DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0214
174
MONUMENT TO VIRGII
band’s secretary, Jacopo d’Atri, wrote to her from
Naples, shows the enthusiasm which her intention
excited among classical scholars.
“ Most illustrious and excellent Madonna,—Your
Excellency has doubtless heard of the great merits
and talents of Pontanus,1 of whom we may truly say
that not only in our own time, but since the days of
Virgil, there has never been a man of greater learning
or more real merit. Yesterday, after having a long
conversation with him in the name of your illustrious
lord, I remembered Your Highness’s desire to raise
a statue to Virgil, and thought I would consult him
on the subject and hear his advice. I told him
I did this by your order, and explained the object
which animated Your Highness and inspired your
magnanimous soul with the wish to carry out this
idea. As soon as Pontanus heard this, he called two
learned gentlemen and said to them: ‘ If Paolo
Vergerio, who wrote De Educando Liberis, were
present, the pleasure that he would have in recog-
nising the generous soul of this illustrious Madonna
would exceed the sadness which he felt on hearing
that Carlo Malatesta had thrown the statue of Virgil
into the river.’ Then, laying stress on these words, he
added: ‘ Only consider, gentlemen, the magnanimity
of this lady of tender years and without classical
learning, who determines to revive the fame of this
great man, and to render honour and glory to
Mantua, where the same lord, Carlo, a man of ex-
1 Pontanus, to whom he here alludes, was not only an elegant
Latin poet, whose verses were afterwards published by Aldus,
but held high office under King Alfonso of Naples and his son
Ferrante, and enjoyed the confidence of the reigning monarch,
Federico.
MONUMENT TO VIRGII
band’s secretary, Jacopo d’Atri, wrote to her from
Naples, shows the enthusiasm which her intention
excited among classical scholars.
“ Most illustrious and excellent Madonna,—Your
Excellency has doubtless heard of the great merits
and talents of Pontanus,1 of whom we may truly say
that not only in our own time, but since the days of
Virgil, there has never been a man of greater learning
or more real merit. Yesterday, after having a long
conversation with him in the name of your illustrious
lord, I remembered Your Highness’s desire to raise
a statue to Virgil, and thought I would consult him
on the subject and hear his advice. I told him
I did this by your order, and explained the object
which animated Your Highness and inspired your
magnanimous soul with the wish to carry out this
idea. As soon as Pontanus heard this, he called two
learned gentlemen and said to them: ‘ If Paolo
Vergerio, who wrote De Educando Liberis, were
present, the pleasure that he would have in recog-
nising the generous soul of this illustrious Madonna
would exceed the sadness which he felt on hearing
that Carlo Malatesta had thrown the statue of Virgil
into the river.’ Then, laying stress on these words, he
added: ‘ Only consider, gentlemen, the magnanimity
of this lady of tender years and without classical
learning, who determines to revive the fame of this
great man, and to render honour and glory to
Mantua, where the same lord, Carlo, a man of ex-
1 Pontanus, to whom he here alludes, was not only an elegant
Latin poet, whose verses were afterwards published by Aldus,
but held high office under King Alfonso of Naples and his son
Ferrante, and enjoyed the confidence of the reigning monarch,
Federico.