Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-11-22


bored with the mass Of readers, from her
own day TO ours, under terrible stains but
she has not wanted her defenders, and even
euoglzers. The great part OF her lille sP-
oears. in wicked times and in wicked places,
TO have been passed IN all outward corum,
decency and dignity. Ranke quotes from
contemporary report of the Ambassador
of Venice to the Court of Rome, passage
about Lucrezia, in which she is called "wIse
and liberal )" and as her great natural aDii-
tiles andtalents have not been questioned,
she is, taking brl at the worst estimate that
has been formed OF her. entitled to this cue
logium. Her personal beauty and her NOR
al character have both gained something
with posterty by her generous patronage oil
literature. and particularly OF poetry Tor
poet who knows his craft, will praise any
thing or any body, if he is well paid ior MS
panegyric. 1t is more TO her true glory,
that her counsel, her influence, and the free
use of her purse, were all given to the es-
Establishment and diffusion OF the art oil
printing in Italy. 80.
There was wisdom as well as liberallty
and enlightenment in this. The patronage
of printing, which in the long run, says M.
Chasles, corrects its own errors, was lar
more ufequivocal proof Of her real libefali!
ty, than the giving OF pensions to syc'Phah-
tic court poets. ,r
She knew, however, what Virgil and Ho-
race had done for Augustus and there was
something good in her desire that both her
soul and her body should appear as fair ana
bright as possible in the eyes oil merciiul
posterity. She knew what llberalIty TO
men of letters had done for other famous
women. She knew that canonized saints OF
the Church and grave bishops had praised
the Christian virtues and piety OF Bruno.
hide, 'the murderess of sever kings;
and Lucrezas liberaity was as great, and
her guilt certainly not so great. as that OF
the ancient Frank queen. Though Mr..
Roscoe's defence Of the perfect innocence
of Lucrezia may not tie wholly satisfactory
still there is room left for ds5elevIng the
more revolving charges which have been
heaped on the memory OF This woman.
Ii, however, the extreme guilt and the
extreme beauty of Lucrezia are questIona-
Bile, the atrocious crimes aud The singular
beauty of her brother, Cesar Borgia. are
not in the least doubtful. Contemporary
history declares that this horrible monster,
who, in Christian age and country, re-
newed by his crimes the memory OF the
Roman Commodus, whom he resembled IN
strength and personal attractions, was the
most beautiful young man in the world;
comparing him IN this respect with FerdI-
nand, King of Naples, celebrated at that
time for his great personal comeliness, and
giving the preference TO Borgia. He was
an Achilles, tall and graceful IN person,
beautiful in the face, and like Achilles, of
prodigious strengtb-a Hercules and ADO
mis- united. Yet it must be doubted if his
face had any of that moral beauty, which
appears IN the countenances of men who
get no credit for comelness though Bor.
gia might present beauty less than that
OF archangel ruined"
Pope has adopted the name OF this mon-
ster as inscriptve of The height of incar-
nate wickedness and am afraid that the
name of Borgia, borne by the father Alex
ander and the brother Cesar, has an air of
blood, of poison and sensuaity about it,
which throws black cloud of prejudice a.
round the memory Of Lucrezia, the daugh-
ter and sister.
In the loathing and horror which this very
name produces, it appears to be entirely
forgotten that in ST. Francis Borgia the
church of Rome has canonized man ofrank
with the humility of true follower Of Him
who was born in manger; wit and
scholar, and one who is 10 be honored with
Xavier and Barromeo, as among the most
amiable Of men.
After the death of Lucrezia, her third
husband, Duke Alfonzo Of Ferrara, married
poor country girl OF extraordinary beauty.
All who have seen any pictures, are famil-
lar and delighted with that charming portrait
by Titan, which has been multiplied by
copies more than, perhaps, any other of his
works-representing young and very fair
woman twining her luxuriant yellow hair.
This is believed to be that peasant girl,
Donna Laura, the second wife of Alfonzo.
'Titan,' says Mrs. Jameson, painted her
several times, quite nude. have never
seen in ary gallery portrait by Titan re-
cognized as the portrait of Donna Laura;
but for several reasons. on which | cannot
enlarge in his place, believe the famous
picture in the Louvre styled 'Titian's Mis-
iress, to be the portrait of this peasant
duchess. JAMES BRUCE.