lost a tooth. To prevent exaggerated reports reaching Ferrara, he
had the duke's envoy summoned, and directed him to write his master that
his indisposition was insignificant. "If the duke were here," said the
Pope, "I would--even if my face is tied up--invite him to go and hunt
wild boars." The ambassador remarked in his despatch that the Pope, if
he valued his health, had better change his habits, and not leave the
palace before daybreak, and had better return before nightfall.[119]

Ercole and the Pope received congratulations from all sides. Cardinals
and ambassadors in their letters proclaimed Lucretia's beauty and
graciousness. The Spanish envoy in Rome praised her in extravagant
terms, and Ercole thanked him for his testimony regarding the virtues of
his daughter-in-law.[120]

Even the King of France displayed the liveliest pleasure at the event,
which, he now discovered, would redound greatly to Ferrara's advantage.
The Pope, beaming with joy, read the congratulations of the monarch and
his consort to the consistory. Louis XII even condescended to address a
letter to Madonna Lucretia, at the end of which were two words in his
own hand. Alexander was so delighted thereby that he sent a copy of it
to Ferrara. The court of Maximilian was the only one from which no
congratulations were received. The emperor exhibited such displeasure
that Ercole was worried, as the following letter to his
plenipotentiaries in Rome shows:

THE DUKE OF FERRARA, ETC.

OUR WELL-LOVED: We have given his Holiness, our Lord, no
further information regarding the attitude of the illustrious
Emperor of the Romans towards him since Messer Michele Remolines
departed from here, for we had nothing definite to communicate. We
have, however, been told by a trustworthy person with whom the king
conversed, that his Majesty was greatly displeased, and that he
criticised his Holiness in unmeasured terms on account of the
alliance which we have concluded with him, as he also did in
letters addressed to us before the betrothal, in which he advised
us not to enter into it, as you will learn from the copies of his
letters which we send you with this. They were shown and read to
his Holiness's ambassador here. Although, so far as we ourselves
are concerned, we did not attach much importance to his Majesty's
attitude, as we followed the dictates of reason, and are daily
beco