TalkTalk by E. L. Konigsburg

Author:E. L. Konigsburg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atheneum
Published: 1995-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Yes, Salai. You must meet him, but before you do, let me set the stage. Come with me.

Come with me now to Milan in the year 1492. I picked the year 1492 because it was a very good year. If you remember your history, Columbus discovered America on the second Monday of every October of that year.

Let me introduce you to some of the people that you and Barbara Walters would have enjoyed meeting at the court of Milan.

First, there was the duke of Milan. His name was Ludovico Sforza, and he was forty years old.

He was also called Il Moro because his complexion was dark, and he resembled a Moor. Like Othello. Like Othello, he was an excellent lover and soldier. He rose to his position not through a direct line of descent but through an L-shaped move and maybe a few judicious murders. But, remember, this was the age of Machiavelli, and Il Moro was a product of his times.

II Moro’s court, the court of Milan, was rich. Richer than Florence. Its riches were newer; it was nouveau riche, a bit too lavish in its display and a bit too loud in its self-celebration. The court of Milan stood to the city of Florence as Los Angeles stands to the city of New York: more spread out, flashier, more experimental, and just a little defensive about being so.

But this duke, this Il Moro, had an eye for quality. He was a fine patron of the arts. Not only did he have fine taste and vast powers of organization, but he was always open to new ideas. Capable of minute attention to detail, he also gave rein to talent.

Milan under the rule of Il Moro was proclaimed the new Athens. It is no wonder that Leonardo stayed there for seventeen years. There will always be those who in the history of the Renaissance regard Il Moro as a parvenu, but then, there are always those who regard the Kennedys of Massachusetts as parvenu compared to the Cabots and the Lodges.

I mentioned that in addition to being a fine soldier and an excellent patron of the arts, Il Moro was also a fine lover. In 1492 he was in love with this beautiful lady.

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