There is no claim in the following pages to
present more than a sketch of Vittoria
Colonna's life. Her history is veiled in an
obscurity which prevents great minuteness of
detail, and which conceals many of the hidden
particulars which form the charm of biography.
In order to cast some light upon this subject,
and to give personality to this sketch, I have
for the most part selected for translation into
English, those of Vittoria's sonnets which refer
to the leading events of her life, and reflect
in some degree her own thoughts and words on
these occasions.
