There is no sufficient reason, however, to surmise that Tasso's conscience was really burdened with a guilty secret touching Leonora d'Este.

On the contrary, everything points to a different conclusion.

His mind was simply giving way.

Just as he conjured up the ghastly specter of the Inquisition, so he fancied that the duke would murder him.

Both the Inquisition and the duke were formidable; but the Holy Office mildly told him to set his morbid doubts at rest, and the duke on a subsequent occasion coldly wrote: 'I know he thinks I want to kill him.