impartial secretary, is at once a notable episode in the
history of modern prostitution and one of the most illuminating
illustrations we possess of the paganism of the Renaissance.

Before the term "courtesan" came into repute, prostitutes were
even in Italy commonly called "sinners," _peccatrice_. The
change, Graf remarks in a very interesting study of the
Renaissance prostitute ("Una Cortigiana fra Mille," _Attraverso
il Cinquecento_, pp. 217-351), "reveals a profound alteration in
ideas and in life;" a term that suggested infamy gave place to
one that suggested approval, and even honor, for the courts of
the Renaissance period represented the finest culture of the
time. The best of these courtesans seem to have been not
altogether unworthy of the honor they received. We can detect
this in their letters. There is a chapter on the letters of
Renaissance prostitutes, especially those of Camilla de Pisa
which are marked by genuine passion, in Lothar Schmidt's
_Frauenbriefe der Renaissance_. The famous Imperia, called by a
Pope in the early years of the sixteenth century "nobilissimum
Romae scortum," knew Latin and could write Italian verse. Other
courtesans knew Italian and Latin poetry by heart, while they
were accomplished in music, dancing, and speech. We are reminded
of ancient Greece, and Graf, discussing how far the Renaissance
courtesans resembled the hetairae, finds a very considerable
likeness, especially in culture and influence, though with some
differences due to the antagonism between religion and
prostitution at the later period.

The most distinguished figure in every respect among the
courtesans of that time was certainly Tullia D'Aragona. She was
probably the daughter of Cardinal D'Aragona (an illegitimate
scion of the Spanish royal family) by a Ferrarese courtesan who
became his mistress. Tullia has gained a high reputation by her
verse. Her best sonnet is addressed to a youth of twenty, whom
she passionately loved, but who did not return her love. Her
_Guerrino Meschino_, a translation from the Spanish, is a very
pure and chaste work. She was a woman of refined instincts and
aspirations, and once at least she abandoned her life of
prostitution. She was held in high esteem and respect. When, in
1546, Cosimo, Duke of Florence, ordered all prostitutes to wear a