diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4028-8.txt | 16987 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 4028-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 400149 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
5 files changed, 17003 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4028-8.txt b/4028-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..36fe741 --- /dev/null +++ b/4028-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16987 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. The words +are carefully chosen to provide users with the information they +need about what they can legally do with the texts. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These Etexts Are Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below, including for donations. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541 + + + +Title: The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini + +Author: Benvenuto Cellini + Translated By John Addington Symonds + +Release Date: May, 2003 [Etext #4028] +[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule] +[The actual date this file first posted = 10/12/01] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini +*********This file should be named 4028-8.txt or 4028-8.zip******** + +This etext was produced by Norman Wolcott. + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our books one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to send us error messages even years after +the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our sites at: +https://gutenberg.org +http://promo.net/pg + + +Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement +can surf to them as follows, and just download by date; this is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 +or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release fifty new Etext +files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 3000+ +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 4,000 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of July 12, 2001 contributions are only being solicited from people in: +Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, +Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, +Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North +Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina*, South Dakota, +Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, +Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +*In Progress + +We have filed in about 45 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, +additions to this list will be made and fund raising +will begin in the additional states. Please feel +free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork +to legally request donations in all 50 states. If +your state is not listed and you would like to know +if we have added it since the list you have, just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in +states where we are not yet registered, we know +of no prohibition against accepting donations +from donors in these states who approach us with +an offer to donate. + + +International donations are accepted, +but we don't know ANYTHING about how +to make them tax-deductible, or +even if they CAN be made deductible, +and don't have the staff to handle it +even if there are ways. + +All donations should be made to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541, +and has been approved as a 501(c)(3) organization by the US Internal +Revenue Service (IRS). Donations are tax-deductible to the maximum +extent permitted by law. As the requirements for other states are met, +additions to this list will be made and fund raising will begin in the +additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +*** + + +Example command-line FTP session: + +ftp ftp.ibiblio.org +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 or etext00 through etext02, etc. +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by Norman Wolcott. + + + + + + + +Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini + +[Redactor’s Note: This version of the Autobiography, one of the most +famous of all time, was translated by John Addington Symonds +(1840-1893). Cellini lived from 1500-1571. This version is in ISO Latin1 +with 8 bit accents, and is also supplied in a single file HTML version.] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The Autobiography of +Benvenuto Cellini + +Translated By +John Addington Symonds + +With Introduction and Notes +Volume 31 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Introductory Sonnet + + THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write, + To thank the God of nature, who conveyed + My soul to me, and with such care hath stayed + That divers noble deeds I’ve brought to light. + ‘Twas He subdued my cruel fortune’s spite: + Life glory virtue measureless hath made + Such grace worth beauty be through me displayed + That few can rival, none surpass me quite. + Only it grieves me when I understand + What precious time in vanity I’ve spent- + The wind it beareth man’s frail thoughts away. + Yet, since remorse avails not, I’m content, + As erst I came, WELCOME to go one day, + Here in the Flower of this fair Tuscan land. + +Introductory Note + +AMONG the vast number of men who have thought fit to write down the +history of their own lives, three or four have achieved masterpieces +which stand out preeminently: Saint Augustine in his “Confessions,” +Samuel Pepys in his “Diary,” Rousseau in his “Confessions.” It is among +these extraordinary documents, and unsurpassed by any of them, that the +autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini takes its place. + +The “Life” of himself which Cellini wrote was due to other motives than +those which produced its chief competitors for first place in its class. +St. Augustine’s aim was religious and didactic, Pepys noted down in his +diary the daily events of his life for his sole satisfaction and with no +intention that any one should read the cipher in which they were +recorded. But Cellini wrote that the world might know, after he was +dead, what a fellow he had been; what great things he had attempted, and +against what odds he had carried them through. “All men,” he held, +“whatever be their condition, who have done anything of merit, or which +verily has a semblance of merit, if so be they are men of truth and good +repute, should write the tale of their life with their own hand.” That +he had done many things of merit, he had no manner of doubt. His repute +was great in his day, and perhaps good in the sense in which he meant +goodness; as to whether he was a man of truth, there is still dispute +among scholars. Of some misrepresentations, some suppressions of +damaging facts, there seems to be evidence only too good-a man with +Cellini’s passion for proving himself in the right could hardly have +avoided being guilty of such-; but of the general trustworthiness of his +record, of the kind of man he was and the kind of life he led, there is +no reasonable doubt. + +The period covered by the autobiography is from Cellini’s birth in 1500 +to 1562; the scene is mainly in Italy and France. Of the great events of +the time, the time of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, of +the strife of Pope and Emperor and King, we get only glimpses. The +leaders in these events appear in the foreground of the picture only +when they come into personal relations with the hero; and then not +mainly as statesmen or warriors, but as connoisseurs and patrons of art. +Such an event as the Sack of Rome is described because Benvenuto himself +fought in it. + +Much more complete is the view he gives of the artistic life of the +time. It was the age of Michelangelo, and in the throng of great artists +which then filled the Italian cities, Cellini was no inconsiderable +figure. Michelangelo himself he knew and adored. Nowhere can we gain a +better idea than in this book of the passionate enthusiasm for the +creation of beauty which has bestowed upon the Italy of the Renaissance +its greatest glory. + +Very vivid, too, is the impression we receive of the social life of the +sixteenth century; of its violence and licentiousness, of its zeal for +fine craftsmanship, of its abounding vitality, its versatility and its +idealism. For Cellini himself is an epitome of that century. This man +who tells here the story of his life was a murderer and a braggart, +insolent, sensual, inordinately proud and passionate; but he was also a +worker in gold and silver, rejoicing in delicate chasing and subtle +modelling of precious surfaces; a sculptor and a musician; and, as all +who read his book must testify, a great master of narrative. Keen as was +Benvenuto’s interest in himself, and much as he loved to dwell on the +splendor of his exploits and achievements, he had little idea that +centuries after his death he would live again, less by his “Perseus” and +his goldsmith’s work than by the book which he dictated casually to a +lad of fourteen, while he went about his work. + +The autobiography was composed between 1558 and 1566, but it brings the +record down only to 1562. The remainder of Cellini’s life seems to have +been somewhat more peaceful. In 1565 he married Piera de Salvadore +Parigi, a servant who had nursed him when he was sick; and in the care +of his children, as earlier of his sister and nieces, he showed more +tenderness than might have been expected from a man of his boisterous +nature. He died at Florence, May 13, 1571, and was buried in The Church +of the Annunziata in that city. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini + +I + +ALL men of whatsoever quality they be, who have done anything of +excellence, or which may properly resemble excellence, ought, if they +are persons of truth and honesty, to describe their life with their own +hand; but they ought not to attempt so fine an enterprise till they have +passed the age of forty. This duty occurs to my own mind now that I am +travelling beyond the term of fifty-eight years, and am in Florence, the +city of my birth. Many untoward things can I remember, such as happen to +all who live upon our earth; and from those adversities I am now more +free than at any previous period of my career-nay, it seems to me that I +enjoy greater content of soul and health of body than ever I did in +bygone years. I can also bring to mind some pleasant goods and some +inestimable evils, which, when I turn my thoughts backward, strike +terror in me, and astonishment that I should have reached this age of +fifty-eight, wherein, thanks be to God, I am still travelling +prosperously forward. + +II + +IT is true that men who have laboured with some show of excellence, have +already given knowledge of themselves to the world; and this alone ought +to suffice them; I mean the fact that they have proved their manhood and +achieved renown. Yet one must needs live like others; and so in a work +like this there will always be found occasion for natural bragging, +which is of divers kinds, and the first is that a man should let others +know he draws his lineage from persons of worth and most ancient origin. + +I am called Benvenuto Cellini, son of Maestro Giovanni, son of Andrea, +son of Cristofano Cellini; my mother was Madonna Elisabetta, daughter to +Stefano Granacci; both parents citizens of Florence. It is found written +in chronicles made by our ancestors of Florence, men of old time and of +credibility, even as Giovanni Villani writes, that the city of Florence +was evidently built in imitation of the fair city of Rome; and certain +remnants of the Colosseum and the Baths can yet be traced. These things +are near Santa Croce. The Capitol was where is now the Old Market. The +Rotonda is entire, which was made for the temple of Mars, and is now +dedicated to our Saint John. That thus is was, can very well be seen, +and cannot be denied, but the said buildings are much smaller than those +of Rome. He who caused them to built, they say, was Julius Cæsar, in +concert with some noble Romans, who, when Fiesole had been stormed and +taken, raised a city in this place, and each of them took in hand to +erect one of these notable edifices. + +Julius Cæsar had among his captains a man of highest rank and valour, +who was called Fiorino of Cellino, which is a village about two miles +distant from Monte Fiascone. Now this Fiorino took up his quarters under +the hill of Fiesole, on the ground where Florence now stands, in order +to be near the river Arno, and for the convenience of the troops. All +those soldiers and others who had to do with the said captain, used then +to say: “Let us go to Fiorenze;” as well because the said captain was +called Fiorino, as also because the place he had chosen for his quarters +was by nature very rich in flowers. Upon the foundation of the city, +therefore, since this name struck Julius Cæsar as being fair and apt, +and given by circumstance, and seeing furthermore that flowers +themselves bring good augury, he appointed the name of Florence for the +town. He wished besides to pay his valiant captain this compliment; and +he loved him all the more for having drawn him from a very humble place, +and for the reason that so excellent a man was a creature of his own. +The name that learned inventors and investigators of such etymologies +adduce, as that Florence is flowing at the Arno, cannot hold; seeing +that Rome is flowing at the Tiber, Ferrara is flowing at the Po, Lyons +is flowing at the Saone, Paris is flowing at the Seine, and yet the +names of all these towns are different, and have come to them by other +ways. [1] + +Thus then we find; and thus we believe that we are descended from a man +of worth. Furthermore, we find that there are Cellinis of our stock in +Ravenna, that most ancient town of Italy, where too are plenty of gentle +folk. In Pisa also there are some, and I have discovered them in many +parts of Christendom; and in this state also the breed exists, men +devoted to the profession of arms; for not many years ago a young man, +called Luca Cellini, a beardless youth, fought with a soldier of +experience and a most valorous man, named Francesco da Vicorati, who had +frequently fought before in single combat. This Luca, by his own valour, +with sword in hand, overcame and slew him, with such bravery and +stoutness that he moved the folk to wonder, who were expecting quite the +contrary issue; so that I glory in tracing my descent from men of valour. + +As for the trifling honours which I have gained for my house, under the +well-known conditions of our present ways of living, and by means of my +art, albeit the same are matters of no great moment, I will relate these +in their proper time and place, taking much more pride in having been +born humble and having laid some honourable foundation for my family, +than if I had been born of great lineage and had stained or overclouded +that by my base qualities. So then I will make a beginning by saying how +it pleased God I should be born. + +Note 1. He is alluding to the name 'Fluenzia,' which some antiquaries of +his day thought to have been the earliest name of the city, derived from +its being near 'Arno Fluente.' I have translated the word 'fluente' in +the text literally, though of course it signifies “situated on a flowing +river.” I need not call attention to the apocryphal nature of Cellini’s +own derivation from the name of his supposed ancestor. + +III + +MY ancestors dwelt in Val d’ Ambra, where they owned large estates, and +lived like little lords, in retirement, however, on account of the then +contending factions. They were all men devoted to arms and of notable +bravery. In that time one of their sons, the younger, who was called +Cristofano, roused a great feud with certain of their friends and +neighbours. Now the heads of the families on both sides took part in it, +and the fire kindled seemed to them so threatening that their houses +were like to perish utterly; the elders upon this consideration, in +concert with my own ancestors, removed Cristofano; and the other youth +with whom the quarrel began was also sent away. They sent their young +man to Siena. Our folk sent Cristofano to Florence; and there they +bought for him a little house in Via Chiara, close to the convent of S. +Orsola, and they also purchased for him some very good property near the +Ponte a Rifredi. The said Cristofano took wife in Florence, and had sons +and daughters; and when all the daughters had been portioned off, the +sons, after their father’s death, divided what remained. The house in +Via Chiara with some other trifles fell to the share of one of the said +sons, who had the name of Andrea. He also took wife, and had four male +children. The first was called Girolamo, the second Bartolommeo, the +third Giovanni, who was afterwards my father, and the fourth Francesco. +This Andrea Cellini was very well versed in architecture, as it was then +practised, and lived by it as his trade. Giovanni, who was my father, +paid more attention to it than any of the other brothers. And since +Vitruvius says, amongst other things, that one who wishes to practise +that art well must have something of music and good drawing, Giovanni, +when he had mastered drawing, began to turn his mind to music, and +together with the theory learned to play most excellently on the viol +and the flute; and being a person of studious habits, he left his home +but seldom. + +They had for neighbour in the next house a man called Stefano Granacci, +who had several daughters, all of them of remarkable beauty. As it +pleased God, Giovanni noticed one of these girls who was named +Elisabetta; and she found such favour with him that he asked her in +marriage. The fathers of both of them being well acquainted through +their close neighbourhood, it was easy to make this match up; and each +thought that he had very well arranged his affairs. First of all the two +good old men agreed upon the marriage; then they began to discuss the +dowry, which led to a certain amount of friendly difference; for Andrea +said to Stefano: “My son Giovanni is the stoutest youth of Florence, and +of all Italy to boot, and if I had wanted earlier to have him married, I +could have procured one of the largest dowries which folk of our rank +get in Florence:” whereupon Stefano answered: “You have a thousand +reasons on your side; but here am I with five daughters and as many +sons, and when my reckoning is made, this is as much as I can possibly +afford.” Giovanni, who had been listening awhile unseen by them, +suddenly broke in and said: “O my father, I have sought and loved that +girl and not their money. Ill luck to those who seek to fill their +pockets by the dowry of their wife! As you have boasted that I am a +fellow of such parts, do you not think that I shall be able to provide +for my wife and satisfy her needs, even if I receive something short of +the portion you would like to get? Now I must make you understand that +the woman is mine, and you may take the dowry for yourself.” At this +Andrea Cellini, who was a man of rather awkward temper, grew a trifle +angry; but after a few days Giovanni took his wife, and never asked for +other portion with her. + +They enjoyed their youth and wedded love through eighteen years, always +greatly desiring to be blessed with children. At the end of this time +Giovanni’s wife miscarried of two boys through the unskilfulness of the +doctors. Later on she was again with child, and gave birth to a girl, +whom they called Cosa, after the mother of my father. [1] At the end of +two years she was once more with child; and inasmuch as those longings +to which pregnant women are subject, and to which they pay much +attention, were now exactly the same as those of her former pregnancy, +they made their minds up that she would give birth to a female as +before, and agreed to call the child Reparata, after the mother of my +mother. It happened that she was delivered on a night of All Saints, +following the feast-day, at half-past four precisely, in the year 1500. +[2] The midwife, who knew that they were expecting a girl, after she had +washed the baby and wrapped it in the fairest white linen, came softly +to my father Giovanni and said: “I am bringing you a fine present, such +as you did not anticipate.” My father, who was a true philosopher, was +walking up and down, and answered: “What God gives me is always dear to +me;” and when he opened the swaddling clothes, he saw with his own eyes +the unexpected male child. Joining together the palms of his old hands, +he raised them with his eyes to God, and said “Lord, I thank Thee with +my whole heart; this gift is very dear to me; let him be Welcome.” All +the persons who were there asked him joyfully what name the child should +bear. Giovanni would make no other answer than “Let him be +Welcome-Benvenuto;” [3] and so they resolved, and this name was given me +at Holy Baptism, and by it I still am living with the grace of God. + +Note 1. Cosa is Florentine for Niccolòsa. + +Note 2. The hour is reckoned, according to the old Italian fashion, from +sunset of one day to sunset of the next-twenty-four hours. + +Note 3. Benvenuto means Welcome. + +IV + +ANDREA CELLINI was yet alive when I was about three years old, and he +had passed his hundredth. One day they had been altering a certain +conduit pertaining to a cistern, and there issued from it a great +scorpion unperceived by them, which crept down from the cistern to the +ground, and slank away beneath a bench. I saw it, and ran up to it, and +laid my hands upon it. It was so big that when I had it in my little +hands, it put out its tail on one side, and on the other thrust forth +both its mouths. [1] They relate that I ran in high joy to my +grandfather, crying out: “Look, grandpapa, at my pretty little crab.” +When he recognised that the creature was a scorpion, he was on the point +of falling dead for the great fear he had and anxiety about me. He +coaxed and entreated me to give it him; but the more he begged, the +tighter I clasped it, crying and saying I would not give it to any one. +My father, who was also in the house, ran up when he heard my screams, +and in his stupefaction could not think how to prevent the venomous +animal from killing me. Just then his eyes chanced to fall upon a pair +of scissors; and so, while soothing and caressing me, he cut its tail +and mouths off. Afterwards, when the great peril had been thus averted, +he took the occurrence for a good augury. + +When I was about five years old my father happened to be in a +basement-chamber of our house, where they had been washing, and where a +good fire of oak-logs was still burning; he had a viol in his hand, and +was playing and singing alone beside the fire. The weather was very +cold. Happening to look into the fire, he spied in the middle of those +most burning flames a little creature like a lizard, which was sporting +in the core of the intensest coals. Becoming instantly aware of what the +thing was, he had my sister and me called, and pointing it out to us +children, gave me a great box on the ears, which caused me to howl and +weep with all my might. Then he pacified me good-humouredly, and spoke +as follows: “My dear little boy, I am not striking you for any wrong +that you have done, but only to make you remember that that lizard which +you see in the fire is a salamander, a creature which has never been +seen before by any one of whom we have credible information.” So saying, +he kissed me and gave me some pieces of money. + +Note 1. The word is 'bocche,' so I have translated it by 'mouths.' But +Cellini clearly meant the gaping claws of the scorpion. + +V + +MY father began teaching me to play upon the flute and sing by note; by +notwithstanding I was of that tender age when little children are wont +to take pastime in whistles and such toys, I had an inexpressible +dislike for it, and played and sang only to obey him. My father in those +times fashioned wonderful organs with pipes of wood, spinets the fairest +and most excellent which then could be seen, viols and lutes and harps +of the most beautiful and perfect construction. He was an engineer, and +had marvellous skill in making instruments for lowering bridges and for +working mills, and other machines of that sort. In ivory he was the +first who wrought really well. But after he had fallen in love with the +woman who was destined to become my mother-perhaps what brought them +together was that little flute, to which indeed he paid more attention +than was proper-he was entreated by the fifers of the Signory to play in +their company. Accordingly he did so for some time to amuse himself, +until by constant importunity they induced him to become a member of +their band. Lorenzo de’ Medici and Pietro his son, who had a great +liking for him, perceived later on that he was devoting himself wholly +to the fife, and was neglecting his fine engineering talent and his +beautiful art. [1] So they had him removed from that post. My father +took this very ill, and it seemed to him that they had done him a great +despite. Yet he immediately resumed his art, and fashioned a mirror, +about a cubit in diameter, out of bone and ivory, with figures and +foliage of great finish and grand design. The mirror was in the form of +a wheel. In the middle was the looking-glass; around it were seven +circular pieces, on which were the Seven Virtues, carved and joined of +ivory and black bone. The whole mirror, together with the Virtues, was +placed in equilibrium, so that when the wheel turned, all the Virtues +moved, and they had weights at their feet which kept them upright. +Possessing some acquaintance with the Latin tongue, he put a legend in +Latin round his looking-glass, to this effect-”Whithersoever the wheel +of Fortune turns, Virtue stands firm upon her feet:” + + Rota sum: semper, quoquo me verto, stat Virtus. + +A little while after this he obtained his place again among the fifers. +Although some of these things happened before I was born, my familiarity +with them has moved me to set them down here. In those days the +musicians of the Signory were all of them members of the most honourable +trades, and some of them belonged to the greater guilds of silk and +wool; [2] and that was the reason why my father did not disdain to +follow this profession, and his chief desire with regard to me was +always that I should become a great performer on the flute. I for my +part felt never more discontented than when he chose to talk to me about +this scheme, and to tell me that, if I liked, he discerned in me such +aptitudes that I might become the best man in the world. + +Note 1. The Medici here mentioned were Lorenzo the Magnificent, and his +son Pietro, who was expelled from Florence in the year 1494. He never +returned, but died in the river Garigliano in 1504. + +Note 2. In the Middle Ages the burghers of Florence were divided into +industrial guilds called the Greater and the Lesser Arts. The former +took precedence of the latter, both in political importance and in +social esteem. + +VI + +AS I have said, my father was the devoted servant and attached friend of +the house of Medici; and when Piero was banished, he entrusted him with +many affairs of the greatest possible importance. Afterwards, when the +magnificent Piero Soderini was elected, and my father continued in his +office of musician, Soderini, perceiving his wonderful talent, began to +employ him in many matters of great importance as an engineer. [1] So +long as Soderini remained in Florence, he showed the utmost good-will to +my father; and in those days, I being still of tender age, my father had +me carried, and made me perform upon the flute; I used to play treble in +concert with the musicians of the palace before the Signory, following +my notes: and a beadle used to carry me upon his shoulders. The +Gonfalonier, that is, Soderini, whom I have already mentioned, took much +pleasure in making me chatter, and gave me comfits, and was wont to say +to my father: “Maestro Giovanni, besides music, teach the boy those +other arts which do you so much honour.” To which my father answered: “I +do not wish him to practise any art but playing and composing; for in +this profession I hope to make him the greatest man of the world, if God +prolongs his life.” To these words one of the old counsellors made +answer: “Ah! Maestro Giovanni, do what the Gonfalonier tells you! for +why should he never become anything more than a good musician?” + +Thus some time passed, until the Medici returned. [2] When they arrived, +the Cardinal, who afterwards became Pope Leo, received my father very +kindly. During their exile the scutcheons which were on the palace of +the Medici had had their balls erased, and a great red cross painted +over them, which was the bearing of the Commune. [3] Accordingly, as +soon as they returned, the red cross was scratched out, and on the +scutcheon the red balls and the golden field were painted in again, and +finished with great beauty. My father, who possessed a simple vein of +poetry, instilled in him by nature, together with a certain touch of +prophecy, which was doubtless a divine gift in him, wrote these four +verses under the said arms of the Medici, when they were uncovered to +the view:- + + These arms, which have so long from sight been laid + Beneath the holy cross, that symbol meek, + Now lift their glorious glad face, and seek + With Peter’s sacred cloak to be arrayed. + +This epigram was read by all Florence. A few days afterwards Pope Julius +II. died. The Cardinal de’ Medici went to Rome, and was elected Pope +against the expectation of everybody. He reigned as Leo X, that generous +and great soul. My father sent him his four prophetic verses. The Pope +sent to tell him to come to Rome; for this would be to his advantage. +But he had no will to go; and so, in lieu of reward, his place in the +palace was taken from him by Jacopo Salviati, upon that man’s election +as Gonfalonier. [4] This was the reason why I commenced goldsmith; after +which I spent part of my time in learning that art, and part in playing, +much against my will. + +Note 1. Piero Soderini was elected Gonfalonier of the Florentine +Republic for life in the year 1502. After nine years of government, he +was banished, and when he died, Machiavelli wrote the famous sneering +epitaph upon him. See J. A. Symonds’ 'Renaissance in Italy,' vol. i. p. +297. + +Note 2. This was in 1512, when Lorenzo’s two sons, Giuliano and Giovanni +(afterwards Pope Leo X), came back through the aid of a Spanish army, +after the great battle at Ravenna. + +Note 3. The Medicean arms were “or, six pellets gules, three, two, and +one.” The Florentine Commune bore, “argent a cross gules.” + +Note 4. Cellini makes a mistake here. Salviati married a daughter of +Lorenzo de’ Medici, and obtained great influence in Florence; but we +have no record of his appointment to the office of Gonfalonier. + +VII + +WHEN my father spoke to me in the way I have above described, I +entreated him to let me draw a certain fixed number of hours in the day; +all the rest of my time I would give to music, only with the view of +satisfying his desire. Upon this he said to me: “So then, you take no +pleasure in playing?” To which I answered, “No;” because that art seemed +too base in comparison with what I had in my own mind. My good father, +driven to despair by this fixed idea of mine, placed me in the workshop +of Cavaliere Bandinello’s father, who was called Michel Agnolo, a +goldsmith from Pinzi di Monte, and a master excellent in that craft. [1] +He had no distinction of birth whatever, but was the son of a +charcoal-seller. This is no blame to Bandinello, who has founded the +honour of the family-if only he had done so honestly! However that may +be, I have no cause now to talk about him. After I had stayed there some +days, my father took me away from Michel Agnolo, finding himself unable +to live without having me always under his eyes. Accordingly, much to my +discontent, I remained at music till I reached the age of fifteen. If I +were to describe all the wonderful things that happened to me up to that +time, and all the great dangers to my own life which I ran, I should +astound my readers; but, in order to avoid prolixity, and having very +much to relate, I will omit these incidents. + +When I reached the age of fifteen, I put myself, against my father’s +will, to the goldsmith’s trade with a man called Antonio, son of Sandro, +known commonly as Marcone the goldsmith. He was a most excellent +craftsman and a very good fellow to boot, high-spirited and frank in all +his ways. My father would not let him give me wages like the other +apprentices; for having taken up the study of this art to please myself, +he wished me to indulge my whim for drawing to the full. I did so +willingly enough; and that honest master of mine took marvellous delight +in my performances. He had an only son, a bastard, to whom he often gave +his orders, in order to spare me. My liking for the art was so great, +or, I may truly say, my natural bias, both one and the other, that in a +few months I caught up the good, nay, the best young craftsmen in our +business, and began to reap the fruits of my labours. I did not, +however, neglect to gratify my good father from time to time by playing +on the flute or cornet. Each time he heard me, I used to make his tears +fall accompanied with deep-drawn sighs of satisfaction. My filial piety +often made me give him that contentment, and induce me to pretend that I +enjoyed the music too. + +Note 1. Baccio Bandinello, the sculptor, and a great rival of Cellini’s, +as will appear in the ensuing pages, was born in 1487, and received the +honour of knighthood from Clement VII and Charles V. Posterity has +confirmed Cellini’s opinion of Bandinello as an artist; for his works +are coarse, pretentious, and incapable of giving pleasure to any person +of refined intelligence. + +VIII + +AT that time I had a brother, younger by two years, a youth of extreme +boldness and fierce temper. He afterwards became one of the great +soldiers in the school of that marvellous general Giovannino de’ Medici, +father of Duke Cosimo. [1] The boy was about fourteen, and I two years +older. One Sunday evening, just before nightfall, he happened to find +himself between the gate San Gallo and the Porta a Pinti; in this +quarter he came to duel with a young fellow of twenty or thereabouts. +They both had swords; and my brother dealt so valiantly that, after +having badly wounded him, he was upon the point of following up his +advantage. There was a great crowd of people present, among whom were +many of the adversary’s kinsfolk. Seeing that the thing was going ill +for their own man, they put hand to their slings, a stone from one of +which hit my poor brother in the head. He fell to the ground at once in +a dead faint. It so chanced that I had been upon the spot alone, and +without arms; and I had done my best to get my brother out of the fray +by calling to him: “Make off; you have done enough.” Meanwhile, as luck +would have it, he fell, as I have said, half dead to earth. I ran up at +once, seized his sword, and stood in front of him, bearing the brunt of +several rapiers and a shower of stones. I never left his side until some +brave soldiers came from the gate San Gallo and rescued me from the +raging crowd; they marvelled much, the while, to find such valour in so +young a boy. + +Then I carried my brother home for dead, and it was only with great +difficulty that he came to himself again. When he was cured, the Eight, +who had already condemned out adversaries and banished them for a term +of years, sent us also into exile for six months at a distance of ten +miles from Florence. [2] I said to my brother: “Come along with me;” and +so we took leave of our poor father; and instead of giving us money, for +he had none, he bestowed on us his blessing. I went to Siena, wishing to +look up a certain worthy man called Maestro Francesco Castoro. On +another occasion, when I had run away from my father, I went to this +good man, and stayed some time with him, working at the goldsmith’s +trade until my father sent for me back. Francesco, when I reached him, +recognised me at once, and gave me work to do While thus occupied, he +placed a house at my disposal for the whole time of my sojourn in Siena. +Into this I moved, together with my brother, and applied myself to +labour for the space of several months. My brother had acquired the +rudiments of Latin, but was still so young that he could not yet relish +the taste of virtuous employment, but passed his time in dissipation, + +Note 1. Cellini refers to the famous Giovanni delle Bande Nere, who was +killed in an engagement in Lombardy in November 1526, by the Imperialist +troops marching to the sack of Rome. His son Cosimo, after the murder of +Duke Alessandro, established the second Medicean dynasty in Florence. + +Note 2. The Eight, or Gli Otto, were a magistracy in Florence with +cognizance of matters affecting the internal peace of the city. + +IX + +THE CARDINAL DE’ MEDICI, who afterwards became Pope Clement VII., had us +recalled to Florence at the entreaty of my father. [1] A certain pupil +of my father’s, moved by his own bad nature, suggested to the Cardinal +that he ought to send me to Bologna, in order to learn to play well from +a great master there. The name of this master was Antonio, and he was in +truth a worthy man in the musician’s art. The Cardinal said to my father +that, if he sent me there he would give me letters of recommendation and +support. My father, dying with joy at such an opportunity, sent me off; +and I being eager to see the world, went with good grace. + +When I reached Bologna, I put myself under a certain Maestro Ercole del +Piffero, and began to earn something by my trade. In the meantime I used +to go every day to take my music lesson, and in a few weeks made +considerable progress in that accursed art. However I made still greater +in my trade of goldsmith; for the Cardinal having given me no +assistance, I went to live with a Bolognese illuminator who was called +Scipione Cavalletti (his house was in the street of our Lady del +Baraccan); and while there I devoted myself to drawing and working for +one Graziadio, a Jew, with whom I earned considerably. + +At the end of six months I returned to Florence, where that fellow +Pierino, who had been my father’s pupil, was greatly mortified by my +return. To please my father, I went to his house and played the cornet +and the flute with one of his brothers, who was named Girolamo, several +years younger than the said Piero, a very worthy young man, and quite +the contrary of his brother. On one of those days my father came to +Piero’s house to hear us play, and in ecstasy at my performance +exclaimed: “I shall yet make you a marvellous musician against the will +of all or any one who may desire to prevent me.” To this Piero answered, +and spoke the truth: “Your Benvenuto will get much more honour and +profit if he devotes himself to the goldsmiths trade than to this +piping.” These words made my father angry, seeing that I too had the +same opinion as Piero, that he flew into a rage and cried out at him: +“Well did I know that it was you, you who put obstacles in the way of my +cherished wish; you are the man who had me ousted from my place at the +palace, paying me back with that black ingratitude which is the usual +recompense of great benefits. I got you promoted, and you have got me +cashiered; I taught you to play with all the little art you have, and +you are preventing my son from obeying me; but bear in mind these words +of prophecy: not years or months, I say, but only a few weeks will pass +before this dirty ingratitude of yours shall plunge you into ruin.” To +these words answered Pierino and said: “Maestro Giovanni, the majority +of men, when they grow old, go mad at the same time; and this has +happened to you. I am not astonished at it, because most liberally have +you squandered all your property, without reflecting that your children +had need of it. I mind to do just the opposite, and to leave my children +so much that they shall be able to succour yours.” To this my father +answered: “No bad tree ever bore good fruit; quite the contrary; and I +tell you further that you are bad, and that your children will be mad +and paupers, and will cringe for alms to my virtuous and wealthy sons.” +Thereupon we left the house, muttering words of anger on both sides. I +had taken my father’s part; and when we stepped into the street +together, I told him I was quite ready to take vengeance for the insults +heaped on him by that scoundrel, provided he permit me to give myself up +to the art of design. He answered: “My dear son, I too in my time was a +good draughtsman; but for recreation, after such stupendous labours, and +for the love of me who am your father, who begat you and brought you up +and implanted so many honourable talents in you, for the sake of +recreation, I say, will not you promise sometimes to take in hand your +flute and that seductive cornet, and to play upon them to your heart’s +content, inviting the delight of music?” I promised I would do so, and +very willingly for his love’s sake. Then my good father said that such +excellent parts as I possessed would be the greatest vengeance I could +take for the insults of his enemies. + +Not a whole month had been completed after this scene before the man +Pierino happened to be building a vault in a house of his, which he had +in the Via dello Studio; and being one day in a ground-floor room above +the vault which he was making, together with much company around him, he +fell to talking about his old master, my father. While repeating the +words which he had said to him concerning his ruin, no sooner had they +escaped his lips than the floor where he was standing (either because +the vault had been badly built, or rather through the sheer mightiness +of God, who does not always pay on Saturday) suddenly gave way. Some of +the stones and bricks of the vault, which fell with him, broke both his +legs. The friends who were with him, remaining on the border of the +broken vault took no harm, but were astounded and full of wonder, +especially because of the prophecy which he had just contemptuously +repeated to them. When my father heard of this, he took his sword, and +went to see the man. There, in the presence of his father, who was +called Niccolaio da Volterra, a trumpeter of the Signory, he said, “O +Piero, my dear pupil, I am sorely grieved at your mischance; but if you +remember it was only a short time ago that I warned you of it; and as +much as I then said will come to happen between your children and mine.” +Shortly afterwards, the ungrateful Piero died of that illness. He left a +wife of bad character and one son, who after the lapse of some years +came to me to beg for alms in Rome. I gave him something, as well +because it is my nature to be charitable, as also because I recalled +with tears the happy state which Pierino held when my father spake those +words of prophecy, namely, that Pierino’s children should live to crave +succour from his own virtuous sons. Of this perhaps enough is now said; +but let none ever laugh at the prognostications of any worthy man whom +he has wrongfully insulted; because it is not he who speaks, nay, but +the very voice of God through him. + +Note 1. This Cardinal and Pope was Giulio, a natural son of Giuliano, +Lorenzo de’ Medici’s brother, who had been killed in the Pazzi +conspiracy, year 1478. Giulio lived to become Pope Clement VII., to +suffer the sack of Rome in 1527, and to make the concordat with Charles +V. at Bologna in 1529-30, which settled for three centuries the destiny +of Italy. We shall hear much more of him from Cellini in the course of +this narrative. + +X + +ALL this while I worked as a goldsmith, and was able to assist my good +father. His other son, my brother Cecchino, had, as I said before, been +instructed in the rudiments of Latin letters. It was our father’s wish +to make me, the elder, a great musician and composer, and him, the +younger, a great and learned jurist. He could not, however, put force +upon the inclinations of our nature, which directed me to the arts of +design, and my brother, who had a fine and graceful person, to the +profession of arms. Cecchino, being still quite a lad, was returning +from his first lesson in the school of the stupendous Giovannino de’ +Medici. On the day when he reached home, I happened to be absent; and +he, being in want of proper clothes, sought out our sisters, who, +unknown to my father, gave him a cloak and doublet of mine, both new and +of good quality. I ought to say that, beside the aid I gave my father +and my excellent and honest sisters, I had bought those handsome clothes +out of my own savings. When I found I had been cheated, and my clothes +taken from me, and my brother from whom I should have recovered them was +gone, I asked my father why he suffered so great a wrong to be done me, +seeing that I was always ready to assist him. He replied that I was his +good son, but that the other, whom he thought to have lost, had been +found again; also that it was a duty, nay, a precept from God Himself, +that he who hath should give to him who hath not; and that for his sake +I ought to bear this injustice, for God would increase me in all good +things. I, like a youth without experience, retorted on my poor +afflicted parent; and taking the miserable remnants of my clothes and +money, went toward a gate of the city. As I did not know which gate +would start me on the road to Rome, I arrived at Lucca, and from Lucca +reached Pisa. + +When I came to Pisa (I was about sixteen years of age at the time), I +stopped near the middle bridge, by what is called the Fish-stone, at the +shop of a goldsmith, and began attentively to watch what the master was +about. [1] He asked me who I was, and what was my profession. I told him +that I worked a little in the same trade as his own. This worthy man +bade me come into his shop, and at once gave me work to do, and spoke as +follows: “Your good appearance makes me believe you are a decent honest +youth.” Then he told me out gold, silver, and gems; and when the first +day’s work was finished, he took me in the evening to his house, where +he dwelt respectably with his handsome wife and children. Thinking of +the grief which my good father might be feeling for me, I wrote him that +I was sojourning with a very excellent and honest man, called Maestro +Ulivieri della Chiostra, and was working with him at many good things of +beauty and importance. I bade him be of good cheer, for that I was bent +on learning, and hoped by my acquirements to bring him back both profit +and honour before long. My good father answered the letter at once in +words like these: “My son, the love I bear you is so great, that if it +were not for the honour of our family, which above all things I regard, +I should immediately have set off for you; for indeed it seems like +being without the light of my eyes, when I do not see you daily, as I +used to do. I will make it my business to complete the training of my +household up to virtuous honesty; do you make it yours to acquire +excellence in your art; and I only wish you to remember these four +simple words, obey them, and never let them escape your memory: + + In whatever house you be, + Steal not, and live honestly.” + +Note 1. The Fish-stone, or Pietra del Pesce, was the market on the quay +where the fish brought from the sea up the Arno to Pisa used to be sold. + +XI + +THIS letter fell into the hands of my master Ulivieri, and he read it +unknown to me. Afterwards he avowed that he had read it, and added: “So +then, my Benvenuto, your good looks did not deceive me, as a letter from +your father which has come into my hands gives me assurance, which +proves him to be a man of notable honesty and worth. Consider yourself +then to be at home here, and as though in your own father’s house.” + +While I stayed at Pisa, I went to see the Campo Santo, and there I found +many beautiful fragments of antiquity, that is to say, marble +sarcophagi. In other parts of Pisa also I saw many antique objects, +which I diligently studied whenever I had days or hours free from the +labour of the workshop. My master, who took pleasure in coming to visit +me in the little room which he had allotted me, observing that I spent +all my time in studious occupations, began to love me like a father. I +made great progress in the one year that I stayed there, and completed +several fine and valuable things in gold and silver, which inspired me +with a resolute ambition to advance in my art. + +My father, in the meanwhile, kept writing piteous entreaties that I +should return to him; and in every letter bade me not to lose the music +he had taught me with such trouble. On this, I suddenly gave up all wish +to go back to him; so much did I hate that accursed music; and I felt as +though of a truth I were in paradise the whole year I stayed at Pisa, +where I never played the flute. + +At the end of the year my master Ulivieri had occasion to go to +Florence, in order to sell certain gold and silver sweepings which he +had; [1] and inasmuch as the bad air of Pisa had given me a touch of +fever, I went with the fever hanging still about me, in my master’s +company, back to Florence. There my father received him most +affectionately, and lovingly prayed him, unknown by me, not to insist on +taking me again to Pisa. I was ill about two months, during which time +my father had me most kindly treated and cured, always repeating that it +seemed to him a thousand years till I got well again, in order that he +might hear me play a little. But when he talked to me of music, with his +fingers on my pulse, seeing he had some acquaintance with medicine and +Latin learning, he felt it change so much if he approached that topic, +that he was often dismayed and left my side in tears. When I perceived +how greatly he was disappointed, I bade one of my sisters bring me a +flute; for though the fever never left me, that instrument is so easy +that it did not hurt me to play upon it; and I used it with such +dexterity of hand and tongue that my father coming suddenly upon me, +blessed me a thousand times, exclaiming that while I was away from him I +had made great progress, as he thought; and he begged me to go forwards, +and not to sacrifice so fine an accomplishment. + +Note 1. I have translated 'spazzature' by 'sweepings.' It means all +refuse of the precious metals left in goldsmith’s trays. + +XII + +WHEN I had recovered my health, I returned to my old friend Marcone, the +worthy goldsmith, who put me in the way of earning money, with which I +helped my father and our household. About that time there came to +Florence a sculptor named Piero Torrigiani; [1] he arrived from England, +where he had resided many years; and being intimate with my master, he +daily visited his house; and when he saw my drawings and the things +which I was making, he said: “I have come to Florence to enlist as many +young men as I can; for I have undertaken to execute a great work of my +king, and want some of my own Florentines to help me. Now your method of +working and your designs are worthy rather of a sculptor than a +goldsmith; and since I have to turn out a great piece of bronze, I will +at the same time turn you into a rich and able artist.” This man had a +splendid person and a most arrogant spirit, with the air of a great +soldier more than a sculptor, especially in regard to his vehement +gestures and his resonant voice, together with a habit he had of +knitting his brows, enough to frighten any man of courage. He kept +talking every day about his gallant feats among those beasts of +Englishmen. + +In course of conversation he happened to mention Michel Agnolo +Buonarroti, led thereto by a drawing I had made from a cartoon of that +divinest painter. [2] This cartoon was the first masterpiece which +Michel Agnolo exhibited, in proof of his stupendous talents. He produced +it in competition with another painter, Lionardo da Vinci, who also made +a cartoon; and both were intended for the council-hall in the palace of +the Signory. They represented the taking of Pisa by the Florentines; and +our admirable Lionardo had chosen to depict a battle of horses, with the +capture of some standards, in as divine a style as could possibly be +imagined. Michel Agnolo in his cartoon portrayed a number of +foot-soldiers, who, the season being summer, had gone to bathe in Arno. +He drew them at the very moment the alarm is sounded, and the men all +naked run to arms; so splendid in their action that nothing survives of +ancient or of modern art which touches the same lofty point of +excellence; and as I have already said, the design of the great Lionardo +was itself most admirably beautiful. These two cartoons stood, one in +the palace of the Medici, the other in the hall of the Pope. So long as +they remained intact, they were the school of the world. Though the +divine Michel Agnolo in later life finished that great chapel of Pope +Julius, [3] he never rose half-way to the same pitch of power; his +genius never afterwards attained to the force of those first studies. + +Note 1. Torrigiani worked in fact for Henry VIII., and his monument to +Henry VII. still exists in the Lady Chapel of Westminster Abbey. From +England he went to Spain, where he modelled a statue of the Virgin for a +great nobleman. Not receiving the pay he expected, he broke his work to +pieces; for which act of sacrilege the Inquisition sent him to prison, +where he starved himself to death in 1522. Such at least is the legend +of his end. + +Note 2. The cartoons to which Cellini here alludes were made by Michel +Angelo and Lionardo for the decoration of the Sala del Gran Consiglio in +the Palazzo Vecchio at Florence. Only the shadows of them remain to this +day; a part of Michel Angelo’s, engraved by Schiavonetti, and a +transcript by Rubens from Lionardo’s, called the Battle of the Standard. + +Note 3. The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. + +XIII + +NOW let us return to Piero Torrigiani, who, with my drawing in his hand, +spoke as follows: “This Buonarroti and I used, when we were boys, to go +into the Church of the Carmine, to learn drawing from the chapel of +Masaccio. [1] It was Buonarroti’s habit to banter all who were drawing +there; and one day, among others, when he was annoying me, I got more +angry than usual, and clenching my fist, gave him such a blow on the +nose, that I felt bone and cartilage go down like biscuit beneath my +knuckles; and this mark of mine he will carry with him to the grave.” +[2] These words begat in me such hatred of the man, since I was always +gazing at the masterpieces of the divine Michel Agnolo, that although I +felt a wish to go with him to England, I now could never bear the sight +of him. + +All the while I was at Florence, I studied the noble manner of Michel +Agnolo, and from this I have never deviated. About that time I +contracted a close and familiar friendship with an amiable lad of my own +age, who was also in the goldsmith’s trade. He was called Francesco, son +of Filippo, and grandson of Fra Lippo Lippi, that most excellent +painter. [3] Through intercourse together, such love grew up between us +that, day or night, we never stayed apart. The house where he lived was +still full of the fine studies which his father had made, bound up in +several books of drawings by his hand, and taken from the best +antiquities of Rome. The sight of these things filled me with passionate +enthusiasm; and for two years or thereabouts we lived in intimacy. At +that time I fashioned a silver bas-relief of the size of a little +child’s hand. It was intended for the clasp to a man’s belt; for they +were then worn as large as that. I carved on it a knot of leaves in the +antique style, with figures of children and other masks of great beauty. +This piece I made in the workshop of one Francesco Salimbene; and on its +being exhibited to the trade, the goldsmiths praised me as the best +young craftsman of their art. + +There was one Giovan Battista, surnamed Il Tasso, a wood-carver, +precisely of my own age, who one day said to me that if I was willing to +go to Rome, he should be glad to join me. [4] Now we had this +conversation together immediately after dinner; and I being angry with +my father for the same old reason of the music, said to Tasso: “You are +a fellow of words, not deeds.” He answered: “I too have come to anger +with my mother; and if I had cash enough to take me to Rome, I would not +turn back to lock the door of that wretched little workshop I call +mine.” To these words I replied that if that was all that kept him in +Florence I had money enough in my pockets to bring us both to Rome. +Talking thus and walking onwards, we found ourselves at the gate San +Piero Gattolini without noticing that we had got there; whereupon I +said: “Friend Tasso, this is God’s doing that we have reached this gate +without either you or me noticing that we were there; and now that I am +here, it seems to me that I have finished half the journey.” And so, +being of one accord, we pursued our way together, saying, “Oh, what will +our old folks say this evening?” We then made an agreement not to think +more about them till we reached Rome. So we tied our aprons behind our +backs, and trudged almost in silence to Siena. When we arrived at Siena, +Tasso said (for he had hurt his feet) that he would not go farther, and +asked me to lend him money to get back. I made answer: “I should not +have enough left to go forward; you ought indeed to have thought of this +on leaving Florence; and if it is because of your feet that you shirk +the journey, we will find a return horse for Rome, which will deprive +you of the excuse.” Accordingly I hired a horse; and seeing that he did +not answer, I took my way toward the gate of Rome. When he knew that I +was firmly resolved to go, muttering between his teeth, and limping as +well as he could, he came on behind me very slowly and at a great +distance. On reaching the gate, I felt pity for my comrade, and waited +for him, and took him on the crupper, saying: “What would our friends +speak of us to-morrow, if, having left for Rome, we had not pluck to get +beyond Siena?” Then the good Tasso said I spoke the truth; and as he was +a pleasant fellow, he began to laugh and sing; and in this way, always +singing and laughing, we travelled the whole way to Rome. I had just +nineteen years then, and so had the century. + +When we reached Rome, I put myself under a master who was known as Il +Firenzuola. His name was Giovanni, and he came from Firenzuola in +Lombardy, a most able craftsman in large vases and big plate of that +kind. I showed him part of the model for the clasp which I had made in +Florence at Salimbene’s. It pleased him exceedingly; and turning to one +of his journeymen, a Florentine called Giannotto Giannotti, who had been +several years with him, he spoke as follows: “This fellow is one of the +Florentines who know something, and you are one of those who know +nothing.” Then I recognised the man, and turned to speak with him; for +before he went to Rome, we often went to draw together, and had been +very intimate comrades. He was so put out by the words his master flung +at him, that he said he did not recognise me or know who I was; +whereupon I got angry, and cried out: “O Giannotto, you who were once my +friend-for have we not been together in such and such places, and drawn, +and ate, and drunk, and slept in company at your house in the country? I +don’t want you to bear witness on my behalf to this worthy man, your +master, because I hope my hands are such that without aid from you they +will declare what sort of a fellow I am.” + +Note 1. The Chapel of the Carmine, painted in fresco by Masaccio and +some other artist, possibly Filippino Lippi, is still the most important +monument of Florentine art surviving from the period preceding Raphael. + +Note 2. The profile portraits of Michel Angelo Buonarroti confirm this +story. They show the bridge of his nose bent in an angle, as though it +had been broken. + +Note 3. Fra Filippo Lippi was a Carmelite monk, whose frescoes at Prato +and Spoleta and oil-paintings in Florence and elsewhere are among the +most genial works of the pre-Raphaelite Renaissance. Vasari narrates his +love-adventures with Lucrezia Buti, and Robert Browning has drawn a +clever portrait of him in his “Men and Women.” His son, Filippo or +Filippino, was also an able painter, some of whose best work survives in +the Strozzi Chapel of S. Maria Novella at Florence, and in the Church of +S. Maria Sopra Minerva at Rome. + +Note 4. Tasso was an able artist, mentioned both by Vasari and Pietro +Aretino. He stood high in the favour of Duke Cosimo de’ Medici, who took +his opinion on the work of other craftsmen. + +XIV + +WHEN I had thus spoken, Firenzuola, who was a man of hot spirit and +brave, turned to Giannotto, and said to him: “You vile rascal, aren’t +you ashamed to treat a man who has been so intimate a comrade with you +in this way?” And with the same movement of quick feeling, he faced +round and said to me: “Welcome to my workshop; and do as you have +promised; let your hands declare what man you are.” + +He gave me a very fine piece of silver plate to work on for a cardinal. +It was a little oblong box, copied from the porphyry sarcophagus before +the door of the Rotonda. Beside what I copied, I enriched it with so +many elegant masks of my invention, that my master went about showing it +through the art, and boasting that so good a piece of work had been +turned out from his shop. [1] It was about half a cubit in size, and was +so constructed as to serve for a salt-cellar at table. This was the +first earning that I touched at Rome, and part of it I sent to assist my +good father; the rest I kept for my own use, living upon it while I went +about studying the antiquities of Rome, until my money failed, and I had +to return to the shop for work. Battista del Tasso, my comrade, did not +stay long in Rome, but went back to Florence. + +After undertaking some new commissions, I took it into my head, as soon +as I had finished them, to change my master; I had indeed been worried +into doing so by a certain Milanese, called Pagolo Arsago. [2] My first +master, Firenzuola, had a great quarrel about this with Arsago, and +abused him in my presence; whereupon I took up speech in defence of my +new master. I said that I was born free, and free I meant to live, and +that there was no reason to complain of him, far less of me, since some +few crowns of wages were still due to me; also that I chose to go, like +a free journeyman, where it pleased me, knowing I did wrong to no man. +My new master then put in with his excuses, saying that he had not asked +me to come, and that I should gratify him by returning with Firenzuola. +To this I replied that I was not aware of wronging the latter in any +way, and as I had completed his commissions, I chose to be my own master +and not the man of others, and that he who wanted me must beg me of +myself. Firenzuola cried: “I don’t intend to beg you of yourself; I have +done with you; don’t show yourself again upon my premises.” I reminded +him of the money he owed me. He laughed me in the face; on which I said +that if I knew how to use my tools in handicraft as well as he had seen, +I could be quite as clever with my sword in claiming the just payment of +my labour. While we were exchanging these words, an old man happened to +come up, called Maestro Antonio, of San Marino. He was the chief among +the Roman goldsmiths, and had been Firenzuola’s master. Hearing what I +had to say, which I took good care that he should understand, he +immediately espoused my cause, and bade Firenzuola pay me. The dispute +waxed warm, because Firenzuola was an admirable swordsman, far better +than he was a goldsmith. Yet reason made itself heard; and I backed my +cause with the same spirit, till I got myself paid. In course of time +Firenzuola and I became friends, and at his request I stood godfather to +one of his children. + +Note 1. Cellini’s use of the word 'arte' for the 'art' or 'trade' of +goldsmiths corresponds to “the art” as used by English writers early in +this century. See Haydon’s Autobiography, 'passim.' + +Note 2. The Italian is 'sobbillato,' which might be also translated +'inveigled' or 'instigated.' But Varchi, the contemporary of Cellini, +gives this verb the force of using pressure and boring on until somebody +is driven to do something. + +XV + +I WENT on working with Pagolo Arsago, and earned a good deal of money, +the greater part of which I always sent to my good father. At the end of +two years, upon my father’s entreaty, I returned to Florence, and put +myself once more under Francesco Salimbene, with whom I earned a great +deal, and took continual pains to improve in my art. I renewed my +intimacy with Francesco di Filippo; and though I was too much given to +pleasure, owing to that accursed music, I never neglected to devote some +hours of the day or night to study. At that time I fashioned a silver +heart’s-key ('chiavaquore'), as it was then so called. This was a girdle +three inches broad, which used to be made for brides, and was executed +in half relief with some small figures in the round. It was a commission +from a man called Raffaello Lapaccini. I was very badly paid; but the +honour which it brought me was worth far more than the gain I might have +justly made by it. Having at this time worked with many different +persons in Florence, I had come to know some worthy men among the +goldsmiths, as for