The value of political gratitude is strikingly illustrated in the fact, that these outrageous measures were adopted, in a consistory composed for the most part of creatures of the della Rovere family, with the single dissentient voice of Cardinal Grimani, of Venice, Bishop of Urbino, whose independence earned him an exile from Rome. Nor was this the only painful lesson of the worth of courtier fidelity now taught to that illustrious house. Even the civilities of Bembo to the Duchess Dowager sank to a low grade, as he thus acknowledges in a letter to Bibbiena of the 19th of April:--"The Lady Duchess of Urbino, whom I visited yesterday (a duty which I, however, very rarely perform), commends herself to you, as does also the Lady Emilia. On these dames the Signor Unico [Accolti] dances attendance. He is more than ever in the heat of his old passion, which he declares now numbers five lustres and a half; and he has better hopes than heretofore of at length obtaining the consummation of his desires, having been asked by the Lady Duchess to _improvisare_, by which means he trusts to move that stony heart to tears--at the least. He is to rehearse in two or three days, and as soon as he does so, I shall report to you: would that you could be here, as he is sure to do it right well." It can scarcely be doubted that this innuendo was meant to apply to the more exalted of these ladies. Whether as a caustic sneer, or a current scandal, it comes ill from such a quarter, and only adds a new proof of the poet's inordinate conceit. Nor did it go unpunished, for we find such vain effrontery thus lashed by Gandolfo Porrino, a contemporary satirist:-- "In such affairs the palm he gives to one beyond all gold, Urbino's Duchess dowager, your cousin scarce yet old. Long at that court Lord Unico had paragoned her face, With words and pen, in wondrous phrase, to angels' matchless grace. Till, gazing on those saint-like eyes, while tears bedimmed his own, The secret of his passion thus he breathed to her alone: 'All goddess fair! my love for thee all other loves exceeds, No Launcelot, no errant knight, its lightning course outspeeds! Prithee with me participate the boon that cannot cloy, And share in mutual confidence a bliss without alloy.' Unlike those artful hypocrites who evil speeches spurn, But wink at acts, the prudent dame thus answer did return: 'Remember that we hapless wives must each their lord obey, Tyrant or kind, his dread behests we never may gainsay; Mine is the Duke, to whom your wish propose, should he assent, As well I wot, right readily your whim shall I content.' Confounded by her sarcasm the carpet-knight was left Poor victim of his vanity, of self-respect bereft."