DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0417
342 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
throng the banks of Styx, to wake at her voice and
wield their ancient swords in her defence. No answer
came, and after uttering these piteous verses the sad
speaker disappeared from the stage, unable to utter
another word. But in the final scene the same figure
appeared again and called in impassioned strains on a
living hero to come to her help, bidding him unfold
the banner of the triumphant eagle, and win immortal
glory in her cause.
' Et tu amato Figlioi, Duca d' Urbino,
In cui vero valor rinascer sento,
Fa vendetta del mio sangue latino,
E del mio nome che e quasi in tutto spento,
Rinnova 1' ali del tuo ucel divino,
L' insegna triumphal spiegando al vento,
Ch' acquisterai in giovenil' etate.
Cum tua gloria immortal, mia libertate !'
' Then from the opposite side of the stage/ writes
the old chronicler, ' there suddenly sprang to light a
figure of the Duke with a drawn sword in his hand,
looking as if he had driven out all the barbarians who
had stripped and plundered Italy. Now, returning
from the fray, he placed a crown on her head and
threw a golden mantle over her shoulders, and the
two danced a graceful to the sound of unseen
music, and went out together dancing hand-in-hand.
Truly a most beautiful sight D
The fine verses recited by the warrior, with their
courtly allusions to the young Duke s triumph and
the deliverance of Italy from the barbarians, were,
there can be little doubt, composed by Castiglione,
and formed a fitting close to a carnival that was long
remembered at Urbino. It marked the end of a great
age. The brilliant assembly of lords and ladies, who
were present on this festive occasion, little dreamt
* Cod. Vat. Urb., 490.
throng the banks of Styx, to wake at her voice and
wield their ancient swords in her defence. No answer
came, and after uttering these piteous verses the sad
speaker disappeared from the stage, unable to utter
another word. But in the final scene the same figure
appeared again and called in impassioned strains on a
living hero to come to her help, bidding him unfold
the banner of the triumphant eagle, and win immortal
glory in her cause.
' Et tu amato Figlioi, Duca d' Urbino,
In cui vero valor rinascer sento,
Fa vendetta del mio sangue latino,
E del mio nome che e quasi in tutto spento,
Rinnova 1' ali del tuo ucel divino,
L' insegna triumphal spiegando al vento,
Ch' acquisterai in giovenil' etate.
Cum tua gloria immortal, mia libertate !'
' Then from the opposite side of the stage/ writes
the old chronicler, ' there suddenly sprang to light a
figure of the Duke with a drawn sword in his hand,
looking as if he had driven out all the barbarians who
had stripped and plundered Italy. Now, returning
from the fray, he placed a crown on her head and
threw a golden mantle over her shoulders, and the
two danced a graceful to the sound of unseen
music, and went out together dancing hand-in-hand.
Truly a most beautiful sight D
The fine verses recited by the warrior, with their
courtly allusions to the young Duke s triumph and
the deliverance of Italy from the barbarians, were,
there can be little doubt, composed by Castiglione,
and formed a fitting close to a carnival that was long
remembered at Urbino. It marked the end of a great
age. The brilliant assembly of lords and ladies, who
were present on this festive occasion, little dreamt
* Cod. Vat. Urb., 490.