The Cairo bulletin., 1911-07-17

One morSing some three centuries
ago, when Florence, Italy, ruled by
Duke Cosimo de Medici. was divided
among number of powerful families.
the Duchess Eleanora. attended by
couriers, was driven from the Pitt
palace across tie bridge called the
Ponte Vecchio. spanning the river AT
no. into the main part Of the city. Be
side the duchess sat young girl noted
especially for her fair complexion and
golden hair. From an upper window
overlooking the bridge young man
looked down on the cayalcade. About
stood a crowd of persons dividing their
glanCeS between the young man and
the young girl beside the duchess His
eyes were riveted on her. while she
glanced up Mt him. They were known
to be lovers. all Florence sympathlzed
With them, aud the crowd had collect
cd to observe this lovers look that
passed between them.
The girl was Maddalena, the daugh-
ter of Bernardo yettori. surnamed the
light haired" and it was from him
that his daughter inherited her locks
Of gold as we'll as an immense fortune
The mother Of Maddalena when wild
owed married Pietro Salviati and. IN
order TO keep her fortune in the fam.
lily, the stepfather betrothed her when
still Il child 10 his son by former
marriage But this young man was
killed in battle.
When Maddaena came to mar
riageab!e age love affair came abou'
between her and Lodoyco Capponi
who owned a villa in the country ad
joining enc Of her own. 1t was 2
grand passion on both sides, and thu
fame was famed BY opposition. Mad
daIena's stepfather. stlll bent on keep
ing his fortune in his own family, per
suaded Duke Cosimo to forbid the mar
rage Despite her own, her mothers
and her lovers protests and entreatieS
the girl was placed in a convent.
Lodovico was a fiery young man, and
il was hoped by the Stepfather that he
would commit some act Of violence
which would afford an excuse TO ban.
ish him. lock him up or otherwise dis
pose or him. But the lover displayed
more self control than had been CO
pected and refused TO give his enemy
the coveted opportunity.
Maddaleaa's mother told the story OF
her daughters love and misfortunes tc
the duchess and succeeded in interest
ing her. i'he affair was known TO all
Florentines, who were a poetic and
artistic people easily moved by story
Of love Moreover, they feared that
IL the duke was able to prevent this
marriage he would prevent others
Therefore. though all the power te
keep the lovers apart was on one side
all the sympathy was on the other.
The duchess finally succeeded In per
suading her husband to permit her tc
| invite Maddalena 10 visit her for q
| few days at the palace. Instead oil
days she remained months. But the
struggle 10 compel her to resign her
lover was not given up, Indeed, hei
invitation came in order to unite hel
with another sutton. BY the dukes
order Lodovico was never mentioned
except in contempt, while SigismondC
di Rossi, favorite Of the duke, was
always spoken Of with the highes
| praise.
Lodovico, not being permitted to vis
the girl he loved, rented house over
looking the Ponte Vecchio, from which
be could look down upon her and re
ceive her return glance whenever sh'
crossed the bridge with the duchess,
1t was one of these occasions tina
has been described at the opening 0
this story, scene that would not like
~ have happened anywhere except IL
the city Of the medieval italian poet
and painters whose names and work