Away from their protection, he was capable of bringing on their name the slur of bad treatment and ingratitude.

Nor would it have looked well to publish the _Gerusalemme_ with its praises of Alfonso, while the poet was lamenting his hard fate in every town of Italy.

The upshot of these negotiations was that Tasso resolved on retracing his steps.

He reached Ferrara again upon February 21, 1579, two days before Margherita Gonzaga, the duke's new bride, made her pompous entrance into the city.

But his reception was far from being what he had expected.