Excerpt from Bianca Capello: An Historical Romance
As Vasari had foretold, Baptists Bonsventuri was not proof against the ‘hie’rits of a nephew so powerfully recommended to him; although to_ the ld money-spinner’s notions there was even an extravagance in Pietto’s auty which he did not quite approve, (and, indee to any truth, the young man did ssess quite enough to have supplied h f a dozen econouiicfily fashioned’ihortalsg while the also Lavislmess of his dress be totally disapy rowed for Vasari, who, thong only a poor painter in estate, was, a prince heart, had ui his proteg ’s wardrobe on a par with the gayest the time, and ad not forgotten that the lining of the hats s uldinsnns measure keep pace with their outward splendour; so at young patented had sufficient, at least for a year or two, to cope with those far richer in reality than himself, and in station great above him; for the 6000 donate Vasari had generously ‘ven him, intsu ing it as a little capital. To 1 iii breased by the thrift’an sasoir of his uncle, the young man preferred keep ing as a floating passport into society. Nor was he wrong in his calculations; for, as we have already seen, the young Venetian nobles were not indifl’ersst to his u’golden Opinions but on financial as on most other points, the ideas of the uncle and nephew differed widely as the former looked upon all Pietro’s fine acquaintance onl as so many sources from which might be derived whereas the atter considered all Salvisti’s wealth wi no other degree of veneration than as the source from which he ddived his acquaintance. 3 At the time our tale commences younghbonaventuri had been about a year in Venice; and, after devoting two ours each morning to il pens and drawing caricatures of his friends u all the paper rpm reach, which was the method be adopted for atu ying commerce, be repaired to an academy, held by Bolzanio, in the Via delle Bella Donne, for-teaching Latin to the Venetian nobles of both sexes, not, indeed, for the purpose of learning Latin, for he instly considered that, having done very well withotn it all the beginning of his life, he might continue to do’ so until the end of it; but because there he had first formed, and bad day] opportunities of in; creasing, his circle of sristocraticacquaintance but. Vo all, it was there he had first seen Bianca Cappello - a beautiful and delicate-looking girl d fifteen, and clever as she was beautiful. Unlike her country-women. Bianca had great play of countenance, with the-most perfect repose of feature-g no grimace or minaitdsris ever for a moment destroyed’the. Placid harmony bf features, as perfect as had ever been cast immortal mould; her hair, of 1 Rich burnished chestnut, had not yet been tortured into the hideous and urine, tursl fashion of the time, but was simpl fastened with a olden bodkinnt the back of hothead, and, pasted onslo ty forehead of g villi-twoso ih low, straight, finely-pencilled eyebrows of which seemed like It sear tinels keeping watch above the heavy eyelids that ap ed weighed down with theirown beauty. Her eyes were of a dark, semi, floating. Suit were, in liquid diamonds. She had no more colour than has. A washroom but the same delicate, yet sfliumngloom was to’be foundenhsr shank.
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