! " 
 
 And he hurried away to Vefpers. 
 
 The Evening before the Duke's Departure 
 to Belriguardo, he gave rather a brilliant 
 Reception, at which Madama Leonora was 
 prefent, though in the fimple Attire of an 
 Invalid. Neither fhe nor Tajfo^ who was 
 alfo of the Company, were aware how foon 
 they were to part. He was pale, thoughtful, 
 and haraffed, and kept much aloof from the 
 Circle, occupying himfelf with a choice Col- 
 lection of Medals on one of the Tables. To 
 fee whether they really engaged his Attention, 
 o 2 
 
196 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 I afked him whether one which he ap- 
 peared to be intently" examining were an 
 Antoninus or Severus. He looked up at 
 me with a bewildered Expreffion, as if he 
 had never heard either of the Names before. 
 I faid cheerfully, " What makes you fo 
 abfent ? " 
 
 "Abfent?" repeated he, clearing up, "no! 
 Abftrafted, if you will ! Abfence is the 
 Charaderiftic of a vacant Mind, as Abftradlion 
 is of a full one." 
 
 And, fmiling, he re-examined the Medal, 
 and gave his Opinion of it and of others, and 
 fpoke on general Subjedls ; then, when a 
 third Perfon joined us, he went out into the 
 Balcony. 
 
 Later in the Evening, I threw myfelf into 
 a Chair near an open Window, and being 
 rather Drowfy, took a little Nap. Before 
 I clofed my Eyes, I noticed 'Tajfo ftill leaning 
 over the Balcony, with his Eyes fixed on the 
 Moon, which was brightly fhining on the 
 Water. The Pier between the Windows 
 threw him into deep Shade, and he was as 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 197 
 
 immoveable as a Statue. When I next looked 
 up, it was becaufe I was roufed by the light 
 Step of Madama Leonora^ who was pafTing 
 into the Balcony. The Heat of crowded 
 Rooms often overcame her and made her 
 pant for Air, and fhe did not know that T^ajfo 
 was there already, for I heard a flight Excla- 
 mation of Surprife. I ftretched out my Legs 
 again, pretty nearly acrofs the Window, fo 
 that no one could pafs without ftumbling 
 over them, and refumed my Nap. That is, I 
 put myfelf in the Way of refuming it, by 
 clofing my Eyes, and reclining my Head on 
 my Cheft, but as it would not immediately be 
 refumed, I did not fail to hear certain Words 
 fpoken in the Balcony ; good Words, kind 
 Words ; true, tender, ennobling, encouraging 
 and pure. Then Words of Sadnefs, of Sorrow. 
 Then Words of Comfort, and Counfel. Then 
 Words of Gratitude, of high Refolve. Then 
 Words of high and holy Incentive to Truft in 
 Heaven. Then Words and Tears of De- 
 votion. Then Words and Tears of Sympathy 
 and Pity. No Words or Thoughts or 
 
198 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 Tears that a liftening Angel might not have 
 approved. 
 
 Accidentally he laid his Hand on hers, and 
 withdrew it haftily, afking Forgivenefs. 
 Sweetly, benignly fhe anfwered him, " Not 
 for touching my Hand, but for afking to be 
 forgiven, do you need Forgivenefs ! " 
 
 Juft out of the Corner of my Eye, I faw 
 him give her a Look of fuch Tendernefs and 
 Sadnefs ! — Juft out of the other Corner of my 
 Eye, faw I Maddalo the Page ftealing on them 
 like the Serpent on Eve in the Garden of 
 Eden. He, fuppofing me afleep, was lightly 
 ftepping over my ftretched out Feet, when, by 
 raifing one of them a little, I fent him fprawl- 
 ing, with his Head, bang ! againft the Marble. 
 Giving him an angry Glance accompanied by 
 a low Growl, as if juft waking up, I had the 
 Satisfadion of feeing him rub his Forehead as 
 he fcrambled up and retired, darting at me a 
 Look full of Ire ; while Madama Leonora and 
 'Tajfo^ difturbed by the Fall, looked round, 
 and broke off their Conference. She returned 
 to the Apartment, where all, bufied in their 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 199 
 
 own Amufements, feemed never to have 
 mifTed her ; and 'Tajfo., having watched her 
 retreatnig Figure, refumed his Moon-gazing, 
 and after a While, began writing on his 
 Tablets by Moonlight. 
 
 Prefently I went out to him and began to 
 fpeak of the Beauty of the Night. He 
 fmiled, and faid, " You know who was with 
 me juft nov/. As a Reward for keeping off 
 Maddalo, you fhall fee what I have written on 
 what occurred." And he fhowed me the 
 pretty Lines beginning 
 
 Stava Madonna in un Balcon. 
 which I have always thought as pleafing as 
 any he has written, and which, with his Per- 
 miffion, I made a Tranfcript of in my Pocket- 
 book. Here they are. 
 
 My Lady in a Balcony 
 
 One Eve was standing.^ when that I 
 
 By Chance on her fair Hand my oiun Hand laid; 
 
 Pardon I begged of her.^ if so 
 
 I had offended her ; but no. 
 
 ' Not by your Hand approaching mine.^ she said; 
 
 ^But by its shrinking thence.. 
 
 As dreading such Offence^ 
 
200 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 Could I he hurt^ to see you so afraid.'' 
 
 Oh blessed Words I so innocently spoken ! 
 
 Of such pure Love the Token I 
 
 If they were true^ might I not still be driven 
 
 The Offence still to repeat^ again to be forgiven f 
 
 The next Day, after the Duke and Duchefs 
 had departed, with a great Equipage, to Belri- 
 guardOi we learnt not, till fome Hours after- 
 wards, that Tajfo had been fummoned to attend 
 them. He probably knew not till he reached 
 Belriguardo that Madama Leonora remained 
 at Ferrara, nor that the Attendants who 
 formed the Duke's Cortege were without 
 exception thofe who were adverfe to him. 
 Thus, Dr. Venieri and Coccapani were left 
 behind, but Dr. Bartolo^ the Duchefs's Phy- 
 fician, was in Attendance ; he who prefcribed 
 Heat when Venieri prefcribed Cold, High- 
 feeding when Venieri forefaw Fever, and 
 lowering Regimen when Venieri was for 
 keeping the Patient up. Indeed this Phy- 
 fician was a Man fo infinitely inferior to the 
 other in Science, Skill, and Succefs, that 
 Nothing but an oily Tongue and convenient 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 20 1 
 
 Confcience made him a Favourite with the 
 Duchefs, who rarely was indifpofed enough to 
 require Aught beyond Sugar-Water or a few 
 Shoes of Lemon. The Duke, on the other 
 Hand, who was fubjed: to dangerous Attacks 
 in his Head, would never have had the 
 virtuous Venieri near him, fave for his high 
 Opinion of his Skill : and, on the prefent 
 Occafion, when Madama Leonora needed the 
 good Dodlor and the Duke did not, — Dr. 
 Bartolo did quite as well. 
 
 What occurred during that fatal Vifit, the 
 Adors beft know. 'J^ajfo found himfelf in the 
 Toils, treated by the Duke with rough Harfh- 
 nefs, with threatening Looks and Words, in 
 the Endeavour to wring from him fome Caufe 
 for reafonable Accufation. He was bullied, 
 baited, brow-beaten ; told that Papers of his 
 were in the Duke's PoflefTion, the Contents of 
 which were fufficient to bring him to the Rack 
 or to Death. Then the Duchefs endeavoured 
 to entrap him into Confeffion as a Friend ; then 
 the Duke infifted on it as a Sovereign. The 
 end was, that the unhappy Man, refufing to 
 
202 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 criminate himfelf or others, was pronounced 
 of unfound Mind by Dr. Bartolo^ and fent 
 back by the Duke's Command, under Guards, 
 to Ferrara, there to be confined in the 
 Convent of San Francifco^ with two Friars to 
 watch him inceflantly. 
 
 " And becaufe," fo ran the Duke's Orders, 
 " he is ufed to utter Everything in ConfefTion, 
 and to break out into a Mountain of Frenzies 
 so that he is far worfe than ever, the Superior 
 is to choofe for his Keepers Perfons fit to 
 admonifh him of his Madnefs." 
 
 The Duke having returned to Ferrara a. 
 few Hours after TaJ/b, I was ftanding at his 
 Elbow the next Morning, waiting while he 
 read a few pencilled Lines Madama Leonora 
 had written to him from her Bed-chamber, 
 his Highnefs's Meafure being at the fame 
 Time taking for new Bufkins by Scarpa the 
 Court Shoe-maker. To him enters Luigi^ 
 with a Packet of Letters on a Salver, the 
 Envelope of which he haftily tore off, when 
 four Letters fell to the Ground, three of 
 which, as I picked them up, I noted to be 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight, 203 
 
 direded by Tajfo^ to the two Gonzagas, and to 
 the Duke himfelf. His Highnefs broke the 
 Seals of the two firft, perufed the Contents 
 and tofTed them into his Wafte-paper Bafket, 
 then read his own, which followed the fame 
 Road, coolly remarking, — " There is no End 
 to his writing of Letters." Then, while he 
 perufed the fourth, which was probably from 
 the Superior of San Francifcoy my Eye refted 
 on the open Letter which lay uppermoft in 
 the Bafket, and I read, — 
 
 " I confefs I may require medical Treat- 
 ment for my melancholy Fancies, and I thank 
 your Highnefs for affigning it to me. But 
 in many Things I do affure you I am not 
 fanciful. You believe not that I have had 
 Perfecutors in your Service, but I have had 
 many and bitter ones. You believe me in no 
 Danger from the Inquifition, but I am en- 
 tangled in its Mefhes. I befeech you by the 
 Bowels of Christ to believe that I am not fo 
 much Mad as you deceived. I will not 
 venture to write to the Duchefs without your 
 Permiffion, but if " 
 
204 Q/"^ Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 Here the fourth Letter was flung upon the 
 others, while his Highnefs defired Scarpa to 
 give him fufficient Space acrofs the Toes, 
 and the next Moment bade me carry his 
 Affection to his Sifter, and aflure her that 
 he would give her full Satisfa6tion hereafter 
 for her Requeft not being complied with. 
 
 I carried back my MefTage fadly enough, 
 knowing the Pain it would give. Madama 
 Leonora was by this Time in her Drefting- 
 room, looking flufhed and heavy-eyed ; and 
 her Hand was frequently preffed to her Side, 
 where flie now had much pain. When I 
 repeated the Duke's Words, her Eyes filled 
 with Tears, and fhe faid, — " Cruel ! he 
 might at leaft have juft written. I begin to 
 wifli, Ser Pantaleone^ that I were dead." 
 
 I faid, " I am forry to hear your Excel- 
 lency utter a Wifli I cannot echo. Life is, or 
 ought to be, dear to all, and I neither can 
 wifli you dead, becaufe you are ill and un- 
 happy, nor do I wifli myfelf fo. Trials are 
 fent to teft and prove us, and they bring out 
 the Graces of our CharadterSj juft as Fridtion 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 205 
 
 brings out the Veins of a Piece of fine Wood. 
 Which are the Heroes and Heroines that 
 command your Excellency's Sympathy in 
 Poetry and Romance ? Are they thofe who 
 but love, to marry and be happy ? On the 
 contrary, are they not thofe who go through 
 much Tribulation and experience many Dan- 
 gers ? Likewife, in Hiftory, whether facred 
 or profane, the Charadlers we love and 
 admire are thofe who fuftained much Evil. 
 And though all Chaftifement is for the 
 prefent not joyous but grievous, yet, in the 
 long Run, which of thofe Perfonages, I pray 
 you, would have wifhed their paft Sorrows 
 and Trials unfelt and unconquered .^ No, 
 no, they found it a Privilege to fuffer, and 
 would lefs willingly have parted with their 
 Crofs than a King with his Crown." 
 
 She faid, fmiling faintly, " You talk like 
 a Sage. Go on, I like to hear you." 
 
 "Why now," I faid, "wherein has '^ajfo 
 fhown truer Art than in enlifting our Sym- 
 pathies in Behalf of I'ancred, of Erminia, 
 and even of Armida^ by Reafon of their 
 
2o6 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 Sorrows? Nay, is not he himfelf endeared 
 to us by the Perfecutions he fuftains ? At 
 this Moment, probably, his noble Genius is 
 carrying him upwards into fome Region of 
 Philofophy or Romance, enriching him with 
 Pleafure that the moft profperous of his 
 Enemies might envy." 
 
 ^' It may be fo," faid fhe, reclining back on 
 her Pillows and clofing her Eyes, while a 
 peaceful Smile ftole over her Face. " Do 
 you think, Ser Pantaleone, that Men of 
 Genius, defpite their charaderiftic Sorrows, 
 are on the whole the moft happy ? " 
 
 " Whether the moft happy or not," rejoined 
 I boldly, " my Life on 't, Madama, they would 
 prefer their own Web of mixed Happinefs 
 and Unhappinefs to the Profperity of the 
 verieft Nincompoop that is petted and fpoiled 
 by Dame Fortune. And as touching TaJJ'o — " 
 
 Here I was checked by the unexpeded 
 entrance of the Duke, who came in as he 
 oft loved to do, unannounced. I was forry 
 the laft word I had uttered fhould have been 
 the Name it was. 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 207 
 
 '' You do not afFeft much Variety in your 
 choice of Subjedts," faid he, drily, after kiiling 
 Madama Leonora'^ Brow. 
 
 " We were talking of the comparative 
 Happinefs of Fools and wife Men," faid fhe, 
 blufhing. 
 
 " If you placed T'aJJ'o in the latter Cate- 
 gory," faid the Duke, after regarding her 
 a Moment in Silence, " you were fomewhat 
 deficient, it feems to me, in your ufual Judg- 
 ment. T^cilJo has fled." 
 