instance, Marcone, my first master; but I also met +with others reputed honest, who did all they could to ruin me, and +robbed me grossly. When I perceived this, I left their company, and held +them for thieves and black-guards. One of the goldsmiths, called +Giovanbattista Sogliani, kindly accommodated me with part of his shop, +which stood at the side of the New Market near the Landi’s bank. There I +finished several pretty pieces, and made good gains, and was able to +give my family much help. This roused the jealousy of the bad men among +my former masters, who were called Salvadore and Michele Guasconti. In +the guild of the goldsmiths they had three big shops, and drove a +thriving trade. On becoming aware of their evil will against me, I +complained to certain worthy fellows, and remarked that they ought to +have been satisfied with the thieveries they practised on me under the +cloak of hypocritical kindness. This coming to their ears, they +threatened to make me sorely repent of such words; but I, who knew not +what the colour of fear was, paid them little or no heed. + +XVI + +IT chanced one day that I was leaning against a shop of one of these +men, who called out to me, and began partly reproaching, partly +bullying. I answered that had they done their duty by me, I should have +spoken of them what one speaks of good and worthy men; but as they had +done the contrary, they ought to complain of themselves and not of me. +While I was standing there and talking, one of them, named Gherardo +Guasconti, their cousin, having perhaps been put up to it by them, lay +in wait till a beast of burden went by. [1] It was a load of bricks. +When the load reached me, Gherardo pushed it so violently on my body +that I was very much hurt. Turning suddenly round and seeing him +laughing, I struck him such a blow on the temple that he fell down, +stunned, like one dead. Then I faced round to his cousins, and said: +“That’s the way to treat cowardly thieves of your sort;” and when they +wanted to make a move upon me, trusting to their numbers, I, whose blood +was now well up, laid hands to a little knife I had, and cried: “If one +of you comes out of the shop, let the other run for the confessor, +because the doctor will have nothing to do here.” These words so +frightened them that not one stirred to help their cousin. As soon as I +had gone, the fathers and sons ran to the Eight, and declared that I had +assaulted them in their shops with sword in hand, a thing which had +never yet been seen in Florence. The magistrates had me summoned. I +appeared before them; and they began to upbraid and cry out upon +me-partly, I think, because they saw me in my cloak, while the others +were dressed like citizens in mantle and hood; [2] but also because my +adversaries had been to the houses of those magistrates, and had talked +with all of them in private, while I, inexperienced in such matters, had +not spoken to any of them, trusting in the goodness of my cause. I said +that, having received such outrage and insult from Gherardo, and in my +fury having only given him a box on the ear, I did not think I deserved +such a vehement reprimand. I had hardly time to finish the word box, +before Prinzivalle della Stufa, [3] who was one of the Eight, +interrupted me by saying: “You gave him a blow, and not a box, on the +ear.” The bell was rung and we were all ordered out, when Prinzivalle +spoke thus in my defence to his brother judges: “Mark, sirs, the +simplicity of this poor young man, who has accused himself of having +given a box on the ear, under the impression that this is of less +importance than a blow; whereas a box on the ear in the New Market +carries a fine of twenty-five crowns, while a blow costs little or +nothing. He is a young man of admirable talents, and supports his poor +family by his labour in great abundance; I would to God that our city +had plenty of this sort, instead of the present dearth of them.” + +Note 1. The Italian is 'appostò che passassi una soma.' The verb +'appostare' has the double meaning of lying in wait and arranging +something on purpose. Cellini’s words may mean, 'caused a beast of +burden to pass by.' + +Note 2. Varchi says that a man who went about with only his cloak or +cape by daytime, if he were not a soldier, was reputed an ill-liver. The +Florentine citizens at this time still wore their ancient civil dress of +the long gown and hood called 'lucco.' + +Note 3. This man was an ardent supporter of the Medici, and in 1510 +organized a conspiracy in their favour against the Gonfalonier Soderini. + +XVII + +AMONG the magistrates were some Radical fellows with turned-up hoods, +who had been influenced by the entreaties and the calumnies of my +opponents, because they all belonged to the party of Fra Girolamo; and +these men would have had me sent to prison and punished without too +close a reckoning. [1] But the good Prinzivalle put a stop to that. So +they sentenced me to pay four measures of flour, which were to be given +as alms to the nunnery of the Murate. [2] I was called in again; and he +ordered me not to speak a word under pain of their displeasure, and to +perform the sentence they had passed. Then, after giving me another +sharp rebuke, they sent us to the chancellor; I muttering all the while, +“It was a slap and not a blow,” with which we left the Eight bursting +with laughter. The chancellor bound us over upon bail on both sides; but +only I was punished by having to pay the four measures of meal. Albeit +just then I felt as though I had been massacred, I sent for one of my +cousins, called Maestro Annibale, the surgeon, father of Messer +Librodoro Librodori, desiring that he should go bail for me. [3] He +refused to come, which made me so angry, that, fuming with fury and +swelling like an asp, I took a desperate resolve. At this point one may +observe how the stars do not so much sway as force our conduct. When I +reflected on the great obligations which this Annibale owed my family, +my rage grew to such a pitch that, turning wholly to evil, and being +also by nature somewhat choleric, I waited till the magistrates had gone +to dinner; and when I was alone, and observed that none of their +officers were watching me, in the fire of my anger, I left the palace, +ran to my shop, seized a dagger and rushed to the house of my enemies, +who were at home and shop together. I found them at table; and Gherardo, +who had been the cause of the quarrel, flung himself upon me. I stabbed +him in the breast, piercing doublet and jerkin through and through to +the shirt, without however grazing his flesh or doing him the least harm +in the world. When I felt my hand go in, and heard the clothes tear, I +thought that I had killed him; and seeing him fall terror-struck to +earth, I cried: “Traitors, this day is the day on which I mean to murder +you all.” Father, mother, and sisters, thinking the last day had come, +threw themselves upon their knees, screaming out for mercy with all +their might; but I perceiving that they offered no resistance, and that +he was stretched for dead upon the ground, thought it too base a thing +to touch them. I ran storming down the staircase; and when I reached the +street, I found all the rest of the household, more than twelve persons; +one of them had seized an iron shovel, another a thick iron pipe, one +had an anvil, some of them hammers, and some cudgels. When I got among +them, raging like a mad bull, I flung four or five to the earth, and +fell down with them myself, continually aiming my dagger now at one and +now at another. Those who remained upright plied both hands with all +their force, giving it me with hammers, cudgels, and anvil; but inasmuch +as God does sometime mercifully intervene, He so ordered that neither +they nor I did any harm to one another. I only lost my cap, on which my +adversaries seized, though they had run away from it before, and struck +at it with all their weapons. Afterwards, they searched among their dead +and wounded, and saw that not a single man was injured. + +Note 1. Cellini calls these magistrates 'arronzinati cappuccetti,' a +term corresponding to our Roundheads. The democratic or anti-Medicean +party in Florence at that time, who adhered to the republican principles +of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, distinguished themselves by wearing the long +tails of their hoods twisted up and turned round their heads. Cellini +shows his Medicean sympathies by using this contemptuous term, and by +the honourable mention he makes of Prinzivalle della Stufa + +Note 2. A convent of closely immured nuns. + +Note 3. The word I have translated 'massacred' above is 'assassinato.' +It occurs frequently in Italian of this period, and indicates the +extremity of wrong and outrage. + +XVIII + +I WENT off in the direction of Santa Maria Novella, and stumbling up +against Fra Alessio Strozzi, whom by the way I did not know, I entreated +this good friar for the love of God to save my life, since I had +committed a great fault. He told me to have no fear; for had I done +every sin in the world, I was yet in perfect safety in his little cell. + +After about an hour, the Eight, in an extraordinary meeting, caused one +of the most dreadful bans which ever were heard of to be published +against me, announcing heavy penalties against who should harbour me or +know where I was, without regard to place or to the quality of my +protector. My poor afflicted father went to the Eight, threw himself +upon his knees, and prayed for mercy for his unfortunate young son. +Thereupon one of those Radical fellows, shaking the crest of his twisted +hood, stood up and addressed my father with these insulting words: [1] +“Get up from there, and begone at once, for to-morrow we shall send your +son into the country with the lances.” [2] My poor father had still the +spirit to answer: “What God shall have ordained, that will you do, and +not a jot or little more.” Whereto the same man replied that for certain +God had ordained as he had spoken. My father said: “The thought consoles +me that you do not know for certain;” and quitting their presence, he +came to visit me, together with a young man of my own age, called Pierro +di Giovanni Landi-we loved one another as though we had been brothers. + +Under his mantle the lad carried a first-rate sword and a splendid coat +of mail; and when they found me, my brave father told me what had +happened, and what the magistrates had said to him. Then he kissed me on +the forehead and both eyes, and gave me his hearty blessing, saying: +“May the power of goodness of God be your protection;” and reaching me +the sword and armour, he helped me with his own hands to put them on. +Afterwards he added: “Oh, my good son, with these arms in thy hand thou +shalt either live or die.” Pier Landi, who was present, kept shedding +tears; and when he had given me ten golden crowns, I bade him remove a +few hairs from my chin, which were the first down of my manhood. Frate +Alessio disguised me like a friar and gave me a lay brother to go with +me. [3] Quitting the convent, and issuing from the city by the gate of +Prato, I went along the walls as far as the Piazza di San Gallo. Then I +ascended the slope of Montui, and in one of the first houses there I +found a man called Il Grassuccio, own brother to Messer Benedetto da +Monte Varchi. [4] I flung off my monk’s clothes, and became once more a +man. Then we mounted two horses, which were waiting there for us, and +went by night to Siena. Grassuccio returned to Florence, sought out my +father, and gave him the news of my safe escape. In the excess of his +joy, it seemed a thousand years to my father till he should meet the +member of the Eight who had insulted him; and when he came across the +man, he said: “See you, Antonio, that it was God who knew what had to +happen to my son, and not yourself?” To which the fellow answered: “Only +let him get another time into our clutches!” And my father: “I shall +spend my time in thanking God that He has rescued him from that fate.” + +Note 1. 'Un di queli arrovellati scotendo la cresto dello arronzinato +cappuccio.' See above, p. 31. The democrats in Cellini’s days were +called at Florence 'Arrabbiati' or 'Arrovellati.' In the days of +Savonarola this nickname had been given to the ultra-Medicean party or +Palleschi. + +Note 2. 'Lanciotti.' There is some doubt about this word. But it clearly +means men armed with lances, at the disposal of the Signory. + +Note 3. 'Un converso,' an attendant on the monks. + +Note 4. Benedetto da Monte Varchi was the celebrated poet, scholar, and +historian of Florence, better known as Varchi. Another of his brothers +was a physician of high repute at Florence. They continued throughout +Cellini’s life to live on terms of intimacy with him. + +XIX + +AT Siena I waited for the mail to Rome, which I afterwards joined; and +when we passed the Paglia, we met a courier carrying news of the new +Pope, Clement VII. Upon my arrival in Rome, I went to work in the shop +of the master-goldsmith Santi. He was dead; but a son of his carried on +the business. He did not work himself, but entrusted all his commissions +to a young man named Lucagnolo from Iesi, a country fellow, who while +yet a child had come into Santi’s service. This man was short but well +proportioned, and was a more skilful craftsman than any one whom I had +met with up to that time; remarkable for facility and excellent in +design. He executed large plate only: that is to say, vases of the +utmost beauty, basons, and such pieces. [1] Having put myself to work +there, I began to make some candelabra for the Bishop of Salamanca, a +Spaniard. [2] They were richly chased, so far as that sort of work +admits. A pupil of Raffaello da Urbino called Gian Francesco, and +commonly known as Il Fattore, was a painter of great ability; and being +on terms of friendship with the Bishop, he introduced me to his favour, +so that I obtained many commissions from that prelate, and earned +considerable sums of money. [3] + +During that time I went to draw, sometimes in Michel Agnolo’s chapel, +and sometimes in the house of Agostino Chigi of Siena, which contained +many incomparable paintings by the hand of that great master Raffaello. +[4] This I did on feast-days, because the house was then inhabited by +Messer Gismondo, Agostino’s brother. They plumed themselves exceedingly +when they saw young men of my sort coming to study in their palaces. +Gismondo’s wife, noticing my frequent presence in that house-she was a +lady as courteous as could be, and of surpassing beauty-came up to me +one day, looked at my drawings, and asked me if I was a sculptor or a +painter; to whom I said I was a goldsmith. She remarked that I drew too +well for a goldsmith; and having made one of her waiting-maids bring a +lily of the finest diamonds set in gold, she showed it to me, and bade +me value it. I valued it at 800 crowns. Then she said that I had very +nearly hit the mark, and asked me whether I felt capable of setting the +stones really well. I said that I should much like to do so, and began +before her eyes to make a little sketch for it, working all the better +because of the pleasure I took in conversing with so lovely and +agreeable a gentlewoman. When the sketch was finished, another Roman +lady of great beauty joined us; she had been above, and now descending +to the ground-floor, asked Madonna Porzia what she was doing there. She +answered with a smile: “I am amusing myself by watching this worthy +young man at his drawing; he is as good as he is handsome.” I had by +this time acquired a trifle of assurance, mixed, however, with some +honest bashfulness; so I blushed and said: “Such as I am, lady, I shall +ever be most ready to serve you.” The gentlewoman, also slightly +blushing, said: “You know well that I want you to serve me;” and +reaching me the lily, told me to take it away; and gave me besides +twenty golden crowns which she had in her bag, and added: “Set me the +jewel after the fashion you have sketched, and keep for me the old gold +in which it is now set.” On this the Roman lady observed: “If I were in +that young man’s body, I should go off without asking leave.” Madonna +Porzia replied that virtues rarely are at home with vices, and that if I +did such a thing, I should strongly belie my good looks of an honest +man. Then turning round, she took the Roman lady’s hand, and with a +pleasant smile said: “Farewell, Benvenuto.” I stayed on a short while at +the drawing I was making, which was a copy of a Jove by Raffaello. When +I had finished it and left the house, I set myself to making a little +model of wax, in order to show how the jewel would look when it was +completed. This I took to Madonna Porzia, whom I found with the same +Roman lady. Both of them were highly satisfied with my work, and treated +me so kindly that, being somewhat emboldened, I promised the jewel +should be twice as good as the model. Accordingly I set hand to it, and +in twelve days I finished it in the form of a fleur-de-lys, as I have +said above, ornamenting it with little masks, children, and animals, +exquisitely enamelled, whereby the diamonds which formed the lily were +more than doubled in effect. + +Note 1. Cellini calls this 'grosseria.' + +Note 2. Don Francesco de Bobadilla. He came to Rome in 1517, was shut up +with Clement in the castle of S. Angelo in 1527, and died in 1529, after +his return to Spain. + +Note 3. This painter, Gio. Francesco Penni, surnamed Il Fattore, aided +Raphael in his Roman frescoes and was much beloved by him. Together with +Giulio Romano he completed the imperfect Stanze of the Vatican. + +Note 4. Cellini here alludes to the Sistine Chapel and to the Villa +Farnesina in Trastevere, built by the Sienese banker, Agostino Chigi. It +was here that Raphael painted his Galatea and the whole fable of Cupid +and Psyche. + +XX + +WHILE I was working at this piece, Lucagnolo, of whose ability I have +before spoken, showed considerable discontent, telling me over and over +again that I might acquire far more profit and honour by helping him to +execute large plate, as I had done at first. I made him answer that, +whenever I chose, I should always be capable of working at great silver +pieces; but that things like that on which I was now engaged were not +commissioned every day; and beside their bringing no less honour than +large silver plate, there was also more profit to be made by them. He +laughed me in the face, and said: “Wait and see, Benvenuto; for by the +time that you have finished that work of yours, I will make haste to +have finished this vase, which I took in hand when you did the jewel; +and then experience shall teach you what profit I shall get from my +vase, and what you will get from your ornament.” I answered that I was +very glad indeed to enter into such a competition with so good a +craftsman as he was, because the end would show which of us was +mistaken. Accordingly both the one and the other of us, with a scornful +smile upon our lips, bent our heads in grim earnest to the work, which +both were now desirous of accomplishing; so that after about ten days, +each had finished his undertaking with great delicacy and artistic skill. + +Lucagnolo’s was a huge silver piece, used at the table of Pope Clement, +into which he flung away bits of bone and the rind of divers fruits, +while eating; an object of ostentation rather than necessity. The vase +was adorned with two fine handles, together with many masks, both small +and great, and masses of lovely foliage, in as exquisite a style of +elegance as could be imagined; on seeing which I said it was the most +beautiful vase that ever I set eyes on. Thinking he had convinced me, +Lucagnolo replied: “Your work seems to me no less beautiful, but we +shall soon perceive the difference between the two.” So he took his vase +and carried it to the Pope, who was very well pleased with it, and +ordered at once that he should be paid at the ordinary rate of such +large plate. Meanwhile I carried mine to Madonna Porzia, who looked at +it with astonishment, and told me I had far surpassed my promise. Then +she bade me ask for my reward whatever I liked; for it seemed to her my +desert was so great that if I craved a castle she could hardly +recompense me; but since that was not in her hands to bestow, she added +laughing that I must beg what lay within her power. I answered that the +greatest reward I could desire for my labour was to have satisfied her +ladyship. Then, smiling in my turn, and bowing to her, I took my leave, +saying I wanted no reward but that. She turned to the Roman lady and +said: “You see that the qualities we discerned in him are companied by +virtues, and not vices.” They both expressed their admiration, and then +Madonna Porzia continued: “Friend Benvenuto, have you never heard it +said that when the poor give to the rich, the devil laughs?” I replied: +“Quite true! and yet, in the midst of all his troubles, I should like +this time to see him laugh;” and as I took my leave, she said that this +time she had no will to bestow on him that favour. + +When I came back to the shop, Lucagnolo had the money for his vase in a +paper packet; and on my arrival he cried out: “Come and compare the +price of your jewel with the price of my plate.” I said that he must +leave things as they were till the next day, because I hoped that even +as my work in its kind was not less excellent than his, so I should be +able to show him quite an equal price for it. + +XXI + +ON the day following, Madonna Porzia sent a major-domo of hers to my +shop, who called me out, and putting into my hands a paper packet full +of money from his lady, told me that she did not choose the devil should +have his whole laugh out: by which she hinted that the money sent me was +not the entire payment merited by my industry, and other messages were +added worthy of so courteous a lady. Lucagnolo, who was burning to +compare his packet with mine, burst into the shop; then in the presence +of twelve journeymen and some neighbours, eager to behold the result of +this competition, he seized his packet, scornfully exclaiming “Ou! ou!” +three or four times, while he poured his money on the counter with a +great noise. They were twenty-five crowns in giulios; and he fancied +that mine would be four or five crowns 'di moneta.' [1] I for my part, +stunned and stifled by his cries, and by the looks and smiles of the +bystanders, first peeped into my packet; then, after seeing that it +contained nothing but gold, I retired to one end of the counter, and, +keeping my eyes lowered and making no noise at all, I lifted it with +both hands suddenly above my head, and emptied it like a mill hopper. +[2] My coin was twice as much as his; which caused the onlookers, who +had fixed their eyes on me with some derision, to turn round suddenly to +him and say: “Lucagnolo, Benvenuto’s pieces, being all of gold and twice +as many as yours, make a far finer effect.” I thought for certain that, +what with jealousy and what with shame, Lucagnolo would have fallen dead +upon the spot; and though he took the third part of my gain, since I was +a journeyman (for such is the custom of the trade, two-thirds fall to +the workman and one-third to the masters of the shop), yet inconsiderate +envy had more power in him than avarice: it ought indeed to have worked +quite the other way, he being a peasant’s son from Iesi. He cursed his +art and those who taught it him, vowing that thenceforth he would never +work at large plate, but give his whole attention to those brothel +gewgaws, since they were so well paid. Equally enraged on my side, I +answered, that every bird sang its own note; that he talked after the +fashion of the hovels he came from; but that I dared swear that I should +succeed with ease in making his lubberly lumber, while he would never be +successful in my brothel gewgaws. [3] Thus I flung off in a passion, +telling him that I would soon show him that I spoke truth. The +bystanders openly declared against him, holding him for a lout, as +indeed he was, and me for a man, as I had proved myself. + +Note 1. 'Scudi di giuli' and 'scudi di moneta.' The 'giulio' was a +silver coin worth 56 Italian centimes. The 'scudi di moneta' was worth +10 'giulios.' Cellini was paid in golden crowns, which had a much higher +value. The 'scuda' and the 'ducato' at this epoch were reckoned at [7] +'lire,' the 'lira' at 20 'soldi.' + +Note 2. The packet was funnel-shaped, and Cellini poured the coins out +from the broad end. + +Note 3. The two slang phrases translated above are 'bordellerie' and +'coglionerie.' + +XXII + +NEXT day, I went to thank Madonna Porzia, and told her that her ladyship +had done the opposite of what she said she would; for that while I +wanted to make the devil laugh, she had made him once more deny God. We +both laughed pleasantly at this, and she gave me other commissions for +fine and substantial work. + +Meanwhile, I contrived, by means of a pupil of Raffaello da Urbino, to +get an order from the Bishop of Salamanca for one of those great +water-vessels called 'acquereccia,' which are used for ornaments to +place on sideboards. He wanted a pair made of equal size; and one of +them he entrusted to Lucagnolo, the other to me. Giovan Francesco, the +painter I have mentioned, gave us the design. [1] Accordingly I set hand +with marvellous good-will to this piece of plate, and was accommodated +with a part of his workshop by a Milanese named Maestro Giovan Piero +della Tacca. Having made my preparations, I calculated how much money I +should need for certain affairs of my own, and sent all the rest to +assist my poor father. + +It so happened that just when this was being paid to him in Florence, he +stumbled upon one of those Radicals who were in the Eight at the time +when I got into that little trouble there. It was the very man who had +abused him so rudely, and who swore that I should certainly be sent into +the country with the lances. Now this fellow had some sons of very bad +morals and repute; wherefore my father said to him: “Misfortunes can +happen to anybody, especially to men of choleric humour when they are in +the right, even as it happened to my son; but let the rest of his life +bear witness how virtuously I have brought him up. Would God, for your +well-being, that your sons may act neither worse nor better toward you +than mine do to me. God rendered me able to bring them up as I have +done; and where my own power could not reach, ‘twas He who rescued them, +against your expectation, out of your violent hands.” On leaving the +man, he wrote me all this story, begging me for God’s sake to practise +music at times, in order that I might not lose the fine accomplishment +which he had taught me with such trouble. The letter so overflowed with +expressions of the tenderest fatherly affection, that I was moved to +tears of filial piety, resolving, before he died, to gratify him amply +with regard to music. Thus God grants us those lawful blessings which we +ask in prayer, nothing doubting. + +Note 1. That is, Il Fattore. See above, p. 34. + +XXIII + +WHILE I was pushing forward Salamanca’s vase, I had only one little boy +as help, whom I had taken at the entreaty of friends, and half against +my own will, to be my workman. He was about fourteen years of age, bore +the name of Paulino, and was son to a Roman burgess, who lived upon the +income of his property. Paulino was the best-mannered, the most honest, +and the most beautiful boy I ever saw in my whole life. His modest ways +and actions, together with his superlative beauty and his devotion to +myself, bred in me as great an affection for him as a man’s breast can +hold. This passionate love led me oftentimes to delight the lad with +music; for I observed that his marvellous features, which by complexion +wore a tone of modest melancholy, brightened up, and when I took my +cornet, broke into a smile so lovely and so sweet, that I do not marvel +at the silly stories which the Greeks have written about the deities of +heaven. Indeed, if my boy had lived in those times, he would probably +have turned their heads still more. [1] He had a sister, named Faustina, +more beautiful, I verily believe, than that Faustina about whom the old +books gossip so. Sometimes he took me to their vineyard, and, so far as +I could judge, it struck me that Paulino’s good father would have +welcomed me as a son-in-law. This affair led me to play more than I was +used to do. + +It happened at that time that one Giangiacomo of Cesena, a musician in +the Pope’s band, and a very excellent performer, sent word through +Lorenzo, the trumpeter of Lucca, who is now in our Duke’s service, to +inquire whether I was inclined to help them at the Pope’s Ferragosto, +playing soprano with my cornet in some motets of great beauty selected +by them for that occasion. [2] Although I had the greatest desire to +finish the vase I had begun, yet, since music has a wondrous charm of +its own, and also because I wished to please my old father, I consented +to join them. During eight days before the festival we practised two +hours a day together; then on the first of August we went to the +Belvedere, and while Pope Clement was at table, we played those +carefully studied motets so well that his Holiness protested he had +never heard music more sweetly executed or with better harmony of parts. +He sent for Giangiacomo, and asked him where and how he had procured so +excellent a cornet for soprano, and inquired particularly who I was. +Giangiacomo told him my name in full. Whereupon the Pope said: “So, +then, he is the son of Maestro Giovanni?” On being assured I was, the +Pope expressed his wish to have me in his service with the other +bandsmen. Giangiacomo replied: “Most blessed Father, I cannot pretend +for certain that you will get him, for his profession, to which he +devotes himself assiduously, is that of a goldsmith, and he works in it +miraculously well, and earns by it far more than he could do by +playing.” To this the Pope added: “I am the better inclined to him now +that I find him possessor of a talent more than I expected. See that he +obtains the same salary as the rest of you; and tell him from me to join +my service, and that I will find work enough by the day for him to do in +his other trade.” Then stretching out his hand, he gave him a hundred +golden crowns of the Camera in a handkerchief, and said: [3] “Divide +these so that he may take his share.” + +When Giangiacomo left the Pope, he came to us, and related in detail all +that the Pope had said; and after dividing the money between the eight +of us, and giving me my share, he said to me: “Now I am going to have +you inscribed among our company.” I replied: “Let the day pass; +to-morrow I will give my answer.” When I left them, I went meditating +whether I ought to accept the invitation, inasmuch as I could not but +suffer if I abandoned the noble studies of my art. The following night +my father appeared to me in a dream, and begged me with tears of +tenderest affection, for God’s love and his, to enter upon this +engagement. Methought I answered that nothing would induce me to do so. +In an instant he assumed so horrible an aspect as to frighten me out of +my wits, and cried: “If you do not, you will have a father’s curse; but +if you do, may you be ever blessed by me!” When I woke, I ran, for very +fright, to have myself inscribed. Then I wrote to my old father, telling +him the news, which so affected him with extreme joy that a sudden fit +of illness took him, and well-nigh brought him to death’s door. In his +answer to my letter, he told me that he too had dreamed nearly the same +as I had. + +Note 1. 'Gli Arebbe fatti più uscire de’ gangheri;' would have taken +them still more off the hinges. + +Note 2. Lit., “the largest piece left of me should be my ears.” + +Note 3. The Camera Apostolica was the Roman Exchequer. + +XXIV + +KNOWING now that I had gratified my father’s honest wish, I began to +think that everything would prosper with me to a glorious and honourable +end. Accordingly, I set myself with indefatigable industry to the +completion of the vase I had begun for Salamanca. That prelate was a +very extraordinary man, extremely rich, but difficult to please. He sent +daily to learn what I was doing; and when his messenger did not find me +at home, he broke into fury, saying that he would take the work out of +my hands and give it to others to finish. This came of my slavery to +that accursed music. Still I laboured diligently night and day, until, +when I had brought my work to a point when it could be exhibited, I +submitted it to the inspection of the Bishop. This so increased his +desire to see it finished that I was sorry I had shown it. At the end of +three months I had it ready, with little animals and foliage and masks, +as beautiful as one could hope to see. No sooner was it done than I sent +it by the hand of my workman, Paulino, to show that able artist +Lucagnolo, of whom I have spoken above. Paulino, with the grace and +beauty which belonged to him, spoke as follows: “Messer Lucagnolo, +Benvenuto bids me say that he has sent to show you his promises and your +lumber, expecting in return to see from you his gewgaws.” This message +given, Lucagnolo took up the vase, and carefully examined it; then he +said to Paulino: “Fair boy, tell your master that he is a great and able +artist, and that I beg him to be willing to have me for a friend, and +not to engage in aught else.” The mission of that virtuous and +marvellous lad caused me the greatest joy; and then the vase was carried +to Salamanca, who ordered it to be valued. Lucagnolo took part in the +valuation, estimating and praising it far above my own opinion. +Salamanca, lifting up the vase, cried like a true Spaniard: “I swear by +God that I will take as long in paying him as he has lagged in making +it.” When I heard this, I was exceedingly put out, and fell to cursing +all Spain and every one who wished well to it. + +Amongst other beautiful ornaments, this vase had a handle, made all of +one piece, with most delicate mechanism, which, when a spring was +touched, stood upright above the mouth of it. While the prelate was one +day ostentatiously exhibiting my vase to certain Spanish gentlemen of +his suite, it chanced that one of them, upon Monsignor’s quitting the +room, began roughly to work the handle, and as the gentle spring which +moved it could not bear his loutish violence, it broke in his hand. +Aware what mischief he had done, he begged the butler who had charge of +the Bishop’s plate to take it to the master who had made it, for him to +mend, and promised to pay what price he asked, provided it was set to +rights at once. So the vase came once more into my hands, and I promised +to put it forthwith in order, which indeed I did. It was brought to me +before dinner; and at twenty-two o’clock the man who brought it +returned, all in a sweat, for he had run the whole way, Monsignor having +again asked for it to show to certain other gentlemen. [1] The butler, +then, without giving me time to utter a word, cried: “Quick, quick, +bring the vase.” I, who wanted to act at leisure and not to give up to +him, said that I did not mean to be so quick. The serving-man got into +such a rage that he made as though he would put one hand to his sword, +while with the other he threatened to break the shop open. To this I put +a stop at once with my own weapon, using therewith spirited language, +and saying: “I am not going to give it to you! Go and tell Monsignor, +your master, that I want the money for my work before I let it leave +this shop.” When the fellow saw he could not obtain it by swaggering, he +fell to praying me, as one prays to the Cross, declaring that if I would +only give it up, he would take care I should be paid. These words did +not make me swerve from my purpose; but I kept on saying the same thing. +At last, despairing of success, he swore to come with Spaniards enough +to cut me in pieces. Then he took to his heels; while I, who inclined to +believe partly in their murderous attack, resolved that I would defend +myself with courage. So I got an admirable little gun ready, which I +used for shooting game, and muttered to myself: “He who robs me of my +property and labour may take my life too, and welcome.” While I was +carrying on this debate in my own mind, a crowd of Spaniards arrived, +led by their major-domo, who, with the headstrong rashness of his race, +bade them go in and take the vase and give me a good beating. Hearing +these words, I showed them the muzzle of my gun, and prepared to fire, +and cried in a loud voice: “Renegade Jews, traitors, is it thus that one +breaks into houses and shops in our city of Rome? Come as many of you +thieves as like, an inch nearer to this wicket, and I’ll blow all their +brains out with my gun.” Then I turned the muzzle toward their +major-domo, and making as though I would discharge it, called out: “And +you big thief, who are egging them on, I mean to kill you first.” He +clapped spurs to the jennet he was riding, and took flight headlong. The +commotion we were making stirred up all the neighbours, who came +crowding round, together with some Roman gentlemen who chanced to pass, +and cried: “Do but kill the renegades, and we will stand by you.” These +words had the effect of frightening the Spaniards in good earnest. They +withdrew, and were compelled by the circumstances to relate the whole +affair to Monsignor. Being a man of inordinate haughtiness, he rated the +members of his household, both because they had engaged in such an act +of violence, and also because, having begun, they had not gone through +with it. At this juncture the painter, who had been concerned in the +whole matter, came in, and the Bishop bade him go and tell me that if I +did not bring the vase at once, he would make mincemeat of me; [2] but +if I brought it, he would pay its price down. These threats were so far +from terrifying me, that I sent him word I was going immediately to lay +my case before the Pope. + +In the meantime, his anger and my fear subsided; whereupon, being +guaranteed by some Roman noblemen of high degree that the prelate would +not harm me, and having assurance that I should be paid, I armed myself +with a large poniard and my good coat of mail, and betook myself to his +palace, where he had drawn up all his household. I entered, and Paulino +followed with the silver vase. It was just like passing through the +Zodiac, neither more nor less; for one of them had the face of the lion, +another of the scorpion, a third of the crab. However, we passed onward +to the presence of the rascally priest, who spouted out a torrent of +such language as only priests and Spaniards have at their command. In +return I never raised my eyes to look at him, nor answered word for +word. That seemed to augment the fury of his anger; and causing paper to +be put before me, he commanded me to write an acknowledgment to the +effect that I had been amply satisfied and paid in full. Then I raised +my head, and said I should be very glad to do so when I had received the +money. The Bishop’s rage continued to rise; threats and recriminations +were flung about; but at last the money was paid, and I wrote the +receipt. Then I departed, glad at heart and in high spirits. + +Note 1. The Italians reckoned time from sundown till sundown, counting +twenty-four hours. Twenty-two o’clock was therefore two hours before +nightfall. One hour of the night was one hour after nightfall, and so +forth. By this system of reckoning, it is clear that the hours varied +with the season of the year; and unless we know the exact month in which +an event took place, we cannot translate any hour into terms of our own +system. + +Note 2. Lit., “the largest piece left of me should be my ears.” + +XXV + +WHEN Pope Clement heard the story-he had seen the vase before, but it +was not shown him as my work-he expressed much pleasure and spoke warmly +in my praise, publicly saying that he felt very favourably toward me. +This caused Monsignor Salamanca to repent that he had hectored over me; +and in order to make up our quarrel, he sent the same painter to inform +me that he meant to give me large commissions. I replied that I was +willing to undertake them, but that I should require to be paid in +advance. This speech too came to Pope Clement’s ears, and made him laugh +heartily. Cardinal Cibo was in the presence, and the Pope narrated to +him the whole history of my dispute with the Bishop. [1] Then he turned +to one of his people, and ordered him to go on supplying me with work +for the palace. Cardinal Cibo sent for me, and after some time spent in +agreeable conversation, gave me the order for a large vase, bigger than +Salamanca’s. I likewise obtained commissions from Cardinal Cornaro, and +many others of the Holy College, especially Ridolfi and Salviati; they +all kept me well employed, so that I earned plenty of money. 2 + +Madonna Porzia now advised me to open a shop of my own. This I did; and +I never stopped working for that excellent and gentle lady, who paid me +exceedingly well, and by whose means perhaps it was that I came to make +a figure in the world. + +I contracted close friendship with Signor Gabbriello Ceserino, at that +time Gonfalonier of Rome, and executed many pieces for him. One, among +the rest, is worthy of mention. It was a large golden medal to wear in +the hat. I engraved upon it Leda with her swan; and being very well +pleased with the workmanship, he said he should like to have it valued, +in order that I might be properly paid. Now, since the medal was +executed with consummate skill, the valuers of the trade set a far +higher price on it than he had thought of. I therefore kept the medal, +and got nothing for my pains. The same sort of adventures happened in +this case as in that of Salamanca’s vase. But I shall pass such matters +briefly by, lest they hinder me from telling things of greater +importance. + +Note 1. Innocenzio Cibo Malaspina, Archbishop of Genoa, and nephew of +Lorenzo de’ Medici. He was a prelate of vast wealth and a great patron +of arts and letters. + +Note 2. Marco Cornaro was a brother of Caterina, the Queen of Cyprus. He +obtained the hat in 1492. Niccolò Ridolfi was a nephew of Leo X. +Giovanni Salviati, the son of Jacopo mentioned above, was also a nephew +of Leo X, who gave him the hat in 1517. + +XXVI + +SINCE I am writing my life, I must from time to time diverge from my +profession in order to describe with brevity, if not in detail, some +incidents which have no bearing on my career as artist. On the morning +of Saint John’s Day I happened to be dining with several men of our +nation, painters, sculptors, goldsmiths, amongst the most notable of +whom was Rosso and Gainfrancesco, the pupil of Raffaello. [1] I had +invited them without restraint or ceremony to the place of our meeting, +and they were all laughing and joking, as is natural when a crowd of men +come together to make merry on so great a festival. It chanced that a +light-brained swaggering young fellow passed by; he was a soldier of +Rienzo da Ceri, who, when he heard the noise that we were making, gave +vent to a string of opprobrious sarcasms upon the folk of Florence. [2] +I, who was the host of those great artists and men of worth, taking the +insult to myself, slipped out quietly without being observed, and went +up to him. I ought to say that he had a punk of his there, and was going +on with his stupid ribaldries to amuse her. When I met him, I asked if +he was the rash fellow who was speaking evil of the Florentines. He +answered at once: “I am that man.” On this I raised my hand, struck him +in the face, and said: “And I am 'this' man.” Then we each of us drew +our swords with spirit; but the fray had hardly begun when a crowd of +persons intervened, who rather took my part than not, hearing and seeing +that I was in the right. + +On the following day a challenge to fight with him was brought me, which +I accepted very gladly, saying that I expected to complete this job far +quicker than those of the other art I practised. So I went at once to +confer with a fine old man called Bevilacqua, who was reputed to have +been the first sword of Italy, because he had fought more than twenty +serious duels and had always come off with honour. This excellent man +was a great friend of mine; he knew me as an artist and had also been +concerned as intermediary in certain ugly quarrels between me and +others. Accordingly, when he had learned my business, he answered with a +smile: “My Benvenuto, if you had an affair with Mars, I am sure you +would come out with honour, because through all the years that I have +known you, I have never seen you wrongfully take up a quarrel.” So he +consented to be my second, and we repaired with sword in hand to the +appointed place, but no blood was shed, for my opponent made the matter +up, and I came with much credit out of the affair. [3] I will not add +further particulars; for though they would be very interesting in their +own way, I wish to keep both space and words for my art, which has been +my chief inducement to write as I am doing, and about which I shall have +only too much to say. + +The spirit of honourable rivalry impelled me to attempt some other +masterpiece, which should equal, or even surpass, the productions of +that able craftsman, Lucagnolo, whom I have mentioned. Still I did not +on this account neglect my own fine art of jewellery; and so both the +one and the other wrought me much profit and more credit, and in both of +them I continued to produce things of marked originality. There was at +that time in Rome a very able artist of Perugia named Lautizio, who +worked only in one department, where he was sole and unrivalled +throughout the world. [4] You must know that at Rome every cardinal has +a seal, upon which his title is engraved, and these seals are made just +as large as a child’s hand of about twelve years of age; and, as I have +already said, the cardinal’s title is engraved upon the seal together +with a great many ornamental figures. A well-made article of the kind +fetches a hundred, or more than a hundred crowns. This excellent +workman, like Lucagnolo, roused in me some honest rivalry, although the +art he practised is far remote from the other branches of gold-smithery, +and consequently Lautizio was not skilled in making anything but seals. +I gave my mind to acquiring his craft also, although I found it very +difficult; and, unrepelled by the trouble which it gave me, I went on +zealously upon the path of profit and improvement. + +There was in Rome another most excellent craftsman of ability, who was a +Milanese named Messer Caradosso. [5] He dealt in nothing but little +chiselled medals, made of plates of metal, and such-like things. I have +seen of his some paxes in half relief, and some Christs a palm in length +wrought of the thinnest golden plates, so exquisitely done that I +esteemed him the greatest master in that kind I had ever seen, and +envied him more than all the rest together. There were also other +masters who worked at medals carved in steel, which may be called the +models and true guides for those who aim at striking coins in the most +perfect style. All these divers arts I set myself with unflagging +industry to learn. + +I must not omit the exquisite art of enamelling, in which I have never +known any one excel save a Florentine, our countryman, called Amerigo. +[6] I did not know him, but was well acquainted with his incomparable +masterpieces. Nothing in any part of the world or by craftsman that I +have seen, approached the divine beauty of their workmanship. To this +branch too I devoted myself with all my strength, although it is +extremely difficult, chiefly because of the fire, which, after long time +and trouble spent in other processes, has to be applied at last, and not +unfrequently brings the whole to ruin. In spite of its great +difficulties, it gave me so much pleasure that I looked upon them as +recreation; and this came from the special gift which the God of nature +bestowed on me, that is to say, a temperament so happy and of such +excellent parts that I was freely able to accomplish whatever it pleased +me to take in hand. The various departments of art which I have +described are very different one from the other, so that a man who +excels in one of them, if he undertakes the others, hardly ever achieves +the same success; whereas I strove with all my power to become equally +versed in all of them: and in the proper place I shall demonstrate that +I attained my object. + +Note 1. St. John’s Day was the great Florentine Festival, on which all +the Guilds went in procession with pageants through the city. Of the +Florentine painter, II Rosso, or Maitre Roux, this is the first mention +by Cellini. He went to France in 1534, and died an obscure death there +in 1541. + +Note 2. This Rienzo, Renzo, or Lorenzo da Ceri, was a captain of +adventurers or Condottiere, who hired his mercenary forces to +paymasters. He defended Crema for the Venetians in 1514, and conquered +Urbino for the Pope in 1515. Afterwards he fought for the French in the +Italian wars. We shall hear more of him again during the sack of Rome. + +Note 3. The Italian, 'restando dal mio avversario,' seems to mean that +Cellini’s opponent proposed an accommodation, apologized, or stayed the +duel at a certain point. + +Note 4. See Cellini’s Treatise 'Oreficeria,' cap. vi., for more +particulars about this artist. + +Note 5. His real name was Ambrogio Foppa. The nickname Caradosso is said +to have stuck to him in consequence of a Spaniard calling him +Bear’s-face in his own tongue. He struck Leo X’s coins; and we possess +some excellent medallion portraits by his hand. + +Note 6. For him, consult Cellini’s 'Oreficeria.' + +XXVII + +AT that time, while I was still a young man of about twenty-three, there +raged a plague of such extraordinary violence that many thousands died +of it every day in Rome. Somewhat terrified at this calamity, I began to +take certain amusements, as my mind suggested, and for a reason which I +will presently relate. I had formed a habit of going on feast-days to +the ancient buildings, and copying parts of them in wax or with the +pencil; and since these buildings are all ruins, and the ruins house +innumerable pigeons, it came into my head to use my gun against these +birds. So then, avoiding all commerce with people, in my terror of the +plague, I used to put a fowling-piece on my boy Pagolino’s shoulder, and +he and I went out alone into the ruins; and oftentimes we came home +laden with a cargo of the fattest pigeons. I did not care to charge my +gun with more than a single ball; and thus it was by pure skill in the +art that I filled such heavy bags. I had a fowling-piece which I had +made myself; inside and out it was as bright as any mirror. I also used +to make a very fine sort of powder, in doing which I discovered secret +processes, beyond any which have yet been found; and on this point, in +order to be brief, I will give but one particular, which will astonish +good shots of every degree. This is, that when I charged my gun with +powder weighing one-fifth of the ball, it carried two hundred paces +point-blank. It is true that the great delight I took in this exercise +bid fair to withdraw me from my art and studies; yet in another way it +gave me more than it deprived me of, seeing that each time I went out +shooting I returned with greatly better health, because the open air was +a benefit to my constitution. My natural temperament was melancholy, and +while I was taking these amusements, my heart leapt up with joy, and I +found that I could work better and with far greater mastery than when I +spent my whole time in study and manual labour. In this way my gun, at +the end of the game, stood me more in profit than in loss. + +It was also the cause of my making acquaintance with certain hunters +after curiosities, who followed in the track [1] of those Lombard +peasants who used to come to Rome to till the vineyards at the proper +season. While digging the ground, they frequently turned up antique +medals, agates, chrysoprases, cornelians, and cameos; also sometimes +jewels, as, for instance, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and rubies. The +peasants used to sell things of this sort to the traders for a mere +trifle; and I very often, when I met them, paid the latter several times +as many golden crowns as they had given giulios for some object. +Independently of the profit I made by this traffic, which was at least +tenfold, it brought me also into agreeable relations with nearly all the +cardinals of Rome. I will only touch upon a few of the most notable and +the rarest of these curiosities. There came into my hands, among many +other fragments, the head of a dolphin about as big as a good-sized +ballot-bean. Not only was the style of this head extremely beautiful, +but nature had here far surpassed art; for the stone was an emerald of +such good colour, that the man who bought it from me for tens of crowns +sold it again for hundreds after setting it as a finger-ring. I will +mention another kind of gem; this was a magnificent topaz; and here art +equalled nature; it was as large as a big hazel-nut, with the head of +Minerva in a style of inconceivable beauty. I remember yet another +precious stone, different from these; it was a cameo, engraved with +Hercules binding Cerberus of the triple throat; such was its beauty and +the skill of its workmanship, that our great Michel Agnolo protested he +had never seen anything so wonderful. Among many bronze medals, I +obtained one upon which was a head of Jupiter. It was the largest that +had ever been seen; the head of the most perfect execution; and it had +on the reverse side a very fine design of some little figures in the +same style. I might enlarge at great length on this curiosity; but I +will refrain for fear of being prolix. + +Note 1. 'Stavano alle velette.' Perhaps 'lay in wait for.' + +XXVIII + +AS I have said above, the plague had broken out in Rome; but though I +must return a little way upon my steps, I shall not therefore abandon +the main path of my history. There arrived in Rome a surgeon of the +highest renown, who was called Maestro Giacomo da Carpi. [1] This able +man, in the course of his other practice, undertook the most desperate +cases of the so-called French disease. In Rome this kind of illness is +very partial to the priests, and especially to the richest of them. +When, therefore, Maestro Giacomo had made his talents known, he +professed to work miracles in the treatment of such cases by means of +certain fumigations; but he only undertook a cure after stipulating for +his fees, which he reckoned not by tens, but by hundreds of crowns. He +was a great connoisseur in the arts of design. Chancing to pass one day +before my shop, he saw a lot of drawings which I had laid upon the +counter, and among these were several designs for little vases in a +capricious style, which I had sketched for my amusement. These vases +were in quite a different fashion from any which had been seen up to +that date. He was anxious that I should finish one or two of them for +him in silver; and this I did with the fullest satisfaction, seeing they +exactly suited my own fancy. The clever surgeon paid me very well, and +yet the honour which the vases brought me was worth a hundred times as +much; for the best craftsmen in the goldsmith’s trade declared they had +never seen anything more beautiful or better executed. + +No sooner had I finished them than he showed them to the Pope; and the +next day following he betook himself away from Rome. He was a man of +much learning, who used to discourse wonderfully about medicine. The +Pope would fain have had him in his service, but he replied that he +would not take service with anybody in the world, and that whoso had +need of him might come to seek him out. He was a person of great +sagacity, and did wisely to get out of Rome; for not many months +afterwards, all the patients he had treated grew so ill that they were a +hundred times worse off than before he came. He would certainly have +been murdered if he had stopped. He showed my little vases to several +persons of quality; amongst others, to the most excellent Duke of +Ferrara, and pretended that he had got them from a great lord in Rome, +by telling this nobleman that if he wanted to be cured, he must give him +those two vases; and that the lord had answered that they were antique, +and besought him to ask for anything else which it might be convenient +for him to give, provided only he would leave him those; but, according +to his own account, Maestro Giacomo made as though he would not +undertake the cure, and so he got them. + +I was told this by Messer Alberto Bendedio in Ferrara, who with great +ostentation showed me some earthenware copies he possessed of them. [2] +Thereupon I laughed, and as I said nothing, Messer Alberto Bendedio, who +was a haughty man, flew into a rage and said: “You are laughing at them, +are you? And I tell you that during the last thousand years there has +not been born a man capable of so much as copying them.” I then, not +caring to deprive them of so eminent a reputation, kept silence, and +admired them with mute stupefaction. It was said to me in Rome by many +great lords, some of whom were my friends, that the work of which I have +been speaking was, in their opinion of marvellous excellence and genuine +antiquity; whereupon, emboldened by their praises, I revealed that I had +made them. As they would not believe it, and as I wished to prove that I +had spoken truth, I was obliged to bring evidence and to make new +drawings of the vases; for my word alone was not enough, inasmuch as +Maestro Giacomo had cunningly insisted upon carrying off the old +drawings with him. By this little job I earned a fair amount of money. + +Note 1. Giacomo Berengario da Carpi was, in fact, a great physician, +surgeon, and student of anatomy. He is said to have been the first to +use mercury in the cure of syphilis, a disease which was devastating +Italy after the year 1495. He amassed a large fortune, which, when he +died at Ferrara about 1530, he bequeathed to the Duke there. + +Note 2. See below, Book II. Chap. viii., for a full account of this +incident at Ferrara. + +XXIX + +THE PLAGUE went dragging on for many months, but I had as yet managed to +keep it at bay; for though several of my comrades were dead, I survived +in health and freedom. Now it chanced one evening that an intimate +comrade of mine brought home to supper a Bolognese prostitute named +Faustina. She was a very fine woman, but about thirty years of age; and +she had with her a little serving-girl of thirteen or fourteen. Faustina +belonging to my friend, I would not have touched her for all the gold in +the world; and though she declared she was madly in love with me, I +remained steadfast in my loyalty. But after they had gone to bed, I +stole away the little serving-girl, who was quite a fresh maid, and woe +to her if her mistress had known of it! The result was that I enjoyed a +very pleasant night, far more to my satisfaction than if I had passed it +with Faustina. I rose upon the hour of breaking fast, and felt tired, +for I had travelled many miles that night, and was wanting to take food, +when a crushing headache seized me; several boils appeared on my left +arm, together with a carbuncle which showed itself just beyond the palm +of the left hand where it joins the wrist. Everybody in the house was in +a panic; my friend, the cow and the calf, all fled. Left alone there +with my poor little prentice, who refused to abandon me, I felt stifled +at the heart, and made up my mind for certain I was a dead man. + +Just then the father of the lad went by, who was physician to the +Cardinal Iacoacci, [1] and lived as member of that prelate’s household. +[2] The boy called out: “Come, father, and see Benvenuto; he is in bed +with some trifling indisposition.” Without thinking what my complaint +might be, the doctor came up at once, and when he had felt my pulse, he +saw and felt what was very contrary to his own wishes. Turning round to +his son, he said: “O traitor of a child, you’ve ruined me; how can I +venture now into the Cardinal’s presence?” His son made answer: “Why, +father, this man my master is worth far more than all the cardinals in +Rome.” Then the doctor turned to me and said: “Since I am here, I will +consent to treat you. But of one thing only I warn you, that if you have +enjoyed a woman, you are doomed.” To this I replied: “I did so this very +night.” He answered: “With whom, and to what extent?” [3] I said: “Last +night, and with a girl in her earliest maturity.” Upon this, perceiving +that he had spoken foolishly, he made haste to add: “Well, considering +the sores are so new, and have not yet begun to stink, and that the +remedies will be taken in time, you need not be too much afraid, for I +have good hopes of curing you.” When he had prescribed for me and gone +away, a very dear friend of mine, called Giovanni Rigogli, came in, who +fell to commiserating my great suffering and also my desertion by my +comrade, and said: “Be of good cheer, my Benvenuto, for I will never +leave your side until I see you restored to health.” I told him not to +come too close, since it was all over with me. Only I besought him to be +so kind as to take a considerable quantity of crowns, which were lying +in a little box near my bed, and when God had thought fit to remove me +from this world, to send them to my poor father, writing pleasantly to +him, in the way I too had done, so far as that appalling season of the +plague permitted. [4] My beloved friend declared that he had no +intention whatsoever of leaving me, and that come what might, in life or +death, he knew very well what was his duty toward a friend. And so we +went on by the help of God: and the admirable remedies which I had used +began to work a great improvement, and I soon came well out of that +dreadful sickness. + +The sore was still open, with a plug of lint inside it and a plaster +above, when I went out riding on a little wild pony. He was covered with +hair four fingers long, and was exactly as big as a well-grown bear; +indeed he looked just like a bear. I rode out on him to visit the +painter Rosso, who was then living in the country, toward Civita +Vecchia, at a place of Count Anguillara’s called Cervetera. I found my +friend, and he was very glad to see me; whereupon I said: “I am come to +do to you that which you did to me so many months ago.” He burst out +laughing, embraced and kissed me, and begged me for the Count’s sake to +keep quiet. I stayed in that place about a month, with much content and +gladness, enjoying good wines and excellent food, and treated with the +greatest kindness by the Count; every day I used to ride out alone along +the seashore, where I dismounted, and filled my pockets with all sorts +of pebbles, snail shells, and sea shells of great rarity and beauty. + +On the last day (for after this I went there no more) I was attacked by +a band of men, who had disguised themselves, and disembarked from a +Moorish privateer. When they thought that they had run me into a certain +passage, where it seemed impossible that I should escape from their +hands, I suddenly mounted my pony, resolved to be roasted or boiled +alive at that pass perilous, seeing I had little hope to evade one or +the other of these fates; [5] but, as God willed, my pony, who was the +same I have described above, took an incredibly wide jump, and brought +me off in safety, for which I heartily thanked God. I told the story to +the Count; he ran to arms; but we saw the galleys setting out to sea. +The next day following I went back sound and with good cheer to Rome. + +Note 1. Probably Domenico Iacobacci, who obtained the hat in 1517. + +Note 2. 'A sua provisione stava, i. e.,' he was in the Cardinal’s +regular pay. + +Note 3. 'Quanto.' Perhaps we ought to read 'quando-when?' + +Note 4. 'Come ancora io avevo fatto secondo l’usanza che promettava +quell’ arrabbiata stagione.' I am not sure that I have given the right +sense in the text above. Leclanché interprets the words thus: “that I +too had fared according to the wont of that appalling season,” 'i. e.,' +had died of the plague. But I think the version in my sense is more true +both to Italian and to Cellini’s special style. + +Note 5. 