Bonna was the daughter of a shepherd of the Valteline, a fruitful valley
at the foot of the Alps, and the grand pass between Italy and Germany.
As she was one day guarding her flocks, Peter Brunoro, an illustrious
Parmesan general, lost his way near the spot where she attended her
innocent companions. Brunoro politely accosted the rural maid, to
enquire the road, but was so struck with her beauty, and so pleased with
her courteous answer, that he dismounted and entered into conversation
with the sheperdess. Bonna was no prude, and she had wit enough to
distinguish a gentleman from a rustic; in short, her vivacity, and a
certain air of modest assurance, admirably calculated to hit the taste
of an officer, had such an effect upon him, that he fell in love with
her, and carried her off. From this time, we are to consider her not as
the Arcadian sheperdess, but as Brunoro’s mistress.
Finding that she had a bold, masculine spirit, he took great pleasure in
dressing her in men’s cloaths; and he had the satisfaction to observe,
that she was ambitious to gain a masculine address! Brunoro soon learned
her to manage the fleetest courser, and as he was remarkably fond of
hunting, she was always of his party, and acquitted herself to the
astonishment of all the cavaliers.
A quarrel happening some time after between Francis Sforza, duke of
Milan, and Alphonsus, king of Naples; Brunoro quitted the service of the
king his master, and went over to the duke of Milan’s party: Bonna, his
faithful mistress accompanied him, and signalized herself in the first
campaign. The difference between the contending parties being
accommodated by the interposition of mediators, Brunoro was received
again into the service of Alphonsus, and Bonna was presented to the king
as a young Amazon: her talents for war and politics became every day
more and more conspicuous; and upon a rupture between the Venetian
republic and the duke of Milan, she had the address to negociate at
Venice, the command of the Venetian army, with an appointment of 20000
ducates per annum during the war for Brunoro. The general’s heart, at
this striking piece of felial affection in his mistress, was now touched
with a lively sense of honour for Bonna, he regretted he had ever took
advantage of the assenting and unguarded Shepherdess, and, to repair
past injuries, and in gratitude for such signal services, married his
benefactress: After this event, she placed no bounds either to her
conjugal affection, or her love of arms. She accompanied her husband
wherever he went: and while the general was engaged upon some other
service, she headed a detachment, and took the Castle of Pavanou, near
Brescia, from the Milanese, by assault.
The senate of Venice honoured her with distinguished rewards, and
placing an unlimited confidence in both husband and wife, sent them to
the succour of Negropontus, attacked by the Turks. They defended this
island so ably, that during the time that they commanded, the Turks
desisted from all further attempts on the place. Bonna died on her
return to Venice at a small town of Morea, leaving behind her two
children, and an immortal reputation.
[[Notes:
This piece is somewhat historical. Bona Lombarda or Lombardi married
Pietro Brunoro 1417-1468; she died in Modone.]]
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