 " Fled ! " cried fhe, colouring all over, and 
 half raifing herfelf up. 
 
 He eyed her with the fame quiet Scrutiny 
 as before ; and then, in his ufual impaflive 
 Manner added, " and has left Everything 
 behind him — Books, Manufcripts, other 
 People s Letters — " 
 
 '^ They fhould be fealed up. Brother," cried 
 fhe eagerly, " fealed with your Seal." 
 
 ^^ Or with yours ? " with a myflic Smile. 
 
 " Oh no ! yours would do." 
 
 " I mean it to do, I can tell you. Sifter." 
 
 "I mean, it would be beft." 
 
2o8 Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 " Certainly It will be beft. I am glad you 
 think fo too." 
 
 " I ? Why fhould I not ? " 
 
 " You fhould beft know, Leonora^ 
 
 " If you think I ever wrote a Line to T^ajfo 
 I fhould regret your feeing, you are quite 
 miftaken." Her Tone and Look were of 
 noble Truth. 
 
 " Why write to him at all ! " 
 
 " Nay, where was the Harm ? I have had 
 a hundred pleafant DifcufTions with him on 
 literary Subjects." 
 
 " For all that, Sifter, there is Something 
 detrimental to the Charader of a Woman 
 and a Princefs in maintaining fuch Cor- 
 respondences. Familiarity with defigning 
 Perfons, beneath you in Pofition, whatever 
 may be their native or acquired Gifts, impairs 
 your true Dignity, tarnifties your Mind, nay, 
 perhaps corrupts your Heart ..." 
 
 " Brother ! ceafe thefe cruel, thefe needlefs 
 Words ! How do they apply ? and to whom ? 
 Can you call 'T^ajfo defigning ? The Man 
 you have confidered an Honour to your 
 
Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 10^ 
 
 Court, have graced with your Converfation 
 and Protedion, have aflbciated with at your 
 Table ? " 
 
 "And would gladly continue to do fo, 
 Leonora.^ but for the Dread of his repaying all 
 thefe Benefits by tarnifhing the Dignity of 
 my Houfe." 
 
 " Through me, never ! " 
 
 " Well faid. Do you promife it ? " 
 
 " Certainly." 
 
 " I accept this Promife, my Sifter, and in 
 Consideration of it, overlook all the Paft." 
 
 " What has there been to overlook ? " 
 
 " Your marked Preference for one Perfon, 
 your defcending from your Pofition to a focial 
 Equality with him, your fecret Correspond- 
 ence ..." 
 
 "Secret! fie!—" 
 
 " Hufti, I will be heard ! Your Permiffion 
 and Encouragement of Approaches that only 
 a recognised Lover would dare to make — " 
 
 "Brother! Brother!" 
 
 "Yes, Leonora! cover your Face with 
 your Hands if you will ! I am glad to fee 
 p 
 
2IO Of a Balcony by Moonlight. 
 
 fuch a Signal of penetrative Shame. No 
 Anfwer, no Defence, I infift on't ! — Madam ! 
 I choofe to be heard, to be obeyed ! T^ajfo 
 has fled, but will be recalled. To you he 
 muft henceforth be as a Stranger. On that, 
 his Fate, his Liberty depends. Before the 
 Year's End, I truft to fee you a happy Wife. 
 That is a Circumftance with which a Man 
 moving in a different Sphere can have 
 Nothing to do. 
 
 " Let her have Air and Water, Ser Panta- 
 leone.'' 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Of Ser Pantaleone'^ Conference with the Duke of 
 Ferrara. 
 
 |;^^^ITH Tajfo's Flight to Naples and 
 mi^M ^^^J "^^^^ ^^^ Sifter, I have no Con- 
 ■^fi^'l^iA cern. He remained with her about 
 a Year ; happy if he had never left her ! 
 But he was not allowed to reft ; nor, per- 
 adventure, had he Reft in himfelf. If we 
 make not ourfelves happy in what ought to 
 make us happy, Nobody elfe can make us fo. 
 
 During this Time, Madama Leonora's 
 Health declined vifibly. I had my own 
 Theory about it, which had no Reference to 
 Tajo, and I proved to be right. 
 
 Meanwhile, two or three advantageous 
 Offers of Marriage were preffed on her by 
 the Duke, who was himfelf thinking of 
 p 2 
 
212 Of Ser Pantaleone'j- Conference 
 
 Matrimony for the third Time in his Life : 
 but by her were they uniformly rejeded. 
 
 One Day, I was fummoned to the Duke's 
 Bed-chamber. He was in Bed, not from 
 Illnefs but Lazinefs, fitting half up, with his 
 Breakfaft and Letters all about him in Con- 
 fufion. Luigi, who was in Attendance, was 
 difmifled; and the Duke then figned to me to 
 fit down befide him. 
 
 " The Marquis fiiill prefixes his Suit," faid 
 he abruptly, " does Madama Leonora fiiow 
 any Sign of Change of Purpofe ? " 
 
 " None, your Highnefs." 
 
 " This Obftinacy can proceed but from one 
 Caufe. Ser Pantaleone, you have formerly 
 carried Letters from her to 'TaJfoT 
 
 " Never but twice, your Highnefs." 
 
 " Tut ! twice or twenty Times is all the 
 fame." 
 
 *' There was no Secrefy enjoined, your 
 Highnefs." 
 
 "Well, — we'll drop that. Does fhe cor- 
 refpond with him now ? " 
 
 " No, my Lord." 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 213 
 
 " Do you fpeak pofitively ? " 
 
 "I mean, as far as I know, fhe does not." 
 
 " Do you think you fhould certainly know 
 if ilie did ? " 
 
 " My Lord, I can't fay — However, I think, 
 — yes, I think I fhould." 
 
 " If you find fhe does, let me know." 
 
 " Very well, my Lord." 
 
 " And bring her Letters to me." 
 
 " My Lord Duke — " 
 
 " Proceed, Ser Pantaleone" 
 
 " You think her Excellency refufes Mar- 
 riage on account of Tajfo. . . " 
 
 " What Matter is it of yours, Sir, what I 
 think?" 
 
 " True, your Highnefs." 
 
 " However, — I do think so, Ser Pantaleone." 
 
 " Good. And that her Excellency's Ill- 
 health is caufed by her fretting for him ? " 
 
 " Hum— I do." 
 
 " I have quite another Theory for it, your 
 Highnefs." 
 
 " Let us hear it." 
 
 " I believe fhe has a mortal Complaint." 
 
214 Of Ser PantaleoneV Conference 
 
 "Ha!" 
 
 " I believe fome vague Prefentiment of 
 this, or, at any Rate, the indefcribable Lan- 
 guifhing which accompanies it, (I had a Sifter 
 who died so,) caufes her Repugnance to the 
 Offers you prefs on her; and that 'TaJJ'o has 
 Nothing whatever to do with it." 
 
 " Ha ! How long have you thought this ?" 
 
 " It occurred to me a Year ago ; but I have 
 been perfuaded of it the laft two Months." 
 
 " How is it Dr. Venieri has faid Nothing 
 of this?" 
 
 " I believe he is watching her, but is 
 anxious not to alarm her." 
 
 " Hum — poor Leonora ! — I am forry for 
 this. I hope Nothing has accelerated it." 
 
 " No, my Lord, Nothing could accelerate 
 or retard it materially, though I believe Sorrow 
 of Heart aggravates the Symptoms. It did in 
 the Cafe of Fiola. If it be as I think. Nothing 
 can fave her." 
 
 " If it be as you think ! I cannot take your 
 Opinion of it — I muft hear Dr. Venieri'' 
 
 " So beft, your Highnefs." 
 
with the 'Duke of Ferrara. 215 
 
 " You had a Sifter, you fay — How long do 
 you fuppofe Madama Leonora has to live ? " 
 
 " Ah, your Highnefs, I cannot prognofti- 
 cate within a Year or fix Months." 
 
 " A Year is not long — we muft make it 
 eafy to her." 
 
 " Then, if I might prefume, I would fay, 
 do not let Dr. Venieri alarm her by his 
 Meafures.'' 
 
 " Certainly not. Hum ! Then if it be as 
 you fay, 'T^aJJ'o could do no Harm here." 
 
 " Neither Harm nor Good, that I know of." 
 
 " Nay, a Man of his Reputation always 
 lends Luftre to a Court. And the Houfe of 
 Efte has always been noted for its foftering 
 Patronage of Genius. Therefore, — yes, — 
 you may tell Madama Leonora he will be 
 recalled." 
 
 '^ Very well, my Lord." 
 
 " Or, ftay, — it is hardly confiftent with our 
 Dignity to do so otherwife than indirectly. 
 You may tell her from me that fhe has 
 Permiffion to recall him." 
 
 " Yes, my Lord." 
 
21 6 Of Ser PantaleoneV Conference 
 
 " That is all. Bid Liiigi come to me now, 
 about the Hawk's JefTes. And, hark you ! 
 fend me Dr. Venieri." 
 
 I bowed, and withdrew ; fcarcely noting 
 Something trundling before me from under 
 my Chair to the neareft Curtain. However, 
 it was the Duchefs Lucrezia's ugly Hedge-hog 
 of a Dwarf. 
 
 I fulfilled my Miflion with mixed Feelings. 
 I expected it to give Pleafure to my dear 
 Miftrefs, whom I now loved with the Tender- 
 nefs of a Father (not that I was quite old 
 enough for that, neither !) and I doubted the 
 Expediency of recalling 'Tajfo from a Home 
 where he was now happy. However, that 
 was none of my Buiinefs. I delivered my 
 MefTage, and thought, from the ImpafTive 
 Manner In which it was received, that it gave 
 little Pleafure ; but. In the Courfe of the 
 Afternoon, Madama Leonora cleared up fo 
 furprifmgly, that it was plain to me fhe had 
 only concealed her Gratification out of modeft 
 Shynefs ; and Dr. Venieri, who came to fee 
 her, was agreeably furprifed at her having fo 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 217 
 
 brightened. As he came forth, I advanced from 
 the Window of the Ante-chamber, where I was 
 fkimming over a Pamphlet, and said, 
 
 " Is fhe better. Doctor ? " 
 
 " Surprifingly fo," he anfwered. 
 
 " Will the Improvement be permanent, 
 think you ? " 
 
 He fighed, and fhook his head. It was 
 quite enough for me. 
 
 However, the Improvement lafted for 
 feveral Days, with trivial Intermiffions ; even 
 till her Excellency received Tajpfs Anfwer to 
 the Letter fhe had written him without Delay. 
 It feemed to difappoint her a good Deal : fhe 
 wrote again ; and her Health again drooped. 
 His fecond Reply produced frefh Perturba- 
 tion ; fhe did not write again for fome Time, 
 and evidently fretted upon it. The Duke 
 fent for me. " Has Tajfo anfwered Madama 
 Leonora's Letter ? — her second Letter ?" 
 
 " He has, your Highnefs." 
 
 " Is he coming ?" 
 
 " I underfland he has excufed himfelf, your 
 Highnefs." 
 
2 1 8 Of Ser Pantaleone'j" Conference 
 
 " Infolence ! The Invitation will not be 
 repeated." 
 
 " I rather think her Excellency has written 
 yet a third Time, your Highnefs." 
 
 " I am forry to hear it. She has lowered 
 herfelf by fo doing. If he return to Ferrara 
 in confequence, his Reception will be fuch as 
 he deferves." 
 
 " Alas, my Lord ! his Excufe is that of 
 Ill-health." 
 
 " Pftia ! Ill-health is a falfe Plea both with 
 him and Madama Leonora. They ufe it when 
 it ferves their Purpofes. She cleared up, 
 directly fhe had Licence to recall him."^' 
 
 " How foon to droop again, my Lord ! " 
 
 " She has been out." 
 
 " Twice to Church, and once along the 
 Terrace on her white Mule. At Church fhe 
 fainted ; I carried her out." 
 
 " Becaufe fhe was vexed at 'Tajfo's Con- 
 tumacy." 
 
 " If your Highnefs will afk Dr. Venieri — " 
 
 *' Dr. Venieri is growing old and flupid. 
 I mean her to fee Dr. Bartolo. The Duchefs 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 219 
 
 is certain he will imderftand her Cafe much 
 better." 
 
 I bowed, and retired ; perfuaded in my own 
 Mind that Madama Leonora would not fee 
 him. She did, however ; but refufed to give 
 up Dr. Venter i's Treatment for his. So Dr. 
 Bartolo, much affronted, carried his own Re- 
 port of her to the Duke and Duchefs, and 
 faw her no more, fave as a formal Vifitor, in 
 which Character he perfifted in waiting on her, 
 though fhe was another Man's Patient. 
 
 'Tajfo's third Letter was accompanied by one 
 from his Sifter to Madama Leonora, imploring 
 her, in the moft moving Terms, to defift from 
 tempting him back to a Place that had been 
 fatal to his Peace ; befeechino; her to com- 
 paffionate the Feelings of a widowed Sifter, 
 whofe only Solace was nurfing him into 
 Health ; and praying, that after having been 
 feparated from him fo many Years, flie might 
 at leaft retain him with her till quite reftored 
 to his former Self. 
 
 When Madama Leonora read this Letter, 
 fhe wept. After giving it to me to read, ftie 
 
2 20 Of Ser Pantaleone'j Conference 
 
 wrote a few Lines to "^ajfo^ releafing him from 
 any Obligation to return to Ferrara, and pro- 
 mifing to abftain from urging what fhe now 
 plainly faw was injurious as well as diftafteful 
 to him. 
 