'I. e.,' to escape either being drowned or shot. + +XXX + +THE PLAGUE had by this time almost died out, so that the survivors, when +they met together alive, rejoiced with much delight in one another’s +company. This led to the formation of a club of painters, sculptors, and +goldsmiths, the best that were in Rome; and the founder of it was a +sculptor with the name of Michel Agnolo. [1] He was a Sienese and a man +of great ability, who could hold his own against any other workman in +that art; but, above all, he was the most amusing comrade and the +heartiest good fellow in the universe. Of all the members of the club, +he was the eldest, and yet the youngest from the strength and vigour of +his body. We often came together; at the very least twice a week. I must +not omit to mention that our society counted Giulio Romano, the painter, +and Gian Francesco, both of them celebrated pupils of the mighty +Raffaello da Urbino. + +After many and many merry meetings, it seemed good to our worthy +president that for the following Sunday we should repair to supper in +his house, and that each one of us should be obliged to bring with him +his crow (such was the nickname Michel Agnolo gave to women in the +club), and that whoso did not bring one should be sconced by paying a +supper to the whole company. Those of us who had no familiarity with +women of the town, were forced to purvey themselves at no small trouble +and expense, in order to appear without disgrace at that distinguished +feast of artists. I had reckoned upon being well provided with a young +woman of considerable beauty, called Pantasilea, who was very much in +love with me; but I was obliged to give her up to one of my dearest +friends, called Il Bachiacca, who on his side had been, and still was, +over head and ears in love with her. [2] This exchange excited a certain +amount of lover’s anger, because the lady, seeing I had abandoned her at +Bachiacca’s first entreaty, imagined that I held in slight esteem the +great affection which she bore me. In course of time a very serious +incident grew out of this misunderstanding, through her desire to take +revenge for the affront I had put upon her; whereof I shall speak +hereafter in the proper place. + +Well, then, the hour was drawing nigh when we had to present ourselves +before that company of men of genius, each with his own crow; and I was +still unprovided; and yet I thought it would be stupid to fail of such a +madcap bagatelle; [3] but what particularly weighed upon my mind was +that I did not choose to lend the light of my countenance in that +illustrious sphere to some miserable plume-plucked scarecrow. All these +considerations made me devise a pleasant trick, for the increase of +merriment and the diffusion of mirth in our society. + +Having taken this resolve, I sent for a stripling of sixteen years, who +lived in the next house to mine; he was the son of a Spanish +coppersmith. This young man gave his time to Latin studies, and was very +diligent in their pursuit. He bore the name of Diego, had a handsome +figure, and a complexion of marvellous brilliancy; the outlines of his +head and face were far more beautiful than those of the antique +Antinous: I had often copied them, gaining thereby much honour from the +works in which I used them. The youth had no acquaintances, and was +therefore quite unknown; dressed very ill and negligently; all his +affections being set upon those wonderful studies of his. After bringing +him to my house, I begged him to let me array him in the woman’s clothes +which I had caused to be laid out. He readily complied, and put them on +at once, while I added new beauties to the beauty of his face by the +elaborate and studied way in which I dressed his hair. In his ears I +placed two little rings, set with two large and fair pearls; the rings +were broken; they only clipped his ears, which looked as though they had +been pierced. Afterwards I wreathed his throat with chains of gold and +rich jewels, and ornamented his fair hands with rings. Then I took him +in a pleasant manner by one ear, and drew him before a great +looking-glass. The lad, when he beheld himself, cried out with a burst +of enthusiasm: “Heavens! is that Diego?” I said: “That is Diego, from +whom until this day I never asked for any kind of favour; but now I only +beseech Diego to do me pleasure in one harmless thing; and it is this-I +want him to come in those very clothes to supper with the company of +artists whereof he has often heard me speak.” The young man, who was +honest, virtuous, and wise, checked his enthusiasm, bent his eyes to the +ground, and stood for a short while in silence. Then with a sudden move +he lifted up his face and said: “With Benvenuto I will go; now let us +start.” + +I wrapped his head in a large kind of napkin, which is called in Rome a +summer-cloth; and when we reached the place of meeting, the company had +already assembled, and everybody came forward to greet me. Michel Agnolo +had placed himself between Giulio and Giovan Francesco. I lifted the +veil from the head of my beauty; and then Michel Agnolo, who, as I have +already said, was the most humorous and amusing fellow in the world, +laid his two hands, the one on Giulio’s and the other on Gian +Francesco’s shoulders, and pulling them with all his force, made them +bow down, while he, on his knees upon the floor, cried out for mercy, +and called to all the folk in words like these: “Behold ye of what sort +are the angels of paradise! for though they are called angels, here +shall ye see that they are not all of the male gender.” Then with a loud +voice he added: + +“Angel beauteous, angel best, + +Save me thou, make thou me blest.” + +Upon this my charming creature laughed, and lifted the right hand and +gave him a papal benediction, with many pleasant words to boot. So +Michel Agnolo stood up, and said it was the custom to kiss the feet of +the Pope and the cheeks of angels; and having done the latter to Diego, +the boy blushed deeply, which immensely enhanced his beauty. + +When this reception was over, we found the whole room full of sonnets, +which every man of us had made and sent to Michel Agnolo, My lad began +to read them, and read them all aloud so gracefully, that his infinite +charms were heightened beyond the powers of language to describe. Then +followed conversation and witty sayings, on which I will not enlarge, +for that is not my business; only one clever word must be mentioned, for +it was spoken by that admirable painter Giulio, who, looking round with +meaning [4] in his eyes on the bystanders, and fixing them particularly +upon the women, turned to Michel Agnolo and said: “My dear Michel +Agnolo, your nickname of crow very well suits those ladies to-day, +though I vow they are somewhat less fair than crows by the side of one +of the most lovely peacocks which fancy could have painted” + +When the banquet was served and ready, and we were going to sit down to +table, Giulio asked leave to be allowed to place us. This being granted, +he took the women by the hand, and arranged them all upon the inner +side, with my fair in the centre; then he placed all the men on the +outside and me in the middle, saying there was no honour too great for +my deserts.; As a background to the women, there was spread an espalier +of natural jasmines in full beauty, [5] which set off their charms, and +especially Diego’s, to such great advantage, that words would fail to +describe the effect. Then we all of us fell to enjoying the abundance of +our host’s well-furnished table. The supper was followed by a short +concert of delightful music, voices joining in harmony with instruments; +and forasmuch as they were singing and playing from the book, my beauty +begged to be allowed to sing his part. He performed the music better +than almost all the rest, which so astonished the company that Giulio +and Michel Agnolo dropped their earlier tone of banter, exchanging it +for well-weighed terms of sober heartfelt admiration. + +After the music was over, a certain Aurelio Ascolano, [6]remarkable for +his gift as an improvisatory poet, began to extol the women in choice +phrases of exquisite compliment. While he was chanting, the two girls +who had my beauty between them never left off chattering. One of them +related how she had gone wrong; the other asked mine how it had happened +with her, and who were her friends, and how long she had been settled in +Rome, and many other questions of the kind. It is true that, if I chose +to describe such laughable episodes, I could relate several odd things +which then occurred through Pantasilea’s jealousy on my account; but +since they form no part of my design, I pass them briefly over. At last +the conversation of those loose women vexed my beauty, whom we had +christened Pomona for the nonce; and Pomona, wanting to escape from +their silly talk, turned restlessly upon her chair, first to one side +and then to the other. The female brought by Giulio asked whether she +felt indisposed. Pomona answered, yes, she thought she was a month or so +with a child; this gave them the opportunity of feeling her body and +discovering the real sex of the supposed woman. Thereupon they quickly +withdrew their hands and rose from table, uttering such gibing words as +are commonly addressed to young men of eminent beauty. The whole room +rang with laughter and astonishment, in the midst of which Michel +Agnolo, assuming a fierce aspect, called out for leave to inflict on me +the penance he thought fit. When this was granted, he lifted me aloft +amid the clamour of the company, crying: “Long live the gentleman! long +live the gentleman!” and added that this was the punishment I deserved +for having played so fine a trick. Thus ended that most agreeable +supper-party, and each of us returned to his own dwelling at the close +of day. + +Note 1. This sculptor came to Rome with his compatriot Baldassare +Peruzzi, and was employed upon the monument of Pope Adrian VI., which he +executed with some help from Tribolo. + +Note 2. There were two artists at this epoch surnamed Bachiacca, the +twin sons of Ubertino Verdi, called respectively Francesco and Antonio. +Francesco was an excellent painter of miniature oil-pictures; Antonio +the first embroiderer of his age. The one alluded to here is probably +Francesco. + +Note 3. 'Mancare di una sìpazza cosa.' The 'pazza cosa' may be the +supper-party or the 'cornacchia.' + +Note 4. 'Virtuosamente.' Cellini uses the word 'virtuoso' in many +senses, but always more with reference to intellectual than moral +qualities. It denotes genius, artistic ability, masculine force, &c. + +Note 5. 'Un tessuto di gelsumini naturali e bellissimi. Tessuto' is +properly something woven, a fabric; and I am not sure whether Cellini +does not mean that the ladies had behind their backs a tapestry +representing jasmines in a natural manner. + +Note 6. Probably Eurialo d’Ascoli, a friend of Caro, Molza, Aretino. + +XXXI + +IT would take too long to describe in detail all the many and divers +pieces of work which I executed for a great variety of men. At present I +need only say that I devoted myself with sustained diligence and +industry to acquiring mastery in the several branches of art which I +enumerated a short while back. And so I went on labouring incessantly at +all of them; but since no opportunity has presented itself as yet for +describing my most notable performances, I shall wait to report them in +their proper place before very long. The Sienese sculptor, Michel +Agnolo, of whom I have recently been speaking, was at that time making +the monument of the late Pope Adrian. Giulio Romano went to paint for +the Marquis of Mantua. The other members of the club betook themselves +in different directions, each to his own business; so that our company +of artists was well-nigh altogether broken up. + +About this time there fell into my hands some little Turkish poniards; +the handle as well as the blade of these daggers was made of iron, and +so too was the sheath. They were engraved by means of iron implements +with foliage in the most exquisite Turkish style, very neatly filled in +with gold. The sight of them stirred in me a great desire to try my own +skill in that branch, so different from the others which I practiced; +and finding that I succeeded to my satisfaction, I executed several +pieces. Mine were far more beautiful and more durable than the Turkish, +and this for divers reasons. One was that I cut my grooves much deeper +and with wider trenches in the steel; for this is not usual in Turkish +work. Another was that the Turkish arabesques are only composed of arum +leaves a few small sunflowers; [1] and though these have a certain +grace, they do not yield so lasting a pleasure as the patterns which we +use. It is true that in Italy we have several different ways of +designing foliage; the Lombards, for example, construct very beautiful +patterns by copying the leaves of briony and ivy in exquisite curves, +which are extremely agreeable to the eye; the Tuscans and the Romans +make a better choice, because they imitate the leaves of the acanthus, +commonly called bear’s-foot, with its stalks and flowers, curling in +divers wavy lines; and into these arabesques one may excellently well +insert the figures of little birds and different animals, by which the +good taste of the artist is displayed. Some hints for creatures of this +sort can be observed in nature among the wild flowers, as, for instance, +in snap-dragons and some few other plants, which must be combined and +developed with the help of fanciful imaginings by clever draughtsmen. +Such arabesques are called grotesques by the ignorant. They have +obtained this name of grotesques among the moderns through being found +in certain subterranean caverns in Rome by students of antiquity; which +caverns were formerly chambers, hot-baths, cabinets for study, halls, +and apartments of like nature. The curious discovering them in such +places (since the level of the ground has gradually been raised while +they have remained below, and since in Rome these vaulted rooms are +commonly called grottoes), it has followed that the word grotesque is +applied to the patterns I have mentioned. But this is not the right term +for them, inasmuch as the ancients, who delighted in composing monsters +out of goats, cows, and horses, called these chimerical hybrids by the +name of monsters; and the modern artificers of whom I speak, fashioned +from the foliage which they copied monsters of like nature; for these +the proper name is therefore monsters, and not grotesques. Well, then, I +designed patterns of this kind, and filled them in with gold, as I have +mentioned; and they were far more pleasing to the eye than the Turkish. + +It chanced at that time that I lighted upon some jars or little antique +urns filled with ashes, and among the ashes were some iron rings inlaid +with gold (for the ancients also used that art), and in each of the +rings was set a tiny cameo of shell. On applying to men of learning, +they told me that these rings were worn as amulets by folk desirous of +abiding with mind unshaken in any extraordinary circumstance, whether of +good or evil fortune. Hereupon, at the request of certain noblemen who +were my friends, I undertook to fabricate some trifling rings of this +kind; but I made them of refined steel; and after they had been well +engraved and inlaid with gold, they produced a very beautiful effect; +and sometimes a single ring brought me more than forty crowns, merely in +payment for my labour. + +It was the custom at that epoch to wear little golden medals, upon which +every nobleman or man of quality had some device or fancy of his own +engraved; and these were worn in the cap. Of such pieces I made very +many, and found them extremely difficult to work. I have already +mentioned the admirable craftsman Caradosso, who used to make such +ornaments; and as there were more than one figure on each piece, he +asked at least a hundred gold crowns for his fee. This being so-not, +however, because his prices were so high, but because he worked so +slowly-I began to be employed by certain noblemen, for whom, among other +things, I made a medal in competition with that great artist, and it had +four figures, upon which I had expended an infinity of labour. These men +of quality, when they compared my piece with that of the famous +Caradosso, declared that mine was by far the better executed and more +beautiful, and bade me ask what I liked as the reward of my trouble; for +since I had given them such perfect satisfaction, they wished to do the +like by me. I replied that my greatest reward and what I most desired +was to have rivalled the masterpieces of so eminent an artist; and that +if their lordships thought I had, I acknowledged myself to be most amply +rewarded. With this I took my leave, and they immediately sent me such a +very liberal present, that I was well content; indeed there grew in me +so great a spirit to do well, that to this event I attributed what will +afterwards be related of my progress. + +Note 1. 'Gichero,' arum maculatum, and 'clizia,' the sunflower. + +XXXII + +I SHALL be obliged to digress a little from the history of my art, +unless I were to omit some annoying incidents which have happened in the +course of my troubled career. One of these, which I am about to +describe, brought me into the greatest risk of my life. I have already +told the story of the artists’ club, and of the farcical adventures +which happened owing to the woman whom I mentioned, Pantasilea, the one +who felt for me that false and fulsome love. She was furiously enraged +because of the pleasant trick by which I brought Diego to our banquet, +and she swore to be revenged on me. How she did so is mixed up with the +history of a young man called Luigi Pulci, who had recently come to +Rome. He was the son of one of the Pulcis, who had been beheaded for +incest with his daughter; and the youth possessed extraordinary gifts +for poetry together with sound Latin scholarship; he wrote well, was +graceful in manners, and of surprising personal beauty; he had just left +the service of some bishop, whose name I do not remember, and was +thoroughly tainted with a very foul disease. While he was yet a lad and +living in Florence, they used in certain places of the city to meet +together during the nights of summer on the public streets; and he, +ranking among the best of the improvisatori, sang there. His recitations +were so admirable, that the divine Michel Agnolo Buonarroti, that prince +of sculptors and of painters, went, wherever he heard that he would be, +with the greatest eagerness and delight to listen to him. There was a +man called Piloto, a goldsmith, very able in his art, who, together with +myself, joined Buonarroti upon these occasions. [1] Thus acquaintance +sprang up between me and Luigi Pulci; and so, after the lapse of many +years, he came, in the miserable plight which I have mentioned, to make +himself known to me again in Rome, beseeching me for God’s sake to help +him. Moved to compassion by his great talents, by the love of my +fatherland, and by my own natural tenderness of heart, I took him into +my house, and had him medically treated in such wise that, being but a +youth, he soon regained his health. While he was still pursuing his +cure, he never omitted his studies, and I provided him with books +according to the means at my disposal. The result was that Luigi, +recognising the great benefits he had received from me, oftentimes with +words and tears returned me thanks, protesting that if God should ever +put good fortune in his way, he would recompense me for my kindness. To +this I replied that I had not done for him as much as I desired, but +only what I could, and that it was the duty of human beings to be +mutually serviceable. Only I suggested that he should repay the service +I had rendered him by doing likewise to some one who might have the same +need of him as he had had of me. + +The young man in question began to frequent the Court of Rome, where he +soon found a situation, and enrolled himself in the suite of a bishop, a +man of eighty years, who bore the title of Gurgensis. [2] This bishop +had a nephew called Messer Giovanni: he was a nobleman of Venice; and +the said Messer Giovanni made show of marvellous attachment to Luigi +Pulci’s talents; and under the pretence of these talents, he brought him +as familiar to himself as his own flesh blood. Luigi having talked of +me, and of his great obligations to me, with Messer Giovanni, the latter +expressed a wish to make my acquaintance. Thus then it came to pass, +that when I had upon a certain evening invited that woman Pantasilea to +supper, and had assembled a company of men of parts who were my friends, +just at the moment of our sitting down to table, Messer Giovanni and +Luigi Pulci arrived, and after some complimentary speeches, they both +remained to sup with us. The shameless strumpet, casting her eyes upon +the young man’s beauty, began at once to lay her nets for him; +perceiving which, when the supper had come to an agreeable end, I took +Luigi aside, and conjured him, by the benefits he said he owed me, to +have nothing whatever to do with her. To this he answered: “Good +heavens, Benvenuto! do you then take me for a madman?” I rejoined: “Not +for a madman, but for a young fellow;” and I swore to him by God: “I do +not give that woman the least thought; but for your sake I should be +sorry if through her you come to break your neck.” Upon these words he +vowed and prayed to God, that, if ever he but spoke with her, he might +upon the moment break his neck. I think the poor lad swore this oath to +God with all his heart, for he did break his neck, as I shall presently +relate. Messer Giovanni showed signs too evident of loving him in a +dishonourable way; for we began to notice that Luigi had new suits of +silk and velvet every morning, and it was known that he abandoned +himself altogether to bad courses. He neglected his fine talents, and +pretended not to see or recognise me, because I had once rebuked him, +and told him he was giving his soul to foul vices, which would make him +break his neck, as he had vowed. + +Note 1. Piloto, of whom we shall hear more hereafter, was a prominent +figure in the Florentine society of artists, and a celebrated practical +joker. Vasari says that a young man of whom he had spoken ill murdered +him. Lasca’s Novelle, 'Le Cene,' should be studied by those who seek an +insight into this curious Bohemia of the sixteenth century. + +Note 2. Girolamo Balbo, of the noble Venetian family, Bishop of Gurck, +in Carinthia. + +XXXIII + +NOW Messer Giovanni bought his favourite a very fine black horse, for +which he paid 150 crowns. The beast was admirably trained to hand, so +that Luigi could go daily to caracole around the lodgings of that +prostitute Pantasilea. Though I took notice of this, I paid it no +attention, only remarking that all things acted as their nature +prompted; and meanwhile I gave my whole mind to my studies. It came to +pass one Sunday evening that we were invited to sup together with the +Sienese sculptor, Michel Agnolo, and the time of the year was summer. +Bachiacca, of whom I have already spoken, was present at the party; and +he had brought with him his old flame, Pantasilea. When we were at +table, she sat between me and Bachiacca; but in the very middle of the +banquet she rose, and excused herself upon the pretext of a natural +need, saying she would speedily return. We, meanwhile, continued talking +very agreeably and supping; but she remained an unaccountably long time +absent. It chanced that, keeping my ears open, I thought I heard a sort +of subdued tittering in the street below. I had a knife in hand, which I +was using for my service at the table. The window was so close to where +I sat, that, by merely rising, I could see Luigi in the street, together +with Pantasilea; and I heard Luigi saying: “Oh, if that devil Benvenuto +only saw us, shouldn’t we just catch it!” She answered: “Have no fear; +only listen to the noise they’re making; we are the last thing they’re +thinking of.” At these words, having made them both well out, I leaped +from the window, and took Luigi by the cape; and certainly I should then +have killed him with the knife I held, but that he was riding a white +horse, to which he clapped spurs, leaving his cape in my grasp, in order +to preserve his life. Pantasilea took to her heels in the direction of a +neighbouring church. The company at supper rose immediately, and came +down, entreating me in a body to refrain from putting myself and them to +inconvenience for a strumpet. I told them that I should not have let +myself be moved on her account, but that I was bent on punishing the +infamous young man, who showed how little he regarded me. Accordingly I +would not yield to the remonstrances of those ingenious and worthy men, +but took my sword, and went alone toward Prati:-the house where we were +supping, I should say, stood close to the Castello gate, which led to +Prati. [1] Walking thus upon the road to Prati, I had not gone far +before the sun sank, and I re-entered Rome itself at a slow pace. Night +had fallen; darkness had come on; but the gates of Rome were not yet +shut. + +Toward two hours after sunset, I walked along Pantasilea’s lodging, with +the intention, if Luigi Pulci were there, of doing something to the +discontent of both. When I heard and saw that no one but a poor +servant-girl called Canida was in the house, I went to put away my cloak +and the scabbard of my sword, and then returned to the house, which +stood behind the Banchi on the river Tiber. Just opposite stretched a +garden belonging to an innkeeper called Romolo. It was enclosed by a +thick hedge of thorns, in which I hid myself, standing upright, and +waiting till the woman came back with Luigi. After keeping watch awhile +there, my friend Bachiacca crept up to me; whether led by his own +suspicions or by the advice of others, I cannot say. In a low voice he +called out to me: “Gossip” (for so we used to name ourselves for fun); +and then he prayed me for God’s love, using the words which follow, with +tears in the tone of his voice: “Dear gossip, I entreat you not to +injure that poor girl; she at least has erred in no wise in this +matter-no, not at all.” When I heard what he was saying, I replied: “If +you don’t take yourself off now, at this first word I utter, I will +bring my sword here down upon your head.” Overwhelmed with fright, my +poor gossip was suddenly taken ill with the colic, and withdrew to ease +himself apart; indeed, he could not buy obey the call. There was a +glorious heaven of stars, which shed good light to see by. All of a +sudden I was aware of the noise of many horses; they were coming toward +me from the one side and the other. It turned out to be Luigi and +Pantasilea, attended by a certain Messer Benvegnato of Perugia, who was +chamberlain to Pope Clement, and followed by four doughty captains of +Perugia, with some other valiant soldiers in the flower of youth; +altogether reckoned, there were more than twelve swords. When I +understood the matter, and saw not how to fly, I did my best to crouch +into the hedge. But the thorns pricked and hurt me, goading me to +madness like a bull; and I had half resolved to take a leap and hazard +my escape. Just then Luigi, with his arm round Pantasilea’s neck, was +heard crying: “I must kiss you once again, if only to insult that +traitor Benvenuto.” At that moment, annoyed as I was by the prickles, +and irritated by the young man’s words, I sprang forth, lifted my sword +on high, and shouted at the top of my voice: “You are all dead folk!” My +blow descended on the shoulder of Luigi; but the satyrs who doted on +him, had steeled his person round with coasts of mail and such-like +villainous defences; still the stroke fell with crushing force. Swerving +aside, the sword hit Pantasilea full in nose and mouth. Both she and +Luigi grovelled on the ground, while Bachiacca, with his breeches down +to heels, screamed out and ran away. Then I turned upon the others +boldly with my sword; and those valiant fellows, hearing a sudden +commotion in the tavern, thought there was an army coming of a hundred +men; and though they drew their swords with spirit, yet two horses which +had taken fright in the tumult cast them into such disorder that a +couple of the best riders were thrown, and the remainder took to flight. +I, seeing that the affair was turning out well, for me, ran as quickly +as I could, and came off with honour from the engagement, not wishing to +tempt fortune more than was my duty. During this hurly-burly, some of +the soldiers and captains wounded themselves with their own arms; and +Messer Benvegnato, the Pope’s chamberlain, was kicked and trampled by +his mule. One of the servants also, who had drawn his sword, fell down +together with his master, and wounded him badly in the hand. Maddened by +the pain, he swore louder than all the rest in his Perugian jargon, +crying out: “By the body of God, I will take care that Benvegnato +teaches Benvenuto how to live.” He afterwards commissioned one of the +captains who were with him (braver perhaps than the others, but with +less aplomb, as being but a youth) to seek me out. The fellow came to +visit me in the place of by retirement; that was the palace of a great +Neapolitan nobleman, who had become acquainted with me in my art, and +had besides taken a fancy to me because of my physical and mental +aptitude for fighting, to which my lord himself was personally well +inclined. So, then, finding myself made much of, and being precisely in +my element, I gave such answer to the captain as I think must have made +him earnestly repent of having come to look me up. After a few days, +when the wounds of Luigi, and the strumpet, and the rest were healing, +this great Neapolitan nobleman received overtures from Messer +Benvegnato; for the prelate’s anger had cooled, and he proposed to +ratify a peace between me and Luigi and the soldiers, who had personally +no quarrel with me, and only wished to make my acquaintance. Accordingly +my friend the nobleman replied that he would bring me where they chose +to appoint, and that he was very willing to effect a reconciliation. He +stipulated that no words should be bandied about on either side, seeing +that would be little to their credit; it was enough to go through the +form of drinking together and exchanging kisses; he for his part +undertook to do the talking, and promised to settle the matter to their +honour. This arrangement was carried out. On Thursday evening my +protector took me to the house of Messer Benvegnato, where all the +soldiers who had been present at that discomfiture were assembled, and +already seated at table. My nobleman was attended by thirty brave +fellows, all well armed; a circumstance which Messer Benvegnato had not +anticipated. When we came into the hall, he walking first, I following, +he speak to this effect: “God save you, gentlemen; we have come to see +you, I and Benvenuto, whom I love like my own brother; and we are ready +to do whatever you propose.” Messer Benvegnato, seeing the hall filled +with such a crowd of men, called out: “It is only peace, and nothing +else, we ask of you.” Accordingly he promised that the governor of Rome +and his catchpoles should give me no trouble. Then we made peace, and I +returned to my shop, where I could not stay an hour without that +Neapolitan nobleman either coming to see me or sending for me. + +Meanwhile Luigi Pulci, having recovered from his wound, rode every day +upon the black horse which was so well trained to heel and bridle. One +day, among others, after it had rained a little, and he was making his +horse curvet just before Pantasilea’s door, he slipped and fell, with +the horse upon him. His right leg was broken short off in the thigh; and +after a few days he died there in Pantisilea’s lodgings, discharging +thus the vow he registered so heartily to Heaven. Even so may it be seen +that God keeps account of the good and the bad, and gives to each one +what he merits. + +Note 1. The Porta Castello was the gate called after the Castle of S. +Angelo. Prati, so far as I can make out, was an open space between the +Borgo and the Bridge of S. Angelo. In order to get inside Rome itself, +Cellini had to pass a second gate. His own lodging and Pantasilea’s +house were in the quarter of the Bianchi, where are now the Via Giulia +and Via de’ Banchi Vecchi. + +XXXIV + +THE WHOLE world was now in warfare. [1] Pope Clement had sent to get +some troops from Giovanni de’ Medici, and when they came, they made such +disturbances in Rome, that it was ill living in open shops. [2] On this +account I retired to a good snug house behind the Banchi, where I worked +for all the friends I had acquired. Since I produced few things of much +importance at that period, I need not waste time in talking about them. +I took much pleasure in music and amusements of the kind. On the death +of Giovanni de’ Medici in Lombardy, the Pope, at the advice of Messer +Jacopo Salviati, dismissed the five bands he had engaged; and when the +Constable of Bourbon knew there were no troops in Rome, he pushed his +army with the utmost energy up to the city. The whole of Rome upon this +flew to arms. I happened to be intimate with Alessandro, the son of +Piero del Bene, who, at the time when the Colonnesi entered Rome, had +requested me to guard his palace. [3] On this more serious occasion, +therefore, he prayed me to enlist fifty comrades for the protection of +the said house, appointing me their captain, as I had been when the +Colonnesi came. So I collected fifty young men of the highest courage, +and we took up our quarters in his palace, with good pay and excellent +appointments. + +Bourbon’s army had now arrived before the walls of Rome, and Alessandro +begged me to go with him to reconnoitre. So we went with one of the +stoutest fellows in our Company; and on the way a youth called Cecchino +della Casa joined himself to us. On reaching the walls by the Campo +Santo, we could see that famous army, which was making every effort to +enter the town. Upon the ramparts where we took our station several +young men were lying killed by the besiegers; the battle raged there +desperately, and there was the densest fog imaginable. I turned to +Alessandro and said: “Let us go home as soon as we can, for there is +nothing to be done here; you see the enemies are mounting, and our men +are in flight.” Alessandro, in a panic, cried: “Would God that we had +never come here!” and turned in maddest haste to fly. I took him up +somewhat sharply with these words: “Since you have brought me here, I +must perform some action worthy of a man;” and directing my arquebuse +where I saw the thickest and most serried troop of fighting men, I aimed +exactly at one whom I remarked to be higher than the rest; the fog +prevented me from being certain whether he was on horseback or on foot. +Then I turned to Alessandro and Cecchino, and bade them discharge their +arquebuses, showing them how to avoid being hit by the besiegers. When +we had fired two rounds apiece, I crept cautiously up to the wall, and +observing among the enemy a most extraordinary confusion, I discovered +afterwards that one of our shots had killed the Constable of Bourbon; +and from what I subsequently learned, he was the man whom I had first +noticed above the heads of the rest. [4] + +Quitting our position on the ramparts, we crossed the Campo Santo, and +entered the city by St. Peter’s; then coming out exactly at the church +of Santo Agnolo, we got with the greatest difficulty to the great gate +of the castle; for the generals Renzo di Ceri and Orazio Baglioni were +wounding and slaughtering everybody who abandoned the defence of the +walls. [5] By the time we had reached the great gate, part of the foemen +had already entered Rome, and we had them in our rear. The castellan had +ordered the portcullis to be lowered, in order to do which they cleared +a little space, and this enabled us four to get inside. On the instant +that I entered, the captain Pallone de’ Medici claimed me as being of +the Papal household, and forced me to abandon Alessandro, which I had to +do, much against my will. I ascended to the keep, and at the same +instant Pope Clement came in through the corridors into the castle; he +had refused to leave the palace of St. Peter earlier, being unable to +believe that his enemies would effect their entrance into Rome. [6] +Having got into the castle in this way, I attached myself to certain +pieces of artillery, which were under the command of a bombardier called +Giuliano Fiorentino. Leaning there against the battlements, the unhappy +man could see his poor house being sacked, and his wife and children +outraged; fearing to strike his own folk, he dared not discharge the +cannon, and flinging the burning fuse upon the ground, he wept as though +his heart would break, and tore his cheeks with both his hands. [7] Some +of the other bombardiers were behaving in like manner; seeing which, I +took one of the matches, and got the assistance of a few men who were +not overcome by their emotions. I aimed some swivels and falconets at +points where I saw it would be useful, and killed with them a good +number of the enemy. Had it not been for this, the troops who poured +into Rome that morning, and were marching straight upon the castle, +might possibly have entered it with ease, because the artillery was +doing them no damage. I went on firing under the eyes of several +cardinals and lords, who kept blessing me and giving me the heartiest +encouragement. In my enthusiasm I strove to achieve the impossible; let +it suffice that it was I who saved the castle that morning, and brought +the other bombardiers back to their duty. [8] I worked hard the whole of +that day; and when the evening came, while the army was marching into +Rome through the Trastevere, Pope Clement appointed a great Roman +nobleman named Antonio Santacroce to be captain of all the gunners. The +first thing this man did was to come to me, and having greeted me with +the utmost kindness, he stationed me with five fine pieces of artillery +on the highest point of the castle, to which the name of the Angel +specially belongs. This circular eminence goes round the castle, and +surveys both Prati and the town of Rome. The captain put under my orders +enough men to help in managing my guns, and having seen me paid in +advance, he gave me rations of bread and a little wine, and begged me to +go forward as I had begun. I was perhaps more inclined by nature to the +profession of arms than to the one I had adopted, and I took such +pleasure in its duties that I discharged them better than those of my +own art. Night came, the enemy had entered Rome, and we who were in the +castle (especially myself, who have always taken pleasure in +extraordinary sights) stayed gazing on the indescribable scene of tumult +and conflagration in the streets below. People who were anywhere else +but where we were, could not have formed the least imagination of what +it was. I will not, however, set myself to describe that tragedy, but +will content myself with continuing the history of my own life and the +circumstances which properly belong to it. + +Note 1. War had broken out in 1521 between Charles V and Francis I, +which disturbed all Europe and involved the States of Italy in serious +complications. At the moment when this chapter opens, the Imperialist +army under the Constable of Bourbon was marching upon Rome in 1527. + +Note 2. These troops entered Rome in October 1526. They were disbanded +in March, 1527. + +Note 3. Cellini here refers to the attack made upon Rome by the great +Ghibelline house of Colonna, led by their chief captain, Pompeo, in +September 1526. They took possession of the city and drove Clement into +the Castle of S. Angelo, where they forced him to agree to terms +favouring the Imperial cause. It was customary for Roman gentlemen to +hire bravi for the defence of their palaces when any extraordinary +disturbance was expected, as, for example, upon the vacation of the +Papal Chair. + +Note 4. All historians of the sack of Rome agree in saying that Bourbon +was shot dead while placing ladders against the outworks near the shop +Cellini mentions. But the honour of firing the arquebuse which brought +him down cannot be assigned to any one in particular. Very different +stories were current on the subject. See Gregorovius, 'Stadt Rom.,' vol. +viii. p. 522. + +Note 5. For Renzo di Ceri see above. Orazio Baglioni, of the +semi-princely Perugian family, was a distinguished Condottiere. He +subsequently obtained the captaincy of the Bande Nere, and died fighting +near Naples in 1528. Orazio murdered several of his cousins in order to +acquire the lordship of Perugia. His brother Malatesta undertook to +defend Florence in the siege of 1530, and sold the city by treason to +Clement. + +Note 6. Giovio, in his Life of the Cardinal Prospero Colonna, relates +how he accompanied Clement in his flight from the Vatican to the castle. +While passing some open portions of the gallery, he threw his violent +mantle and cap of a Monsignore over the white stole of the Pontiff, for +fear he might be shot at by the soldiers in the streets below. + +Note 7. The short autobiography of Raffaello da Montelupo, a man in many +respects resembling Cellini, confirms this part of our author’s +narrative. It is one of the most interesting pieces of evidence +regarding what went on inside the castle during the sack of Rome. +Montelupo was also a gunner, and commanded two pieces. + +Note 8. This is an instance of Cellini’s exaggeration. He did more than +yeoman’s service, no doubt. But we cannot believe that, without him, the +castle would have been taken. + +XXXV + +DURING the course of my artillery practice, which I never intermitted +through the whole month passed by us beleaguered in the castle, I met +with a great many very striking accidents, all of them worthy to be +related. But since I do not care to be too prolix, or to exhibit myself +outside the sphere of my profession, I will omit the larger part of +them, only touching upon those I cannot well neglect, which shall be the +fewest in number and the most remarkable. The first which comes to hand +is this: Messer Antonio Santacroce had made me come down from the Angel, +in order to fire on some houses in the neighbourhood, where certain of +our besiegers had been seen to enter. While I was firing, a cannon shot +reached me, which hit the angle of a battlement, and carried off enough +of it to be the cause why I sustained no injury. The whole mass struck +me in the chest and took my breath away. I lay stretched upon the ground +like a dead man, and could hear what the bystanders were saying. Among +them all, Messer Antonio Santacroce lamented greatly, exclaiming: “Alas, +alas! we have lost the best defender that we had.” Attracted by the +uproar, one of my comrades ran up; he was called Gianfrancesco, and was +a bandsman, but was far more naturally given to medicine than to music. +On the spot he flew off, crying for a stoop of the very best Greek wine. +Then he made a tile red-hot, and cast upon it a good handful of +wormwood; after which he sprinkled the Greek wine; and when the wormwood +was well soaked, he laid it on my breast, just where the bruise was +visible to all. Such was the virtue of the wormwood that I immediately +regained my scattered faculties. I wanted to begin to speak; but could +not; for some stupid soldiers had filled my mouth with earth, imagining +that by so doing they were giving me the sacrament; and indeed they were +more like to have excommunicated me, since I could with difficulty come +to myself again, the earth doing me more mischief than the blow. +However, I escaped that danger, and returned to the rage and fury of the +guns, pursuing my work there with all the ability and eagerness that I +could summon. + +Pope Clement, by this, had sent to demand assistance from the Duke of +Urbino, who was with the troops of Venice; he commissioned the envoy to +tell his Excellency that the Castle of S. Angelo would send up every +evening three beacons from its summit accompanied by three discharges of +the cannon thrice repeated, and that so long as this signal was +continued, he might take for granted that the castle had not yielded. I +was charged with lighting the beacons and firing the guns for this +purpose; and all this while I pointed my artillery by day upon the +places where mischief could be done. The Pope, in consequence, began to +regard me with still greater favour, because he saw that I discharged my +functions as intelligently as the task demanded. Aid from the Duke of +Urbino [1] never came; on which, as it is not my business, I will make +no further comment. + +Note 1. Francesco Maria della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, commanded a +considerable army as general of the Church, and was now acting for +Venice. Why he effected no diversion while the Imperial troops were +marching upon Rome, and why he delayed to relieve the city, was never +properly explained. Folk attributed his impotent conduct partly to a +natural sluggishness in warfare, and partly to his hatred for the house +of Medici. Leo X had deprived him of his dukedom, and given it to a +Medicean prince. It is to this that Cellini probably refers in the +cautious phrase which ends the chapter. + +XXXVI + +WHILE I was at work upon that diabolical task of mine, there came from +time to time to watch me some of the cardinals who were invested in the +castle; and most frequently the Cardinal of Ravenna and the Cardinal de’ +Gaddi. [1] I often told them not to show themselves, since their nasty +red caps gave a fair mark to our enemies. From neighbouring buildings, +such as the Torre de’ Bini, we ran great peril when they were there; and +at last I had them locked off, and gained thereby their deep ill-will. I +frequently received visits also from the general, Orazio Baglioni, who +was very well affected toward me. One day while he was talking with me, +he noticed something going forward in a drinking-place outside the Porta +di Castello, which bore the name of Baccanello. This tavern had for sign +a sun painted between two windows, of a bright red colour. The windows +being closed, Signor Orazio concluded that a band of soldiers were +carousing at table just between them and behind the sun. So he said to +me “Benvenuto, if you think that you could hit that wall an ell’s +breadth from the sun with your demi-cannon here, I believe you would be +doing a good stroke of business, for there is a great commotion there, +and men of much importance must probably be inside the house.” I +answered that I felt quite capable of hitting the sun in its centre, but +that a barrel full of stones, which was standing close to the muzzle of +the gun, might be knocked down by the shock of the discharge and the +blast of the artillery. He rejoined: “Don’t waste time, Benvenuto. In +the first place, it is not possible, where it is standing, that the +cannon’s blast should bring it down; and even if it were to fall, and +the Pope himself was underneath, the mischief would not be so great as +you imagine. Fire, then, only fire!” Taking no more thought about it, I +struck the sun in the centre, exactly as I said I should. The cask was +dislodged, as I predicted, and fell precisely between Cardinal Farnese +and Messer Jacopo Salviati. [2] It might very well have dashed out the +brains of both of them, except that just at that very moment Farnese was +reproaching Salviati with having caused the sack of Rome, and while they +stood apart from one another to exchange opprobrious remarks, my gabion +fell without destroying them. When he heard the uproar in the court +below, good Signor Orazio dashed off in a hurry; and I, thrusting my +neck forward where the cask had fallen, heard some people saying; “It +would not be a bad job to kill that gunner!” Upon this I turned two +falconets toward the staircase, with mind resolved to let blaze on the +first man who attempted to come up. The household of Cardinal Farnese +must have received orders to go and do me some injury; accordingly I +prepared to receive them, with a lighted match in hand. Recognising some +who were approaching, I called out: “You lazy lubbers, if you don’t pack +off from there, and if but a man’s child among you dares to touch the +staircase, I have got two cannon loaded, which will blow you into +powder. Go and tell the Cardinal that I was acting at the order of +superior officers, and that what we have done and are doing is in +defence of them priests, [3] and not to hurt them.” They made away; and +then came Signor Orazio Baglioni, running. I bade him stand back, else +I’d murder him; for I knew very well who he was. He drew back a little, +not without a certain show of fear, and called out: “Benvenuto, I am +your friend!” To this I answered: “Sir, come up, but come alone, and +then come as you like.” The general, who was a man of mighty pride, +stood still a moment, and then said angrily: “I have a good mind not to +come up again, and to do quite the opposite of that which I intended +toward you.” I replied that just as I was put there to defend my +neighbours, I was equally well able to defend myself too. He said that +he was coming alone; and when he arrived at the top of the stairs, his +features were more discomposed that I thought reasonable. So I kept my +hand upon my sword, and stood eyeing him askance. Upon this he began to +laugh, and the colour coming back into his face, he said to me with the +most pleasant manner: “Friend Benvenuto, I bear you as great love as I +have it in my heart to give; and in God’s good time I will render you +proof of this. Would to God that you had killed those two rascals; for +one of them is the cause of all this trouble, and the day perchance will +come when the other will be found the cause of something even worse.” He +then begged me, if I should be asked, not to say that he was with me +when I fired the gun; and for the rest bade me be of good cheer. The +commotion which the affair made was enormous, and lasted a long while. +However, I will not enlarge upon it further, only adding that I was +within an inch of revenging my father on Messer Jacopo Salviati, who had +grievously injured him, according to my father’s complaints. As it was, +unwittingly I gave the fellow a great fright. Of Farnese I shall say +nothing here, because it will appear in its proper place how well it +would have been if I had killed him. + +Note 1. Benedetto Accolti of Arezzo, Archbishop of Ravenna in 1524, +obtained the hat in 1527, three days before the sack of Rome. He was a +distinguished man of letters. Niccolò Gaddi was created Cardinal on the +same day as Accolti. We shall hear more of him in Cellini’s pages. + +Note 2. Alessandro Farnese, Dean of the Sacred College, and afterwards +Pope Paul III. Of Giacopo Salviati we have already heard, p. 14. + +Note 3. 'Loro preti.' Perhaps 'their priests.' + +XXXVII + +I PURSUED my business of artilleryman, and every day performed some +extraordinary feat, whereby the credit and the favour I acquired with +the Pope was something indescribable. There never passed a day but what +I killed one or another of our enemies in the besieging army. On one +occasion the Pope was walking round the circular keep, [1] when he +observed a Spanish Colonel in the Prati; he recognised the man by +certain indications, seeing that this officer had formerly been in his +service; and while he fixed his eyes on him, he kept talking about him. +I, above by the Angel, knew nothing of all this, but spied a fellow down +there, busying himself about the trenches with a javelin in his hand; he +was dressed entirely in rose-colour; and so, studying the worst that I +could do against him, I selected a gerfalcon which I had at hand; it is +a piece of ordnance larger and longer than a swivel, and about the size +of a demiculverin. This I emptied, and loaded it again with a good +charge of fine powder mixed with the coarser sort; then I aimed it +exactly at the man in red, elevating prodigiously, because a piece of +that calibre could hardly be expected to carry true at such a distance. +I fired, and hit my man exactly in the middle. He had trussed his sword +in front, [2] for swagger, after a way those Spaniards have; and my +ball, when it struck him, broke upon the blade, and one could see the +fellow cut in two fair halves. The Pope, who was expecting nothing of +this kind, derived great pleasure and amazement from the sight, both +because it seemed to him impossible that one should aim and hit the mark +at such a distance, and also because the man was cut in two, and he +could not comprehend how this should happen. He sent for me, and asked +about it. I explained all the devices I had used in firing; but told him +that why the man was cut in halves, neither he nor I could know. Upon my +bended knees I then besought him to give me the pardon of his blessing +for that homicide; and for all the others I had committed in the castle +in the service of the Church. Thereat the Pope, raising his hand, and +making a large open sign of the cross upon my face, told me that he +blessed me, and that he gave me pardon for all murders I had ever +perpetrated, or should ever perpetrate, in the service of the Apostolic +Church. When I felt him, I went aloft, and never stayed from firing to +the utmost of my power; and few were the shots of mine that missed their +mark. My drawing, and my fine studies in my craft, and my charming art +of music, all were swallowed up in the din of that artillery; and if I +were to relate in detail all the splendid things I did in that infernal +work of cruelty, I should make the world stand by and wonder. But, not +to be too prolix, I will pass them over. Only I must tell a few of the +most remarkable, which are, as it were, forced in upon me. + +To begin then: pondering day and night what I could render for my own +part in defence of Holy Church, and having noticed that the enemy +changed guard and marched past through the great gate of Santo Spirito, +which was within a reasonable range, I thereupon directed my attention +to that spot; but, having to shoot sideways, I could not do the damage +that I wished, although I killed a fair percentage every day. This +induced our adversaries, when they saw their passage covered by my guns, +to load the roof of a certain house one night with thirty gabions, which +obstructed the view I formerly enjoyed. Taking better thought than I had +done of the whole situation, I now turned all my five pieces of +artillery directly on the gabions, and waited till the evening hour, +when they changed guard. Our enemies, thinking they were safe, came on +at greater ease and in a closer body than usual; whereupon I set fire to +my blow-pipes, [3] Not merely did I dash to pieces the gabions which +stood in my way; but, what was better, by that one blast I slaughtered +more than thirty men. In consequence of this manœuvre, which I +repeated twice, the soldiers were thrown into such disorder, that being, +moreover, encumbered with the spoils of that great sack, and some of +them desirous of enjoying the fruits of their labour, they oftentimes +showed a mind to mutiny and take themselves away from Rome. However, +after coming to terms with their valiant captain, Gian di Urbino, [4] +they were ultimately compelled, at their excessive inconvenience, to +take another road when they changed guard. It cost them three miles of +march, whereas before they had but half a mile. Having achieved this +feat, I was entreated with prodigious favours by all the men of quality +who were invested in the castle. This incident was so important that I +thought it well to relate it, before finishing the history of things +outside my art, the which is the real object of my writing: forsooth, if +I wanted to ornament my biography with such matters, I should have far +too much to tell. There is only one more circumstance which, now that +the occasion offers, I propose to record. + +Note 1. The Mastio or main body of Hadrian’s Mausoleum, which was +converted into a fortress during the Middle Ages. + +Note 2. 'S’aveva messo la spada dinanzi.' Perhaps 'was bearing his sword +in front of him.' + +Note 3. 'Soffioni,' the cannon being like tubes to blow a fire up. + +Note 4. This captain was a Spaniard, who played a very considerable +figure in the war, distinguishing himself at the capture of Genoa and +the battle of Lodi in 1522, and afterwards acting as Lieutenant-General +to the Prince of Orange. He held Naples against Orazio Baglioni in 1528, +and died before Spello in 1529. + +XXXVIII + +I SHALL skip over some intervening circumstances, and tell how Pope +Clement, wishing to save the tiaras and the whole collection of the +great jewels of the Apostolic Camera, had me called, and shut himself up +together with me and the Cavalierino in a room alone. [1] This +cavalierino had been a groom in the stable of Filippo Strozzi; he was +French, and a person of the lowest birth; but being a most faithful +servant, the Pope had made him very rich, and confided in him like +himself. So the Pope, the Cavaliere, and I, being shut up together, they +laid before me the tiaras and jewels of the regalia; and his Holiness +ordered me to take all the gems out of their gold settings. This I +accordingly did; afterwards I wrapt them separately up in bits of paper +and we sewed them into the linings of the Pope’s and the Cavaliere’s +clothes. Then they gave me all the gold, which weighed about two hundred +pounds, and bade me melt it down as secretly as I was able. I went up to +the Angel, where I had my lodging, and could lock the door so as to be +free from interruption. There I built a little draught-furnace of +bricks, with a largish pot, shaped like an open dish, at the bottom of +it; and throwing the gold upon the coals, it gradually sank through and +dropped into the pan. While the furnace was working I never left off +watching how to annoy our enemies; and as their trenches were less than +a stone’s-throw right below us, I was able to inflict considerable +damage on them with some useless missiles, [2] of which there were +several piles, forming the old munition of the castle. I chose a swivel +and a falconet, which were both a little damaged in the muzzle, and +filled them with the projectiles I have mentioned. When I fired my guns, +they hurtled down like mad, occasioning all sorts of unexpected mischief +in the trenches. Accordingly I kept these pieces always going at the +same time that the gold was being melted down; and a little before +vespers I noticed some one coming along the margin of the trench on +muleback. The mule was trotting very quickly, and the man was talking to +the soldiers in the trenches. I took the precaution of discharging my +artillery just before he came immediately opposite; and so, making a +good calculation, I hit my mark. One of the fragments struck him in the +face; the rest were scattered on the mule, which fell dead. A tremendous +uproar rose up from the trench; I opened fire with my other piece, doing +them great hurt. The man turned out to be the Prince of Orange, who was +carried through the trenches to a certain tavern in the neighbourhood, +whither in a short while all the chief folk of the army came together. + +When Pope Clement heard what I had done, he sent at once to call for me, +and inquired into the circumstance. I related the whole, and added that +the man must have been of the greatest consequence, because the inn to +which they carried him had been immediately filled by all the chiefs of +the army, so far at least as I could judge. The Pope, with a shrewd +instinct, sent for Messer Antonio Santacroce, the nobleman who, as I +have said, was chief and commander of the gunners. He bade him order all +us bombardiers to point our pieces, which were very numerous, in one +mass upon the house, and to discharge them all together upon the signal +of an arquebuse being fired. He judged that if we killed the generals, +the army, which was already almost on the point of breaking up, would +take flight. God perhaps had heard the prayers they kept continually +making, and meant to rid them in this manner of those impious scoundrels. + +We put our cannon in order at the command of Santacroce, and waited for +the signal. But when Cardinal Orsini [3] became aware of what was going +forward, he began to expostulate with the Pope, protesting that the +thing by no means ought to happen, seeing they were on the point of +concluding an accommodation, and that if the generals were killed, the +rabble of the troops without a leader would storm the castle and +complete their utter ruin. Consequently they could by no means allow the +Pope’s plan to be carried out. The poor Pope, in despair, seeing himself +assassinated both inside the castle and without, said that he left them +to arrange it. On this, our orders were countermanded; but I, who chafed +against the leash, [4] when I knew that they were coming round to bid me +stop from firing, let blaze one of my demi-cannons, and struck a pillar +in the courtyard of the house, around which I saw a crowd of people +clustering. This shot did such damage to the enemy that it was like to +have made them evacuate the house. Cardinal Orsini was absolutely for +having me hanged or put to death; but the Pope took up my cause with +spirit. The high words that passed between them, though I well know what +they were, I will not here relate, because I make no profession of +writing history. It is enough for me to occupy myself with my own +affairs. + +Note 1. This personage cannot be identified. The Filippo Strozzi +mentioned as having been his master was the great opponent of the +Medicean despotism, who killed himself in prison after the defeat of +Montemurlo in 1539. He married in early life a daughter of Piero de’ +Medici. + +Note 2. 'Passatojacci.' + +Note 3. Franciotto Orsini was educated in the household of his kinsman +Lorenzo de’ Medici. He followed the profession of arms, and married; but +after losing his wife took orders, and received the hat in 1517. + +Note 4. 'Io che non potevo stare alle mosse.' + +XXXIX + +AFTER I had melted down the gold, I took it to the Pope, who thanked me +cordially for what I had done, and ordered the Cavalierino to give me +twenty-five crowns, apologising to me for his inability to give me more. +A few days afterwards the articles of peace were signed. I went with +three hundred comrades in the train of Signor Orazio Baglioni toward +Perugia; and there he wished to make me captain of the company, but I +was unwilling at the moment, saying that I wanted first to go and see my +father, and to redeem the ban which was still in force against me at +Florence. Signor Orazio told me that he had been appointed general of +the Florentines; and Sir Pier Maria del Lotto, the envoy from Florence, +was with him, to whom he specially recommended me as his man. 1 + +In course of time I came to Florence in the company of several comrades. +The plague was raging with indescribable fury. When I reached home, I +found my good father, who thought either that I must have been killed in +the sack of Rome, or else that I should come back to him a beggar. +However, I entirely defeated both these expectations; for I was alive, +with plenty of money, a fellow to wait on me, and a good horse. My joy +on greeting the old man was so intense, that, while he embraced and +kissed me, I thought that I must die upon the spot. After I had narrated +all the devilries of that dreadful sack, and had given him a good +quantity of crowns which I had gained by my soldiering, and when we had +exchanged our tokens of affection, he went off to the Eight to redeem my +ban. It so happened that one of those magistrates who sentenced me, was +now again a member of the board. It was the very man who had so +inconsiderately told my father he meant to march me out into the country +with the lances. My father took this opportunity of addressing him with +some meaning words, in order to mark his revenge, relying on the favour +which Orazio Baglioni showed me. + +Matters standing thus, I told my father how Signor Orazio had appointed +me captain, and that I ought to begin to think of enlisting my company. +At these words the poor old man was greatly disturbed, and begged me for +God’s sake not to turn my thoughts to such an enterprise, although he +knew I should be fit for this or yet a greater business, adding that his +other son, my brother, was already a most valiant soldier, and that I +ought to pursue the noble art in which I had laboured so many years and +with such diligence of study. Although I promised to obey him, he +reflected, like a man of sense, that if Signor Orazio came to Florence, +I could not withdraw myself from military service, partly because I had +passed my word, as well as for other reasons; He therefore thought of a +good expedient for sending me away, and spoke to me as follows: “Oh, my +dear son, the plague in this town is raging with immitigable violence, +and I am always fancying you will come home infected with it. I +remember, when I was a young man, that I went to Mantua, where I was +very kindly received, and stayed there several years. I pray and command +you, for the love of me, to pack off and go thither; and I would have +you do this to-day rather than to-morrow.” + +Note 1. Pier Maria di Lotto of S. Miniato was notary to the Florentine +Signoria. He collected the remnants of the Bandle Nere, and gave them +over to Orazio Baglioni, who contrived to escape from S. Angelo in +safety to Perugia. + +XL + +I HAD always taken pleasure in seeing the world; and having never been +in Mantua, I went there very willingly. Of the money I had brought to +Florence, I left the greater part with my good father, promising to help +him wherever I might be, and confiding him to the care of my elder +sister. Her name was Cosa; and since she never cared to marry, she was +admitted as a nun in Santa Orsola; but she put off taking the veil, in +order to keep house for our old father, and to look after my younger +sister, who was married to one Bartolommeo, a surgeon. So then, leaving +home with my father’s blessing, I mounted my good horse, and rode off on +it to Mantua. + +It would take too long to describe that little journey in detail. The +whole world being darkened over with plague and war, I had the greatest +difficulty in reaching Mantua. However, in the end, I got there, and +looked about for work to do, which I obtained from a Maestro Niccolò of +Milan, goldsmith to the Duke of Mantua. Having thus settled down to +work, I went after two days to visit Messer Giulio Romano, that most +excellent painter, of whom I have already spoken, and my very good +friend. He received me with the tenderest caresses, and took it very ill +that I had not dismounted at his house. He was living like a lord, and +executing a great work for the Duke outside the city gates, in a place +called Del Te. It was a vast and prodigious undertaking, as may still, I +suppose, be seen by those who go there. [1] + +Messer Giulio lost no time in speaking of me to the Duke in terms of the +warmest praise. [2] That Prince commissioned me to make a model for a +reliquary, to hold the blood of Christ, which they have there, and say +was brought them by Longinus. Then he turned to Giulio, bidding him +supply me with a design for it. To this Giulio replied: “My lord, +Benvenuto is a man who does not need other people’s sketches, as your +Excellency will be very well able to judge when you shall see his +model.” I set hand to the work, and made a drawing for the reliquary, +well adapted to contain the sacred phial. Then I made a little waxen +model of the cover. This was a seated Christ, supporting his great cross +aloft with the left hand, while he seemed to lean against it, and with +the fingers of his right hand he appeared to be opening the wound in his +side. When it was finished, it pleased the Duke so much that he heaped +favours on me, and gave me to understand that he would keep me in his +service with such appointments as should enable me to live in affluence. + +Meanwhile, I had paid my duty to the Cardinal his brother, who begged +the Duke to allow me to make the pontifical seal of his most reverend +lordship. [3] This I began; but while I was working at it I caught a +quartan fever. During each access of this fever I was thrown into +delirium, when I cursed Mantua and its master and whoever stayed there +at his own liking. These words were reported to the Duke by the Milanese +goldsmith, who had not omitted to notice that the Duke wanted to employ +me. When the Prince heard the ravings of my sickness, he flew into a +passion against me; and I being out of temper with Mantua, our bad +feeling was reciprocal. The seal was finished after four months, +together with several other little pieces I made for the Duke under the +name of the Cardinal. His Reverence paid me well, and bade me return to +Rome, to that marvellous city where we had made acquaintance. + +I quitted Mantua with a good sum of crowns, and reached Governo, where +the most valiant general Giovanni had been killed. [4] Here I had a +slight relapse of fever, which did not interrupt my journey, and coming +now to an end, it never returned on me again. When I arrived at +Florence, I hoped to find my dear father, and knocking at the door, a +hump-backed woman in a fury showed her face at the window; she drove me +off with a torrent of abuse, screaming that the sight of me was a +consumption to her. To this misshapen hag I shouted: “Ho! tell me, +cross-grained hunchback, is there no other face to see here but your +ugly visage?” “No, and bad luck to you.” Whereto I answered in a loud +voice: “In less than two hours may it [5] never vex us more!” Attracted +by this dispute, a neighbour put her head out, from whom I learned that +my father and all the people in the house had died of the plague. As I +had partly guessed it might be so, my grief was not so great as it would +otherwise have been. The woman afterwards told me that only my sister +Liperata had escaped, and that she had taken refuge with a pious lady +named Mona Andrea de’ Bellacci. 