DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0179
DUCHESS ELISABETTA
151
Throughout these negotiations Castiglione was
greatly assisted by his old friend, Felice della Rovere,
whose name recurs constantly in these letters, and
who, in his own words, yielded to none in wisdom
and affection for her kinsman/
The two Duchesses, who had remained at Mantua
until peace and order were restored in Central Italy,
were now at length able to return to Urbino, and on
May 15 Castiglione wrote to congratulate both ladies
on this happy event.
' If it had been possible under present circum-
stances/ he wrote to Elisabetta, ' I would have come
to Urbino at once to do reverence to V. E., and
rejoice with you on your return to your State, which
thing I have wished to see more than anything else
in the world. So may our Lord God grant all my
prayers on your behalf and give you all that your
heart desires, which will be one of the greatest joys
that I expect to see in this life.'^
Another old friend, Pietro Bembo, mindful of
happy days of yore, sent the following graceful note
to the widowed Duchess :
' Gud be praised that I shall once more be able to
come to Urbino, not only with that great and inhnite
sadness which I felt on the last three occasions, but
with the same joy and delight as in the good old days
when I spent several years in your house. I never
hoped to live long enough to see this day, which I
have so ardently desired, and feel that nothing can
vex me now that the Duke has returned happily to
his beautiful and honoured home, which must be the
sweeter and more grateful after these years of exile.
I could say much more, but will wait until we are
1 Archivio di Stato, Firenze—Urbino, i., G., 1^5,
2 Serassi, i. 78,
151
Throughout these negotiations Castiglione was
greatly assisted by his old friend, Felice della Rovere,
whose name recurs constantly in these letters, and
who, in his own words, yielded to none in wisdom
and affection for her kinsman/
The two Duchesses, who had remained at Mantua
until peace and order were restored in Central Italy,
were now at length able to return to Urbino, and on
May 15 Castiglione wrote to congratulate both ladies
on this happy event.
' If it had been possible under present circum-
stances/ he wrote to Elisabetta, ' I would have come
to Urbino at once to do reverence to V. E., and
rejoice with you on your return to your State, which
thing I have wished to see more than anything else
in the world. So may our Lord God grant all my
prayers on your behalf and give you all that your
heart desires, which will be one of the greatest joys
that I expect to see in this life.'^
Another old friend, Pietro Bembo, mindful of
happy days of yore, sent the following graceful note
to the widowed Duchess :
' Gud be praised that I shall once more be able to
come to Urbino, not only with that great and inhnite
sadness which I felt on the last three occasions, but
with the same joy and delight as in the good old days
when I spent several years in your house. I never
hoped to live long enough to see this day, which I
have so ardently desired, and feel that nothing can
vex me now that the Duke has returned happily to
his beautiful and honoured home, which must be the
sweeter and more grateful after these years of exile.
I could say much more, but will wait until we are
1 Archivio di Stato, Firenze—Urbino, i., G., 1^5,
2 Serassi, i. 78,