Vittoria had taken for her _devise_, such was the fashion of the day, a little Cupid within a circle formed by a serpent, with the motto, "Quem peperit virtus prudentia servet amorem,"--"The love which virtue inspired, discretion shall guard;" and during her husband's absence, she lived in retirement, principally in her loved retreat in the island of Ischia, devoting her time to literature, and to the composition of those beautiful Sonnets in which she celebrated the exploits and virtues of her husband. He, whenever his military or political duties allowed of a short absence from the theatre of war, flew to rejoin her; and these short and delicious meetings, and the continual dangers to which he was exposed, seem to have kept alive, through many long years, all the romance and fervour of their early love. In the 79th Sonnet, Vittoria so beautifully alludes to one of these meetings, that I am tempted to extract it, in preference to others better known, and by many esteemed superior as compositions. Qui fece il mio bel sol a noi ritorno, Di Regie spoglie carco, e ricche prede: Ahi! con quanto dolor, l'occhio rivede Quei lochi, ov' ei mi fea gia il giorno! Di mille glorie allor cinto d' intorno, E d'onor vero, alla piu altiera sede Facean delle opre udite intera fede L'ardito volto, il parlar saggio adorno. Vinto da prieghi miei, poi mi mostrava Le belle cicatrici, e 'l tempo, e 'l modo Delle vittorie sue tante, e si chiare. Quanta pena or mi da, gioja mi dava; E in questo, e in quel pensier, piangendo gode Tra poche dolci, e assai lagrime amare. This description of her husband returning, loaded with spoils and honours;--of her fond admiration, mingled with a feminine awe, of his warlike demeanor;--of his yielding, half reluctant, to her tender entreaties, and showing her the wounds he had received in battle;--then the bitter thoughts of his danger and absence, mingling with, and interrupting these delicious recollections of happiness,--are all as true to feeling as they are beautiful in poetry.