DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0243
HIS TUTORS
215
on M. Pietro, and was introduced to the beadle and
lecturers of the university. The following morning
he went on foot to pay his respects to the governor,
who took him to mass at S. Salvadore, and on his
return found a deputation from the citizens awaiting
him with a splendid gift of confetti, wax candles,
game, corn, and salt meat, as well as a calf and some
pheasants and partridges, which M. Pietro himself
had sent the young prince. “I cannot tell Your
Excellency,” wrote Vincenzo de’ Preti, the Mantuan
tutor, who had accompanied Ercole to Bologna, “ what
numbers of trumpeters and pifferari surround the
house, or how many visits my lord has received
to-day from the Rector of the College and other
gentlemen and scholars. Not only the halls, but
the loggia and courtyard were crowded with visitors
all day. It was only towards evening that Ercole
was able to escape from his callers and ride out to
visit the Church of S. Michele in Bosco on the hill-
side, and which seemed to him a most pleasant and
delightful place.” Meanwhile, Archdeacon Gabbio-
neta had, by Isabella’s desire, consulted Pomponazzi
as to the choice of a tutor for her son, and Vincenzo
informed her that he strongly recommended M.
Lazzaro Buonamici of Bassano, an able and learned
teacher who was acquainted with Castiglione and
Mario Equicola. But the honest servant was con-
siderably perturbed to find that this tutor’s fee would
be 170 ducats—that is to say, 20 ducats more than
the Marchesa wished to give. Isabella, however,
knew better than to haggle over prices in this case,
and wrote back promptly, saying: “ As to your
arrangement with Messer Lazzaro, it seems to me
that so excellent a man, and one who will help our
215
on M. Pietro, and was introduced to the beadle and
lecturers of the university. The following morning
he went on foot to pay his respects to the governor,
who took him to mass at S. Salvadore, and on his
return found a deputation from the citizens awaiting
him with a splendid gift of confetti, wax candles,
game, corn, and salt meat, as well as a calf and some
pheasants and partridges, which M. Pietro himself
had sent the young prince. “I cannot tell Your
Excellency,” wrote Vincenzo de’ Preti, the Mantuan
tutor, who had accompanied Ercole to Bologna, “ what
numbers of trumpeters and pifferari surround the
house, or how many visits my lord has received
to-day from the Rector of the College and other
gentlemen and scholars. Not only the halls, but
the loggia and courtyard were crowded with visitors
all day. It was only towards evening that Ercole
was able to escape from his callers and ride out to
visit the Church of S. Michele in Bosco on the hill-
side, and which seemed to him a most pleasant and
delightful place.” Meanwhile, Archdeacon Gabbio-
neta had, by Isabella’s desire, consulted Pomponazzi
as to the choice of a tutor for her son, and Vincenzo
informed her that he strongly recommended M.
Lazzaro Buonamici of Bassano, an able and learned
teacher who was acquainted with Castiglione and
Mario Equicola. But the honest servant was con-
siderably perturbed to find that this tutor’s fee would
be 170 ducats—that is to say, 20 ducats more than
the Marchesa wished to give. Isabella, however,
knew better than to haggle over prices in this case,
and wrote back promptly, saying: “ As to your
arrangement with Messer Lazzaro, it seems to me
that so excellent a man, and one who will help our