DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0081
CESARE BORGIA
41
one of his captains. Valentino himself, as he was
generally called in Italy, was himself in Rome at this
moment, endeavouring to obtain the Duke of Urbino's
pardon and the new Popes favour.
On the very day when Cesare Gonzaga wrote to
inform his aunt of her son's safe arrival, a strange
meeting took place in the Vatican between Guido-
baldo and the man who had wronged him. The
Duke, as one of his gentlemen wrote to a friend at
Castel Durante, was resting on a couch in the Pope's
antechamber, when suddenly Valentino appeared in
the room, cap in hand, and fell on his knees before
him. Guidobaldo, startled at the sight of his old
enemy, rose and drew back a few paces. Then he
courteously raised Valentino to his feet and listened
patiently while Cesare begged his pardon for the
wrongs which he had done him, excusing himself on
account of his youth, and ascribing his evil deeds to
the rapacity of his father, Pope Alexander, whose
memory he loaded with curses. At the same time he
promised to restore the library and most of the other
treasures of the ducal palace, which were safely housed
in the citadel of Forli. ' To all of which,' continues
our correspondent, ' the Duke replied in a noble and
fitting manner : " Truly a strange example of the
changes of Fortune, which fulfils the words of the
Psalmist, ' He hath put down the mighty from then-
seat, and exalted the humble and meek.'" 'i
According to Castiglione, on this occasion Guido-
baldo behaved with his wonted magnanimity, and
interceded on his old enemy's behalf with the Pope,
who detained him for the present in the Vatican, and
afterwards allowed him to go to Ostia, where he was
arrested and sent to Spain by Gonsalvo de Cordova,
i Ugolini, 'Storia di Urbino/ ii. 514.
41
one of his captains. Valentino himself, as he was
generally called in Italy, was himself in Rome at this
moment, endeavouring to obtain the Duke of Urbino's
pardon and the new Popes favour.
On the very day when Cesare Gonzaga wrote to
inform his aunt of her son's safe arrival, a strange
meeting took place in the Vatican between Guido-
baldo and the man who had wronged him. The
Duke, as one of his gentlemen wrote to a friend at
Castel Durante, was resting on a couch in the Pope's
antechamber, when suddenly Valentino appeared in
the room, cap in hand, and fell on his knees before
him. Guidobaldo, startled at the sight of his old
enemy, rose and drew back a few paces. Then he
courteously raised Valentino to his feet and listened
patiently while Cesare begged his pardon for the
wrongs which he had done him, excusing himself on
account of his youth, and ascribing his evil deeds to
the rapacity of his father, Pope Alexander, whose
memory he loaded with curses. At the same time he
promised to restore the library and most of the other
treasures of the ducal palace, which were safely housed
in the citadel of Forli. ' To all of which,' continues
our correspondent, ' the Duke replied in a noble and
fitting manner : " Truly a strange example of the
changes of Fortune, which fulfils the words of the
Psalmist, ' He hath put down the mighty from then-
seat, and exalted the humble and meek.'" 'i
According to Castiglione, on this occasion Guido-
baldo behaved with his wonted magnanimity, and
interceded on his old enemy's behalf with the Pope,
who detained him for the present in the Vatican, and
afterwards allowed him to go to Ostia, where he was
arrested and sent to Spain by Gonsalvo de Cordova,
i Ugolini, 'Storia di Urbino/ ii. 514.