DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0126
ELISABETTA S POPULARITY 75
' Never was there such a Madonna !' exclaimed the
reckless Giovanni, when he came to Urbino at the
time of Guidobaldo s death, and found how wisely and
well the Duchess had ordered all things in her lord's
State. Women as well as men owned the power of
her spell. Young and old, they all loved Elisabetta.
Her brilliant sister-in-law, Isabella d' Este, a highly
critical lady, easily jealous, and quick to resent any
claim to superiority in a rival, cherished her with
a deep and enduring ahection that remained un-
changed through every vicissitude of fortune. And
she quickly inspired both her young sister-in-law,
Agnesinad and Emilia Pia, the accomplished wife of
her husband s illegitimate brother, Antonio di Monte-
feltro, with the same devotion. From the moment
that the Duchess Elisabetta came to Urbino she was
adored by her husband and subjects. Guidobaldo
found in his young wife the intelligent sympathy that
he needed, and although the blessing of children was
denied them, during twenty years their union was one
of unclouded happiness. Under their rule the court
of Urbino maintained the high position which it had
acquired in the days of the good Duke Federico, and
became even more famous as a school of art and
letters.
' It is a noteworthy thing, and impossible of con-
tradiction by the most malicious tongues/ wrote
RuscellU 'that the court of Urbino in our times has
been a fountain, which, in no poetic phrase, but in
sober earnest, may be termed a true Pegasean spring,
a fortunate garden or held in which were reared an
1 Agnesina, Guidobaldo's youngest sister, was still unmarried
when Elisabetta came to Urbino. In the following year she
became the wife of Fabrizio Colonna, and was afterwards the
mother of Ascanio and Vittoria Colonna.
2 ' Imprese illustri.'
' Never was there such a Madonna !' exclaimed the
reckless Giovanni, when he came to Urbino at the
time of Guidobaldo s death, and found how wisely and
well the Duchess had ordered all things in her lord's
State. Women as well as men owned the power of
her spell. Young and old, they all loved Elisabetta.
Her brilliant sister-in-law, Isabella d' Este, a highly
critical lady, easily jealous, and quick to resent any
claim to superiority in a rival, cherished her with
a deep and enduring ahection that remained un-
changed through every vicissitude of fortune. And
she quickly inspired both her young sister-in-law,
Agnesinad and Emilia Pia, the accomplished wife of
her husband s illegitimate brother, Antonio di Monte-
feltro, with the same devotion. From the moment
that the Duchess Elisabetta came to Urbino she was
adored by her husband and subjects. Guidobaldo
found in his young wife the intelligent sympathy that
he needed, and although the blessing of children was
denied them, during twenty years their union was one
of unclouded happiness. Under their rule the court
of Urbino maintained the high position which it had
acquired in the days of the good Duke Federico, and
became even more famous as a school of art and
letters.
' It is a noteworthy thing, and impossible of con-
tradiction by the most malicious tongues/ wrote
RuscellU 'that the court of Urbino in our times has
been a fountain, which, in no poetic phrase, but in
sober earnest, may be termed a true Pegasean spring,
a fortunate garden or held in which were reared an
1 Agnesina, Guidobaldo's youngest sister, was still unmarried
when Elisabetta came to Urbino. In the following year she
became the wife of Fabrizio Colonna, and was afterwards the
mother of Ascanio and Vittoria Colonna.
2 ' Imprese illustri.'