ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



it is looking its best. I envy you not a little. But 

 keep well and enjoy yourselves." * 



It was the last summer which this joyous party were 

 to spend at Villa Bozza. For Cola good, faithful 

 Cola fell suddenly ill that winter and died. Elena 

 begged in vain to be allowed to go to the Villa as 

 usual with her brother in August, but was told that at 

 her age this was impossible, and that she must stay 

 in the convent until the time came for her to leave 

 it for good. 



The Cardinal was already looking out for a suitable 

 match for his daughter, and in the summer of 1543 

 he obtained the Pope's leave to go to Venice, that 

 he might arrange a marriage " for the child whom my 

 human frailty gave me." In July, Elena was married 

 at Padua, in her father's presence, to Pietro Gradenigo, 

 a young Venetian " of good family and excellent 

 appearance." The Cardinal paid a last visit to the Villa, 

 which he had not seen for many years, and returned 

 to his new diocese at Gubbio, not without a sigh for 

 the old days when he was a free man and could live 

 where he chose. After the birth of Elena's son in 

 1544, she and her husband went to Villa Bozza for 

 the autumn, leaving the little Paolino, by her father's 

 orders, with her cousins. Bembo took the keenest 

 interest in his grandson, and gave Elena minute 



1 Leltere, iii. 374-6. 

 162 



