The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. V | Page 4

in the above
tale, still it must be to him that she refers, everything pointing to the
conclusion that his brother Federigo died in childhood. Guidobaldo
became Duke of Urbino on his father's death.--Ed.
He could not, however, conceal his anger so well that the maiden was
not advised of it, and knowing his wickedness, which was in her eyes
as great as his conscience was small, she felt a wondrous dread. Going
therefore to the Duchess, she craved leave to retire somewhere out of
the Duke's sight until his passion should be past; but her mistress
replied that, before giving her leave to do so, she would try to find out
her husband's will in the matter.
Very soon, however, the Duchess heard the Duke's evil words

concerning the affair, and, knowing his temper, she not only gave the
maiden leave, but advised her to retire into a convent until the storm
was over. This she did as secretly as she could, yet not so stealthily but
that the Duke was advised of it. Thereupon, with pretended
cheerfulness of countenance, he asked his wife where the maiden was,
and she, believing him to be well aware of the truth, confessed it to him.
He feigned to be vexed thereat, saying that the girl had no need to
behave in that fashion, and that for his part he desired her no harm. And
he requested his wife to cause her to come back again, since it was by
no means well to have such matters noised abroad.
The Duchess replied that, if the poor girl was so unfortunate as to have
lost his favour, it were better for a time that she should not come into
his presence; however, he would not hearken to her reasonings, but
commanded her to bid the maiden return.
The Duchess failed not to make the Duke's will known to the maiden;
but the latter, who could not but feel afraid, entreated her mistress that
she might not be compelled to run this risk, saying that she knew the
Duke was not so ready to forgive her as he feigned to be. Nevertheless,
the Duchess assured her that she should take no hurt, and pledged her
own life and honour for her safety.
The girl, who well knew that her mistress loved her, and would not
lightly deceive her, trusted in her promise, believing that the Duke
would never break a pledge when his wife's honour was its warranty.
And accordingly she returned to the Duchess.
As soon as the Duke knew this, he failed not to repair to his wife's
apartment. There, as soon as he saw the maiden, he said to his wife, "So
such-a-one has returned," and turning to his gentlemen, he commanded
them to arrest her and lead her to prison.
At this the poor Duchess, who by the pledging of her word had drawn
the maiden from her refuge, was in such despair that, falling upon her
knees before her husband, she prayed that for love of herself and of his
house he would not do so foul a deed, seeing that it was in obedience to
himself that she had drawn the maiden from her place of safety.

But no prayer that she could utter availed to soften his hard heart, or to
overcome his stern resolve to be avenged. Without making any reply,
he withdrew as speedily as possible, and, foregoing all manner of trial,
and forgetting God and the honour of his house, he cruelly caused the
hapless maiden to be hanged.
I cannot undertake to recount to you the grief of the Duchess; it was
such as beseemed a lady of honour and a tender heart on beholding one,
whom she would fain have saved, perish through trust in her own
plighted faith. Still less is it possible to describe the deep affliction of
the unhappy gentleman, the maiden's lover, who failed not to do all that
in him lay to save his sweetheart's life, offering to give his own for hers;
but no feeling of pity moved the heart of this Duke, whose only
happiness was that of avenging himself on those whom he hated. (4)
4 That Francesco-Maria was a man of a hasty, violent temperament is
certain. Much that Guicciardini relates of him was doubtless penned in
a spirit of resentment, for during the time the historian lived at Urbino
the Duke repeatedly struck him, and on one occasion felled him to the
ground, with the sneering remark, "Your business is to confer with
pedants." On the other hand, however, there is independent
documentary evidence in existence--notably among the Urbino MSS. in
the Vatican library--which shows that Francesco-Maria in no wise
recoiled from shedding blood. He was yet in his teens when it was
reported