Be circumspect and
patient, and all will be well. Put your faith in Galeotto, and endure
insults which you may depend upon him to avenge when the hour strikes."
Upon that he left me, and he left me with a certain comfort. And in the
days that followed, I acted upon his injunction, though, truth to tell,
there was little provocation to do otherwise. The Duke ignored me, and all
the gentlemen of his following did the like, including Cosimo. And
meanwhile they revelled at Pagliano and made free with the hospitality to
which they had not been bidden.
Thus sped another week in which I had not the courage again to approach
Bianca after what had passed between us at our single interview. Nor for
that matter was I afforded the opportunity. The Duke and Cosimo were ever
at her side, and yet it almost seemed as if the Duke had given place to his
captain, for Cosimo's was the greater assiduity now.
The days were spent at bowls or pallone within the castle, or upon hawking-
parties or hunting-parties when presently the Duke's health was
sufficiently improved to enable him to sit his horse; and at night there
was feasting which Cavalcanti must provide, and on some evenings we danced,
though that was a diversion in which I took no part, having neither the
will nor the art.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373