New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-06
Literary ,Nesvs and Criticism

caught him in his arms and when the fearless
child laughed the soldier was convinced that &
crown OF sovereignty was indeed on the way.
When at last il came 10 the young Coslno' ne
was prepared 20 wear it in the bad cid fashlon
as q tyrant. To his family. as 10 the F1orentlnes
he was q rigorous ruler. He stabbed TO the
heart his beautiful daughter. Maria. when ne
discovered that she had failed in love with a
young n0bleman who had been brought up WIZ
her and her brothers and sisters. Then reTnorse
attacked the black proved duke. He was like
one beside himself his wonted frmness and self
control at times failed 10 stay him and he
preferred to shut himself up alone in one OF the
towers Of the castle at Livorno, venting his
passionate desuair in fits Of weeping and in
a5ject cries OF self-reproach.' Yet all this sor-
ROW was not sufficient TO deter him from another
act Of mad fury Those who have fingered in
the corridors Of the Ufizi have smiled with
pleasure at sight OF Bronzino's portrait Of the
chubby, curly haired, radiant baby. Garzia de-
Medici. II was this son who, while hunting
with his brother Giovanni. unintentionally killed
the elder. by striking him IN a fit Of anger
an anger ike his fathers. The duke rode in
upon the scene and his boy ran TO him shrek
ing 1t is me, your Garzia l have killed Clio
vanni" he cried At that moment the Duchess
F3eanora appeareG Giovannfs body had been
y.
tie ground, apparently il swoon, "Garzia
heard his mother coming toward him, and. rous-
ing himself. he ran and threw himself into her
arms weeping bitterly. Then once more he
turned 10 his father pleadngy. and kneeling
to him grasped his legs, iuploring pardon for
his crirle-fOr neither father nor son doubted
but that Giovanni was dead. Barring his head.
and holding his arms wide apart TO Heaven, the
duke appealed TO God to direct his actions The
unhappy mother fell upon her knees and prayed
aloud; then shutting her eyes and covering her
ears she awaited more dead than alive, the
fall CT that hand Within which was convulsively
CRASHED a flashing poignard."
Cosirlo once more prayed most earnestly TO
God 10 approve the justice OF his deed, 10 pardon
him for so executing the divine wrath, ana Tor
peace for the souls OF ms young Soiis' men
hendinl toward the unconscious GarZla, ne eX-
claimed. I viii have Cain in my 1amllE- ana
al the same moment he plunged his weapon INTO
with a last despairing shrek Garzia fell away,
death. indeed her heart had stopped its beat
when Cosimo raised her and bid her sternly 10
act the woman
Enough of these tragedies of far off time!
There are many more Of them described in this
volume and they grew more and mora base as.
drunk with indulgence and with power, the
line of the honest old peasant Chiarissimo de-
Perforated The murder of the beautiful Blanca
Capello and Of her Grand Duke Francesca fills
many pages and serves to provide an attractive
frontispieCe in the shape of a colored reproduc-
ton OF Bronzino's portrait of the siren. There
are many other portraits also both Of men and
women who have borne the Medici name, and
have suffered under the sign Of the golden pills.