ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



hands and feet and ungainly figure, but as Beatrice 

 remarks, " far more friendly and agreeable in manner 

 than I expected" advanced cap in hand and pro- 

 ceeded to salute Beatrice and Bianca, and then all the 

 ladies, in the French fashion, kissing them on the 

 cheek. Charles, on his part, was so much charmed 

 with the Duchess that he paid her a visit the next 

 day, at the Castello of Annona, three miles from Asti, 

 and spent three hours in her company. This time 

 Beatrice and Bianca both wore green satin robes, 

 slashed with white, and green velvet caps, with white 

 aigrettes, and clasps of diamonds and rubies. The 

 bodices of their gowns were studded with precious 

 gems, and they wore priceless pearls on their bare 

 arms and necks, a fashion which seems to have sur- 

 prised the French courtiers. After conversing pleas- 

 antly for some time, Charles begged Beatrice and her 

 daughter to dance before him, which they did, first 

 in the Italian, and then " to please the King in the 

 French style." "And I can assure you, Madame," 

 adds the writer, "that they acquitted themselves 

 exceedingly well, although they had never danced 

 in this fashion before." 1 



As we read the records of the home life of the 

 ducal family, which are preserved in the musty old 



1 Godefroi, Hist, de Charles VIII; Viocomte Delaborde, DExptdi- 

 tion de Charles VIII en Italie. 



1 80 



