DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0172
144 COUNT BAEDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
my services, and now your action in taking it from
me will be held as a sign that you count me to have
been unfaithful, and no longer regard me as your
loyal servant. This grieves me far more than the loss
of the castle, which has never been of such use to me
that I need greatly regret its loss. But I should be
sorely grieved to lose the reputation of having served
you well, which I had endeavoured to acquire by the
toil and labour of years, as many who are worthy of
belief can bear witness. But since I can only suppose
that V. E. has withdrawn his grant because you con-
sider that I have failed in my duty towards you, I
am prepared to give you every possible proof of my
loyalty and faithful service, and can only beg you to
allow me to make this clear to you. If indeed you
have been compelled to act thus to satisfy the im-
portunity of your Pesaro subjects, I beg you to show
the world that you have not done this out of ill-will
to me, and that you still hold me to be your servant,
both on account of my past and present services
and of those which I still hope to render you in the
future. Neither do I think that I have ever been a
vassal of whom you had any reason to complain. I
could easily show you that, although I might have
aspired to greater things, I preferred to continue in
your service with little recompense rather than to
obtain larger rewards from any other. But I count
nothing in the world of any worth but my honour,
and this I feel has suffered a stain which I beg V. E.
most earnestly to remove/
' Your devoted servant,
' BAI.DASSARE CASTIGLIONE.'
Some days passed before Francesco, engaged as he
was in warfare, could reply to this letter; but Cas-
tiglione relaxed none of his efforts on the Duke's
behalf, and wrote again on the 8th to congratulate
him warmly on his victories and to assure him that
i Archivio Gonzaga. Martinati, 62.
my services, and now your action in taking it from
me will be held as a sign that you count me to have
been unfaithful, and no longer regard me as your
loyal servant. This grieves me far more than the loss
of the castle, which has never been of such use to me
that I need greatly regret its loss. But I should be
sorely grieved to lose the reputation of having served
you well, which I had endeavoured to acquire by the
toil and labour of years, as many who are worthy of
belief can bear witness. But since I can only suppose
that V. E. has withdrawn his grant because you con-
sider that I have failed in my duty towards you, I
am prepared to give you every possible proof of my
loyalty and faithful service, and can only beg you to
allow me to make this clear to you. If indeed you
have been compelled to act thus to satisfy the im-
portunity of your Pesaro subjects, I beg you to show
the world that you have not done this out of ill-will
to me, and that you still hold me to be your servant,
both on account of my past and present services
and of those which I still hope to render you in the
future. Neither do I think that I have ever been a
vassal of whom you had any reason to complain. I
could easily show you that, although I might have
aspired to greater things, I preferred to continue in
your service with little recompense rather than to
obtain larger rewards from any other. But I count
nothing in the world of any worth but my honour,
and this I feel has suffered a stain which I beg V. E.
most earnestly to remove/
' Your devoted servant,
' BAI.DASSARE CASTIGLIONE.'
Some days passed before Francesco, engaged as he
was in warfare, could reply to this letter; but Cas-
tiglione relaxed none of his efforts on the Duke's
behalf, and wrote again on the 8th to congratulate
him warmly on his victories and to assure him that
i Archivio Gonzaga. Martinati, 62.