Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-04-20
MARY OF MANTuA-A True STORY.
BY G. P. r. JAMES. ESQ.

BY G. P. r. JAMES, ESQ.
| The noble House of Gonzapa. saw.
an Italian writer, in the year 1857. sshac
declined of It's former splendor. and for
getiul OF It's ancient valor and wisdom
had given itself up TO LUXURY and In
/ Temperance" Three brothers had sue
eessively filed the ducal chair. Fran
cesso, Ferdinando, and each had distip
gulshed himself not by restoring any
Vigor to decaying line, but by introduc
ing new modes and forms of vice.
The first Of these brothers. Frances
SO. had LETT one child by neglected and
/ injured wife, but that child was daugh
ter IN her mere infancy when her father
died, and while the undoubted law be-
slowed the Duchy of Mantua on the
brother of the deceased prince. the
arm Of power gave him also the Ducby
oil Monterrat, which the LAWYERS of Ita.
] iy held to belong to her own right. tc
Mary of Mantua. Under the guardian.
ship of her uncle Ferdinand, she rose to-
wards womanhood, acquiring new era.
ces and new accomplishments every
hour, but rarely suffered to appear a,
his court, and kept carefully from the
1
captivated by her beauty, or informed
of her rights.
At length, however, in the year 1866
the consequences ofvices and follies car.
ried Ferdinand chidless to the grave
and the last male of the race, Vincenzo
bound his brow with the ducal wreath
of Maptua. Scarcely had he taken pos
session of the dukedom, when Mary re-
celved n summons to appear in his pre-
sence, and FASTENED to obey
She was at the time in the convent oil
-, few miles from the city of Man.
tua, in which she had been educated
and usually resided No state-no dis
play, marked out the princess from
amongst the nuns; and it was only q
greater degree of liberty, a different
dress, and the practice of the various
accomplishments which formed the re
lief of her solitary life, that distinguish
ed the fair young Duchess of Montser
rat from her clustered companions
Two servants, indeed were allowed tC
her-the maid who had attended on heI
| from her youth, and the good man who
had been ordinary ecuyer to her moth
er. She had mules too, to take the fresh
air beyond the limits of the convent
garden, so that her life was easy, if no
happy, and feeling no passion and know
ing no Joys beyond the ones of her con
dition, she sought not to change a fate 81
calm, amidst that sea of troubles, the
distant roaring of whose waves she
heard even IN her tranquil solicitude.
/ 1t was evening when she received
the summons to attend upon the new
Duke. and her heart beat somewha
quickly, for many dark tate had beer
told within the convent walls, of the
crimes and faults of Vincenzo of Con
zaga 1t was evening and in the au
tumn, but yet warm and bright, Will
glowing skies and rich verdure, anC
grapes swinging from tree to tree, ready
, for the basket of the husbandman, anC
: as Mary stood in the convent garden
waiting for the carriage which was t.
convey her to Mantua, as fair and beau
, tiful a scene was spread out before he
eyes as the pencil ever borrowed from
that land of sunshine. Wide EXTENDED
beneath her view lay the fair Mantuar
plains towards Verona-plains & scene
which never quilted the memory of tn,
great Roman poet, though he abandoned
! his birth place for more southern land
and there bathed in purple light, will
. every blue shadow, mingled with liquio
: gold appeared the gentle sweeps and sof
lines of trees and manifold streams will
/ here and there the feudal castle crown
, ing an elninence or the tower of som,
, village church rising up out of the dell
The songs of the vine gatherers, 70
i, they had already begun, made the al
tuneful, and the sight of manifold Twin:
objects in the distance, trains of gay
peasantrv, the loaded cart, the quicl
driven car, and the silver gray cattI,
swimming in the Mincio, rendered tn
) landscape gay as well as beautiful.
Nor was Mary herself (could any ey,
have seen her there) an object worth,
but of slight remark. Exquisitely love
lv. with an air and expression not ex
actly of melancholy, but Of calm pen
!. siveness which her life and situation
were so Welt calculated 10 give; sh
: stood by the wall of the convent garden
. partly leaning upon worn stone tabl
!, which had much the character Of an ar
Lcient tomb, partly resting against hig
gothic cross which rose from the 10,
walk of the garden and marked QUIT
the ewes Of those who travelled the dee
bank below-the abode of those whc
dedicating themselves to a life of re
: ligious solitude, found peace or discor
tent. according to the feelings of thei
> own hearts. Her whole person was fu
of loneliness, her whole attitude replet
with grace. Her hands rested crosse
: on a book, which she had taken to Will
away the time, her head was slight
bent forward, and her eyes gazed on til
: distant prospect-the distant prospect a
WAYS more striking, because more aide
! by fancy than that which is near--an
:. the warm loneliness of her complexio
= with the white drapery in which 81
was clothed. contrasted beautifully vii
the cold gray stone and yellow licheI
of the ancient cross and table of stone
As she thus stood and gazed, she heai
a voice not far distant say Lady" IN
low and gentle tone. Those were day
however, in which danger was so IT