Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-10
TOO BEAUTIFUL.
A Story from Medieval Italy.

In the year when Ferdinand OF
Medicis assembled the throne OF
Florence it happened that they
brought before the criminal tribunal
q woman whose face was covered
with q death mask. The remainder
of the figure was hidden to the
ankles in large cloak, the cowl of
which was pulled over the forehead.
Whoever beheld the ominous form
saw nothing but the appalling mask
and the corpse cerements; a spectre
about to engage in the carnival of
the dead. This person was Rosaura
Montalboni, who stood before her
judges for the fourth time arraigned;
charged for the fourth time with an
offense which, strange to say, de-
tends itself and contains in the very
accusation it's own exculpation.
What was the accusation?
They accused Rosaura Montalboni
of being too beautiful.
So beautiful, that when on morn
ing she stepped to her windows the
people crowded together in the street
and the vehicles could not pass for
the throng and the officials of the
Ducal Government kept on admiring
her for hours instead of attend ding to
their duties.
So beautiful, that since she resided
on the right bank of the Arno, a
whole row of palaces were erected
there while the left bank fell into de-
cay because noblemen, merchants
and shippers all settled on the other
side.
So beautiful, that when she entered
the Church of Santa Marie del Fiore
the men turned away from the altar
| towards her, and took home with
them from the sacred place chagrin
and damnation instead of consola-
ton and salvation for their souls.
Whenever the fishermen of a morn
ing pulled out of the Arno the corpse
of pale youth, he was surely a mis-
cradle enthusiast who had killed him.
self for Rosaura s sake; when the night
watch in the dark streets came across
the body of u velvet-clad knight
who with n dagger thrust in his
heart, lay swimming in his blood, he
had fallen for Rosaura, who, perhaps
had smiled sweetly on him and there
by kindled the raging jealousy of his
rivals.
Once famine ravaged the town. The
mob was bowling, having no bread
and burst ferociously into the palace
Montalboni, whose mistress used to
battle in milk, to sprinkle the flowers
of her garden with wine and to give
daily banquets while the masses out
side were dying of hunger. When the
furious multitude burst open the por
tails of the palace and driven to flight
the richly dressed attendants, Ros
aura all alone came down the marvel
GUS golden hair floating down hel
alabaster shoulders, while she wal
cooling her rosy face with the grace
full waving of her diamond-studdec
fan - and the populace was strucl
dumb, the ringleaders of the uproal
kissed the hem of her raiment, anC
the mob withdrew. They haC
clamored for bread, Rosaura CAV,
them gracious smile and they wer,
content.
Three times, for her beauty's sake
had she been accused by Indignant
fathers whose sons had fallen victims
to the fatal charms of Rosaura ofbe
ing too beautiful
The Judges heard the charge an(
summoned the accused.
Reality surpassed the charges o
, the most vehement accusation, Ro
saura was more beautiful even thai
she had been accused of being
And still the Judge ruled: 9Th
charged is sustained. The offens
has been committed, The prisone
is discharged"
Her beauty was great offense
but a still greater excuse. Whel
she looked her Judges in tn
face they forgot the Law; j
she wept, they swore she wa
Innocent and if she smiled at them
they were ready to declare even them
selves guilty.
But when the Master of the Duca
Treasury stole the funds entrusted t,
him and then kicked himself becaus
he had squandered everything on tn
fair one there could be no more mer
cy extended The fair dame wa
, again arraigned before the tribuna
and with majority of one it was de
creed that she be banished foreve
from Florence and her beautiful bod,
be branded.
The place of execution was in from
of the notorious Palazzo Pizzi.
dense humanity thronged the vas
space and the roofs of the adjoining
, houses whence they could see til
, stage.
The bewitchingly fair dame was lie,
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