DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0176
152 BANDELLO’S CONDOLENCES
that by this time you will have had so many letters
of condolence on the death of your illustrious lord,
not only from all parts of Italy, but from the whole
of Europe, that you will be quite tired of reading
them, besides which every letter of this kind helps
to renew our grief and open our wounds afresh.
But, as your loyal servant, I am in duty bound, at
the risk of seeming indiscreet, to condole with you,
which I wTould do from my heart were I writing to a
lady who shared the weakness common to ordinary
women. But when I remember that Your High-
ness, besides being blest with all the excellent gifts
and virtues which render her supreme among women,
is so rarely endowed by nature that she can find
better medicine for this sorrow than a thousand
letters can prescribe, I feel I need say no more.
Enough that Your Highness knows that I am her
servant, and grieve over her sorrows as every faith-
ful servant must grieve for the losses which befall
his master. And I cannot fail to add that your
sorrow must be diminished by the great expectation
that we all entertain of the present illustrious Mar-
quis, your son. For we all hope that he, being what
he is, and always has been, and being also governed
by Your Highness, must prove worthy of the blood
which flows in his veins. May God long preserve
Your Highness in health and happiness.—Of Your
Illustrious Excellency the most obedient servant,
Fra Matteo Bandello.” 1
The clever friar succeeded in retaining the favour
of the new Marquis, who rendered him important
services at Rome in days to come. And when many
years afterwards, in the house of his patron, Fregoso,
1 Luzio e Renier, Giorn. St. d. Lett., v. 34.
that by this time you will have had so many letters
of condolence on the death of your illustrious lord,
not only from all parts of Italy, but from the whole
of Europe, that you will be quite tired of reading
them, besides which every letter of this kind helps
to renew our grief and open our wounds afresh.
But, as your loyal servant, I am in duty bound, at
the risk of seeming indiscreet, to condole with you,
which I wTould do from my heart were I writing to a
lady who shared the weakness common to ordinary
women. But when I remember that Your High-
ness, besides being blest with all the excellent gifts
and virtues which render her supreme among women,
is so rarely endowed by nature that she can find
better medicine for this sorrow than a thousand
letters can prescribe, I feel I need say no more.
Enough that Your Highness knows that I am her
servant, and grieve over her sorrows as every faith-
ful servant must grieve for the losses which befall
his master. And I cannot fail to add that your
sorrow must be diminished by the great expectation
that we all entertain of the present illustrious Mar-
quis, your son. For we all hope that he, being what
he is, and always has been, and being also governed
by Your Highness, must prove worthy of the blood
which flows in his veins. May God long preserve
Your Highness in health and happiness.—Of Your
Illustrious Excellency the most obedient servant,
Fra Matteo Bandello.” 1
The clever friar succeeded in retaining the favour
of the new Marquis, who rendered him important
services at Rome in days to come. And when many
years afterwards, in the house of his patron, Fregoso,
1 Luzio e Renier, Giorn. St. d. Lett., v. 34.