The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. V | Page 3

this day read to us so
beauteous a lesson, that she can but tell us some story apt to crown the
glory which she won this morning."
"I am sorry," said Oisille, "that I cannot tell you aught so profitable this
afternoon as I did in the morning. But at least the purport of my story
shall not depart from the teaching of Holy Scripture, where it is written,
'Trust not in princes, nor in the sons of men, in whom is not our
salvation.' (1) And that this truth may not be forgotten by you for lack
of an example, I will tell you a tale which is quite true, and the memory
of which is so fresh that the eyes of those that saw the piteous sight are
scarcely yet dried."
[Illustration: 005a.jpg The Duke of Urbino sending the Maiden to
Prison for carrying Messages between his Son and his Sweetheart]
[The Duke of Urbino sending the Maiden to Prison for carrying
Messages between his Son and his Sweetheart]

[Illustration: 005.jpg Page Image]

TALE LI.
_Because he would not have his son make a poor marriage, the Duke of
Urbino, contrary to the promise given to his wife, hanged a young
maiden by whom his son was wont to inform his sweetheart of the love
he bore her_.
The Duke of Urbino, called the Prefect, (1) the same that married the
sister of the first Duke of Mantua, had a son of between eighteen and
twenty years of age, who was in love with a girl of an excellent and
honourable house, sister to the Abbot of Farse. (2) And since,
according to the custom of the country, he was not free to converse
with her as he wished, he obtained the aid of a gentleman in his service,
who was in love with a very beautiful and virtuous young damsel in the
service of his mother. By means of this damsel he informed his
sweetheart of the deep affection that he bore her; and the poor girl,
thinking no harm, took pleasure in doing him service, believing his
purpose to be so good and virtuous that she might honourably be the
carrier of his intentions. But the Duke, who had more regard for the
profit of his house than for any virtuous affection, was in such great
fear lest these dealings should lead his son (3) into marriage, that he
caused a strict watch to be kept; whereupon he was informed that the
poor damsel had been concerned in carrying some letters from his son
to the lady he loved. On hearing this he was in great wrath, and
resolved to take the matter in hand.
1 This is Francesco Maria I., della Rovere, nephew to Pope Julius II.,
by whom he was created Prefect of Rome. Brought up at the French
Court, he became one of the great captains of the period, especially
distinguishing himself in the command of the Venetian forces during
the earlier part of his career. He married Leonora Ypolita Gonzaga,
daughter of Francesco II., fourth Marquis of Mantua, respecting whom
see ante, vol. iii., notes to Tale XIX. It was Leonora rather than her
husband who imparted lustre to the Court of Urbino at this period by

encouraging arts and letters. Among those who flourished there were
Raffaelle and Baldassare Castiglione. Francesco Maria, born in March
1491, died in 1538 from the effects--so it is asserted by several
contemporary writers--of a poisonous lotion which a Mantuan barber
had dropped into his ear. His wife, who bore him two sons (see post,
note 3), died at the age of 72, in 1570.--L. and Ed.
2 The French words are Abbé de Farse. Farse would appear to be a
locality, as abbots were then usually designated by the names of their
monasteries; still it may be intended for the Abbot's surname, and some
commentators, adopting this view, have suggested that the proper
reading would be Farnese.--Ed.
3 The Duke's two sons were Federigo, born in March 1511, and
Guidobaldo, born in April 1514. The former according to all authorities
died when "young," and probably long before reaching man's estate.
Dennistoun, in his searching _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_
(London, 1851), clearly shows that for many years prior to Francesco
Maria's death his second son Guidobaldo was the only child remaining
to him. Already in 1534, when but twenty years old, Guidobaldo was
regarded as his father's sole heir and successor. In that year Francesco
Maria forced the young man to marry Giulia Varana, a child of eleven,
in order that he might lay claim to her father's state of Camerino and
annex it to the duchy. There is no record of Guidobaldo having ever
engaged in any such intrigue as related by Queen Margaret