DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0402
CASTLE OF NOVILLARA
827
' I told her/ wrote Castiglione to his mother, ' that
1 liked the idea, but that Count Girardo seemed to
show some reserve in his offers, and that if he did not
think me good enough for his daughter I had no wish
to have her. She replied frankly that the first pro-
posal came from them, but that she had written to
Count Girardo, who was in Rome. When I returned
to Modena, to meet Gurk, in October, she said that
she had heard from the Count, who said that he
liked me very much, but that he had other intentions
for his daughter, and confessed that he wished to see
her in a more exalted place, and that he thought of
marrying her to Giovanni Yitelli if he lived. So I
begged our Madonna Costanza to tell you this, and,
indeed, I was somewhat angry with her, and almost
resolved not to mention the subject again. But now
the thing is done, I am content to await the answer.
Only I beg you not to show too much eagerness in
this matter; for whoever I may take for my wife, I
desire that she should be given me as willingly as I
take her, were she a King's daughter. I certainly
wish to put an end to these negotiations, as it seems
time that I should marry, but I will not go down on
my knees, with little honour to myself, before one
who is no better born than I am.'
Having delivered himself of his feelings in these
proud words, Castiglione turns to a pleasanter subject,
and tells her of the castle and countship of Novillara,
which had been lately granted to him by his lord.
' The Lord Duke has taken possession of Pesaro by
the Pope's permission, but he has not yet received
the investiture, which he hopes may soon follow. I
think he will go there the second week in Lent. Our
M. Amato has been already sent there as lieutenant.
When we are at Pesaro, I hope to take possession of
my castle, which is no longer Ginestreto, because I
have exchanged it for another called Novillara, which
827
' I told her/ wrote Castiglione to his mother, ' that
1 liked the idea, but that Count Girardo seemed to
show some reserve in his offers, and that if he did not
think me good enough for his daughter I had no wish
to have her. She replied frankly that the first pro-
posal came from them, but that she had written to
Count Girardo, who was in Rome. When I returned
to Modena, to meet Gurk, in October, she said that
she had heard from the Count, who said that he
liked me very much, but that he had other intentions
for his daughter, and confessed that he wished to see
her in a more exalted place, and that he thought of
marrying her to Giovanni Yitelli if he lived. So I
begged our Madonna Costanza to tell you this, and,
indeed, I was somewhat angry with her, and almost
resolved not to mention the subject again. But now
the thing is done, I am content to await the answer.
Only I beg you not to show too much eagerness in
this matter; for whoever I may take for my wife, I
desire that she should be given me as willingly as I
take her, were she a King's daughter. I certainly
wish to put an end to these negotiations, as it seems
time that I should marry, but I will not go down on
my knees, with little honour to myself, before one
who is no better born than I am.'
Having delivered himself of his feelings in these
proud words, Castiglione turns to a pleasanter subject,
and tells her of the castle and countship of Novillara,
which had been lately granted to him by his lord.
' The Lord Duke has taken possession of Pesaro by
the Pope's permission, but he has not yet received
the investiture, which he hopes may soon follow. I
think he will go there the second week in Lent. Our
M. Amato has been already sent there as lieutenant.
When we are at Pesaro, I hope to take possession of
my castle, which is no longer Ginestreto, because I
have exchanged it for another called Novillara, which