ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 
Morosina never recovered from the shock of her 
child’s death. Three years later she followed him to 
the grave, and was buried under a stately tomb in the 
church of S. Bartolommeo. Bembo was inconsolable 
for her loss. 
“ What shall I say, my dearest Trifone,” he wrote 
to his old and valued friend, “ in answer to your letter 
on the death of my loved Morosina ? Before it 
reached me, I had turned for comfort to the Ancients, 
and tried to read the consoling words which they used 
at such moments. But this does me little good, for 
no sooner do I lay down the book, than I remember 
she is gone, and that I have lost the sweetest soul that 
ever lived. She loved me far more than herself and 
was altogether satisfied with my love, despising the 
gifts and ornaments of jewels and fine clothes which 
please other women. And this blessed soul was clad 
in the fairest form, and had the loveliest face that has 
ever been seen in these lands, or, perhaps, in the present 
time. It is true, as you say, that I ought to thank 
God who gave her to me for all these years. I try to 
do this, but it is impossible in one moment to lay aside 
the affections which are part of our being, and must 
remain with us as long as we live. I know how true 
your sorrow is, and realise how much you loved this 
fair and noble woman, and how deeply she on her part 
loved and honoured you. Farewell.” 1 
How deeply Bembo felt this bereavement we learn 
from the touching letter which he wrote to Ramusio, 
1 Lettere, ii. 37. 
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