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 THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER tioned, was of such sort that her very admirable virtues bore good witness to all the world that she not only was a worthy daughter of a king, but deserved to be queen over a much greater realm than all her ancestors had possessed.™ And to tell you of another, how many men do you know in the world who have borne the cruel blows of fortune as patiently as Queen Isabella of Naples has done?™ — who, after the loss of her king- dom, the exile and death of her husband King Federico*"' and of two children, and the captivity of her first-born, the Duke of Calabria,*"" still shows herself to be a queen, and so endures the grievous burdens of bitter poverty as to give all men proof that although her fortunes are changed, her rank is not. " I refrain from mentioning countless other ladies, and also women of low degree; like many Pisan women, who in defence of their city against the Florentines displayed that generous daring, without any fear of death, which might have been dis- played by the most unconquerable souls that have ever been on earth; wherefore some of them have been celebrated by many noble poets.*^ " I could tell you of some who were very excellent in letters, in music, in painting, in sculpture; but I do not wish to go on selecting from among these instances that are perfectly well known to you all. It is enough that if you reflect upon the women whom you yourselves know, it is not difficult for you to perceive that they are for the most part not inferior in worth and merits to their fathers, brothers and husbands; and that not a few have been the source of good to men and often have corrected many a one of his errours; and if there are not now to be found on earth those great queens who march to the conquest of dis- tant lands, and erect great buildings, pyramids and cities, — like that famous Tomyris, Queen of Scythia, Artemisia, Zenobia, Semiramis or Cleopatra,**" — neither are there men like Caesar, Alexander, Scipio, Lucullus and those other Roman com- manders." 37 — "Say not so," replied Frisio, laughing; "for now more than ever are there women to be found like Cleopatra or Semir- amis; and if they have not such great states, power and riches, yet they lack not the good will to imitate those queens in giving 205