The Book of the Courtier
serve them in every reasonable thing, winning from them favour, and
praise from other men; in short, what manner of man he ought to be who
may deserve to be called a perfect Courtier without flaw. Wherefore,
considering your request, I say that had it not seemed to me more
blameworthy to be reputed somewhat unamiable by you than too conceited
by everyone else, I should have avoided this task, for fear of being
held over bold by all who know how hard a thing it is, from among such a
variety of customs as are in use at the courts of Christendom, to choose
the perfect form and as it were the flower of Courtiership. For custom
often makes the same thing pleasing and displeasing to us; whence it
sometimes follows that customs, habits, ceremonies and fashions that
once were prized, become vulgar, and contrariwise the vulgar become
prized. Thus it is clearly seen that use rather than reason has power to
introduce new things among us, and to do away with the old; and he will
often err who seeks to determine which are perfect. Therefore being
conscious of this and many other difficulties in the subject set before
me to write of, I am constrained to offer some apology, and to testify
that this errour (if errour it may indeed be called) is common to us
both, to the end that if I be blamed for it, the blame maybe shared by
you also; for your offence in setting me a task beyond my powers should
not be deemed less than mine in having accepted it.
So now let us make a beginning of our subject, and if possible let us
form such a Courtier that any prince worthy to be served by him,
although of but small estate,[22] might still be called a very great
lord.
In these books we shall follow no fixed order or rule of distinct
precepts, such as are usually employed in teaching anything whatever;
but after the fashion of many ancient writers, we shall revive a
pleasant memory and rehearse certain discussions that were held between
men singularly competent in such matters; and although I had no part in
them personally, being in England at the time they took place,[23] yet
having received them soon after my return, from one who faithfully
reported them to me, I will try to recall them as accurately as my
memory will permit, so that you may know what was thought and believed
on this subject by men who are worthy of highest praise, and to whose
judgment implicit faith may be given in all things. Nor will it be amiss
to tell the cause of these discussions, so that we may reach in orderly
manner the end to which our discourse tends.
From Alinari’s photograph (no. 7351) of the portrait, in the Colonna
Gallery at Rome, variously attributed to Raphael’s father, Giovanni
Santi (1440?-1494), and (by Morelli) to Melozzo degli Ambrosi da
Forli (1438-1494). Schmarzow’s iconographical identification of this
portrait (formerly supposed to represent Raphael as a boy) is
confirmed by its close resemblance to the young duke’s features as
shown on coins issued in the early years of his reign.
2.—On the slopes of the Apennines towards the Adriatic sea, almost in
the centre of Italy, there lies (as everyone knows) the little city of
Urbino. Although amid mountains, and less pleasing ones than perhaps
some others that we see in many places, it has yet enjoyed such favour
of heaven that the country round about is very fertile and rich in
crops; so that besides the wholesomeness of the air, there is great
abundance of everything needful for human life. But among the greatest
blessings that can be attributed to it, this I believe to be the chief,
that for a long time it has ever been ruled by the best of lords;[24]
although in the calamities of the universal wars of Italy, it was for a
season deprived of them.[25] But without seeking further, we can give
good proof of this by the glorious memory of Duke Federico,[26] who in
his day was the light of Italy; nor is there lack of credible and
abundant witnesses, who are still living, to his prudence, humanity,
justice, liberality, unconquered courage,—and to his military
discipline, which is conspicuously attested by his numerous victories,
his capture of impregnable places, the sudden swiftness of his
expeditions, the frequency with which he put to flight large and
formidable armies by means of a very small force, and by his loss of no
single battle whatever;[27] so that we may not unreasonably compare him
to many famous men of old.
Among his other praiseworthy deeds, he built on the rugged site of
Urbino a palace regarded by many as the most beautiful to be found in
all Italy; and he so well furnished it with everything suitable that it
seemed not a palace but a city in the form of a palace; and not merely
with what is ordinarily used,—such as silver vases, hangings of richest
cloth-of-gold and silk, and other similar things,—but for ornament he
added countless antique statues in marble and bronze, pictures most
choice, and musical instruments of every sort, nor would he admit
anything there that was not very rare and excellent. Then at very great
cost he collected a goodly number of most excellent and rare books in
Greek, Latin and Hebrew, all of which he adorned with gold and with
silver, esteeming this to be the chiefest excellence of his great
palace.[28]
3.—Following then the course of nature, and already sixty-five years
old,[29] he died gloriously, as he had lived; and he left as his
successor a motherless little boy of ten years, his only son Guidobaldo.
