DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0264
236 CASTIGLIONE SENT TO SPAIN
himself back at Mantua, enjoying the cool breezes
and delicious shades of the Marchesa’s beautiful
villa of Porto.
“ Signora mia illustrissima” he wrote on the 20th of
July 1524, “I accept any penance which Your High-
ness sees fit to lay upon me for my neglect in writing,
with the humility of a good penitent. Here the heat
and the great abundance of excellent melons we have
enjoyed during the last month do not agree with me
at all, and might do me real harm if it were not for
the good medicines recommended by Your Excel-
lency. I hope to come and kiss your gracious hands,
if not during these great heats, at least when they
are a little abated, and we may still be able to dine
in your beautiful loggia, for among all the fair places
in Rome, I know of none which can compare with
that!”1
Isabella hastened to assure her friend how eagerly
he was expected in her loggia, where his presence
would be all the more welcome after the fine
praises which he had bestowed upon it. But neither
during that summer, nor any other, was the Marchesa
to enjoy the company of her most brilliant courtier
in the lovely gardens of Porto. For on the same
day that the Count was sighing to be once more
at home, Pope Clement addressed a letter to the
Marquis, begging that he might be allowed to send
his good servant, the Magnifico Baldassarre Cas-
tiglione, on an important mission to His Caesarean
Majesty at Madrid.2 Neither Federico nor the Count
could refuse this flattering request, and Isabella was
the more inclined to gratify the Pope’s wish, because
1 Luzio e Renier, Mantova e Urbino, p. 255.
2 Esenzioni, p. 32 ; Serassi, Lettere di Negozi, i. 133.
himself back at Mantua, enjoying the cool breezes
and delicious shades of the Marchesa’s beautiful
villa of Porto.
“ Signora mia illustrissima” he wrote on the 20th of
July 1524, “I accept any penance which Your High-
ness sees fit to lay upon me for my neglect in writing,
with the humility of a good penitent. Here the heat
and the great abundance of excellent melons we have
enjoyed during the last month do not agree with me
at all, and might do me real harm if it were not for
the good medicines recommended by Your Excel-
lency. I hope to come and kiss your gracious hands,
if not during these great heats, at least when they
are a little abated, and we may still be able to dine
in your beautiful loggia, for among all the fair places
in Rome, I know of none which can compare with
that!”1
Isabella hastened to assure her friend how eagerly
he was expected in her loggia, where his presence
would be all the more welcome after the fine
praises which he had bestowed upon it. But neither
during that summer, nor any other, was the Marchesa
to enjoy the company of her most brilliant courtier
in the lovely gardens of Porto. For on the same
day that the Count was sighing to be once more
at home, Pope Clement addressed a letter to the
Marquis, begging that he might be allowed to send
his good servant, the Magnifico Baldassarre Cas-
tiglione, on an important mission to His Caesarean
Majesty at Madrid.2 Neither Federico nor the Count
could refuse this flattering request, and Isabella was
the more inclined to gratify the Pope’s wish, because
1 Luzio e Renier, Mantova e Urbino, p. 255.
2 Esenzioni, p. 32 ; Serassi, Lettere di Negozi, i. 133.