Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-02-15
TOO BEAUTIFUL.


1
Medicis assembled the throne of
Florence it happened that they
brought before the criminal tribunal
a woman whose face was covered
with 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 its 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 attending to
their duties.
So beautiful, that since she resided
on the right bank of the Arno,
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 morn
ing pulled out of the Arno the corpse
of a pale youth, he was surely 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 a yelvet-clad knight.
who with a 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.
Oncefamine 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 banguets 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 her
alabaster shoulders, while she was
cooling her rosy face with the grace
full waving of her diamond-studded
fan and the populace was struck
dumb, the ringleaders of the uproar
kissed the hem of her raiment, and
the mob withdrew. They had
clamored for bread, Rosaura gave
them gracious smile and they were
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 and |
summoned the accused.
Reality surpassed the charges of
the most vehement accusation, Ro- |
saura was more beautiful even than
she had been accused of being.
And still the Judge ruled: "The !
charged is sustained. The offense
has been committed, The prisoner
is discharged. -
Her beauty was great offense,
but still greater excuse. When
she looked her Judges in the
face they forgot the Law; if
she wept, they swore she was
innocent; and if she smiled at them,
they were ready to declare even them
selves guilty.
But when the Master of the Ducal
Treasury stole the funds entrusted to
him and then kicked himself because
he had squandered everything on the
fair one there could be no more mer-
ey extended. The fair dame was
again arraigned before the tribunal
and with majority of one it was de-
creed that she be banished forever
from Florence and her beautiful body
be branded.
The place of execution was in front
Of the notorious Palazzo Pizzi. A
dense humanity thronged the vast
space and the roofs of the adjoining
horses whence they could see the
stage.
The bewitchingly fair dame was led
up; the executioner took the red hot
branding iron and tore the silk gown
rom Rosaura's shoulder. And when
ne saw the velvety snow-white shout
Ter he forgot that he was the execu-
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