The Book of the Courtier
“This dancing of yours in the sun pleases me not in any way, nor do I
see what gain there is in it. But in my opinion whoever cares to wrestle
or run or leap with peasants, ought to do so as a matter of practice and
out of courtesy as we say, not in rivalry with them. And a man ought to
be almost sure of winning; else let him not engage, because it is too
unseemly and shameful a thing, and beneath his dignity, to see a
gentleman vanquished by a peasant, and especially at wrestling. Hence I
think it is well to abstain, at least in the presence of many, for the
gain of beating is very small and the loss of being beaten is very
great.
“The game of tennis also is nearly always played in public, and is one
of those sports to which a crowd lends much distinction. Therefore I
would have our Courtier practise this, and all the others except the
handling of arms, as something that is not his profession, and let him
show that he does not seek or expect praise for it, nor let him seem to
devote much care or time to it, although he may do it admirably. Nor let
him be like some men who delight in music, and in speaking with anyone
always begin to sing under their breath whenever there is a pause in the
conversation. Others always go dancing as they pass through streets and
churches. Others, when they meet a friend in the piazza or anywhere
else, at once put themselves in posture as if for fencing or wrestling,
according to their favourite humour.”
Here messer Cesare Gonzaga said:
“A young cardinal we have in Rome does better than that; for out of
pride in his fine bodily frame, he conducts into his garden all who come
to visit him (even although he has never seen them before), and urgently
presses them to strip to the doublet and try a turn with him at
leaping.”
11.—Messer Federico laughed; then he went on:
“There are certain other exercises that can be practised in public and
in private, like dancing; and in this I think the Courtier ought to have
a care, for when dancing in the presence of many and in a place full of
people, it seems to me that he should preserve a certain dignity, albeit
tempered with a lithe and airy grace of movement; and although he may
feel himself to be very nimble and a master of time and measure, let him
not attempt those agilities of foot and double steps which we find very
becoming in our friend Barletta, but which perhaps would be little
suited to a gentleman. Yet in a room privately, as we are now, I think
he may try both, and may dance morris-dances and brawls;[154] but not in
public unless he be masked, when it is not displeasing even though he be
recognized by all.
“Indeed there is no better way of displaying oneself in such matters at
public sports, either armed or unarmed; because disguise carries with it
a certain freedom and licence, which among other things enable a man to
choose a part for which he feels himself qualified, and to use care and
elaboration upon the chief point of the thing wherein he would display
himself, and a certain nonchalance as to that which does not
count,—which greatly enhances the charm: as for a youth to array himself
like an old man, yet in easy dress so as to be able to show his vigour;
a cavalier in the guise of a rustic shepherd or some other like costume,
but with a perfect horse and gracefully bedecked in character;—because
the mind of the spectators is quick to fill out the image of that which
is presented to the eyes at first glance; and then seeing the thing turn
out much better than the costume promised, they are amused and
delighted.
“But in these sports and shows where masks are worn, it would not be
seemly for a prince to try to enact the part of a prince, because that
pleasure which the spectators find in novelty would be in great measure
lacking, since it is news to no one that the prince is the prince; and
he, conscious that besides being the prince he is trying to play the
prince, loses the freedom to do all those things that are beneath a
prince’s dignity. And if there were any contest in these sports,
especially with arms, he might even make men think that he chose to
impersonate a prince in order not to be beaten but spared by others;
moreover were he to do in sport the same that it behooves him to do in
earnest upon occasion, he would deprive his own proper action of
dignity, and make it almost seem as if that too were sport. But at such
times, if the prince lays aside his character of prince, and mingles
equally with his inferiors yet in such fashion as to be recognizable, by
renouncing his own rank he attains a higher one, in that he prefers to
excel the rest not by authority but by merit, and to show that his worth
is not enhanced by the fact that he is a prince.
12.—“I say then that in these martial sports the Courtier ought to use
the like discretion, according to his rank. In horseback vaulting too,
in wrestling, running and leaping, I should be well pleased to have him
shun the vulgar crowd, or at most let himself be very rarely seen; for
there is not on earth a thing so excellent but the ignorant will tire of
it and hold it of small account, if they see it often.
“As to music I hold the same opinion: hence I would not have our
Courtier behave like many, who are no sooner come anywhere (even into
the presence of gentlemen with whom they have no acquaintance), than
without waiting to be urged they set about doing what they know and
often what they do not know; so that it seems as if they had come only
for the purpose of showing themselves, and had that for their chief
profession. Therefore let the Courtier resort to music as a pastime and
almost unwillingly, and not before vulgar people nor very many. And
although he may know and understand that which he is doing, in this too
I would have him hide the study and pains that are necessary in
everything one would do well, and seem to value this accomplishment
lightly in himself, but by practising it admirably make others value it
highly.”
