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She longed to ask him many questions about his thoughts of women. But of course he would not tell her the truth. And men hate to be questioned by women. "Does she come to Cairo?" he repeated. "She was there once." "You are Bella Donna," he said. "You had to say that." "Yes, but it is true. You are Bella Donna, but you are not donna onesta."
Numbers of the noblest families were about to vie with each other in the splendour of their parties, and the Lady Onesta, being resolved not to be outshone by her acquaintance, insisted that Roderigo should exceed them all in the richness of their feasts.
The former of these were soon offered to him, from among whom Roderigo chose a very beautiful girl of the name of Onesta, a daughter of Amerigo Donati, who had also three sons, all grown up, and three more daughters, also nearly marriageable. Though of a noble family and enjoying a good reputation in Florence, his father-in-law was extremely poor, and maintained as poor an establishment.
The poet bids his verse go forth to her, but softly; and stand before her with bended head, as before the Mother of God. She is a miracle herself, a thing sent from heaven, a spirit, as Dante says in that most beautiful of all his sonnets, the summing up of all that the poets of his circle had said of their lady "Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare."
I shall call you Bella Donna here, beside the Nile." He said it negligently, but something in her rejoiced. Nevertheless, she said, she could not help saying: "And the full moon?" "What about her?" "Is she Bella Donna?" He half closed his eyes and looked down. "I don't ask you if she is donna onesta." He replied: "She is sixteen, and she is a dancing-girl."
He therefore soon began to enter into all the pomps and vanities of the world, and to aim at reputation and consideration among mankind, which put him to no little expense. But more than this, he had not long enjoyed the society of his beloved Onesta, before he became tenderly attached to her, and was unable to behold her suffer the slightest inquietude or vexation.
And the Roman matron glided away while Gerard was hesitating, and thinking how to offer to pay so stately a creature for her purchase. The next day in the afternoon he went to Lucretia, and her boy took him to Fra Colonna's lodgings. He announced his business, and feed Onesta, and she took him up to the friar. Gerard entered with a beating heart.
Corruption of the Church Degradation and Division of Italy Opinions of Machiavelli, Guicciardini, and King Ferdinand of Naples Incapacity of the Italians for thorough Reformation The Worldliness and Culture of the Renaissance Witness of Italian Authors against the Papal Court and the Convents Superstitious Respect for Relics Separation between Religion and Morality Mixture of Contempt and Reverence for the Popes Gianpaolo Baglioni Religious Sentiments of the Tyrannicides Pietro Paolo Boscoli Tenacity of Religions The direct Interest of the Italians in Rome Reverence for the Sacraments of the Church Opinions pronounced by Englishmen on Italian Immorality Bad Faith and Sensuality The Element of the Fancy in Italian Vice The Italians not Cruel, or Brutal, or Intemperate by Nature Domestic Murders Sense of Honor in Italy Onore and Onesta General Refinement Good Qualities of the People Religious Revivalism.
They were the largest eyes; and their motion reminded one of those of Sordello in the Purgatorio: E nel muover degli occhi onesta e tarda: they seemed too large to move otherwise than with a slow turning like that of the heavens. At first they looked black, but if one ventured inquiry, which was as dangerous as to gaze from the battlements of Elsinore, he found them a not very dark brown.
Says he, 'Is this how you present "Salvator Mundi?" who died for you in mortal agony; and you go and grudge him careful work. This slovenly gimcrack, a crucifix? But that it is a crucifix of some sort, and I am a holy man, I'd dust your jacket with your crucifix, says he. Onesta heard every word through the key-hole; so mind." "Have no fears, madama," said Teresa loftily.
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