He lived with them on terms of more than courtly intimacy; and for Leonora there is no doubt that he cherished something like a romantic attachment.

This is proved by the episode of Sofronia and Olindo in the _Gerusalemme_, which points in carefully constructed innuendoes to his affection.

It can even be conceded that Tasso, who was wont to indulge fantastic visions of unattainable greatness, may have raised his hopes so high as sometimes to entertain the possibility of winning her hand.

But if he did dally with such dreams, the realities of his position must in sober moments have convinced him of their folly.

Had not a Duchess of Amalfi been murdered for contracting a marriage with a gentleman of her household?
And Leonora was a grand-daughter of France; and the cordon of royalty was being drawn tighter and tighter yearly in the Italy of his day.