Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/224

210 to thank her and the grand-duke, and inform them of his arrival the ensuing autumn.

The concerns of the two brothers now no longer met with the usual impediments; they rose again to their former consequence, and the pope himself adopted a more condescending conduct towards the cardinal. This man, Sextus V. so thoroughly versed in the wiles of court intrigues, was highly pleased with Bianca's management in this affair, and called it a masterpiece in politics.

Ferdinando arrived at Florence, in the beginning of October. On the 13th, the grand-duke was taken ill; at first, with an intermitting fever, which seemed to be of very little consequence; but there soon appeared the most alarming symptoms of a mortal disorder.

Two days afterwards Bianca likewise fell ill of the same disorder, and her symptoms soon proved mortal. She was never apprised of the catastrophe of her consort. The cardinal, from a motive of tenderness, had given the strictest orders that she might not be informed of his death. But the uncommon bustle in the palace, and the dejection and sadness which were visible in every countenance, were sufficient to make her guess at what was concealed from her, and to increase her illness. Ferdinando visited her after his brother's demise, and comforted her. She was sensible of her impending dissolution, told the cardinal of it, thanked him affectionately for his kindness, and recommended Don Antonio and her family to his protection.

In this state he left her with the archbishop of Florence, the great Bentivoglio, and her daughter. She expired in her forty-fifth year, nineteen hours after her consort. The new grand-duke had given positive orders, that the corpse of Bianca should be opened in the presence of