Still of Poggio a Caiano he had unpleasing memories, for there he met Giovanna of Austria, and had the first taste of her ill-humour as he rode by her side at her scornful entry into Florence, twelve years before.  But Bianca had wrought a vast change in his disposition and environment.  She had interwoven fancy and reality, and Francesco was now serenely happy.  Often did he sing tender madrigals as they together sauntered in the woods and indulged in pastoral pursuits.

“Sing! sing! ye birds I am wide awake
Tho’ silent ’mid your tender harmony;
And yet I would fain join your sweet concert,
Whilst upon the face of fair Bianca,
’Mirror of Love’—­I fix my yearning eyes.”

The Cardinal was one of this particular hunting party—­indeed, the hunt had been arranged entirely in his honour, and he expressed himself as charmed with everything—­and especially with the Grand Duchess.  This was his first State visit to his brother’s Court and his affability knew no bounds.  Bianca, on her part, laid herself out to entertain her brother-in-law, and made herself especially attractive and gracious.  The presence of the Archbishop of Florence added greatly to her satisfaction and Francesco’s.  Very wisely, young Antonio was sent to Pratolino with his governor and tutors, and in the merry company no personality could, in any way, recall unhappy incidents of the past.  The days were passed in the exhilaration of sport, and the evening repasts were followed by animated conversation, ballets, music and recitations.  All the brightest ornaments of the Court were present at the Grand Duchess’ behest.

Bianca, herself, in the highest spirits, dressed, sang, and danced, bewitchingly.  The frolics of the Orte Oricellari were transferred to the delightful hunting-box, and everybody and everything was as gay as gay could be, and no one troubled about the morrow.

Alas, when the merriment was at its height, a sudden stop was put to all the festivities, for, during the night of 8th October, the Grand Duke was taken ill with severe spasms and violent sickness.  The Grand Duchess was summoned to his side, and full of alarm and devotion, she at once despatched a mounted messenger into Florence to command the attendance of the Court physicians—­Messeri Giulio Agnolo da Barga and Ferdinando Cino da Roma.

They assured her that their princely patient was merely suffering from an error in diet—­the dish of mushrooms, of which he had partaken freely overnight, had not been well prepared—­but they considered that all ill effects would disappear as suddenly as they had arisen.  The report of Francesco’s illness reached the Vatican, and the Pope addressed a kindly letter to the Grand Duchess, conveying a good-natured homily to the Grand Duke upon the evils of gluttony!

Bianca cast aside her sparkling coryphean tinsel, and, putting on a quiet gown and natty little cap, appointed herself nurse-in-chief to her dear husband, and no one was better fitted for the post.  Torquato Tasso, her Poet-Laureate, noted her tender, compassionate character and her sweet sympathy with human infirmities.  In 1578 he had put forth the first of his Cinquanta Madrigali, with a pathetic dedication to the Grand Duchess.