ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



laughed with her and sent her friendly messages in 

 their letters. Even ecclesiastics as saintly as Sadoleto 

 and Contarini were not deterred by her presence 

 from visiting the Villa, while the members of Bembo's 

 own family, Gian Matteo and Marcella, showed her 

 the liveliest affection. 



Two years after they settled at Padua, Morosina 

 gave birth to a boy, Lucilio, who became the apple 

 of his father's eye. In May 1525 a .second boy 

 named Torquato was born, and three years later a 

 girl, who received the classical name of Elena. The 

 happiness of his domestic circle satisfied the cravings 

 of Bembo's sensitive nature and filled a void in his 

 life. Another inmate of the Villa was Cola Bruno 

 \hzfidus Achates who followed Bembo from Messina 

 and never left him until his death in 1542. Messer 

 Cola was indispensable to Bembo, alike as secretary 

 and literary adviser, as steward and man of business. 

 He wrote his letters, revised his verses, sold his crops 

 and wine, superintended the publication of his works 

 at Venice, and travelled all over Italy to collect his 

 rents and defend his rights. Morosina and her 

 children, Marcella and her husband, were equally 

 devoted to Cola, and by the will which Bembo 

 made in 1536 he appointed this loyal servant to be 

 the guardian of his children, with the strict in- 

 junction never to leave their side, or allow anyone 

 142 



