DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0075
ELISABETTA’S ILL-HEALTH
45
by all my own family.” But in August she had the
joy of seeing Francesco, who paid his sister a flying
visit, and showed his affection for her by frequent
presents of fish, fruit, and game, as well as antiques
and horses for his brother-in-law’s acceptance. In
1489, the young Marquis was appointed captain-
general of the Venetian armies, a post which he held
with distinction during the next nine years, and
which occupied his time fully. A few months later,
in October, Elisabetta and her husband were present
at her sister Maddalena’s marriage to Giovanni
Sforza at Pesaro. But her health, which was never
strong, gave way under the strain of these prolonged
festivities, and she fell seriously ill in November.
“ We found Madonna, your sister,” wrote Fran-
cesco’s secretary Capilupo, who accompanied the
Mantuan doctor sent by the Marquis to Urbino,
“ looking very thin and pale, with none of the bright
and healthy colour that she used to have in her
cheeks. ... It is true there is a grace and gentleness
about her which is that of a creature angelic rather
than human, and although she will not allow us to
say she is thin, and keeps up bravely, her limbs betray
her weakness. She is up and dressed all day, but
confesses that she is obliged to sit down when she
has walked once or twice across the room.”1 The air
of Urbino was pronounced to be too keen for the
delicate young Duchess in winter, and as soon as she
was fit to travel she came to Mantua for change, and
remained there for her brother’s wedding. She it
was, we have already seen,, who greeted the youthful
bride on the threshold of the Castello di Corte, and
whose gentle face and winning smile was the first
1 Luzio e Renier, Mantova e Urbino, p. 50.
45
by all my own family.” But in August she had the
joy of seeing Francesco, who paid his sister a flying
visit, and showed his affection for her by frequent
presents of fish, fruit, and game, as well as antiques
and horses for his brother-in-law’s acceptance. In
1489, the young Marquis was appointed captain-
general of the Venetian armies, a post which he held
with distinction during the next nine years, and
which occupied his time fully. A few months later,
in October, Elisabetta and her husband were present
at her sister Maddalena’s marriage to Giovanni
Sforza at Pesaro. But her health, which was never
strong, gave way under the strain of these prolonged
festivities, and she fell seriously ill in November.
“ We found Madonna, your sister,” wrote Fran-
cesco’s secretary Capilupo, who accompanied the
Mantuan doctor sent by the Marquis to Urbino,
“ looking very thin and pale, with none of the bright
and healthy colour that she used to have in her
cheeks. ... It is true there is a grace and gentleness
about her which is that of a creature angelic rather
than human, and although she will not allow us to
say she is thin, and keeps up bravely, her limbs betray
her weakness. She is up and dressed all day, but
confesses that she is obliged to sit down when she
has walked once or twice across the room.”1 The air
of Urbino was pronounced to be too keen for the
delicate young Duchess in winter, and as soon as she
was fit to travel she came to Mantua for change, and
remained there for her brother’s wedding. She it
was, we have already seen,, who greeted the youthful
bride on the threshold of the Castello di Corte, and
whose gentle face and winning smile was the first
1 Luzio e Renier, Mantova e Urbino, p. 50.