DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0405
DOM MIGUEL
868
years, died in Rome in 1556. It was to Dom
Miguel that Castiglione now dedicated his ' Cor-
tegiano,' in order that he might pay due homage to
the memory of the Lady Duchess and the other
illustrious friends whom he had known at the court
of Urbino. But in the dedicatory epistle he gives
another and more urgent reason for the immediate
publication of his book.
' Since I came to Spain/ he writes, ' I have heard
from Italy that the Lady Vittoria Colonna, Marchesa
di Pescara, to whom I had lent a copy of the book,
had, contrary to her promise, caused a considerable
portion of its contents to be transcribed. This
naturally annoyed me, knowing what inconveniences
often arise in such cases ; but I trusted that the
wisdom and prudence of this lady, whose divine
virtues I have always reverenced, would suffice to
avert any evil consequences that might result from my
obedience to her commands. But lately I have heard
that certain fragments of the " Cortegiano" have
been seen in the hands of readers at Naples, and
since men are always greedy for any new thing, there
seemed some danger that these portions of the book
might be printed. Filled with alarm at this peril, I
determined to revise the manuscript in the scanty
moments at my disposal, and publish the book as
soon as possible, counting it a lesser evil for the work
to appear with too few corrections from my pen, than
to be badly mutilated by the hand of others."
Full details of this unlucky episode are to be
found in the letters that passed between the Count
and his illustrious friend. Castiglione had known
the Marchesa from her childhood, and had often met
her of late years in Rome and at Marino, the castle
of the Colonna in the neighbourhood. As the niece
of Duke Guidobaldo, Vittoria naturally felt deep
868
years, died in Rome in 1556. It was to Dom
Miguel that Castiglione now dedicated his ' Cor-
tegiano,' in order that he might pay due homage to
the memory of the Lady Duchess and the other
illustrious friends whom he had known at the court
of Urbino. But in the dedicatory epistle he gives
another and more urgent reason for the immediate
publication of his book.
' Since I came to Spain/ he writes, ' I have heard
from Italy that the Lady Vittoria Colonna, Marchesa
di Pescara, to whom I had lent a copy of the book,
had, contrary to her promise, caused a considerable
portion of its contents to be transcribed. This
naturally annoyed me, knowing what inconveniences
often arise in such cases ; but I trusted that the
wisdom and prudence of this lady, whose divine
virtues I have always reverenced, would suffice to
avert any evil consequences that might result from my
obedience to her commands. But lately I have heard
that certain fragments of the " Cortegiano" have
been seen in the hands of readers at Naples, and
since men are always greedy for any new thing, there
seemed some danger that these portions of the book
might be printed. Filled with alarm at this peril, I
determined to revise the manuscript in the scanty
moments at my disposal, and publish the book as
soon as possible, counting it a lesser evil for the work
to appear with too few corrections from my pen, than
to be badly mutilated by the hand of others."
Full details of this unlucky episode are to be
found in the letters that passed between the Count
and his illustrious friend. Castiglione had known
the Marchesa from her childhood, and had often met
her of late years in Rome and at Marino, the castle
of the Colonna in the neighbourhood. As the niece
of Duke Guidobaldo, Vittoria naturally felt deep