6 + +I took my way from thence to the inn, and met by accident a very dear +friend of mine, Giovanni Rigogli. Dismounting at his house, we proceeded +to the piazza, where I received intelligence that my brother was alive, +and went to find him at the house of a friend of his called Bertino +Aldobrandini. On meeting, we made demonstrations of the most passionate +affection; for he had heard that I was dead, and I had heard that he was +dead; and so our joy at embracing one another was extravagant. Then he +broke out into a loud fit of laughter, and said: “Come, brother, I will +take you where I’m sure you’d never guess! You must know that I have +given our sister Liperata away again in marriage, and she holds it for +absolutely certain that you are dead.” On our way we told each other all +the wonderful adventures we had met with; and when we reached the house +where our sister dwelt, the surprise of seeing me alive threw her into a +fainting fit, and she fell senseless in my arms. Had not my brother been +present, her speechlessness and sudden seizure must have made her +husband imagine I was some one different from a brother-as indeed at +first it did. Cecchino, however, explained matters, and busied himself +in helping the swooning woman, who soon come to. Then, after shedding +some tears for father, sister, husband, and a little son whom she had +lost, she began to get the supper ready; and during our merry meeting +all that evening we talked no more about dead folk, but rather +discoursed gaily about weddings. Thus, then, with gladness and great +enjoyment we brought our supper-party to an end. + +Note 1. This is the famous Palazzo del Te, outside the walls of Mantua. +It still remains the chief monument of Giulio Romano’s versatile genius. + +Note 2. Federigo Gonzago was at this time Marquis of Mantua. Charles V +erected his fief into a duchy in 1530. + +Note 3. Ercole Gonzaga, created Cardinal in 1527. After the death of his +brother, Duke Federigo, he governed Mantua for sixteen years as regent +for his nephews, and became famous as a patron of arts and letters. He +died at Trento in 1563 while presiding over the Council there, in the +pontificate of Pius IV. + +Note 4. Giovanni de’ Medici, surnamed Delle Bande Nere. + +Note 5. 'I. e.,' your ugly visage. + +Note 6. Carpani states that between May and November 1527 about 40,000 +persons died of plague in Florence. + +XLI + +ON the entreaty of my brother and sister, I remained at Florence, though +my own inclination led me to return to Rome. The dear friend, also, who +had helped me in some of my earlier troubles, as I have narrated (I mean +Piero, son of Giovanni Landi)-he too advised me to make some stay in +Florence; for the Medici were in exile, that is to say, Signor Ippolito +and Signor Alessandro, who were afterwards respectively Cardinal and +Duke of Florence; and he judged it would be well for me to wait and see +what happened. [1] + +At that time there arrived in Florence a Sienese, called Girolamo +Marretti, who had lived long in Turkey and was a man of lively +intellect. He came to my shop, and commissioned me to make a golden +medal to be worn in the hat. The subject was to be Hercules wrenching +the lion’s mouth. While I was working at this piece, Michel Agnolo +Buonarroti came oftentimes to see it. I had spent infinite pains upon +the design, so that the attitude of the figure and the fierce passion of +the beast were executed in quite a different style from that of any +craftsman who had hitherto attempted such groups. This, together with +the fact that the special branch of art was totally unknown to Michel +Agnolo, made the divine master give such praises to my work that I felt +incredibly inspired for further effort. However, I found little else to +do but jewel-setting; and though I gained more thus than in any other +way, yet I was dissatisfied, for I would fain have been employed upon +some higher task than that of setting precious stones. + +Just then I met with Federigo Ginori, a young man of a very lofty +spirit. He had lived some years in Naples, and being endowed with great +charms of person and presence, had been the lover of a Neapolitan +princess. He wanted to have a medal made, with Atlas bearing the world +upon his shoulders, and applied to Michel Agnolo for a design. Michel +Agnolo made this answer: “Go and find out a young goldsmith named +Benvenuto; he will serve you admirably, and certainly he does not stand +in need of sketches by me. However, to prevent your thinking that I want +to save myself the trouble of so slight a matter, I will gladly sketch +you something; but meanwhile speak to Benvenuto, and let him also make a +model; he can then execute the better of the two designs.” Federigo +Ginori came to me, and told me what he wanted, adding thereto how Michel +Agnolo had praised me, and how he had suggested I should make a waxen +model while he undertook to supply a sketch. The words of that great man +so heartened me, that I set myself to work at once with eagerness upon +the model; and when I had finished it, a painter who was intimate with +Michel Agnolo, called Giuliano Bugiardini, brought me the drawing of +Atlas. [2] On the same occasion I showed Giuliano my little model in +wax, which was very different from Michel Agnolo’s drawing; and +Federigo, in concert with Bugiardini, agreed that I should work upon my +model. So I took it in hand, and when Michel Agnolo saw it, he praised +me to the skies. This was a figure, as I have said, chiselled on a plate +of gold; Atlas had the heaven upon his back, made out of a crystal ball, +engraved with the zodiac upon a field of lapis-lazuli. The whole +composition produced an indescribably fine effect; and under it ran the +legend 'Summa tulisse juvat!' [3] Federigo was so thoroughly well +pleased that he paid me very liberally. Aluigi Alamanni was at that time +in Florence. Federigo Ginori, who enjoyed his friendship, brought him +often to my workshop, and through this introduction we became very +intimate together. 4 + +Note 1. I may remind my readers that the three Medici of the ruling +house were now illegitimate. Clement VII was the bastard son of +Giuliano, brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Ippolito, the Cardinal, +was the bastard of Giuliano, Duke of Nemours, son of Lorenzo the +Magnificent. Alessandro was the reputed bastard of Lorenzo, Duke of +Urbino, grandson of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Alessandro became Duke of +Florence, and after poisoning his cousin, Cardinal Ippolito, was +murdered by a distant cousin, Lorenzino de’ Medici. In this way the male +line of Lorenzo the Magnificent was extinguished. + +Note 2. This painter was the pupil of Bertoldo, a man of simple manners +and of some excellence in his art. The gallery at Bologna has a fine +specimen of his painting. Michel Agnolo delighted in his society. + +Note 3. Cellini says 'Summam.' + +Note 4. This was the agreeable didactic poet Luigi Alamanni, who had to +fly from Florence after a conspiracy against Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici +in 1522. He could never reconcile himself to the Medicean tyranny, and +finally took refuge in France, where he was honoured by François I. He +died at Amboise in 1556. + +XLII + +POPE CLEMENT had now declared war upon the city of Florence, which +thereupon was put in a state of defence; and the militia being organised +in each quarter of the town, I too received orders to serve in my turn. +I provided myself with a rich outfit, and went about with the highest +nobility of Florence, who showed a unanimous desire to fight for the +defence of our liberties. Meanwhile the speeches which are usual upon +such occasions were made in every quarter; [1] the young men met +together more than was their wont, and everywhere we had but one topic +of conversation. + +It happened one day, about noon, that a crowd of tall men and lusty +young fellows, the first in the city, were assembled in my workshop, +when a letter from Rome was put into my hands. It came from a man called +Maestro Giacopino della Barca. His real name was Giacopo della Sciorina, +but they called him della Barca in Rome, because he kept a ferry boat +upon the Tiber between Ponte Sisto and Ponte Santo Agnolo. He was a +person of considerable talent, distinguished by his pleasantries and +striking conversation, and he had formerly been a designer of patterns +for the cloth-weavers in Florence. This man was intimate with the Pope, +who took great pleasure in hearing him talk. Being one day engaged in +conversation, they touched upon the sack and the defence of the castle. +This brought me to the Pope’s mind, and he spoke of me in the very +highest terms, adding that if he knew where I was, he should be glad to +get me back. Maestro Giacopo said I was in Florence; whereupon the Pope +bade the man write and tell me to return to him. The letter I have +mentioned was to the effect that I should do well if I resumed the +service of Clement, and that this was sure to turn out to my advantage. + +The young men who were present were curious to know what the letter +contained; wherefore I concealed it as well as I could. Afterwards I +wrote to Maestro Giacopo, begging him by no means, whether for good or +evil, to write to me again. He however grew more obstinate in his +officiousness, and wrote me another letter, so extravagantly worded, +that if it had been seen, I should have got into serious trouble. The +substance of it was that the Pope required me to come at once, wanting +to employ me on work of the greatest consequence; also that if I wished +to act aright, I ought to throw up everything, and not to stand against +a Pope in the party of those hare-brained Radicals. This letter, when I +read it, put me in such a fright, that I went to seek my dear friend +Piero Landi. Directly he set eyes on me, he asked what accident had +happened to upset me so. I told my friend that it was quite impossible +for me to explain what lay upon my mind, and what was causing me this +trouble; only I entreated him to take the keys I gave him, and to return +the gems and gold in my drawers to such and such persons, whose names he +would find inscribed upon my memorandum-book; next, I begged him to pack +up the furniture of my house, and keep account of it with his usual +loving-kindness; and in a few days he should hear where I was. The +prudent young man, guessing perhaps pretty nearly how the matter stood, +replied: “My brother, go your was quickly; then write to me, and have no +further care about your things.” I did as he advised. He was the most +loyal friend, the wisest, the most worthy, the most discreet, the most +affectionate that I have ever known. I left Florence and went to Rome, +and from there I wrote to him. + +Note 1. 'Fecesi quelle orazioni.' It may mean “the prayers were offered +up.” + +XLIII + +UPON my arrival in Rome, [1] I found several of my former friends, by +whom I was very well received and kindly entertained. No time was lost +before I set myself to work at things which brought me profit, but were +not notable enough to be described. There was a fine old man, a +goldsmith, called Raffaello del Moro, who had considerable reputation in +the trade, and was to boot a very worthy fellow. He begged me to consent +to enter his workshop, saying he had some commissions of importance to +execute, on which high profits might be looked for; so I accepted his +proposal with goodwill. + +More than ten days had elapsed, and I had not presented myself to +Maestro Giacopino della Barca. Meeting me one day by accident, he gave +me a hearty welcome, and asked me how long I had been in Rome. When I +told him I had been there about a fortnight, he took it very ill, and +said that I showed little esteem for a Pope who had urgently compelled +him to write three times for me. I, who had taken his persistence in the +matter still more ill, made no reply, but swallowed down my irritation. +The man, who suffered from a flux of words, began one of his long yarns, +and went on talking, till at the last, when I saw him tired out, I +merely said that he might bring me to the Pope when he saw fit. He +answered that any time would do for him, and I, that I was always ready. +So we took our way toward the palace. It was a Maundy Thursday; and when +we reached the apartments of the Pope, he being known there and I +expected, we were at once admitted. + +The Pope was in bed, suffering from a slight indisposition, and he had +with him Messer Jacopo Salviati and the Archbishop of Capua. [2] When +the Pope set eyes on me, he was exceedingly glad. I kissed his feet, and +then, as humbly as I could, drew near to him, and let him understand +that I had things of consequence to utter. On this he waved his hand, +and the two prelates retired to a distance from us. I began at once to +speak: “Most blessed Father, from the time of the sack up to this hour, +I have never been able to confess or to communicate, because they refuse +me absolution. The case is this. When I melted down the gold and worked +at the unsetting of those jewels, your Holiness ordered the Cavalierino +to give me a modest reward for my labours, of which I received nothing, +but on the contrary he rather paid me with abuse. When then I ascended +to the chamber where I had melted down the gold, and washed the ashes, I +found about a pound and a half of gold in tiny grains like millet-seeds; +and inasmuch as I had not money enough to take me home respectably, I +thought I would avail myself of this, and give it back again when +opportunity should offer. Now I am here at the feet of your Holiness, +who is the only true confessor. I entreat you to do me the favour of +granting me indulgence, so that I may be able to confess and +communicate, and by the grace of your Holiness regain the grace of my +Lord God.” Upon this the Pope, with a scarcely perceptible sigh, +remembering perhaps his former trials, spoke as follows: “Benvenuto, I +thoroughly believe what you tell me; it is in my power to absolve you of +any unbecoming deed you may have done, and, what is more, I have the +will. So, then, speak out with frankness and perfect confidence; for if +you had taken the value of a whole tiara, I am quite ready to pardon +you.” Thereupon I answered: “I took nothing, most blessed Father, but +what I have confessed; and this did not amount to the value of 140 +ducats, for that was the sum I received from the Mint in Perugia, and +with it I went home to comfort my poor old father.” The Pope said: “Your +father has been as virtuous, good, and worthy a man as was ever born, +and you have not degenerated from him. I am very sorry that the money +was so little; but such as you say it was, I make you a present of it, +and give you my full pardon. Assure your confessor of this, if there is +nothing else upon your conscience which concerns me. Afterwards, when +you have confessed and communicated, you shall present yourself to me +again, and it will be to your advantage.” + +When I parted from the Pope, Messer Giacopo and the Archbishop +approached, and the Pope spoke to them in the highest terms imaginable +about me; he said that he had confessed and absolved me; then he +commissioned the Archbishop of Capua to send for me and ask if I had any +other need beyond this matter, giving him full leave to absolve me +amply, and bidding him, moreover, treat me with the utmost kindness. + +While I was walking away with Maestro Giacopino, he asked me very +inquisitively what was the close and lengthy conversation I had had with +his Holiness. After he had repeated the question more than twice, I said +that I did not mean to tell him, because they were matters with which he +had nothing to do, and therefore he need not go on asking me. Then I +went to do what had been agreed on with the Pope; and after the two +festivals were over, I again presented myself before his Holiness. He +received me even better than before, and said: “If you had come a little +earlier to Rome, I should have commissioned you to restore my two +tiaras, which were pulled to pieces in the castle. These, however, with +the exception of the gems, are objects of little artistic interest; so I +will employ you on a piece of the very greatest consequence, where you +will be able to exhibit all your talents. It is a button for my priest’s +cope, which has to be made round like a trencher, and as big as a little +trencher, one-third of a cubit wide. Upon this I want you to represent a +God the Father in half-relief, and in the middle to set that magnificent +big diamond, which you remember, together with several other gems of the +greatest value. Caradosso began to make me one, but did not finish it; I +want yours to be finished quickly, so that I may enjoy the use of it a +little while. Go, then, and make me a fine model.” He had all the jewels +shown me, and then I went off like a shot [3] to set myself to work. + +Note 1. Cellini has been severely taxed for leaving Florence at this +juncture and taking service under Pope Clement, the oppressor of her +liberties. His own narrative admits some sense of shame. Yet we should +remember that he never took any decided part in politics, and belonged +to a family of Medicean sympathies. His father served Lorenzo and Piero; +his brother was a soldier of Giovanni delle Bande Nere and Duke +Alessandro. Many most excellent Florentines were convinced that the +Medicean government was beneficial; and an artist had certainly more to +expect from it than from the Republic. + +Note 2. Nicolas Schomberg, a learned Dominican and disciple of +Savonarola, made Archbishop of Capua in 1520. He was a faithful and able +minister of Clement. Paul III gave him the hat in 1535, and he died in +1537. + +Note 3. 'Affusolato.' Lit., straight as a spindle. + +XLIV + +DURING the time when Florence was besieged, Federigo Ginori, for whom I +made that medal of Atlas, died of consumption, and the medal came into +the hands of Messer Luigi Alamanni, who, after a little while, took it +to present in person to Francis, king of France, accompanied by some of +his own finest compositions. The King was exceedingly delighted with the +gift; whereupon Messer Luigi told his Majesty so much about my personal +qualities, as well as my art, and spoke so favourably, that the King +expressed a wish to know me. + +Meanwhile I pushed my model for the button forward with all the +diligence I could, constructing it exactly of the size which the jewel +itself was meant to have. In the trade of the goldsmiths it roused +considerable jealousy among those who thought that they were capable of +matching it. A certain Micheletto had just come to Rome; [1] he was very +clever at engraving cornelians, and was, moreover, a most intelligent +jeweller, an old man and of great celebrity. He had been employed upon +the Pope’s tiaras; and while I was working at my model, he wondered much +that I had not applied to him, being as he was a man of intelligence and +of large credit with the Pope. At last, when he saw that I was not +coming to him, he came to me, and asked me what I was about. “What the +Pope has ordered me,” I answered. Then he said: “The Pope has +commissioned me to superintend everything which is being made for his +Holiness.” I only replied that I would ask the Pope, and then should +know what answer I ought to give him. He told me that I should repent, +and departing in anger, had an interview with all the masters of the +art; they deliberated on the matter, and charged Michele with the +conduct of the whole affair. As was to be expected from a person of his +talents, he ordered more than thirty drawings to be made, all differing +in their details, for the piece the Pope had commissioned. + +Having already access to his Holiness’ ear, he took into his counsel +another jeweller, named Pompeo, a Milanese, who was in favour with the +Pope, and related to Messer Traiano, the first chamberlain of the court; +[2] these two together, then, began to insinuate that they had seen my +model, and did not think me up to a work of such extraordinary import. +The Pope replied that he would also have to see it, and that if he then +found me unfit for the purpose, he should look around for one who was +fit. Both of them put in that they had several excellent designs ready; +to which the Pope made answer, that he was very pleased to hear it, but +that he did not care to look at them till I had completed my model; +afterwards, he would take them all into consideration at the same time. + +After a few days I finished my model, and took it to the Pope one +morning, when Messer Traiano made me wait till he had sent for +Micheletto and Pompeo, bidding them make haste and bring their drawings. +On their arrival we were introduced, and Micheletto and Pompeo +immediately unrolled their papers, which the Pope inspected. The +draughtsmen who had been employed were not in the jeweller’s trade, and +therefore, knew nothing about giving their right place to precious +stones; and the jewellers, on their side, had not shown them how; for I +ought to say that a jeweller, when he has to work with figures, must of +necessity understand design, else he cannot produce anything worth +looking at: and so it turned out that all of them had stuck that famous +diamond in the middle of the breast of God the Father. The Pope, who was +an excellent connoisseur, observing this mistake, approved of none of +them; and when he had looked at about ten, he flung the rest down, and +said to me, who was standing at a distance: “Now show me your model, +Benvenuto, so that I may see if you have made the same mistake as those +fellows.” I came forward, and opened a little round box; whereupon one +would have thought that a light from heaven had struck the Pope’s eyes. +He cried aloud: “If you had been in my own body, you could not have done +it better, as this proves. Those men there have found the right way to +bring shame upon themselves!” A crowd of great lords pressing round, the +Pope pointed out the difference between my model and the drawings. When +he had sufficiently commended it, the others standing terrified and +stupid before him, he turned to me and said: “I am only afraid of one +thing, and that is of the utmost consequence. Friend Benvenuto, wax is +easy to work in; the real difficulty is to execute this in gold.” To +those words I answered without moment’s hesitation: “Most blessed +Father, if I do not work it ten times better than the model, let it be +agreed beforehand that you pay me nothing.” When they heard this, the +noblemen made a great stir, crying out that I was promising too much. +Among them was an eminent philosopher, who spoke out in my favour: “From +the fine physiognomy and bodily symmetry which I observed in this young +man, I predict that he will accomplish what he says, and think that he +will even go beyond it.” The Pope put in: “And this is my opinion also.” +Then he called his chamberlain, Messer Traiano, and bade him bring five +hundred golden ducats of the Camera. + +While we were waiting for the money, the Pope turned once more to gaze +at leisure on the dexterous device I had employed for combining the +diamond with the figure of God the Father. I had put the diamond exactly +in the center of the piece; and above it God the Father was shown +seated, leaning nobly in a sideways attitude, [3] which made a perfect +composition, and did not interfere with the stone’s effect. Lifting his +right hand, he was in the act of giving the benediction. Below the +diamond I had place three children, who, with their arms upraised, were +supporting the jewel. One of them, in the middle, was in full relief, +the other two in half-relief. All around I set a crowd of cherubs, in +divers attitudes, adapted to the other gems. A mantle undulated to the +wind around the figure of the Father, from the folds of which cherubs +peeped out; and there were other ornaments besides which made a very +beautiful effect. The work was executed in white stucco on a black +stone. When the money came, the Pope gave it to me with his own hand, +and begged me in the most winning terms to let him have it finished in +his own days, adding that this should be to my advantage. + +Note 1. Vasari calls this eminent engraver of gems Michelino. + +Note 2. Messer Traiano Alicorno. + +Note 3. 'In un certo bel modo svolto.' That means: turned aside, not +fronting the spectator. + +XLV + +I TOOK the money and the model home, and was in the utmost impatience to +begin my work. After I had laboured diligently for eight days, the Pope +sent word by one of his chamberlains, a very great gentleman of Bologna, +that I was to come to him and bring what I had got in hand. On the way, +the chamberlain, who was the most gentle-mannered person in the Roman +court, told me that the Pope not only wanted to see what I was doing, +but also intended to intrust me with another task of the highest +consequence, which was, in fact, to furnish dies for the money of the +Mint; and bade me arm myself beforehand with the answer I should give; +in short, he wished me to be prepared, and therefore he had spoken. When +we came into the presence, I lost no time in exhibiting the golden +plate, upon which I had as yet carved nothing but my figure of God the +Father; but this, though only in the rough, displayed a grander style +than that of the waxen model. The Pope regarded it with stupefaction, +and exclaimed: “From this moment forward I will believe everything you +say.” Then loading me with marks of favour, he added: “It is my +intention to give you another commission, which, if you feel competent +to execute it, I shall have no less at heart than this, or more.” He +proceeded to tell me that he wished to make dies for the coinage of his +realm, and asked me if I had ever tried my hand at such things, and if I +had the courage to attempt them. I answered that of courage for the task +I had no lack, and that I had seen how dies were made, but that I had +not ever made any. There was in the presence a certain Messer Tommaso, +of Prato, his Holiness’ Datary; [1] and this man, being a friend of my +enemies, put in: “Most blessed Father, the favours you are showering +upon this young man (and he by nature so extremely overbold) are enough +to make him promise you a new world. You have already given him one +great task, and now, by adding a greater, you are like to make them +clash together.” The Pope, in a rage, turned round on him, and told him +to mind his own business. Then he commanded me to make the model for a +broad doubloon of gold, upon which he wanted a naked Christ with his +hands tied, and the inscription 'Ecce Homo;' the reverse was to have a +Pope and Emperor in the act together of propping up a cross which seemed +to fall, and this legend: 'Unus spiritus et una fides erat in eis.' + +After the Pope had ordered this handsome coin, Bandinello the sculptor +came up; he had not yet been made a knight; and, with his wonted +presumption muffled up in ignorance, said: “For these goldsmiths one +must make drawings for such fine things as that.” I turned round upon +him in a moment, and cried out that I did not want his drawings for my +art, but that I hoped before very long to give his art some trouble by +my drawings. The Pope expressed high satisfaction at these words, and +turning to me said: “Go then, my Benvenuto, and devote yourself with +spirit to my service, and do not lend an ear to the chattering of these +silly fellows.” + +So I went off, and very quickly made two dies of steel; then I stamped a +coin in gold, and one Sunday after dinner took the coin and the dies to +the Pope, who, when he saw the piece, was astonished and greatly +gratified, not only because my work pleased him excessively, but also +because of the rapidity with which I had performed it. For the further +satisfaction and amazement of his holiness, I had brought with me all +the old coins which in former times had been made by those able men who +served Popes Giulio and Leo; and when I noticed that mine pleased him +far better, I drew forth from my bosom a patient, [2] in which I prayed +for the post of stamp-master [3] in the Mint. This place was worth six +golden crowns a month, in addition to the dies, which were paid at the +rate of a ducat for three by the Master of the Mint. The Pope took my +patent and handed it to the Datary, telling him to lose no time in +dispatching the business. The Datary began to put it in his pocket, +saying: “Most blessed Father, your Holiness ought not to go so fast; +these are matters which deserve some reflection.” To this the Pope +replied; “I have heard what you have got to say; give me here that +patent.” He took it, and signed it at once with his own hand; then, +giving it back, added: “Now, you have no answer left; see that you +dispatch it at once, for this is my pleasure; and Benvenuto’s shoes are +worth more than the eyes of all those other blockheads.” So, having +thanked his Holiness, I went back, rejoicing above measure, to my work. + +Note 1. His full name was Tommaso Cortese. The Papal Datario was the +chief secretary of the office for requests, petitions and patents. His +title was derived from its being his duty to affix the 'Datum Romæ' to +documents. The fees of this office, which was also called Datario, +brought in a large revenue to the Papacy. + +Note 2. 'Moto propio.' Cellini confuses his petition with the +instrument, which he had probably drawn up ready for signature. + +Note 3. 'Maestro delle stampe della zecca, i. e.,' the artist who made +the dies. + +XLVI + +I WAS still working in the shop of Raffaello del Moro. This worthy man +had a very beautiful young daughter, with regard to whom he had designs +on me; and I, becoming partly aware of his intentions, was very willing; +but, while indulging such desires, I made no show of them: on the +contrary, I was so discreet in my behaviour that I made him wonder. It +so happened that the poor girl was attacked by a disorder in her right +hand, which ate into the two bones belonging to the little finger and +the next. [1] Owing to her father’s carelessness, she had been treated +by an ignorant quack-doctor, who predicted that the poor child would be +crippled in the whole of her right arm, if even nothing worse should +happen. When I noticed the dismay of her father, I begged him not to +believe all that this ignorant doctor had said. He replied that he had +no acquaintance with physicians or with surgeons, and entreated me, if I +knew of one, to bring him to the house. [2] I sent at once for a certain +Maestro Giacomo of Perugia, a man of great skill in surgery, who +examined the poor girl. [3] She was dreadfully frightened through having +gained some inkling of the quack’s predictions; whereas, my intelligent +doctor declared that she would suffer nothing of consequence, and would +be very well able to use her right hand; also that though the two last +fingers must remain somewhat weaker than the others, this would be of no +inconvenience at all to her. So he began his treatment; and after a few +days, when he was going to extract a portion of the diseased bones, her +father called for me, and begged me to be present at the operation. +Maestro Giacomo was using some coarse steel instruments; and when I +observed that he was making little way and at the same time was +inflicting severe pain on the patient, I begged him to stop and wait +half a quarter of an hour for me. I ran into the shop, and made a little +scalping-iron of steel, extremely thin and curved; it cut like a razor. +On my return, the surgeon used it, and began to work with so gentle a +hand that she felt no pain, and in a short while the operation was over. +In consequence of this service, and for other reasons, the worthy man +conceived for me as much love, or more, as he had for two male children; +and in the meanwhile he attended to the cure of his beautiful young +daughter. + +I was on terms of the closest intimacy with one Messer Giovanni Gaddi, +who was a clerk of the Camera, and a great connoisseur of the arts, +although he had no practical acquaintance with any. [4] In his household +were a certain Messer Giovanni, a Greek of eminent learning, Messer +Lodovico of Fano, no less distinguished as a man of letters, Messer +Antonio Allegretti, and Messer Annibale Caro, [5] at that time in his +early manhood. Messer Bastiano of Venice, a most excellent painter, and +I were admitted to their society; and almost every day we met together +in Messer Giovanni’s company. [6] + +Being aware of this intimacy, the worthy goldsmith Raffaello said to +Messer Giovanni: “Good sir, you know me; now I want to marry my daughter +to Benvenuto, and can think of no better intermediary than your worship. +So I am come to crave your assistance, and to beg you to name for her +such dowry from my estate as you may think suitable.” The light-headed +man hardly let my good friend finish what he had to say, before he put +in quite at random: “Talk no more about it, Raffaello; you are farther +from your object than January from mulberries.” The poor man, utterly +discouraged, looked about at once for another husband for his girl; +while she and the mother and all the family lived on in a bad humour +with me. Since I did not know the real cause of this-I imagined they +were paying me with bastard coin for the many kindnesses I had shown +them-I conceived the thought of opening a workshop of my own in their +neighbourhood. Messer Giovanni told me nothing till the girl was +married, which happened in a few months. + +Meanwhile, I laboured assiduously at the work I was doing for the Pope, +and also in the service of the Mint; for his Holiness had ordered +another coin, of the value of two carlins, on which his own portrait was +stamped, while the reverse bore a figure of Christ upon the waters, +holding out his hand to S. Peter, with this inscription 'Quare +dubitasti?' My design won such applause that a certain secretary of the +Pope, a man of the greatest talent, called Il Sanga, [7] was moved to +this remark: “Your Holiness can boast of having a currency superior to +any of the ancients in all their glory.” The Pope replied: “Benvenuto, +for his part, can boast of serving an emperor like me, who is able to +discern his merit.” I went on at my great piece in gold, showing it +frequently to the Pope, who was very eager to see it, and each time +expressed greater admiration. + +Note 1. 'Ossicina che seguitano il dito,' &c. Probably metacarpal bones. + +Note 2. 'Che gnene avviasse.' + +Note 3. Giacomo Rastelli was a native of Rimini, but was popularly known +as of Perugia, since he had resided long in that city. He was a famous +surgeon under several Popes until the year 1566, when he died at Rome, +age seventy-five. + +Note 4. Giovanni Gaddi of the Florentine family was passionately +attached to men of art and letters. Yet he seems to have been somewhat +disagreeable in personal intercourse; for even Annibale Caro, who owed +much to his patronage, and lived for many years in his house, never +became attached to him. We shall see how he treated Cellini during a +fever. + +Note 5. Some poems of Allegretti’s survive. He was a man of mark in the +literary society of the age. Giovanni Greco may have been a Giovanni +Vergezio, who presented Duke Cosimo with some Greek characters of +exquisite finish. Lodovico da Fano is mentioned as an excellent Latin +scholar. Annibale Caro was one of the most distinguished writers of +Italian prose and verse in the later Renaissance. He spent the latter +portion of his life in the service of the Farnesi. + +Note 6. Messer Bastiano is the celebrated painter Sebastian del Piombo, +born 1485, died 1547. + +Note 7. Battista Sanga, a Roman, secretary to Gianmatteo Giberti, the +good Archbishop of Verona, and afterwards to Clement VII. He was a great +Latinist, and one of those ecclesiastics who earnestly desired a reform +of the Church. He died, poisoned, at an early age. + +XLVII + +MY brother, at this period, was also in Rome, serving Duke Alessandro, +on whom the Pope had recently conferred the Duchy of Penna. This prince +kept in his service a multitude of soldiers, worthy fellows, brought up +to valour in the school of that famous general Giovanni de’ Medici; and +among these was my brother, whom the Duke esteemed as highly as the +bravest of them. One day my brother went after dinner to the shop of a +man called Baccino della Croce in the Banchi, which all those +men-at-arms frequented. He had flung himself upon a settee, and was +sleeping. Just then the guard of the Bargello passed by; [1] they were +taking to prison a certain Captain Cisti, a Lombard, who had also been a +member of Giovanni’s troop, but was not in the service of the Duke. The +captain, Cattivanza degli Strozzi, chanced to be in the same shop; [2] +and when Cisti caught sight of him, he whispered: “I was bringing you +those crowns I owed; if you want them, come for them before they go with +me to prison.” Now Cattivanza had a way of putting his neighbours to the +push, not caring to hazard his own person. So, finding there around him +several young fellows of the highest daring, more eager than apt for so +serious an enterprise, he bade them catch up Captain Cisti and get the +money from him, and if the guard resisted, overpower the men, provided +they had pluck enough to do so. + +The young men were but four, and all four of them without a beard. The +first was called Bertino Aldobrandi, another Anguillotto of Lucca; I +cannot recall the names of the rest. Bertino had been trained like a +pupil by my brother; and my brother felt the most unbounded love for +him. So then, off dashed the four brave lads, and came up with the guard +of the Bargello-upwards of fifty constables, counting pikes, arquebuses, +and two-handed-swords. After a few words they drew their weapons, and +the four boys so harried the guard, that if Captain Cattivanza had but +shown his face, without so much as drawing, they would certainly have +put the whole pack to flight. But delay spoiled all; for Bertino +received some ugly wounds and fell; at the same time, Anguillotto was +also hit in the right arm, and being unable to use his sword, got out of +the fray as well as he was able. The others did the same. Bertino +Aldobrandi was lifted from the ground seriously injured. + +Note 1. The Bargello was the chief constable or sheriff in Italian +towns. I shall call him Bargello always in my translation, since any +English equivalent would be misleading. He did the rough work of +policing the city, and was consequently a mark for all the men of spirit +who disliked being kept in order. Giovio, in his Life of Cardinal Pompeo +Colonna, quite gravely relates how it was the highest ambition of young +Romans of spirit to murder the Bargello. He mentions, in particular, a +certain Pietro Margano, who had acquired great fame and popularity by +killing the Bargello of his day, one Cencio, in the Campo di Fiore. This +man became an outlaw, and was favourably received by Cardinal Colonna, +then at war with Clement VII. + +Note 2. His baptismal name was Bernardo. Cattivanza was a nickname. He +fought bravely for Florence in the siege. + +XLVIII + +WHILE these things were happening, we were all at table; for that +morning we had dined more than an hour later than usual. On hearing the +commotion, one of the old man’s sons, the elder, rose from table to go +and look at the scuffle. He was called Giovanni; and I said to him: “For +Heaven’s sake, don’t go! In such matters one is always certain to lose, +while there is nothing to be gained.” His father spoke to like purpose: +“Pray, my son, don’t go!” But the lad, without heeding any one, ran down +the stairs. Reaching the Banchi, where the great scrimmage was, and +seeing Bertino lifted from the ground, he ran towards home, and met my +brother Cecchino on the way, who asked what was the matter. Though some +of the bystanders signed to Giovanni not to tell Cecchino, he cried out +like a madman how it was that Bertino Aldobrandi had been killed by the +guard. My poor brother gave vent to a bellow which might have been heard +ten miles away. Then he turned to Giovanni: “Ah me! but could you tell +me which of those men killed him for me?” [1] Giovanni said, yes, that +it was a man who had a big two-handed sword, with a blue feather in his +bonnet. My poor brother rushed ahead, and having recognised the homicide +by those signs, he threw himself with all his dash and spirit into the +middle of the band, and before his man could turn on guard, ran him +right through the guts, and with the sword’s hilt thrust him to the +ground. Then he turned upon the rest with such energy and daring, that +his one arm was on the point of putting the whole band to flight, had it +not been that, while wheeling round to strike an arquebusier, this man +fired in self-defence, and hit the brave unfortunate young fellow above +the knee of his right leg. While he lay stretched upon the ground, the +constables scrambled off in disorder as fast as they were able, lest a +pair to my brother should arrive upon the scene. + +Noticing that the tumult was not subsiding, I too rose from the table, +and girding on my sword-for everybody wore one then-I went to the bridge +of Sant’ Agnolo, where I saw a group of several men assembled. On my +coming up and being recognised by some of them, they gave way before me, +and showed me what I least of all things wished to see, albeit I made +mighty haste to view the sight. On the instant I did not know Cecchino, +since he was wearing a different suit of clothes from that in which I +had lately seen him. Accordingly, he recognised me first, and said: +“Dearest brother, do not be upset by my grave accident; it is only what +might be expected in my profession: get me removed from here at once, +for I have but few hours to live.” They had acquainted me with the whole +event while he was speaking, in brief words befitting such occasion. So +I answered: “Brother, this is the greatest sorrow and the greatest trial +that could happen to me in the whole course of my life. But be of good +cheer; for before you lose sight of him who did the mischief, you shall +see yourself revenged by my hand.’ Our words on both sides were to the +purport, but of the shortest. + +Note 1. 'Oimè, saprestimi tu dire che di quelli me I’ha morto?' The 'me' +is so emphatic, that, though it makes poor English, I have preserved it +in my version. + +XLIX + +THE GUARD was now about fifty paces from us; for Maffio, their officer, +had made some of them turn back to take up the corporal my brother +killed. Accordingly, I quickly traversed that short space, wrapped in my +cape, which I had tightened round me, and came up with Maffio, whom I +should most certainly have murdered, for there were plenty of people +round, and I had wound my way among them. With the rapidity of +lightning, I had half drawn my sword from the sheath, when Berlinghier +Berlinghieri, a young man of the greatest daring and my good friend, +threw himself from behind upon my arms; he had four other fellows of +like kidney with him, who cried out to Maffio: “Away with you, for this +man here alone was killing you!” He asked: “Who is he?” and they +answered: “Own brother to the man you see there.” Without waiting to +hear more, he made haste for Torre di Nona; [1] and they said: +“Benvenuto, we prevented you against your will, but did it for your +good; now let us go to succour him who must die shortly.” Accordingly, +we turned and went back to my brother, whom I had at once conveyed into +a house. The doctors who were called in consultation, treated him with +medicaments, but could not decide to amputate the leg, which might +perhaps have saved him. + +As soon as his wound had been dressed, Duke Alessandro appeared and most +affectionately greeted him. My brother had not as yet lost +consciousness; so he said to the Duke: “My lord, this only grieves me, +that your Excellency is losing a servant than whom you may perchance +find men more valiant in the profession of arms, but none more lovingly +and loyally devoted to your service than I have been.” The Duke bade him +do all he could to keep alive; for the rest, he well knew him to be a +man of worth and courage, He then turned to his attendants, ordering +them to see that the brave young fellow wanted for nothing. + +When he was gone, my brother lost blood so copiously, for nothing could +be done to stop it, that he went off his head, and kept raving all the +following night, with the exception that once, when they wanted to give +him the communion, he said: “You would have done well to confess me +before; now it is impossible that I should receive the divine sacrament +in this already ruined frame; it will be enough if I partake of it by +the divine virtue of the eyesight, whereby it shall be transmitted into +my immortal soul, which only prays to Him for mercy and forgiveness.” +Having spoken thus, the host was elevated; but he straightway relapsed +into the same delirious ravings as before, pouring forth a torrent of +the most terrible frenzies and horrible imprecations that the mind of +man could imagine; nor did he cease once all that night until the day +broke. + +When the sun appeared above our horizon, he turned to me and said: +“Brother, I do not wish to stay here longer, for these fellows will end +by making me do something tremendous, which may cause them to repent of +the annoyance they have given me.” Then he kicked out both his legs-the +injured limb we had enclosed in a very heavy box-and made as though he +would fling it across a horse’s back. Turning his face round to me, he +called out thrice-”Farewell, farewell!” and with the last word that most +valiant spirit passed away. + +At the proper hour, toward nightfall, I had him buried with due ceremony +in the church of the Florentines; and afterwards I erected to his memory +a very handsome monument of marble, upon which I caused trophies and +banners to be carved. I must not omit to mention that one of his friends +had asked him who the man was that had killed him, and if he could +recognise him; to which he answered that he could, and gave his +description. My brother, indeed, attempted to prevent this coming to my +ears; but I got it very well impressed upon my mind, as will appear in +the sequel. 2 + +Note 1. The Torre di Nona was one of the principal prisons in Rome, used +especially for criminals condemned to death. + +Note 2. Varchi, in his 'Storia Florentina,' lib. xi., gives a short +account of Cecchino Cellini’s death in Rome, mentioning also Bertino +Aldobrandi, in the attempt to revenge whom he lost his life. + +L + +RETURNING to the monument, I should relate that certain famous men of +letters, who knew my brother, composed for me an epitaph, telling me +that the noble young man deserved it. The inscription ran thus:- + +'“Francisco Cellino Florentino, qui quod in teneris annis ad Ioannem +Medicem ducem plures victorias retulit et signifer fuit, facile +documentum dedit quantæ fortitudinis et consilii vir futurus erat, ni +crudelis fati archibuso transfossus, quinto ætatis lustro jaceret, +Benvenutus frater posuit. Obiit die' xxvii 'Maii' MD.XXIX.” + +He was twenty-five years of age; and since the soldiers called him +Cecchino del Piffero, [1] his real name being Giovanfrancesco Cellini, I +wanted to engrave the former, by which he was commonly known, under the +armorial bearings of our family. This name then I had cut in fine +antique characters, all of which were broken save the first and last. I +was asked by the learned men who had composed that beautiful epitaph, +wherefore I used these broken letters; and my answer was, because the +marvellous framework of his body was spoiled and dead; and the reason +why the first and last remained entire was, that the first should +symbolise the great gift God had given him, namely, of a human soul, +inflamed with his divinity, the which hath never broken, while the +second represented the glorious renown of his brave actions. The thought +gave satisfaction, and several persons have since availed themselves of +my device. Close to the name I had the coat of us Cellini carved upon +the stone, altering it in some particulars. In Ravenna, which is a most +ancient city, there exist Cellini of our name in the quality of very +honourable gentry, who bear a lion rampant or upon a field of azure, +holding a lily gules in his dexter paw, with a label in chief and three +little lilies or. [2] These are the true arms of the Cellini. My father +showed me a shield as ours which had the paw only, together with the +other bearings; but I should prefer to follow those of the Cellini of +Ravenna, which I have described above. Now to return to what I caused to +be engraved upon my brother’s tomb: it was the lion’s paw, but instead +of a lily, I made the lion hold an axe, with the field of the scutcheon +quartered; and I put the axe in solely that I might not be unmindful to +revenge him. + +Note 1. That is, Frank, the Fifer’s son. + +Note 2. I believe Cellini meant here to write “on a chief argent a label +of four points, and three lilies gules.” He has tricked the arms thus in +a MS. of the Palatine Library. See Leclanchè, p. 103; see also Piatti, +vol. i. p. 233, and Plon, p. 2. + +LI + +I WENT on applying myself with the utmost diligence upon the gold-work +for Pope Clement’s button. He was very eager to have it, and used to +send for me two or three times a week, in order to inspect it; and his +delight in the work always increased. Often would he rebuke and scold +me, as it were, for the great grief in which my brother’s loss had +plunged me; and one day, observing me more downcast and out of trim than +was proper, he cried aloud: “Benvenuto, oh! I did not know that you were +mad. Have you only just learned that there is no remedy against death? +One would think that you were trying to run after him.” When I left the +presence, I continued working at the jewel and the dies [1] for the +Mint; but I also took to watching the arquebusier who shot my brother, +as though he had been a girl I was in love with. The man had formerly +been in the light cavalry, but afterwards had joined the arquebusiers as +one of the Bargello’s corporals; and what increased my rage was that he +had used these boastful words: “If it had not been for me, who killed +that brave young man, the least trifle of delay would have resulted in +his putting us all to flight with great disaster.” When I saw that the +fever caused by always seeing him about was depriving me of sleep and +appetite, and was bringing me by degrees to sorry plight, I overcame my +repugnance to so low and not quite praiseworthy an enterprise, and made +my mind up one evening to rid myself of the torment. The fellow lived in +a house near a place called Torre Sanguigua, next door to the lodging of +one of the most fashionable courtesans in Rome, named Signora Antea. It +had just struck twenty-four, and he was standing at the house-door, with +his sword in hand, having risen from supper. With great address I stole +up to him, holding a large Pistojan dagger, [2] and dealt him a +back-handed stroke, with which I meant to cut his head clean off; but as +he turned round very suddenly, the blow fell upon the point of his left +shoulder and broke the bone. He sprang up, dropped his sword, +half-stunned with the great pain, and took to flight. I followed after, +and in four steps caught him up, when I lifted my dagger above his head, +which he was holding very low, and hit him in the back exactly at the +juncture of the nape-bone and the neck. The poniard entered this point +so deep into the bone, that, though I used all my strength to pull it +out, I was not able. For just at that moment four soldiers with drawn +swords sprang out from Antea’s lodging, and obliged me to set hand to my +own sword to defend my life. Leaving the poniard then, I made off, and +fearing I might be recognised, took refuge in the palace of Duke +Alessandro, which was between Piazza Navona and the Rotunda. [3] On my +arrival, I asked to see the Duke; who told me that, if I was alone, I +need only keep quiet and have no further anxiety, but to go on working +at the jewel which the Pope had set his heart on, and stay eight days +indoors. He gave this advice the more securely, because the soldiers had +now arrived who interrupted the completion of my deed; they held the +dagger in their hand, and were relating how the matter happened, and the +great trouble they had to pull the weapon from the neck and head-bone of +the man, whose name they did not know. Just then Giovan Bandini came up, +and said to them. [4] “That poniard is mine, and I lent it to Benvenuto, +who was bent on revenging his brother.” The soldiers were profuse in +their expressions of regret at having interrupted me, although my +vengeance had been amply satisfied. + +More than eight days elapsed, and the Pope did not send for me according +to his custom. Afterwards he summoned me through his chamberlain, the +Bolognese nobleman I have already mentioned, who let me, in his own +modest manner, understand that his Holiness knew all, but was very well +inclined toward me, and that I had only to mind my work and keep quiet. +When we reached the presence, the Pope cast so menacing a glance towards +me, that the mere look of his eyes made me tremble. Afterwards, upon +examining my work his countenance cleared, and he began to praise me +beyond measure, saying that I had done a vast amount in a short time. +Then, looking me straight in the face, he added: “Now that you are +cured, Benvenuto, take heed how you live.” [5] I, who understood his +meaning, promised that I would. Immediately upon this, I opened a very +fine shop in the Banchi, opposite Raffaello, and there I finished the +jewel after the lapse of a few months. + +Note 1. 'Ferri.' I have translated this word 'dies;' but it seems to +mean all the coining instruments, 'stampe' or 'conii' being the dies +proper. + +Note 2. 'Pugnal pistolese;' it came in time to mean a cutlass. + +Note 3. That is, the Pantheon. + +Note 4. Bandini bears a distinguished name in Florentine annals. He +served Duke Alessandro in affairs of much importance; but afterwards he +betrayed the interests of his master, Duke Cosimo, in an embassy to +Charles V in 1543. It seems that he had then been playing into the hands +of Filippo Strozzi, for which offence he passed fifteen years in a +dungeon. See Varchi and Segni; also Montazio’s 'Prigionieri del Mastio +di Volterra,' cap. vii. + +Note 5. This was the Pope’s hint to Cellini that he was aware of the +murder he had just committed. + +LII + +THE POPE had sent me all those precious stones, except the diamond, +which was pawned to certain Genoese bankers for some pressing need he +had of money. The rest were in my custody, together with a model of the +diamond. I had five excellent journeymen, and in addition to the great +piece, I was engaged on several jobs; so that my shop contained property +of much value in jewels, gems, and gold and silver. I kept a shaggy dog, +very big and handsome, which Duke Alessandro gave me; the beast was +capital as a retriever, since he brought me every sort of birds and game +I shot, but he also served most admirably for a watchdog. It happened, +as was natural at the age of twenty-nine, that I had taken into my +service a girl of great beauty and grace, whom I used as a model in my +art, and who was also complaisant of her personal favours to me. Such +being the case, I occupied an apartment far away from my workmen’s +rooms, as well as from the shop; and this communicated by a little dark +passage with the maid’s bedroom. I used frequently to pass the night +with her; and though I sleep as lightly as ever yet did man upon this +earth, yet, after indulgence in sexual pleasure, my slumber is sometimes +very deep and heavy. + +So it chanced one night: for I must say that a thief, under the pretext +of being a goldsmith, had spied on me, and cast his eyes upon the +precious stones, and made a plan to steal them. Well, then, this fellow +broke into the shop, where he found a quantity of little things in gold +and silver. He was engaged in bursting open certain boxes to get at the +jewels he had noticed, when my dog jumped upon him, and put him to much +trouble to defend himself with his sword. The dog, unable to grapple +with an armed man, ran several times through the house, and rushed into +the rooms of the journeymen, which had been left open because of the +great heat. When he found they paid no heed to his loud barking, he +dragged their bed-clothes off; and when they still heard nothing, he +pulled first one and then another by the arm till he roused them, and, +barking furiously, ran before to show them where he wanted them to go. +At last it became clear that they refused to follow; for the traitors, +cross at being disturbed, threw stones and sticks at him; and this they +could well do, for I had ordered them to keep all night a lamp alight +there; and in the end they shut their rooms tight; so the dog, +abandoning all hope of aid from such rascals, set out alone again on his +adventure. He ran down, and not finding the thief in the shop, flew +after him. When he got at him, he tore the cape off his back. It would +have gone hard with the fellow had he not called for help to certain +tailors, praying them for God’s sake to save him from a mad dog; and +they, believing what he said, jumped out and drove the dog off with much +trouble. + +After sunrise my workmen went into the shop, and saw that it had been +broken open and all the boxes smashed. They began to scream at the top +of their voices: “Ah, woe is me! Ah, woe is me!” The clamour woke me, +and I rushed out in a panic. Appearing thus before them, they cried out: +“Alas to us! for we have been robbed by some one, who has broken and +borne everything away!” These words wrought so forcibly upon my mind +that I dared not go to my big chest and look if it still held the jewels +of the Pope. So intense was the anxiety, that I seemed to lose my +eyesight, and told them they themselves must unlock the chest, and see +how many of the Pope’s gems were missing. The fellow were all of them in +their shirts; and when, on opening the chest, they saw the precious +stones and my work with them, they took heart of joy and shouted: “There +is no harm done; your piece and all the stones are here; but the thief +has left us naked to the shirt, because last night, by reason of the +burning heat, we took our clothes off in the shop and left them here.” +Recovering my senses, I thanked God, and said: “Go and get yourselves +new suits of clothes; I will pay when I hear at leisure how the whole +thing happened.” What caused me the most pain, and made me lose my +senses, and take fright-so contrary to my real nature-was the dread lest +peradventure folk should fancy I had trumped a story of the robber up to +steal the jewels. It had already been paid to Pope Clement by one of his +most trusted servants, and by others, that is, by Francesco del Nero, +Zana de’ Biliotti his accountant, the Bishop of Vasona, and several such +men: [1] “Why, most blessed Father, do you confide gems of that vast +value to a young fellow, who is all fire, more passionate for arms than +for his art, and not yet thirty years of age?” The Pope asked in answer +if any one of them knew that I had done aught to justify such +suspicions. Whereto Francesco del Nero, his treasurer, replied: [2] “No, +most blessed Father, because he has not as yet had an opportunity. +“Whereto the Pope rejoined: “I regard him as a thoroughly honest man; +and if I saw with my own eyes some crime he had committed, I should not +believe it.” This was the man who [3] caused me the greatest torment, +and who suddenly came up before my mind. + +After telling the young men to provide themselves with fresh clothes, I +took my piece, together with the gems, setting them as well as I could +in their proper places, and went off at once with them to the Pope. +Francesco del Nero had already told him something of the trouble in my +shop, and had put suspicions in his head. So then, taking the thing +rather ill than otherwise, he shot a furious glance upon me, and cried +haughtily: “What have you come to do here? What is up?” “Here are all +your precious stones, and not one of them is missing.” At this the +Pope’s face cleared, and he said: “So then, you’re welcome.” I showed +him the piece, and while he was inspecting it, I related to him the +whole story of the thief and of my agony, and what had been my greatest +trouble in the matter. During this speech, he oftentimes turned round to +look me sharply in the eyes; and Francesco del Nero being also in the +presence, this seemed to make him half sorry that he had not guessed the +truth. At last, breaking into laughter at the long tale I was telling, +he sent me off with these words: “Go, and take heed to be an honest man, +as indeed I know that you are.” + +Note 1. Of these people, we can trace the Bishop of Vasona. He was +Girolamo Schio or Schedo, a native of Vicenza, the confidential agent +and confessor of Clement VII., who obtained the See of Vaison in the +county of Avignon in 1523, and died at Rome in 1533. His successor in +the bishopric was Tomaso Cortesi, the Datary, mentioned above. + +Note 2. Varchi gives a very ugly account of this man, Francesco del +Nero, who was nicknamed the 'Crà del Piccadiglio,' in his History of +Florence, book iii. “In the whole city of Florence there never was born, +in my belief, a man of such irreligion or of such sordid avarice.” +Giovio confirms the statement. + +Note 3. 