with Dukes Guidobaldo and Francesco Maria I., the latter of whom gave
him an exemption from imposts."[132]
[Footnote *131: It is the work of Lorenzo Laurana.]
[Footnote 132: The kindness of Mr. F.C. Brooke, of Ufford Place,
Suffolk, enables me to supplement from his note-book this imperfect
mention of the most interesting feature of the palace. "The small
cabinet has shared a better fate than that of the remainder of the
apartments, and requires little else than cleaning up to restore it to
its original state. The ceiling is divided into several scanty
compartments, of octangular form and relieved with gold, while the
wainscoted walls are inlaid with _tarsia_, representing bookcases, or
rather cupboards, with their contents, amongst which are a ship, a
tambourine, military weapons, a cage with a parrot in it, and, as if
for the sake of variety only, a few volumes of books, over one of
which, containing music, with the word 'ROSABELLA' inscribed on its
pages, is suspended a crucifix. On the central case opposite to the
window, and occupying as it were the post of honour, is the Garter,
with its motto, 'HONI SOIT Q MAL I PENSE'; a device which has been
sculptured on the exterior of the stone architrave of the door of this
apartment. It appears again in _tarsia_ in the recess of the window,
where may also be seen, within circles, 'G. UBALDO DX.' and 'FE DUX.'
On the frieze, and in a single line interrupted only by the spaces
occupied by the door and window, is the following inscription in
_tarsia_:--
"'Aspicis æternos venerandæ matris alumnos,
Doctrina excelsos ingenioque viros.
Vi nuda cervice cadant ante...
... genu.
Justiciam pietas vincit reverenda, nec ullum
Poenitet ultrici succubuisse suæ.'
"I might also have mentioned as amongst the devices, the crane
standing on one leg, and holding, with the foot of the other which is
raised, the stone he is to drop as a signal of alarm for his
companions. Among other feigned contents of a bookcase are an
hour-glass, guitar, and pair of compasses; in another are seen a
dagger, dried fruits in a small basket made of thin wood, and a
tankard; while in a third is represented an open book surmounted with
the name of Guidobaldo, who probably made the description inscribed on
the two pages of the volume, comprising verses 457 to 491 of the tenth
_Æneid_."
It is unnecessary here to introduce this long quotation; for the last
combat and death of Pallas by the spear of Turnus, however happily
described by Virgil, bear no traceable analogy to incidents in the
Montefeltrian family. Mr. Brooke conjectures that it was recommended
by the passage,--
"Stat sua cuique dies; breve et irreparabile tempus
Omnibus est vitæ; sed famam extendere factis,
Hoc Virtutis opus:"
a sentiment equally beautiful in itself, and appropriate to the
fortunes of Guidobaldo; yet why not have given point to the epigram by
isolating it from the inappropriate context?]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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