ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



present the next day at the Tournament on the Piazza 

 del Castello, when her gallant lord, " Messer Galeaz," 

 appeared at the head of a troop of Scythians, in cos- 

 tumes designed by Leonardo, and bore off the chief 

 prize before his young wife's eyes. 



Duchess Beatrice and her step-daughter were soon 

 fast friends. " La piu zentil donna in Italia," as this 

 bride of sixteen was called, welcomed the companion- 

 ship of the captivating child, who was not many years 

 younger than herself, and the two were soon insepar- 

 able. At the same time Messer Galeaz became the 

 young Duchess's most loyal and devoted squire. He 

 rode out with her on hunting parties to the ducal 

 villas in the Brianza, and sang and danced, or played 

 at palla with her. As he wrote to Beatrice's sister, 

 the Marchioness Isabella : 



" I have torn my clothes and cut my boots to pieces, 

 and played the fool into the bargain. These are the 

 rewards one gains in the service of ladies ! But I am 

 content, as it is all for the sake of my Duchess, whom 

 I never mean to fail in life or death." * 



On St. Andrew's Day, 1493, tne wedding of the 

 Empress Bianca was celebrated with all the splendour 

 that Lodovico could command. Leonardo's colossal 

 horse was set upon a triumphal arch opposite the 



1 Beatrice d?Este^ by Julia Cartwright, 82 ; A. Luzio, Arch. st. 

 Lomb., xvii. 109. 



178 