'Questo fu quello che.' This may be neuter: 'This was the +circumstance which.' + +LIII + +I WENT on working assiduously at the button, and at the same time +laboured for the Mint, when certain pieces of false money got abroad in +Rome, stamped with my own dies. They were brought at once to the Pope, +who, hearing things against me, said to Giacopo Balducci, the Master of +the Mint, “Take every means in your power to find the criminal; for we +are sure that Benvenuto is an honest fellow.” That traitor of a master, +being in fact my enemy, replied: “Would God, most blessed Father, that +it may turn out as you say; for we have some proofs against him.” Upon +this the Pope turned to the Governor of Rome, and bade him see he found +the malefactor. During those days the Pope sent for me, and leading +cautiously in conversation to the topic of the coins, asked me at the +fitting moment: “Benvenuto, should you have the heart to coin false +money?” To this I replied that I thought I could do so better than all +the rascals who gave their minds to such vile work; for fellows who +practice lewd trades of that sort are not capable of earning money, nor +are they men of much ability. I, on the contrary, with my poor wits +could gain enough to keep me comfortably; for when I set dies for the +Mint, each morning before dinner I put at least three crowns into my +pocket; this was the customary payment for the dies, and the Master of +the Mint bore me a grudge, because he would have liked to have them +cheaper; so then, what I earned with God’s grace and the world’s, +sufficed me, and by coining false money I should not have made so much. +The pope very well perceived my drift; and whereas he had formerly given +orders that they should see I did not fly from Rome, he now told them to +look well about and have no heed of me, seeing he was ill-disposed to +anger me, and in this way run the risk of losing me. The officials who +received these orders were certain clerks of the Camera, who made the +proper search, as was their duty, and soon found the rogue. He was a +stamper in the service of the Mint, named Cesare Macherone, and a Roman +citizen. Together with this man they detected a metal-founder of the +Mint. 1 + +Note 1. The word in Cellini is ovolatore di zecca. + +LIV + +ON that very day, as I was passing through the Piazza Navona, and had my +fine retriever with me, just when we came opposite the gate of the +Bargello, my dog flew barking loudly inside the door upon a youth, who +had been arrested at the suit of a man called Donnino (a goldsmith from +Parma, and a former pupil of Caradosso), on the charge of having robbed +him. The dog strove so violently to tear the fellow to pieces, that the +constables were moved to pity. It so happened that he was pleading his +own cause with boldness, and Donnino had not evidence enough to support +the accusation; and what was more, one of the corporals of the guard, a +Genoese, was a friend of the young man’s father. The upshot was that, +what with the dog and with those other circumstances, they were on the +point of releasing their prisoner. When I came up, the dog had lost all +fear of sword or staves, and was flying once more at the young man; so +they told me if I did not call the brute off they would kill him. I held +him back as well as I was able; but just then the fellow, in the act of +readjusting his cape, let fall some paper packets from the hood, which +Donnino recognised as his property. I too recognised a little ring; +whereupon I called out. “This is the thief who broke into my shop and +robbed it; and therefore my dog knows him;” then I loosed the dog, who +flew again upon the robber. On this the fellow craved for mercy, +promising to give back whatever he possessed of mine. When I had secured +the dog, he proceeded to restore the gold and silver and the rings which +he had stolen from me, and twenty-five crowns in addition. Then he cried +once more to me for pity. I told him to make his peace with God, for I +should do him neither good nor evil. So I returned to my business; and a +few days afterwards, Cesare Macherone, the false coiner, was hanged in +the Banchi opposite the Mint; his accomplice was sent to the galleys; +the Genoese thief was hanged in the Campo di Fiore, while I remained in +better repute as an honest man than I had enjoyed before. + +LV + +WHEN I had nearly finished my piece, there happened that terrible +inundation which flooded the whole of Rome. [1] I waited to see what +would happen; the day was well-nigh spent, for the clocks struck +twenty-two and the water went on rising formidably. Now the front of my +house and shop faced the Banchi, but the back was several yards higher, +because it turned toward Monte Giordano; accordingly, bethinking me +first of my own safety and in the next place of my honour, I filled my +pockets with the jewels, and gave the gold-piece into the custody of my +workmen, and then descended barefoot from the back-windows, and waded as +well as I could until I reached Monte Cavallo. There I sought out Messer +Giovanni Gaddi, clerk of the Camera, and Bastiano Veneziano, the +painter. To the former I confided the precious stones, to keep in +safety: he had the same regard for me as though I had been his brother. +A few days later, when the rage of the river was spent, I returned to my +workshop, and finished the piece with such good fortune, through God’s +grace and my own great industry, that it was held to be the finest +masterpiece which had been ever seen in Rome. [2] + +When then I took it to the Pope, he was insatiable in praising me, and +said: “Were I but a wealthy emperor, I would give my Benvenuto as much +land as his eyes could survey; yet being nowadays but needy bankrupt +potentates, we will at any rate give him bread enough to satisfy his +modest wishes.” I let the Pope run on to the end of his rhodomontade, +[3] and then asked him for a mace-bearer’s place which happened to be +vacant. He replied that he would grant me something of far greater +consequence. I begged his Holiness to bestow this little thing on me +meanwhile by way of earnest. He began to laugh, and said he was willing, +but that he did not wish me to serve, and that I must make some +arrangement with the other mace-bearers to be exempted. He would allow +them through me a certain favour, for which they had already petitioned, +namely, the right of recovering their fees at law. This was accordingly +done, and that mace-bearer’s office brought me in little less than 200 +crowns a year. 4 + +Note 1. This took place on the 8th and 9th October, 1530. + +Note 2. This famous masterpiece was preserved in the Castle of S. Angelo +during the Papal Government of Rome. It was brought out on Christmas, +Easter, and S. Peter’s days. + +Note 3. 'Quella sua smania di parole.' + +Note 4. Cellini received this post among the Mazzieri (who walked like +beadles before the Pope) on April 14, 1531. He resigned it in favour of +Pietro Cornaro of Venice in 1535. + +LVI + +I CONTINUED to work for the Pope, executing now one trifle and now +another, when he commissioned me to design a chalice of exceeding +richness. So I made both drawing and model for the piece. The latter was +constructed of wood and wax. Instead of the usual top, I fashioned three +figures of a fair size in the round; they represented Faith, Hope, and +Charity. Corresponding to these, at the base of the cup, were three +circular histories in bas-relief. One was the Nativity of Christ, the +second the Resurrection, and the third S. Peter crucified head +downwards; for thus I had received commission. While I had this work in +hand, the Pope was often pleased to look at it; wherefore, observing +that his Holiness had never thought again of giving me anything, and +knowing that a post in the Piombo was vacant, I asked for this one +evening. The good Pope, quite oblivious of his extravagances at the +termination of the last piece, said to me: “That post in the Piombo is +worth more than 800 crowns a year, so that if I gave it you, you would +spend your time in scratching your paunch, [1] and your magnificent +handicraft would be lost, and I should bear the blame.” I replied at +once as thus: “Cats of a good breed mouse better when they are fat than +starving; and likewise honest men who possess some talent, exercise it +to far nobler purport when they have the wherewithal to live abundantly; +wherefore princes who provide such folk with competences, let your +Holiness take notice, are watering the roots of genius; for genius and +talent, at their birth, come into this world lean and scabby; and your +Holiness should also know that I never asked for the place with the hope +of getting it. Only too happy I to have that miserable post of +mace-bearer. On the other I built but castles in the air. Your Holiness +will do well, since you do not care to give it me, to bestow it on a man +of talent who deserves it, and not upon some fat ignoramus who will +spend his time scratching his paunch, if I may quote your holiness’ own +words. Follow the example of Pope Giulio’s illustrious memory, who +conferred an office of the same kind upon Bramante, that most admirable +architect.” + +Immediately on finishing this speech, I made my bow, and went off in a +fury. Then Bastiano Veneziano the painter approached, and said: “Most +blessed Father, may your Holiness be willing to grant it to one who +works assiduously in the exercise of some talent; and as your Holiness +knows that I am diligent in my art, I beg that I may be thought worthy +of it.” The Pope replied: “That devil Benvenuto will not brook rebuke. I +was inclined to give it him, but it is not right to be so haughty with a +Pope. Therefore I do not well know what I am to do.” The Bishop of +Vasona then came up, and put in a word for Bastiano, saying: “Most +blessed Father, Benvenuto is but young; and a sword becomes him better +than a friar’s frock. Let your Holiness give the place to this ingenious +person Bastiano. Some time or other you will be able to bestow on +Benvenuto a good thing, perhaps more suitable to him than this would +be.” Then the Pope turning to Messer Bartolommeo Valori, told him: “When +next you meet Benvenuto, let him know from me that it was he who got +that office in the Piombo for Bastiano the painter, and add that he may +reckon on obtaining the next considerable place that falls; meanwhile +let him look to his behaviour, and finish my commissions.” [2] + +The following evening, two hours after sundown, I met Messer Bartolommeo +Valori [3] at the corner of the Mint; he was preceded by two torches, +and was going in haste to the Pope, who had sent for him. On my taking +off my hat, he stopped and called me, and reported in the most friendly +manner all the messages the Pope had sent me. I replied that I should +complete my work with greater diligence and application than any I had +yet attempted, but without the least hope of having any reward whatever +from the Pope. Messer Bartolommeo reproved me, saying that this was not +the way in which one ought to reply to the advances of a Pope. I +answered that I should be mad to reply otherwise-mad if I based my hopes +on such promises, being certain to get nothing. So I departed, and went +off to my business. + +Messer Bartolommeo must have reported my audacious speeches to the Pope, +and more perhaps than I had really said; for his Holiness waited above +two months before he sent to me, and during that while nothing would +have induced me to go uncalled for to the palace. Yet he was dying with +impatience to see the chalice, and commissioned Messer Ruberto Pucci to +give heed to what I was about. [4] That right worthy fellow came daily +to visit me, and always gave me some kindly word, which I returned. The +time was drawing nigh now for the Pope to travel toward Bologna; [5] so +at last, perceiving that I did not mean to come to him, he made Messer +Ruberto bid me bring my work, that he might see how I was getting on. +Accordingly, I took it; and having shown, as the piece itself proved, +that the most important part was finished, I begged him to advance me +five hundred crowns, partly on account, and partly because I wanted gold +to complete the chalice. The Pope said: “Go on, go on at work till it is +finished.” I answered, as I took my leave, that I would finish it if he +paid me the money. And so I went away. + +Note 1. 'Grattare il corpo,' which I have translated scratch your +paunch, is equivalent to 'twirl your thumbs.' + +Note 2. The office of the Piombo in Rome was a bureau in which leaden +seals were appended to Bulls and instruments of state. It remained for a +long time in the hands of the Cistercians; but it used also to be +conferred on laymen, among whom were Bremante and Sebastiano del Piombo. +When the latter obtained it, he neglected his art and gave himself up to +“scratching his paunch,” as Cellini predicted. + +Note 3. Bartolommeo or Baccio Valori, a devoted adherent of the Medici, +played an important part in Florentine history. He was Clement’s +commissary to the Prince of Orange during the siege. Afterwards, feeling +himself ill repaid for his services, he joined Filippo Strozzi in his +opposition to the Medicean rule, and was beheaded in 1537, together with +his son and a nephew. + +Note 4. Roberto Pucci was another of the devoted Medicean partisans who +remained true to his colours. He sat among the forty-eight senators of +Alessandro, and was made a Cardinal by Paul III. in 1534. + +Note 5. On November 18, 1532, Clement went to meet Charles V. at +Bologna, where, in 1529, he had already given him the Imperial crown. + +LVII + +WHEN the Pope took his journey to Bologna, he left Cardinal Salviati as +Legate of Rome, and gave him commission to push the work that I was +doing forward, adding: “Benvenuto is a fellow who esteems his own great +talents but slightly, and us less; look to it then that you keep him +always going, so that I may find the chalice finished on my return.” + +That beast of a Cardinal sent for me after eight days, bidding me bring +the piece up. On this I went to him without the piece. No sooner had I +shown my face, than he called out: “Where is that onion-stew of yours? +[1] Have you got it ready?” I answered: “O most reverend Monsignor, I +have not got my onion-stew ready, nor shall I make it ready, unless you +give me onions to concoct it with.” At these words the Cardinal, who +looked more like a donkey than a man, turned uglier by half than he was +naturally; and wanting at once to cut the matter short, cried out: “I’ll +send you to a galley, and then perhaps you’ll have the grace [2] to go +on with your labour.” The bestial manners of the man made me a beast +too; and I retorted: “Monsignor, send me to the galleys when I’ve done +deeds worthy of them; but for my present laches, I snap my fingers at +your galleys: and what is more, I tell you that, just because of you, I +will not set hand further to my piece. Don’t send for me again, for I +won’t appear, no, not if you summon me by the police.” + +After this, the good Cardinal tried several times to let me know that I +ought to go on working, and to bring him what I was doing to look at. I +only told his messengers: “Say to Monsignor that he must send me onions, +if he wants me to get my stew ready.” Nor gave I ever any other answer; +so that he threw up the commission in despair. + +Note 1. 'Cipollata.' Literally, a show of onions and pumpkins; +metaphorically, a mess, gallimaufry. + +Note 2. 'Arai di grazia di.' I am not sure whether I have given the +right shade of meaning in the text above. It may mean: 'You will be +permitted.' + +LVIII + +THE POPE came back from Bologna, and sent at once for me, because the +Cardinal had written the worst he could of my affairs in his despatches. +He was in the hottest rage imaginable, and bade me come upon the instant +with my piece. I obeyed. Now, while the Pope was staying at Bologna, I +had suffered from an attack of inflammation in the eyes, so painful that +I scarce could go on living for the torment; and this was the chief +reason why I had not carried out my work. The trouble was so serious +that I expected for certain to be left without my eyesight; and I had +reckoned up the sum on which I could subsist, if I were blind for life. +Upon the way to the Pope, I turned over in my mind what I should put +forward to excuse myself for not having been able to advance his work. I +thought that while he was inspecting the chalice, I might tell him of my +personal embarrassments. However, I was unable to do so; for when I +arrived in the presence, he broke out coarsely at me: “Come here with +your work; is it finished?” I displayed it; and his temper rising, he +exclaimed: “In God’s truth I tell thee, thou that makest it thy business +to hold no man in regard, that, were it not for decency and order, I +would have thee chucked together with thy work there out of windows.” +Accordingly, when I perceived that the Pope had become no better than a +vicious beast, my chief anxiety was how I could manage to withdraw from +his presence. So, while he went on bullying, I tucked the piece beneath +my cape, and muttered under my breath: “The whole world could not compel +a blind man to execute such things as these.” Raising his voice still +higher, the Pope shouted: “Come here; what say’st thou?” I stayed in two +minds, whether or not to dash at full speed down the staircase; then I +took my decision and threw myself upon my knees, shouting as loudly as I +could, for he too had not ceased from shouting: “If an infirmidy has +blinded me, am I bound to go on working?” He retorted: “You saw well +enough to make your way hither, and I don’t believe one word of what you +say.” I answered, for I noticed he had dropped his voice a little: “Let +your Holiness inquire of your physician, and you will find the truth +out.” He said: “So ho! softly; at leisure we shall hear if what you say +is so.” Then, perceiving that he was willing to give me hearing, I +added: “I am convinced that the only cause of this great trouble which +has happened to me is Cardinal Salviati; for he sent to me immediately +after your holiness’ departure, and when I presented myself, he called +my work a stew of onions, and told me he would send me to complete it in +a galley; and such was the effect upon me of his knavish words, that in +my passion I felt my face in flame, and so intolerable a heat attacked +my eyes that I could not find my own way home. Two days afterwards, +cataracts fell on both my eyes; I quite lost my sight, and after your +holiness’ departure I have been unable to work at all.” + +Rising from my knees, I left the presence without further license. It +was afterwards reported to me that the Pope has said: “One can give +commissions, but not the prudence to perform them. I did not tell the +Cardinal to go so brutally about this business. [1] If it is true that +he is suffering from his eyes, of which I shall get information through +my doctor, one ought to make allowance for him.” A great gentleman, +intimate with the Pope, and a man of very distinguished parts, happened +to be present. He asked who I was, using terms like these: “Most blessed +Father, pardon if I put a question. I have seen you yield at one and the +same time to the hottest anger I ever observed, and then to the warmest +compassion; so I beg your Holiness to tell me who the man is; for if he +is a person worthy to be helped, I can teach him a secret which may cure +him of that infirmity.” The Pope replied: “He is the greatest artist who +was ever born in his own craft; one day, when we are together, I will +show you some of his marvellous works, and the man himself to boot; and +I shall be pleased if we can see our way toward doing something to +assist him.” Three days after this, the Pope sent for me after +dinnertime, and I found that great noble in the presence. On my arrival, +the Pope had my cope-button brought, and I in the meantime drew forth my +chalice. The nobleman said, on looking at it, that he had never seen a +more stupendous piece of work. When the button came, he was still more +struck with wonder: and looking me straight in the face, he added: “The +man is young, I trow, to be so able in his art, and still apt enough to +learn much.” He then asked me what my name was. I answered: “My name is +Benvenuto.” He replied: “And Benvenuto shall I be this day to you. Take +flower-de-luces, stalk, blossom, root, together; then decoct them over a +slack fire; and with the liquid bathe your eyes several times a day; you +will most certainly be cured of that weakness; but see that you purge +first, and then go forward with the lotion.” The Pope gave me some kind +words, and so I went away half satisfied. + +Note 1. 'Che mettessi tanta mazza.' + +LIX + +IT was true indeed that I had got the sickness; but I believe I caught +it from that fine young servant-girl whom I was keeping when my house +was robbed. The French disease, for it was that, remained in me more +than four months dormant before it showed itself, and then it broke out +over my whole body at one instant. It was not like what one commonly +observes, but covered my flesh with certain blisters, of the size of +six-pences, and rose-coloured. The doctors would not call it the French +disease, albeit I told them why I thought it was that. I went on +treating myself according to their methods, but derived no benefit. At +last, then, I resolved on taking the wood, against the advice of the +first physicians in Rome; [1] and I took it with the most scrupulous +discipline and rules of abstinence that could be thought of; and after a +few days, I perceived in me a great amendment. The result was that at +the end of fifty days I was cured and as sound as a fish in the water. + +Some time afterwards I sought to mend my shattered health, and with this +view I betook myself to shooting when the winter came in. That +amusement, however, led me to expose myself to wind and water, and to +staying out in marsh-lands; so that, after a few days, I fell a hundred +times more ill than I had been before. I put myself once more under +doctors’ orders, and attended to their directions, but grew always +worse. When the fever fell upon me, I resolved on having recourse again +to the wood; but the doctors forbade it, saying that I took if it with +the fever on me, I should not have a week to live. However, I made my +mind up to disobey their orders, observed the same diet as I had +formerly adopted, and after drinking the decoction four days, was wholly +rid of fever. My health improved enormously; and while I was following +this cure, I went on always working at the models of the chalice. I may +add that, during the time of that strict abstinence, I produced finer +things and of more exquisite invention than at any other period of my +life. After fifty days my health was re-established, and I continued +with the utmost care to keep it and confirm it. When at last I ventured +to relax my rigid diet, I found myself as wholly free from those +infirmities as though I had been born again. Although I took pleasure in +fortifying the health I so much longed for, yet I never left off +working; both the chalice and the Mint had certainly as much of my +attention as was due to them and to myself. + +Note 1. That is, Guiacum, called by the Italians 'legno santo.' + +LX + +IT happened that Cardinal Salviati, who, as I have related, entertained +an old hostility against me, had been appointed Legate to Parma. In that +city a certain Milanese goldsmith, named Tobbia, was taken up for false +coining, and condemned to the gallows and the stake. Representations in +his favour, as being a man of great ability, were made to the Cardinal, +who suspended the execution of the sentence, and wrote to the Pope, +saying the best goldsmith in the world had come into his hands, +sentenced to death for coining false money, but that he was a good +simple fellow, who could plead in his excuse that he had taken counsel +with his confessor, and had received, as he said, from him permission to +do this. Thereto he added: “If you send for this great artist to Rome, +your Holiness will bring down the overweening arrogance of your +favourite Benvenuto, and I am quite certain that Tobbia’s work will +please you far more than his.” The Pope accordingly sent for him at +once; and when the man arrived, he made us both appear before him, and +commissioned each of us to furnish a design for mounting an unicorn’s +horn, the finest which had ever been seen, and which had been sold for +17,000 ducats of the Camera. The Pope meant to give it to King Francis; +but first he wished it richly set in gold, and ordered us to make +sketches for this purpose. When they were finished, we took them to the +Pope. That of Tobbia was in the form of a candlestick, the horn being +stuck in it like a candle, and at the base of the piece he had +introduced four little unicorns’ heads of a very poor design. When I saw +the thing, I could not refrain from laughing gently in my sleeve. The +Pope noticed this, and cried: “Here, show me your sketch!” It was a +single unicorn’s head, proportioned in size to the horn. I had designed +the finest head imaginable; for I took it partly from the horse and +partly from the stag, enriching it with fantastic mane and other +ornaments. Accordingly, no sooner was it seen, than every one decided in +my favour. There were, however, present at the competition certain +Milanese gentlemen of the first consequence, who said: “Most blessed +Father, your Holiness is sending this magnificent present into France; +please to reflect that the French are people of no culture, and will not +understand the excellence of Benvenuto’s work; pyxes like this one of +Tobbia’s will suit their taste well, and these too can be finished +quicker. [1] Benvenuto will devote himself to completing your chalice, +and you will get two pieces done in the same time; moreover, this poor +man, whom you have brought to Rome, will have the chance to be +employed.” The Pope, who was anxious to obtain his chalice, very +willingly adopted the advice of the Milanese gentlefolk. + +Next day, therefore, he commissioned Tobbia to mount the unicorn’s horn, +and sent his Master of the Wardrobe to bid me finish the chalice. [2] I +replied that I desired nothing in the world more than to complete the +beautiful work I had begun: and if the material had been anything but +gold, I could very easily have done so myself; but it being gold, his +Holiness must give me some of the metal if he wanted me to get through +with my work. To this the vulgar courtier answered: “Zounds! don’t ask +the Pope for gold, unless you mean to drive him into such a fury as will +ruin you.” I said: “Oh, my good lord, will your lordship please to tell +me how one can make bread without flour? Even so without gold this piece +of mine cannot be finished.” The Master of the Wardrobe, having an +inkling that I had made a fool of him, told me he should report all I +had spoken to his Holiness; and this he did. The Pope flew into a +bestial passion, and swore he would wait to see if I was so mad as not +to finish it. More than two months passed thus; and though I had +declared I would not give a stroke to the chalice, I did not do so, but +always went on working with the greatest interest. When he perceived I +was not going to bring it, he began to display real displeasure, and +protested he would punish me in one way or another. + +A jeweller from Milan in the Papal service happened to be present when +these words were spoken. He was called Pompeo, and was closely related +to Messer Trajano, the most favoured servant of Pope Clement. The two +men came, upon a common understanding, to him and said: “If your +Holiness were to deprive Benvenuto of the Mint, perhaps he would take it +into his head to complete the chalice.” To this the Pope answered” “No; +two evil things would happen: first, I should be ill served in the Mint, +which concerns me greatly; and secondly, I should certainly not get the +chalice.” The two Milanese, observing the Pope indisposed towards me, at +last so far prevailed that he deprived me of the Mint, and gave it to a +young Perugian, commonly known as Fagiuolo. [3] Pompeo came to inform me +that his Holiness had taken my place in the Mint away, and that if I did +not finish the chalice, he would deprive me of other things besides. I +retorted: “Tell his Holiness that he has deprived himself and not me of +the Mint, and that he will be doing the same with regard to those other +things of which he speaks; and that if he wants to confer the post on me +again, nothing will induce me to accept it.” The graceless and unlucky +fellow went off like an arrow to find the Pope and report this +conversation; he added also something of his own invention. Eight days +later, the Pope sent the same man to tell me that he did not mean me to +finish the chalice, and wanted to have it back precisely at the point to +which I had already brought it. I told Pompeo: “This thing is not like +the Mint, which it was in his power to take away; but five hundred +crowns which I received belong to his Holiness, and I am ready to return +them; the piece itself is mine, and with it I shall do what I think +best.” Pompeo ran off to report my speech, together with some biting +words which in my righteous anger I had let fly at himself. + +Note 1. The word I have translated 'pyxes' is 'ciborii,' vessels for +holding the Eucharist. + +Note 2. The Master of the Wardrobe was at that time Giovanni Aleotti. I +need hardly remind my readers that 'Guardaroba' or wardrobe was the +apartment in a palace where arms, plate, furniture, and clothes were +stored. We shall find, when we come to Cellini’s service under Duke +Cosimo, that princes spent much of their time in this place. + +Note 3. Vasari mentions a Girolamo Fagiuoli, who flourished at this +period but calls him a Bolognese. + +LXI + +AFTER the lapse of three days, on a Thursday, there came to me two +favourite Chamberlains of his Holiness; one of them is alive now, and a +bishop; he was called Messer Pier Giovanni, and was an officer of the +wardrobe; the other could claim nobler birth, but his name has escaped +me. On arriving they spoke as follows: The Pope hath sent us. Benvenuto; +and since you have not chosen to comply with his request on easy terms, +his commands now are that either you should give us up his piece, or +that we should take you to prison.” Thereupon I looked them very +cheerfully in the face, replying: “My lords, if I were to give the work +to his Holiness, I should be giving what is mine and not his, and at +present I have no intention to make him this gift. I have brought it far +forward with great labour, and do not want it to go into the hands of +some ignorant beast who will destroy it with no trouble.” While I spoke +thus, the goldsmith Tobbia was standing by, who even presumptuously +asked me for the models also of my work. What I retorted, in words +worthy of such a rascal, need not here be repeated. Then, when those +gentlemen, the Chamberlains, kept urging me to do quickly what I meant +to do, I told them I was ready. So I took my cape up, and before I left +the shop, I turned to an image of Christ, with solemn reverence and cap +in hand, praying as thus: “O gracious and undying, just and holy our +Lord, all the things thou doest are according to thy justice, which hath +no peer on earth. Thou knowest that I have exactly reached the age of +thirty, and that up to this hour I was never threatened with a prison +for any of my actions. Now that it is thy will that I should go to +prison, with all my heart I thank thee for this dispensation.” Thereat I +turned round to the two Chamberlains, and addressed them with a certain +lowering look I have: “A man of my quality deserved no meaner catchpoles +than your lordships: place me between you, and take me as your prisoner +where you like.” Those two gentlemen, with the most perfect manners, +burst out laughing, and put me between them; and so we went off, talking +pleasantly, until they brought me to the Governor of Rome, who was +called Il Magalotto. [1] When I reached him (and the Procurator-Fiscal +was with him both waiting for me), the Pope’s Chamberlains, still +laughing, said to the Governor: “We give up to you this prisoner; now +see you take good care of him. We are very glad to have acted in the +place of your agents; for Benvenuto has told us that this being his +first arrest, he deserved no catchpoles of inferior station than we +are.” Immediately on leaving us, they sought the Pope; and when they had +minutely related the whole matter, he made at first as though he would +give way to passion, but afterwards he put control upon himself and +laughed, because there were then in the presence certain lords and +cardinals, my friends, who had warmly espoused my cause. + +Meanwhile, the Governor and the Fiscal were at me, partly bullying, +partly expostulating, partly giving advice, and saying it was only +reason that a man who ordered work from another should be able to +withdraw it at his choice, and in any way which he thought best. To this +I replied that such proceedings were not warranted by justice, neither +could a Pope act thus; for that a Pope is not of the same kind as +certain petty tyrant princes, who treat their folk as badly as they can, +without regard to law or justice; and so a Vicar of Christ may not +commit any of these acts of violence. Thereat the Governor, assuming his +police-court style of threatening and bullying, began to say: +“Benvenuto, Benvenuto, you are going about to make me treat you as you +deserve.” “You will treat me with honour and courtesy, if you wish to +act as I deserve.” Taking me up again, he cried: “Send for the work at +once, and don’t wait for a second order.” I responded: “My lords, grant +me the favour of being allowed to say four more words in my defence.” +The Fiscal, who was a far more reasonable agent of police than the +Governor, turned to him and said: “Monsignor, suppose we let him say a +hundred words, if he likes: so long as he gives up the work, that is +enough for us.” I spoke: “If any man you like to name had ordered a +palace or a house to be built, he could with justice tell the +master-mason:’I do not want you to go on working at my house or palace;’ +and after paying him his labour, he would have the right to dismiss him. +Likewise, if a nobleman gave commission for a jewel of a thousand +crowns’ value to be set, when he saw that the jeweller was not serving +him according to his desire, he could say:’Give me back my stone, for I +do not want your work.’ But in a case of this kind none of those +considerations apply; there is neither house nor jewel here; nobody can +command me further than that I should return the five hundred crowns +which I have had. Therefore, monsignori, do everything you can do; for +you will get nothing from me beyond the five hundred crowns. Go and say +this to the Pope. Your threats do not frighten me at all; for I am an +honest man, and stand in no fear of my sins.” The Governor and Fiscal +rose, and said they were going to the Pope, and should return with +orders which I should soon learn to my cost. So I remained there under +guard. I walked up and down a large hall, and they were about three +hours away before they came back from the Pope. In that while the flower +of our nation among the merchants came to visit me, imploring me not to +persist in contending with a Pope, for this might be the ruin of me. I +answered them that I had made my mind up quite well what I wished to do. + +Note 1. Gregorio Magalotti was a Roman. The Procurator-Fiscal was then +Benedetto Valenti. Magalotti is said to have discharged his office with +extreme severity, and to have run great risks of his life in consequence. + +LXII + +NO sooner had the Governor returned, together with the Procurator, from +the palace, than he sent for me, and spoke to this effect: “Benvenuto, I +am certainly sorry to come back from the Pope with such commands as I +have received; you must either produce the chalice on the instant, or +look to your affairs.” Then I replied that “inasmuch as I had never to +that hour believed a holy Vicar of Christ could commit an unjust act, so +I should like to see it before I did believe it; therefore do the utmost +that you can.” The Governor rejoined: “I have to report a couple of +words more from the Pope to you, and then I will execute the orders +given me. He says that you must bring your work to me here, and that +after I have seen it put into a box and sealed, I must take it to him. +He engages his word not to break the seal, and to return the piece to +you untouched. But this much he wants to have done, in order to preserve +his own honour in the affair.” In return to this speech, I answered, +laughing, that I would very willingly give up my work in the way he +mentioned, because I should be glad to know for certain what a Pope’s +word was really worth. + +Accordingly, I sent for my piece, and having had it sealed as described, +gave it up to him. The Governor repaired again to the Pope, who took the +box, according to what the Governor himself told me, and turned it +several times about. Then he asked the Governor if he had seen the work; +and he replied that he had, and that it had been sealed up in his +presence, and added that it had struck him as a very admirable piece. +Thereupon the Pope said: “You shall tell Benvenuto that Popes have +authority to bind and loose things of far greater consequence than +this;” and while thus speaking he opened the box with some show of +anger, taking off the string and seals with which it was done up. +Afterwards he paid it prolonged attention; and, as I subsequently heard, +showed it to Tobbia the gold-smith, who bestowed much praise upon it. +Then the Pope asked him if he felt equal to producing a piece in that +style. On his saying yes, the Pope told him to follow it out exactly; +then turned to the Governor and said: “See whether Benvenuto will give +it up; for if he does, he shall be paid the value fixed on it by men of +knowledge in this art; but if he is really bent on finishing it himself, +let him name a certain time; and if you are convinced that he means to +do it, let him have all the reasonable accommodations he may ask for.” +The Governor replied: “Most blessed Father, I know the violent temper of +this young man; so let me have authority to give him a sound rating +after my own fashion.” The Pope told him to do what he liked with words, +though he was sure he would make matters worse; and if at last he could +do nothing else, he must order me to take the five hundred crowns to his +jeweller, Pompeo. + +The Governor returned, sent for me into his cabinet, and casting one of +his catchpole’s glances, began to speak as follows: “Popes have +authority to loose and bind the whole world, and what they do is +immediately ratified in heaven. Behold your box, then, which has been +opened and inspected by his Holiness.” I lifted up my voice at once, and +said: “I thank God that now I have learned and can report what the faith +of Popes is made of.” Then the Governor launched out into brutal +bullying words and gestures; but perceiving that they came to nothing, +he gave up his attempt as desperate, and spoke in somewhat milder tones +after this wise: “Benvenuto, I am very sorry that you are so blind to +your own interest; but since it is so, go and take the five hundred +crowns, when you think fit, to Pompeo.” I took my piece up, went away, +and carried the crowns to Pompeo on the instant. It is most likely that +the Pope had counted on some want of money or other opportunity +preventing me from bringing so considerable a sum at once, and was +anxious in this way to repiece the broken thread of my obedience. When +then he saw Pompeo coming to him with a smile upon his lips and the +money in his hand, he soundly rated him, and lamented that the affair +had turned out so. Then he said: “Go find Benvenuto in his shop, and +treat him with all the courtesies of which your ignorant and brutal +nature is capable, and tell him that if he is willing to finish that +piece for a reliquary to hold the Corpus Domini when I walk in +procession, I will allow him the conveniences he wants in order to +complete it; provided only that he goes on working.” Pompeo came to me, +called me outside the shop, and heaped on me the most mawkish caresses +of a donkey, [1] reporting everything the Pope had ordered. I lost no +time in answering that “the greatest treasure I could wish for in the +world was to regain the favour of so great a Pope, which had been lost +to me, not indeed by my fault, but by the fault of my overwhelming +illness and the wickedness of those envious men who take pleasure in +making mischief; and since the Pope has plenty of servants, do not let +him send you round again, if you value your life... nay, look well to +your safety. I shall not fail, by night or day, to think and do +everything I can in the Pope’s service; and bear this well in mind, that +when you have reported these words to his Holiness, you never in any way +whatever meddle with the least of my affairs, for I will make you +recognise your errors by the punishment they merit.” The fellow related +everything to the Pope, but in far more brutal terms than I had used; +and thus the matter rested for a time while I again attended to my shop +and business. + +Note 1. 'Le più isvenevole carezze d’asino.' + +LXIII + +TOBBIA the goldsmith meanwhile worked at the setting and the decoration +of the unicorn’s horn. The Pope, moreover, commissioned him to begin the +chalice upon the model he had seen in mine. But when Tobbia came to show +him what he had done, he was very discontented, and greatly regretted +that he had broken with me, blaming all the other man’s works and the +people who had introduced them to him; and several times Baccino della +Croce came from him to tell me that I must not neglect the reliquary. I +answered that I begged his Holiness to let me breathe a little after the +great illness I had suffered, and from which I was not as yet wholly +free, adding that I would make it clear to him that all the hours in +which I could work should be spent in his service. I had indeed begun to +make his portrait, and was executing a medal in secret. I fashioned the +steel dies for stamping this medal in my own house; while I kept a +partner in my workshop, who had been my prentice and was called Felice. + +At that time, as is the wont of young men, I had fallen in love with a +Sicilian girl, who was exceedingly beautiful. On it becoming clear that +she returned my affection, her mother perceived how the matter stood, +and grew suspicious of what might happen. The truth is that I had +arranged to elope with the girl for a year to Florence, unknown to her +mother; but she, getting wind of this, left Rome secretly one night, and +went off in the direction of Naples. She gave out that she was gone by +Cività Vecchia, but she really went by Ostia. I followed them to Cività +Vecchia, and did a multitude of mad things to discover her. It would be +too long to narrate them all in detail; enough that I was on the point +of losing my wits or dying. After two months she wrote to me that she +was in Sicily, extremely unhappy. I meanwhile was indulging myself in +all the pleasures man can think of, and had engaged in another love +affair, merely to drown the memory of my real passion. + +LXIV + +IT happened through a variety of singular accidents that I became +intimate with a Sicilian priest, who was a man of very elevated genius +and well instructed in both Latin and Greek letters. In the course of +conversation one day we were led to talk about the art of necromancy; +apropos of which I said: “Throughout my whole life I have had the most +intense desire to see or learn something of this art.” Thereto the +priest replied: “A stout soul and a steadfast must the man have who sets +himself to such an enterprise.” I answered that of strength and +steadfastness of soul I should have enough and to spare, provided I +found the opportunity. Then the priest said: “If you have the heart to +dare it, I will amply satisfy your curiosity.” Accordingly we agreed +upon attempting the adventure. + +The priest one evening made his preparations, and bade me find a +comrade, or not more than two. I invited Vincenzio Romoli, a very dear +friend of mine, and the priest took with him a native of Pistoja, who +also cultivated the black art. We went together to the Coliseum; and +there the priest, having arrayed himself in necromancer’s robes, began +to describe circles on the earth with the finest ceremonies that can be +imagined. I must say that he had made us bring precious perfumes and +fire, and also drugs of fetid odour. When the preliminaries were +completed, he made the entrance into the circle; and taking us by the +hand, introduced us one by one inside it. Then he assigned our several +functions; to the necromancer, his comrade, he gave the pentacle to +hold; the other two of us had to look after the fire and the perfumes; +and then he began his incantations. This lasted more than an hour and a +half; when several legions appeared, and the Coliseum was all full of +devils. I was occupied with the precious perfumes, and when the priest +perceived in what numbers they were present, he turned to me and said: +“Benvenuto, ask them something.” I called on them to reunite me with my +Sicilian Angelica. That night we obtained no answer; but I enjoyed the +greatest satisfaction of my curiosity in such matters. The necromancer +said that we should have to go a second time, and that I should obtain +the full accomplishment of my request; but he wished me to bring with me +a little boy of pure virginity. + +I chose one of my shop-lads, who was about twelve years old, and invited +Vincenzio Romoli again; and we also took a certain Agnolino Gaddi, who +was a very intimate friend of both. When we came once more to the place +appointed, the necromancer made just the same preparations, attended by +the same and even more impressive details. Then he introduced us into +the circle, which he had reconstructed with art more admirable and yet +more wondrous ceremonies. Afterwards he appointed my friend Vincenzio to +the ordering of the perfumes and the fire, and with him Agnolino Gaddi. +He next placed in my hand the pentacle, which he bid me turn toward the +points he indicated, and under the pentacle I held the little boy, my +workman. Now the necromancer began to utter those awful invocations, +calling by name on multitudes of demons who are captains of their +legions, and these he summoned by the virtue and potency of God, the +Uncreated, Living, and Eternal, in phrases of the Hebrew, and also of +the Greek and Latin tongues; insomuch that in a short space of time the +whole Coliseum was full of a hundredfold as many as had appeared upon +the first occasion. Vincenzio Romoli, together with Agnolino, tended the +fire and heaped on quantities of precious perfumes. At the advice of the +necromancer, I again demanded to be reunited with Angelica. The sorcerer +turned to me and said: “Hear you what they have replied; that in the +space of one month you will be where she is?” Then once more he prayed +me to stand firm by him, because the legions were a thousandfold more +than he had summoned, and were the most dangerous of all the denizens of +hell; and now that they had settled what I asked, it behoved us to be +civil to them and dismiss them gently. On the other side, the boy, who +was beneath the pentacle, shrieked out in terror that a million of the +fiercest men were swarming round and threatening us. He said, moreover, +that four huge giants had appeared, who were striving to force their way +inside the circle. Meanwhile the necromancer, trembling with fear, kept +doing his best with mild and soft persuasions to dismiss them. Vincenzio +Romoli, who quaked like an aspen leaf, looked after the perfumes. Though +I was quite as frightened as the rest of them, I tried to show it less, +and inspired them all with marvellous courage; but the truth is that I +had given myself up for dead when I saw the terror of the necromancer. +The boy had stuck his head between his knees, exclaiming: “This is how I +will meet death, for we are certainly dead men.” Again I said to him: +“These creatures are all inferior to us, and what you see is only smoke +and shadow; so then raise your eyes.” When he had raised them he cried +out: “The whole Coliseum is in flames, and the fire is advancing on us;” +then covering his face with his hands, he groaned again that he was +dead, and that he could not endure the sight longer. The necromancer +appealed for my support, entreating me to stand firm by him, and to have +assafetida flung upon the coals; so I turned to Vincenzio Romoli, and +told him to make the fumigation at once. While uttering these words I +looked at Agnolino Gaddi, whose eyes were starting from their sockets in +his terror, and who was more than half dead, and said to him: “Agnolo, +in time and place like this we must not yield to fright, but do the +utmost to bestir ourselves; therefore, up at once, and fling a handful +of that assafetida upon the fire.” Agnolo, at the moment when he moved +to do this, let fly such a volley from his breech, that it was far more +effectual than the assafetida. [1] The boy, roused by that great stench +and noise, lifted his face little, and hearing me laugh, he plucked up +courage, and said the devils were taking to flight tempestuously. So we +abode thus until the matinbells began to sound. Then the boy told us +again that but few remained, and those were at a distance. When the +necromancer had concluded his ceremonies, he put off his wizard’s robe, +and packed up a great bundle of books which he had brought with him; +then, all together, we issued with him from the circle, huddling as +close as we could to one another, especially the boy, who had got into +the middle, and taken the necromancer by his gown and me by the cloak. +All the while that we were going toward our houses in the Banchi, he +kept saying that two of the devils he had seen in the Coliseum were +gamboling in front of us, skipping now along the roofs and now upon the +ground. The necromancer assured me that, often as he had entered magic +circles, he had never met with such a serious affair as this. He also +tried to persuade me to assist him in consecrating a book, by means of +which we should extract immeasurable wealth, since we could call up +fiends to show us where treasures were, whereof the earth is full; and +after this wise we should become the richest of mankind: love affairs +like mine were nothing but vanities and follies without consequence. I +replied that if I were a Latin scholar I should be very willing to do +what he suggested. He continued to persuade me by arguing that Latin +scholarship was of no importance, and that, if he wanted, he could have +found plenty of good Latinists; but that he had never met with a man of +soul so firm as mine, and that I ought to follow his counsel. Engaged in +this conversation, we reached our homes, and each one of us dreamed all +that night of devils. + +Note 1. 'Fece una istrombazzata di coregge con tanta abundanzia di +merda.' + +LXV + +AS we were in the habit of meeting daily, the necromancer kept urging me +to join in his adventure. Accordingly, I asked him how long it would +take, and where we should have to go. To this he answered that we might +get through with it in less than a month, and that the most suitable +locality for the purpose was the hill country of Norcia; [1] a master of +his in the art had indeed consecrated such a book quite close to Rome, +at a place called the Badia di Farfa; but he had met with some +difficulties there, which would not occur in the mountains of Norcia; +the peasants also of that district are people to be trusted, and have +some practice in these matters, so that at a pinch they are able to +render valuable assistance. + +This priestly sorcerer moved me so by his persuasions that I was well +disposed to comply with his request; but I said I wanted first to finish +the medals I was making for the Pope. I had confided what I was doing +about them to him alone, begging him to keep my secret. At the same time +I never stopped asking him if he believed that I should be reunited to +my Sicilian Angelica at the time appointed; for the date was drawing +near, and I thought it singular that I heard nothing about her. The +necromancer told me that it was quite certain I should find myself where +she was, since the devils never break their word when they promise, as +they did on that occasion; but he bade me keep my eyes open, and be on +the look out against some accident which might happen to me in that +connection, and put restraint upon myself to endure somewhat against my +inclination, for he could discern a great and imminent danger in it: +well would it be for me if I went with him to consecrate the book, since +this would avert the peril that menaced me, and would make us both most +fortunate. + +I was beginning to hanker after the adventure more than he did; but I +said that a certain Maestro Giovanni of Castel Bolognese had just come +to Rome, very ingenious in the art of making medals of the sort I made +in steel, and that I thirsted for nothing more than to compete with him +and take the world by storm with some great masterpiece, which I hoped +would annihilate all those enemies of mine by the force of genius and +not the sword. [2] The sorcerer on his side went on urging: “Nay, +prithee, Benvenuto, come with me and shun a great disaster which I see +impending over you.” However, I had made my mind up, come what would, to +finish my medal, and we were now approaching the end of the month. I was +so absorbed and enamoured by my work that I thought no more about +Angelica or anything of that kind, but gave my whole self up to it. + +Note 1. This district of the Central Apennines was always famous for +witches, poisoners, and so forth. The Farfa mentioned below is a village +of the Sabine hills. + +Note 2. Gio. Bernardi had been in the Duke of Ferrara’s service. Giovio +brought him to Rome, where he was patronised by the Cardinals Salviati +and De’ Medici. He made a famous medal of Clement VII., and was a +Pontifical mace-bearer. He died at Faenza in 1555. + +LXVI + +IT happened one day, close on the hours of vespers, that I had to go at +an unusual time for me from my house to my workshop; for I ought to say +that the latter was in the Banchi, while I lived behind the Banchi, and +went rarely to the shop; all my business there I left in the hands of my +partner, Felice. Having stayed a short while in the workshop, I +remembered that I had to say something to Alessandro del Bene. So I +arose, and when I reached the Banchi, I met a man called Ser Benedetto, +who was a great friend of mine. He was a notary, born in Florence, son +of a blind man who said prayers about the streets for alms, and a +Sienese by race. This Ser Benedetto had been very many years at Naples; +afterwards he had settled in Rome, where he transacted business for some +Sienese merchants of the Chigi. [1] My partner had over and over again +asked him for some moneys which were due for certain little rings +confided to Ser Benedetto. That very day, meeting him in the Banchi, he +demanded his money rather roughly, as his wont was. Benedetto was +walking with his masters, and they, annoyed by the interruption, scolded +him sharply, saying they would be served by somebody else, in order not +to have to listen to such barking. Ser Benedetto did the best he could +to excuse himself, swore that he had paid the goldsmith, and said he had +no power to curb the rage of madmen. The Sienese took his words ill, and +dismissed him on the spot. Leaving them, he ran like an arrow to my +shop, probably to take revenge upon Felice. It chanced that just in the +middle of the street we met. I, who had heard nothing of the matter, +greeted him most kindly, according to my custom, to which courtesy he +replied with insults. Then what the sorcerer had said flashed all at +once upon my mind; and bridling myself as well as I was able, in the way +he bade me, I answered: “Good brother Benedetto, don’t fly into a rage +with me, for I have done you no harm, nor do I know anything about these +affairs of yours. Please go and finish what you have to do with Felice. +He is quite capable of giving you a proper answer; but inasmuch as I +know nothing about it, you are wrong to abuse me in this way, especially +as you are well aware that I am not the man to put up with insults.” He +retorted that I knew everything, and that he was the man to make me bear +a heavier load than that, and that Felice and I were two great rascals. +By this time a crowd had gathered round to hear the quarrel. Provoked by +his ugly words, I stooped and took up a lump of mud-for it had +rained-and hurled it with a quick and unpremeditated movement at his +face. He ducked his head, so that the mud hit him in the middle of the +skull. There was a stone in it with several sharp angles, one of which +striking him, he fell stunned like a dead man: whereupon all the +bystanders, seeing the great quantity of blood, judged that he was +really dead. + +Note 1. The MS. has Figi; but this is probably a mistake of the +amanuensis. + +LXVII + +WHILE he was still lying on the ground, and people were preparing to +carry him away, Pompeo the jeweller passed by. The Pope had sent for him +to give orders about some jewels. Seeing the fellow in such a miserable +plight, he asked who had struck him; on which they told him: “Benvenuto +did it, but the stupid creature brought it down upon himself.” No sooner +had Pompeo reached the Pope than he began to speak: “Most blessed +Father, Benvenuto has this very moment murdered Tobbia; I saw it with my +own eyes.” On this the Pope in a fury ordered the Governor, who was in +the presence, to take and hang me at once in the place where the +homicide had been committed, adding that he must do all he could to +catch me, and not appear again before him until he had hanged me. + +When I saw the unfortunate Benedetto stretched upon the ground, I +thought at once of the peril I was in, considering the power of my +enemies, and what might ensue from this disaster. Making off, I took +refuge in the house of Messer Giovanni Gaddi, clerk of the Camera, with +the intention of preparing as soon as possible to escape from Rome. He, +however, advised me not to be in such a hurry, for it might turn out +perhaps that the evil was not so great as I imagined; and calling Messer +Annibal Caro, who lived with him, bade him go for information. + +While these arrangements were being made, A Roman gentleman appeared, +who belonged to the household of Cardinal de’ Medici, and had been sent +by him. [1] Taking Messer Giovanni and me apart, he told us that the +Cardinal had reported to him what the Pope said, and that there was no +way of helping me out of the scrape; it would be best for me to shun the +first fury of the storm by flight, and not to risk myself in any house +in Rome. Upon this gentleman’s departure, Messer Giovanni looked me in +the face as though he were about to cry, and said: “Ah me! Ah woe is me! +There is nothing I can do to aid you!” I replied: “By God’s means, I +shall aid myself alone; only I request you to put one of your horses at +my disposition.” They had already saddled a black Turkish horse, the +finest and the best in Rome. I mounted with an arquebuse upon the +saddle-bow, wound up in readiness to fire, if need were. [2] When I +reached Ponte Sisto, I found the whole of the Bargello’s guard there, +both horse and foot. So, making a virtue of necessity, I put my horse +boldly to a sharp trot, and with God’s grace, being somehow unperceived +by them, passed freely through. Then, with all the speed I could, I took +the road to Palombara, a fief of my lord Giovanbatista Savello, whence I +sent the horse back to Messer Giovanni, without, however, thinking it +well to inform him where I was. [3] Lord Giovanbatista, after very +kindly entertaining me two days, advised me to remove and go toward +Naples till the storm blew over. So, providing me with company, he set +me on the way to Naples. + +While travelling, I met a sculptor of my acquaintance, who was going to +San Germano to finish the tomb of Piero de’ Medici at Monte Cassino. [4] +His name was Solosmeo, and he gave me the news that on the very evening +of the fray, Pope Clement sent one of his chamberlains to inquire how +Tobbia was getting on. Finding him at work, unharmed, and without even +knowing anything about the matter, the messenger went back and told the +Pope, who turned round to Pompeo and said: “You are a good-for-nothing +rascal; but I promise you well that you have stirred a snake up which +will sting you, and serve you right!” Then he addressed himself to +Cardinal de’ Medici, and commissioned him to look after me, adding that +he should be very sorry to let me slip through his fingers. And so +Solosmeo and I went on our way singing toward Monte Cassino, intending +to pursue our journey thence in company toward Naples. + +Note 1. Ippolito de’ Medici was a Cardinal, much against his natural +inclination. When he went as Papal Legate to Hungary in 1532, he assumed +the airs and style of a Condottiere. His jealousy of his cousin +Alessandro led to his untimely death by poison in 1535. + +Note 2. The gun was an 'arquebuso a ruola,' which had a wheel to cock it. + +Note 3. A village in the Sabina, north of Tivoli. Giov. Battista +Savelli, of a great Roman house, was a captain of cavalry in the Papal +service after 1530. In 1540 he entered the service of Duke Cosimo, and +died in 1553. + +Note 4. This sculptor was Antonio Solosmeo of Settignano. The monument +erected to Piero de’ Medici (drowned in the Garigliano, 1504) at Monte +Cassino is by no means a brilliant piece of Florentine art. Piero was +the exiled son of Lorenzo the Magnificent; and the Medici, when they +regained their principality, erected this monument to his memory, +employing Antonio da San Gallo, Francesco da San Gallo and a Neapolitan, +Matteo de’ Quaranta. The work was begun in 1532. Solosmeo appears from +this passage in Cellini to have taken the execution of it over. + +LXVIII + +WHEN Solosmeo had inspected his affairs at Monte Cassino, we resumed our +journey; and having come within a mile of Naples, we were met by an +innkeeper, who invited us to his house, and said he had been at Florence +many years with Carlo Ginori; [1] adding, that if we put up at his inn, +he would treat us most kindly, for the reason that we both were +Florentines. We told him frequently that we did not want to go to him. +However, he kept passing, sometimes in front and sometimes behind, +perpetually repeating that he would have us stop at his hostelry. When +this began to bore me, I asked if he could tell me anything about a +certain Sicilian woman called Beatrice, who had a beautiful daughter +named Angelica, and both were courtesans. Taking it into his head that I +was jeering him, he cried out: “God send mischief to all courtesans and +such as favour them!” Then he set spurs to his horse, and made off as +though he was resolved to leave us. I felt some pleasure at having rid +myself in so fair a manner of that ass of an innkeeper; and yet I was +rather the loser than the gainer; for the great love I bore Angelica had +come back to my mind, and while I was conversing, not without some +lover’s sighs, upon this subject with Solosmeo, we saw the man returning +to us at a gallop. When he drew up, he said: “Two or perhaps three days +ago a woman and a girl came back to a house in my neighbourhood; they +had the names you mentioned, but whether they are Sicilians I cannot +say.” I answered: “Such power over me has that name of Angelica, that I +am now determined to put up at your inn.” + +We rode on all together with mine host into the town of Naples, and +descended at his house. Minutes seemed years to me till I had put my +things in order, which I did in the twinkling of an eye; then I went to +the house, which was not far from our inn, and found there my Angelica, +who greeted me with infinite demonstrations of the most unbounded +passion. I stayed with her from evenfall until the following morning, +and enjoyed such pleasure as I never had before or since; but while +drinking deep of this delight, it occurred to my mind how exactly on +that day the month expired, which had been prophesied within the +necromantic circle by the devils. So then let every man who enters into +relation with those spirits weigh well the inestimable perils I have +passed through! + +Note 1. A Gonfalonier of the Republic in 1527. + +LXIX + +I HAPPENED to have in my purse a diamond, which I showed about among the +goldsmiths; and though I was but young, my reputation as an able artist +was so well known even at Naples that they welcomed me most warmly. +Among others, I made acquaintance with a most excellent companion, a +jeweller, Messer Domenico Fontana by name. This worthy man left his shop +for the three days that I spent in Naples, nor even quitted my company, +but showed me many admirable monuments of antiquity in the city and its +neigbourhood. Moreover, he took me to pay my respects to the Viceroy of +Naples, who had let him know that he should like to see me. When I +presented myself to his Excellency, he received me with much honour; [1] +and while we were exchanging compliments, the diamond which I have +mentioned caught his eye. He made me show it him, and prayed me, if I +parted with it, to give him the refusal. Having taken back the stone, I +offered it again to his Excellency, adding that the diamond and I were +at his service. Then he said that the diamond pleased him well, but that +he should be much better pleased if I were to stay with him; he would +make such terms with me as would cause me to feel satisfied. We spoke +many words of courtesy on both sides; and then coming to the merits of +the diamond, his Excellency bade me without hesitation name the price at +which I valued it. Accordingly I said that it was worth exactly two +hundred crowns. He rejoined that in his opinion I had not overvalued it; +but that since I had set it, and he knew me for the first artist in the +world, it would not make the same effect when mounted by another hand. +To this I said that I had not set the stone, and that it was not well +set; its brilliancy was due to its own excellence; and that if I were to +mount it afresh, I could make it show far better than it did. Then I put +my thumb-nail to the angels of its facets, took it from the ring, +cleaned it up a little, and handed it to the Viceroy. Delighted and +astonished, he wrote me out a cheque [2] for the two hundred crowns I +had demanded. + +When I returned to my lodging, I found letters from the Cardinal de’ +Medici, in which he told me to come back post-haste to Rome, and to +dismount without delay at the palace of his most reverend lordship. I +read the letter to my Angelica, who begged me with tears of affection +either to remain in Naples or to take her with me. I replied that if she +was disposed to come with me, I would give up to her keeping the two +hundred ducats I had received from the Viceroy. Her mother perceiving us +in this close conversation, drew nigh and said: “Benvenuto, if you want +to take my daughter to Rome, leave me a sum of fifteen ducats, to pay +for my lying-in, and then I will travel after you.” I told the old +harridan that I would very gladly leave her thirty if she would give me +my Angelica. We made the bargain, and Angelica entreated me to by her a +gown of black velvet, because the stuff was cheap at Naples. I consented +to everything, sent for the velvet, settled its price and paid for it; +then the old woman, who thought me over head and ears in love, begged +for a gown of fine cloth for herself, as well as other outlays for her +sons, and a good bit more money than I had offered. I turned to her with +a pleasant air and said: “My dear Beatrice, are you satisfied with what +I offered?” She answered that she was not; thereupon I said that what +was not enough for her would be quite enough for me; and having kissed +Angelica, we parted, she with tears, and I with laughter, and off at +once I set for Rome. + +Note 1. The Spanish Viceroy was at this time Pietro Alvarez de Toledo, +Marquis of Villafranca, and uncle of the famous Duke of Alva. He +governed Naples for twenty years, from 1532 onwards. + +Note 2. 