 This lured back the efcaped Bird. It is 
 impofTible to tell whether fhe expected and 
 meant it to have that Effect. For, note you. 
 Lovers often aft by the Rule of Contrary, and 
 bid one another forget them when they defire 
 Nothing fo much as to be remembered all 
 the more. 'Tajfo's Anfwer was fhort, and 
 impetuous enough, I warrant you ; he would, 
 he muft return to a voluntary Prison ! Per- 
 haps he meant that, too, to be taken by the 
 Rule of Contrary. If he did, I can only fay 
 that it proved too true. 
 
 At a brilliant Reception given by the Duke 
 in Honour of the Auftrian AmbafTador, I faw, 
 unexpededly, one whofe Look and Mien 
 marked him out among a Thoufand, in his 
 fimple black Suit, among Velvet Mantles, 
 waving Plumes, and golden Chains. Llis Eye 
 was wandering anxioufly round, as if in Queft 
 

 with the 'Duke of Ferrara. 221 
 
 of fome one he did not fee. I hurried up 
 to him. " Tou here ? Have you feen the 
 Duke?" 
 
 " Not yet." 
 
 " Did he invite you ? " 
 
 " Surely, as of old, I have the Privilege of 
 the Houfehold." 
 
 " But — did he invite you to Ferrara V 
 
 " Certainly — on Conditions. Where is 
 Madama Leonora ? " 
 
 " Alas, fhe is very ill," 
 
 ^"^ Dying?'' — with a fudden Thrill. 
 
 " Hufh ! we dare not fay fo." 
 
 " You fufpect it ! Does fhe know her 
 Danger.?" 
 
 " Apparently not." 
 
 " Ah ! — " He clafped his Hands, and 
 paufed. 
 
 " But, my deareft 'Tajfo^ was it quite fafe 
 to come among us ? " 
 
 " I thought it more noble to put my Life 
 into the Duke's Hands than to deny Madama 
 Leonoras wifhes." 
 
 " Be on your Guard, however." 
 
2 22 Of Ser Pantaleone'j Conference 
 
 " I muji. But you know his Highnefs has 
 my Poem and all my Papers in his PofTeflion. 
 I have written repeatedly for them in vain. If 
 any Evil befal my Poem, it will drive me frantic 
 — juft what they want !" — fmiling fadly. 
 
 *' I believe Coccapani has it in Charge." 
 
 " Yes, but he won't give it up without the 
 Duke's Orders. See, the Crowd opens — I 
 may go and make my Bow to him." 
 
 I flood watching him, and beheld in Dumb- 
 fhow a very cool, almoft mortifying Recep- 
 tion. His Highnefs looked full at him, but 
 fcarcely inclined his Head, and turning about, 
 addrefled himfelf to another Perfon. The 
 Crowd clofed in between us, and I faw no 
 more. 
 
 About an Hour after, he came up to me in 
 great Agitation. " Did you fee the Duke ? " 
 faid he hurriedly ; " he all but turned his 
 Back upon me, and the Courtiers have taken 
 their Cue from him, and treated me with 
 abfolute Indignity. I cannot ftay. I fpoke 
 a Word to Coccapani, who denied he had my 
 Poem or any other of my Papers, and referred 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 223 
 
 me to Count Scipio. I fpoke to the Count, 
 and he rephed with abfolute Contempt. This, 
 in the Duke's Prefence, cannot be refented ; 
 but I muft either fpeak to his Highnefs or 
 write to him in the Morning ; and if this goes 
 on, I — I fear the Confequences to myfelf !" 
 
 And prefTmg his Hand to his Brow with 
 a Look of extreme Anguifh, he left the 
 Apartment. 
 
 On my relating his Return to Madama 
 Leonora^ who had gone to Bed early, and did 
 not rife till very late the next Morning, fhe 
 was full of Grief to learn of his cool Recep- 
 tion, and would have written a few Lines 
 inftantly to the Duke, but that Dr. Venieri, 
 who entered juft as fhe was attempting it, 
 ftrongly urged her defifting, and keeping 
 herfelf quiet. The Entrance of the Duchefs 
 iMcreziuy who now took a very high Tone 
 in the Sick-room, fettled the Matter without 
 another Word ; for Madama Leonora, knowing 
 how ufelefs it would be, clofed her Defk with 
 a Sigh, and gave it to Olimpia to carry away. 
 The Duchefs, when fhe left her Sifter, gave 
 
224 Q/' ^^^ Pantaleone's Conference 
 
 Orders, on her own Authority, to the Attend- 
 ants in the Ante-chamber, to keep her per- 
 fedly quiet, and admit no one to her, however 
 urgent the Bufinefs, as it was of the firft Im- 
 portance to her Health that fhe fhould have 
 fome undifturbed Repofe. Her Highnefs 
 had, indeed, prevailed on her Sifter to take^ 
 though relu6tantly, a Confedtion prepared for 
 her by Dr. Bartolo^ which produced Drowfi- 
 nefs. Sleep, and finally a v/akeful Stupor 
 accompanied by Naufea. While this vv'as in 
 operation, it was, indeed, highly expedient 
 that fhe fhould be kept perfedtly quiet ; and 
 I regretted not, on her Account, that T^ajfo^ 
 among others, was denied Admiflion to her ; 
 but that was no good Reafon why the Duchefs's 
 Doors fhould likewife be clofed againft him, or 
 that the Duke fhould deny him PermifTion to 
 open his Lips in his Prefence, which I after- 
 wards learnt to be the Cafe. I'ajfo^ adhering 
 to the Letter of the above Prohibition, ftood 
 in his Highnefs's Path with Hands clafped 
 and ftretched towards him in the Guife of 
 Entreaty ; which was confidered fo contuma- 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 225 
 
 clous an Ad that an Attendant was fent to 
 bid him roughly, (juft as you might chafe a 
 ftray Greyhound from your Gate,) to defift 
 from AppHcations to the Duke altogether, 
 whether by Letter, Speech, or Pofture ; and 
 to fubmit himfelf with Docility to the Direc- 
 tions of Dr. Bartolo^ who would purge his 
 noxious Humours out of him. It is not very 
 furprifmg that, on fuch Treatment as this, the 
 unhappy Man fhould again leave Ferrara ; 
 fcarcely knowing whither to flee from the 
 Foes that purfued him as the Furies did 
 Orefies. 
 
 During the few Days before his Flight, I, 
 being in clofe Attendance on Madama Leonora^ 
 faw and heard Nothing of him. It was from 
 the Duchefs's Communication of the Fadl to 
 her Sifter, that I firft learnt it. As his Tur- 
 moil of Soul was exaggerated, fo were his 
 Offences expatiated upon, and the bare Cir- 
 cumftance of his Flight mentioned without 
 any of the Aggravations that had induced 
 it; no Wonder, therefore, that his Condudl 
 appeared unreafonable and hafty, even to us 
 Q 
 
226 Of Ser PantaleoneV Conference 
 
 who loved him beft ; while the Duchefs 
 Lucrezia dwelt on it as the Proof of actual 
 Phrenefis, and inveighed againft his Ingratitude 
 to the Duke, who would kindly have put him 
 under the beft medical Treatment. 
 
 I believe that many fait Tears were fhed 
 for him by my fweet Miftrefs. She would 
 have me fit befide her Couch in an eafy Chair, 
 (for the great Toe of my left Foot manifefted 
 arthritic Symptoms at that Period,) and 
 lament to me what a grievous Thing Madnefs 
 was, whether Hypochondria, Mania, or by 
 whatever other Name the wife Ones would 
 call it ; how infcrutable an Inflidion of Provi- 
 dence on Some that were good and great and 
 wife above their Fellov/s. She wondered 
 where he had gone; whether he had any 
 Money, any Friends, and wifhed I could 
 obtain Tidings of him. This I at length did, 
 in the following Billet from him at Mantua. 
 
 " The Doors were fhut againft me, with 
 every Mark of Infolence, even by the Grooms 
 and Porters of the Palace. I was expedled to 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 227 
 
 confent to be a third with Solon and Brutus ; 
 that is, to feign or He under the Imputation 
 of Madnefs. Sooner than that, I abandoned 
 my Home, my Poem, my Love ; and, after 
 thirteen Years of Service, departed, as a new 
 Bias, on Foot and alone, to feek with fome 
 other Prince a fecure Afylum. I have come 
 to my Father's Friend, the Duke of Mantua, 
 but he will neither hear nor fee me, and no 
 Wonder, for I learn that the Duke of Ferrara 
 is making Suit for Madama Margherita. 
 Having fled without Money, I have been 
 obliged to part with the Ruby I had from the 
 Duchefs, and the gold Collar given me by the 
 Duke of Urbino when I was their Gueft at 
 Cafteldurante. I have an Emerald from 
 another and dearer Hand, from which I will 
 never part! I go hence To-morrow; whither, 
 I know not. Commend me to your and my 
 loved Miftrefs. Stajano ed amami. 
 
 " P. S. I hope his Highnefs won't burn my 
 Poem ? " 
 
 " Burn his Poem ! " repeated Madama 
 Q 2 
 
228 Of Ser Pantaleone'j Conference 
 
 Leonora^ as fhe read the Letter, "Is it not 
 enough of itfelf, Ser Fantaleone^ to drive him 
 out of his Mind, to think that fuch a Calamity 
 may happen?" — 
 
 "Madama," in an under-tone, "her High- 
 nefs is coming in." 
 
 " Ah ! " and with a Httle Smile at me, half 
 fad, half imploring, fhe dropped her Hand- 
 kerchief over the Billet, which I never afked 
 her for afterwards, nor did fhe ever reftore it 
 unafked. 
 
 The Duchefs Lucrezia, then fweeping in, 
 accofted my dear Miftrefs with, " How fares it 
 with you. Sifter ? " 
 
 " Sifter, I am perturbed at what I have 
 juft learnt. 'Tajfo is at Mantua, and in Dif- 
 trefs. Ah, if you love me, fend after him ! 
 Induce Alfonjo to recall him ! " 
 
 " Leonora ! how often muft I tell you that 
 you never will get well while you continue to 
 difturb yourfelf in this Way about a worthlefs 
 Man ? Your Illnefs has no other Foundation, 
 and it is not very creditable to you. Your 
 ftupid, time-ferving old Dr. Venter i may be 
 
with the 'Duke of Ferrara. 229 
 
 blinded by your faying you have this and that 
 Malady, and play into your Hands, but we 
 know very well that your Symptoms are 
 neither more nor lefs than factitious and 
 fimulated, and that if you ceafed to moleft 
 yourfelf to Death about 'Tajfo^ vou would 
 become perfed:ly well." 
 
 " Oh, ceafe, Lucrezia, ceafe ! You know 
 not the Anguifh you are giving me ! Any- 
 thing elfe I can fufFer ; but this — " 
 
 And fhe covered her pale, quivering Features. 
 
 " Your Highnefs will excufe me," faid I 
 bluntly to the Duchefs, " but Dr. Bartolo as 
 well as Dr. Venieri, prefcribed the Abfence of 
 all exciting Emotions, and we know very well 
 that this Subjeft naturally excites her Excel- 
 lency. / was to blame, I only, for dropping, 
 like a Fool as I was, a Hint of what I took to 
 be fimply the common News, which I am 
 always the laft to hear." 
 
 " Certainly it is no News to me," faid the 
 Duchefs, " for the Duke no fooner heard it 
 than he bade Clementillo ride Poft to Mantua 
 for the Purpofe of recalling Tajfo." 
 
2,30 Of Ser Pantaleone'j- Conference 
 
 "Did he? that was very kind," faid Madama 
 Leonora^ wiping away her Tears. 
 
 " Certainly it was very kind, Leonora, 
 though I wonder you admit it to be fo! Very 
 kind, and very gracious, and very condefcend- 
 ing, but entirely thrown away on an Ingrate 
 and a Madman. 'TaJJ'o had left Mantua and 
 proceeded to Urbino, whether to report the 
 latefl Intelligence of me to my lord Duke or 
 not, I cannot fay. However, the Duke had 
 the Grace not to receive him, which is more 
 than I fhould have expeded, coniidering the 
 Way they ufed to go on together at Cafiel- 
 durante — bandying Flatteries and Proteftations 
 of Friendfhip till I was quite naufeated with 
 them, I can tell you ! " 
 
 "And is he there now ? " 
 
 " No, he fpent a few Days with the Duke's 
 Secretary, — ^juft long enough to write an 
 Elegy or Eulogy, whichever you prefer 
 hearing it called, on the Secretary's Wife, 
 whom every one is juft now crying up to the 
 Skies, merely becaufe fhe has happened to die 
 young — at the Age of twenty-fix, that is, — 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 231 
 
 not fo very young, neither. . . You and I 
 have had enough of fuch EfFufions tagged to 
 our Names to know their real Worth, — 
 though I beheve you care for them even 
 now." 
 
 " And where is he ? " 
 
 "Ah, we mull always be reverting to the 
 old Theme, then ! You know as much as I 
 do. He has ftrayed away from Pefaro^ fome- 
 where in the Dire6lion of Savoy — no one 
 knows what has become of him. I fhall not 
 be furprifed any Day, to hear he has laid 
 violent Hands on himfelf. Madmen often 
 do." 
 
 After this kind Obfervation, the Duchefs 
 fat quiet a little, and then faid, " It is Time to 
 go to Church, I believe. Adieu, dear Leonora. 
 I thought you would like to hear all the News 
 I had collected of your Favourite before J 
 went, and came on Purpofe. There will be a 
 Water-party after Church, and a grand Recep- 
 tion in the Evening, fo I will not difturb you 
 again, dear, unlefs you would like to fee me 
 drelTed. I will remember you in my Prayers." 
 
