DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0160
138
THEY VISIT THE GROTTA
of the Marquis, which is worthy to be compared with
the Halls of the Council of Ten, and a cabinet
containing jewels and plate of priceless value, and
the Grotta in which the Marchesa has collected an
infinite number of rare and beautiful things.” Un-
fortunately Isabella herself was suffering from an
attack of fever and could not receive her guests,
but sent orders that they should be courteously
entertained and shown all her treasures. Finally,
the Venetians were taken to see the stables on the
Piazza of the Te, outside the walls, and admired
150 splendid chargers belonging to Francesco’s famous
breed of Barbary horses. Then another supper of
choicest viands and sweetmeats was set before the
tired travellers, after which Marchetto sang certain
songs to the lute “ so admirably that you could desire
nothing better.”1
In the following March, Isabella received a visit
from her old friend Trissino, who stopped at Mantua
on his way back from a papal mission to Innsbruck,
to repay a loan of 400 ducats which the Marchesa
had generously advanced some months before. In
return for this timely help, the papal nuncio gave
the Marchesa valuable information of a secret agree-
ment which had been made between Pope Leo and
the Emperor Maximilian. Isabella wrote without
delay to warn her brother Alfonso to be prepared
for all emergencies, since this treaty between the
Pope and Caesar might be fraught with the gravest
peril to his state and person.2
A few weeks later, the Marchesa received another
guest in the person of the Milanese sculptor Cristoforo
1 M. Sanuto, Diarii, xxi. 280-282.
2 B. Morsolin, G. G. Trissino.
THEY VISIT THE GROTTA
of the Marquis, which is worthy to be compared with
the Halls of the Council of Ten, and a cabinet
containing jewels and plate of priceless value, and
the Grotta in which the Marchesa has collected an
infinite number of rare and beautiful things.” Un-
fortunately Isabella herself was suffering from an
attack of fever and could not receive her guests,
but sent orders that they should be courteously
entertained and shown all her treasures. Finally,
the Venetians were taken to see the stables on the
Piazza of the Te, outside the walls, and admired
150 splendid chargers belonging to Francesco’s famous
breed of Barbary horses. Then another supper of
choicest viands and sweetmeats was set before the
tired travellers, after which Marchetto sang certain
songs to the lute “ so admirably that you could desire
nothing better.”1
In the following March, Isabella received a visit
from her old friend Trissino, who stopped at Mantua
on his way back from a papal mission to Innsbruck,
to repay a loan of 400 ducats which the Marchesa
had generously advanced some months before. In
return for this timely help, the papal nuncio gave
the Marchesa valuable information of a secret agree-
ment which had been made between Pope Leo and
the Emperor Maximilian. Isabella wrote without
delay to warn her brother Alfonso to be prepared
for all emergencies, since this treaty between the
Pope and Caesar might be fraught with the gravest
peril to his state and person.2
A few weeks later, the Marchesa received another
guest in the person of the Milanese sculptor Cristoforo
1 M. Sanuto, Diarii, xxi. 280-282.
2 B. Morsolin, G. G. Trissino.