DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0309
DEATH OF EMILIA PIA
279
in his mother’s heart. The young Cardinal was an
attentive son, and his frequent letters to Isabella
abound in allusions to artistic and literary matters.
While he was still at Bologna he became a collector.
In January 1523, hearing that Alberto Pio da
Carpi had been declared a rebel and deprived of his
State by Prospero Colonna, he begged that general
to allow him to buy the exiled prince’s library, which
was said to contain the finest collection of Greek and
Latin authors in all Italy. Colonna readily agreed
to grant his request, but before he obtained possession
of the famous library, Alberto’s brother, Leonello
Pio, recovered Carpi by a fortunate stroke, much to
Ercole’s disappointment. After the sack of Rome,
the poet Molza found himself compelled to sell his
own library, and wrote to his old friend Ercole in
April 1529, imploring him to buy it, lest so noble a
collection should leave Italy. “ If Your Excellency
does not buy the books,” he adds, “ I fear they are
sure to go to England, which God forbid should
happen in the lifetime of the Cardinal of Mantua !”1
In May 1528, Isabella received the sad news of
her old friend Emilia Pia’s death at Urbino. Elisa-
betta Gonzaga’s devoted companion did not long
survive the sister-in-law whom she had loved so well,
and died very suddenly on the 21st of May, without
being able to make her will or receive the last Sacra-
ments. This excellent lady, whose virtues were known
to all, was singularly free from the prejudices and
superstitions of her age, and often discussed religious
questions with a frankness which excited suspicion in
certain quarters. It was now reported at Orvieto,
that Madonna Emilia had died repeating passages
1 Luzio in Giorn. St., viii. 385.
279
in his mother’s heart. The young Cardinal was an
attentive son, and his frequent letters to Isabella
abound in allusions to artistic and literary matters.
While he was still at Bologna he became a collector.
In January 1523, hearing that Alberto Pio da
Carpi had been declared a rebel and deprived of his
State by Prospero Colonna, he begged that general
to allow him to buy the exiled prince’s library, which
was said to contain the finest collection of Greek and
Latin authors in all Italy. Colonna readily agreed
to grant his request, but before he obtained possession
of the famous library, Alberto’s brother, Leonello
Pio, recovered Carpi by a fortunate stroke, much to
Ercole’s disappointment. After the sack of Rome,
the poet Molza found himself compelled to sell his
own library, and wrote to his old friend Ercole in
April 1529, imploring him to buy it, lest so noble a
collection should leave Italy. “ If Your Excellency
does not buy the books,” he adds, “ I fear they are
sure to go to England, which God forbid should
happen in the lifetime of the Cardinal of Mantua !”1
In May 1528, Isabella received the sad news of
her old friend Emilia Pia’s death at Urbino. Elisa-
betta Gonzaga’s devoted companion did not long
survive the sister-in-law whom she had loved so well,
and died very suddenly on the 21st of May, without
being able to make her will or receive the last Sacra-
ments. This excellent lady, whose virtues were known
to all, was singularly free from the prejudices and
superstitions of her age, and often discussed religious
questions with a frankness which excited suspicion in
certain quarters. It was now reported at Orvieto,
that Madonna Emilia had died repeating passages
1 Luzio in Giorn. St., viii. 385.