DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0250
210
COMEDIES AND JOUSTS
her head, danced French country dances with great
charm and spirit. After this came a performance of
the “ Miles gloriosus,” ending with a true mummers’
dance of the rudest description, in which shepherds,
wearing rams’ heads, fought and butted each other
with their horns to the infinite amusement of the
spectators.
On Monday a new diversion was provided for
the guests, in the form of a single combat which
took place on the Piazza in front of the ducal palace,
between Vincenzo da Imola, a soldier in the Marquis
of Mantua’s service, and a Bolognese gentleman of
Annibale Bentivoglio’s suite. After a desperate en-
counter with lances and clubs, Vincenzo succeeded
in unhorsing his adversary, and would have slain him
if the Duke had not divided the combatants. “ Vin-
cenzo remained on horseback,” writes Isabella, “ and
rode round the enclosure amidst infinite shouting, all
the people crying Turco ! while the poor Bolognese
showed his broken staff! So we bore off the palm.”
In the evening the “Asinaria ” was performed with
a marvellous interlude of satyrs, who danced to the
tune of a musical clock, and chased wild beasts and
birds over the stage. Then a Mantuan musician played
three lutes at once, and the whole performance ended
with a ballet of the harvest, in which the different
operations of digging, ploughing, sowing, reaping and
thrashing the corn were represented to the rustic
music of bagpipes. Isabella appeared in a gown of
crimson velvet, striped with gold bands, and a tiara of
immense diamonds on her head, while the bride wore
a robe of woven gold, and a long chain of priceless
gems round her neck.
On Shrove-Tuesday, which was the last day of
COMEDIES AND JOUSTS
her head, danced French country dances with great
charm and spirit. After this came a performance of
the “ Miles gloriosus,” ending with a true mummers’
dance of the rudest description, in which shepherds,
wearing rams’ heads, fought and butted each other
with their horns to the infinite amusement of the
spectators.
On Monday a new diversion was provided for
the guests, in the form of a single combat which
took place on the Piazza in front of the ducal palace,
between Vincenzo da Imola, a soldier in the Marquis
of Mantua’s service, and a Bolognese gentleman of
Annibale Bentivoglio’s suite. After a desperate en-
counter with lances and clubs, Vincenzo succeeded
in unhorsing his adversary, and would have slain him
if the Duke had not divided the combatants. “ Vin-
cenzo remained on horseback,” writes Isabella, “ and
rode round the enclosure amidst infinite shouting, all
the people crying Turco ! while the poor Bolognese
showed his broken staff! So we bore off the palm.”
In the evening the “Asinaria ” was performed with
a marvellous interlude of satyrs, who danced to the
tune of a musical clock, and chased wild beasts and
birds over the stage. Then a Mantuan musician played
three lutes at once, and the whole performance ended
with a ballet of the harvest, in which the different
operations of digging, ploughing, sowing, reaping and
thrashing the corn were represented to the rustic
music of bagpipes. Isabella appeared in a gown of
crimson velvet, striped with gold bands, and a tiara of
immense diamonds on her head, while the bride wore
a robe of woven gold, and a long chain of priceless
gems round her neck.
On Shrove-Tuesday, which was the last day of