ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



doubt that much fruit will spring from those joyous 

 days passed in the shade of the citron-trees which 

 he brought from the shores of Benacus." 1 



Six years later, in April 1526, during Navagero's 

 absence in Spain, Bembo himself visited the villa at 

 Murano, and addressed the following letter to his 

 generous host : 



" I have been staying for the last fortnight in your 

 own pleasant villa, at the invitation of our Ramusio " 

 the son-in-law and intimate friend of Messer Andrea 

 " and have enjoyed myself so much that I am quite 

 sorry to go. We have talked of you very often, as 

 you may imagine, in the most affectionate terms. I 

 rejoice to hear the great and singular renown which 

 you have acquired on this your first foreign embassy. 

 Every one praises you so much that I can only say, 

 4 Go on as you have begun, and you may be sure that 

 the State will be grateful to you, and that you will be 

 remembered in days to come, not only as a great and 

 illustrious citizen, but as having had no equal among 

 the servants of the Republic.' Keep well and remember 

 me to our dear Messer Baldassare Castiglione. From 

 your Murano. April 7, 1526." 2 



In another letter, addressed to Gian Battista Ramusio, 

 his dear and too courteous friend, Bembo thanks 

 Heaven that Messer Andrea has escaped the perils of the 

 sea and reached Spain in safety. 



1 P. Bembo, EpistoL /am., v. 201. 



2 Letter e famigliari di M. Pie fro Eembo, ii. 112. 



118 



