BIANCA SFORZA 



already had his eye on the house, which from its 

 size and splendour, as well as from its vicinity to the 

 Castello, was a most desirable residence. At the 

 same time, his favourite Leonardo the Florentine was 

 employed to build the sumptuous stables for his 

 horses, which excited the envy and admiration of all 

 the Este and Gonzaga princes. " It seems to me," 

 wrote Jacopo Trotti, the Ferrarese Envoy, whom 

 Lodovico honoured with his confidence, " that Messer 

 Galeaz is Duke of Milan. He can do whatever he 

 likes, and is given whatever he chooses to ask, or wish 

 for." From the day of his betrothal to Bianca 

 Sforza, Galeazzo enjoyed all a son's privileges. He 

 ate and drank at Lodovico's table, and became, what 

 his father-in-law had promised to make him, the first 

 man in the State. 



Meanwhile his eight-year-old bride remained under 

 her father's roof. A separate household was assigned 

 to her, she bore the title of the Magnifico Galeazzo's 

 wife, and on State occasions appeared in public, with 

 the pomp due to her rank. When Beatrice d'Este 

 entered Milan on the 22nd of January, as Lodovico's 

 wife, and Isabella of Aragon rode out to receive her 

 at S. Eustorgio, Bianca sat by her side in the State 

 chariot, while Lodovico, mounted on a superb war- 

 horse and clad in gorgeous cloth of gold, escorted his 

 bride to the sound of trumpets and drums. She was 



177 M 



