But if she were of use in time of war, I would desire her to come at
once."
"I quite understand," said the Marchioness, "but as now the day is far
spent, let your question be for next Sunday." And as she said this she
rose, and all of us with her, and we went away.
THIRD DIALOGUE
Not only were we unable to meet together on the following Sunday with the
Marchioness and M. Angelo, but even on the next one, eight days later, we
were almost prevented, and indeed did not wish to meet, because at that
time was being celebrated in the city of Rome the feast of the twelve
triumphal cars in the Camp Nagao(199) in the ancient manner. Starting from
the Capitol with such magnificence and ancient pomp that it seemed as if
one were back in the old times of the Emperors and the triumphs of the
Romans. This feast was celebrated on the occasion of the marriage(200) of
Senhor Ottavio,(201) son of Pedro Luiz, and grand-nephew of our Lord Pope
Paul III., to Senhora Margarida,(202) adopted daughter of the Emperor. She
had been a short time previously the wife of Alessandro de Medici, Duke of
Florence, who was killed through treason in Florence. And now, she being a
widow and very young and beautiful, his Holiness and his Majesty married
her to Senhor Ottavio, a very young and estimable man, consequently the
city and the Court feasted them as much as could be at night with
serenades and banquets, and the whole of Rome ablaze with lights and
illuminations, especially the Castle of St.
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