'Mi fece una polizza.' A 'polizza' was an order for money, +practically identical with our 'cheque.' + +LXX + +I LEFT Naples by night with my money in my pocket, and this I did to +prevent being set upon or murdered, as is the way there; but when I came +to Selciata, [1] I had to defend myself with great address and bodily +prowess from several horsemen who came out to assassinate me. During the +following days, after leaving Solosmeo at his work in Monte Cassino, I +came one morning to breakfast at the inn of Adanagni; [2] and when I was +near the house, I shot some birds with my arquebuse. An iron spike, +which was in the lock of my musket, tore my right hand. Though the wound +was not of any consequence, it seemed to be so, because it bled +abundantly. Going into the inn, I put my horse up, and ascended to a +large gallery, where I found a party of Neapolitan gentlemen just upon +the point of sitting down to table; they had with them a young woman of +quality, the loveliest I ever saw. At the moment when I entered the +room, I was followed by a very brave young serving-man of mine holding a +big partisan in his hand. The sight of us, our arms, and the blood, +inspired those poor gentlemen with such terror, particularly as the +place was known to be a nest of murderers, that they rose from table and +called on God in a panic to protect them. I began to laugh, and said +that God had protected them already, for that I was a man to defend them +against whoever tried to do them harm. Then I asked them for something +to bind up my wounded hand; and the charming lady took out a +handkerchief richly embroidered with gold, wishing to make a bandage +with it. I refused; but she tore the piece in half, and in the gentlest +manner wrapt my hand up with her fingers. The company thus having +regained confidence, we dined together very gaily; and when the meal was +over, we all mounted and went off together. The gentlemen, however, were +not as yet quite at their ease; so they left me in their cunning to +entertain the lady, while they kept at a short distance behind. I rode +at her side upon a pretty little horse of mine, making signs to my +servant that he should keep somewhat apart, which gave us the +opportunity of discussing things that are not sold by the apothecary. +[3] In this way I journeyed to Rome with the greatest enjoyment I have +ever had. + +When I got to Rome, I dismounted at the palace of Cardinal de’ Medici, +and having obtained an audience of his most reverend lordship, paid my +respects, and thanked him warmly for my recall. I then entreated him to +secure me from imprisonment, and even from a fine if that were possible. +The Cardinal was very glad to see me; told me to stand in no fear; then +turned to one of his gentlemen, called Messer Pier Antonio Pecci of +Siena, ordering him to tell the Bargello not to touch me. [4] He then +asked him how the man was going on whose head I had broken with the +stone. Messer Pier Antonio replied that he was very ill, and that he +would probably be even worse; for when he heard that I was coming back +to Rome, he swore he would die to serve me an ill turn. When the +Cardinal heard that, he burst into a fit of laughter, and cried: “The +fellow could not have taken a better way than this to make us know that +he was born a Sienese.” After that he turned to me and said: “For our +reputation and your own, refrain these four or five days from going +about in the Banchi; after that go where you like, and let fools die at +their own pleasure.” + +I went home and set myself to finishing the medal which I had begun, +with the head of Pope Clement and a figure of Peace on the reverse. The +figure was a slender woman, dressed in very thin drapery, gathered at +the waist, with a little torch in her hand, which was burning a heap of +arms bound together like a trophy. In the background I had shown part of +a temple, where was Discord chained with a load of fetters. Round about +it ran a legend in these words: 'Clauduntur belli portæ.' [5] + +During the time that I was finishing this medal, the man whom I had +wounded recovered, and the Pope kept incessantly asking for me. I, +however, avoided visiting Cardinal de’ Medici; for whenever I showed my +face before him, his lordship gave me some commission of importance, +which hindered me from working at my medal to the end. Consequently +Messer Pier Carnesecchi, who was a great favourite of the Pope’s, +undertook to keep me in sight, and let me adroitly understand how much +the Pope desired my services. [6] I told him that in a few days I would +prove to his Holiness that his service had never been neglected by me. + +Note 1. Ponte a Selice, between Capua and Aversa. + +Note 2. Anagni, where Boniface VIII. was outraged to the death by the +French partisans of Philip le Bel. + +Note 3. 'I. e.,' private and sentimental. + +Note 4. This Pecci passed into the service of Caterina de’ Medici. In +1551 he schemed to withdraw Siena from the Spanish to the French cause, +and was declared a rebel. + +Note 5. The medal was struck to celebrate the peace in Christendom +between 1530 and 1536. + +Note 6. Pietro Carnesecchi was one of the martyrs of free-thought in +Italy. He adopted Protestant opinions, and was beheaded and burned in +Rome, August 1567. + +LXXI + +NOT many days had passed before, my medal being finished, I stamped it +in gold, silver, and copper. After I had shown it to Messer Pietro, he +immediately introduced me to the Pope. It was on a day in April after +dinner, and the weather very fine; the Pope was in the Belvedere. After +entering the presence, I put my medals together with the dies of steel +into his hand. He took them, and recognising at once their mastery of +art, looked Messer Pietro in the face and said: “The ancients never had +such medals made for them as these.” + +While he and the others were inspecting them, taking up now the dies and +now the medals in their hands, I began to speak as submissively as I was +able: “If a greater power had not controlled the working of my +inauspicious stars, and hindered that with which they violently menaced +me, your Holiness, without your fault or mine, would have lost a +faithful and loving servant. It must, most blessed Father, be allowed +that in those cases where men are risking all upon one throw, it is not +wrong to do as certain poor and simple men are wont to say, who tell us +we must mark seven times and cut once. [1] Your Holiness will remember +how the malicious and lying tongue of my bitter enemy so easily aroused +your anger, that you ordered the Governor to have me taken on the spot +and hanged; but I have no doubt that when you had become aware of the +irreparable act by which you would have wronged yourself, in cutting off +from you a servant such as even now your Holiness hath said he is, I am +sure, I repeat, that, before God and the world, you would have felt no +trifling twinges of remorse. Excellent and virtuous fathers, and masters +of like quality, ought not to let their arm in wrath descend upon their +sons and servants with such inconsiderate haste, seeing that subsequent +repentance will avail them nothing. But now that God has overruled the +malign influences of the stars and saved me for your Holiness, I humbly +beg you another time not to let yourself so easily be stirred to rage +against me.” + +The Pope had stopped from looking at the medals and was now listening +attentively to what I said. There were many noblemen of the greatest +consequence present, which made him blush a little, as it were for +shame; and not knowing how else to extricate himself from this +entanglement, he said that he could not remember having given such an +order. I changed the conversation in order to cover his embarrassment. +His Holiness then began to speak again about the medals, and asked what +method I had used to stamp them so marvelously, large as they were; for +he had never met with ancient pieces of that size. We talked a little on +this subject; but being not quite easy that I might not begin another +lecture sharper than the last, he praised my medals, and said they gave +him the greatest satisfaction, but that he should like another reverse +made according to a fancy of his own, if it were possible to stamp them +with two different patterns. I said that it was possible to do so. Then +his Holiness commissioned me to design the history of Moses when he +strikes the rock and water issues from it, with this motto: 'Ut bibat +populus.' [2] At last he added: “Go Benvenuto; you will not have +finished it before I have provided for your fortune.” After I had taken +leave, the Pope proclaimed before the whole company that he would give +me enough to live on wealthily without the need of labouring for any one +but him. So I devoted myself entirely to working out this reverse with +the Moses on it. + +Note 1. 'Segnar sette e tagliar uno.' A proverb derived possibly from +felling trees; or, as some commentators interpret, from the points made +by sculptors on their marble before they block the statue out. + +Note 2. The medal commemorated a deep well sunk by Clement at Orvieto. + +LXXII + +IN the meantime the Pope was taken ill, and his physicians thought the +case was dangerous. Accordingly my enemy began to be afraid of me, and +engaged some Neapolitan soldiers to do to me what he was dreading I +might do to him. [1] I had therefore much trouble to defend my poor +life. In course of time, however, I completed the reverse; and when I +took it to the Pope, I found him in bed in a most deplorable condition. +Nevertheless, he received me with the greatest kindness, and wished to +inspect the medals and the dies. He sent for spectacles and lights, but +was unable to see anything clearly. Then he began to fumble with his +fingers at them, and having felt them a short while, he fetched a deep +sigh, and said to his attendants that he was much concerned about me, +but that if God gave him back his health he would make it all right. + +Three days afterwards the Pope died, and I was left with all my labour +lost; yet I plucked up courage, and told myself that these medals had +won me so much celebrity, that any Pope who was elected would give me +work to do, and peradventure bring me better fortune. Thus I encouraged +and put heart into myself, and buried in oblivion all the injuries which +Pompeo had done me. Then putting on my arms and girding my sword, I went +to San Piero, and kissed the feet of the dead Pope, not without shedding +tears. Afterwards I returned to the Banchi to look on at the great +commotion which always happens on such occasions. + +While I was sitting in the street with several of my friends, Pompeo +went by, attended by ten men very well armed; and when he came just +opposite, he stopped, as though about to pick a quarrel with myself. My +companions, brave and adventurous young men, made signs to me to draw my +sword; but it flashed through my mind that if I drew, some terrible +mischief might result for persons who were wholly innocent. Therefore I +considered that it would be better if I put my life to risk alone. When +Pompeo had stood there time enough to say two Ave Marias, he laughed +derisively in my direction; and going off, his fellows also laughed and +wagged their heads, with many other insolent gestures. My companions +wanted to begin the fray at once; but I told them hotly that I was quite +able to conduct my quarrels to an end by myself, and that I had no need +of stouter fighters than I was; so that each of them might mind his +business. My friends were angry and went off muttering. Now there was +among them my dearest comrade, named Albertaccio del Bene, own brother +to Alessandro and Albizzo, who is now a very rich man in Lyons. He was +the most redoubtable young man I ever knew, and the most high-spirited, +and loved me like himself; and insomuch as he was well aware that my +forbearance had not been inspired by want of courage, but by the most +daring bravery, for he knew me down to the bottom of my nature, he took +my words up and begged me to favour him so far as to associate him with +myself in all I meant to do. I replied: “Dear Albertaccio, dearest to me +above all men that live, the time will very likely come when you shall +give me aid; but in this case, if you love me, do not attend to me, but +look to your own business, and go at once like our other friends, for +now there is no time to lose.” These words were spoken in one breath. + +Note 1. The meaning of this is, that if Clement died, Cellini would have +had his opportunity of vengeance during the anarchy which followed a +vacancy of the Papal See. + +LXXIII + +IN the meanwhile my enemies had proceeded slowly toward Chiavica, as the +place was called, and had arrived at the crossing of several roads, +going in different directions; but the street in which Pompeo’s house +stood was the one which leads straight to the Campo di Fiore. Some +business or other made him enter the apothecary’s shop which stood at +the corner of Chiavica, and there he stayed a while transacting it. I +had just been told that he had boasted of the insult which he fancied he +had put upon me; but be that as it may, it was to his misfortune; for +precisely when I came up to the corner, he was leaving the shop and his +bravi had opened their ranks and received him in their midst. I drew a +little dagger with a sharpened edge, and breaking the line of his +defenders, laid my hands upon his breast so quickly and coolly, that +none of them were able to prevent me. Then I aimed to strike him in the +face; but fright made him turn his head round; and I stabbed him just +beneath the ear. I only gave two blows, for he fell stone dead at the +second. I had not meant to kill him; but as the saying goes, knocks are +not dealt by measure. With my left hand I plucked back the dagger, and +with my right hand drew my sword to defend my life. However, all those +bravi ran up to the corpse and took no action against me; so I went back +alone through Strada Giulia, considering how best to put myself in +safety. + +I had walked about three hundred paces, when Piloto the goldsmith, my +very good friend, came up and said: “Brother, now that the mischief’s +done, we must see to saving you.” I replied: “Let us go to Albertaccio +del Bene’s house; it is only a few minutes since I told him I should +soon have need of him.” When we arrived there, Albertaccio and I +embraced with measureless affection; and soon the whole flower of the +young men of the Banchi, of all nations except the Milanese, came +crowding in; and each and all made proffer of their own life to save +mine. Messer Luigi Rucellai also sent with marvellous promptitude and +courtesy to put his services at my disposal, as did many other great +folk of his station; for they all agreed in blessing my hands, [1] +judging that Pompeo had done me too great and unforgivable an injury, +and marvelling that I had put up with him so long. + +Note 1. 'Tutti d’accordo mi benedissono le mani.' This is tantamount to +approving Cellini’s handiwork in murdering Pompeo. + +LXXIV + +CARDINAL CORNARO, on hearing of the affair, despatched thirty soldiers, +with as many partisans, pikes, and arquebuses, to bring me with all due +respect to his quarters. [1] This he did unasked; whereupon I accepted +the invitation, and went off with them, while more than as many of the +young men bore me company. Meanwhile, Messer Traiano, Pompeo’s relative +and first chamberlain to the Pope, sent a Milanese of high rank to +Cardinal de’ Medici, giving him news of the great crime I had committed, +and calling on his most reverend lordship to chastise me. The Cardinal +retorted on the spot: “His crime would indeed have been great if he had +not committed this lesser one; thank Messer Traiano from me for giving +me this information of a fact of which I had not heard before.” Then he +turned and in presence of the nobleman said to the Bishop of Frulli, [2] +his gentleman and intimate acquaintance: “Search diligently after my +friend Benvenuto; I want to help and defend him; and whoso acts against +thyself acts against myself.” The Milanese nobleman went back, much +disconcerted, while the Bishop of Frulli come to visit me at Cardinal +Cornaro’s palace. Presenting himself to the Cardinal, he related how +Cardinal de’ Medici had sent for Benvenuto, and wanted to be his +protector. Now Cardinal Cornaro who had the touchy temper of a bear, +flew into a rage, and told the Bishop he was quite as well able to +defend me as Cardinal de’ Medici. The Bishop, in reply, entreated to be +allowed to speak with me on some matters of his patron which had nothing +to do with the affair. Cornaro bade him for that day make as though he +had already talked with me. + +Cardinal de’ Medici was very angry. However, I went the following night, +without Cornaro’s knowledge, and under good escort, to pay him my +respects. Then I begged him to grant me the favour of leaving me where I +was, and told him of the great courtesy which Cornaro had shown me; +adding that if his most reverend lordship suffered me to stay, I should +gain one friend the more in my hour of need; otherwise his lordship +might dispose of me exactly as he thought best. He told me to do as I +liked; so I returned to Cornaro’s palace, and a few days afterwards the +Cardinal Farnese was elected Pope. 3 + +After he had put affairs of greater consequence in order, the new Pope +sent for me, saying that he did not wish any one else to strike his +coins. To these words of his Holiness a gentleman very privately +acquainted with him, named Messer Latino Juvinale, made answer that I +was in hiding for a murder committed on the person of one Pompeo of +Milan, and set forth what could be argued for my justification in the +most favourable terms. [4] The Pope replied: “I knew nothing of Pompeo’s +death, but plenty of Benvenuto’s provocation; so let a safe-conduct be +at once made out for him, in order that he may be placed in perfect +security.” A great friend of Pompeo’s, who was also intimate with the +Pope, happened to be there; he was a Milanese, called Messer Ambrogio. +[5] This man said: “In the first days of your papacy it were not well to +grant-pardons of this kind.” The Pope turned to him and answered: “You +know less about such matters than I do. Know then that men like +Benvenuto, unique in their profession, stand above the law; and how far +more he, then, who received the provocation I have heard of?” When my +safe conduct had been drawn out, I began at once to serve him, and was +treated with the utmost favour. + +Note 1. This was Francesco, brother to Cardinal Marco Cornaro. He +received the hat in 1528, while yet a layman, and the Bishopric of +Brescia in 1531. + +Note 2. This was Francesco, brother to Cardinal Marco Cornaro. He +received the hat in 1528, while yet a layman, and the Bishopric of +Brescia in 1531. + +Note 3. Paul III., elected October 13, 1534. + +Note 4. Latino Giovenale de’ Manetti was a Latin poet and a man of +humane learning, much esteemed by his contemporaries. + +Note 5. Ambrogio Recalcati. He was for many years the trusted secretary +and diplomatic agent of Paul III. + +LXXV + +MESSER LATINO JUVINALE came to call on me, and gave me orders to strike +the coins of the Pope. This roused up all my enemies, who began to look +about how they should hinder me; but the Pope, perceiving their drift, +scolded them, and insisted that I should go on working. I took the dies +in hand, designing a S. Paul, surrounded with this inscription: 'Vas +electionis.' This piece of money gave far more satisfaction than the +models of my competitors; so that the Pope forbade any one else to speak +to him of coins, since he wished me only to have to do with them. This +encouraged me to apply myself with untroubled spirit to the task; and +Messer Latino Juvinale, who had received such orders from the Pope, used +to introduce me to his Holiness. I had it much at heart to recover the +post of stamper to the Mint; but on this point the Pope took advice, and +then told me I must first obtain pardon for the homicide, and this I +should get at the holy Maries’ day in August through the Caporioni of +Rome. [1] I may say that it is usual every year on this solemn festival +to grant the freedom of twelve outlaws to these officers. Meanwhile he +promised to give me another safe-conduct, which should keep me in +security until that time. + +When my enemies perceived that they were quite unable to devise the +means of keeping me out of the Mint, they resorted to another expedient. +The deceased Pompeo had left three thousand ducats as dowry to an +illegitimate daughter of his; and they contrived that a certain +favourite of Signor Pier Luigi, the Pope’s son, should ask her hand in +marriage through the medium of his master. [2] Accordingly the match +came off; but this fellow was an insignificant country lad, who had been +brought up by his lordship; and, as folk said, he got but little of the +money, since his lordship laid his hands on it and had the mind to use +it. Now the husband of the girl, to please his wife, begged the prince +to have me taken up; and he promised to do so when the first flush of my +favour with the Pope had passed away. Things stood so about two months, +the servant always suing for his wife’s dower, the master putting him +off with pretexts, but assuring the woman that he would certainly +revenge her father’s murder. I obtained an inkling of these designs; yet +I did not omit to present myself pretty frequently to his lordship, who +made show of treating me with great distinction. He had, however, +decided to do one or other of two things-either to have me assassinated, +or to have me taken up by the Bargello. Accordingly he commissioned a +certain little devil of a Corsican soldier in his service to do the +trick as cleverly as he could; [3] and my other enemies, with Messer +Traiano at the head of them, promised the fellow a reward of one hundred +crowns. He assured them that the job would be as easy as sucking a fresh +egg. Seeing into their plot, I went about with my eyes open and with +good attendance, wearing an under-coat and armlets of mail, for which I +had obtained permission. + +The Corsican, influenced by avarice, hoped to gain the whole sum of +money without risk, and imagined himself capable of carrying the matter +through alone. Consequently, one day after dinner, he had me sent for in +the name of Signor Pier Luigi. I went off at once, because his lordship +had spoken of wanting to order several big silver vases. Leaving my home +in a hurry, armed, however, as usual, I walked rapidly through Strada +Giulia toward the Palazzo Farnese, not expecting to meet anybody at that +hour of day. I had reached the end of the street and was making toward +the palace, when, my habit being always to turn the corners wide, I +observed the Corsican get up and take his station in the middle of the +road. Being prepared, I was not in the least disconcerted; but kept upon +my guard, and slackening pace a little, drew nearer toward the wall, in +order to give the fellow a wide berth. He on his side came closer to the +wall, and when we were now within a short distance of each other, I +perceived by his gestures that he had it in his mind to do me mischief, +and seeing me alone thus, thought he should succeed. Accordingly, I +began to speak and said: “Brave soldier, if it had been night, you might +have said you had mistaken me, but since it is full day, you know well +enough who I am. I never had anything to do with you, and never injured +you, but should be well disposed to do you service.” He replied in a +high-spirited way, without, however, making room for me to pass, that he +did not know what I was saying. Then I answered. “I know very well +indeed what you want and what you are saying; but the job which you have +taken in hand is more dangerous and difficult than you imagine, and may +peradventure turn out the wrong way for you. Remember that you have to +do with a man who would defend himself against a hundred; and the +adventure you are on is not esteemed by men of courage like yourself.” +Meanwhile I also was looking black as thunder, and each of us had +changed colour. Folk too gathered round us, for it had become clear that +our words meant swords and daggers. He then, not having the spirit to +lay hands on me, cried out: “We shall meet another time.” I answered: “I +am always glad to meet honest men and those who show themselves as such.” + +When we parted, I went to his lordship’s palace, and found he had not +sent for me. When I returned to my shop, the Corsican informed me, +through an intimate friend of his and mine, that I need not be on my +guard against him, since he wished to be my good brother; but that I +ought to be much upon my guard against others, seeing I was in the +greatest peril, for folk of much consequence had sworn to have my life. +I sent to thank him, and kept the best look-out I could. Not many days +after, a friend of mine informed me that Signor Pier Luigi had given +strict orders that I should be taken that very evening. They told me +this at twenty; whereupon I spoke with some of my friends, who advised +me to be off at once. The order had been given for one hour after +sunset; accordingly at twenty-three I left in the post for Florence. It +seems that when the Corsican showed that he had not pluck enough to do +the business as he promised, Signor Pier Luigi on his own authority gave +orders to have me taken, merely to stop the mouth of Pompeo’s daughter, +who was always clamouring to know where her dower had gone to. When he +was unable to gratify her in this matter of revenge on either of the two +plans he had formed, he bethought him of another, which shall be related +in its proper place. + +Note 1. 'Le sante Marie.' So the Feast of the Assumption is called at +Florence, because devotion is paid on that day to the various images of +the Virgin scattered through the town. The 'Caporioni' of Rome were, +like aldermen, wardens of the districts into which the city was divided. + +Note 2. Pier Luigi Farnese, Paul III’s bastard, was successively created +Gonfaloniere of the Church, Duke of Castro, Marquis of Novara, and +finally Duke of Parma and Piacenza in 1545. He was murdered at Parma by +his own courtiers in 1547. He was a man of infamous habits, quite unfit +for the high dignities conferred on him. + +Note 3. 'Che la facessi più netta che poteva.' + +LXXVI + +I REACHED Florence in due course, and paid my respects to the Duke +Alessandro, who greeted me with extraordinary kindness and pressed me to +remain in his service. There was then at Florence a sculptor called Il +Tribolino, and we were gossips, for I had stood godfather to his son. +[1] In course of conversation he told me that a certain Giacopo del +Sansovino, his first master, had sent for him; and whereas he had never +seen Venice, and because of the gains he expected, he was very glad to +go there. [2] On his asking me if I had ever been at Venice, I said no; +this made him invite me to accompany him, and I agreed. So then I told +Duke Alessandro that I wanted first to go to Venice, and that afterwards +I would return to serve him. He exacted a formal promise to this effect, +and bade me present myself before I left the city. Next day, having made +my preparations, I went to take leave of the Duke, whom I found in the +palace of the Pazzi, at that time inhabited by the wife and daughters of +Signor Lorenzo Cibo. [3] Having sent word to his Excellency that I +wished to set off for Venice with his good leave, Signor Cosimino de’ +Medici, now Duke of Florence, returned with the answer that I must go to +Niccolò de Monte Aguto, who would give me fifty golden crowns, which his +Excellency bestowed on me in sign of his good-will, and afterwards I +must return to serve him. + +I got the money from Niccolò, and then went to fetch Tribolo, whom I +found ready to start; and he asked me whether I had bound my sword. I +answered that a man on horseback about to take a journey ought not to +bind his sword. He said that the custom was so in Florence, since a +certain Ser Maurizio then held office, who was capable of putting S. +John the Baptist to the rack for any trifling peccadillo. [4] +Accordingly one had to carry one’s sword bound till the gates were +passed. I laughed at this, and so we set off, joining the courier to +Venice, who was nicknamed Il Lamentone. In his company we travelled +through Bologna, and arrived one evening at Ferrara. There we halted at +the inn of the Piazza, which Lamentone went in search of some Florentine +exiles, to take them letters and messages from their wives. The Duke had +given orders that only the courier might talk to them, and no one else, +under penalty of incurring the same banishment as they had. Meanwhile, +since it was a little past the hour of twenty-two, Tribolo and I went to +see the Duke of Ferrara come back from Belfiore, where he had been at a +jousting match. There we met a number of exiles, who stared at us as +though they wished to make us speak with them. Tribolo, who was the most +timorous man that I have ever known, kept on saying: “Do not look at +them or talk to them, if you care to go back to Florence.” So we stayed, +and saw the Duke return; afterwards, when we regained our inn, we found +Lamentone there. After nightfall there appeared Niccolò Benintendi, and +his brother Piero, and another old man, whom I believe to have been +Jacopo Nardi, [5] together with some young fellows, who began +immediately to ask the courier news, each man of his own family in +Florence. [6] Tribolo and I kept at a distance, in order to avoid +speaking with them. After they had talked a while with Lamentone, +Niccolò Benintendi [7] said: “I know those two men there very well; +what’s the reason they give themselves such beastly airs, and will not +talk to us?” Tribolo kept begging me to hold my tongue, while Lamentone +told them that we had not the same permission as he had. Benintendi +retorted it was idiotic nonsense, adding “Pox take them,” and other +pretty flowers of speech. Then I raised my head as gently as I could, +and said: “Dear gentlemen, you are able to do us serious injury, while +we cannot render you any assistance; and though you have flung words at +us which we are far from deserving, we do not mean on that account to +get into a rage with you.” Thereupon old Nardi said that I had spoken +like a worthy young man as I was. But Niccolò Benintendi shouted: “I +snap my fingers at them and the Duke.” [8] I replied that he was in the +wrong toward us, since we had nothing to do with him or his affairs. Old +Nardi took our part, telling Benintendi plainly that he was in the +wrong, which made him go on muttering insults. On this I bade him know +that I could say and do things to him which he would not like, and +therefore he had better mind his business, and let us alone. Once more +he cried out that he snapped his fingers at the Duke and us, and that we +were all of us a heap of donkeys. [9] I replied by giving him the lie +direct and drawing my sword. The old man wanting to be first upon the +staircase, tumbled down some steps, and all the rest of them came +huddling after him. I rushed onward, brandishing my sword along the +walls with fury, and shouting: “I will kill you all!” but I took good +care not to do them any harm, as I might too easily have done. In the +midst of this tumult the innkeeper screamed out; Lamentone cried, “For +God’s sake, hold!” some of them exclaimed, “Oh me, my head!” others, +“Let me get out from here.” In short, it was an indescribable confusion; +they looked like a herd of swine. Then the host came with a light, while +I withdrew upstairs and put my sword back in its scabbard. Lamentone +told Niccolò Benintendi that he had behaved very ill. The host said to +him: “It is as much as one’s life is worth to draw swords here; and if +the Duke were to know of your brawling, he would have you hanged. I will +not do to you what you deserve; but take care you never show yourself +again in my inn, or it will be the worse for you.” Our host then came up +to me, and when I began to make him my excuses, he would not suffer me +to say a word, but told me that he knew I was entirely in the right, and +bade me be upon my guard against those men upon my journey. + +Note 1. Niccolò de’ Pericoli, a Florentine, who got the nickname of +Tribolo in his boyhood, was a sculptor of some distinction. He worked on +the bas-reliefs of San Petronio at Bologna, and helped Michel Agnolo da +Siena to execute the tomb of Adrian VI. at Rome. Afterwards he was +employed upon the sculpture of the Santa Casa at Loreto. He also made +some excellent bronzework for the Medicean villas at Cestello and +Petraja. All through his life Tribolo served the Medici, and during the +siege of Florence in 1530 he constructed a cork model of the town for +Clement VII. Born 1485, died 1550. + +Note 2. This is the famous Giacopo Tatti, who took his artist’s surname +from his master, Andrea da Monte a Sansovino. His works at Florence, +Rome, and Venice are justly famous. He died in 1570, aged ninety-three. + +Note 3. A brother of the Cardinal, and himself Marquis of Massa. + +Note 4. Ser Maurizio was entitled Chancellor, but really superintended +the criminal magistracy of Florence. Varchi and Segni both speak of him +as harsh and cruel in the discharge of his office. + +Note 5. Jacopo Nardi was the excellent historian of Florence, a strong +anti-Medicean partisan, who was exiled in 1530. + +Note 6. I have translated the word 'brigata' by 'family' above, because +I find Cellini in one of his letters alluding to his family as 'la mia +brigatina.' + +Note 7. Niccolò Benintendi, who had been a member of the Eight in 1529, +was exiled by the Medici in 1530. + +Note 8. The Florentine slang is 'Io ho in culo loro e il duca.' + +Note 9. 'Un monte di asini.' + +LXXVII + +AFTER we had supped, a barge-man appeared, and offered to take us to +Venice. I asked if he would let us have the boat to ourselves; he was +willing, and so we made our bargain. In the morning we rose early, and +mounted our horses for the port, which is a few miles distant from +Ferrara. On arriving there, we found Niccolò Benintendi’s brother, with +three comrades, waiting for me. They had among them two lances, and I +had bought a stout pike in Ferrara. Being very well armed to boot, I was +not at all frightened, as Tribolo was, who cried: “God help us! those +fellows are waiting here to murder us.” Lamentone turned to me and said: +“The best that you can do is to go back to Ferrara, for I see that the +affair is likely to be ugly; for Heaven’s sake, Benvenuto, do not risk +the fury of these mad beasts.” To which I replied: “Let us go forward, +for God helps those who have the right on their side; and you shall see +how I will help myself. Is not this boat engaged for us?” “Yes,” said +Lamentone. “Then we will stay in it without them, unless my manhood has +deserted me.” I put spurs to my horse, and when I was within fifty +paces, dismounted and marched boldly forward with my pike. Tribolo +stopped behind, all huddled up upon his horse, looking the very image of +frost. Lamentone, the courier, meanwhile, was swelling and snorting like +the wind. That was his usual habit; but now he did so more than he was +wont, being in doubt how this devilish affair would terminate. When I +reached the boat, the master presented himself and said that those +Florentine gentlemen wanted to embark in it with us, if I was willing. I +answered: “The boat is engaged for us and no one else, and it grieves me +to the heart that I am not able to have their company.” At these words a +brave young man of the Magalotti family spoke out: “Benvenuto, we will +make you able to have it.” To which I answered: “If God and my good +cause, together with my own strength of body and mind, possess the will +and the power, you shall not make me able to have what you say.” So +saying I leapt into the boat, and turning my pike’s point against them, +added: “I’ll show you with this weapon that I am not able.” Wishing to +prove he was in earnest, Magalotti then seized his own and came toward +me. I sprang upon the gunwale and hit him such a blow, that, if he had +not tumbled backward, I must have pierced his body. His comrades, in +lieu of helping him, turned to fly; and when I saw that I could kill +him, instead of striking, I said: “Get up, brother; take your arms and +go away. I have shown you that I cannot do what I do not want, and what +I had the power to do I have not chosen to do.” Then I called for +Tribolo, the boatman, and Lamentone to embark; and so we got under way +for Venice. When we had gone ten miles on the Po, we sighted those young +men, who had got into a skiff and caught us up; and when they were +alongside, that idiot Piero Benintendi sang out to me: “Go thy ways this +time, Benvenuto; we shall meet in Venice.” “Set out betimes then,” I +shouted, “for I am coming, and any man can meet me where he lists.” In +due course we arrived at Venice, when I applied to a brother of Cardinal +Cornaro, begging him to procure for me the favour of being allowed to +carry arms. He advised me to do so without hesitation, saying that the +worst risk I ran was that I might lose my sword. + +LXXVIII + +ACCORDINGLY I girded on my sword, and went to visit Jacopo del +Sansovino, the sculptor, who had sent for Tribolo. He received me most +kindly, and invited us to dinner, and we stayed with him. In course of +conversation with Tribolo, he told him that he had no work to give him +at the moment, but that he might call again. Hearing this, I burst out +laughing, and said pleasantly to Sansovino: “Your house is too far off +from his, if he must call again.” Poor Tribolo, all in dismay, +exclaimed: “I have got your letter here, which you wrote to bid me +come.” Sansovino rejoined that men of his sort, men of worth and genius, +were free to do that and greater things besides. Tribolo shrugged up his +shoulders and muttered: “Patience, patience,” several times. Thereupon, +without regarding the copious dinner which Sansovino had given me, I +took the part of my comrade Tribolo, for he was in the right. All the +while at table Sansovino had never stopped chattering about his great +achievements, abusing Michel Agnolo and the rest of his +fellow-sculptors, while he bragged and vaunted himself to the skies. +This had so annoyed me that not a single mouthful which I ate had tasted +well; but I refrained from saying more than these two words: “Messer +Jacopo, men of worth act like men of worth, and men of genius, who +produce things beautiful and excellent, shine forth far better when +other people praise them than when they boast so confidently of their +own achievements.” Upon this he and I rose from table blowing off the +steam of our choler. The same day, happening to pass near the Rialto, I +met Piero Benintendi in the company of some men; and perceiving that +they were going to pick a quarrel with me, I turned into an apothecary’s +shop till the storm blew over. Afterwards I learned that the young +Magalotti, to whom I showed that courtesy, had scolded them roundly; and +thus the affair ended. + +LXXIX + +A FEW days afterwards we set out on our return to Florence. We lay one +night at a place on this side Chioggia, on the left hand as you go +toward Ferrara. Here the host insisted upon being paid before we went to +bed, and in his own way; and when I observed that it was the custom +everywhere else to pay in the morning, he answered: “I insist on being +paid overnight, and in my own way.” I retorted that men who wanted +everything their own way ought to make a world after their own fashion, +since things were differently managed here. Our host told me not to go +on bothering his brains, because he was determined to do as he had said. +Tribolo stood trembling with fear, and nudged me to keep quiet, lest +they should do something worse to us; so we paid them in the way they +wanted, and afterwards we retired to rest. We had, I must admit, the +most capital beds, new in every particular, and as clean as they could +be. Nevertheless I did not get one wink of sleep, because I kept on +thinking how I could revenge myself. At one time it came into my head to +set fire to his house; at another to cut the throats of four fine horses +which he had in the stable; I saw well enough that it was easy for me to +do all this; but I could not see how it was easy to secure myself and my +companion. At last I resolved to put my things and my comrade’s on board +the boat; and so I did. When the towing-horses had been harnessed to the +cable, I ordered the people not to stir before I returned, for I had +left a pair of slippers in my bedroom. Accordingly I went back to the +inn and called our host, who told me he had nothing to do with us, and +that we might go to Jericho. [1] There was a ragged stable-boy about, +half a sleep, who cried out to me: “The master would not move to please +the Pope, because he has got a wench in bed with him, whom he has been +wanting this long while.” Then he asked me for a tip, and I gave him a +few Venetian coppers, and told him to make the barge-man wait till I had +found my slippers and returned. I went upstairs, took out a little knife +as sharp as a razor, and cut the four beds that I found there into +ribbons. I had the satisfaction of knowing I had done a damage of more +than fifty crowns. Then I ran down to the boat with some pieces of the +bed-covers [2] in my pouch, and bade the bargee start at once without +delay. We had not gone far before my gossip Tribolo said that he had +left behind some little straps belonging to his carpet-bag, and that he +must be allowed to go back for them. I answered that he need not take +thought for a pair of little straps, since I could make him as many big +ones as he liked. [3] He told me I was always joking, but that he must +really go back for his straps. Then he began ordering the bargee to +stop, while I kept ordering him to go on. Meanwhile I informed my friend +what kind of trick I had played our host, and showed him specimens of +the bed-covers and other things, which threw him into such a quaking +fright that he roared out to the bargee: “On with you, on with you, as +quick as you can!” and never thought himself quite safe until we reached +the gates of Florence. + +When we arrived there, Tribolo said: “Let us bind our swords up, for the +love of God; and play me no more of your games, I beg; for all this +while I’ve felt as though my guts were in the saucepan.” I made answer: +“Gossip Tribolo, you need not tie your sword up, for you have never +loosed it;” and this I said at random, because I never once had seen him +act the man upon that journey. When he heard the remark, he looked at +his sword and cried out: “In God’s name, you speak true! Here it is +tied, just as I arranged it before I left my house.” My gossip deemed +that I had been a bad travelling companion to him, because I resented +affronts and defended myself against folk who would have done us injury. +But I deemed that he had acted a far worse part with regard to me by +never coming to my assistance at such pinches. Let him judge between us +who stands by and has no personal interest in our adventures. + +Note 1. 'E che noi andassimo al bordello.' + +Note 2. 'Sarge. Sargia' is interpreted 'sopraccoperta del letto.' + +Note 3. The Italian for straps, 'coregge,' has a double meaning, upon +which Cellini plays. + +LXXX + +NO sooner had I dismounted that I went to visit Duke Alessandro, and +thanked him greatly for his present of the fifty crowns, telling his +Excellency that I was always ready to serve him according to my +abilities. He gave me orders at once to strike dies for his coinage; and +the first I made was a piece of forty soldi, with the Duke’s head on one +side and San Cosimo and San Damiano on the other. [1] This was in +silver, and it gave so much satisfaction that the Duke did not hesitate +to say they were the best pieces of money in Christendom. The same said +all Florence and every one who saw them. Consequently I asked his +Excellency to make me appointments, [2] and to grant me the lodgings of +the Mint. He bade me remain in his service, and promised he would give +me more than I demanded. Meanwhile he said he had commissioned the +Master of the Mint, a certain Carlo Acciaiuoli, and that I might go to +him for all the money that I wanted. This I found to be true; but I drew +my monies so discreetly, that I had always something to my credit, +according to my account. + +I then made dies for a giulio; [3] it had San Giovanni in profile, +seated with a book in his hand, finer in my judgment than anything which +I had done; and on the other side were the armorial bearings of Duke +Alessandro. Next I made dies for half-giulios on which I struck the full +face of San Giovanni in small. This was the first coin with a head in +full face on so thin a piece of silver that had yet been seen. The +difficulty of executing it is apparent only to the eyes of such as are +past-masters in these crafts. Afterwards I made dies for the golden +crowns; this crown had a cross upon one side with some little cherubim, +and on the other side his Excellency’s arms. + +When I had struck these four sorts, I begged the Duke to make out my +appointments and to assign me the lodgings I have mentioned, if he was +contented with my service. He told me very graciously that he was quite +satisfied, and that he would grant me my request. While we were thus +talking, his Excellency was in his wardrobe, looking at a remarkable +little gun that had been sent him out of Germany. [4] When he noticed +that I too paid particular attention to this pretty instrument, he put +it in my hands, saying that he knew how much pleasure I took in such +things, and adding that I might choose for earnest of his promises an +arquebuse to my own liking from the armoury, excepting only this one +piece; he was well aware that I should find things of greater beauty, +and not less excellent, there. Upon this invitation, I accepted with +thanks; and when he saw me looking round, he ordered his Master of the +Wardrobe, a certain Pretino of Lucca, to let me take whatever I liked. +[5] Then he went away with the most pleasant words at parting, while I +remained, and chose the finest and best arquebuse I ever saw, or ever +had, and took it back with me to home. + +Two days afterward I brought some drawings which his Excellency had +commissioned for gold-work he wanted to give his wife, who was at that +time still in Naples. [6] I again asked him to settle my affairs. Then +his Excellency told me that he should like me first to execute the die +of his portrait in fine style, as I had done for Pope Clement. I began +it in wax; and the Duke gave orders, while I was at work upon it, that +whenever I went to take his portrait, I should be admitted. Perceiving +that I had a lengthy piece of business on my hands, I sent for a certain +Pietro Pagolo from Monte Ritondo, in the Roman district, who had been +with me from his boyhood in Rome. [7] I found him with one +Bernardonaccio, [8] a goldsmith, who did not treat him well; so I +brought him away from there, and taught him minutely how to strike coins +from those dies. Meanwhile, I went on making the Duke’s portrait; and +oftentimes I found him napping after dinner with that Lorenzino of his, +who afterwards murdered him, and no other company; and much I marvelled +that a Duke of that sort showed such confidence about his safety. 9 + +Note 1. These were the special patrons of the Medicean family, being +physician-saints. + +Note 2. 'Che mi fermassi una provvisione.' + +Note 3. The 'giulio' was a coin of 56 Italian centimes or 8 Tuscan +'crazie,' which in Florence was also called 'barile' or 'gabellotto,' +because the sum had to be paid as duty on a barrel of wine. + +Note 4. See above, p. 120, for the right meaning of wardrobe. + +Note 5. Messer Francesco of Lucca, surnamed Il Pretino. + +Note 6. Margaret of Austria, natural daughter of Charles V., was +eventually married in 1536 to Alessandro de’ Medici. + +Note 7. Pietro Pagolo Galleotti, much praised by Vasari for his artistic +skill. + +Note 8. Perhaps Bernardo Sabatini. + +Note 9. This is the famous Tuscan Brutus who murdered Alessandro. He was +descended from Lorenzo de’ Medici, the brother of Cosimo, 'Pater +Patriæ,' and the uncle of Lorenzo the Magnificent. + +LXXXI + +IT happened at this time Ottaviano de’ Medici, [1] who to all +appearances had got the government of everything in his own hands, +favoured the old Master of the Mint against the Duke’s will. This man +was called Bastiano Cennini, an artist of the antiquated school, and of +little skill in his craft. [2] Ottaviano mixed his stupid dies with mine +in the coinage of crown-pieces. I complained of this to the Duke, who, +when he saw how the matter stood, took it very ill, and said to me: “Go, +tell this to Ottaviano de’ Medici, and show him how it is.” [3] I lost +no time; and when I had pointed out the injury that had been done to my +fine coins, he answered, like the donkey that he was: “We choose to have +it so.” I replied that it ought not to be so, and that I did not choose +to have it so. He said: “And if the Duke likes to have it so?” I +answered: “It would not suit me, for the thing is neither just nor +reasonable.” He told me to take myself off, and that I should have no +swallow it in this way, even if I burst. Then I returned to the Duke, +and related the whole unpleasant conversation between Ottaviano de’ +Medici and me, entreating his Excellency not to allow the fine coins +which I had made for him to be spoiled, and begging for permission to +leave Florence. He replied: “Ottaviano is too presuming: you shall have +what you want; for this is an injury offered to myself.” + +That very day, which was a Thursday, I received from Rome a full +safe-conduct from the Pope, with advice to go there at once and get the +pardon of Our Lady’s feast in mid-August, in order that I might clear +myself from the penalties attaching to my homicide. I went to the Duke, +whom I found in bed, for they told me he was suffering the consequence +of a debauch. In little more than two hours I finished what was wanted +for his waxen medal; and when I showed it to him, it pleased him +extremely. Then I exhibited the safe-conduct sent me at the order of the +Pope, and told him how his Holiness had recalled me to execute certain +pieces of work; on this account I should like to regain my footing in +the fair city of Rome, which would not prevent my attending to his +medal. The Duke made answer half in anger: “Benvenuto, do as I desire: +stay here; I will provide for your appointments, and will give you the +lodgings in the Mint, with much more than you could ask for, because +your requests are only just and reasonable. And who do you think will be +able to strike the beautiful dies which you have made for me?” Then I +said: “My lord, I have thought of everything, for I have here a pupil of +mine, a young Roman whom I have taught the art; he will serve your +Excellency very well till I return with your medal finished, to remain +for ever in your service. I have in Rome a shop open, with journeymen +and a pretty business; as soon as I have got my pardon, I will leave all +the devotion of Rome [4] to a pupil of mine there, and will come back, +with your Excellency’s good permission, to you.” During this +conversation, the Lorenzino de’ Medici whom I have above mentioned was +present, and no one else. The Duke frequently signed to him that he +should join in pressing me to stay; but Lorenzino never said anything +except: “Benvenuto, you would do better to remain where you are.” I +answered that I wanted by all means to regain my hold on Rome. He made +no reply, but continued eyeing the Duke with very evil glances. When I +had finished the medal to my liking, and shut it in its little box, I +said to the Duke: “My lord, pray let me have your good-will, for I will +make you a much finer medal than the one I made for Pope Clement. It is +only reasonable that I should since that was the first I ever made. +Messer Lorenzo here will give me some exquisite reverse, as he is a +person learned and of the greatest genius.” To these words Lorenzo +suddenly made answer: “I have been thinking of nothing else but how to +give you a reverse worthy of his Excellency.” The Duke laughed a little, +and looking at Lorenzo, said: “Lorenzo, you shall give him the reverse, +and he shall do it here and shall not go away.” Lorenzo took him up at +once, saying: “I will do it as quickly as I can, and I hope to do +something that shall make the whole world wonder.” The Duke, who held +him sometimes for a fool and sometimes for a coward, turned about in +bed, and laughed at his bragging, words. I took my leave without further +ceremony, and left them alone together. The Duke, who did not believe +that I was really going, said nothing further. Afterwards, when he knew +that I was gone, he sent one of his servants, who caught me up at Siena, +and gave me fifty golden ducats with a message from the Duke that I +should take and use them for his sake, and should return as soon as +possible; “and from Messer Lorenzo I have to tell you that he is +preparing an admirable reverse for that medal which you want to make.” I +had left full directions to Petro Pagolo, the Roman above mentioned, how +he had to use the dies; but as it was a very delicate affair, he never +quite succeeded in employing them. I remained creditor to the Mint in a +matter of more than seventy crowns on account of dies supplied by me. + +Note 1. This Ottaviano was not descended from either Cosimo or Lorenzo +de’ Medici, but from an elder, though less illustrious, branch of the +great family. He married Francesca Salviati, the aunt of Duke Cosimo. +Though a great patron of the arts and an intimate friend of M. A. +Buonarroti, he was not popular, owing to his pride of place. + +Note 2. Cellini praises this man, however, in the preface to the +'Oreficeria.' + +Note 3. 'Mostragnene.' This is perhaps equivalent to 'mostraglielo.' + +Note 4. 'Tutta la divozione di Roma.' It is not very clear what this +exactly means. Perhaps “all the affection and reverence I have for the +city of Rome,” or merely “all my ties in Rome.” + +LXXXII + +ON the journey to Rome I carried with me that handsome arquebuse which +the Duke gave me; and very much to my own pleasure, I used it several +times by the way, performing incredible feats by means of it. The little +house I had in Strada Giulia was not ready; so I dismounted at the house +of Messer Giovanni Gaddi, clerk of the Camera, to whose keeping I had +committed, on leaving Rome, many of my arms and other things I cared +for. So I did not choose to alight at my shop, but sent for Felice, my +partner, and got him to put my little dwelling forthwith into excellent +order. The day following, I went to sleep there, after well providing +myself with clothes and all things requisite, since I intended to go and +thank the Pope next morning. + +I had two young serving-lads, and beneath my lodgings lived a laundress +who cooked extremely nicely for me. That evening I entertained several +friends at supper, and having passed the time with great enjoyment, +betook myself to bed. The night had hardly ended, indeed it was more +than an hour before daybreak, when I heard a furious knocking at the +house-door, stroke succeeding stroke without a moment’s pause. +Accordingly I called my elder servant, Cencio [1] (he was the man I took +into the necromantic circle), and bade him to go and see who the madman +was that knocked so brutally at that hour of the night. While Cencio was +on this errand, I lighted another lamp, for I always keep one by me at +night; then I made haste to pass an excellent coat of mail over my +shirt, and above that some clothes which I caught up at random. Cencio +returned, exclaiming: “Heavens, master! it is the Bargello and all his +guard; and he says that if you do not open at once, he will knock the +door down. They have torches, and a thousand things besides with them!” +I answered: “Tell them that I am huddling my clothes on, and will come +out to them in my shirt.” Supposing it was a trap laid to murder me, as +had before been done by Signor Pier Luigi, I seized an excellent dagger +with my right hand, and with the left I took the safe-conduct; then I +ran to the back-window, which looked out on gardens, and there I saw +more than thirty constables; wherefore I knew that I could not escape +upon that side. I made the two lads go in front, and told them to open +the door exactly when I gave the word to do so. Then taking up an +attitude of defence, with the dagger in my right hand and the +safe-conduct in my left, I cried to the lads: “Have no fear, but open!” +The Bargello, Vittorio, and the officers sprang inside at once, thinking +they could easily lay hands upon me; but when they saw me prepared in +that way to receive them, they fell back, exclaiming: “We have a serious +job on hand here!” Then I threw the safe-conduct to them, and said: +“Read that! and since you cannot seize me, I do not mean that you shall +touch me.” The Bargello upon this ordered some of his men to arrest me, +saying he would look to the safe-conduct later. Thereat I presented my +arms boldly, calling aloud: “Let God defend the right! Either I shall +escape your hands alive, or be taken a dead corpse!” The room was +crammed with men; they made as though they would resort to violence; I +stood upon my guard against them; so that the Bargello saw he would not +be able to have me except in the way I said. Accordingly he called his +clerk, and while the safe-conduct as being read, he showed by signs two +or three times that he meant to have me secured by his officers; but +this had no effect of shaking my determination. At last they gave up the +attempt, threw my safe-conduct on the ground, and went away without +their prize. + +Note 1. 