232 Of Ser PantaleoneV Conference 
 
 And, lightly kifTmg her Sifter's Forehead, 
 fhe withdrew; turning back at the Door, to 
 afk if fhe ftiould fend her Dwarf for her 
 Amufement, which Madama Leonora declined 
 with Thanks, 
 
 I never can think how Women can bear 
 fiich human Monftrofities about them, myfelf. 
 Fitter far, in my Opinion, to create a Shudder, 
 and to be recoiled from by their tender Na- 
 tures, than to be made alternately their Butts 
 and Pets — either being the Signs of a cruel 
 or a weak Mind. Perhaps, in the firft Cafe, 
 the Tendernefs that reigns In a true Woman's 
 Heart was called forth by fome Inftance of 
 OpprefTion exercifed towards one of thefe 
 revolting little Unfortunates, and fo In her 
 Pity fhe carefted and humoured him till fhe 
 became really fond of the Object of her 
 Humanity, and found Amufement In his 
 grotefque Ways of fhowing his Gratitude ; 
 and fo they came to be In Fafhion. But In 
 the Main they are not grateful, nor even 
 good-tempered. Their Affliction cuts them 
 off from Fellow-feeling with their Kind, on 
 
with the Duke of Ferrara. 233 
 
 whom they love to wreak their petty Mahce for 
 pofTefTing Advantages themfelves are denied ; 
 and they feek Compenfation for their Infirmi- 
 ties in Gluttony, Humourfomenefs, Caprice, 
 Mischief, and Malice. This Beaft of a Dwarf 
 — for I really may call him fuch — belonging 
 to the Duchefs of UrbinOj was as gluttonifh as 
 a Pig, as ugly as a Toad, as mifchievous as a 
 Monkey, as fly as a Fox, as long-eared as an 
 Afs, but a good deal fharper witted, for what 
 his long Ears received, his long Head retained, 
 and his long Tongue imparted to his Miftrefs ; 
 but to Others he was as clofe as a Marmot. 
 For the Reft, he was always under Somebody's 
 Chair, or beneath the Table, or in fome Corner 
 where one would leaft expect him ; and, as I 
 have faid before, he could trundle along the 
 Floor like a Hoop. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Of the Duke's third Wedding. 
 
 [DITH the opening Year, we celebrated 
 5^11^ his Highnefs's Marriage with Ma- 
 ffj^\%^« dama Margherita^ with all the Pomp 
 and outward Feftivity that it is poffible to 
 conceive ; but to me there feemed to be little 
 Hilarity in it. I was growing in Years, or at 
 leaft not fo young as I had formerly been, 
 and was beginning to be fick of Hunting and 
 Hawking, Water-parties and Tourneys, Con- 
 certs and Play-adling ; all the more fo becaufe 
 the beft and dearefl: and faireft of the Houfe 
 of Efte was drooping like a Lily of the Valley 
 that the Noonday Sun has burnt up. 
 
 One Day, having left her with her Women 
 in a fainting State, I entered my own Apart- 
 
Of the 'Duke's third Wedding. 235 
 
 ment, which was now in the Palace, and fhut 
 the Door upon myfelf, uttering a deep Sigh. 
 The Sigh was echoed by another as deep ; 
 and, ftarting, I looked round, and faw a Man 
 in a black Cloak, raifing his Eyes, which were 
 red with weeping, from his folded Arms, on 
 which his Head had been refting. I mutely 
 held out my Arms to him ; it was Tajfo. 
 
 *^ You weep ! " cried he, looking eagerly 
 into my Face. " Kind Friend ! blefTed 
 Sympathy !" 
 
 " Piha ! — a Moment's Weaknefs — I never 
 gave way fo before. I have been a little upfet 
 this Morning, and did not expect to fee you. 
 Dear 1'ajfo ! my long-loved Friend ! " 
 
 " Oh, dear old Friend, thefe Tears honour 
 you ! they are Balm to my Heart. But why, 
 why have Madama Leonora's Doors been 
 clofed againft me ever fince I returned to 
 Ferrara ? " 
 
 " You amaze me ! Have you been long 
 here ? I concluded you had but juft arrived !" 
 
 " I have been here thefe five Days, driven 
 from Court and Lobby, denied Admittance to 
 
236 Of the Duke's third Wedding. 
 
 the Duke and PrincefTes, treated by my old 
 Acquaintance with cold Neglect, or abfolute 
 Cruelty. I begin to fear my Head will not 
 ftand this much longer. I am as fane as you 
 are, but I feel Something working here — " 
 
 And he clasped his Head with his two 
 Hands, and ftood looking at me, the Picture 
 of Woe. 
 
 " My deareft T'aJJoy fit down — I have 
 offered you no Refrefhment." And I took 
 a Bottle of Lacryma and two Venice Glaffes 
 from the Cupboard. 
 
 " Cibabis nos Pane lacrymarum?" faid he, 
 quick as Thought ; " et Potum dahis nobis in 
 Lacrymis in Mensura ? " 
 
 '* If this Wine be poifoned," faid I fmiling, 
 " the Glaffes will crack." 
 
 " There are many Ways of murdering a 
 Man befides drugging his Cup," faid he, after 
 pledging me. " Have you never heard of 
 Pouncet-boxes that ffiould flay thofe who 
 fmelt at them — gold Collars that ffiould con- 
 tract round the Neck and produce Strangula- 
 tion — envenomed Gloves — Air-piftols — 
 
Of the 'Dukes third Wedding. 237 
 
 Down-pillows from which leapt a Knife to 
 pierce the Cheek that fought Repofe on 
 them ? How met the firft Duchefs of Ferrara 
 her Death, I pray you ? " 
 
 " They faid~Dr. Bartolo faid — fhe had a 
 putrid Fever." 
 
 " You know, however, it was not fo. The 
 Thing will go down in Hiftory ! What killed 
 the Archduchefs Barbara ? " 
 
 " Nay, confider her Connexions ! There, 
 at leaft, was no foul Play, poor Thing ! " 
 
 " It may have been so ; yet I have feen 
 Jewel-cafes and Bracelet-clasps contrived as 
 Vehicles for fubtle Poifons. They Jell them. 
 Sir, in Venice ! What became of Ercole Con- 
 trario, in this very Palace ? Pie entered, and 
 never went forth ! " 
 
 " Too true, my dear T^ajfo, but you muft 
 not conjure up thefe Phantoms of Evil. 
 Neither you nor I can forefee what fore 
 Tefts it may pleafe the Almighty to put us 
 to before we die, or in Death — and, let us 
 remember. Nothing can happen without his 
 Knowledge and PermiiTion ; — but fhall we. 
 
238 Of the Duke's third Wedding. 
 
 then, embitter every previous Hour by con- 
 fidering all the Cafualties which may befal 
 us ? That would be neither wife nor brave. 
 We fhould ^die daily/ in a different Senfe 
 from the Apoftle. You fpoke juft now of 
 Madama Leonora's Doors being clofed againft 
 you. This has not been with her Knowledge, 
 or with mine ; on the contrary, her Heart is 
 full of Kindnefs and Sympathy for you, but 
 you are perhaps unaware that fhe is declining 
 under the fad Influence of a flow but mortal 
 Malady—" 
 
 "Poifon!"— 
 
 " No, no, not Poifon ; a dired Difpenfation 
 from Heaven ; more painful even in its Pro- 
 grefs, perhaps, than the fearful Inftruments of 
 Deftruction you have been fpeaking of." 
 
 " Ah ! God be her Aid ! " 
 
 And he clasped his Hands over his Eyes, 
 which overflowed with trickling Tears. 
 
 " Still, it is better to fall into the Hands 
 of God than of Man," faid he, cheering up. 
 " Shall I, then, never fee her more ? I have 
 only fl:olen up into your Chamber when the 
 
Of the Duke s third Wedding. 239 
 
 Porters happened to be ofF Duty, and may 
 never have fuch an Opportunity again." 
 
 " 'Tajfo ! if I gave you an Opportunity 
 would you abufe it ? " 
 
 " As I am a living Man, no ! " 
 
 " Do you think you could command your- 
 felf?" 
 
 " I am certain." 
 
 He raifed his noble Figure to its full 
 Height, cleared his Brow, and flood looking 
 full at me in calm, ferene. Self-control. Ah ! 
 what a Man he was ! 
 
 " Well, — I am going to do a very bold 
 Thing, — and perhaps may fail after all. The 
 Duke, the two DuchefTes and their Train are 
 from Home, — or you had not found the 
 Entrance fo negligently guarded — Madama 
 Leonora is only with her Women, and has 
 been very much indifpofed all the Morning, 
 but I think an Interview with you would 
 cheer her, if you would feduloufly avoid 
 whatever could excite, and only aim at fpend- 
 ing a calm and cheerful Hour with her." 
 
 " I will meet her as if we had parted but 
 
240 Of the Dukes third Wedding. 
 
 Yefterday ! It fhall be like one of our old 
 Chats at Cofandoli.'' 
 
 " Exactly ! That will be the very Thing. 
 I may depend on you ? " 
 
 " Rely on me, my dear old Friend ! " 
 He wrung my Hand, and then, clafping 
 both his own, looked up to Heaven with 
 Though tfulnefs and high Refolve. 
 
 " Wait a Moment, then. I will fee if the 
 Thing can be done." 
 
 I left him, and in a few Minutes returned. 
 
 " Follow me. And remember your Pro- 
 mife." 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Of the Interview in Madarna Leonora'^ 
 DreJJing-room. 
 
 I^^^HE mild Light of a funny Winter 
 Morning was fo tempered by Sun- 
 blinds and Mofquito-curtains of pale 
 rofe-coloured Gauze, that the waxen Features 
 of my dear Madama appeared lefs wan and 
 faded than they would have done in a full 
 Light ; and her graceful, wafted Form, draped 
 in the fofteft Muflin, with a long Veil of fine 
 black Lace falling from her Head over her 
 Shoulders in full Folds, betrayed little of its 
 Emaciation except to the Eyes that daily 
 watched her and the Arms that daily lifted 
 her. A Rofary of Pearls with ruby Credo- 
 beads, and an Agnus-Dei of exquifitely carved 
 Ivory, was her only Ornament ; an ebony 
 R 
 
242 Of the Interview in 
 
 Crucifix and illuminated MiiTal were on the 
 little Table befide her, together with a per- 
 forated Ball of filver Filagree-work filled with 
 EfTence, and a Vafe of Venetian Glafs filled 
 with Hyacinths, Narciflufes^ Violets, and 
 Snowdrops, which perfumed the Air. At 
 her Head flood Olimpia, feduloufly arranging 
 the Pillows of her Couch, which when fhe had 
 done, fhe fat down on a high Stool jufl apart 
 from her, gently fanning her now and then 
 with a Feather-fan. 
 
 'Tajfo, advancing quickly yet gently to- 
 wards her, knelt befide her, kifTed the thin 
 Hand fhe extended to him, and faid cheer- 
 fully, "The BlefTing of God be upon you, 
 dear Lady ! " 
 
 She betrayed more Emotion than he did, 
 and lay quite filent, with quivering Lip and 
 fluttering Bofom. Pointing to a low Stool, 
 on which he could fit facing her and clofe to 
 her, fhe faid in a Whifper, "Sit there." 
 
 He did fo, and immediately took her Hand 
 again in his, and continued regarding her 
 fixedly, with a fweet and affedlionate Smile. 
 
Madama LeonoraV DreJJing-room. 243 
 
 The Effort to him muff have been immenfe, 
 but there was no Sign of there being any 
 Effort at all. 
 
 Almoft voiceleflly, ffie at length faid, 
 *' You find me much altered. And you are 
 altered too." 
 
 " Have not I had Enough to alter me ? " 
 {aid he cheerfully. " If you think me 
 altered, after eighteen Months' abfence, what 
 muff my Sifter Cornelia have done, when we 
 met for the firft Time fince our Childhood ? 
 She did not know me at all ! I gueffed it 
 would be fo, and played her fuch a Trick ! 
 Oh, such a Trick ! " 
 
 " Tell me about it, Tajfo ! " 
 
 " So I will, but where fhall I begin ? Oh, 
 from the Night I ran away from you all, 
 when you had fpoken thofe kind, fweet, 
 infpiriting Words to me in the Balcony" 
 (He had not left Ferrara that Night, but it 
 was the laft Time fhe had feen him.) " Ah 
 well, that was a forrowful Time with me; 
 I will not much dwell upon it. I longed for 
 my early Home, for my native Country, for 
 R 2 
 
i44 0/" the Interview in 
 
 my Sifter's fweet Voice and loving Eyes — 
 you know, Madama, how I have always 
 clung to the Sympathy of Women " 
 
 Madama Leonora here mutely held towards 
 him a little Medallion of the BlefTed Virgin. 
 He fmiled, bowed reverently towards it, 
 crofTed himfelf, and went on^ 
 
 " Having ftarted almoft without Money, 
 1 made my Way as I could, chiefly on Foot, 
 fometimes fleeping in the Cafali of lone Vine- 
 yards, fometimes in Shrines and Hermitages, 
 at the Foot of a Crofs, or in the Hollow of 
 a Tree. The Contadini let me fhare their 
 Polenta and Maccaroni, and now and then 
 gave me delicious Grapes and Figs, or a 
 Draught of Goat's Milk and a Lump of 
 black Bread." 
 
