, nor his deputy, but owing to the favor
of Madonna Giulia herself, that I had obtained the benefices.

In order not to contradict, I replied that I knew that, and I again
thanked her Highness. Thereupon Madonna Giulia asked with much
interest after Messer Puccio and said, "We will see to it that some
day he will come here as ambassador; and although, when he was
here, we, in spite of all our endeavors, were unable to effect it,
we could now accomplish it without any difficulty." She assured me
also that the cardinal had mentioned to her the previous evening
the matter we had discussed on the road, and she urged me to write;
she thought if the affair were handled by yourself, the illustrious
Piero would be favorably disposed toward it. Thus far has the
matter progressed. Giulia also wanted me to see the child; she is
now well grown, and, it seems to me, resembles the Pope, _adeo ut
vere ex ejus semine orta dici possit_. Madonna Giulia has grown
somewhat stouter and is a most beautiful creature. She let down
her hair before me and had it dressed; it reached down to her feet;
never have I seen anything like it; she has the most beautiful
hair. She wore a head-dress of fine linen, and over it a sort of
net, light as air, with gold threads interwoven in it. In truth it
shone like the sun! I would have given a great deal if you could
have been present to have informed yourself concerning that which
you have often wanted to know. She wore a lined robe in the
Neapolitan fashion, as did also Madonna Lucretia, who, after a
little while, went out to remove it. She returned shortly in a gown
almost entirely of violet velvet. When vespers were over and the
cardinals were departing, I left them.

The close association with Giulia, to whose adulterous relations with
her father Lucretia was the daily witness, if not a school of vice for
her, at least must have kept her constantly in contact with it. Could a
young creature of only fourteen years remain pure in such an atmosphere?
Must not the immorality in the midst of which she was forced to live
have poisoned her senses, dulled her ideas of morality and virtue, and
finally have penetrated her own character?

FOOTNOTES:

[27] Cod. Aragon, ii, 2.67, ed Trinchera.

[28] Carte Strozziane, filz 343. In the archives of Florence.

[29] Lelia Ursina de Far