Heir to the State, he seemed to be heir also to all his father’s
virtues, and soon his noble nature gave such promise as seemed not
permissible to hope for from mortal man; so that men esteemed none among
the notable deeds of Duke Federico to be greater than to have begotten
such a son. But envious of so much virtue, fortune thwarted this
glorious beginning with all her power; so that before Duke Guido reached
the age of twenty years, he fell ill of the gout,[30] which grew upon
him with grievous pain, and in a short space of time so crippled all his
members that he could neither stand upon his feet nor move; and thus one
of the fairest and most promising forms in the world was distorted and
spoiled in tender youth.
And not content even with this, fortune was so contrary to him in all
his purposes, that he could seldom carry into effect anything that he
desired; and although he was very wise of counsel and unconquered in
spirit, it seemed that what he undertook, both in war and in everything
else whether small or great, always ended ill for him. And proof of this
is found in his many and diverse calamities, which he ever bore with
such strength of mind, that his spirit was never vanquished by fortune;
nay, scorning her assaults with unbroken courage, he lived in illness as
if in health and in adversity as if fortunate, with perfect dignity and
universal esteem; so that although he was thus infirm of body, he fought
with most honourable rank in the service of their Serene Highnesses the
Kings of Naples, Alfonso[31] and Ferdinand the Younger;[32] later with
Pope Alexander VI,[33] and with the Venetian and Florentine signories.
Upon the accession of Julius II[34] to the pontificate, he was made
Captain of the Church; at which time, following his accustomed habit,
above all else he took care to fill his household with very noble and
valiant gentlemen, with whom he lived most familiarly, delighting in
their intercourse: wherein the pleasure he gave to others was not less
than that he received from others, he being well versed in both the
[learned][35] languages, and uniting affability and pleasantness[36] to
a knowledge of things without number. And besides this, the greatness of
his spirit so set him on, that although he could not practise in person
the exercises of chivalry, as he once had done, yet he took the utmost
pleasure in witnessing them in others; and by his words, now correcting
now praising every man according to desert, he clearly showed his
judgment in those matters; wherefore, in jousts and tournaments, in
riding, in the handling of every sort of weapon, as well as in pastimes,
games, music,—in short, in all the exercises proper to noble
cavaliers,—everyone strove so to show himself, as to merit being deemed
worthy of such noble fellowship.
Enlarged from a photograph, specially made by Mansell, of a cast, kindly
furnished by T. Whitcombe Greene, Esq., of a medal in his collection
at Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire, possibly the work of Giancristoforo
Romano (1465?-1512). See Armand’s _Les Médailleurs Italiens_, iii,
202.
4.—Thus all the hours of the day were assigned to honourable and
pleasant exercises as well for the body as for the mind; but since my
lord Duke was always wont by reason of his infirmity to retire to sleep
very early after supper, everyone usually betook himself at that hour to
the presence of my lady Duchess, Elisabetta Gonzaga; where also was ever
to be found my lady Emilia Pia,[37] who was endowed with such lively wit
and judgment that, as you know, it seemed as if she were the Mistress of
us all, and as if everyone gained wisdom and worth from her. Here then,
gentle discussions and innocent pleasantries were heard, and on the face
of everyone a jocund gaiety was seen depicted, so that the house could
truly be called the very abode of mirth: nor ever elsewhere, I think,
was so relished, as once was here, how great sweetness may flow from
dear and cherished companionship; for not to speak of the honour it was
to each of us to serve such a lord as he of whom I have just spoken,
there was born in the hearts of all a supreme contentment every time we
came into the presence of my lady Duchess; and it seemed as if this were
a chain that held us all linked in love, so that never was concord of
will or cordial love between brothers greater than that which here was
between us all.
The same was it among the ladies, with whom there was intercourse most
free and honourable; for everyone was permitted to talk, sit, jest and
laugh with whom he pleased; but such was the reverence paid to the wish
of my lady Duchess, that this same liberty was a very great check;[38]
nor was there anyone who did not esteem it the utmost pleasure he could
have in the world, to please her, and the utmost pain to displease her.
And thus, most decorous manners were here joined with greatest liberty,
and games and laughter in her presence were seasoned not only with witty
jests, but with gracious and sober dignity; for that modesty and
loftiness which governed all the acts, words and gestures of my lady
Duchess, bantering and laughing, were such that she would have been
known for a lady of noblest rank by anyone who saw her even but once.
And impressing herself thus upon those about her, she seemed to attune
us all to her own quality and tone; accordingly every man strove to
follow this pattern, taking as it were a rule of beautiful behaviour
from the presence of so great and virtuous a lady; whose highest
qualities I do not now purpose to recount, they not being my theme and
being well known to all the world, and far more because I could not
express them with either tongue or pen; and those that perhaps might
have been somewhat hid, fortune, as if wondering at such rare virtue,
chose to reveal through many adversities and stings of calamity, so as
to give proof that in the tender breast of woman, in company with
singular beauty, there may abide prudence and strength of soul, and all
those virtues that even among stern men are very rare.[39]
5.—But leaving this aside, I say that the custom of all the gentlemen of