DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0226
186
BIRTH OF LIVIA
construction of the new theatre and of its splendid
and elaborate decorations, while the presence of the
French visitors, whom the Gonzagas were especially
anxious to conciliate, showed that the event was not
without political significance.
That autumn Isabella gave birth to a third
daughter, who received the name of Livia, but
died at the age of six. Neither this child nor
Leonora, who was already seven years old, appears
to have interested her mother much, and she seldom
mentions their names in her letters. She was, how-
ever, careful to give them an excellent education,
and first Sigismondo Golfo, then Francesco Vigilio,
taught Leonora Latin and grammar. The Marchesa
chose these teachers herself, and would allow no
carelessness or irregularity. On one occasion, when
Golfo absented himself for some weeks, she sent
him an order to return at once, if he did not wish
to lose his situation. But all her fondest hopes
centred round her little son, Federico. She watched
the growth of this precious infant with the ten-
derest affection, and when the Marquis was absent
from Mantua sent him daily reports of his little
son. “I am quite well,” she writes on the 3rd of
July 1501, “and so is our beautiful boy, who is
always asking for his Pa.” Again, on the 7th of
August, the proud mother writes: “ To-day our
little boy began to walk, and took four steps
without any help ; although, of course, he was care-
fully watched, much to our delight and his own.
His steps were a little uncertain, and he looked
rather like a tipsy man! When I asked him after-
wards if he had any message to send his father, he
BIRTH OF LIVIA
construction of the new theatre and of its splendid
and elaborate decorations, while the presence of the
French visitors, whom the Gonzagas were especially
anxious to conciliate, showed that the event was not
without political significance.
That autumn Isabella gave birth to a third
daughter, who received the name of Livia, but
died at the age of six. Neither this child nor
Leonora, who was already seven years old, appears
to have interested her mother much, and she seldom
mentions their names in her letters. She was, how-
ever, careful to give them an excellent education,
and first Sigismondo Golfo, then Francesco Vigilio,
taught Leonora Latin and grammar. The Marchesa
chose these teachers herself, and would allow no
carelessness or irregularity. On one occasion, when
Golfo absented himself for some weeks, she sent
him an order to return at once, if he did not wish
to lose his situation. But all her fondest hopes
centred round her little son, Federico. She watched
the growth of this precious infant with the ten-
derest affection, and when the Marquis was absent
from Mantua sent him daily reports of his little
son. “I am quite well,” she writes on the 3rd of
July 1501, “and so is our beautiful boy, who is
always asking for his Pa.” Again, on the 7th of
August, the proud mother writes: “ To-day our
little boy began to walk, and took four steps
without any help ; although, of course, he was care-
fully watched, much to our delight and his own.
His steps were a little uncertain, and he looked
rather like a tipsy man! When I asked him after-
wards if he had any message to send his father, he