'I. e.,' Vincenzio Romoli. + +LXXXIII + +WHEN I returned to bed, I felt so agitated that I could not get to sleep +again. My mind was made up to let blood as soon as day broke. However, I +asked advice of Messer Gaddi, and he referred to a wretched +doctor-fellow he employed, [1] who asked me if I had been frightened. +Now, just consider what a judicious doctor this was, after I had +narrated an occurrence of that gravity, to ask me such a question! He +was an empty fribbler, who kept perpetually laughing about nothing at +all. Simpering and sniggering, then, he bade me drink a good cup of +Greek wine, keep my spirits up, and not be frightened. Messer Giovanni, +however, said: “Master, a man of bronze or marble might be frightened in +such circumstances. How much more one of flesh and blood!” The quack +responded: “Monsignor, we are not all made after the same pattern; this +fellow is no man of bronze or marble, but of pure iron.” Then he gave +one of his meaningless laughs, and putting his fingers on my wrist, +said: “Feel here; this is not a man’s pulse, but a lion’s or a +dragon’s.” At this, I, whose blood was thumping in my veins, probably +far beyond anything which that fool of a doctor had learned from his +Hippocrates or Galen, knew at once how serious was my situation; yet +wishing not to add to my uneasiness and to the harm I had already taken, +I made show of being in good spirits. While this was happening, Messer +Giovanni had ordered dinner, and we all of us sat down to eat in +company. I remembered that Messer Lodovico da Fano, Messer Antonio +Allegretti, Messer Giovanni Greco, all of them men of the finest +scholarship, and Messer Annibal Caro, who was then quite young, were +present. At table the conversation turned entirely upon my act of +daring. They insisted on hearing the whole story over and over again +from my apprentice Cencio, who was a youth of superlative talent, +bravery, and extreme personal beauty. Each time that he described my +truculent behaviour, throwing himself into the attitudes I had assumed, +and repeating the words which I had used, he called up some fresh detail +to my memory. They kept asking him if he had been afraid; to which he +answered that they ought to ask me if I had been afraid, because he felt +precisely the same as I had. + +All this chattering grew irksome to me; and since I still felt strongly +agitated, I rose at last from table, saying that I wanted to go and get +new clothes of blue silk and stuff for him and me; adding that I meant +to walk in procession after four days at the feast of Our Lady, and +meant Cencio to carry a white lighted torch on the occasion. Accordingly +I took my leave, and had the blue cloth cut, together with a handsome +jacket of blue sarcenet and a little doublet of the same; and I had a +similar jacket and waistcoat made for Cencio. + +When these things had been cut out, I went to see the Pope, who told me +to speak with Messer Ambruogio; for he had given orders that I should +execute a large piece of golden plate. So I went to find Messer +Ambruogio, who had heard the whole of the affair of the Bargello, and +had been in concert with my enemies to bring me back to Rome, and had +scolded the Bargello for not laying hands on me. The man excused himself +by saying that he could not do so in the face of the safe-conduct which +I held. Messer Ambruogio now began to talk about the Pope’s commission, +and bade me make drawings for it, saying that the business should be put +at once in train. Meanwhile the feast of Our Lady came round. Now it is +the custom for those who get a pardon upon this occasion to give +themselves up to prison; in order to avoid doing which I returned to the +Pope, and told his Holiness that I was very unwilling to go to prison, +and that I begged him to grant me the favour of a dispensation. The Pope +answered that such was the custom, and that I must follow it. Thereupon +I fell again upon my knees, and thanked him for the safe-conduct he had +given me, saying at the same time that I should go back with it to serve +my Duke in Florence, who was waiting for me so impatiently. On hearing +this, the Pope turned to one of his confidential servants and said: “Let +Benvenuto get his grace without the prison, and see that his 'moto +proprio' is made out in due form.” As soon as the document had been +drawn up, his Holiness signed it; it was then registered at the Capitol; +afterwards, upon the day appointed, I walked in procession very +honourably between two gentlemen, and so got clear at last. + +Note 1. Possibly Bernardino Lilii of Todi. + +LXXXIV + +FOUR days had passed when I was attacked with violent fever attended by +extreme cold; and taking to my bed, I made my mind up that I was sure to +die. I had the first doctors of Rome called in, among whom was Francesco +da Norcia, a physician of great age, and of the best repute in Rome. [1] +I told them what I believed to be the cause of my illness, and said that +I had wished to let blood, but that I had been advised against it; and +if it was not too late, I begged them to bleed me now. Maestro Francesco +answered that it would not be well for me to let blood then, but that if +I had done so before, I should have escaped without mischief; at present +they would have to treat the case with other remedies. So they began to +doctor me as energetically as they were able, while I grew daily worse +and worse so rapidly, that after eight days the physicians despaired of +my life, and said that I might be indulged in any whim I had to make me +comfortable. Maestro Francesco added: “As long as there is breath in +him, call me at all hours; for no one can divine what Nature is able to +work in a young man of this kind; moreover, if he should lose +consciousness, administer these five remedies one after the other, and +send for me, for I will come at any hour of the night; I would rather +save him than any of the cardinals in Rome.” + +Every day Messer Giovanni Gaddi came to see me two or three times, and +each time he took up one or other of my handsome fowling-pieces, coats +of mail, or swords, using words like these: “That is a handsome thing, +that other is still handsomer;” and likewise with my models and other +trifles, so that at last he drove me wild with annoyance. In his company +came a certain Matio Franzesi [2] and this man also appeared to be +waiting impatiently for my death, not indeed because he would inherit +anything from me, but because he wished for what his master seemed to +have so much at heart. + +Felice, my partner, was always at my side, rendering the greatest +services which it is possible for one man to give another. Nature in me +was utterly debilitated and undone; I had not strength enough to fetch +my breath back if it left me; and yet my brain remained as clear and +strong as it had been before my illness. Nevertheless, although I kept +my consciousness, a terrible old man used to come to my bedside, and +make as though he would drag me by force into a huge boat he had with +him. This made me call out to my Felice to draw near and chase that +malignant old man away. Felice, who loved me most affectionately, ran +weeping and crying: “Away with you, old traitor; you are robbing me of +all the good I have in this world.” Messer Giovanni Gaddi, who was +present, then began to say: “The poor fellow is delirious, and has only +a few hours to live.” His fellow, Mattio Franzesi, remarked: “He has +read Dante, and in the prostration of his sickness this apparition has +appeared to him” [3] then he added laughingly: “Away with you, old +rascal, and don’t bother our friend Benvenuto.” When I saw that they +were making fun of me, I turned to Messer Gaddi and said: “My dear +master, know that I am not raving, and that it is true that this old man +is really giving me annoyance; but the best that you can do for me would +be to drive that miserable Mattio from my side, who is laughing at my +affliction, afterwards if your lordship deigns to visit me again, let me +beg you to come with Messer Antonio Allegretti, or with Messer Annibal +Caro, or with some other of your accomplished friends, who are persons +of quite different intelligence and discretion from that beast.” +Thereupon Messer Giovanni told Mattio in jest to take himself out of his +sight for ever; but because Mattio went on laughing, the joke turned to +earnest, for Messer Giovanni would not look upon him again, but sent for +Messer Antonio Allegretti, Messer Ludovico, and Messer Annibal Caro. On +the arrival of these worthy men, I was greatly comforted, and talked +reasonably with them awhile, not however without frequently urging +Felice to drive the old man away. Messer Ludovico asked me what it was I +seemed to see, and how the man was shaped. While I portrayed him +accurately in words, the old man took me by the arm and dragged me +violently towards him. This made me cry out for aid, because he was +going to fling me under hatches in his hideous boat. On saying that last +word, I fell into a terrible swoon, and seemed to be sinking down into +the boat. They say that during that fainting-fit I flung myself about +and cast bad words at Messer Giovanni Gaddi, to wit, that he came to rob +me, and not from any motive of charity, and other insults of the kind, +which caused him to be much ashamed. Later on, they say I lay still like +one dead; and after waiting by me more than an hour, thinking I was +growing cold, they left me for dead. When they returned home, Mattio +Franzesi was informed, who wrote to Florence to Messer Benedetto Varchi, +my very dear friend, that they had seen me die at such and such an hour +of the night. When he heard the news, that most accomplished man and my +dear friend composed an admirable sonnet upon my supposed but not real +death, which shall be reported in its proper place. + +More than three long hours passed, and yet I did not regain +consciousness. Felice having used all the remedies prescribed by Maestro +Francesco, and seeing that I did not come to, ran post-haste to the +physician’s door, and knocked so loudly that he woke him up, and made +him rise, and begged him with tears to come to the house, for he thought +that I was dead. Whereto Maestro Francesco, who was a very choleric man, +replied: “My son, of what use do you think I should be if I came? If he +is dead, I am more sorry than you are. Do you imagine that if I were to +come with my medicine I could blow breath up through his guts [4] and +bring him back to life for you?” But when he saw that the poor young +fellow was going away weeping, he called him back and gave him an oil +with which to anoint my pulses, and my heart, telling him to pinch my +little fingers and toes very tightly, and to send at once to call him if +I should revive. Felice took his way, and did as Maestro Francesco had +ordered. It was almost bright day when, thinking they would have to +abandon hope, they gave orders to have my shroud made and to wash me. +Suddenly I regained consciousness, and called out to Felice to drive +away the old man on the moment, who kept tormenting me. He wanted to +send for Maestro Francesco, but I told him not to do so, but to come +close up to me, because that old man was afraid of him and went away at +once. So Felice drew near to the bed; I touched him, and it seemed to me +that the infuriated old man withdrew; so I prayed him not to leave me +for a second. + +When Maestro Francesco appeared, he said it was his dearest wish to save +my life, and that he had never in all his days seen greater force in a +young man than I had. Then he sat down to write, and prescribed for me +perfumes, lotions, unctions, plasters, and a heap of other precious +things. Meanwhile I came to life again by the means of more than twenty +leeches applied to my buttocks, but with my body bore through, bound, +and ground to powder. Many of my friends crowded in to behold the +miracle of the resuscitated dead man, and among them people of the first +importance. + +In their presence I declared that the small amount of gold and money I +possessed, perhaps some eight hundred crowns, what with gold, silver, +jewels, and cash, should be given by my will to my poor sister in +Florence, called Mona Liperata; all the remainder of my property, armour +and everything besides, I left to my dearest Felice, together with fifty +golden ducats, in order that he might buy mourning. At those words +Felice flung his arms around my neck, protesting that he wanted nothing +but to have me as he wished alive with him. Then I said: “If you want me +alive, touch me as you did before, and threaten the old man, for he is +afraid of you.” At these words some of the folk were terrified, knowing +that I was not raving, but talking to the purpose and with all my wits. +Thus my wretched malady went dragging on, and I got but little better. +Maestro Francesco, that most excellent man, came four or five times a +day; Messer Giovanni Gaddi, who felt ashamed, did not visit me again. My +brother-in-law, the husband of my sister, arrived; he came from Florence +for the inheritance; but as he was a very worthy man, he rejoiced +exceedingly to have found me alive. The sight of him did me a world of +good, and he began to caress me at once, saying he had only come to take +care of me in person; and this he did for several days. Afterwards I +sent him away, having almost certain hope of my recovery. On this +occasion he left the sonnet of Messer Benedetto Varchi, which runs as +follows: 5 + + “Who shall, Mattio, yield our pain relief? + Who shall forbid the sad expense of tears? + Alas! ‘tis true that in his youthful years + Our friend hath flown, and left us here to grief. + + “He hath gone up to heaven, who was the chief + Of men renowned in art’s immortal spheres; + Among the mighty dead he had no peers, + Nor shall earth see his like, in my belief. + + O gentle sprite! if love still sway the blest, + Look down on him thou here didst love, and view + These tears that mourn my loss, not thy great good. + + “There dost thou gaze on His beatitude + Who made our universe, and findest true + The form of Him thy skill for men expressed.” + +Note 1. Francesco Fusconi, physician to Popes Adrian VI., Clement VII., +and Paul III. + +Note 2. Franzesi was a clever Italian poet. His burlesque Capitoli are +printed with those of Berni and others. + +Note 3. 'Inferno,' iii., the verses about Charon. + +Note 4. 'Io ali possa soffiare in culo.' + +Note 5. This sonnet is so insipid, so untrue to Cellini’s real place in +art, so false to the far from saintly character of the man, that I would +rather have declined translating it, had I not observed it to be a good +example of that technical and conventional insincerity which was +invading Italy at this epoch. Varchi was really sorry to hear the news +of Cellini’s death; but for his genuine emotion he found spurious +vehicles of utterance. Cellini, meanwhile, had a right to prize it, +since it revealed to him what friendship was prepared to utter after his +decease. + +LXXXV + +MY sickness had been of such a very serious nature that it seemed +impossible for me to fling it off. That worthy man Maestro Francesco da +Norcia redoubled his efforts, and brought me every day fresh remedies, +trying to restore strength to my miserable unstrung frame. Yet all these +endeavours were apparently insufficient to overcome the obstinacy of my +malady, so that the physicians were in despair and at their wits’ ends +what to do. I was tormented by thirst, but had abstained from drinking +for many days according to the doctors’ orders. Felice, who thought he +had done wonders in restoring me, never left my side. That old man +ceased to give so much annoyance, yet sometimes he appeared to me in +dreams. + +One day Felice had gone out of doors, leaving me under the care of a +young apprentice and a servant-maid called Beatrice. I asked the +apprentice what had become of my lad Cencio, and what was the reason why +I had never seen him in attendance on me. The boy replied that Cencio +had been far more ill than I was, and that he was even at death’s door. +Felice had given them orders not to speak to me of this. On hearing the +news, I was exceedingly distressed; then I called the maid Beatrice, a +Pistojan girl, and asked her to bring me a great crystal water-cooler +which stood near, full of clear and fresh water. She ran at once, and +brought it to me full; I told her to put it to my lips, adding that if +she let me take a draught according to my heart’s content, I would give +her a new gown. This maid had stolen from me certain little things of +some importance, and in her fear of being detected, she would have been +very glad if I had died. Accordingly she allowed me twice to take as +much as I could of the water, so that in good earnest I swallowed more +than a flask full. [1] I then covered myself, and began to sweat, and +fell into a deep sleep. After I had slept about an hour, Felice came +home and asked the boy how I was getting on. He answered: “I do not +know. Beatrice brought him that cooler full of water, and he has drunk +almost the whole of it. I don’t know now whether he is alive or dead.” +They say that my poor friend was on the point of falling to the ground, +so grieved was he to hear this. Afterwards he took an ugly stick and +began to beat the serving-girl with all his might, shouting out: “Ah! +traitress, you have killed him for me then?” While Felice was cudgelling +and she screaming, I was in a dream; I thought the old man held ropes in +his hand, and while he was preparing to bind me, Felice had arrived and +struck him with an axe, so that the old man fled exclaiming: “Let me go, +and I promise not to return for a long while.” Beatrice in the meantime +had run into my bedroom shrieking loudly. This woke me up, and I called +out: “Leave her alone; perhaps, when she meant to do me harm, she did me +more good than you were able to do with all your efforts. She may indeed +have saved my life; so lend me a helping hand, for I have sweated; and +be quick about it.” Felice recovered his spirits, dried and made me +comfortable; and I, being conscious of a great improvement in my state, +began to reckon on recovery. + +When Maestro Francesco appeared and saw my great improvement, and the +servant-girl in tears, and the prentice running to and fro, and Felice +laughing, all this disturbance made him think that something +extraordinary must have happened, which had been the cause of my +amendment. Just then the other doctor, Bernardino, put in his +appearance, who at the beginning of my illness had refused to bleed me. +Maestro Francesco, that most able man, exclaimed: “Oh, power of Nature! +She knows what she requires, and the physicians know nothing.” That +simpleton, Maestro Bernardino, made answer, saying: “If he had drunk +another bottle he would have been cured upon the spot.” Maestro +Francesco da Norcia, a man of age and great authority, said: “That would +have been a terrible misfortune, and would to God that it may fall on +you!” Afterwards he turned to me and asked if I could have drunk more +water. I answered: “No, because I had entirely quenched my thirst.” Then +he turned to Maestro Bernardino, and said: “Look you how Nature has +taken precisely what she wanted, neither more nor less. In like manner +she was asking for what she wanted when the poor young man begged you to +bleed him. If you knew that his recovery depended upon his drinking two +flasks of water, why did you not say so before? You might then have +boasted of his cure.” At these words the wretched quack sulkily +departed, and never showed his face again. + +Maestro Francesco then gave orders that I should be removed from my room +and carried to one of the hills there are in Rome. Cardinal Cornaro, +when he heard of my improvement, had me transported to a place of his on +Monte Cavallo. The very evening I was taken with great precautions in a +chair, well wrapped up and protected from the cold. No sooner had I +reached the place than I began to vomit, during which there came from my +stomach a hairy worm about a quarter of a cubit in length: the hairs +were long, and the worm was very ugly, speckled of divers colours, +green, black, and red. They kept and showed it to the doctor, who said +he had never seen anything of the sort before, and afterwards remarked +to Felice: “Now take care of your Benvenuto, for he is cured. Do not +permit him any irregularities; for though he has escaped this time, +another disorder now would be the death of him. You see his malady has +been so grave, that if we had brought him the extreme unction, we might +not have been in time. Now I know that with a little patience and time +he will live to execute more of his fine works.” Then he turned to me +and said: “My Benvenuto, be prudent, commit no excesses, and when you +are quite recovered, I beg you to make me a Madonna with your own hand, +and I will always pay my devotions to it for your sake.” This I promised +to do, and then asked him whether it would be safe for me to travel so +far as to Florence. He advised me to wait till I was stronger, and till +we could observe how Nature worked in me. + +Note 1. 'Un fiasco,' holding more than a quart. + +LXXXVI + +WHEN eight days had come and gone, my amendment was so slight that life +itself became almost a burden to me; indeed I had been more than fifty +days in that great suffering. So I made my mind up, and prepared to +travel. My dear Felice and I went toward Florence in a pair of baskets; +[1] and as I had not written, when I reached my sister’s house, she wept +and laughed over me all in one breath. That day many friends came to see +me; among others Pier Landi, who was the best and dearest friend I ever +had. Next day there came a certain Niccolò da Monte Aguto, who was also +a very great friend of mine. Now he had heard the Duke say: “Benvenuto +would have done much better to die, because he is come to put his head +into a noose, and I will never pardon him.” Accordingly when Niccolò +arrived, he said to me in desperation: “Alas! my dear Benvenuto, what +have you come to do here? Did you not know what you have done to +displease the Duke? I have heard him swear that you were thrusting your +head into a halter.” Then I replied: “Niccolò, remind his Excellency +that Pope Clement wanted to do as much to me before, and quite as +unjustly; tell him to keep his eye on me, and give me time to recover; +then I will show his Excellency that I have been the most faithful +servant he will ever have in all his life; and forasmuch as some enemy +must have served me this bad turn through envy, let him wait till I get +well; for I shall then be able to give such an account of myself as will +make him marvel.” + +This bad turn had been done me by Giorgetto Vassellario of Arezzo, [2] +the painter; perchance in recompense for many benefits conferred on him. +I had harboured him in Rome and provided for his costs, while he had +turned my whole house upside down; for the man was subject to a species +of dry scab, which he was always in the habit of scratching with his +hands. It happened, then, that sleeping in the same bed as an excellent +workman, named Manno, who was in my service, when he meant to scratch +himself, he tore the skin from one of Manno’s legs with his filthy +claws, the nails of which he never used to cut. The said Manno left my +service, and was resolutely bent on killing him. I made the quarrel up, +and afterwards got Giorgio into Cardinal de’ Medici’s household, and +continually helped him. For these deserts, then, he told Duke Alessandro +that I had abused his Excellency, and had bragged I meant to be the +first to leap upon the walls of Florence with his foes the exiles. These +words, as I afterwards learned, had been put into Vasari’s lips by that +excellent fellow, [3] Ottaviano de’ Medici, who wanted to revenge +himself for the Duke’s irritation against him, on account of the coinage +and my departure from Florence. I, being innocent of the crime falsely +ascribed to me, felt no fear whatever. Meanwhile that able physician +Francesco da Monte Varchi attended to my cure with great skill. He had +been brought by my very dear friend Luca Martini, who passed the larger +portion of the day with me. 4 + +Note 1. 'Un paio di ceste,' a kind of litter, here described in the +plural, because two of them were perhaps put together. I have thought it +best to translate the phrase literally. From a letter of Varchi to +Bembo, we learn that Cellini reached Florence, November 9, 1535. + +Note 2. This is the famous Giorgio Vasari, a bad painter and worse +architect, but dear to all lovers of the arts for his anecdotic work +upon Italian artists. + +Note 3. 'Galantuomo,' used ironically, + +Note 4. Luca Martini was a member of the best literary society in his +days, and the author of some famous burlesque pieces. + +LXXXVII + +DURING this while I had sent my devoted comrade Felice back to Rome, to +look after our business there. When I could raise my head a little from +the bolster, which was at the end of fifteen days, although I was unable +to walk upon my feet, I had myself carried to the palace of the Medici, +and placed upon the little upper terrace. There they seated me to wait +until the Duke went by. Many of my friends at court came up to greet me, +and expressed surprise that I had undergone the inconvenience of being +carried in that way, while so shattered by illness; they said that I +ought to have waited till I was well, and then to have visited the Duke. +A crowd of them collected, all looking at me as a sort of miracle; not +merely because they had heard that I was dead, but far more because I +had the look of a dead man. Then publicly, before them all, I said how +some wicked scoundrel had told my lord the Duke that I had bragged I +meant to be the first to scale his Excellency’s walls, and also that I +had abused him personally; wherefore I had not the heart to live or die +till I had purged myself of that infamy, and found out who the audacious +rascal was who had uttered such calumnies against me. At these words a +large number of those gentlemen came round, expressing great compassion +for me; one said one thing, one another, and I told them I would never +go thence before I knew who had accused me. At these words Maestro +Agostino, the Duke’s tailor, made his way through all those gentlemen, +and said: “If that is all you want to know, you shall know, it at this +very moment.” + +Giorgio the painter, whom I have mentioned, happened just then to pass, +and Maestro Agostino exclaimed: “There is the man who accused you; now +you know yourself if it be true or not.” As fiercely as I could, not +being able to leave my seat, I asked Giorgio if it was true that he had +accused me. He denied that it was so, and that he had ever said anything +of the sort. Maestro Agostino retorted: “You gallows-bird! don’t you +know that I know it for most certain?” Giorgio made off as quickly as he +could, repeating that he had not accused me. Then, after a short while, +the Duke came by; whereupon I had myself raised up before his +Excellency, and he halted. I told him that I had come therein that way +solely in order to clear my character. The Duke gazed at me, and +marvelled I was still alive; afterwards he bade me take heed to be an +honest man and regain my health. + +When I reached home, Niccolò da Monte Aguto came to visit me, and told +me that I had escaped one of the most dreadful perils in the world, +quite contrary to all his expectations, for he had seen my ruin written +with indelible ink; now I must make haste to get well, and afterwards +take French leave, because my jeopardy came from a quarter and a man who +was able to destroy me. He then said, “Beware,” and added: “What +displeasure have you given to that rascal Ottaviano de’ Medici?” I +answered that I had done nothing to displease him, but that he had +injured me; and told him all the affair about the Mint. He repeated: +“Get hence as quickly as you can, and be of good courage, for you will +see your vengeance executed sooner than you expect.” I the best +attention to my health, gave Pietro Pagolo advice about stamping the +coins, and then went off upon my way to Rome without saying a word to +the Duke or anybody else. + +LXXXVIII + +WHEN I reached Rome, and had enjoyed the company of my friends awhile, I +began the Duke’s medal. In a few days I finished the head in steel, and +it was the finest work of the kind which I had ever produced. At least +once every day there came to visit me a sort of blockhead named Messer +Francesco Soderini. [1] When he saw what I was doing, he used frequently +to exclaim: “Barbarous wretch! you want them to immortalise that +ferocious tyrant! You have never made anything so exquisite, which +proves you our inveterate foe and their devoted friend; and yet the Pope +and he have had it twice in mind to hang you without any fault of yours. +That was the Father and the Son; now beware of the Holy Ghost.” It was +firmly believed that Duke Alessandro was the son of Pope Clement. Messer +Francesco used also to say and swear by all his saints that, if he +could, he would have robbed me of the dies for that medal. I responded +that he had done well to tell me so, and that I would take such care of +them that he should never see them more. + +I now sent to Florence to request Lorenzino that he would send me the +reverse of the medal. Niccolò da Monte Aguto, to whom I had written, +wrote back, saying that he had spoken to that mad melancholy philosopher +Lorenzino for it; he had replied that he was thinking night and day of +nothing else, and that he would finish it as soon as he was able. +Nevertheless, I was not to set my hopes upon his reverse, but I had +better invent one out of my own head, and when I had finished it, I +might bring it without hesitation to the Duke, for this would be to my +advantage. + +I composed the design of a reverse which seemed to me appropriate, and +pressed the work forward to my best ability. Not being, however, yet +recovered from that terrible illness, I gave myself frequent relaxation +by going out on fowling expeditions with my friend Felice. This man had +no skill in my art; but since we were perpetually day and night +together, everybody thought he was a first-rate craftsman. This being +so, as he was a fellow of much humour, we used often to laugh together +about the great credit he had gained. His name was Felice Guadagni +(Gain), which made him say in jest: “I should be called Felice +Gain-little if you had not enabled me to acquire such credit that I can +call myself Gain-much.” I replied that there are two ways of gaining: +the first is that by which one gains for one’s self, the second that by +which one gains for others; so I praised him much more for the second +than the first, since he had gained for me my life. + +We often held such conversations; but I remember one in particular on +the day of Epiphany, when we were together near La Magliana. It was +close upon nightfall, and during the day I had shot a good number of +ducks and geese; then, as I had almost made my mind up to shoot no more +that time, we were returning briskly toward Rome. Calling to my dog by +his name, Barucco, and not seeing him in front of me, I turned round and +noticed that the well-trained animal was pointing at some geese which +had settled in a ditch. I therefore dismounted at once, got my +fowling-piece ready, and at a very long range brought two of them down +with a single ball. I never used to shoot with more than one ball, and +was usually able to hit my mark at two hundred cubits, which cannot be +done by other ways of loading. Of the two geese, one was almost dead, +and the other, though badly wounded, was flying lamely. My dog retrieved +the one and brought it to me; but noticing that the other was diving +down into the ditch, I sprang forward to catch it. Trusting to my boots, +which came high up the leg, I put one foot forward; it sank in the oozy +ground; and so, although I got the goose, the boot of my right leg was +full of water. I lifted my foot and let the water run out; then, when I +had mounted, we made haste for Rome. The cold, however, was very great, +and I felt my leg freeze, so that I said to Felice: “We must do +something to help this leg, for I don’t know how to bear it longer.” The +good Felice, without a word, leapt from his horse, and gathering some +thistles and bits of stick, began to build a fire. I meanwhile was +waiting, and put my hands among the breast-feathers of the geese, and +felt them very warm. So I told him not to make the fire, but filled my +boot with the feathers of the goose, and was immediately so much +comforted that I regained vitality. + +Note 1. He had been banished in 1530 as a foe to the Medicean house. + +LXXXIX + +WE mounted, and rode rapidly toward Rome; and when we had reached a +certain gently rising ground-night had already fallen-looking in the +direction of Florence, both with one breath exclaimed in the utmost +astonishment: “O God of heaven! what is that great thing one sees there +over Florence?” It resembled a huge beam of fire, which sparkled and +gave out extraordinary lustre. + +I said to Felice: “Assuredly we shall hear to-morrow that something of +vast importance has happened in Florence.” As we rode into Rome, the +darkness was extreme; and when we came near the Banchi and our own +house, my little horse was going in an amble at a furious speed. Now +that day they had thrown a heap of plaster and broken tiles in the +middle of the road, which neither my horse nor myself perceived. In his +fiery pace the beast ran up it; but on coming down upon the other side +he turned a complete somersault. He had his head between his legs, and +it was only through the power of God himself that I escaped unhurt. The +noise we made brought the neighbours out with lights; but I had already +jumped to my feet; and so, without remounting, I ran home, laughing to +have come unhurt out of an accident enough to break my neck. + +On entering the house, I found some friends of mine there, to whom, +while we were supping together, I related the adventures of the day’s +chase and the diabolical apparition of the fiery beam which we had seen. +They exclaimed: “What shall we hear to-morrow which this portent has +announced?” I answered: “Some revolution must certainly have occurred in +Florence.” So we supped agreeably; and late the next day there came the +news to Rome of Duke Alessandro’s death. [1] Upon this many of my +acquaintances came to me and said: “You were right in conjecturing that +something of great importance had happened at Florence.” Just then +Francesco Soderini appeared jogging along upon a wretched mule he had, +and laughing all the way like a madman. He said to me: “This is the +reverse of that vile tyrant’s medal which your Lorenzino de’ Medici +promised you.” Then he added: “You wanted to immortalise the dukes for +us; but we mean to have no more dukes;” and thereupon he jeered me, as +though I had been the captain of the factions which make dukes. +Meanwhile a certain Baccio Bettini, [2] who had an ugly big head like a +bushel, came up and began to banter me in the same way about dukes, +calling out: “We have dis-duked them, and won’t have any more of them; +and you were for making them immortal for us!” with many other tiresome +quips of the same kind. I lost my patience at this nonsense, and said to +them: “You blockheads! I am a poor goldsmith, who serve whoever pays me; +and you are jeering me as though I were a party-leader. However, this +shall not make me cast in your teeth the insatiable greediness, idiotcy, +and good-for-nothingness of your predecessors. But this one answer I +will make to all your silly railleries; that before two or three days at +the longest have passed by, you will have another duke, much worse +perhaps than he who now has left you.” [3] + +The following day Bettini came to my shop and said: “There is no need to +spend money in couriers, for you know things before they happen. What +spirit tells them to you?” Then he informed me that Cosimo de’ Medici, +the son of Signor Giovanni, was made Duke; but that certain conditions +had been imposed at his election, which would hold him back from kicking +up his heels at his own pleasure. I now had my opportunity for laughing +at them, and saying: “Those men of Florence have set a young man upon a +mettlesome horse; next they have buckled spurs upon his heels, and put +the bridle freely in his hands, and turned him out upon a magnificent +field, full of flowers and fruits and all delightful things; next they +have bidden him not to cross certain indicated limits: now tell me, you, +who there is that can hold him back, whenever he has but the mind to +cross them? Laws cannot be imposed on him who is the master of the law.” +So they left me alone, and gave me no further annoyance. [4] + +Note 1. Alessandro was murdered by his cousin Lorenzino at Florence on +the 5th of January 1537. + +Note 2. Bettini was an intimate friend of Buonarroti and a considerable +patron of the arts. + +Note 3. This exchange of ironical compliments testifies to Cellini’s +strong Medicean leanings, and also to the sagacity with which he judged +the political situation. + +Note 4. Cellini only spoke the truth on this occasion; for Cosimo soon +kicked down the ladder which had lifted him to sovereignty, and showed +himself the absolute master of Florence. Cosimo was elected Duke upon +the 9th of January 1537. + +XC + +I NOW began to attend to my shop, and did some business, not however of +much moment, because I had still to think about my health, which was not +yet established after that grave illness I had undergone. About this +time the Emperor returned victorious from his expedition against Tunis, +and the Pope sent for me to take my advice concerning the present of +honour it was fit to give him. [1] I answered that it seemed to me most +appropriate to present his Imperial Majesty with a golden crucifix, for +which I had almost finished an ornament quite to the purpose, and which +would confer the highest honour upon his Holiness and me. I had already +made three little figures of gold in the round, about a palm high; they +were those which I had begun for the chalice of Pope Clement, +representing Faith, Hope, and Charity. To these I added in wax what was +wanting for the basement of the cross. I carried the whole to the Pope, +with the Christ in wax, and many other exquisite decorations which gave +him complete satisfaction. Before I took leave of his Holiness, we had +agreed on every detail, and calculated the price of the work. + +This was one evening four hours after nightfall, and the Pope had +ordered Messer Latino Juvenale to see that I had money paid to me next +morning. This Messer Latino, who had a pretty big dash of the fool in +his composition, bethought him of furnishing the Pope with a new idea, +which was, however, wholly of his own invention. So he altered +everything which had been arranged; and next morning, when I went for +the money, he said with his usual brutal arrogance: “It is our part to +invent, and yours to execute; before I left the Pope last night we +thought of something far superior.” To these first words I answered, +without allowing him to proceed farther: “Neither you nor the Pope can +think of anything better than a piece of which Christ plays a part; so +you may go on with your courtier’s nonsense till you have no more to +say.” + +Without uttering one word, he left me in a rage, and tried to get the +work given to another goldsmith. The Pope, however, refused, and sent +for me at once, and told me I had spoken well, but that they wanted to +make use of a Book of Hours of Our Lady, which was marvellously +illuminated, and had cost the Cardinal de’ Medici more than two thousand +crowns. They thought that this would be an appropriate present to the +Empress, and that for the Emperor they would afterwards make what I had +suggested, which was indeed a present worthy of him; but now there was +no time to lose, since the Emperor was expected in Rome in about a month +and a half. He wanted the book to be enclosed in a case of massive gold, +richly worked, and adorned with jewels valued at about six thousand +crowns. Accordingly, when the jewels and the gold were given me, I began +the work, and driving it briskly forward, in a few days brought it to +such beauty that the Pope was astonished, and showed me the most +distinguished signs of favour, conceding at the same time that that +beast Juvenale should have nothing more to do with me. + +I had nearly brought my work to its completion when the Emperor arrived, +and numerous triumphal arches of great magnificence were erected in his +honour. He entered Rome with extraordinary pomp, the description of +which I leave to others, since I mean to treat of those things only +which concern myself. [2] Immediately after his arrival, he gave the +Pope a diamond which he had bought for twelve thousand crowns. This +diamond the Pope committed to my care, ordering me to make a ring to the +measure of his holiness’ finger; but first he wished me to bring the +book in the state to which I had advanced it. I took it accordingly, and +he was highly pleased with it; then he asked my advice concerning the +apology which could be reasonably made to the Emperor for the unfinished +condition of my work. I said that my indisposition would furnish a sound +excuse, since his Majesty, seeing how thin and pale I was, would very +readily believe and accept it. To this the Pope replied that he approved +of the suggestion, but that I should add on the part of his Holiness, +when I presented the book to the Emperor, that I made him the present of +myself. Then he told me in detail how I had to behave, and the words I +had to say. These words I repeated to the Pope, asking him if he wished +me to deliver them in that way. He replied: “You would acquit yourself +to admiration if you had the courage to address the Emperor as you are +addressing me.” Then I said that I had the courage to speak with far +greater ease and freedom to the Emperor, seeing that the Emperor was +clothed as I was, and that I should seem to be speaking to a man formed +like myself; this was not the case when I addressed his Holiness, in +whom I beheld a far superior deity, both by reason of his ecclesiastical +adornments, which shed a certain aureole about him, and at the same time +because of his holiness’ dignity of venerable age; all these things +inspired in me more awe than the Imperial Majesty. To these words the +Pope responded: “Go, my Benvenuto; you are a man of ability; do us +honour, and it will be well for you.” + +Note 1. Cellini returns to the year 1535, when Charles V. arrived in +November from Tunis. + +Note 2. The entry into Rome took place April 6, 1536. + +XCI + +THE POPE ordered out two Turkish horses, which had belonged to Pope +Clement, and were the most beautiful that ever came to Christendom. +Messer Durante, [1] his chamberlain, was bidden to bring them through +the lower galleries of the palace, and there to give them to the +Emperor, repeating certain words which his Holiness dictated to him. We +both went down together, and when we reached the presence of the +Emperor, the horses made their entrance through those halls with so much +spirit and such a noble carriage that the Emperor and every one were +struck with wonder. Thereupon, Messer Durante advanced in so graceless a +manner, and delivered his speech with so much of Brescian lingo, +mumbling his words over in his mouth, that one never saw or heard +anything worse; indeed the Emperor could not refrain from smiling at +him. I meanwhile had already uncovered my piece; and observing that the +Emperor had turned his eyes towards me with a very gracious look, I +advanced at once and said: “Sacred Majesty, our most holy Father, Pope +Paolo, sends this book of the Virgin as a present to your Majesty, the +which is written in a fair clerk’s hand, and illuminated by the greatest +master who ever professed that art; and this rich cover of gold and +jewels is unfinished, as you here behold it, by reason of my illness: +wherefore his Holiness, together with the book, presents me also, and +attaches me to your Majesty in order that I may complete the work; nor +this alone, but everything which you may have it in your mind to execute +so long as life is left me, will I perform at your service.” Thereto the +Emperor responded: “The book is acceptable to me, and so are you; but I +desire you to complete it for me in Rome; when it is finished, and you +are restored to health, bring it me and come to see me.” Afterwards, in +course of conversation, he called me by my name, which made me wonder, +because no words had been dropped in which my name occurred; and he said +that he had seen that fastening of Pope Clement’s cope, on which I had +wrought so many wonderful figures. We continued talking in this way a +whole half hour, touching on divers topics artistic and agreeable; then, +since it seemed to me that I had acquitted myself with more honour than +I had expected, I took the occasion of a slight lull in the conversation +to make my bow and to retire. The Emperor was heard to say: “Let five +hundred golden crowns be given at once to Benvenuto.” The person who +brought them up asked who the Pope’s man was who had spoken to the +Emperor. Messer Durante came forward and robbed me of my five hundred +crowns. I complained to the Pope, who told me not to be uneasy, for he +knew how everything had happened, and how well I had conducted myself in +addressing the Emperor, and of the money I should certainly obtain my +share. + +Note 1. Messer Durante Duranti, Prefect of the Camera under Paul III, +who gave him the hat in 1544, and the Bishopric of Brescia afterwards. + +XCII + +WHEN I returned to my shop, I set my hand with diligence to finishing +the diamond ring, concerning which the four first jewellers of Rome were +sent to consult with me. This was because the Pope had been informed +that the diamond had been set by the first jeweller of the world in +Venice; he was called Maestro Miliano Targhetta; and the diamond being +somewhat thin, the job of setting it was too difficult to be attempted +without great deliberation. I was well pleased to receive these four +jewellers, among whom was a man of Milan called Gaio. He was the most +presumptuous donkey in the world, the one who knew least and who thought +he knew most; the others were very modest and able craftsmen. In the +presence of us all this Gaio began to talk, and said: “Miliano’s foil +should be preserved, and to do that, Benvenuto, you shall doff your cap; +[1] for just as giving diamonds a tint is the most delicate and +difficult thing in the jeweller’s art, so is Miliano the greatest +jeweller that ever lived, and this is the most difficult diamond to +tint.” I replied that it was all the greater glory for me to compete +with so able a master in such an excellent profession. Afterwards I +turned to the other jewellers and said: “Look here! I am keeping +Miliano’s foil, and I will see whether I can improve on it with some of +my own manufacture; if not, we will tint it with the same you see here.” +That ass Gaio exclaimed that if I made a foil like that he would gladly +doff his cap to it. To which I replied: “Supposing then I make it +better, it will deserve two bows.” “Certainly so,” said he; and I began +to compose my foils. + +I took the very greatest pains in mixing the tints, the method of doing +which I will explain in the proper place. [2] It is certain that the +diamond in question offered more difficulties than any others which +before or afterwards have come into my hands, and Miliano’s foil was +made with true artistic skill. However, that did not dismay me; but +having sharpened my wits up, I succeeded not only in making something +quite as good, but in exceeding it by far. Then, when I saw that I had +surpassed him, I went about to surpass myself, and produced a foil by +new processes which was a long way better than what I had previously +made. Thereupon I sent for the jewellers; and first I tinted the diamond +with Miliano’s foil: then I cleaned it well and tinted it afresh with my +own. When I showed it to the jewellers, one of the best among them, who +was called Raffael del Moro, took the diamond in his hand and said to +Gaio: “Benvenuto has outdone the foil of Miliano.” Gaio, unwilling to +believe it, took the diamond and said: “Benvenuto, this diamond is worth +two thousand ducats more than with the foil of Miliano.” I rejoined: +“Now that I have surpassed Miliano, let us see if I can surpass myself.” +Then I begged them to wait for me a while, went up into a little +cabinet, and having tinted the diamond anew unseen by them, returned and +showed it to the jewellers. Gaio broke out at once: “This is the most +marvellous thing that I have ever seen in the course of my whole +lifetime. The stone is worth upwards of eighteen thousand crowns, +whereas we valued it at barely twelve thousand.” The others jewellers +turned to him and said: “Benvenuto is the glory of our art, and it is +only due that we should doff our caps to him and to his foils.” Then +Gaio said: “I shall go and tell the Pope, and I mean to procure for him +one thousand golden crowns for the setting of this diamond.” Accordingly +he hurried to the Pope and told him the whole story; whereupon his +Holiness sent three times on that day to see if the ring was finished. + +At twenty-three o’clock I took the ring to the palace; and since the +doors were always open to me, I lifted the curtain gently, and saw the +Pope in private audience with the Marchese del Guasto. [3] The Marquis +must have been pressing something on the Pope which he was unwilling to +perform; for I heard him say: “I tell you, no; it is my business to +remain neutral, and nothing else.” I was retiring as quickly as I could, +when the Pope himself called me back; so I entered the room, and +presented the diamond ring, upon which he drew me aside, and the Marquis +retired to a distance. While looking at the diamond, the Pope whispered +to me: “Benvenuto, begin some conversation with me on a subject which +shall seem important, and do not stop talking so long as the Marquis +remains in this room.” Then he took to walking up and down, and the +occasion making for my advantage, I was very glad to discourse with him +upon the methods I had used to tint the stone. The Marquis remained +standing apart, leaning against a piece of tapestry; and now he balanced +himself about on one foot, now on the other. The subject I had chosen to +discourse upon was of such importance, if fully treated, that I could +have talked about it at least three hours. The Pope was entertained to +such a degree that he forgot the annoyance of the Marquis standing +there. I seasoned what I had to say with that part of natural philosophy +which belongs to our profession; and so having spoken for near upon an +hour, the Marquis grew tired of waiting, and went off fuming. Then the +Pope bestowed on me the most familiar caresses which can be imagined, +and exclaimed: “Have patience, my dear Benvenuto, for I will give you a +better reward for your virtues than the thousand crowns which Gaio tells +me your work is worth.” + +On this I took my leave; and the Pope praised me in the presence of his +household, among whom was the fellow Latino Juvenale, whom I have +previously mentioned. This man, having become my enemy, assiduously +strove to do me hurt; and noticing that the Pope talked of me with so +much affection and warmth, he put in his word: “There is no doubt at all +that Benvenuto is a person of very remarkable genius; but while every +one is naturally bound to feel more goodwill for his own countrymen than +for others, still one ought to consider maturely what language it is +right and proper to use when speaking of a Pope. He has had the audacity +to say that Pope Clement indeed was the handsomest sovereign that ever +reigned, and no less gifted; only that luck was always against him: and +he says that your Holiness is quite the opposite; that the tiara seems +to weep for rage upon your head; that you look like a truss of straw +with clothes on, and that there is nothing in you except good luck.” +These words, reported by a man who knew most excellently how to say +them, had such force that they gained credit with the Pope. Far from +having uttered them, such things had never come into my head. If the +Pope could have done so without losing credit, he would certainly have +taken fierce revenge upon me; but being a man of great tact and talent, +he made a show of turning it off with a laugh. Nevertheless he harboured +in his heart a deep vindictive feeling against me, of which I was not +slow to be aware, since I had no longer the same easy access to his +apartments as formerly, but found the greatest difficulty in procuring +audience. As I had now for many years been familiar with the manners of +the Roman court, I conceived that some one had done me a bad turn; and +on making dexterous inquiries, I was told the whole, but not the name of +my calumniator. I could not imagine who the man was; had I but found him +out, my vengeance would not have been measured by troy weight. 4 + +Note 1. In the 'Oreficeria' Cellini gives an account of how these foils +were made and applied. They were composed of paste, and coloured so as +to enhance the effect of precious stones, particularly diamonds. + +Note 2. 'Oreficeria,' cap. i. + +Note 3. Alfonson d’Avalos, successor and heir to the famous Ferdinando +d’Avalos, Marquis of Pescara. He acted for many years as Spanish Viceroy +of Milan. + +Note 4. 'Io ne arei fatte vendette a misura di carbone.' + +XCIII + +I WENT on working at my book, and when I had finished it I took it to +the Pope, who was in good truth unable to refrain from commending it +greatly. I begged him to send me with it to the Emperor, as he had +promised. He replied that he would do what he thought fit, and that I +had performed my part of the business. So he gave orders that I should +be well paid. These two pieces of work, on which I had spent upwards of +two months, brought me in five hundred crowns: for the diamond I was +paid one hundred and fifty crowns and no more; the rest was given me for +the cover of the book, which, however, was worth more than a thousand, +being enriched with multitudes of figures, arabesques, enamellings, and +jewels. I took what I could get and made my mind up to leave Rome +without permission. The Pope meanwhile sent my book to the Emperor by +the hand of his grandson Signor Sforza. [1] Upon accepting it, the +Emperor expressed great satisfaction, and immediately asked for me. +Young Signor Sforza, who had received his instructions, said that I had +been prevented by illness from coming. All this was reported to me. + +My preparations for the journey into France were made; and I wished to +go alone, but was unable on account of a lad in my service called +Ascanio. He was of very tender age, and the most admirable servant in +the world. When I took him he had left a former master, named Francesco, +a Spaniard and a goldsmith. I did not much like to take him, lest I +should get into a quarrel with the Spaniard, and said to Ascanio: “I do +not want to have you, for fear of offending your master.” He contrived +that his master should write me a note informing me that I was free to +take him. So he had been with me some months; and since he came to us +both thin and pale of face, we called him “the little old man;” indeed I +almost thought he was one, partly because he was so good a servant, and +partly because he was so clever that it seemed unlikely he should have +such talent at thirteen years, which he affirmed his age to be. Now to +go back to the point from which I started, he improved in person during +those few months, and gaining in flesh, became the handsomest youth in +Rome. Being the excellent servant which I have described, and showing +marvellous aptitude for our art, I felt a warm and fatherly affection +for him, and kept him clothed as if he had been my own son. When the boy +perceived the improvement he had made, he esteemed it a good piece of +luck that he had come into my hands; and he used frequently to go and +thank his former master, who had been the cause of his prosperity. Now +this man had a handsome young woman to wife, who said to him: “Surgetto” +(that was what they called him when he lived with them), “what have you +been doing to become so handsome?” Ascanio answered: “Madonna Francesca, +it is my master who has made me so handsome, and far more good to boot.” +In her petty spiteful way she took it very ill that Ascanio should speak +so; and having no reputation for chastity, she contrived to caress the +lad more perhaps than was quite seemly, which made me notice that he +began to visit her more frequently than his wont had been. + +One day Ascanio took to beating one of our little shopboys, who, when I +came home from out of doors, complained to me with tears that Ascanio +had knocked him about without any cause. Hearing this, I said to +Ascanio: “With cause or without cause, see you never strike any one of +my family, or else I’ll make you feel how I can strike myself.” He +bandied words with me, which made me jump on him and give him the +severest drubbing with both fists and feet that he had ever felt. As +soon as he escaped my clutches, he ran away without cape or cap, and for +two days I did not know where he was, and took no care to find him. +After that time a Spanish gentleman, called Don Diego, came to speak to +me. He was the most generous man in the world. I had made, and was +making, some things for him, which had brought us well acquainted. He +told me that Ascanio had gone back to his old master, and asked me, if I +thought it proper, to send him the cape and cap which I had given him. +Thereupon I said that Francesco had behaved badly, and like a low-bred +fellow; for if he had told me, when Ascanio first came back to him, that +he was in his house, I should very willingly have given him leave; but +now that he had kept him two days without informing me, I was resolved +he should not have him; and let him take care that I do not set eyes +upon the lad in his house. This message was reported by Don Diego, but +it only made Francesco laugh. The next morning I saw Ascanio working at +some trifles in wire at his master’s side. As I was passing he bowed to +me, and his master almost laughed me in the face. He sent again to ask +through Don Diego whether I would not give Ascanio back the clothes he +had received from me; but if not, he did not mind, and Ascanio should +not want for clothes. When I heard this, I turned to Don Diego and said: +“Don Diego, sir, in all your dealings you are the most liberal and +worthy man I ever knew, but that Francesco is quite the opposite of you; +he is nothing better than a worthless and dishonoured renegade. Tell him +from me that if he does not bring Ascanio here himself to my shop before +the bell for vespers, I will assuredly kill him; and tell Ascanio that +if he does not quit that house at the hour appointed for his master, I +will treat him much in the same way.” Don Diego made no answer, but went +and inspired such terror in Francesco that he knew not what to do with +himself. Ascanio meanwhile had gone to find his father, who had come to +Rome from Tagliacozzo, his birthplace; and this man also, when he heard +about the row, advised Francesco to bring Ascanio back to me. Francesco +said to Ascanio: “Go on your own account, and your father shall go with +you.” Don Diego put in: “Francesco, I foresee that something very +serious will happen; you know better than I do what a man Benvenuto is; +take the lad back courageously, and I will come with you.” I had +prepared myself, and was pacing up and down the shop waiting for the +bell to vespers; my mind was made up to do one of the bloodiest deeds +which I had ever attempted in my life. Just then arrived Don Diego, +Francesco, Ascanio, and his father, whom I did not know. When Ascanio +entered, I gazed at the whole company with eyes of rage, and Francesco, +pale as death, began as follows: “See here, I have brought back Ascanio, +whom I kept with me, not thinking that I should offend you.” Ascanio +added humbly: “Master, pardon me; I am at your disposal here, to do +whatever you shall order.” Then I said: “Have you come to work out the +time you promised me?” He answered yes, and that he meant never to leave +me. Then I turned and told the shopboy he had beaten to hand him the +bundle of clothes, and said to him: “Here are all the clothes I gave +you; take with them your discharge, and go where you like.” Don Diego +stood astonished at this, which was quite the contrary of what he had +expected; while Ascanio with his father besought me to pardon and take +him back. On my asking who it was who spoke for him, he said it was his +father; to whom, after many entreaties, I replied: “Because you are his +father, for your sake I will take him back.” + +Note 1. Sforza Sforza, son of Bosio, Count of Santa Fiore, and of +Costanza Farnese, the Pope’s natural daughter. He was a youth of sixteen +at this epoch. + +XCIV + +I HAD formed the resolution, as I said a short while back, to go toward +France; partly because I saw that the Pope did not hold me in the same +esteem as formerly, my faithful service having been besmirched by lying +tongues; and also because I feared lest those who had the power might +play me some worse trick. So I was determined to seek better fortune in +a foreign land, and wished to leave Rome without company or license. On +the eve of my projected departure, I told my faithful friend Felice to +make free use of all my effects during my absence; and in the case of my +not returning; left him everything I possessed. Now there was a Perugian +workman in my employ, who had helped me on those commissions from the +Pope; and after paying his wages, I told him he must leave my service. +He begged me in reply to let him go with me, and said he would come at +his own charges; if I stopped to work for the King of France, it would +certainly be better for me to have Italians by me, and in particular +such persons as I knew to be capable of giving me assistance. His +entreaties and arguments persuaded me to take him on the journey in the +manner he proposed. Ascanio, who was present at this debate, said, half +in tears: “When you took me back, I said I wished to remain with you my +lifetime, and so I have it in my mind to do.” I told him that nothing in +the world would make me consent; but when I saw that the poor lad was +preparing to follow on foot, I engaged a horse for him too, put a small +valise upon the crupper, and loaded myself with far more useless baggage +than I should otherwise have taken. 