The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-28
M AIRY OF MANTUA.
A True History.
ny O. 2. r. JAM Z 5

y
by P. r.. JAMES.
The noble house Of Gonzaga,' says an
Italian writer, in the year 1927, had de-
cllned from its former splendor, and forgetful
OF its ancient valor and wisdom, had given
itself up to luxury and intemperance' Three
brothers had successfully filed the ducal
chair, francesca, Ferdinand, and Vincenzo,
and each had distinguished himself not by re-
storing any vigor to decaying line, but by
introducing new modes and forms Of vice.
The first Of these brothers, francesca, had
left one child by neglected and injured wife,
but that child was a daughter, in her mere
infancy when her father died and while the
undoubted law bestowed the Duchy of Man
tua on the brother Of the deceased prince,
the arm Of power gave him also the Duchy
Of Montferrat, which the lawyers of Italy
held to belong of her own right, to Mary OF
Mantua. Under the guardianship Of her un-
Gle Ferdinand, she rose towards womanhood,
acquiring new graces and new accomplish
ments every hour, but rarely suffered to APP
pear at his court, and kept carefully from the
eyes and tongues of all who might be capti-
waited by her beauty, or inform her Of her
rights.
At length, however, in the year 1926. the
consequences Of vices and follies carried Fer
dinand Childlcss to the grave, and the last
male Of the race, Vincenzo, bound his brow
with the ducal wreath Of Mantua. Scarcely
had he taken possession Of the Dukedom,
when Mary received summons to appear
in his presence, and FASTENED to obey. She
was at the time in the Convent OF ---. a
few miles from the city Of Mantua, in which
she had been educated, and usually resided.
No state, no display, marked out the Princess
from amongst the nuns and it was only a
greater degree Of liberty, different dress,
and the practice of the various accomplish
ments which formed the relief Of her solitary
life, that distinguished the fair young Duchess
Of the Montferrat from her clustered compa-
Mons. Two servants, indeed, were allowed
to her; the maid who had attended upon her
from her youth, and the good man who had
been ordinary ecuyer to her mother. She had
mules, too, to take the fresh air, beyond the
limits Of the Convent gardens, SO that her life
was easy, if not happy; and feeling no pas
sions, knowing no joys, beyond the simple
ones of her condition, she sought not to
change fate so calm, amidst that sea Of
troubles, the distant roaring of whose waves
she heard even in her tranquil solitude
II was evening when she received the sum-
mons to attend upon the new Duke, and her
heart beat somewhat quickly for many daring
tale had been told within the convent walls Of
the crimes and faults Of Vincenzo Of Coma
ga, the faithless priest, the married cardinal
1t was evening, and in the autumn, but yet
warm and bright, with glowing skies and rich
yerdure, and grapes swinging from tree to
tree, ready for the basket of the husbandman;
and as Mary stood in the convent garden
waiting for the carriage which was to con-
vey her to Mantua, as fair and beautiful a
scene was spread out before her eyes as the
pencil ever borrowed from that land Of sun
shine. Wide extended beneath her view,
lay the fair Mantua plains towards Verona
plains and scenes which never quilted the
memory of the great Roman poet, though he
abandoned his birth place for more southern
lands--and there bathed in purple light with
every blue shadow, mingled with liquid gold,
appeared the gentle sweeps and soft lines Of
trees and manifold streams, with here and
there the feudal castle browning an eminence,
or the tower Of some village church rising
up out of the dell The songs Of the vine
gatherers. for they had already begun, made
the air tuneful and the sight Of manifold
living objects in the distance, trains Of gay
peasantry, the loaded cart, the quick-driven
car, and the silver-grey cattle swimming in
the Mincio, rendered the landscape gay as
well as beautiful.
Nor was Mary herself (coud any eye have
seen her there) an object worthy Of but slight
remark. Exquisitely lovely, with an air and
expression not exactly Of melancholy, but OF
that calm pensiveness which her life and
situation were so we'll calculated to give, she
stood by the wall Of the convent garden, part
ly leaning upon a worn-stone table which had
much the character of an ancient tomb, partly
resting against a high gothic cross which
rose from the low wall of the garden; and
marked QUITO the eyes Of those who ira
yelled the road that ran at the bottom of the
deep bank below--the abode of those who,
dedicating themselves TO a life Of religious
solitude, found peace or discomfort according
to the feelings of their own hearts. Her
whole person was full Of loveliness, her whole
attitude replete with grace. Her hands rested
crossed on a book, which she had taken to
while away the time, her head was slightly
bent forward, and her eyes gazed upon the