DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0313
VISITS MANTUA
273
to try and induce his friend Giovanni Bellini to
paint a similar fantasia for the Marchesa’s camerino.
He saw Isabella’s rare books and manuscripts, the
dainty Aldine editions of Virgil and Petrarch, in the
production of which he had helped the great Venetian
printer ; Messer Lorenzo’s wonderful organ and viols
and ebony and ivory lutes, and all the rich stores
of antique cameos and medals which were Isabella’s
proudest possession. Isabella herself, as she wrote to
tell Bembo’s friend Tebaldeo, was delighted to see
how much her illustrious guest appreciated all her
treasures, and charmed him by singing some of his own
songs to the music of her lute. After his departure
Bembo sent her the following letter, beginning, after
his usual custom, with the words Jesus Christus:—
“ I send Your Excellency, my dear Madonna and
most honoured mistress, ten sonnets and two some-
what irregular tramotti, not because they are worthy
to come into your hands, but because I wish that
some of these verses may be recited and sung by Your
Signory, remembering with what surpassing charm
and sweetness yowvz/ang the others, on that happy
evening which we spent together, and knowing that
my poor compositions can never attain to greater
honour. Most of the sonnets and both the tramotti
are quite new, and have not yet been seen by any one.
I must confess that they will not, I fear, answer Your
Signory’s expectations, any more than they satisfy my
wishes. But I know that, if they are sung by Your
Signory, they will be most fortunate, and nothing
will be needed to delight the listeners except the
beautiful and charming hand and the pure, sweet
voice of Your Most Illustrious Highness, to whose
good grace I never cease to commend myself. Your
vol. i. s
273
to try and induce his friend Giovanni Bellini to
paint a similar fantasia for the Marchesa’s camerino.
He saw Isabella’s rare books and manuscripts, the
dainty Aldine editions of Virgil and Petrarch, in the
production of which he had helped the great Venetian
printer ; Messer Lorenzo’s wonderful organ and viols
and ebony and ivory lutes, and all the rich stores
of antique cameos and medals which were Isabella’s
proudest possession. Isabella herself, as she wrote to
tell Bembo’s friend Tebaldeo, was delighted to see
how much her illustrious guest appreciated all her
treasures, and charmed him by singing some of his own
songs to the music of her lute. After his departure
Bembo sent her the following letter, beginning, after
his usual custom, with the words Jesus Christus:—
“ I send Your Excellency, my dear Madonna and
most honoured mistress, ten sonnets and two some-
what irregular tramotti, not because they are worthy
to come into your hands, but because I wish that
some of these verses may be recited and sung by Your
Signory, remembering with what surpassing charm
and sweetness yowvz/ang the others, on that happy
evening which we spent together, and knowing that
my poor compositions can never attain to greater
honour. Most of the sonnets and both the tramotti
are quite new, and have not yet been seen by any one.
I must confess that they will not, I fear, answer Your
Signory’s expectations, any more than they satisfy my
wishes. But I know that, if they are sung by Your
Signory, they will be most fortunate, and nothing
will be needed to delight the listeners except the
beautiful and charming hand and the pure, sweet
voice of Your Most Illustrious Highness, to whose
good grace I never cease to commend myself. Your
vol. i. s