The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-05

At that time contained morb tnoh hiH
Of gold ducats, desired to poison several
Cardinals that he might seize their treas
ures. We're these treasures so Important
The treasures OF Cardinals nearly always
were removed by their gentlemen before
the Pope could seizo. them. Why do you
think that SO prudent a Pope cared TO risk
the doing OF 80 very Infamous a deed Tor
so very small a gain; a decd hat could not
be done without accomplices, ana that
sooner or later must nave been discoveredF
Nav I not trust the official account OF the
Pope's sickness more than the mere rumors
, OF the mob? That official account declares
the Pope 10 have died of a double-tertian
fever. There is not the slightest vestige
Of truth In favor of the accusation which
you have brought against his memory
His son Borgia Duke Cesarel happened to
fall sick at the time when his father died.
That lie the sole foundation for the story OF
the venom 1t is certainly curious to find
the Pope Alexander VI. assailed by Roman
Catholics and defended by Voltaire.
Iucrezia Borgia, the daughter of Alex
ander W. by Giovanni de Catanei, was
first married 10 Don Giovanni Sforza, tho
tyrant Of Pesaro. but the marriage was
annulled on the score Of non-consumina-
ton, atteeted by the husbands written
admission. She was next married to Dor
Alfonso Of Aragon. Prince Of Bisceglia, a
nephew Of King Frederigo OF Naples. 10
was stabbed on the steps Of st. Peters
and eventually died Of his wounds. Tho
assassination has been attributed 10 Duke
Cesare Of Valentinois, but our author
submits reasons for asoribing II TO agents
of the Neapolitan House of San SeVerini
and the Roman House Of C~aIetani, who
had been deprived Of hefs in order - en-
rich Don Alfonso. After a year Of widow
hood, Lucrezia married Don Alfonso
d'Este, the heir Of Duke Ercole CT Ferrara.
It il well known that F. Gregorovius, a
German Protestant and a palnstakirg
scholar, has devoted a huge work 10 the
history Of this lady, and Is held by most
readers 70 nave proved her 10 he the victim
of inventions, due to the paid pens Of her
fathers enemies Upon this subject tie
author az this book remarks: "She was
now fat the date Ct her third marriaGel
the wife Of royalty, with n near prospect
of a throne, worshipped by the poor for
her boundlees and sympathetic charities,
by the learned for her intelligence, by her
kin for her loving LOYALTY. by her husband
for her perfect wifehocd and motherhood.
by all for her transcendent leauty and
her spotless name, Why it has pleased
modern writer's and thinkers T. Gopict
this pearl among women "a a poison
bearing nnnad.' a 'venefcous ~bacchante,'
stained with rcvolting and unnatural tur-
pitude, IL one Of those riddles to which
there is no key" The author goes on to
say that, II physiognomy he an index TO
character, the most superficial inspection
Of the efigy Of Madonna Lucrezia Borgia
must put her calumniators TO shame. In
that simple profile. Of features clean-cut,
delicate, refined; in those cha'te contours
so gently rounded, so sweetly fresh and
feminine; in the carriage Of that favian
head. well poised and nobly frank, there
can Turk no faint of degeneracy.'
1t has never been disputed that the mar
riago OF Lucrezia Borgia with Don Alfonso
D'Este was a most happy one. The fact
IL here recalled that the young bride made
herself beloved by all Ferrara. from her
husbands father. Duke creole, to the mean
est OF his subjects. by her beauty, her good
ness and her wonderful versatility. Her
amiable character ia exemplihcd in an
edict which she issued for tho protection
Of Jews who were attacked and pillagod
by Christians rioting for food; and IN the
indignant letter which she wrote 20 the
Podesta Mayor enjoining him to be en-
ergetic In securing to the Jews protection
Of their lives and property. Subsequently,
when Regent in Fcrrara. she set an example
Of Observation-Disclosures by appointing a
Jewcss 10 the care Of her wardrobe, and
the jew, Messer Ludovico, as her physician.
She was long remembered for her good
ness To young girls, whom she provided
with dowries. Charming descriptions arc
e1tant Of the evenings which this lady
spent In conversation with poets and s"h0l-
airs. listening TO music and working on
embroidery The great Venetian printer,
Messer Aldo Manuzio, has left praises 81
the Duchess Lucrezla which are evidently
sincere. When she died at the age Of ~, m
June, 1919. she was deeply moufned by her
husband. ard IL secmed to onlookers that
all the inhabitants Of FcrrAra throngod
around her bier.
Duke Cesare Of Valcntinois. who was
killed In a petty skirmi-h near the castle
Of Niana while commanding a small squad
ron on behalf - the King 81 Navarro Is
here described A. "a U~houomenal p,rrpn-
atty In which superb and tawuy b'auty
- physique, IrodigiOus force 81 character,
heroe. 0ll-conquerlng energy. svi't, ur.
errlng. almost felln" agility Of action. and
transooudcnt sIleudor - achievement,
were nullif.d aud llasted from a worldly
point 81 viev ~ n single act 90 self-s,rrlnrn
AID supreme confidence IN ,l'ucal honor
The author alllde- "a the fact utt o. Duke
terarr'- advocacy ~ neutrality Cardinal
Glullano della Revere owed ls '|lr..Iub
o. thc papal char o. he uupia,r - 80
ysutef i5us Huw dll ~ haprru tlat
Duke t"sair tlus flfthsruI ihr de- sus
Of % maI wLo had hrrL q lf,lYrF aud uU.
p.hral.u eusmy q M, Huu." - i.fyas
IT, uui autlufs ulIuluu Tia r.lYt..u 90 ~.
myrtry b. a.. g. fluui W lis stony urlaisl
~ ~" historian Nsuliss That Iiri.uaI
sayt that Duke lrraf, Ifafaal 40 IHH
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pLum hs rlDuia Mans ali u.af ,sUIHsl
Dl4lla lHlla H.ttu booming aaHu
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luhYHlu, o. rH uI Del Uad. s
q. tls luts uaf IH liI If AHta I.i 50
as If fii1 DI..afrs Ir taIaI. Ia
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