ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



her marriage, and was carefully nursed and watched 

 over by the Court-doctor, daily reports of her condition 

 being sent to the Duke and Duchess, who had gone off 

 hurriedly to meet the Emperor at Bormio, in the 

 mountains of the Valtellina. 



Bianca herself felt the keenest interest in this 

 memorable meeting, which took place on the 29th 

 of July, in the ancient Abbey of Mais, at the foot 

 of what the Italian historian calls the crudelissime 

 montagne of Tyrol. She sent Seregno to beg the 

 nuns of the Monastero Maggiore to thank God for 

 the success which had crowned her father's journey, 

 and as soon as she could leave her bed went to 

 pay her vows at Our Lady's shrine. But even this 

 slight exertion proved beyond her strength, and she 

 was once more confined to bed. The little Count 

 of Pavia was untiring in attendance at his sister's 

 bedside, giving her medicine with his own hands, and 

 cheering her with his childish prattle. 



Meanwhile the Emperor had once more crossed 

 the Alps, promising to return shortly, and the Duke 

 and Duchess hastened back to Milan, to keep the feast 

 of the glorious martyr, St. Laurence, on the loth 

 of August. Galeazzo and Bianca both accompanied 

 them the following week to Vigevano, and helped in 

 the preparations that were being made for Maximilian's 



reception. He arrived on the 2nd of September, and 

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