ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 
his nephew Gian Matteo in Venice, begging him to 
send a few trifles such as women like, as prizes on this 
occasion—a mirror and a pair of combs, worth about 
two and a half lire each, and a coloured waistband, 
together with six lire of pretty pink and white sugared 
confetti. The death of his old gardener, Piero 
Antonio, was a real sorrow. “ This year,” he wrote 
to his friend Flavio Crisolino, the Papal Secretary, “ I 
have lost my Piero Antonio, and although he was 
only a servant, his death has grieved me more than 
you would have thought possible. But he was good 
and faithful, and had been constant in all the changes 
of fortune which have befallen me during the last 
twenty-five years. I cannot and will not forget 
him.” 1 
From his quiet retreat, Bembo kept up an active 
correspondence with his old friends and colleagues, 
and watched the critical events that were taking place 
in Rome. He received the news of the sudden death 
of his patron, Leo X, without any pretence at excessive 
sorrow, and lamented the accession of Pope Adrian IV, 
whose Papacy was, in his eyes, more hurtful than any 
vacancy. “ Cursed,” he cried, “ a thousand times 
cursed, be the blind goddess Fortune, for her deplor¬ 
able lack of judgment! ” And in common with 
all the friends of Art and Letters, he rejoiced at 
1 Lettere, iii. 120. 
H4 
