Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/220

194 194 ILLNESS AND DEATH OF ISABELLA. PART II. own vigilance and untiring exertions. During the first busy and bustling years of her reign, these exertions were of incredijjle magnitude. She was almost always in the saddle, for she made all her journeys on horseback ; and she travelled with a rapidity, which made her always present on the spot where her presence was needed. She was never intimidated by the weather, or the state of her own health ; and this reckless exposure undoubt- edly contributed much to impair her excellent con- stitution. ^^ She was equally indefatigable in her mental application. After assiduous attention to business through the day, she was often known to sit up all night, dictating despatches to her secretaries. ^^ In the midst of these overwhelming cares, she found time to supply the defects of early education by learning Latin, so as to understand it without diffi- culty, whether written or spoken ; and indeed, in the opinion of a competent judge, to attain a critical accuracy in it.^' As she had little turn for light amusements, she sought relief from graver cares by 51 Her exposure in this way on one occasion brought on a miscar- riage. According to Gomez, in- deed, she finally died of a painful internal disorder, occasioned by her long and laborious journeys. (De Rebus Gestis, fol. 47.) Giovio adopts the same account. (Vitae Illust. Virorum, p. 275.) The au- thorities are good, certainly; but Martyr, who was in the palace, with every opportunity of correct information, and with no reason for concealment of the truth, in his pri- vate correspondence with Tcndilla and Talavera, makes no allusion whatever to such a complaint, in his circumstantial account of the queen's illness. ^ Ferreras, Hist. d'Espagne, tom. vii. p. 4n. — Mem. de la Acad, de Hist., tom. vi. p. 29. 53 L. Marineo, Cosas Memora- bles, fol. 182. — " Pronunciaba con primor el latin, y era tan habil en la prosodia, que si erraban algun acento, luego le corregia." Idem, apud Florez, Reynas Catholicas, tom. ii. p. 834.