New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-11
VALENTINO.
ND ASrnR,S ROMANCE.

vAlENr1so An Historical Of the Sixteenth
century In Italy. Ry WILLIAM W MDoRt AsioI"
16mo pp vii. 323. Charles ScI1bners SONS
Valentino was the name commonly borne 10y
Cmsar Borgia because during what may perhaps
nv courtesy be called the clerical period Oh HIS
he had held the arehbisbOpic OF valencia az .no
Machining of the sixteenth century however, Wu''n
ia the epocb of Mr. AstOr's romance ne hau 'eo"
released from the VOWS which never pressed very
hord pnon him. he had distn guished himself, even
in the land of all crimes and baseness, by long
series of sensational murders and unparalleled
troacberies: and he had become the most formidable
6opre in that tunultuOus Italy which seemed
unable TO choose between the expressions OF the
foreign invader and the ravages OF domestic
princes. The SpaniardS claimed the south; LOUIS
XII of France was occupying Milan; the fapaoS'
brought by Alexander VI the father of Cesar 10
ITS very vilest estate. made OF Rome ho'-pou Vi
lust and violence and the petty lord5hip' Oh VIC
centre of the peninsula were scenes oI lho'''''V
strife over whose atrocities ana Nliahles INV
historians would he glad to hurry CAESAR ooie'"
who is represerted as a man of many personal
traces and accomplishments, well edu'ato"'
or,,asive Courageous and far seeing, perceived III
This condition of affairs an opportunity 10 conSoH-
dale for himself formidable power IN inc
pomagua. and he has been credited with tho idea OF
uniting the multitude of warning principalltcs
IN one respectable kingdom. On account OF TINS
Guasi-patriotlc project his character mas iouho
defenders and MacchIavelli III his famous treatise
is supposed 20 have taken him as the model OIL an
ostute Prince" But Mr.. Astor is pioba bly, right
in regarding him as nothing more than very abie
very selfish and very rapacious public roDper
The prosecution of the design for the suhjnga-
finn of the Romagna was the elimination OF
Cpsar Borgias career; and this enterprise
compressed into the year AMI half ending IN
Me- summer of 1903, is the principal subject OF Mr.
Astor's brilliant and stirring romance. His theme
ros not an easy one to handle for it invO led the
MANAGEMENT of great multiplicity OF small ana
complicated details. frequent shifting OF the
scene the study of diplomatic lntrigues ana the
marshalling of numerous perSonages. Ills success
in evolving a clear narrtive oat OF the tangle OF
materials shows the result of careful research
among the historians of difficult period ana an
autit1de for literary construction which promises
we'll for his future if he continue to employ bis pen
Incidents are presented with dramatic art. lie
dialogue is animated and abundant. The move
meut of the story never drags. The actors are
natural and interesting. The accessories are hlghlv
picturcsoue The views of strangely debased
society splendid in its Injuries and savage ID It's
brutalites a society which loved everything bciu-
tiful except virtue, and filled the palaces of the
great with poets, painters prisoners ami braves
are extremely effective. In this part OF his work
Mr. Aston has deity combined the license OF the
romancer with the precision OF the historian. The
storv opens with the coming to Rome OF the embassy
DISPATCHED from Ferrara TO fetch away the brde OF
the Duke Alfonso the famous Lucretla BoTgla
Iucretia the daughter of Pope Alexander VI ana
sister of Cesar is represented in the bloom OF hey
beauty awaiting at the Vatican the arrva! of the
MAGNIFICENT cOrteCc. Mr.. Aston adopts the estimate
of her character which the researches OF modern IN
vestigltors are compelling the world to take. she
had apparentynovery strong passions OF any hlhd'
she was universally respected by the people among
whom size lived; and of the crimes which poetrV
has associated with her name nothing was ever
heard until she had been dead two hundred years.
Robed in white and leaning on the arm of an a2ed
courtier she received the brother and proxy OF her
atauced at the head OF Of the grand stalicdses
of the Papal palace:
Her dress was heavily embroidered with gold
from her shoulders hung brown vtiy1t cape
were slashed after the Spanish fashion; her ua'r
bound with met oil soi, nt ,, wore
n heavy collar from which hung an uncut I'uy.
The Ferrarese envoy lost no time IN WIl'ln2 noit
his agreeable impressions. she shO"ou HetSTl
discreet aud amiable. good natured and respectfully
devoted to your eXceency aud to the IiiGatrl"NS
Don alfonso. Moreover she buses Il nilNrT y
grace in all her accompl ishments wilch IS Neicl ~
n mudcSs diidcuce. Her beauty Woad DO "n'N
sufficient. even were it not ENLARGED NY lue
charm of manner. She is also perfect CHRISTIAN !;
to morrow she goes to confession, ana receives the
Eucharist at Christmas
While the author accepts the new judgment upon
Jucrctia. he shows no sympathy with the attempts
yrbich have been made, with much less show o.
reason TO modify the general Feriict upon AicNah-
der vi. The Poptif appea-s in his oil ago still
driven by the fires Of seasu1lity and comprising
IN his svb,ritc seclusiOn the most monstT0us and
beartless crimes, A little bevy of wanton beauties
snrround him in the Vatican, the chief OF them
boiuq hi, mistress Giulia Farnese; ANA when the
lovely Elvira UESte UNEXPECTEDLY arrives among
them from FcrCaia, the jealousy Of G!uiIa IS
rou,ed and leads to the most tragic complications
OF the story 1t is not the father, however, but the
son who is the object of Elyird'S interest; while
Caesar on his part is involved in still another affair,
big with trouble; and both intrgucs involve hired
assassns, daring ventures, and marvellous escapes
This apparatus OF wickolness viii not be new to
any reader Of old Italian romance, but Mr.. Aston has
used il With an historical realism which almost
makes il fresh. The sketch of Alexander vi IS a
remarkable introduction TO tho story
Pope Alexander VI was, ut this time, advanced in
ing presence. in his prime he was ren.aIkdhie Tor
the elegance and suaVity OF bis address, the refined
and benignant beauty of his face. the pure ana
cultivated tenor of a conversation Wl.ciy ut Nar-
ancc with the habits of his life. Now grown TO be
an Old man. even the shadows of conflicts and the
remembrance of crimes could not ban sl aspect OF
intellectual repose, of gentle amlabllitV OF po1Cr
born to command His health was still robust his
physical condition hale and vigorous. Apparently,
no conjunction. regret, 10 sting OF conscience
no thought of the tTaVestv of his sensuous career
npon his sacred Office. trou hcd the calm of that
placid cOntrntment lie lived now in the midst OF
diplomatic asprations,of nrigues for tho adv ance
ment of his children, and in the amOyOGS Compan-
ionship of the beautiful Giulia Faln'sc
The scenes in the Vatican are strikingly cOnrastcd
with the campaigning adventures of condot;ere.
aud with some battle pictures which forciblY Illus
tratc the basencss Of military life when avarce was
the highest incentive to glory, and treachery the
,.ommonest danger against which commander had
20 be on his guard. But if il became question OF
slcachery the subordinate captains had to watch
tLcir chief as closely az he watched them. Mr..