Two of his nieces were to be married here in his presence, and he felt that he ought not to let either them or the Cardinal of Trent--who was coming from the Council and would return there--see how strong were the fetters with which, at his age and just at this time, he allowed himself to be bound by love for a beautiful singer.
The wisdom which had long been characteristic of him commanded him to sever abruptly the connection with the woman he loved and remove her from his path.

But the demands of the heart and the senses were too powerful for the man who indulged to excess in fiery wine and spiced foods, though he knew that greater abstinence would have spared him torturing pangs.
He had succeeded hundreds of times in obtaining the victory over other urgent wishes, and conquering strong affections.

But this was different, for separation from Barbara must, at any rate, destroy the exquisite late happiness of the newly unfolded enjoyment of life, and for this heavy loss he saw no compensation.

To part from her entirely, therefore, seemed to him impossible--at any rate, for the present.

On the other hand, the duty of the sovereign and consideration for his relatives both commanded him to restrict the demands of her passionate young heart and his own, which had so recently awaked from slumber.
He had recognised this necessity, and considered the pros and cons precisely as if the matter were a political question.