DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0108
86 LETTER TO THE MARQUIS
without incurring your displeasure, I might be at
liberty to put off my return a fortnight, for the
reasons which I have already explained. Do not be
angry with me, and say that you do not believe I
wish to see you, as I have said in my letters, for if
my desire in this respect were satisfied, you would let
me see you much more often than I do in Mantua.
I commend myself once more to Your Excellency,
and beg your pardon for writing so long a letter.
From one who loves you as well as herself.—Isabella,
Marches a di M antova.” In Piacenza, the 12th
day of March, 1513.
This letter not only reveals the innate nobleness
and loyalty of Isabella’s nature, and confirms our esti-
mate of her fine character, but also throws light on the
painful circumstances of her private life during the
long and trying years of her husband’s illness. The
unhappy man, suffering as he was from incurable
disease, and condemned to a life of enforced idleness,
sank into a querulous and fretful invalid, who
quarrelled with his servants and friends, worried his
wife incessantly over trifles, and complained bitterly
whenever she was absent. The patience with which
Isabella bore his caprices, the faithfulness with which
she carried out his wishes, and her affectionate solici-
tude for his health and anxious endeavours to amuse
and distract him, are evident from the almost daily
letters which she addressed to him during her journeys.
On this occasion, it must be admitted, the behaviour
of Brognina had given just cause for scandal; and
although at Milan the Marchesa might think it pru-
dent to shut her eyes to her maid of honour’s flirtations
with personages as exalted as Raimondo de Cardona
and Cardinal Gurk, she herself felt that it was no
without incurring your displeasure, I might be at
liberty to put off my return a fortnight, for the
reasons which I have already explained. Do not be
angry with me, and say that you do not believe I
wish to see you, as I have said in my letters, for if
my desire in this respect were satisfied, you would let
me see you much more often than I do in Mantua.
I commend myself once more to Your Excellency,
and beg your pardon for writing so long a letter.
From one who loves you as well as herself.—Isabella,
Marches a di M antova.” In Piacenza, the 12th
day of March, 1513.
This letter not only reveals the innate nobleness
and loyalty of Isabella’s nature, and confirms our esti-
mate of her fine character, but also throws light on the
painful circumstances of her private life during the
long and trying years of her husband’s illness. The
unhappy man, suffering as he was from incurable
disease, and condemned to a life of enforced idleness,
sank into a querulous and fretful invalid, who
quarrelled with his servants and friends, worried his
wife incessantly over trifles, and complained bitterly
whenever she was absent. The patience with which
Isabella bore his caprices, the faithfulness with which
she carried out his wishes, and her affectionate solici-
tude for his health and anxious endeavours to amuse
and distract him, are evident from the almost daily
letters which she addressed to him during her journeys.
On this occasion, it must be admitted, the behaviour
of Brognina had given just cause for scandal; and
although at Milan the Marchesa might think it pru-
dent to shut her eyes to her maid of honour’s flirtations
with personages as exalted as Raimondo de Cardona
and Cardinal Gurk, she herself felt that it was no