But my brother Giacomo is as
cruel to me as any body. But hush, Jeronymo!--Don't you betray me!--Now
my aunt is come, I must go!--I wish I could run away from you all!
She was yesterday detected writing a letter to you. My mother was shewn
what she had written, and wept over it. My aunt took it out of my
sister's bosom, where she had thrust it, on her coming in. This she
resented highly.
When she was led into her own chamber, she refused to speak; but in great
hurry went to her closet, and, taking down her bible, turned over one
leaf and another very quick. Lady Sforza had a book in her hand, and sat
over-against the closet-door to observe her motions. She came to a
place--Pretty! said she.
The bishop had formerly given her a smattering of Latin--She took pen and
ink, and wrote. You'll see, chevalier, the very great purity of her
thoughts, by what she omitted, and what she chose, from the Canticles.
Velut unguentum diffunditur nomen tuum &c.
[In the English translation, thus: Thy name is as ointment poured forth;
therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me; we will run after thee: the
upright love thee.
Look not upon me because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me.
My mother's children were angry with me: they made me the keeper of the
vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth! where thou feedest, where thou
makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth
aside by the flocks of thy companions?]
She laid down her pen, and was thoughtful; her elbow resting on the
escritoire she wrote upon, her hand supporting her head.
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