 " Ah, poor Tajfo I " 
 
 " Not poor at all, deareft Madama, I liked 
 it very much, and rewarded them with Stories 
 of Enchantment. When I got to Rome, I 
 found Friends, who fupplied my Needs, and 
 would fain have had me tarry with them. 
 However, I muft needs pufh on, to fee my 
 
Madama Leonora' j- DreJJing-room. 245 
 
 dear Cornelia. Between Rome and 'Terracina, 
 the Banditti were committing terrible Ravages, 
 the~ whole Country rang at Night with hoarfe 
 Cries of Men, and Screams of poor, fearful 
 Women. I longed to have a Cut at them. 
 Suddenly I found myfelf furrounded, feized, 
 and carried off to the Brigands' Strong-hold. 
 I was fearched, and the Little I had was taken 
 from me. They came to my Pocket Virgil, 
 wherein my Name was written. The Captain 
 of the Band, a fwarthy, ftalwart Fellow, with 
 a Pidure of the Blefled Virgin round his 
 Neck, was the only one who could read. 
 ' What ! 'Tajfo ? ' cries he, * the Man whom 
 Italy delights to honour ? ' (funny Honour, 
 Madama !) *^ Come, tell us a Story, and you 
 fhall have back your Money, and fup with 
 us into the Bargain ! ' What could I do ? 
 I fpun the Rogues a mingled Web of Ro- 
 mance, Poetry, and Hiftory, dafhing in a 
 Moral here and there, — a Moral of the rough, 
 manly fort, about Valour, Conftancy, and 
 Companion towards Women, — and fo we 
 fate round the Watch-fire till Midnight, and 
 
246 Of the Interview in 
 
 the next Morning they fped me on my Way. 
 The Captain being defirous of beftowing on 
 me fome Mark of his Friendhnefs and Mu- 
 nificence, I begged of him a rough Goatherd's 
 Suit of Sheepfkins, with Leggings and 
 flapped Hat complete, which he wilhngly 
 befl:owed on me. Then, with my own Clothes 
 in a Bundle at the End of a rough Staff 
 I carried over my Shoulder, I trudged away 
 towards Sorrento^ a very Picaroon in Appear- 
 ance, I affure you, Madama ! " 
 
 " How I fhould have loved to fee you ! 
 Go on, dear Tajfo." 
 
 " Arrived at Sorrento, I fought out Cornelia's 
 Houfe, which overlooked the Bay, and was 
 of modeft but agreeable Exterior, betokening 
 Affluence, though hardly Opulence. I fought 
 and obtained Admittance, on the Pretext of 
 having a Letter, which I muft entruft only to 
 her own Hands. I was ufhered into a pleafant 
 Summer-chamber, perfumed with Orange- 
 bloffoms, and having a Balcony overlooking 
 the Bay. Here fate Cornelia, rocking the 
 Cradle of her youngeft Infant ; fhe was more 
 
Madama Leonora'j DreJJing-room. 247 
 
 like my dear Mother in her Prime than like 
 the little Girl who had laft kiffed me at the 
 Gate, when Don Angeluzzo carried me 
 to Rome — a young and beautiful Matron, 
 Madama. 
 
 "Well, fhe looked at me ftrangely, — I 
 blundered out a few Words in a feigned 
 Voice, and took from my Bofom a Letter I 
 had written her in the Brigands' Cave, myfte- 
 rioufly defcribing myfelf in Danger and as 
 a Fugitive. She recognifed my Hand at 
 once, tore open and haftily perufed the 
 Billet ; and, I confefs to you, I experienced 
 fweet Emotions on feeing her bedew it 
 plentifully with Tears." 
 
 ''TaJJh! I think all Men like giving 
 Women Pain ! Fie on you ! How could you ? " 
 
 " Well, ihe examined and crofs-examined 
 me. I led her a fine Dance, Madama ! and 
 jufl as fhe was ready to wring her Hands and 
 burft into Tears, giving me up for loft, off 
 flew my Cap and Ihaggy Coat, — her Brother 
 ftood confeft ! There were we, laughing, 
 crying, kiffing ! — Ah, Madama ! " 
 
248 Of the Interview in 
 
 " Well ! And then ? and then ? " 
 
 *' Well, and then, and then — • — She fcolded, 
 I laughed, fhe upbraided, I grew penitent, 
 fhe queftioned, I made Anfwer, gave her 
 a long Catalogue of Woes, fet her crying, 
 kifTed away her Tears, afked for her eldeft 
 Boys, was told they would prefently return 
 from School, and fo we agreed to eat, drink, 
 and be merry together, and read, and talk, 
 and laugh, and make Verfes, and look at the 
 Sea, and be as happy as the Day is long, 
 while Fate would let us. And fo we went on, 
 for nearly a Year, till you, you tempted me 
 away. — Ah, Madama ! " 
 
 " 'Tajfoj I never knew till now how wrong 
 it was ! Oh, forgive me ! " 
 
 " Wrong ! Ah, Madama ! " 
 
 He kifTed her Hand, and fmiled ; ihe 
 fmiled too, (it is well known fhe had the 
 fweeteft Mouth in all Italy ^^ and we fate a 
 little While filent. Meantime I noted with 
 fatherly delight how foft and equable her 
 Breathing had become, how the harafTed Look 
 had difappeared from her Face, and a faint. 
 
Madama LeonoraV Drejfing-room, 249 
 
 delicate Colour had rifen on her white Cheek. 
 She lay blifsfully quiet awhile, and then faid, — 
 " Go on, 'Tafo." 
 
 Olimpia here interpofed with a little Jelly, 
 of which fhe prayed her Lady to take a 
 few Spoonfuls. She did fo, readily, and 
 with Refrefhment to herfelf, and then again 
 faid, — 
 
 " Go on, Tajfo ! " 
 
 While this Interruption occurred, he had 
 probably been turning in his Mind what to 
 fay next, for when he refumed, he made a 
 great Skip over the more painful Events of 
 his Hiftory, and faid, — 
 
 *' Lately, when I was journeying towards 
 Savoy, a pleafant little Adventure occurred to 
 me, which I think you will like to hear of. 
 I was riding from Novara to Vercelli, when 
 fuddenly the Sky darkened with Clouds 
 apparently brimful of Rain, and almoft at the 
 fame Time, I heard a violent Barking of 
 Dogs, intermingled with Shouts. A poor, 
 trembling Fawn fprang into the Road, chafed 
 by a Couple of ftrong Hounds which pulled 
 
250 Of the Interview in 
 
 it down juft before my Horfe's Feet, and at 
 the fame Time there came up a handfome, 
 graceful Youth of eighteen or thereabouts, 
 vvhoj beating them off, took up the Game, 
 and handed it to a ruftic Fellow at his Heels. 
 He accofted me, and feeing me to be a 
 Traveller, warned me that the River I was 
 approaching was fo fwoUen as to be unfafe 
 to crofs, and invited me. Stranger' as I was, 
 to partake the Hofpitality of his Father's 
 Houfe. Being unwilling, at firft, to avail 
 myfelf of his Kindnefs, I faid I would fatisfy 
 myfelf of the Condition of the River, which 
 he let me do, ftill keeping at my Side ; and 
 on my finding the Paffage to be really im- 
 pradicable, I faid fmiling, ' Neceffity now 
 compels me to accept that Invitation which 
 Inclination prompted me to already.' " 
 
 "A little ungracious, T"-^/ You needed 
 not to have been fo loth to accept a 
 Favour." 
 
 " Well, he feemed to think fo too, and faid, 
 fmiling, * I would fooner have been indebted 
 to your Inclination than your Neceffity, but 
 
Madama Leonora' j" DreJJlng-room. 251 
 
 rejoice that you are on any Terms conftralned 
 to accept it ! " 
 
 " He feems to have been a pretty-fpoken 
 Youth, and to have taken a Fancy to you at firft 
 Sight. Did you tell him who you were ? " 
 
 *' He kept eyeing me over his Shoulder 
 as he led the Way, as though defirous of 
 making out who I could be. It was a wild 
 fecluded Neighbourhood, where Strangers 
 are probably not very rife. I had already 
 given up my Horfe to my Vetturino, and was 
 following my new Acquaintance on Foot, 
 when we came in Sight of a pretty Houfe 
 near the River. It ftood in a little Court- 
 yard, fhaded by fome fine Trees, and feemed 
 to have good Orchards and Gardens attached 
 to it. A double Flight of low, wide Steps 
 led to the hofpitable Portal, which admitted 
 us Into a large, cool, lofty Hall, nearly as 
 wide as it was long, paved with Diamonds of 
 black and white Marble, and hung with old 
 Arms and Infignia of the Chafe. From 
 hence, my young Friend led me into the 
 Dining-room, which was hung with ftamped 
 
252 Of the Interview hi 
 
 Leather; the Table-cloth was already laid 
 for Dinner, and the Beaufet fpread with 
 Difhes of fine white Ware, heaped with Abun- 
 dance of choice Fruit." 
 
 " "Tajfoy how prettily you defcribe ! Go 
 on, I like fo to hear you ! " 
 
 " '■ Beautiful and commodious is your 
 Dwelling,' cried I, * and, I doubt not, its 
 noble Owner finds Nothing to regret in his 
 Remotenefs from Courts and Cities.' 
 
 " ^ I can afTure you, however,' returned the 
 Youth, * that my Father is not unacquainted 
 with them, though he pafTes the greater Part 
 of his Time here. And he has a Brother at 
 Rome, who ftands high in the Confidence of 
 Cardinal VercelliJ This was fald with a 
 little innocent Self-importance, Madama ! as 
 much as to fay, * I would have you to know 
 we are not altogether fuch Clowns as you 
 might think ! ' ^ Ah ! ' cried I, * who is 
 there that knows the good Cardinal and does 
 not efteem him ? ' " 
 
 " Why, Tajfo^ do you know him fo par- 
 ticularly well } " 
 
Madama Leonora's Dreffing-room. 1^2 
 
 " Hum ! let that pafs, Madama ! Juft then, 
 a Lad younger than my Companion, but of 
 equally pleafing Exterior, joined us, and faid 
 that his Father was juft coming Home. At 
 the fame Time, the Gentlemen rode up 
 to the Door, followed by a Couple of 
 Grooms, and, alighting, afcended the Steps. 
 He was a Man nearer fixty than fifty ; with 
 a hale, healthy Complexion; large, brown, 
 penetrating and benignant Eyes, deep-fet 
 under a firm Brow ; and Hair and Beard of 
 filvery whitenefs. On my being prefented to 
 him, he faluted me with a little Surprife, and 
 then faid fmiling to his eldeft Son, * Whence 
 comes this good Gentleman, whom I do not 
 remember to have before seen, either here or 
 anywhere elfe ? ' The young Man replied 
 briefly, on which, his Father with great Kind- 
 linefs and Urbanity faid, * Whoever you may 
 be, you are heartily welcome to fuch a plain 
 Reception as I have it in my Power to offer.' 
 I made fome fuitable Anfwer, and we then 
 wafhed our Hands and fat down to Table, 
 the good Mafter of the Houfe making me 
 
254 Q/" ^^^^ Interview in 
 
 occupy the Place of Honour. The Fruits 
 were from his own Orchard, the Pigeons from 
 his own Dove-cot, the Game killed by his 
 Son, the Bread made of his own Corn, ground 
 in his own Mill ; and the Converfation natu- 
 rally turned on domeftic Affairs, in which, 
 I aflure you, Madama, I knew not whether 
 to be moft pleafed with his Simplicity or his 
 Wifdom. By-and-by, we were joined by his 
 Wife—" 
 
 " How old was fhe ? Was fhe pretty ? " 
 
 " Nay, Madama, ilie might have been fo, 
 fome twenty Years ago, but I fhall only fay 
 for her that flie was a graceful, benignant, 
 highly refpedlable old Lady." 
 
 " How was fhe dreffed ?" 
 
 " Now you puzzle me ! Let me confider 
 — She was certainly not in white, nor yet in 
 fcarlet, — no, nor in pea-green, — nor yet in 
 orange. No, no ; fhe muft have been in 
 black ! — Black, full, ample, heavy, with a 
 little white round her Throat. That would 
 be all right, would it not, for an old Lady ?" 
 
 " Ah yes, that will do. — Go on." 
 
Madama Leonora' j- Drejfmg-room. ic^c^ 
 
 " After the Lady had withdrawn, dutifully 
 fupported by her two Sons, who prefently 
 returned to us, the old Man fell into Remi- 
 nifcences of his early Years and the Precepts 
 he had received from his Father, which I 
 think he was not forry my Prefence gave 
 him a Pretext for repeating in the hearing 
 of his own Sons. They went to prove a 
 hereditary Worth and plain Senfe in the 
 Family. He dwelt a good Deal on how to 
 choofe a Wife, how to educate Children, how 
 to govern Servants, how to regulate Expenfes, 
 how to lay out one's Fields and one's Garden, 
 how to inveft Capital, and fo forth, — Details 
 which might not much intereft you, Madama, 
 but which agreeably wiled away the Evening, 
 interfperfed as they were with harmlefs Plea- 
 fantries, and appofite Quotations from our 
 befl: Latin and Italian Poets." 
 
 " Did he quote you^ Tajfo ? " 
 
 " Madama, he did not !" 
 
 " And did you not give him the Gratifi- 
 cation of knowing who you were ? " 
 
 "To what Purpofe? No, he will only 
 
256 Of the Interview in 
 
 remember me as ^ the illuftrious Stranger^ who 
 talked about the Signs of the Zodiac ! ' 
 Once, when we got upon Aftronomy, and 
 were fpeculating whether the World had been 
 created in the Spring or the Autumn, he 
 gazed on me awhile with fixed Attention, 
 and, after a Paufe, faid with an Air of old- 
 fafhioned Politenefs that became him well, 
 * I fufped I am entertaining a more honour- 
 able Gueft than at firft I had any Conception 
 of " 
 
 " I am glad of that ! What faid you there- 
 upon ?" 
 
 " That I was lefs fignalifed by Merit than 
 by Misfortunes." 
 
 She fmiled and fighed. He fmiled and did 
 not figh. 
 
 " When do you think the World was 
 created ? " 
 
 " In the Spring, Madama, when He who 
 created the World redeemed the World ! " 
 
 " Taffby what a Blefling it is that He who 
 created us also redeemed us ! " 
 
 " Madama ! it is the only Comfort in Life." 
 
