CONTENTS.
TULLIA D'ARAGONA.
Born, about 1510. Died, about 1570.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| PAGE | |
| My Lord Cardinal's daughter | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Aspasia rediviva | [10] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| "All's well, that ends well" | [21] |
OLYMPIA MORATA.
Born, 1526. Died, 1555.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Good old times in Ferrara.—How a Pope's daughter became aDuchess; bygones were bygones; and Love was still the lord of all | [30] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Troublous new times in Ferrara.—How a French King's daughterbecame a Duchess; bygones were aught but bygones; andMitre and Cowl were lords of all | [54] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| How shall a Pope be saved? with the answer thereto.—How shallour Olympia be saved? To be taken into consideration in asubsequent chapter | [77] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| "The whirligig of time brings in his revenges."—Still Undine.—The"salvation" question stands over | [92] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Dark days.—The great question begins to be answered | [108] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| The question fully answered at last.—Farewell, Ferrara!—Welcomeinhospitable Caucasus.—Omne solum forti patria est | [122] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| At Augsburg; and at Würzburg | [143] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| The home at Schweinfurth | [154] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| The makers of history.—The flight from Schweinfurth | [168] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| A new home in Heidelberg; and a last home beneath it.—What isOlympia Morata to us? | [182] |
ISABELLA ANDREINI.
Born, 1562. Died, 1604.
| Italian love for the Theatre.—Italian Dramatic Literature.—Tragedy.—Comedy.—Tiraboschi'snotion of it.—Macchiavelli'sMandragola.—Isabella's high standing among her contemporaries.—Herhusband.—Her high character.—Death, and Epitaph.—Herwritings.—Nature and value of histrionic art | [205] |
BIANCA CAPPELLO.
Born, 1548. Died, 1587.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| The pretty version of the story; and the true version of the same.—St.Mark's Square at Florence.—Bianca's beauty.—The Medicien famille.—The Casino of St. Mark.—The proprieties.—"Cosadi Francesco" | [220] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| A favourite's husband.—The natural course of things.—Italianrespectability.—The three brothers, Francesco, Ferdinand,and Pietro.—The ladies of the court.—Francesco's temper—hisavarice—and wealth.—Frolicsome days at Florence.—TheCardinal recommends respectability.—The Duke ensures it.—A court dialogue | [234] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Bianca balances her accounts.—Dangers in her path.—A bold step—andits consequences.—Facilis descensus.—A proud father.—Bianca'switchcraft.—The Cardinal is checkmated, for thisgame | [257] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| The Duchess Giovanna and her sorrows.—An heir is born.—Biancain the shade.—The "Orti Oricellari."—Bianca entertains theCourt there.—A summer night's amusement in 1577.—Thedeath of Giovanna | [271] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| What is Francesco to do now?—The Cardinal and Bianca tryanother fall.—Cardinal down again.—Francesco's vengeance.—Whatdoes the Church say?—Bianca at Bologna.—The marriageprivately performed.—The Cardinal learns the secret.—Thedaughtership of St. Mark.—Venetian doings versus Venetiansayings.—Embassy to Florence.—Suppose we could haveher crowned!—The marriage publicly solemnised | [284] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Bianca's new policy.—New phase of the battle between the womanand the priest.—Serene, or not serene! that is the question.—Biancaprotests against sisters.—Death of the child Filippo.—Bianca'stroubles and struggles.—The villa of Pratolino.—Francesco'sextraordinary mode of life there | [303] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| The family feeling in Italy.—Who shall be the heir?—Bianca atCerreto.—Camilla di Martelli.—Don Pietro on the watch.—Biancaat her tricks again.—The Cardinal comes to look aftermatters.—Was Francesco dupe or accomplice?—Bianca'scomedy becomes a very broad farce.—A "Villeggiatura" atPoggio–a–Cajano.—The Cardinal wins the game | [317] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Three hypotheses respecting the deaths of Francesco and Bianca.—Theofficial version of the story.—The Novelist's version ofthe story.—A third possibility.—Circumstances that followedthe two deaths.—Bianca's grave; and epitaphs for it by theFlorentines.—Ferdinand's final success | [333] |
OLYMPIA PAMFILI.
Born, 1594. Died, 1656.
| Pope Joan rediviva.—Olympia's outlook on life.—Her mode of "opening the oyster."—She succeeds in opening it.—Olympia's son.—Olympia at home in the Vatican.—Her trade.—A Cardinal's escape from the purple.—Olympia under a cloud. Is once more at the head of the field; and in at the death.—A Conclave.—Olympia's star wanes.—Pœna pede claudo | [346] |
ELISABETTA SIRANI.
Born, 1638. Died, 1665.
LA CORILLA.
Born, 1740. Died, 1800.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| The apprenticeship to the laurel | [393] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| The coronation | [403] |
| | |
| Appendix | [417] |
| Notes | [429] |
| Index | [437] |
A DECADE OF ITALIAN WOMEN.
TULLIA D'ARAGONA.
(About 1510—about 1570.)