hen a man,
in an autocratic position such as that made by Cosimo I., yields to
unguarded passion, reason and right alike are at a discount. Isabella's
husband had taken the measure of her father--alas, that he was destined
to follow his example!

For Isabella a new interest was created when, in 1564, Bianca
Buonaventuri became "_La cosa di Francesco_,"--her brother. She, so to
speak, clasped the lovely young Venetian to her bosom. She entered into
the romance of the elopement, and of her brother's infatuation, with all
her heart. Isabella de' Medici and Bianca Cappello-Buonaventuri became
inseparable friends.

During Duchess Eleanora's life the gaieties and the follies of the court
had been kept within something like bounds, but she had hardly been laid
in her tomb within San Lorenzo than Duke Cosimo gave reins to his
passions, and the Palazzo Pitti and the various Medicean villas became
the scenes of unbridled lust and depravity. In 1564 the Duke deputed
most of his sovereign power to his son Francesco, who became Regent and
virtual ruler of Tuscany.

The grave scandals which distracted Florentine society began to raise up
in the minds of the people violent antipathy for a Sovereign whose
private example was so abominable, and whose discharge of public duties
was so basely marked by turpitude. A revolution of a drastic description
seemed to be inevitable, and, really, Cosimo had no other course than
abdication.

The Florentine rendering and observance of Platonism favoured illicit
connections between the sexes. The palaces of the nobles and of the
wealthy merchants were nothing more or less than harems. The manners and
traditions of the Orient took root, not only in Florence, but in all the
other Italian States, and the normal strictness and restrictions of
lawful married life had everywhere all but disappeared. Every household,
not only of the noble but also of the middle class, had among its
number a _cicisbeo_, or two or more,--"unofficial wives"--we may call
them, possessed of almost equal rights and position as the lawful
spouses.

* * * * *

The great event of the year 1562 was the marriage of Prince Francesco
and the Archduchess Giovanna d'Austria. Quite certainly the Duke and
Duchess of Bracciano were among the notable personages present at the
nuptials. Indeed that year the Duke spent more of his time than usual in
Florence, and was very busy buying and rebuilding the Vil