DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0064
26 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
which made him the very pattern of a courtier such
as he has himself described, fearless in battle and
skilled in courtly exercises, a finished scholar and
elegant poet, a pleasant companion and a trusted
friend.
As might be expected, this brilliant cavalier won
the smiles of all the court ladies, and before he had
been many months at Mantua two marriages were
proposed to him. First of all the Marchesana, always
eager to arrange a suitable match, made it her business
to find him a well-dowered bride, and suggested a
daughter of Messer Girolamo Stanga, of Cremona,
one of Lodovico Sforza's most trusted servants.
Messer Girolamo, however, does not seem to have
considered Baldassare's fortune sufficient, and in
1.502 Agnesina Stanga married his kinsman and her
first cousin, Luigi Gonzaga of Borgoforte. The next
proposal came from the Marquis's uncle, Bishop
Lodovico Gonzaga, whose home at Gazzolo was only
a few miles from Casatico, and who was on very
friendly terms with Madonna Luigia and her children.
In a letter addressed to Count Maffeo da Gambara,
he suggests an excellent match for one of his daughters
in the person of ' M. Baldassare da Castiglione, my
kinsman through his mother, sister of M. Gian Pietro
Gonzaga.' The Bishop goes on to draw a glowing
picture of the young man, whom he describes as
exceedingly handsome, learned, eloquent, discreet,
and singularly virtuous ; in fact, so generously en-
dowed by Nature and Fortune that it would be hard
to find his equal. ' He receives from his estates,' adds
the writer, ' a yearly income of 1,500 ducats, which
he shares with his brother, who is a priest, and whom
we are trying to endow with benefices in order that
M. Baldassare may enjoy the whole of his patrimony
which made him the very pattern of a courtier such
as he has himself described, fearless in battle and
skilled in courtly exercises, a finished scholar and
elegant poet, a pleasant companion and a trusted
friend.
As might be expected, this brilliant cavalier won
the smiles of all the court ladies, and before he had
been many months at Mantua two marriages were
proposed to him. First of all the Marchesana, always
eager to arrange a suitable match, made it her business
to find him a well-dowered bride, and suggested a
daughter of Messer Girolamo Stanga, of Cremona,
one of Lodovico Sforza's most trusted servants.
Messer Girolamo, however, does not seem to have
considered Baldassare's fortune sufficient, and in
1.502 Agnesina Stanga married his kinsman and her
first cousin, Luigi Gonzaga of Borgoforte. The next
proposal came from the Marquis's uncle, Bishop
Lodovico Gonzaga, whose home at Gazzolo was only
a few miles from Casatico, and who was on very
friendly terms with Madonna Luigia and her children.
In a letter addressed to Count Maffeo da Gambara,
he suggests an excellent match for one of his daughters
in the person of ' M. Baldassare da Castiglione, my
kinsman through his mother, sister of M. Gian Pietro
Gonzaga.' The Bishop goes on to draw a glowing
picture of the young man, whom he describes as
exceedingly handsome, learned, eloquent, discreet,
and singularly virtuous ; in fact, so generously en-
dowed by Nature and Fortune that it would be hard
to find his equal. ' He receives from his estates,' adds
the writer, ' a yearly income of 1,500 ducats, which
he shares with his brother, who is a priest, and whom
we are trying to endow with benefices in order that
M. Baldassare may enjoy the whole of his patrimony