[Footnote 34:  Manso, ib. p. 147.]

[Footnote 35:  Lettere, vol. i. p. 275.]

Anyhow, Ferrara drew him back.  It is of some importance here to understand Tasso’s own feeling for the duke, his master.  A few months later, after he had once more experienced the miseries of Court-life, he wrote:  ’I trusted in him, not as one hopes in men but as one trusts in God....  I was inflamed with the affection for my lord more than ever was man with the love of woman, and became unawares half an idolater....  He it was who from the obscurity of my low fortunes raised me to the light and reputation of the Court; who relieved me from discomforts, and placed me in a position of honorable ease; he conferred value on my compositions by listening to them when I read them, and by every mark of favor; he deigned to honor me with a seat at his table and with his familiar conversation; he never refused a favor which I begged for; lastly, at the commencement of my troubles, he showed me the affection, not of a master, but of a father and a brother.’[36] These words, though meant for publication, have the ring of truth in them.  Tasso was actually attached to the House of Este, and cherished a vassal’s loyalty for the duke, in spite of the many efforts which he made to break the fetters of Ferrara.  At a distance, in the isolation and the ennui of a village, the irksomeness of those chains was forgotten.  The poet only remembered how sweet his happier years at Court had been.  The sentiment of fidelity revived.  His sanguine and visionary temperament made him hope that all might yet be well.

Without receiving direct encouragement from the duke, Tasso accordingly decided on returning.

[Footnote 36:  Lettere, vol. i. p. 278, ii. p. 26.]

His sister is said to have dissuaded him; and he is reported to have replied that he was going to place himself in a voluntary prison.[37] He first went to Rome, and opened negotiations with Alfonso’s agents.  In reply to their communications, the duke wrote upon March 22, 1578, as follows:  ’We are content to take Tasso back; but first he must recognize the fact that he is full of melancholic humors, and that his old notions of enmities and persecutions are solely caused by the said humors.  Among other signs of his disorder, he has conceived the idea that we want to compass his death, whereas we have always received him gladly and shown favor to him.  It can easily be understood that if we had entertained such a fancy, the execution of it would have presented no difficulty.  Therefore let him make his mind up well, before he comes, to submit quietly and unconditionally to medical treatment.  Otherwise, if he means to scatter hints and words again as he did formerly, we shall not only give ourselves no further trouble about him, but if he should stay here without being willing to undergo a course of cure, we shall at once expel him from our state with the order not to return.’[38]