DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0452
MARRIAGES PROPOSED
377
the conditions proposed by the Modenese Count.
The dowry seemed to him too small; the bride herself
was apparently not altogether to his taste. ' I am
very sorry to hear that you do not like Madonna
Costanza's proposals, but for nothing in the world
would I urge you to conclude a marriage that is not
to your taste.' Messer Luigi Gonzaga, it appears,
brought the same report from Rome, and his aunt
thought it well to complain to Polissena B.angone
of the subtleties employed in the matter by Count
Girardo. At the same time Madonna Luigia owned
that it was difficult to see why her son had taken
five months to come to this conclusion, and begged
him to make his choice soon for the honour of
the family, and in order not to offend the proud
Rangone Count. But, with unwearied patience and
perseverance, she began to look about for other
desirable matches. First she proposed a grand-
daughter of Count Antonio della Mirandola, who was
being educated in a convent in Florence, and whose
marriage the Pope had undertaken to arrange. Then
there was one of the Gonzagas of Novellara, who
was said to be by no means ugly, and in all other
respects eminently suitable ; while a daughter-in-law
of Bartolommeo della Rovere, ' young and well
dowered,' was recommended by one of Federico
Gonzaga's ladies, Maddalena. There seems to have
been another lady for whom M. Baldassare at this
time had an evident inclination—possibly the fair
Raffaella. If so, Madonna Luigia promptly dismissed
her in a contemptuous phrase as being ' poor and in
difficulties—two very bad conditions, to my mind.'
However, she hastens to add: 'You must do as you
like, but I think either of the Lombardy matches
would be better—the Modenese one, or her of
377
the conditions proposed by the Modenese Count.
The dowry seemed to him too small; the bride herself
was apparently not altogether to his taste. ' I am
very sorry to hear that you do not like Madonna
Costanza's proposals, but for nothing in the world
would I urge you to conclude a marriage that is not
to your taste.' Messer Luigi Gonzaga, it appears,
brought the same report from Rome, and his aunt
thought it well to complain to Polissena B.angone
of the subtleties employed in the matter by Count
Girardo. At the same time Madonna Luigia owned
that it was difficult to see why her son had taken
five months to come to this conclusion, and begged
him to make his choice soon for the honour of
the family, and in order not to offend the proud
Rangone Count. But, with unwearied patience and
perseverance, she began to look about for other
desirable matches. First she proposed a grand-
daughter of Count Antonio della Mirandola, who was
being educated in a convent in Florence, and whose
marriage the Pope had undertaken to arrange. Then
there was one of the Gonzagas of Novellara, who
was said to be by no means ugly, and in all other
respects eminently suitable ; while a daughter-in-law
of Bartolommeo della Rovere, ' young and well
dowered,' was recommended by one of Federico
Gonzaga's ladies, Maddalena. There seems to have
been another lady for whom M. Baldassare at this
time had an evident inclination—possibly the fair
Raffaella. If so, Madonna Luigia promptly dismissed
her in a contemptuous phrase as being ' poor and in
difficulties—two very bad conditions, to my mind.'
However, she hastens to add: 'You must do as you
like, but I think either of the Lombardy matches
would be better—the Modenese one, or her of