The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-16
LUCREzIA BORGIA.
The True Story of the Champion
POisoner.
Victor HrgO's and DOnfxetti's "Lucre-
zia"-The Cold Facts Collected by
Herr Gregorovfus-A Woman
Naturally Good and Pre-
ternafuralIy Bad.
lPan Mall Gazette.l

years, found two literary whitewashers
when, save for Victor Hugo. not one would
have been required. Victor Hugo's
eighteenth century legend-which is almost
entirely the creation of the poets fancy-of
a woman who was born toward the end of
the fifteenth, however, found favor in the
sight OF an Italian composer, and the "Lu-
crszia Borgia" of Donizeti gradually be-
came known throughout Italy, where the
true history of Lucrezia Borgis was, appar-
entity, known.
Herr Gregorovius has lately written life
of Lucrezia Borgia, based on original docu-
ments and contemporary correspondence"
in which he shows with considerable success
that LucreZia Borgia never had a passionate
youth, and that the poisoning OF her rela-
tive cen not be traced to her hand. The
popular opinion regarding the relations of
Lucrezi and Gennaro is shown to have little
or no foundation in fact, such impressions
being derived from Donizettfs opera. 1t is
shown that Lucrezia's relations with the inn
aginary Gennaro are as pure as those she has
been accused of holding with Alexander vi.
were the contrary. Lucrezia was never the
giver OF "orgies," though she had no objec-
ton now and then to appear at one; and IL
is obvious that the insult supposed to have
been offered to her through the removal of
the first letter OF her surname from the in
scription over the gate of her palace, could
never have taken that particular form, since
she had long ceased TO bear the name OF
Borga, which she had changed first for that
OF Sforza, secondly for that OF Aragon, and
thirdly for that of q Este.
But she at least led an extremely abandon
ed life, II Is said. She certainly did nothing
OF the kind, Herr Gregorovius answers
Neither was she a woman OF strong impulses
of determined character; while what can be
proven more clearly than anything else In
regard to her Is that far from presenting
an.h awlaNfnr "A Inn ~
Nine. Grist and Nine. Titiens have made ia
miliar, she had the appearance Of fair
haired, blue eyed, slender wasted, possibly
sentimental, but certainly not passionate
English girl. or this incontestible evidence
Il furnished by medallion portrait OF the
PERIOD, the accuracy OF which is confirmed
by authentic descriptions. She became tho
object Of many damaging accusations, the
worst OF which can be neither proved
nor disproved In any positive man
ner, but which can all be traced 10 her
first husband, John Sforza, whom she repu-
dated The Borgia family, M a family, had
the worst possible morals, or rather were
without morals; and II Is certain that Luz
cTezia associated freely with the recognized
mistressos, and even with the passing favor.
| ties OF her father, Pope Alexander vi Herr
| Grcgorovius defends LucreZla against worse
charge than auy that Victor Hugo In his
fantastic drama has brought against her, on
| the ground that no proofs exist. He pro-
tests, moreover, against the accusation IN
| the name of general morality. All, how.
ever, that can be clearly established on the
subject Is that the story was first circulated
| by Sforza who was mortified and enraged at
| his marriage with LucreZia having been
aunulled for political purposes through
the action OF her father. Nor will
| Herr GTcgorovious allow that Lucrezia
| 'Nok part In the celebrated "orgeh at
ma. As for crime, she committed none,
Dut she saw a good many committed with
| ont raising any violent objections. Her
brother and one OF her three husbands, AL.
! fonso OF Aragon, were assassinated almost
before her eyes; and for time she regretted
! these relatives, but without showing herself
in the slightest degree inconsolable. She
brsathed, In short n Vicious atmosphere, and
Was the passive accomplish OF much wicked
ness but she was not wicked herself la any
active oraggressve sense. She neither stab
bed nor poisoned, nor presided at orgies, like
the Lucrezia Borga OF Victor Hugo and OF
DDniZetti. Described In official documents
as tho pope's niece, Lucrezla was spoken Of
publicly by every one, including Alexander
vi. himself, NJ his daughter; and, fur from
being ashamed OF the relationship, she re-
gRried IL only in connection with the bril-
liant position which IL secured for her.
Alexander treated her with extreme kind
ness yet never hesitated to employ her as
|
trothed at the age of eleven, but the belrothal
was Immediately afterward set aside. In
the interest OF her brother, Cn,ar, she was
married 10 John Sforzl, lord OF Pesaro. But
when the alliance Of the SforZas was no
longer wanted, the pope, on pretext which
was perhaps valid, dissolved the marriage,
and, as the husband objected to the dissolu
ton, would have assassinated him had not
Lucre zia warned him OF his danger and
helped him To escape. Alexander now unit
ed his daughter 10 Alfonso OF Aragon, a
member OF the reigning family mt Naples
He WAS n handsome and agreeable man,
and Lucrezia IN said 10 have regretted
him sincerely when he was put TO
death by assassins in the pay OF
her brother Caesar. There was no time,
however, for lamentation. IL was thought
necessary for the sake OF Caesar. to establish
an alliance with the French party, and Lu-
crezia was next married to Alfonso d Este,
heir presumphve TO the ducby OF Ferrara.
This duke Of Ferrara is known 10 every one,
like Lucrezla herself, by Donizetti's celebra-
ted work. We have all learned from the
trio at the beginning OF the second act on
| what terms the LucreZia of the opera lived
with her husband the duke; how she picked
up in the street sons whom the duke OF Fer
rara mistook for lovers; how the duke Of
| fered these supposed lovers cups OF poisoned
wine, and how Lucrezia, like the accom-
plished texicologist Victor Hugo supposes
| her TO have been, was at once ready with an
appropriate antidote. AS matter of fact
whatever scenessbe may have been compelled
| TO go through, whatever society may have been
forced upon her In the days Of her youth, Luz
| crezia, as duchess of Ferrara. led an exem-
plary life. The marriage had not, on either
| side, been one OF affection. But when, after
| the death of Alexander VI, It was suggested
10 the duke OF Ferrara by Louis MI. that the
union might be declared illegal, Alfonso de-
| cllned to move in the matter. Lucrezia had
given proofs OF charming disposition, and
| her husband was delighted with her. Luz
crezia Borgia was now charitable, devout an
intelligent patroness of art aud literature,
and at the same time careful housewife,
keeping her accounts Of domestic expendi-
ture, and even making out her own washing
| bills she took Bembo, Ariosto and other
poets under her particular protection, who,
according TO the custom IN such cases, cele-
brated her virtues in return. She was a
good mother, and when in 1919 she found
- a -