TULLIA d'ARAGONA The impossible desire to merge with the beloved Tullia d'Aragona (1510–1556) was an Italian poet and philosopher. Like her mother, she was a courtesan (a court lady, companion of powerful persons), and was lucky to be born during a limited period of time when courtesans were given relative economic and social freedom. (Later in her life, Italian society became more conservative.) As a child, she was educated in the classical humanities by a Cardinal who was probably her...