DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0238
208 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
had arisen in the renewed outbreak of the plague,
which the Romans confidently believed had gone for
ever with the bad days of Pope Adrian, but which
now returned with fresh severity. Every day Cas-
tiglione sent reports of the further spread of the
contagion and the death of new victims.
' The plague goes on with its cruel game/ he wrote
to his lord at Mantua. ' To-day a poor lad of twenty-
two, a handsome and charming youth, brother of
Bishop Scaglione, is dead. Times seem to have
changed, and we pray devoutly for the great heats,
which are said to be more healthy. There is great
scarcity of wheat in Rome, and the people are eating
very bad bread. . . . The Pope is shut up in the
Belvedere, and refuses to give audiences to any
Cardinals whose houses are not free from contagion.
An infinite number of persons are leaving Rome.
Two days ago eighteen new houses were infected,
and every day we hear of six, seven, or eight fresh
cases. . . . Once more the greatest precautions are
taken, and certain doctors have arisen who promise
to work miracles. The Pope himself believes in
certain medicines, which he sends in all directions,
and it is said that these have cured several patients.
Some cases have been cured by laying falcons' feathers
on the plague spot, or, where this has not yet appeared,
upon the heart, a treatment which many declare to
be very successful.'*
But in spite of quack remedies and strict precautions
the pestilence made rapid strides. The Cardinals left
Rome, the Pope himself contemplated a retreat to
Civita Castellana, and the Count begged his master's
permission to follow the example of the Duke of
Sessa, and, if need be, leave the stricken city.
i Serassi, 'Neg.,' t 114, 115 ; Renier, 'Lett, ined./ p. 20.
had arisen in the renewed outbreak of the plague,
which the Romans confidently believed had gone for
ever with the bad days of Pope Adrian, but which
now returned with fresh severity. Every day Cas-
tiglione sent reports of the further spread of the
contagion and the death of new victims.
' The plague goes on with its cruel game/ he wrote
to his lord at Mantua. ' To-day a poor lad of twenty-
two, a handsome and charming youth, brother of
Bishop Scaglione, is dead. Times seem to have
changed, and we pray devoutly for the great heats,
which are said to be more healthy. There is great
scarcity of wheat in Rome, and the people are eating
very bad bread. . . . The Pope is shut up in the
Belvedere, and refuses to give audiences to any
Cardinals whose houses are not free from contagion.
An infinite number of persons are leaving Rome.
Two days ago eighteen new houses were infected,
and every day we hear of six, seven, or eight fresh
cases. . . . Once more the greatest precautions are
taken, and certain doctors have arisen who promise
to work miracles. The Pope himself believes in
certain medicines, which he sends in all directions,
and it is said that these have cured several patients.
Some cases have been cured by laying falcons' feathers
on the plague spot, or, where this has not yet appeared,
upon the heart, a treatment which many declare to
be very successful.'*
But in spite of quack remedies and strict precautions
the pestilence made rapid strides. The Cardinals left
Rome, the Pope himself contemplated a retreat to
Civita Castellana, and the Count begged his master's
permission to follow the example of the Duke of
Sessa, and, if need be, leave the stricken city.
i Serassi, 'Neg.,' t 114, 115 ; Renier, 'Lett, ined./ p. 20.