ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 
present the next day at the Tournament on the Piazza 
del Castello, when her gallant lord, “ Messer Galeaz,” 
appeared at the head of a troop of Scythians, in cos¬ 
tumes designed by Leonardo, and bore off the chief 
prize before his young wife’s eyes. 
Duchess Beatrice and her step-daughter were soon 
fast friends. La piu zentil donna in Italia, as this 
bride of sixteen was called, welcomed the companion¬ 
ship of the captivating child, who was not many years 
younger than herself, and the two were soon insepar¬ 
able. At the same time Messer Galeaz became the 
young Duchess’s most loyal and devoted squire. He 
rode out with her on hunting parties to the ducal 
villas in the Brianza, and sang and danced, or played 
at palla with her. As he wrote to Beatrice’s sister, 
the Marchioness Isabella: 
“ I have torn my clothes and cut my boots to pieces, 
and played the fool into the bargain. These are the 
rewards one gains in the service of ladies! But I am 
content, as it is all for the sake of my Duchess, whom 
I never mean to fail in life or death.” 1 
On St. Andrew’s Day, H 93 > the wedding of the 
Empress Bianca was celebrated with all the splendour 
that Lodovico could command. Leonardo’s colossal 
horse was set upon a triumphal arch opposite the 
1 Beatrice cTEste , by Julia Cartwright, 82 ; A. Luzio, Arch. st. 
Lomb xvii. 109. 
178 
