[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 Abbe 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