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reshockedtofindthatpeopleexistedinthisworldwhodidnotpossessthedelicacyandrefinementwhichtheyfeltpalpitatingintheirownbosoms.TheauthorforgotthatTruthisanakedlady,andthatnudityisalwaysshameful,unlessitpointsamoral.IfTruthhastakenupherabodeatthebottomofawell,itisclearlybecausesheisconsciousthatsheisnofitcompanionfordecentpeople. Iampainfullyawarethatthepersonsofthisdramawerenotactuatedbythemoralsentiments,whichtheymighthaveacquiredbyeducationatareallygoodEnglishpublicschool,butonemayfindexcuseforthemintherecollectionthattheirdeedstookplacefourhundredyearsago,andthattheywerenotwretchedpaupers,butpersonsoftheveryhighestrank.Iftheysinned,theysinnedelegantly,andmuchmaybeforgiventopeoplewhosepedigreeisabovesuspicion.Andthewriter,asifunwillingtowoundthesusceptibilitiesofhisreaders,hastakencaretohurlcontemptattheonlycharacterwhosefamilywasdistinctlynotrespectable. Beforemakingmybow,andleavingthereaderwithFilippoBrandolini,Iwilldescribehisappearance,showninaportraitpaintedinthesameyear,1488,andtillthebeginningofthiscenturyinthepossessionofmyfamily,whenitwassold,withmanyotherworksofart,totravellersinItaly.Mywifehassucceededinbuyingbacktheportraitsofseveralofmyancestors,butthisparticularoneisinthecollectionofanEnglishnobleman,whohasrefusedtopartwithit,thoughkindlyallowingacopytobemade,whichnowhangsintheplaceformerlyoccupiedbytheoriginal. Itrepresentsamiddle-sizedman,slimandgraceful,withasmallblackbeardandmoustacheanovalface,olivecoloured,andfromhisfinedarkeyesheislookingstraightoutintotheworldwithanexpressionofcompletehappiness.Itwaspaintedsoonafterhismarriage.Heisdressedinthecostumeoftheperiod,andholdsarollofparchmentinhishand.Atthetoprighthandcornerarethedateandthearmsofthefamilyoragriffinrampant.Gules.Crest:ademiswanissuingfromacoronet.Themotto:Felicitas.