The Shame of Motley

she achieved more than from my acquaintance with the nature of Giovanni Sforza-and

or behalf. Since it was she who begged this thing, he could not wholly refuse. But since he was Giovanni Sforza, he could not wholly grant. He promised her that my life, at least, should be secure, and that not only would he pardon me, but that he wou

nd gracious, trusted that he would perform that wh

y fever had abated, I had some visitors, among whom was Madonna Paola, who bore me the news that her intercessions for me with the Lord of Pesaro

once I had served and thwarted the

o, after his own fashion, seemed to have a liking for me, and a certain pity

and all things do I owe thanks to our gracious Lady Lucrezia. Do you think, Messer Magistri, tha

her. Within the hour she was at my bedside and divining that, haply, I had news to giv

raise which some have bestowed-for her own ear, and with an eye to profit-upon Madonna Lucrezia, yet were I less than truthful if I sought to belittle her ample claims to beauty. Some six years later than the time of which I write she was met on the occasion

ort to admit, even remotely, of such comparisons. Still, that she had a certain gracious beauty, as I have said, it is not mine to deny. There was an almost childish

re than a child was she-d

concern on my behalf, and answered that I was doing w

ng but a Fool, "count me ever your friend hereafter, for what you have done for Madonna Paola. For although it was my

ed out a way that was barred me, solved me a riddle which my Lord, your Illus

t revealed to the full their matchless beauty. Care seemed of a sudden to ha

" I informed her, and from underneath my pillow I drew the package, which during Magistri

and a wistful smile investe

ave found better employ

d despatch. But by aiding Madonna Paola I have burned my boats against returning to claim the redemption of that prom

ushed in her hand. Then moments passed ere she confronted me once more. But her manner as all changed; she was agitated and preoccupied, and for all that she fo

t some suits of motley, and so, in despite of my repugnance now to reassume that garb, I had no choice but to array myself in one of these. I selected the least garish one-a suit of black and yellow

rested me and breathed the strong invigorating air of the Adriatic. The snows were gone,

d among the proverbs there were many that were new to me in framing and in substance. Moreover, I was glad of this means of improving my acquaintance with the tongue of Spain, and I was soon absorbed. So absorbed, indeed, as never to hear the footsteps of the Lord Giovanni

en I had told him, a thin smile

e your mind with fresh humour, prepare yourself with new conceits for our

hat was to be the sum of his clemency. We were precisely where we had been. Once before had he granted me my life on condition

"My clemency is no more than you deserve in return for the service you have rendered to the House of Sfor

hewn, for I lacked the strength to rise and strangle him as he deserved-moreover, I was boun

ey hastened forward with expressions of pleased surprise at seeing me risen and out, and when I would have got to my feet they stayed me as Giovanni

, "that can match the deeds by which

ovanni's face surprise

ard within my walls of Pesaro, if you would prove yourself the friend of Boccadoro. To

d him, a mild surpr

, you promise

manner never so deprecatory, "that I would pardon hi

nd was restored to strength you would then

oduced his comfit-bo

oth as a cat upon occasion, could this bastard of Costanzo Sforza. "I came upon him here, array

am vinegar, and having put his question he bore the sweet-meat to his mouth. The ladies looked at h

d your choice?

t me no garment save these of folly. That I was reading this book it

was joined that of Madonna Lucrezia. He grew serious

much. For the rest, the restoration that you ask for him is on

roaching, leading a mud-splashed courier,

u?" Giovanni q

etters for the High and Mighty Lord Giovanni Sforza, Tyran

wn overcast, took them with a hand that seemed reluctant. Then bidding

otten by us all. For the thought that rose uppermost in our minds-saving always that of Madonna Lucrezia-was that these communications concerned the sheltering of Madon

his face grew ashen. Next it flared crimson, the veins on his brow stood out like ropes, and his eyes flashed furious

ly See to repair at once to Rome, to answer certain charges that are pref

, too, have here a letter calling me to Rome.

matter might be, Madonna Lucrezia had full knowledge of

e these charges to which my letter va

of a nature to permit discussion in the ca

ost twice her years, her wits were more than a match for his, and his s

very sternly, "I shall be honoured if

nna Paola-who had been looking on with eyes that wonder had set wide open-and turning on his he

f I can prevail upon my brother to overlook the ill-turn you did him when you entered the service of this child"-and she pointed to

no more. Once again, only, did I see her, on the occasion of her departure, some four days later, and then but for a moment. Back to Pesaro she came no more, as you

onable to set my pen at present to that other task. Moreover, there is scarce the need. If any there be who doubt me, or if future generations should fall into the error of lending credence to the lies of that villain Guicciardini, of that arch-villain Giuliano della Rovere, or of other smaller fry who have lent their helot's pens to weave mendacious records of her life, dubbing her murderess, adulteress, and Heaven knows what besides-I will but refer them to the archives of Ferrara, whose Duchess she became at the age of one-and-twenty, and where she reigned f

ed at Pesaro a very wonderful and handsome gentleman. This was the brother of Madonna Paola, the High and Mighty Lord Filippo di Santafior. He had had a hint in Rome that h

's. He rode a cream-coloured horse, which seemed to have been steeped in musk, so strongly was it scented. But of all his affectations the one with which I as taken most was to see one of his grooms appro

e Papal business that impended, he might there and then have cemented the intimacy which was later to spring up between them. As it was, he made him very welcome, and placed at his and his sister's disposal the beau

s significance. Her eyes had a swollen look, such as attends much weeping, which afterwards I took as proof that she knew

Lord Giovanni's Court repaired to their several houses in the neighboring c

hat followed, and then it was about the streets, and she had little more than a greeting for

do. I might have gone my ways, had I so wished it, but something kept me th

was a very dispirited Boccadoro that wandered aimlessly whither his dulling fancy took him. But in Holy Week, at last, we received

from exhaustion the moment Pesaro was reached, and in his pallid cheek

all the way from Rome in four-and-twenty hours, fleeing for his life fr

f up with the trouble we could but guess at, and so in Pes

like any honest villano born to the soil. But there ever seemed to be a voice that bade me stay and wait, and the voice bore a suggestion of Madonna Paola. But why dissemble here? Why

of the families of Sforza and Bo

e tale that he was done to death by his elder brother, Cesare Borgia; a tale which seemed to lack for reasonable

were pressing the Lord Giovanni to consent to a divorce. At last he left Pesaro again; this time to journey to Milan and seek counsel with his powerful cousin, Lodo

ia Borgia was the Tyrant of Pesaro's wife no more. The news of it and the reasons that were put forward as having led to it were