J14 JULIA G0NZAGA. 



to Galeotto Pico, count of Mirandola, the fecond to 

 Sanvitale count of Fontanellato, and the youngeft to 

 Hieronymus Martinengcu All thefe lifters received an 

 excellent education ; but none of them were fo dif- 

 tinguifhed by extraordinary difpofitions and powers of 

 mind, as Julia, from her very infancy. 



Julia fed cunclas fuperat longe ipfa forores, 

 Callidula, ingenio facili condita lepore, 

 Blandula, compofito premens didleria vultu, 

 Mitis, et ad cantus modules, ftudiumque Minervsa 

 Nata, vel artifici dextra limulare, quod ultro 

 Fingere multiplici potis eft natura colore. 



Thus are her praifes fung in her younger years, by 

 John Buonavoglia *, the tutor of her brother JLewis. 

 From her childhood fhe was well fkilled, not only in 

 mufic, drawing and embroidery, but likewife in the 

 fine arts. Hence it was, that throughout her whole 

 life fhe preferred the fociety qf men of letters to 

 all others. 



Vefpaliano Colonna, duke of Trajetto, moved by 

 the reports of her extraordinary beauty and the rare 

 endowments of her mind, having loft his confort 

 Beatrix of Appiano, by death, demanded her in mar- 

 riage, when fhe had juft completed her thirteenth year. 

 This prince was rich ; but his bodily frame was not 

 calculated to recommend him. He was not only above 

 forty, but was lame both m feis hands and feet, and 

 his whole body crippled and infirm. However, her 

 father, who had feytn children to provide for, induced 

 by the brilliant circumftances of the duke, confented 

 to this extremely unequal match. It is probable that 



* Gonzagium monumentum* MS. lib* Hi, 



he 