Madama LeonoraV Drejfmg-room. 257 
 
 " The moft painful Life is but a Span, and 
 is felt as fuch when we approach its Clofe." 
 
 " And, even then, feems o'erlong, Ma- 
 dama ! " 
 
 " 'Tajfo, there is only one Thing worth 
 living for, — to work out our Salvation, even 
 though it be with Fear and Trembling." 
 
 " What a Bleffing, Madama, that Another 
 has worked out for us what we could never 
 work out perfeftly ourfelves !" 
 
 "We can recline our tired Souls on his 
 Merits and be at Peace ! " 
 
 " We can lie down on his Redemption and 
 look up to his Atonement." 
 
 " I am not long for this World, Tajfo." 
 
 " Madama, if I could, I would fly away 
 to the Land where you are going, and be 
 at Reft." 
 
 " We fliall all be there foon." 
 
 " ^ Ecce menfurabiles ■pofuifti Dies meos' " 
 
 Here there was a Paufe. I, beginning to 
 fear fhe would become exhaufted, and alfo 
 that he might ftay too long for his own 
 Safety, quietly remarked. 
 
258 Of the Interview in 
 
 " It appears to me that we muft difmifs 
 you fhortly, Mefler 'J'orquato ; for, if his 
 Highnefs return and find you where you are, 
 his Mouftachios will work like the Sails of 
 a Windmill." 
 
 This occafioned them both to laugh, and 
 Tajfo made a Show to rife, without doing fo 
 however ; but Madama Leonora, figning to 
 Olimpia, faid, " Offer him Refrefhment." 
 
 Bread and Wine flood on a Salver. He 
 broke off a Fragment of Bread and ate it 
 with Quietnefs and Deliberation ; then raifing 
 the Cup to his Lips, inclined his Head 
 gravely to her as he drank. She mutely 
 bade Olimpia bring the Salver to her, and 
 put the Cup to her Lips and ate a Fragment 
 of the Bread. Looking towards me, fhe faid 
 kindly, " Take fome, Ser Pantaleone." I did 
 fo, reverently, feeling Something almofl 
 facramental in it. She had clofed her Eyes 
 and folded her Hands, and I could tell by 
 her whitening Lips that it was Time for 
 Tajfo to depart. I fignalled to him, and he 
 flowly and reludlantly rofe, made the Sign 
 
JVLadama Leonora' j" DreJJing-room. 259 
 
 of the Crofs over her, crofTed himfelf, and 
 gently took her Hand. She re-opened her 
 Eyes and fmiled as he kifTed it, twice, thrice, 
 — then, yet fmihng, waved it to him as he 
 withdrew. When I returned from feeing 
 him forth, Madama Leonora was in a balmy 
 Sleep. 
 
 Dederit dile5fis/uis Somnum ! 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Of the Progress of Madama Leonora'j Illnefs. And 
 of Ser Pantaleone'j becoming weaned from the 
 World 
 
 "■^^Ty^r^^FTER this, Madama Leonora de- 
 ^^^M.>, clined rapidly — To rapidly that for 
 ^-%^ an entire Month I and her few 
 perfonal Attendants were all whom jfhe faw ; 
 nor did fhe nor did we take any Cognizance 
 of Affairs without, nor intereft ourfelves at all 
 about Anything beyond the Suite of Rooms 
 in which the laft pathetic Scene of a Chriftian 
 Life was enacting, while all the Reft of the 
 Palace was devoted to the Feftlvities in Cha- 
 racter with the Duke's recent Efpoufals. 
 Verumtamen univerfa Vanitas^ omnis Homo 
 vivens ! There were two Worlds under one 
 Roof In one of them, faint Odours of 
 medicinal Herbs and of Incenfe, hufhed 
 
Of Madama Leonora'j- Illness. 261 
 
 Footfteps, watchful Looks, filent Tongues, 
 fmothered Sighs, fhaded Lights, — and now 
 and then the grateful Entrance of the Phyfi- 
 cian or the Confeflbr ; — from the other, were 
 now and then faintly borne to us the diftant 
 Sounds of Mufic and the Dance, the Buzz of 
 many Voices, the Smell of roaft Meats, the 
 Flourifh of Trumpets, the Neighing of Steeds, 
 the Applaufe of the People, — muffled by in- 
 tervening Walls and clofed Doors. I often 
 thought, as I dropped the green velvet Cur- 
 tain between the outer Ante-chamber and the 
 Staircafe, " Thus we fhut out Life ! — And to 
 this will every one of thofe merry Revellers 
 come at laft." 
 
 Thus, I neither faw nor heard Aught of 
 Ta^Oj — till, inquiring of him fomewhat anx- 
 ioufly one Day of Dr. Fenieri, as I fhowed 
 him forth, he whifpered Something that petri- 
 fied me. 
 
 I faid, " For Heaven's Sake, let not this 
 reach our Madama ! " 
 
 " He faid, " Certainly not. You yourfelf 
 muft be cautious, and her Women need not 
 
262 Of the Progrefs of 
 
 know It. The Duchefs Lucrezia will be fure 
 not to tell her." 
 
 I ftood like a Statue when he was gone. 
 I felt I could not at once return to Madama 
 heonora : my Looks would betray me, and my 
 Heart was furcharged with Woe. I repaired 
 to my own Chamber ; and there ftood Rofal- 
 vino, who gave me a Billet crumpled up into 
 a Pellet, faying, " This was thrown to me 
 through the Bars of a grated Window." 
 DIredlly I faw the Writing, I recognifed It, 
 though it was ftrangely marred, and blotted. 
 Thus it ran : — 
 
 '^ I who loved Renown, Sympathy, Com- 
 panlonfhlp with my Kind, the Song of Birds, 
 the Difcourfe of Men, the fweet Looks and 
 Voices of Women, — am fbut up In Santa 
 Anna ! I, who loved the dear Face of Nature, 
 and panted for frefh Air, am In a clofe, dark- 
 fome Cell, from which I cannot even fee the 
 Sky. I, who was delicate in my Apparel, 
 faftidious in my Cleanlinefs, nice in my Food, 
 fare like a Felon, have not Water enough to 
 
Madama LeonoraV Illnejs. 26^ 
 
 quench my Thirfl, much lefs for Ablution ! 
 I who, like many imaginative Perfons, am 
 unable to fupport Solitude, am now lonely 
 Day and Night, and Day after Day, without 
 even feeing a Phyfician or a ConfefTor, and 
 only hearing the difmal Sounds of Chains and 
 Laflies. O tell me, you who love me ! inftead 
 of feeking to cure me of being mad, are they 
 not ftriving to make me fo ? Writing Im- 
 plements, indeed, I am allowed ; but alas ! 
 Fancy and Imagination are ftifled in this 
 clofe Cell, my Mind refufes to form Images, 
 and I doubt whether my Letters, full of fad 
 Complaints, ever reach their Deftination. O 
 Earth, Earth, Earth, cover not this Injuftice ! 
 Teftify againft it, O Time, to all Duration ! " 
 
 I fat ftupified over this Letter. Without 
 confidering how I might embroil myfelf, I 
 hurried off to the Duke's favourite Courtier, 
 Count Scipio del Sacrato, and exclaimed to 
 him — 
 
 " T^ajfo is in the Lunatic Afylum of Santa 
 Anna I " 
 
264 Of the Progrefs of 
 
 " He is." 
 
 " Oh ! is this the Faith pledged to him — 
 the IfTue of all the fair Promifes held out to 
 bim?" 
 
 He fhrugged his Shoulders. " If a Man 
 will go crazy, what is to be done with him ? 
 The Duke has Care for his Health." 
 
 " No Phyfician has feen him." 
 
 " How do you know that ?" 
 
 '' His noble Faith in the Duke has been 
 defpifed and fet at Nought ! " 
 
 *'Piha!" 
 
 " Pofterity will talk of this, Count ! " 
 
 " We will leave the AiFair to be fettled by 
 Pofterity." 
 
 " Ah, Count ! I never yet folicited a Grace 
 of you ! Prevail on his Highnefs to grant me 
 an Order to fee Tajfo.'' 
 
 " His Highnefs has juft gone to Belriguardo. 
 Befides, you are in clofe Attendance on Ma- 
 dama Leonora^ and cannot be fpared." 
 
 " Do not deny me, I entreat, I implore 
 you." 
 
 " The Thing is fimply impoffible. No one 
 
Madama Leonora'^ Illnejs. 265 
 
 has feen him, nor would the Duke grant me 
 the Favour if I afked it for myfelf." 
 
 " Why this unnecefTary, this unheard-of 
 Rigour?" 
 
 " It has not been unnecefTary. T^ajfo either 
 is mad, or has acted as a Madman. Unlefs 
 Madnefs paUiate his Conduct, it has been 
 unjuftifiable." 
 
 " In what Refpect ?" 
 
 " Can you afk ? — you, who know his Paf- 
 fion for Madama Leonora F " 
 
 " It has never betrayed him into the leaft 
 Excefs." 
 
 " Unfortunately, he ftands committed by 
 his own Pen. What think you of thefe 
 Verfes ? " — handing me a Paper, which, at 
 firft Sight, I concluded to be in TaJJo's Hand. 
 
 Having perufed a very prefumptuous and 
 paffionate Effufion, with little that deferved 
 the Name of Poetry in it, fave the Rhymes, 
 I returned it to him, faying, 
 
 " Taffb never wrote this, it is forged." 
 
 " How mean you ! " 
 
 " I mean what I fay. I know the Trick of 
 
266 Of the Progrefs of 
 
 his Hand ; and of his Style. At firft Sight, 
 there is a great Refemblance, but there are 
 Letters there which are not framed as he 
 always frames them, and Expreffions which 
 the Nicety of his Ear would never permit him 
 to ufe. As for the Sentiments, they have a 
 GrofTnefs of which he is utterly incapable." 
 
 " The Duke, however, is perfuaded of 
 their Authenticity." 
 
 " I wifh I could undeceive his HIghnefs. 
 Such atrocious Frauds have already been 
 perpetrated In Taffo's Name, that the unknown 
 Framer of them, whoever he may be, has 
 only taken one more Step in Guilt by 
 committing this Forgery." 
 
 " Whom do you fufped ? " 
 
 " Alas, Count, what Is the Ufe of mentioning 
 Sufpiclons unlefs I can bring them Home ? " 
 
 " Quite right ; therefore do not mention 
 them to the Duke. It will be Time wafted." 
 
 " I mufy if I can find Opportunity, or my 
 Heart will burft ! What ! fhall thefe Verfes 
 go down to Pofterity as 'Tajfo's, to blaft his 
 fair Fame ? " 
 
Madama Leonora' j' Illnejs. 267 
 
 He took them haftily from me, as if afraid 
 of my deftroying them on the Spot, and truly 
 I am Sometimes forry I did not do fo at all 
 Hazards, for I knew, to a moral Certainty, 
 they muft be Brunello's. But I was growing 
 old and difinclined to perfonal Quarrels, fee 
 you, and had no Leifure for them, now I was 
 fo much needed by my dear Madama. So 
 I only reiterated with increafed Pofitivity my 
 Conviftion that T'ajp) had had no Hand In 
 them, which I will believe and maintain, yes, 
 yes ! to my dying Day ! Count Scipio heard 
 me with a well-bred Smile of pitying Incre- 
 dulity, and at Length faid, " You admit, that 
 fuppofing the Verfes authentic, the Duke 
 would have Caufe for condign Difpleafure ? " 
 
 " Certainly ; though not for immuring the 
 Writer in a Madhoufe." 
 
 " Orju ! . . our Punifhments would be 
 light, dear Ser Pantaleone^ if we had the 
 Choice of them ourfelves ! Santa Anna is 
 better than the drugged Cup or the Stiletto, 
 at any Rate. The Duke's Judgment is in 
 Mercy, and will be remitted, doubtlefs, when 
 
268 Of the Progrefs of 
 
 your Friend has cooled a little. I am going 
 to try fome German Hawks — will you like to 
 fee them ? " 
 
 And fo I was bowed out, with a Heart 
 ready to break. 
 
 I refolved to appeal to the Duke, the very 
 firft Time I had the fmallefl Pretext for doing 
 fo, and, to this End, to wear a forrowful 
 Countenance whenever 1 fhould meet him, 
 fuch as Nehemiah wore before King Ahafuerus, 
 that he might of his own Accord afk the 
 Occafion of my Trouble. But alas ! his 
 Highnefs was too much preoccupied with his 
 own Affairs to be very likely to confider the 
 Looks of fo unimportant a Perfonage as 
 myfelf ; and, even had he regarded them, the 
 Illnefs of my auguft Miftrefs was fufficient to 
 account for them, without any afking of 
 Queftions. Moreover, the Duchefs Lucrezia 
 now took upon herfelf to report her Sifter's 
 Cafe daily to the Duke, affuring him that her 
 illnefs was too great for his Vifits to her to be 
 expedient, and Dr. Venieri daily gave his 
 Bulletin, fo that I had not the Office of 
 
Madama Leonora' j- Illnejs. 269 
 
 carrying News of her to his Highnefs in his 
 Clofet as heretofore, which was the only 
 private Opportunity likely to occur. One 
 Day, pafTing through one of the Ante- 
 chambers, with a Heart full of Sorrow, I faw 
 Guarini coming along, and got out of his 
 Way, having no Mind to fpeak to an old 
 Enemy of Tajpfs ; but, to my Surprife, he 
 took me by the Sleeve and drew me afide, 
 faying with an Air of great Trouble, " What 
 is this I hear of our Friend ? Can his great 
 Mind indeed have given Way ? or has he, as 
 fome of his warmeft Admirers dread, com- 
 mitted fome fatal Imprudence ? " 
 
 "Neither one nor the other, believe me," 
 faid I emphatically, " his Enemies, and they 
 alone, have to anfwer for it." And was 
 haftily moving off, but he ftill detained me. 
 
