DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0267
CHAPTER XIV
1507
Castiglione proposes to exchange estates with Ercole Bentivoglio—
His debts and difficulties—Mission to King Louis XII. at
Milan — Meeting with old friends — Return to Urbino —
Illustrious guests at court—Castiglione and Bembo's poems
—Summer days at Urbino.
WHILE Castiglione was every day becoming dearer
to the Duke and Duchess, and more happily settled
in his home at Urbino, his Mends at home still
cherished a hope of regaining the Marquis's favour
and bringing him back to Mantua. His mother, as
might be expected, looked out anxiously for every
sign of relenting on Francesco's part, and rejoiced
when, in March, 1507, her kinsman, Lodovico Canossa,
arrived from Urbino and was graciously received by
the Marquis. Baldassare heard the news with satis-
faction, but when his friend Valenti suggested that
his former lord should be asked to find him a wife, he
indignantly rejected this proposal.
'As for Valenti's idea that, in order to arrange my
affairs,' he wrote to Madonna Luigia on March 29,' his
brother-in-law should ask the Marquis to find me a
wife, it is, I am sure, very good of both these gentle-
men to trouble themselves about my happiness ; none
the less, I think this course of action might not only
206
1507
Castiglione proposes to exchange estates with Ercole Bentivoglio—
His debts and difficulties—Mission to King Louis XII. at
Milan — Meeting with old friends — Return to Urbino —
Illustrious guests at court—Castiglione and Bembo's poems
—Summer days at Urbino.
WHILE Castiglione was every day becoming dearer
to the Duke and Duchess, and more happily settled
in his home at Urbino, his Mends at home still
cherished a hope of regaining the Marquis's favour
and bringing him back to Mantua. His mother, as
might be expected, looked out anxiously for every
sign of relenting on Francesco's part, and rejoiced
when, in March, 1507, her kinsman, Lodovico Canossa,
arrived from Urbino and was graciously received by
the Marquis. Baldassare heard the news with satis-
faction, but when his friend Valenti suggested that
his former lord should be asked to find him a wife, he
indignantly rejected this proposal.
'As for Valenti's idea that, in order to arrange my
affairs,' he wrote to Madonna Luigia on March 29,' his
brother-in-law should ask the Marquis to find me a
wife, it is, I am sure, very good of both these gentle-
men to trouble themselves about my happiness ; none
the less, I think this course of action might not only
206