DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0297
CHAPTER XVI
1508
The Pope sends Archbishop Fregoso to Fossombrone—Grief of the
Duchess and lamentation in Urbino—Castiglione's letter to
Henry VII. of England and funeral of Duke Guidobaldo—
Castiglione sent to Gubbio—Bembo's treatise.
THE news of Duke Guidobaldo's dangerous illness
was a cause of great sorrow to his friends at the
Vatican. The Pope sent the Archbishop of Salerno
and his own doctor, Arcangelo da Siena, to give
him the Papal benediction and attend him in these
critical moments. But when Fregoso reached Fos-
sombrone, the good Duke had already breathed his
last, and all that he could do was to comfort the
stricken widow. Both Castiglione, who witnessed
the Duke s death, and Bembo, who heard full par-
ticulars of that moving scene from Fregoso, tell us
how bravely the Duchess bore up to the last. It
was only when she saw that her husband was dead,
that her courage forsook her, and, dinging her arms
with a cry of agony round his neck, and kissing
his cold brow, she exclaimed : ' Why have you left
me, my beloved ? Where are you going ? At least
let me die with you!' Then she fell fainting in the
arms of Madonna Emilia, while every one in the room
broke into tears and sobbing, and throughout the
1508
The Pope sends Archbishop Fregoso to Fossombrone—Grief of the
Duchess and lamentation in Urbino—Castiglione's letter to
Henry VII. of England and funeral of Duke Guidobaldo—
Castiglione sent to Gubbio—Bembo's treatise.
THE news of Duke Guidobaldo's dangerous illness
was a cause of great sorrow to his friends at the
Vatican. The Pope sent the Archbishop of Salerno
and his own doctor, Arcangelo da Siena, to give
him the Papal benediction and attend him in these
critical moments. But when Fregoso reached Fos-
sombrone, the good Duke had already breathed his
last, and all that he could do was to comfort the
stricken widow. Both Castiglione, who witnessed
the Duke s death, and Bembo, who heard full par-
ticulars of that moving scene from Fregoso, tell us
how bravely the Duchess bore up to the last. It
was only when she saw that her husband was dead,
that her courage forsook her, and, dinging her arms
with a cry of agony round his neck, and kissing
his cold brow, she exclaimed : ' Why have you left
me, my beloved ? Where are you going ? At least
let me die with you!' Then she fell fainting in the
arms of Madonna Emilia, while every one in the room
broke into tears and sobbing, and throughout the