In this lonely stronghold Lucretia could lament, undisturbed, the taking-off of the handsome youth who had been her husband for two years, and together with whom she had dwelt in this same castle scarcely a twelve-month before.

There was nothing to disturb her melancholy brooding; but, instead, castle, city, and landscape all harmonized with it.
Some of Lucretia's letters written during her stay at the castle of Nepi are still in existence, and they are especially valuable, being the only ones we have which date from what is known as the Roman period of the life of the famous woman.

Lucretia addressed them to her trusted servant in Rome, Vincenzo Giordano; some are in her own handwriting, and others in that of her secretary, Cristoforo.

She signs herself "the most unhappy Princess of Salerno," although she herself afterwards struck out the words, _principessa de Salerno_, and left only the words, _La infelicissima_.

In only a single letter--and this one has no date--did she allow the whole signature to stand.
The first letters, dated September 15th and October 24, 1500, "in our city of Nepi," are devoted to domestic affairs, especially clothes, of which she was in need.