DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0431
ISABELLA GIVES it AWAY 887
‘ Juno—Thine, O Queen, it is to command; mine
it is to see that thy command is obeyed.’ Farewell,
therefore, and love me and my children from your
heart.—Your devoted sister, Lucretia Estensis de
Bentivolis.” 1
Isabella recognised the truth of Francia’s words,
and contented herself with sending him 30 ducats
in the following March, with renewed thanks for
his admirable portrait, and many excuses for the
delays caused by the war that was desolating North
Italy.
The strangest part of the tale yet remains to
be told. According to documents lately published
by Dr. Luzio from the Gonzaga archives,2 Francia’s
portrait was given away by the Marchesa that winter
to a Ferrarese courtier named Zaninello. This
gentleman had lately presented her with the original
MS. of Pistoja’s Rime, superbly bound and richly
illuminated, with a dedication to herself. This was
one of those gifts on which Isabella laid especial
store, and the volume of the dead poet’s works found
a place among her choicest treasures. In 1531, the
Ferrarese poet Berni asked her permission to borrow
the book; on another occasion Alessandro Benti-
voglio, to whom Isabella lent it, returned the volume
adorned with a set of finely worked clasps. The
Marchesa replied, half in jest, half in earnest: “ It
was really not necessary for Your Highness to
have had these handsome clasps made for my book
of Pistoia’s poems, so as to play the part of a good
tenant! I did not ask you to pay rent, but lent it to
you solely for your pleasure, as I would lend you
1 Luzio in Emporium, 1900, p. 429-
2 Op. cit.
‘ Juno—Thine, O Queen, it is to command; mine
it is to see that thy command is obeyed.’ Farewell,
therefore, and love me and my children from your
heart.—Your devoted sister, Lucretia Estensis de
Bentivolis.” 1
Isabella recognised the truth of Francia’s words,
and contented herself with sending him 30 ducats
in the following March, with renewed thanks for
his admirable portrait, and many excuses for the
delays caused by the war that was desolating North
Italy.
The strangest part of the tale yet remains to
be told. According to documents lately published
by Dr. Luzio from the Gonzaga archives,2 Francia’s
portrait was given away by the Marchesa that winter
to a Ferrarese courtier named Zaninello. This
gentleman had lately presented her with the original
MS. of Pistoja’s Rime, superbly bound and richly
illuminated, with a dedication to herself. This was
one of those gifts on which Isabella laid especial
store, and the volume of the dead poet’s works found
a place among her choicest treasures. In 1531, the
Ferrarese poet Berni asked her permission to borrow
the book; on another occasion Alessandro Benti-
voglio, to whom Isabella lent it, returned the volume
adorned with a set of finely worked clasps. The
Marchesa replied, half in jest, half in earnest: “ It
was really not necessary for Your Highness to
have had these handsome clasps made for my book
of Pistoia’s poems, so as to play the part of a good
tenant! I did not ask you to pay rent, but lent it to
you solely for your pleasure, as I would lend you
1 Luzio in Emporium, 1900, p. 429-
2 Op. cit.