Excerpt from Baldassare Castiglione, the Perfect Courtier, Vol. 1 of 2: His Life and Letters, 1478-1529 No less than three new versionsofthe'cortegiano' have appeared inenglish during thelast few years. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ...the news of the victory of Pavia reached Madrid, the Venetian Ambassador, that great Churchman and true patriot, Gaspare Contarini, told Gattinara solemnly that he was destined to play the part of Joseph at the court of Pharaoh, and deliver his own people. Unfortunately, the influence of Lannoy, the victor of Pavia, was now supreme Although Charles refused to accept the Chancellor's resignation, he adopted the policy recommended by Gattinara's rival. Besides forming new ties, Castiglione was fortunate in finding several old friends at the court of Spain, Contarini had lived in Rome during Leo X.'s reign, and was on intimate terms with Sadoleto and Canossa, who had lately urged the Pope to make him a Cardinal, declaring that he was the holiest and most learned man of his age. The close of his embassy in Spain was now drawing near, but he was to be succeeded by another distinguished Venetian, his old friend Andrea Navagero, who was still dearer to Castiglione. Another fellow-countryman whom Castiglione met at the court of Charles V., and who is often mentioned in Navagero's letters, was Soardino, the Mantuan envoy, with whom the Count had naturally much in common. Here, too, he found the Marquis Federico's youngest son Ferrante, who LETTERS TO ISABELLA 267 had spent the last year in Spain, and was a great favourite with the Emperor and the whole court, as Castiglione hastened to assure his mother. The Count had sent a letter to Isabella immediately after his arrival at Madrid, according to his promise. Now he wrote again from Toledo, reminding the Marchesa of her old wish to visit the shrine of S. Jacopo of Compostella, and telling her this was the moment to carry out her intention. 'I seem to hear you laugh, ' he adds with a spark of his..