 " You lay an Emphafis on Enemies," faid 
 he, "as if I were one of them, but God 
 forbid I fhould feel Aught but Concern and 
 Sorrow for a noble Mind fo cruelly oppreffed. 
 Rivals we once were, I grant you, but the 
 Race between us has long furceafed, and even 
 
270 Of the Progrefs of 
 
 if it were not fo, my Heart would at this 
 Moment be melted with Pity." 
 
 '^ Signor Guarini!" cried I, "thefe Feelings 
 do you Honour ! " and I grafped his Hand 
 with Energy. A Tear fhone in his Eye, and 
 I felt my own moiften. 
 
 Juft then, the Duke pafTed by, with feveral 
 Gentlemen, and catching Sight of me, paufed 
 a Moment and faid, " What ails you ? " 
 
 " Sir ! fir ! " cried I, almoft carried out of 
 myfelf, " have mercy upon I'ajfo, in Captivity 
 and Solitude!" 
 
 " In Captivity, but not wholly in Solitude," 
 repHed he, with fomething like a little Kind- 
 nefs in his Eye, " Giulio Mojii now has Accefs 
 to him, and fpends whole Hours in his Cell, 
 liftening to his Recitations and writing to his 
 Didation ; in fhort, doing all that can mitigate 
 his Sorrow. He has alfo been removed to a 
 Cell above-ground, where he can ftretch his 
 Limbs and fee the Sun, and flourifh like 
 a Geranium in a Pot ! " 
 
 The AdmifTions as well as Solaces contained 
 in thefe few Words, filled my Heart fo full, 
 
Madama Leonora'j lllnefs. 271 
 
 that I could not proffer a Word, and the 
 Duke, fmiHng, paffed on. He, in the Pleni- 
 tude of Health and Profperity, to whom Air 
 and Liberty were fuch common and vulgar 
 Things as hardly to feem worth remembering, 
 to fpeak of One to whofe very Exiftence they 
 were effential, and who had been fo ruthlefsly 
 deprived of them, as flourifhing like a Gera- 
 nium in a Pot ! 
 
 For my part, I wonder how People can put 
 Flowers in Pots, or Birds in Cages, or fnare 
 Fifhes with Hooks, or fet large Birds to 
 purfue fmall Ones, or in fhort, find Pleafure 
 in any Cruelty whatfoever. But I know my 
 Sentiments are peculiar. 
 
 ' Veloces Pedes eorum ad effundendem Sangulnem.^ — 
 
 All this While, ftrange to fay, dear Madama 
 Leonora never made one fingle Inquiry about 
 Tajfoy but defifled entirely from Anxiety 
 about him, as well as concerning all mundane 
 Things, and flayed her Thoughts entirely 
 upon God. It was a blefled Thing for her 
 that her Mind took this Turn, fince there 
 
272 Of the Progrefs of 
 
 was no good News for her, and I never 
 ceafed congratulating myfelf on having 
 brought about that Interview, (o foothing 
 and beneficial to them both, which Anything 
 turbid and tumultuous within themfelves 
 might fo completely have robbed of all Com- 
 fort, but which, under the chaftening Influ- 
 ences of Sandlity and Self-control, fhed a 
 mild Ray of Light on their lafl: terreftrial 
 Intercourfe. 
 
 She had now a thoufand pretty Thoughts 
 about the World to come, and told me how 
 jfhe dreamed of Angels and of Christ, and 
 how fhe beheld the heavenly Manfions already 
 occupied by this and that Saint, and faw others 
 bufily erefting and fitting up by eager 
 loving Hands, for thofe that would foon 
 need them, the Lord Jesus fuperlntending 
 all ; — and how there were Clufl:ers of little 
 Children flocking about in every Quarter 
 of Heaven, and, as they grew up in 
 fpiritual Stature, being infl:ru6led by guar- 
 dian Angels in all heavenly Knowledge ; 
 and what joyous Parties were fetting forth 
 
Madama Leonora's Illness. 273 
 
 on Explorations to this and that Planet, and 
 how others were harping and hymning Strains 
 impoflible to defcribe, fuch was their exquifite 
 Melody ! and others, deep ftudying Books of 
 divine Lore written by Angels, under the 
 immediate Dilation of the Holy Spirit, 
 and others, plunged deep in Thought, re- 
 volving eternal Mysteries, and learning the 
 why and wherefore not only of the minuteft 
 Events of their own Lives, but of Things that 
 had occurred from the Foundation of the 
 World. Others, in Attitudes of Adoration, 
 feeming as though every Faculty and Senfe 
 were abforbed in beatific Raptures ; others, 
 eagerly waiting at Heaven's Gate for the 
 arrival of fome loved Spirit on Earth ; others, 
 juft re-united, in an Ecftafy of Blifs. I d'eclare 
 it made my Head fpin Sometimes to try to 
 follow her, and at laft I gave it over, con- 
 tenting myfelf with the Convidion that God 
 gives his dear Children fuperordinary Supports 
 and Revelations under fuperordinary Trials, 
 which we muft not afpire to under the common 
 Events of Life. Notwithflianding which, the 
 
274 0/ the Progress of 
 
 hearing thefe Matters fo continually unfolded 
 and expounded by one who feemed not only 
 to believe in them but to fee them, gave me 
 fuch a Relifh and Savour of the Things of 
 eternal Life, and made Things terrene appear 
 fo vapid and flat in Comparifon, as that I 
 frequently thought in my own Mind that as 
 foon as flie had departed this Life, and winged 
 to her native Skies, I would fettle my Affairs 
 and become a cowled Monk, that I might 
 wholly dedicate myfelf to God. 
 
 I heartily wifli now I had done io ! inftead 
 of which, putting it off from Day to Day, 
 my Sorrow gradually wore off, and my 
 Spirituality with it, and I became juft as 
 much as ever entangled in the Affairs of this 
 Life. However, various Events, including 
 the gentle Decay of my Health and Strength, 
 have of late revived the Impreffion within 
 me, which a violent Attack of Sicknefs has 
 confirmed, and the Review of my perfonal 
 Hiftory has confolidated ; fo that I now am 
 really intending to fet my Houfe in Order, 
 and join myfelf to the Monks of St. Olivet ^ 
 
Madama Leonora's Illnejs. 2J ^ 
 
 among whom I have feveral old Friends^ and 
 whofe Convent I particularly admire for the 
 purity of its Air, and the Beauty and 
 Salubrity of its Situation. 
 
 T 2 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Of a Deathbed^ of a Prifon^ and of glorfy'ing God. 
 
 cj||g^[,OWEVER, this is a Digreffion — the 
 S^^^S S*^^"^ has not yet clofed on her 
 iiC©''(Ms I loved. It was now my daily 
 Care to carry her from her Bed to her 
 Sitting-room, and my nightly Care to carry 
 her from her Sitting-room to her Bed; for 
 fhe was minded to keep up as long as fhe 
 could. The firft Time this Office fell upon 
 me, fhe propofed it with Bafhfulnefs, faying, 
 " I feel too weary even to crawl, and my 
 Women might let me drop. Do you think, 
 dear Ser Pantaleone, you could carry me?" 
 
 " Certainly, Madama ! " faid I ; and, lifting 
 her gently up, " Ah," faid I, " you will not 
 need very large Wings to carry you upwards 
 — you are as light as a Feather already." 
 
Of a Deathbed^ of a Prifon^ &c. 277 
 
 " Gently, gently," faid fhe, " ftop one 
 Moment." And looking wiftfully about the 
 Room as we were ready to leave it, fhe 
 appeared to be takhig a filent Farewell of 
 each familiar Objedl, However, it was not 
 the laft Time, by many Times, that I carried 
 her from it ; and the Office feemed to endear 
 us to one another as though we were Father 
 and Daughter. " Good Night, good Night ! " 
 jfhe would fay, fmiling even while ftruggling 
 for Breath, "you fhall be remembered in 
 my Prayers." 
 
 " And you, dear Madama, in mine." 
 
 One Day, in pafTing along the Gallery, 
 I again met Guarini, who flopped me to 
 inquire with Solicitude after Madama heonora. 
 " I fuppofe you know," faid he in Conclufion, 
 '-'■ that the young Duke of Mantua has vifited 
 poor '^ajfo F " 
 
 " I hear nothing now, Signor Guarini ! 
 But I rejoice to hear it, fince it may have 
 imparted a Ray of Joy to my poor Friend, 
 even if it lead to no Intervention." 
 
 " But what a Mind is his, Ser Fantaleone I 
 
278 Of a Deathbed^ of a Prijon, 
 
 He has now recovered himfelf fufficiently to 
 abftraft himfelf from furroundhig Objects ; 
 and the Amount of Compofition he gets 
 through is immenfe ! To fay Nothing of 
 Appeals to Princes, Cardinals, and Sovereigns 
 that might roufe the very Stones, he pours 
 forth Verfes of inexpreffible Beauty, compofes 
 Treatifes and Dialogues of high Philofophy, 
 and Meditations full of heavenly Devotion. 
 He is alfo bufy revifing his immortal Epic, 
 which he can never polifh highly enough to 
 pleafe himfelf, and which he defires may 
 never fee the Light till it has attained all 
 the Perfe6lion of which it is capable. But 
 what will be his Grief to learn, that furrep- 
 titious Copies having been obtained of his 
 firfl: ten Cantos, the Printers are preparing 
 already to foreftall him with a lamentably 
 incorred Edition, pieced out with Profe and 
 ragged Rhyme where the original Copy is 
 wanting ! " 
 
 " You throw me into a Fever," faid I, 
 " my Blood boils at it. Ah, what Injuftice ! 
 what Infamy ! The Harveft of a Life ftolen 
 
<y of glorifying God, 279 
 
 from him by thefe Wretches not worth a 
 Pumpkin-peel ! What will he fay ? " 
 
 " One Good of his Confinement," faid 
 Guarinij " is that the News may, for a 
 While, be concealed from him, fince he can 
 get no Redrefs. For myfelf, it would drive 
 me mad. Aldo is alfo getting his fmaller 
 Poems through the Prefs as fall as poflible ; 
 and, as you and I well know there are many 
 Pieces among them in which the Reality of 
 his Love for Madama Leonora is but too 
 plainly betrayed for his Safety, I am ready, 
 for the Fellow-feeling I bear him, to edit 
 another Edition of them myfelf, which fhall 
 be beautifully printed and contain Nothing 
 obnoxious. What fay you ? " 
 
 " That he will be eternally indebted to 
 you, generous Guarini ! " 
 
 " Nay," faid he good-naturedly, " now 
 you make me feel afhamed. I know not 
 that I could be as fympathizing with him in 
 Profperity as in Adveriity. But you may rely 
 on my doing my beft for his Safety as well as 
 his Reputation." — Which, indeed, he did. 
 
2 8o Of a Deathbed^ of a Prifon^ 
 
 Fra Panigarola was preaching in Ferrara 
 this Lent, with great Acceptance. The Duke 
 heard him as readily as King Herod heard 
 John the Baptif^ and ferved him nearly as 
 ill a Turn in the End. However, as yet he 
 was much run after; and 'TaJJo, hearing of 
 him through the Friends who now had 
 Accefs to him, fent him a moving Entreaty 
 that he would vifit him in Prifon, with 
 which he complied. The good Prieft came 
 to me afterwards, and told me that 'TaJJb 
 befought me to kifs Madama Leonoras 
 Hand for him, and tell her that he was 
 moft deeply grieved for her continued Illnefs, 
 which he had not lamented in Verfe from 
 a fecret Repugnance of his Genius to that 
 Way of commemorating and bewailing it ; 
 but that fhe might reft afTured he prayed 
 for her Day and Night, and that he had 
 fent her one or two of the moft cheerful 
 Compofitions he had been able to make, in 
 the Hope that they might wile away fome 
 heavy Hour. Thereupon, the good Father 
 took a Packet from his Bofom, containing 
 
<y of glorifying God. iSi 
 
 fome paftoral Verfes, and that charming Dia- 
 logue, " l^he Father of a Family." 
 
 I received them, but informed him that, 
 owing to Madama Leonoras declining State, 
 we never fpoke to her of 'Taffo at all, nor had 
 fhe once named him, nor was fhe aware of his 
 Confinement. He fhook his Head, and faid, 
 " So beft " — and I then begged to retain the 
 Compofitions for my own Perufal ; to which 
 he confented on Condition of my returning 
 them to him afterwards. 
 
 But I had no immediate Opportunity of 
 keeping my Promife ; for our dear Madama 
 very fuddenly grew much worfe, and the laft 
 Offices of Religion were performed for her. 
 I fhall never forget the Scene — the folemn 
 adminiftration of Extreme Undion, the chant- 
 ing of Pfalms, the waving of Incenfe, the 
 ringing of the paffing Bell, the Glare of waxen 
 Tapers; while the dying Princefs, with her 
 Hands meekly croiTed on her Breaft, looked 
 like fome beautiful monumental Effigy of the 
 pureft Alabafter. When the Duke and the 
 two DucheiTes had quitted her, and only her 
 
282 Of a Deathbed, of a Prifon, 
 
 perfonal Attendants remained about her, fhe 
 opened her Eyes from what had appeared a 
 death-Hke Stupor, and faid, " Put out the 
 Lights!" 
 
 There was a great Wax-candle burning at 
 the Foot of her Bed, as well as many Tapers 
 about the Room. Seeing we did not obey 
 her, flie foftly fmiled and faid, " Ah ! you 
 think I know not what I am faying ; but to 
 me the whole Chamber is fo full of fupernal 
 Light, that your waxen Tapers, in Comparifon 
 of it, are mere Darknefs." 
 