13.—Then my lord Gaspar Pallavicino said:
“There are many kinds of music, vocal as well as instrumental: therefore
I should like to hear which is the best of all, and at what time the
Courtier ought to perform it.”[155]
Messer Federico replied:
“I regard as beautiful music, to sing well by note, with ease and in
beautiful style; but as even far more beautiful, to sing to the
accompaniment of the viol,[156] because nearly all the sweetness lies in
the solo part, and we note and observe the fine manner and the melody
with much greater attention when our ears are not occupied with more
than a single voice, and moreover every little fault is more clearly
discerned,—which is not the case when several sing together, because
each singer helps his neighbour. But above all, singing to the viol by
way of recitative seems to me most delightful, which adds to the words a
charm and grace that are very admirable.
ELISABET DE GONZAGA FELTRIA
“My Lady Duchess”
EMILIA
“My Lady Emilia”
MARGARITA DE GONZAGA
“Madonna Margarita”
FRANC^O M^A
“My Lord Prefect”
JULIANO DE MEDICI
“My Lord Magnifico”
AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURES OF INTERLOCUTORS
From negatives, made by Premi and by Signor Lanzoni, from originals
preserved in the Royal State Archives at Mantua and selected by the
Director, Signor Alessandro Luzio.
“All keyed instruments also are pleasing to the ear, because they
produce very perfect consonances, and upon them one can play many things
that fill the mind with musical delight. And not less charming is the
music of the stringed quartet, which is most sweet and exquisite. The
human voice lends much ornament and grace to all these instruments, with
which I would have our Courtier at least to some degree acquainted,
albeit the more he excels with them, the better,—without troubling
himself much with those that Minerva forbade to Alcibiades, because it
seems that they are ungraceful.[157]
“Then, as to the time for enjoying these various kinds of music, I think
it is whenever a man finds himself in familiar and beloved companionship
and there are not other occupations. But above all it is fitting where
ladies are present, because their aspect fills the listener’s heart with
sweetness, renders it more sensitive to the tenderness of the music, and
quickens the musician’s soul.
“As I have already said, it pleases me well that we should avoid the
crowd, and especially the ignoble crowd. But discretion must needs be
the spice of everything, for it would be quite impossible to foresee all
the cases that occur; and if the Courtier rightly understands himself,
he will adapt himself to the occasion and will perceive when the minds
of his hearers are disposed to listen and when not. He will take his own
age into account: for it is indeed unseemly and unlovely in the extreme
to see a man of any quality,—old, hoary and toothless, full of
wrinkles,—playing on a viol and singing in the midst of a company of
ladies, even though he be a passable performer. And the reason of this
is that in singing the words are usually amourous, and love is a
ridiculous thing in old men,—albeit it is sometimes pleased among its
other miracles to kindle frozen hearts in spite of years.”
14.—Then the Magnifico replied:
“Do not deprive old men of this pleasure, messer Federico; for in my
time I have known old men who had right perfect voices and hands very
dexterous upon their instruments, far more than some young men.”
“I do not wish,” said messer Federico, “to deprive old men of this
pleasure, but I do wish to deprive you and these ladies of the pleasure
of laughing at such folly. And if old men wish to sing to the viol, let
them do so in secret and only to drive from their minds those painful
thoughts and grievous troubles with which our life is filled, and to
taste that rapture which I believe Pythagoras and Socrates found in
music.[158] And even although they practise it not, by somewhat
accustoming their minds to it they will enjoy it far more when they hear
it than a man who knows nothing of it. For just as the arms of a smith,
who is weak in his other members, become stronger by exercise than those
of another man who is more robust but unaccustomed to use his arms,—in
like manner ears practised in harmony will perceive it better and more
speedily and will appreciate it with far greater pleasure, than others,
however good and sharp they be, that are not versed in the varieties of
musical consonance; because these modulations do not penetrate ears
unused to hearing them, but pass aside without leaving any savour of
themselves; albeit even the beasts have some enjoyment in melody.
“This then is the pleasure it is fitting old men should take in music. I
say the like of dancing, for in truth we ought to give up these
exercises before our age forces us to give them up against our will.”
Here my lord Morello replied with a little heat:
“So it is better to exclude all old men, and to say that only young men
have a right to be called Courtiers.”
Then messer Federico laughed, and said:
“You see, my lord Morello, that they who like these things strive to
seem young when they are not, and hence they dye their hair and shave
twice a week.[159] And this is because nature silently tells them that
such things are proper only to the young.”
All the ladies laughed, for each one of them felt that these words
fitted my lord Morello; and he seemed rather stung by them. Messer
Federico soon continued: