these barbarous sacrifices was the ferocious honour of the Ricci appeased.

Bianca, informed in the morning of the miserable destiny of her husband, flew to the palace, to implore vengeance on the murderers. The duke was still absent, at Pratolino, whither he had retired, and whence he returned not till the second day after the catastrophe, when he endeavoured to console Bianca by a solemn promise to investigate the transaction, and to punish the assassins of his chamberlain. By tardy proceedings, however, the murderers were suffered to escape, and take refuge in France. This circumstance rendered the prince suspected of being privy to the outrage, an opinion which other events tended to strengthen; and which was, some years afterwards, confirmed by his own confession, to Giovan Battista Confetti, his chaplain. Too weak to risque offending his mistress, by a removal of her husband, whose stay she had solicited, without energy to punish the presumption of the creature whom he had raised, or resolution to refuse redress to an injured subject, there remained to Francesco no other alternative. To these, it is probable, private motives might be added of sufficient force to precipitate the fate of a capricious though complaisant husband.

The death of Buonaventuri appeared to draw yet closer the ties between his widow and the duke, whose avowed mistress Bianca now became, and from whom he could scarcely separate himself for the necessary avocations of his station. The Florentines, offended and disgusted with the conduct of their governor, circulated, at his expence, severe satires; but the influence of Bianca was not to be shaken: all favours were solicited through the medium of her interest; her support was fortune, and her displeasure ruin. It was scarcely possible that a power thus absolute should be always used with moderation; and it is certain that Bianca incurred the hatred of the nation. Alarmed by the public discontent, she courted, to strengthen her interest, the friendship of the Medici. Cosmo, father of the reigning duke, lived retired with Camilla Martelli, the wife whom he had espoused, and interested himself but little with public affairs. Donna Isabella de Medici, sister to Francesco, and his brother, cardinal Ferdinand, appeared to Bianca of greater importance to her cause. Isabella, beloved by her brother, but unfortunately married to Giordano Orsino, with whose nephew, Troilo, she had formed an attachment, which ultimately led her to a tragical death, finding her inclinations favoured by Bianca, attached herself to her in return, nor did she fail to flatter the passion of the duke. Cardinal Ferdinando, whose temper was rough and severe, though but little beloved or confided in by Francesco, had, of all the Medici family, the greatest popularity. His favour was sought by Bianca as a security against the people, while, to effect her purpose, she studied his character, and contrived to render herself necessary to him, through his love of pomp and expence, which led him to exceed the limits of his fortune. Having repeatedly applied to the duke for an increase of his revenue, or a temporary relief from his exigences, Ferdinando had as often suffered the mortification of a refusal. The interests of the brothers clashed with each other: Bianca, availing herself of this circumstance, obtained for the cardinal, by her interference, what he had before vainly sought. One day, in particular, when about to depart for Rome, he pressed the duke for a loan of twenty thousand scudi; and, on the rejection of his suit, complained to Bianca of the conduct of his brother: she exhorted him, with a smile, to patience, and assured him, that, on his return home, he would find his wishes fulfilled. Ferdinando, encouraged by this promise, was, on his arrival at Rome, agreeably surprised

by the sum he had demanded. To these substantial services, Bianca added the most flattering testimonies of respect and deference: mistress of every avenue to the heart, the cold and severe nature of the cardinal yielded to her blandishments; while soliciting his advice, his assistance, and his prayers, to him she affected to hold herself indebted for the distinctions she enjoyed in his family.

Her influence with the Medici thus secured, her ascendancy at court rested on a solid basis. To personal charms, she added an address the most insinuating; pleasure followed in her train, while distrust and jealousy fled before her. Francesco, unhappy in his marriage, and at variance with his kindred, sought refuge in the vivacity and facility of his mistress. The grand-duchess, educated in a bigotted court, harsh and unyielding in her manners, narrow in her intellects, and rigid in her opinions, was little calculated to engage an alienated heart. Severe to the frailties of her husband, she embittered his mind by reproaches, and by her incessant complaints and appeals to his father completed his aversion and disgust. By her jealousy, her severity, and her violence, the indifference of her husband was converted into hatred; and the chains rivetted which bound him

to her rival. The example of the duke was of course followed by the court; while adulation and splendor surrounded Bianca, the unfortunate duchess sunk into neglect. Exasperated by the consequences of her own indiscretion, she redoubled her importunities, her appeals, and her complaints; till irritated by her deserted state, the unhappy Joanna felt herself one day, on accidentally meeting her husband, with his mistress, on the bridge of La Trinita, roused to fury and revenge. Count Heliodoro Costelli, by whom she was attended, observing her emotion, and that she was about to give orders to her servants to throw into the Arno her hated rival, stepped forward, at the critical moment, and by representing her purpose as a suggestion of the devil, dissuaded her from so desperate a measure. The dictates of vengeance yielding to those of superstition, the duchess recalled her half-delivered mandate, and the favourite passed on in safety. Not long after this incident, Bianca contrived, by her address, to mitigate even the rage of her rival, and, for a time, to obtain from her some marks of favour.

In 1574, the death of Cosmo, which secured the sovereignty to Francesco, removed from the conduct of his mistress a watchful eye, and determined her on the execution of a long-meditated