 Prefently after, fhe whifpered to Olimpia, 
 who was hanging over her, that fhe thought 
 fhe heard a great ruflling of Wings in the 
 Air, of Angels that were come to convoy her 
 releafed Spirit. Whether this were Delufion 
 or not, I cannot fay ; but fhe fhortly lapfed 
 into the mofl peaceful Sleep, which lafted the 
 better part of an Hour; and then, fuddenly 
 opening her Eyes with a bright, dazzled, 
 aflonifhed, delighted Look of Recognition 
 towards Something invifible to us, fhe clofed 
 them the next Inflant, and drew her lafl Sigh. 
 
Cff of glorifying God. 283 
 
 I can never choofe but weep when I think 
 of that Event ; and yet it was moft blefled — 
 
 Vattene in Pace^ Alma beata I 
 
 I fhall fay nothing of the pompous Obfe- 
 quies enfuing, the lying in State, the midnight 
 MafTes, and fo forth. Her blefled Spirit had 
 Nothing to do with them. Olimpia^ her 
 faithful Attendant, to whom Aurora and 
 Maddalena only played inferior Parts, broke 
 down completely after the Need for her 
 Exertions was over, and went to recruit 
 among her own Friends, A few Months 
 afterwards fhe married well ; her Hufband 
 being one of the Court Pages ; by name, 
 Vittorio Lett. 
 
 As for myfelf, after difpenfing certain pri- 
 vate Charities and KindnefTes in Accordance 
 with the Directions of Madama Leonora^ 
 whofe ConfefTor had likewife much Bounty 
 of hers to beftow, I prepared to indulge in a 
 thorough Change of Scene, by vifiting fome 
 of the Gambacorti in Rome. 
 
 But, firft, I obtained Accefs to my loved 
 
284 Of a Deathbed^ of a PrifoUy 
 
 Friend in Santa Anna, whom I had not, till 
 now, had Heart or Leifure to fee. I found 
 him alone, pale, wan, and in threadbare 
 Attire, but meek, patient, and felf-colle(5ted. 
 As foon as he faw me, however, he flung his 
 Arms about my Neck, and burft into a Flood 
 of Tears. I, remembering his former Excla- 
 mation, " Do Madmen weep ? " and foftened 
 by the recent Lofs we had mutually fuftained, 
 mingled my Tears with his. 
 
 " Tell me all about her," faid he, drying 
 his Eyes, and eagerly drawing me to a Chair. 
 So I did ; and went minutely into every 
 devout and pathetic Saying of hers that I 
 could call to Mind, to all which he liftened 
 with frequently recurring Burfts of Grief. 
 
 " I dare fay plenty of Elegies and Monodies 
 are being written on her," faid he, " but T, — 
 I cannot ! Grief cannot find Vent in Poetry, 
 in its firft Excefs, though it may when it has 
 fubfided into Sorrow. Did fhe leave me any 
 laft Mefilige? any Word of Kindnefs ?" 
 
 ^^ Strange to fay, fhe never mentioned you 
 after your laft peaceful, cheerful Interview. 
 
Cff of glorifying God. 285 
 
 Nor had fhe the Pahi of knowhig your 
 fad Fate ; but, one Day, when we were 
 alone together, fhe cut off this long Ring- 
 let, and gave it to me with a filent Smile, 
 and I conclude fhe meant me to give it 
 to you. It could not have been for me, 
 becaufe fhe had already given me fome Hair 
 In a Ring." 
 
 " It muft have been for me," faid he, taking 
 it eagerly and kiffing it. Then, murmuring, 
 " Volwptas folamenque malij' he put it into his 
 Bofom. 
 
 " They tell me," he prefently began, " that 
 my Jerufalem has been infamoufly pirated ; 
 but the News fell on a dulled Ear, juft after 
 learning that I fhould fee Leonora no more. 
 Perhaps I fhall feel it more, fhortly. Juft 
 now, it feems to me that all the Earth contains 
 is not worth an Egg. And, after all, Ser 
 Pantaleone^ what is Fame, what is Succefs ? 
 The Purfuit is the Thing ! I only wifh I had 
 been as faithful to my Vocation as it has been 
 to me ! Say, is it a mean Thing to have the 
 Power, in a Place like this, to people my 
 
286 Of a Deathbed^ of a Prifon, 
 
 otherv/ife horrible Solitude with Shapes and 
 Voices of Beauty and Grandeur ? * Me quoque 
 Mujarum I ' I have attained fuch a Power of 
 embodying what I conceive, that the Creatures 
 of my Imagination come and go at my Will 
 with every Semblance of Reality, and I can 
 converfe with Plato or Socrates as pleafantly as 
 I now converfe with you." 
 
 *^ You muft beware of carrying this too far, 
 though," faid I, " or your Imagination may 
 lead you to the Verge of an Abyfs. As long 
 as you fummou and difmifs your Phantoms at 
 your Will, they may ferve to beguile your 
 Solitude ; but, if they Ihould come to be 
 introduced without your own Volition, they 
 might turn your Brain." 
 
 " Perhaps they may do fo at laft," replied 
 he fadly, " but Meanwhile I take with Grati- 
 tude the Alleviations a kind Providence affords 
 to my hard Fate. After all, who knows 
 whether Alfonjo^ the worft of Men, may not 
 effedt the beft of Purpofes ? My Soul is 
 being ftrengthened and annealed under the 
 Blows of the Armourer's Hammer." 
 
&' of glorifying God. 287 
 
 " In that Cafe, my dear TaJ/b, you will have 
 Reafon to blefs your Captivity." 
 
 " I can't do that, yet ! " 
 
 And fo, after fome more friendly Talk, we 
 parted ; but not before he had told me fome 
 fuch beautiful yet wild Fancies, that I, a plain, 
 profy Fellow, could not help having fome 
 dreadful Forebodings of his going mad. 
 However, it was only owing to the high 
 Preffure of Solitude and Inadion on a vivid, 
 adlive Mind. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, I proceeded to Rome, 
 and thence, after fome Months, to Naples, 
 where I fojourned a While with my Friends 
 the Monks of Mount Olivet in their delicious 
 Retirement. It ftands on the north Side of 
 the City, on a precipitous Height crowned 
 with Pines, Firs, and CyprefTes, detached 
 from the World beyond by a deep but narrow 
 Ravine with a rapid Rivulet at the Bottom of 
 it — typifying, I think, the fpiritual Chafm 
 which feparates the Monks themfelves from 
 the World fo little removed from them that 
 they can fee and hear much of what pafTes in 
 
288 Of a Deathbed^ of a Prifon, 
 
 it. The rippling of the Rivulet, the Murmur 
 of the Sea, blend with the Convent Bells and 
 choral Services ; within the Walls is the Per- 
 fume of holy Incenfe, without them the 
 Fragrance of innumerable Flowers. More- 
 over, the good Monks (who have an incom- 
 parable Way of drefTmg Beccaficoes) poflefs 
 a rare Library and keep an excellent Table. 
 Their Soups, efpecially, are perfe6l. 
 
 While I was here, the Jerufalem came out. 
 It ran like Wildfire over Italy^ nay, over 
 Europe. Two thoufand Copies fold in two 
 Days. In fix Months it was reprinted {^y^xv 
 Times. The Author, meanwhile, fane and 
 innocent, known by all the World to be in a 
 Mad-houfe ! Such is Fame : fuch is Juflice : 
 fuch is Life ! 
 
 Our Monks of St. Olivet had early Copies, 
 I warrant you ! Oh yes, it was a religious 
 Subjeft ! All about Jerufalem and the Cru- 
 fades; a facred Allegory of the Hiflory and 
 Myflery of Man's Fall and Salvation — not a 
 Word about Love and Romance and Enchant- 
 ment, of Courfe. The Chriflian Army, 
 
£5? of glorifying God. 28 9 
 
 comprifing different Nations, typified Man, 
 compounded of various Faculties and Paffions. 
 Godfrey was the Underftanding ; Rinaldo^ 
 the Imagination ; Tancredj the Affedlions ; 
 Armida^ Luxury; Sophronia, Martyrdom; and 
 fo on to the End of the Chapter. I think 
 they liked the Story, though ! We ufed to 
 have many a Talk about it in the green 
 Alleys of the pleafant Garden, which, as far 
 as white and red Rofes, Myrtles and Jeffamines 
 went, could hardly have been outrivalled by 
 the Gardens of Armida. It was curious to 
 hear us praifing the fimple Diet of Erminia 
 and the Shepherds, while eating the beft of 
 Fifh and drinking the beft of Wine. 
 
 On returning to Rome^ I found my Uncle, 
 who was in his ninety-eighth Year, fick of a 
 Fever. There could be no Indelicacy in 
 fuppofing, at that Time of Life, that the Iffue 
 might be fatal. I tarried to await the Refult, 
 which was what I had prognofticated. He 
 left his Fortune, which was liberal, in equal 
 Shares, between my Coufin and me. Un- 
 fortunately, my Coufin wifiied to have the 
 u 
 
290 Of a 'Deathbed^ of a Prifon, 
 
 Whole of it ; and, as I wifhed to have my 
 Half, we went to Law. 
 
 This Lawfuit lafted a long While, and was 
 at Length decided in my Favour. On my 
 Uncle's Affairs being fettled, however, the 
 Refidue was extremely moderate. Before 
 the Bufinefs v/as finally arranged, it was 
 neceffary I fhould go to Mantua. 
 
 Meantime, a great and iimultaneous Effort 
 by the Princes of Europe had been made 
 for Tajpfs, Releafe, without Effe6t. The 
 Duke was keeping him in Charge only out of 
 Kindnefs ! Even the Duchefs Lucrezia was 
 now among the Literceffors, but all in vain. 
 So the Affair ftood over. 
 
 Then, after a While, it was ftirred up anew 
 by the Pope, the Duke of Tujcanyy and the 
 Duke of Mantua. At the Inftance of the 
 latter, Duke Alfonfo at length relented. The 
 Duke of Mantua was to be responfible for 
 his Harmleffnefs; he was never to ufe his Pen 
 againfl: the Houfe of Efie^ nor to fhow 
 himfelf again in Ferrara ; all which the 
 Duke of Mantua gladly engaged for. After 
 
^ of Z^^'^^fy^^^^ God. 291 
 
 fome vexatious Delays, the Releafe took 
 place, but Tajfo was not permitted to kifs the 
 Duke's Hand on his Departure ; which did 
 not break his Heart. 
 
 I was prefent the Evening he reached the 
 Duke of Mantua. I remember his dazzled 
 Look as he came into the lighted Saloon out 
 of the Dark. He pafTed on to his kind 
 Friend and Patron, who cordially embraced 
 him ; and cheerful, thankful Words were 
 fpoken. Afterwards, he came round the Circle, 
 and, to his Surprife, came to me. I believe 
 I was a good Deal lefs changed than he 
 was — he knew me diredlly. Certainly I had 
 alfo known him ; but his Hair, once fo 
 beautiful, was cut fhort, and had fome Threads 
 of Silver in it ; his laughing Eye was funk 
 and quenched ; Care fat on his thin Cheek. 
 But there was the old Smile ; the old Tone ! 
 
 '^ O, loved Friend ! " faid he, twining his 
 Arm in mine, and drawing me out into the 
 Balcony, " Life is ftill fweet. Liberty is 
 precious ! They have kept back my Books, 
 my Letters, my Manufcripts, every little 
 
292 Of a Deathbed^ of a Prifon, iSc. 
 
 Property belonging to me ; but I am free ! 
 And my Country rejoices in my Name. As 
 I came hither, I met a Shepherd finging 
 
 " Intanto Erminia infra Pombrofe Piante " — 
 
 as he led his Flock. — I heard a couple of 
 Travellers quoting Armida. — I faw a Girl at 
 an Inn flopping her Ears while fhe read the 
 Death of Clorinda. I am popular among 
 the People ! 
 
 " What are you doing here ? what are you 
 about to do ? " he prefently added. 
 
 " I am going to devote the fhort Remain- 
 der of my Life to God." 
 
 " So am I. — One by Contemplation ; one 
 by Aftion ; both, perhaps, by Suffering ! — 
 Anyhow, let us glorify God ! " 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 B. CLAY, PMXTER, BREAD STREET HILL. 
 
MorfeiS hv t^e ^amc ^utTjor. 
 
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WorJcs hy the Author of "Mart Powell" — continued. 
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 " The hero of the narrative is, in plain English, a Bitle hawker among 
 Roman Catholics chiefly; and his diificulties, ill-treatment, conversations, and 
 heneficial influence form the staple of the Book — his character is well drawn." 
 — English Churchman. 
 
 "The volume is one of no ordinary merit; for it throws intense interest 
 around common occurrences and common characters ; and presents, not only a 
 vivid series of pictures, but a well-sustained tale." — Church and State Gazette. 
 
 Recently published, in post Svo. cloth, price Is. Gd. 
 
 SOME ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. CLARINDA SINGLEHEART. 
 
 With Frontispiece. 
 
 " It may be said of all her works, that of their kind they are very good; and 
 this cannot fail to give pleasure to every reader capable of appreciating literary 
 merit, and it will commend itself for family reading, on account of the genial 
 tone of the morality which runs throughout." — Atlas. 
 
 " The gentle, affectionate, and cheerful temper of the heroine, and the whole 
 tone of the book, must have an influence for good upon any nader wlio is at all 
 open to such influence, and is willing to allow books of this kind a higlier office 
 than that of merely amusing them for a few hours." — Eniillsh Churchman. 
 
 "Above all, we notice a deep and pervading earnestness of religious feeling, 
 which tends to elevate the story above the range of mere fiction; and this is a 
 feature more especially which enables us to commend the book to the favourable 
 consideration of our readers." — Church and State Gazette. 
 
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