Quote:
|
I will probably be open to suggestions if Belladonna Borgia is gravely threatened
|
I also, your sublime magnificence.
I would incidentally like to avail myself of the opportunity absolve the lovely Lucrezia Borgia of the terrible and very unfair slurs that popular historical propaganda has tainted her with. You know how poor old Canute has been so wrongly painted as the proverbial foolish king who thought he ruled over the sea, when in fact he was a wise man trying to show his obsequious subjects that his powers were limited? Well, his historical libelling is but a picnic in the park compared to that endured by Lucrezia, the so-called "femme fatale poisoner".
The real Lucrezia was an exceptionally beautiful and sweet-natured woman, who was in her youth used as a pawn in the political games of her insanely murderous birth-family. However, she never willingly participated in any of their wicked activities, and by the time of her third marriage, she was of an age and maturity to get away from their black influence, and show her true colours.
As Duchess of Ferrara, she was greatly loved by her subjects, ruling wisely and well, and assembled an elegant and cultured court around her. She was known, in fact, as "the Good Duchess." An astonishing achievement for a girl brought up in the most appallingly depraved surroundings.
A parallel with the Tooks and Bagginses could be drawn here. Or it could not. You decide.