DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0093
THE COURT OF MILAN
63
the enthusiastic welcome given her by the people of
Milan and Pavia. Political events also occupy a
prominent place in her correspondence at this time.
Alexander Borgia had just been elected Pope in
great measure owing to the powerful support of
Lodovico’s brother, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, and
Isabella faithfully reports the latest news from Rome
and the satisfaction of the Moro at the elevation of
this Pontiff, who was to become ere long his most
bitter enemy. But, in the midst of all these pleasures
and distractions, Isabella often sighed for her hus-
band’s presence. “ I will not deny,” she wrote
affectionately to him, “that I am enjoying the
greatest pleasures; but, when I think how far off I
am from Your Excellency, I feel they are not half as
delightful as they would be if you were here.” The
Marquis, however, was engaged in attending the
public races at Brescia, Siena, Lucca, and other
cities, and gladly gave his wife leave to visit Genoa
before her return home. New and warmer clothes
were necessary for this expedition now the summer
was over, and Isabella wrote to her chamberlain,
Alberto da Bologna, desiring him to have a new
grey satin camora, with black velvet sleeves, made
for her without delay.1 Some misunderstanding,
however, arose on the subject, for a week after-
wards Isabella wrote again, this time in very im-
perious fashion, telling Alberto that he must have
lost, not only his memory, but his brain and
eyesight by the fall of which he complained, and
repeating her orders with greater minuteness than
before. But no sooner had she sent this letter than
she repented of her hasty temper, and with her usual
1 Luzio e Renier, Nuova Antologia, 1896, p. 451.
63
the enthusiastic welcome given her by the people of
Milan and Pavia. Political events also occupy a
prominent place in her correspondence at this time.
Alexander Borgia had just been elected Pope in
great measure owing to the powerful support of
Lodovico’s brother, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, and
Isabella faithfully reports the latest news from Rome
and the satisfaction of the Moro at the elevation of
this Pontiff, who was to become ere long his most
bitter enemy. But, in the midst of all these pleasures
and distractions, Isabella often sighed for her hus-
band’s presence. “ I will not deny,” she wrote
affectionately to him, “that I am enjoying the
greatest pleasures; but, when I think how far off I
am from Your Excellency, I feel they are not half as
delightful as they would be if you were here.” The
Marquis, however, was engaged in attending the
public races at Brescia, Siena, Lucca, and other
cities, and gladly gave his wife leave to visit Genoa
before her return home. New and warmer clothes
were necessary for this expedition now the summer
was over, and Isabella wrote to her chamberlain,
Alberto da Bologna, desiring him to have a new
grey satin camora, with black velvet sleeves, made
for her without delay.1 Some misunderstanding,
however, arose on the subject, for a week after-
wards Isabella wrote again, this time in very im-
perious fashion, telling Alberto that he must have
lost, not only his memory, but his brain and
eyesight by the fall of which he complained, and
repeating her orders with greater minuteness than
before. But no sooner had she sent this letter than
she repented of her hasty temper, and with her usual
1 Luzio e Renier, Nuova Antologia, 1896, p. 451.