1 + +From home I travelled to Florence, from Florence to Bologna, from +Bologna to Venice, and from Venice to Padua. There my dear friend +Albertaccio del Bene made me leave the inn for his house; and next day I +went to kiss the hand of Messer Pietro Bembo, who was not yet a +Cardinal. [2] He received me with marks of the warmest affection which +could be bestowed on any man; then turning to Albertaccio, he said: “I +want Benvenuto to stay here, with all his followers, even though they be +a hundred men; make then your mind up, if you want Benvenuto also, to +stay here with me, for I do not mean elsewise to let you have him.” +Accordingly I spent a very pleasant visit at the house of that most +accomplished gentleman. He had a room prepared for me which would have +been too grand for a cardinal, and always insisted on my taking my meals +beside him. Later on, he began to hint in very modest terms that he +should greatly like me to take his portrait. I, who desired nothing in +the world more, prepared some snow-white plaster in a little box, and +set to work at once. The first day I spent two hours on end at my +modelling, and blocked out the fine head of that eminent man with so +much grace of manner that his lordship was fairly astounded. Now, though +he was a man of profound erudition and without a rival in poetry, he +understood nothing at all about my art; this made him think that I had +finished when I had hardly begun, so that I could not make him +comprehend what a long time it took to execute a thing of that sort +thoroughly. At last I resolved to do it as well as I was able, and to +spend the requisite time upon it; but since he wore his beard short +after the Venetian fashion, I had great trouble in modelling a head to +my own satisfaction. However, I finished it, and judged it about the +finest specimen I had produced in all the points pertaining to my art. +Great was the astonishment of Messer Pietro, who conceived that I should +have completed the waxen model in two hours and the steel in ten, when +he found that I employed two hundred on the wax, and then was begging +for leave to pursue my journey toward France. This threw him into much +concern, and he implored me at least to design the reverse for his +medal, which was to be a Pegasus encircled with a wreath of myrtle. I +performed my task in the space of some three hours, and gave it a fine +air of elegance. He was exceedingly delighted, and said: “This horse +seems to me ten times more difficult to do than the little portrait on +which you have bestowed so much pains. I cannot understand what made it +such a labour.” All the same, he kept entreating me to execute the piece +in steel, exclaiming: “For Heaven’s sake, do it; I know that, if you +choose, you will get it quickly finished.” I told him that I was not +willing to make it there, but promised without fail to take it in hand +wherever I might stop to work. + +While this debate was being carried on I went to bargain for three +horses which I wanted on my travels; and he took care that a secret +watch should be kept over my proceedings, for he had vast authority in +Padua; wherefore, when I proposed to pay for the horses, which were to +cost five hundred ducats, their owner answered: “Illustrious artist, I +make you a present of the three horses.” I replied: “It is not you who +give them me; and from the generous donor I cannot accept them, seeing I +have been unable to present him with any specimen of my craft.” The good +fellow said that, if I did not take them, I should get no other horses +in Padua, and should have to make my journey on foot. Upon that I +returned to the magnificent Messer Pietro, who affected to be ignorant +of the affair, and only begged me with marks of kindness to remain in +Padua. This was contrary to my intention, for I had quite resolved to +set out; therefore I had to accept the three horses, and with them we +began our journey. + +Note 1. He left Rome, April 1, 1537. + +Note 2. I need hardly say that this is the Bembo who ruled over Italian +literature like a dictator from the reign of Leo X. onwards. He was of a +noble Venetian house; Paul III. made him Cardinal in 1539. He died, aged +seventy-seven, in 1547. + +XCV + +I CHOSE the route through the Grisons, all other passes being unsafe on +account of war. We crossed the mountains of the Alba and Berlina; it was +the 8th of May, and the snow upon them lay in masses. [1] At the utmost +hazard of our lives we succeeded in surmounting those two Alpine ridges; +and when they had been traversed, we stopped at a place which, if I +remember rightly, is called Valdista. There we took up quarters, and at +nightfall there arrived a Florentine courier named Busbacca. I had heard +him mentioned as a man of character and able in his profession, but I +did not know that he had forfeited that reputation by his rogueries. +When he saw me in the hostelry, he addressed me by my name, said he was +going on business of importance to Lyons, and entreated met to lend him +money for the journey. I said I had no money to lend, but that if he +liked to join me, I would pay his expenses as far as Lyons. The rascal +wept, and wheedled me with a long story, saying: “If a poor courier +employed on affairs of national consequence has fallen short of money, +it is the duty of a man like you to assist him.” Then he added that he +was carrying things of the utmost importance from Messer Filippo +Strozzi; [2] and showing me a leather case for a cup he had with him, +whispered in my ear that it held a goblet of silver which contained +jewels to the value of many thousands of ducats, together with letters +of vast consequence, sent by Messer Filippo Strozzi. I told him that he +ought to let me conceal the jewels about his own person, which would be +much less dangerous than carrying them in the goblet; he might give that +up to me, and, its value being probably about ten crowns, I would supply +him with twenty-five on the security. To these words the courier replied +that he would go with me, since he could not do otherwise, for to give +up the goblet would not be to his honour. + +Accordingly we struck the bargain so; and taking horse next morning, +came to a lake between Valdistate and Vessa; it is fifteen miles long +when one reaches Vessa. On beholding the boats upon that lake I took +fright; because they are of pine, of no great size and no great +thickness, loosely put together, and not even pitched. If I had not seen +four German gentlemen, with their four horses, embarking in one of the +same sort as ours, I should never have set my foot in it; indeed I +should far more likely have turned tail; but when I saw their +hare-brained recklessness, I took it into my head that those German +waters would not drown folk, as ours do in Italy. However, my two young +men kept saying to me: “Benvenuto, it is surely dangerous to embark in +this craft with four horses.” I replied: “You cowards, do you not +observe how those four gentlemen have taken boat before us, and are +going on their way with laughter? If this were wine, as indeed ‘tis +water, I should say that they were going gladly to drown themselves in +it; but as it is but water, I know well that they have no more pleasure +than we have in drowning there.” The lake was fifteen miles long and +about three broad; on one side rose a mountain very tall and cavernous, +on the other some flat land and grassy. When we had gone about four +miles, it began to storm upon the lake, and our oarsmen asked us to help +in rowing; this we did awhile. I made gestures and directed them to land +us on the farther shore; they said it was not possible, because there +was not depth of water for the boat, and there were shoals there, which +would make it go to pieces and drown us all; and still they kept on +urging us to help them. The boatmen shouted one to the other, calling +for assistance. When I saw them thus dismayed, my horse being an +intelligent animal, I arranged the bridle on his neck and took the end +of the halter with my left hand. The horse, like most of his kind, being +not devoid of reason, seemed to have an instinct of my intention; for +having turned his face towards the fresh grass, I meant that he should +swim and draw me after him. Just at that moment a great wave broke over +the boat. Ascanio shrieked out: “Mercy, my father; save me,” and wanted +to throw himself upon my neck. Accordingly, I laid hand to my little +dagger, and told them to do as I had shown them, seeing that the horses +would save their lives as well as I too hoped to escape with mine by the +same means; but that if he tried to jump on me, I should kill him. So we +went forward several miles in this great peril of our lives. + +Note 1. I have retained Cellini’s spelling of names upon this journey. +He passed the Bernina and Albula mountains, descended the valley of the +Rhine to Wallenstadt, travelled by Weesen and probably Glarus to Lachen +and Zurich, thence to Solothurn, Lausanne, Geneva, Lyons. + +Note 2. Filippo Strozzi was leader of the anti-Medicean party, now in +exile. He fell into the hands of Duke Cosimo on the 1st of August in +this year, 1537. + +XCVI + +WHEN we had reached the middle of the lake, we found a little bit of +level ground where we could land, and I saw that those four German +gentlemen had already come to shore there; but on our wishing to +disembark, the boatmen would hear nothing of it. Then I said to my young +men: “Now is the time to show what stuff we are made of; so draw your +swords, and force these fellows to put us on shore.” This we did, not +however without difficulty, for they offered a stubborn resistance. When +at last we got to land, we had to climb that mountain for two miles, and +it was more troublesome than getting up a ladder. I was completely +clothed in mail, with big boots, and a gun in my hand; and it was +raining as though the fountains of the heavens were opened. Those +devils, the German gentlemen, leading their little horses by the bridle, +accomplished miracles of agility; but our animals were not up to the +business, and we burst with the fatigue of making them ascend that hill +of difficulty. We had climbed a little way, when Ascanio’s horse, an +excellent beast of Hungarian race, made a false step. He was going a few +paces before the courier Busbacca to whom Ascanio had given his lance to +carry for him. Well, the path was so bad that the horse stumbled, and +went on scrambling backwards, without being able to regain his footing, +till he stuck upon the point of the lance, which that rogue of a courier +had not the wit to keep out of his way. The weapon passed right through +his throat; and when my other workman went to help him, his horse also, +a black-coloured animal, slipped towards the lake, and held on by some +shrub which offered but a slight support. This horse was carrying a pair +of saddle-bags, which contained all my money and other valuables. I +cried out to the young man to save his own life, and let the horse go to +the devil. The fall was more than a mile of precipitous descent above +the waters of the lake. Just below the place our boatmen had taken up +their station; so that if the horse fell, he would have come precisely +on them. I was ahead of the whole company, and we waited to see the +horse plunge headlong; it seemed certain that he must go to perdition. +During this I said to my young men: “Be under no concern; let us save +our lives, and give thanks to God for all that happens. I am only +distressed for that poor fellow Busbacca, who tied his goblet and his +jewels to the value of several thousands of ducats on the horse’s +saddle-bow, thinking that the safest place. My things are but a few +hundred crowns, and I am in no fear whatever, if only I get God’s +protection.” Then Busbacca cried out: “I am not sorry for my own loss, +but for yours.” “Why,” said I to him, “are you sorry for my trifles, and +not for all that property of yours?” He answered: “I will tell you in +God’s name; in these circumstances and at the point of peril we have +reached, truth must be spoken. I know that yours are crowns, and are so +in good sooth; but that case in which I said I had so many jewels and +other lies, is all full of caviare.” On hearing this I could not hold +from laughing; my young men laughed too; and he began to cry. The horse +extricated itself by a great effort when we had given it up for lost. So +then, still laughing, we summoned our forces, and bent ourselves to +making the ascent. The four German gentlemen, having gained the top +before us, sent down some folk who gave us aid. Thus at length we +reached our lodging in the wilderness. Here, being wet to the skin, +tired out, and famished, we were most agreeably entertained; we dried +ourselves, took rest, and satisfied our hunger, while certain wild herbs +were applied to the wounded horse. They pointed out to us the plant in +question, of which the hedges were full; and we were told that if the +wound was kept continually plugged with its leaves, the beast would not +only recover, but would serve us just as if it had sustained no injury. +We proceeded to do as they advised. Then having thanked those gentlemen, +and feeling ourselves entirely refreshed, we quitted the place, and +travelled onwards, thanking God for saving us from such great perils. + +XCVII + +WE reached a town beyond Vessa, where we passed the night, and heard a +watchman through all the hours singing very agreeably; for all the +houses of that city being built of pine wood, it was the watchman’s only +business to warn folk against fire. Busbacca’s nerves had been quite +shaken by the day’s adventures; accordingly; each hour when the watchman +sang, he called out in his sleep: “Ah God, I am drowning!” That was +because of the fright he had had; and besides, he had got drunk in the +evening, because he would sit boozing with all the Germans who were +there’ and sometimes he cried: “I am burning,” and sometimes: “I am +drowning;” and at other times he thought he was in hell, and tortured +with that caviare suspended round his throat. + +This night was so amusing that it turned all our troubles into laughter. +In the morning we rose with very fine weather, and went to dine in a +smiling little place called Lacca. Here we obtained excellent +entertainment, and then engaged guides, who were returning to a town +called Surich. The guide who attended us went along the dyked bank of a +lake; there was no other road; and the dyke itself was covered with +water, so that the reckless fellow slipped, and fell together with his +horse beneath the water. I, who was but a few steps behind him, stopped +my horse, and waited to see the donkey get out of the water. Just as if +nothing had happened, he began to sing again, and made signs to me to +follow. I broke away upon the right hand, and got through some hedges, +making my young men and Busbacca take that way. The guide shouted in +German that if the folk of those parts saw me they would put me to +death. However, we passed forward, and escaped that other storm. + +So we arrived at Surich, a marvellous city, bright and polished like a +little gem. There we rested a whole day, then left betimes one morning, +and reached another fair city called Solutorno. Thence we came to +Usanna, from Usanna to Ginevra, from Ginevra to Lione, always singing +and laughing. At Lione I rested four days, and had much pleasant +intercourse with some of my friends there; I was also repaid what I had +spent upon Busbacca; afterwards I set out upon the road to Paris. This +was a delightful journey, except that when we reached Palissa [1] a band +of venturers tried to murder us, [2] and it was only by great courage +and address that we got free from them. From that point onward we +travelled to Paris without the least trouble in the world. Always +singing and laughing, we arrived safely at our destination. + +Note 1. La Palice. + +Note 2. Cellini, in the narrative of his second French journey, explains +that these 'venturieri' were a notable crew of very daring brigands in +the Lyonese province. + +XCVIII + +AFTER taking some repose in Paris, I went to visit the painter Rosso, +who was in the King’s service. I thought to find in him one of the +sincerest friends I had in the world, seeing that in Rome I had done him +the greatest benefits which one man can confer upon another. As these +may be described briefly, I will not here omit their mention, in order +to expose the shamelessness of such ingratitude. While he was in Rome, +then, being a man given to back-biting, he spoke so ill of Raffaello da +Urbino’s works, that the pupils of the latter were quite resolved to +murder him. From this peril I saved him by keeping a close watch upon +him day and night. Again, the evil things said by Rosso against San +Gallo, [1] that excellent architect, caused the latter to get work taken +from him which he had previously procured for him from Messer Agnolo da +Cesi; and after this San Gallo used his influence so strenuously against +him that he must have been brought to the verge of starvation, had not I +pitied his condition and lent him some scores of crowns to live upon. So +then, not having been repaid, and knowing that he held employment under +the King, I went, as I have said, to look him up. I did not merely +expect him to discharge his debt, but also to show me favour and assist +in placing me in that great monarch’s service. + +When Rosso set eyes on me, his countenance changed suddenly, and he +exclaimed: “Benvenuto, you have taken this long journey at great charges +to your loss; especially at this present time, when all men’s thoughts +are occupied with war, and not with the bagatelles of our profession.” I +replied that I had brought money enough to take me back to Rome as I had +come to Paris, and that this was not the proper return for the pains I +had endured for him, and that now I began to believe what Maestro +Antonio da San Gallo said of him. When he tried to turn the matter into +jest on this exposure of his baseness, I showed him a letter of exchange +for five hundred crowns upon Ricciardo del Bene. Then the rascal was +ashamed, and wanted to detain me almost by force; but I laughed at him, +and took my leave in the company of a painter whom I found there. This +man was called Sguazzella: [2] he too was a Florentine; and I went to +lodge in his house, with three horses and three servants, at so much per +week. He treated me very well, and was even better paid by me in return. + +Afterwards I sought audience of the King, through the introduction of +his treasurer, Messer Giuliano Buonaccorti. [3] I met, however, with +considerable delays, owing, as I did not then know, to the strenuous +exertions Rosso made against my admission to his Majesty. When Messer +Giuliano became aware of this, he took me down at once to Fontana Bilio, +[4] and brought me into the presence of the King, who granted me a whole +hour of very gracious audience. Since he was then on the point of +setting out for Lyons, he told Messer Giuliano to take me with him, +adding that on the journey we could discuss some works of art his +Majesty had it in his head to execute. Accordingly, I followed the +court; and on the way I entered into close relations with the Cardinal +of Ferrara, who had not at that period obtained the hat. [5] Every +evening I used to hold long conversations with the Cardinal, in the +course of which his lordship advised me to remain at an abbey of his in +Lyons, and there to abide at ease until the King returned from this +campaign, adding that he was going on to Grenoble, and that I should +enjoy every convenience in the abbey. + +When we reached Lyons I was already ill, and my lad Ascanio had taken a +quartan fever. The French and their court were both grown irksome to me, +and I counted the hours till I could find myself again in Rome. On +seeing my anxiety to return home, the Cardinal gave me money sufficient +for making him a silver bason and jug. So we took good horses, and set +our faces in the direction of Rome, passing the Simplon, and travelling +for some while in the company of certain Frenchmen; Ascanio troubled by +his quartan, and I by a slow fever which I found it quite impossible to +throw off. I had, moreover, got my stomach out of order to such an +extent, that for the space of four months, as I verily believe, I hardly +ate one whole loaf of bread in the week; and great was my longing to +reach Italy, being desirous to die there rather than in France. + +Note 1. Antonio da San Gallo, one of the best architects of the later +Renaissance. + +Note 2. A pupil of Andrea del Sarto, who went with him to France and +settled there. + +Note 3. A Florentine exile mentioned by Varchi. + +Note 4. Fontainebleau. Cellini always writes it as above. + +Note 5. Ippolito d’Este, son of Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara; Archbishop of +Milan at the age of fifteen; Cardinal in 1539; spent a large part of his +life in France. + +XCIX + +WHEN we had crossed the mountains of the Simplon, we came to a river +near a place called Indevedro. [1] It was broad and very deep, spanned +by a long narrow bridge without ramparts. That morning a thick white +frost had fallen; and when I reached the bridge, riding before the rest, +I recognised how dangerous it was, and bade my servants and young men +dismount and lead their horses. So I got across without accident, and +rode on talking with one of the Frenchmen, whose condition was that of a +gentleman. The other, who was a scrivener, lagged a little way behind, +jeering the French gentleman and me because we had been so frightened by +nothing at all as to give ourselves the trouble of walking. I turned +round, and seeing him upon the middle of the bridge, begged him to come +gently, since the place was very dangerous. The fellow, true to his +French nature, cried out in French that I was a man of poor spirit, and +that there was no danger whatsoever. While he spoke these words and +urged his horse forward, the animal suddenly slipped over the bridge, +and fell with legs in air close to a huge rock there was there. Now God +is very often merciful to madmen; so the two beasts, human and equine, +plunged together into a deep wide pool, where both of them went down +below the water. On seeing what had happened, I set off running at full +speed, scrambled with much difficulty on to the rock, and dangling over +from it, seized the skirt of the scrivener’s gown and pulled him up, for +he was still submerged beneath the surface. He had drunk his bellyful of +water, and was within an ace of being drowned. I then, beholding him out +of danger, congratulated the man upon my having been the means of +rescuing his life. The fellow to this answered me in French, that I had +done nothing; the important things to save were his writings, worth many +scores of crowns; and these words he seemed to say in anger, dripping +wet and spluttering the while. Thereupon, I turned round to our guides, +and ordered them to help the brute, adding that I would see them paid. +One of them with great address and trouble set himself to the business, +and picked up all the fellow’s writings, so that he lost not one of +them: the other guide refused to trouble himself by rendering any +assistance. + +I ought here to say that we had made a purse up, and that I performed +the part of paymaster. So, when we reached the place I mentioned, and +had dined, I drew some coins from the common purse and gave them to the +guide who helped to draw him from the water. Thereupon the fellow called +out that I might pay them out of my own pocket; he had no intention of +giving the man more than what had been agreed on for his services as +guide. Upon this I retorted with insulting language. Then the other +guide, who had done nothing, came up and demanded to be rewarded also. I +told him that the one who had borne the cross deserved the recompense. +He cried out that he would presently show me a cross which should make +me repent. I replied that I would light a candle at that cross, which +should, I hoped, make him to be the first to weep his folly. The village +we were in lay on the frontier between Venice and the Germans. So the +guide ran off to bring the folk together, and came, followed by a crowd, +with a boar-spear in his hand. Mounted on my good steed, I lowered the +barrel of my arquebuse, and turning to my comrades, cried: “At the first +shot I shall bring that fellow down; do you likewise your duty, for +these are highway robbers, who have used this little incident to +contrive our murder.” The innkeeper at whose house we had dined called +one of the leaders, an imposing old man, and begged him to put a stop to +the disorder, saying: “This is a most courageous young man; you may cut +him to pieces, but he will certainly kill a lot of you, and perhaps will +escape your hands after doing all the mischief he is able.” So matters +calmed down: and the old man, their leader, said to me: “Go in peace; +you would not have much to boast of against us, even if you had a +hundred men to back you.” I recognised the truth of his words, and had +indeed made up my mind to die among them; therefore, when no further +insults were cast at me, I shook my head and exclaimed: “I should +certainly have done my utmost to prove I am no statue, but a man of +flesh and spirit.” Then we resumed our journey; and that evening, at the +first lodging we came to, settled our accounts together. There I parted +for ever from that beast of a Frenchman, remaining on very friendly +terms with the other, who was a gentleman. Afterwards I reached Ferrara, +with my three horses and no other company. + +Having dismounted, I went to court in order to pay my reverence to the +Duke, and gain permission to depart next morning for Loreto. When I had +waited until two hours after nightfall, his Excellency appeared. I +kissed his hands; he received me with much courtesy, and ordered that +water should be brought for me to wash my hands before eating. To this +compliment I made a pleasant answer: “Most excellent lord, it is now +more than four months that I have eaten only just enough to keep life +together; knowing therefore that I could not enjoy the delicacies of +your royal table, I will stay and talk with you while your Excellency is +supping; in this way we shall both have more pleasure than if I were to +sup with you.” Accordingly, we entered into conversation, and prolonged +it for the next three hours. At that time I took my leave, and when I +got back to the inn, found a most excellent meal ready; for the Duke had +sent me the plates from his own banquet, together with some famous wine. +Having now fasted two full hours beyond my usual hour for supping, I +fell to with hearty appetite; and this was the first time since four +months that I felt the power or will to eat. + +Note 1. Probably the Doveria in the Valdivedro. + +C + +LEAVING Ferrara in the morning, I went to Santa Maria at Loreto; and +thence, having performed my devotions, pursued the journey to Rome. +There I found my most faithful Felice, to whom I abandoned my old shop +with all its furniture and appurtenances, and opened another, much +larger and roomier, next to Sugherello, the perfumer. I thought for +certain that the great King Francis would not have remembered me. +Therefore I accepted commissions from several noblemen; and in the +meanwhile began the bason and jug ordered by the Cardinal Ferrara. I had +a crowd of workmen, and many large affairs on hand in gold and silver. + +Now the arrangement I had made with that Perugian workman [1] was that +he should write down all the monies which had been disbursed on his +account, chiefly for clothes and divers other sundries; and these, +together with the costs of travelling, amounted to about seventy crowns. +We agreed that he should discharge the debt by monthly payments of three +crowns; and this he was well able to do, since he gained more than eight +through me. At the end of two months the rascal decamped from my shop, +leaving me in the lurch with a mass of business on my hands, and saying +that he did not mean to pay me a farthing more. I was resolved to seek +redress, but allowed myself to be persuaded to do so by the way of +justice. At first I thought of lopping off an arm of his; and assuredly +I should have done so, if my friends had not told me that it was a +mistake, seeing I should lose my money and perhaps Rome too a second +time, forasmuch as blows cannot be measured, and that with the agreement +I held of his I could at any moment have him taken up. I listened to +their advice, though I should have liked to conduct the affair more +freely. As a matter of fact, I sued him before the auditor of the +Camera, and gained by suit; in consequence of that decree, for which I +waited several months, I had him thrown into prison. At the same time I +was overwhelmed with large commissions; among others, I had to supply +all the ornaments of gold and jewels for the wife of Signor Gierolimo +Orsino, father of Signor Paolo, who is now the son-in-law of our Duke +Cosimo. [2] These things I had nearly finished; yet others of the +greatest consequence were always coming in. I employed eight +work-people, and worked day and night together with them, for the sake +alike of honour and of gain. + +Note 1. In his 'Ricordi' Cellini calls the man Girolamo Pascucci. + +Note 2. He was Duke of Bracciano, father of Duke Paolo, who married +Isabella de’ Medici, and murdered her before his second marriage with +Vittoria Accoramboni. See my 'Renaissance in Italy,' vol. vi. + +CI + +WHILE I was engaged in prosecuting my affairs with so much vigour, there +arrived a letter sent post-haste to me by the Cardinal of Ferrara, which +ran as follows:- + +'“Benvenuto, our dear friend,-During these last days the most Christian +King here made mention of you, and said that he should like to have you +in his service. Whereto I answered that you had promised me, whenever I +sent for you to serve his Majesty, that you would come at once. His +Majesty then answered:’It is my will that provision for his journey, +according to his merits, should be sent him;’ and immediately ordered +his Admiral to make me out an order for one thousand golden crowns upon +the treasurer of the Exchequer. The Cardinal de’ Gaddi, who was present +at this conversation, advanced immediately, and told his Majesty that it +was not necessary to make these dispositions, seeing that he had sent +you money enough, and that you were already on the journey. If then, as +I think probable, the facts are quite contrary to those assertions of +Cardinal Gaddi, reply to me without delay upon the receipt of this +letter; for I will undertake to gather up the fallen thread, and have +the promised money given you by this magnanimous King.”' + +Now let the world take notice, and all the folk that dwell on it, what +power malignant stars with adverse fortune exercise upon us human +beings! I had not spoken twice in my lifetime to that little simpleton +of a Cardinal de’ Gaddi; nor do I think that he meant by this +bumptiousness of his to do me any harm, but only, through +lightheadedness and senseless folly, to make it seem as though he also +held the affairs of artists, whom the King was wanting, under his own +personal supervision, just as the Cardinal of Ferrara did. But +afterwards he was so stupid as not to tell me anything at all about the +matter; elsewise, it is certain that my wish to shield a silly mannikin +from reproach, if only for our country’s sake, would have made me find +out some excuse to mend the bungling of his foolish self-conceit. + +Immediately upon the receipt of Cardinal Ferrara’s letter, I answered +that about Cardinal de’ Gaddi I knew absolutely nothing, and that even +if he had made overtures of that kind to me, I should not have left +Italy without informing his most reverend lordship. I also said that I +had more to do in Rome than at any previous time; but that if his most +Christian Majesty made sign of wanting me, one word of his, communicated +by so great a prince as his most reverend lordship, would suffice to +make me set off upon the spot, leaving all other concerns to take their +chance. + +After I had sent my letter, that traitor, the Perugian workman, devised +a piece of malice against me, which succeeded at once, owing to the +avarice of Pope Paolo da Farnese, but also far more to that of his +bastard, who was then called Duke of Castro. [1] The fellow in question +informed one of Signor Pier Luigi’s secretaries that, having been with +me as workman several years, he was acquainted with all my affairs, on +the strength of which he gave his word to Signor Pier Luigi that I was +worth more than eighty thousand ducats, and that the greater part of +this property consisted in jewels, which jewels belonged to the Church, +and that I had stolen them in Castel Sant’ Angelo during the sack of +Rome, and that all they had to do was to catch me on the spot with +secrecy. + +It so happened that I had been at work one morning, more than three +hours before daybreak, upon the trousseau of the bride I mentioned; +then, while my shop was being opened and swept out, I put my cape on to +go abroad and take the air. Directing my steps along the Strada Giulia, +I turned into Chiavica, and at this corner Crespino, the Bargello, with +all his constables, made up to me, and said: “You are the Pope’s +prisoner.” I answered: “Crespino, you have mistaken your man.” “No,” +said Crespino, “you are the artist Benvenuto, and I know you well, and I +have to take you to the Castle of Sant’ Angelo, where lords go, and men +of accomplishments, your peers.” Upon that four of his under-officers +rushed on me, and would have seized by force a dagger which I wore, and +some rings I carried on my finger; but Crespino rebuked them: “Not a man +of you shall touch him: it is quite enough if you perform your duty, and +see that he does not escape me.” Then he came up, and begged me with +words of courtesy to surrender my arms. While I was engaged in doing +this, it crossed my mind that exactly on that very spot I had +assassinated Pompeo. They took me straightway to castle, and locked me +in an upper chamber in the keep. This was the first time that I ever +smelt a prison up to the age I then had of thirty-seven years. + +Note 1. He had been invested with the Duchy of Castro in 1537. + +CII + +SIGNOR PIER LUIGI, the Pope’s son, had well considered the large sum for +which I stood accused; so he begged the reversion of it from his most +holy father, and asked that he might have the money made out to himself. +The Pope granted this willingly, adding that he would assist in its +recovery. Consequently, after having kept me eight whole days in prison, +they sent me up for examination, in order to put an end if possible to +the affair. I was summoned into one of the great halls of the papal +castle, a place of much dignity. My examiners were, first, the Governor +of Rome, called Messer Benedetto Conversini of Pistoja, [1] who +afterwards became Bishop of Jesi; secondly, the Procurator-Fiscal, whose +name I have forgotten; [2] and, thirdly, the judge in criminal cases, +Messer Benedetto da Cagli. These three men began at first to question me +in gentle terms, which afterwards they changed to words of considerable +harshness and menace, apparently because I said to them: “My lords, it +is more than half-an-hour now since you have been pestering me with +questions about fables and such things, so that one may truly say you +are chattering or prattling; by chattering I mean talking without +reason, by prattling I mean talking nonsense: therefore I beg you to +tell me what it really is you want of me, and to let me hear from your +lips reasonable speech, and not jabberings or nonsense.” In reply to +these words of mine, the Governor, who was a Pistojan, could no longer +disguise his furious temper, and began: “You talk very confidently, or +rather far too arrogantly; but let me tell you that I will bring your +pride down lower than a spaniel by the words of reason you shall hear +from me; these will be neither jabberings nor nonsense, as you have it, +but shall form a chain of arguments to answer which you will be forced +to tax the utmost of your wits. Then he began to speak as follows: “We +know for certain that you were in Rome at the time when this unhappy +city was subject to the calamity of the sack; at that time you were in +this Castle of Sant’ Angelo, and were employed as bombardier. Now since +you are a jeweller and goldsmith by trade, Pope Clement, being +previously acquainted with you, and having by him no one else of your +profession, called you into his secret counsels, and made you unset all +the jewels of his tiaras, mitres, and rings; afterwards, having +confidence in you, he ordered you to sew them into his clothes. While +thus engaged, you sequestered, unknown to his Holiness, a portion of +them, to the value of eighty thousand crowns. This has been told us by +one of your workmen, to whom you disclosed the matter in your +braggadocio way. Now, we tell you frankly that you must find the jewels, +or their value in money; after that we will release you.” + +Note 1. Bishop of Forlimpopoli in 1537, and of Jesi in 1540. + +Note 2. Benedetto Valenti. + +CIII + +WHEN I heard these words, I could not hold from bursting into a great +roar of laughter; then, having laughed a while, I said: “Thanks be to +that God on this first occasion, when it has pleased His Divine Majesty +to imprison me, I should not be imprisoned for some folly, as the wont +is usually with young men. If what you say were the truth, I run no risk +of having to submit to corporal punishment, since the authority of the +law was suspended during that season. Indeed, I could excuse myself by +saying that, like a faithful servant, I had kept back treasure to that +amount for the sacred and Holy Apostolic Church, waiting till I could +restore it to a good Pope, or else to those who might require it of me; +as, for instance, you might, if this were verily the case.” When I had +spoken so far, the furious Governor would not let me conclude my +argument, but exclaimed in a burst of rage: “Interpret the affair as you +like best, Benvenuto; it is enough for us to have found the property +which we had lost; be quick about it, if you do not want us to use other +measures than words.” Then they began to rise and leave the chamber; but +I stopped them, crying out: “My lords, my examination is not over; bring +that to an end, and go then where you choose.” They resumed their seats +in a very angry temper, making as though they did not mean to listen to +a word I said, and at the same time half relieved, [1] as though they +had discovered all they wanted to know. I then began my speech, to this +effect: “You are to know, my lords, that it is now some twenty years +since I first came to Rome, and I have never been sent to prison here or +elsewhere.” On this that catchpole of a Governor called out: “And yet +you have killed men enough here!” I replied: “It is you that say it, and +not I; but if some one came to kill you, priest as you are, you would +defend yourself, and if you killed him, the sanctity of law would hold +you justified. Therefore let me continue my defence, if you wish to +report the case to the Pope, and to judge me fairly. Once more I tell +you that I have been a sojourner in this marvellous city Rome for nigh +on twenty years, and here I have exercised my art in matters of vast +importance. Knowing that this is the seat of Christ, I entertained the +reasonable belief that when some temporal prince sought to inflict on me +a mortal injury, I might have recourse to this holy chair and to this +Vicar of Christ, in confidence that he would surely uphold my cause. Ah +me! whither am I now to go? What prince is there who will protect me +from this infamous assassination? Was it not your business, before you +took me up, to find out what I had done with those eighty thousand +ducats? Was it not your duty to inspect the record of the jewels, which +have been carefully inscribed by this Apostolic Camera through the last +five hundred years? If you had discovered anything missing on that +record, then you ought to have seized all my books together with myself. +I tell you for a certainty that the registers, on which are written all +the jewels of the Pope and the regalia, must be perfectly in order; you +will not find there missing a single article of value which belonged to +Pope Clement that has not been minutely noted. The one thing of the kind +which occurs to me is this: When that poor man Pope Clement wanted to +make terms with those thieves of the Imperial army, who had robbed Rome +and insulted the Church, a certain Cesare Iscatinaro, if I rightly +remember his name, came to negotiate with him; [2] and having nearly +concluded the agreement, the Pope in his extremity, to show the man some +mark of favour, let fall a diamond from his finger, which was worth +about four thousand crowns, and when Iscatinaro stooped to pick it up, +the Pope told him to keep it for his sake. I was present at these +transactions: and if the diamond of which I speak be missing, I have +told you where it went; but I have the firmest conviction that you will +find even this noted upon the register. After this you may blush at your +leisure for having done such cruel injustice to a man like me, who has +performed so many honourable services for the apostolic chair. I would +have you know that, but for me, the morning when the Imperial troops +entered the Borgo, they would without let or hindrance have forced their +way into the castle. It was I who, unrewarded for this act, betook +myself with vigour to the guns which had been abandoned by the +cannoneers and soldiers of the ordnance. I put spirit into my comrade +Raffaello da Montelupo, the sculptor, who had also left his post and hid +himself all frightened in a corner, without stirring foot or finger; I +woke his courage up, and he and I alone together slew so many of the +enemies that the soldiers took another road. I it was who shot at +Iscatinaro when I saw him talking to Pope Clement without the slightest +mark of reverence, nay, with the most revolting insolence, like the +Lutheran and infidel he was. Pope Clement upon this had the castle +searched to find and hang the man who did it. I it was who wounded the +Prince of Orange in the head down there below the trenches of the +castle. Then, too, how many ornaments of silver, gold, and jewels, how +many models and coins, so beautiful and so esteemed, have I not made for +Holy Church! Is this then the presumptuous priestly recompense you give +a man who has served and loved you with such loyalty, with such mastery +of art? Oh, go and report the whole that I have spoken to the Pope; go +and tell him that his jewels are all in his possession; that I never +received from the Church anything but wounds and stonings at that epoch +of the sack; that I never reckoned upon any gain beyond some small +remuneration from Pope Paolo, which he had promised me. Now at last I +know what to think of his Holiness and you his Ministers.” + +While I was delivering this speech, they sat and listened in +astonishment. Then exchanging glances one with the other, and making +signs of much surprise, they left me. All three went together to report +what I had spoken to the Pope. The Pope felt some shame, and gave orders +that all the records of the jewels should be diligently searched. When +they had ascertained that none were missing, they left me in the castle +without saying a word more about it. Signor Pier Luigi felt also that he +had acted ill; and to end the affair, they set about to contrive my +death. + +Note 1. 'Sollevati.' It may mean 'half-risen from their seats.' + +Note 2. Gio. Bartolommeo di Gattinara. Raffaello da Montelupo, in his +Autobiography, calls him Cattinaro, and relates how “when he came one +day into the castle to negotiate a treaty, he was wounded in the arm by +one of our arquebusiers.” This confirms what follows above. + +CIV + +DURING the agitations of this time which I have just related, King +Francis received news of how the Pope was keeping me in prison, and with +what injustice. He had sent a certain gentleman of his, named Monsignor +di Morluc, as his ambassador to Rome; [1] to him therefore he now wrote, +claiming me from the Pope as the man of his Majesty. The Pope was a +person of extraordinary sense and ability, but in this affair of mine he +behaved weakly and unintelligently; for he made answer to the King’s +envoy that his Majesty need pay me no attention, since I was a fellow +who gave much trouble by fighting; therefore he advised his Majesty to +leave me alone, adding that he kept me in prison for homicides and other +deviltries which I had played. To this the King sent answer that justice +in his realm was excellently maintained; for even as his Majesty was +wont to shower rewards and favours upon men of parts and virtue, so did +he ever chastise the troublesome. His Holiness had let me go, not caring +for the service of the said Benvenuto, and the King, when he saw him in +his realm, most willingly adopted him; therefore he now asked for him in +the quality of his own man. Such a demand was certainly one of the most +honourable marks of favour which a man of my sort could desire; yet it +proved the source of infinite annoyance and hurt to me. The Pope was +roused to such fury by the jealous fear he had lest I should go and tell +the whole world how infamously I had been treated, that he kept +revolving ways in which I might be put to death without injury to his +own credit. + +The castellan of Sant’ Angelo was one of our Florentines, called Messer +Giorgio, a knight of the Ugolini family. [2] This worthy man showed me +the greatest courtesy, and let me go free about the castle on parole. He +was well aware how greatly I had been wronged; and when I wanted to give +security for leave to walk about the castle, he replied that though he +could not take that, seeing the Pope set too much importance upon my +affair, yet he would frankly trust my word, because he was informed by +every one what a worthy man I was. So I passed my parole, and he granted +me conveniences for working at my trade. I then, reflecting that the +Pope’s anger against me must subside, as well because of my innocence as +because of the favour shown me by the King, kept my shop in Rome open, +while Ascanio, my prentice, came to the castle and brought me things to +work at. I could not indeed do much, feeling myself imprisoned so +unjustly; yet I made a virtue of necessity, and bore my adverse fortune +with as light a heart as I was able. + +I had secured the attachment of all the guards and many soldiers of the +castle. Now the Pope used to come at times to sup there, and on those +occasions no watch was kept, but the place stood open like an ordinary +palace. Consequently, while the Pope was there, the prisoners used to be +shut up with great precautions; none such, however, were taken with me, +who had the license to go where I liked, even at those times, about it +precincts. Often then those soldiers told me that I ought to escape, and +that they would aid and abet me, knowing as they did how greatly I had +been wronged. I answered that I had given my parole to the castellan, +who was such a worthy man, and had done me such kind offices. One very +brave and clever soldier used to say to me: “My Benvenuto, you must know +that a prisoner is not obliged, and cannot be obliged, to keep faith, +any more than aught else which befits a free man. Do what I tell you; +escape from that rascal of a Pope and that bastard his son, for both are +bent on having your life by villainy.” I had, however, made my mind up +rather to lose my life than to break the promise I had given that good +man the castellan. So I bore the extreme discomforts of my situation, +and had for companion of misery a friar of the Palavisina house, who was +a very famous preacher. 3 + +Note 1. Jean de Montluc, brother of the celebrated Marshal, Bishop of +Valence, a friend of Margaret of Navarre, and, like her, a protector of +the Huguenots. He negotiated the election of the Duke of Anjou to the +throne of Poland. + +Note 2. It is only known of this man that he was a Knight of Jerusalem, +and had been Commendatore of Prato in 1511. + +Note 3. Cellini means Pallavicini. Nothing seems to be known about him, +except that his imprisonment is mentioned in a letter of Caro’s under +date 1540. + +CV + +THIS man had been arrested as a Lutheran. He was an excellent companion; +but, from the point of view of his religion, I found him the biggest +scoundrel in the world, to whom all kinds of vices were acceptable. His +fine intellectual qualities won my admiration; but I hated his dirty +vices, and frankly taxed him with them. This friar kept perpetually +reminding me that I was in no wise bound to observe faith with the +castellan, since I had become a prisoner. I replied to these arguments +that he might be speaking the truth as a friar, but that as a man he +spoke the contrary; for every one who called himself a man, and not a +monk, was bound to keep his word under all circumstances in which he +chanced to be. I therefore, being a man, and not a monk, was not going +to break the simple and loyal word which I had given. Seeing then that +he could not sap my honour by the subtle and ingenious sophistries he so +eloquently developed, the friar hit upon another way of tempting me. He +allowed some days to pass, during which he read me the sermons of Fra +Jerolimo Savonarola; and these he expounded with such lucidity and +learning that his comment was even finer than the text. I remained in +ecstasies of admiration; and there was nothing in the world I would not +have done for him, except, as I have said, to break my promised word. +When he saw the effect his talents had produced upon my mind, he thought +of yet another method. Cautiously he began to ask what means I should +have taken, supposing my jailers had locked me up, in order to set the +dungeon doors open and effect my flight. I then, who wanted to display +the sharpness of my own wits to so ingenious a man, replied that I was +quite sure of being able to open the most baffling locks and bars, far +more those of our prison, to do which would be the same to me as eating +a bit of new cheese. In order then to gain my secret, the friar now made +light of these assertions, averring that persons who have gained some +credit by their abilities, are wont to talk big of things which, if they +had to put their boasts in action, would speedily discredit them, and +much to their dishonour. Himself had heard me speak so far from the +truth, that he was inclined to think I should, when pushed to proof, end +in a dishonourable failure. Upon this, feeling myself stung to the quick +by that devil of a friar, I responded that I always made a practice of +promising in words less than I could perform in deeds; what I had said +about the keys was the merest trifle; in a few words I could make him +understand that the matter was as I had told it; then, all too +heedlessly, I demonstrated the facility with which my assertions could +be carried into act. He affected to pay little attention; but all the +same he learned my lesson well by heart with keen intelligence. + +As I have said above, the worthy castellan let me roam at pleasure over +the whole fortress. Not even at night did he lock me in, as was the +custom with the other prisoners. Moreover, he allowed me to employ +myself as I liked best, with gold or silver or with wax according to my +whim. So then, I laboured several weeks at the bason ordered by Cardinal +Ferrara, but the irksomeness of my imprisonment bred in me a disgust for +such employment, and I took to modelling in wax some little figures of +my fancy, for mere recreation. Of the wax which I used, the friar stole +a piece; and with this he proceeded to get false keys made, upon the +method I had heedlessly revealed to him. He had chosen for his +accomplice a registrar named Luigi, a Paduan, who was in the castellan’s +service. When the keys were ordered, the locksmith revealed their plot; +and the castellan who came at times to see me in my chamber, noticing +the wax which I was using, recognised it at once and exclaimed: “It is +true that this poor fellow Benvenuto has suffered a most grievous wrong; +yet he ought not to have dealt thus with me, for I have ever strained my +sense of right to show him kindness. Now I shall keep him straitly under +lock and key, and shall take good care to do him no more service.” +Accordingly, he had me shut up with disagreeable circumstances, among +the worst of which were the words flung at me by some of his devoted +servants, who were indeed extremely fond of me, but now, on this +occasion, cast in my teeth all the kind offices the castellan had done +me; they came, in fact, to calling me ungrateful, light, and disloyal. +One of them in particular used those injurious terms more insolently +than was decent; whereupon I, being convinced of my innocence, retorted +hotly that I had never broken faith, and would maintain these words at +the peril of my life, and that if he or any of his fellows abused me so +unjustly, I would fling the lie back in his throat. The man, intolerant +of my rebuke, rushed to the castellan’s room, and brought me the wax +with the model of the keys. No sooner had I seen the wax than I told him +that both he and I were in the right; but I begged him to procure for me +an audience with the castellan, for I meant to explain frankly how the +matter stood, which was of far more consequence than they imagined. The +castellan sent for me at once, and I told him the whole course of +events. This made him arrest the friar, who betrayed the registrar, and +the alter ran a risk of being hanged. However, the castellan hushed the +affair up, although it had reached the Pope’s ears; he saved his +registrar from the gallows, and gave me the same freedom as I had before. + +CVI + +WHEN I saw how rigorously this affair was prosecuted, I began to think +of my own concerns, and said: “Supposing another of these storms should +rise, and the man should lose confidence in me, I should then be under +no obligation to him, and might wish to use my wits a little, which +would certainly work their end better than those of that rascally +friar.” So I began to have new sheets of a coarse fabric brought me, and +did not send the dirty ones away. When my servants asked for them, I +bade them hold their tongues, saying I had given the sheets to some of +those poor soldiers; and if the matter came to knowledge, the wretched +fellows ran risk of the galleys. This made my young men and attendants, +especially Felice, keep the secret of the sheets in all loyalty. I +meanwhile set myself to emptying a straw mattress, the stuffing of which +I burned, having a chimney in my prison. Out of the sheets I cut strips, +the third of a cubit in breadth; and when I had made enough in my +opinion to clear the great height of the central keep of Sant’ Angelo, I +told my servants that I had given away what I wanted; they must now +bring me others of a finer fabric, and I would always send back the +dirty ones. This affair was presently forgotten. + +Now my workpeople and serving-men were obliged to close my shop at the +order of the Cardinals Santi Quattro [1] and Cornaro, who told me openly +that the Pope would not hear of setting me at large, and that the great +favours shown me by King Francis had done far more harm that good. It +seems that the last words spoken from the King by Monsignor di Morluc +had been to this effect, namely, that the Pope ought to hand me over to +the ordinary judges of the court; if I had done wrong, he could chastise +me; but otherwise, it was but reason that he should set me at liberty. +This message so irritated the Pope that he made his mind up to keep me a +prisoner for life. At the same time, the castellan most certainly did +his utmost to assist me. + +When my enemies perceived that my shop was closed, they lost no +opportunity of taunting and reviling those servants and friends of mine +who came to visit me in prison. It happened on one occasion that +Ascanio, who came twice a day to visit me, asked to have a jacket cut +out for him from a blue silk vest of mine I never used. I had only worn +it once, on the occasion when I walked in procession. I replied that +these were not the times nor was I in the place to wear such clothes. +The young man took my refusal of this miserable vest so ill that he told +me he wanted to go home to Tagliacozzo. All in a rage, I answered that +he could not please me better than by taking himself off; and he swore +with passion that he would never show his face to me again. When these +words passed between us, we were walking round the keep of the castle. +It happened that the castellan was also taking the air there; so just +when we met his lordship Ascanio said: “I am going away; farewell for +ever!” I added: “For ever, is my wish too; and thus in sooth shall it +be. I shall tell the sentinels not to let you pass again!” Then, turning +to the castellan, I begged him with all my heart to order the guards to +keep Ascanio out, adding: “This little peasant comes here to add to my +great trouble; I entreat you, therefore, my lord, not to let him enter +any more.” The castellan was much grieved, because he knew him to be a +lad of marvellous talents; he was, moreover, so fair a person that every +one who once set eyes on him seemed bound to love him beyond measure. + +The boy went away weeping. That day he had with him a small scimitar, +which it was at times his wont to carry hidden beneath his clothes. +Leaving the castle then, and having his face wet with tears, he chanced +to meet two of my chief enemies, Jeronimo the Perugian, [2] and a +certain Michele, goldsmiths both of them. Michele, being Jeronimo’s +friend and Ascanio’s enemy, called out: “What is Ascanio crying for? +Perhaps his father is dead; I mean that father in the castle!” Ascanio +answered on the instant: “He is alive, but you shall die this minute.” +Then, raising his hand, he struck two blows with the scimitar, both at +the fellow’s head; the first felled him to earth, the second lopped +three fingers off his right hand, though it was aimed at his head. He +lay there like a dead man. The matter was at once reported to the Pope, +who cried in a great fury: “Since the King wants him to be tried, go and +give him three days to prepare his defence!” So they came, and executed +the commission which the Pope had given them. + +The excellent castellan went off upon the spot to his Holiness, and +informed him that I was no accomplice in the matter, and that I had sent +Ascanio about his business. So ably did he plead my cause that he saved +my life from this impending tempest. Ascanio meanwhile escaped to +Tagliacozzo, to his home there, whence he wrote begging a thousand times +my pardon, and acknowledging his wrong in adding troubles to my grave +disaster; but protesting that if through God’s grace I came out from the +prison, he meant never to abandon me. I let him understand that he must +mind his art, and that if God set me a large again I would certainly +recall him. + +Note 1. Antonio Pucci, a Florentine, Cardinal de’ Quattro Santi Coronati. + +Note 2. 'I. e.,' Girolamo Pascucci. + +CVII + +THE CASTELLAN was subject to a certain sickness, which came upon him +every year and deprived him of his wits. The sign of its, approach was +that he kept continually talking, or rather jabbering, to no purpose. +These humours took a different shape each year; one time he thought he +was an oiljar; another time he thought he was a frog, and hopped about +as frogs do; another time he thought he was dead, and then they had to +bury him; not a year passed but he got some such hypochondriac notions +into his head. At this season he imagined that he was a bat, and when he +went abroad to take the air, he used to scream like bats in a high thin +tone; and then he would flap his hands and body as though he were about +to fly. The doctors, when they saw the fit coming on him, and his old +servants, gave him all the distractions they could think of; and since +they had noticed that he derived much pleasure from my conversation, +they were always fetching me to keep him company. At times the poor man +detained me for four or five stricken hours without ever letting me +cease talking. He used to keep me at his table, eating opposite to him, +and never stopped chatting and making me chat; but during those +discourses I contrived to make a good meal. He, poor man, could neither +eat nor sleep; so that at last he wore me out. I was at the end of my +strength; and sometimes when I looked at him, I noticed that his +eyeballs were rolling in a frightful manner, one looking one way and the +other in another. + +He took it into his head to ask me whether I had ever had a fancy to +fly. I answered that it had always been my ambition to do those things +which offer the greatest difficulties to men, and that I had done them; +as to flying, the God of Nature had gifted me with a body well suited +for running and leaping far beyond the common average, and that with the +talents I possessed for manual art I felt sure I had the courage to try +flying. He then inquired what methods I should use; to which I answered +that, taking into consideration all flying creatures, and wishing to +imitate by art what they derived from nature, none was so apt a model as +the bat. No sooner had the poor man heard the name bat, which recalled +the humour he was suffering under, than he cried out at the top of his +voice: “He says true-he says true; the bat’s the thing-the bat’s the +thing!” Then he turned to me and said: “Benvenuto, if one gave you the +opportunity, should you have the heart to fly?” I said if he would set +me at liberty, I felt quite up to flying down to Prati, after making +myself a pair of wings out of waxed linen. Thereupon he replied: “I too +should be prepared to take flight; but since the Pope has bidden me +guard you as though you were his own eyes, and I know you a clever devil +who would certainly escape, I shall now have you locked up with a +hundred keys in order to prevent you slipping through my fingers.” I +then began to implore him, and remind him that I might have fled, but +that on account of the word which I had given him I would never have +betrayed his trust: therefore I begged him for the love of God, and by +the kindness he had always shown me, not to add greater evils to the +misery of my present situation. While I was pouring out these +entreaties, he gave strict orders to have me bound and taken and locked +up in prison. On seeing that it could not be helped, I told him before +all his servants: “Lock me well up, and keep good watch on me; for I +shall certainly contrive to escape.” So they took and confined me with +the utmost care. + +CVIII + +I THEN began to deliberate upon the best way of making my escape. No +sooner had I been locked in, than I went about exploring my prison; and +when I thought I had discovered how to get out of it, I pondered the +means of descending from the lofty keep, for so the great round central +tower is called. I took those new sheets of mine, which, as I have said +already, I had cut in strips and sewn together; then I reckoned up the +quantity which would be sufficient for my purpose. Having made this +estimate and put all things in order, I looked out a pair of pincers +which I had abstracted from a Savoyard belonging to the guard of the +castle. This man superintended the casks and cisterns; he also amused +himself with carpentering. Now he possessed several pairs of pincers, +among which was one both big and heavy. I then, thinking it would suit +my purpose, took it and hid it in my straw mattress. The time had now +come for me to use it; so I began to try the nails which kept the hinges +of my door in place. [1] The door was double, and the clinching of the +nails could not be seen; so that when I attempted to draw one out, I met +with the greatest trouble; in the end, however, I succeeded. When I had +drawn the first nail, I bethought me how to prevent its being noticed. +For this purpose I mixed some rust, which I had scraped from old iron, +with a little wax, obtaining exactly the same colour as the heads of the +long nails which I had extracted. Then I set myself to counterfeit these +heads and place them on the holdfasts; for each nail I extracted I made +a counterfeit in wax. I left the hinges attached to their door-posts at +top and bottom by means of some of the same nails that I had drawn; but +I took care to cut these and replace them lightly, so that they only +just supported the irons of the hinges. + +All this I performed with the greatest difficulty, because the castellan +kept dreaming every night that I had escaped, which made him send from +time to time to inspect my prison. The man who came had the title and +behaviour of a catch-poll. He was called Bozza, and used always to bring +with him another of the same sort, named Giovanni and nicknamed +Pedignone; the latter was a soldier, and Bozza a serving-man. Giovanni +never entered my prison without saying something offensive to me. He +came from the district of Prato, and had been an apothecary in the town +there. Every evening he minutely examined the holdfasts of the hinges +and the whole chamber, and I used to say: “Keep a good watch over me, +for I am resolved by all means to escape.” These words bred a great +enmity between him and me, so that I was obliged to use precautions to +conceal my tools, that is to say, my pincers and a great big poniard and +other appurtenances. All these I put away together in my mattress, where +I also kept the strips of linen I had made. When day broke, I used +immediately to sweep my room out; and though I am by nature a lover of +cleanliness, at that time I kept myself unusually spick and span. After +sweeping up, I made my bed as daintily as I could, laying flowers upon +it, which a Savoyard used to bring me nearly every morning. He had the +care of the cistern and the casks, and also amused himself with +carpentering; it was from him I stole the pincers which I used in order +to draw out the nails from the holdfasts of the hinges. + +Note 1. The door seems to have been hung upon hinges with plates nailed +into the posts. Cellini calls these plates 'bandelle.' + +CIX + +WELL, to return to the subject of my bed; when Bozza and Pedignone came, +I always told them to give it a wide berth, so as not to dirty and spoil +it for me. Now and then, just to irritate me, they would touch it +lightly, upon which I cried: “Ah, dirty cowards! I’ll lay my hand on one +of your swords there, and will do you a mischief that will make you +wonder. Do you think you are fit to touch the bed of a man like me? When +I chastise you I shall not heed my own life, for I am certain to take +yours. Let me alone then with my troubles and my tribulations, and don’t +give me more annoyance than I have already; if not, I shall make you see +what a desperate man is able to do.” These words they reported to the +castellan, who gave them express orders never to go near my bed, and +when they came to me, to come without swords, but for the rest to keep a +watchful guard upon me. + +Having thus secured my bed from meddlers, I felt as though the main +point was gained; for there lay all things needful to my venture. It +happened on the evening of a certain feast-day that the castellan was +seriously indisposed; his humours grew extravagant; he kept repeating +that he was a bat, and if they heard that Benvenuto had flown away, they +must let him go to catch me up, since he could fly by night most +certainly as well or better than myself; for it was thus he argued: +“Benvenuto is a counterfeit bat, but I am a real one; and since he is +committed to my care, leave me to act; I shall be sure to catch him.” He +had passed several nights in this frenzy, and had worn out all his +servants, whereof I received full information through divers channels, +but especially from the Savoyard, who was my friend at heart. + +On the evening of that feast-day, then, I made my mind up to escape, +come what might; and first I prayed most devoutly to God, imploring His +Divine Majesty to protect and succour me in that so perilous a venture. +Afterwards I set to work at all the things I needed, and laboured the +whole of the night. It was two hours before daybreak when at last I +removed those hinges with the greatest toil; but the wooden panel itself +and the bolt too offered such resistance that I could not open the door; +so I had to cut into the wood; yet in the end I got it open, and +shouldering the strips of linen which I had rolled up like bundles of +flax upon two sticks, I went forth and directed my steps towards the +latrines of the keep. Spying from within two tiles upon the roof, I was +able at once to clamber up with ease. I wore a white doublet with a pair +of white hose and a pair of half boots, into which I had stuck the +poniard I have mentioned. + +After scaling the roof, I took one end of my linen roll and attached it +to a piece of antique tile which was built into the fortress wall; it +happened to jut out scarcely four fingers. In order to fix the band, I +gave it the form of a stirrup. When I had attached it to that piece of +tile, I turned to God and said: “Lord God, give aid to my good cause; +you know that it is good; you see that I am aiding myself.” Then I let +myself go gently by degrees, supporting myself with the sinews of my +arms, until I touched the ground. There was no moonshine, but the light +of a fair open heaven. When I stood upon my feet on solid earth, I +looked up at the vast height which I had descended with such spirit, and +went gladly away, thinking I was free. But this was not the case; for +the castellan on that side of the fortress had built two lofty walls, +the space between which he used for stable and henyard; the place was +barred with thick iron bolts outside. I was terribly disgusted to find +there was no exit from this trap; but while I paced up and down debating +what to do, I stumbled on a long pole which was covered up with straw. +Not without great trouble I succeeded in placing it against the wall, +and then swarmed up it by the force of my arms until I reached the top. +But since the wall ended in a sharp ridge, I had not strength enough to +drag the pole up after me. Accordingly I made my mind up to use a +portion of the second roll of linen which I had there; the other was +left hanging from the keep of the castle. So I cut a piece off, tied it +to the pole, and clambered down the wall, enduring the utmost toil and +fatigue. I was quite exhausted, and had, moreover, flayed the inside of +my hands, which bled freely. This compelled me to rest awhile, and I +bathed my hands in my own urine. When I thought that my strength was +recovered, I advanced quickly toward the last rampart, which faces +toward Prati. There I put my bundle of linen lines down upon the ground, +meaning to fasten them round a battlement, and descend the lesser as I +had the greater height. But no sooner had I placed the linen, than I +became aware behind me of a sentinel, who was going the rounds. Seeing +my designs interrupted and my life in peril, I resolved to face the +guard. This fellow, when he noticed my bold front, and that I was +marching on him with weapon in hand, quickened his pace and gave me a +wide berth. I had left my lines some little way behind; so I turned with +hasty steps to regain them; and though I came within sight of another +sentinel, he seemed as though he did not choose to take notice of me. +Having found my lines and attached them to the battlement, I let myself +go. On the descent, whether it was that I thought I had really come to +earth and relaxed my grasp to jump, or whether my hands were so tired +that they could not keep their hold, at any rate I fell, struck my head +in falling, and lay stunned for more than an hour and a half, so far as +I could judge. + +It was just upon daybreak, when the fresh breeze which blows an hour +before the sun revived me; yet I did not immediately recover my senses, +for I thought my head had been cut off and fancied that I was in +purgatory. With time, little by little, my faculties returned, and I +perceived that I was outside the castle, and in a flash remembered all +my adventures. I was aware of the wound in my head before I knew my leg +was broken; for I put my hands up, and withdrew them covered with blood. +Then I searched the spot well, and judged and ascertained that I had +sustained no injury of consequence there; but when I wanted to stand up, +I discovered that my right leg was broken three inches above the heel. +Not even this dismayed me: I drew forth my poniard with its scabbard; +the latter had a metal point ending in a large ball, which had caused +the fracture of my leg; for the bone, coming into violent contact with +the ball, and not being able to bend, had snapped at that point. I threw +the sheath away, and with the poniard cut a piece of the linen which I +had left. Then I bound my leg up as well as I could, and crawled on all +fours with the poniard in my hand toward the city gate. When I reached +it, I found it shut; but I noticed a stone just beneath the door which +did not appear to be very firmly fixed. This I attempted to dislodge; +after setting my hands to it, and feeling it move, it easily gave way, +and I drew it out. Through the gap thus made I crept into the town. + +CX + +I HAD crawled more than five hundred paces from the place where I fell, +to the gate by which I entered. No sooner had I got inside than some +mastiff dogs set upon me and bit me badly. When they returned to the +attack and worried me, I drew my poniard and wounded one of them so +sharply that he howled aloud, and all the dogs, according to their +nature, ran after him. I meanwhile made the best way I could on all +fours toward the church of the Trespontina. + +On arriving at the opening of the street which leads to Sant’ Agnolo, I +turned off in the direction of San Piero; and now the dawn had risen +over me, and I felt myself in danger. When therefore I chanced to meet a +water-carrier driving his donkey laden with full buckets, I called the +fellow, and begged him to carry me upon his back to the terrace by the +steps of San Piero, adding: “I am an unfortunate young man, who, while +escaping from a window in a love-adventure, have fallen and broken my +leg. The place from which I made my exit is one of great importance; and +if I am discovered, I run risk of being cut to pieces; so for heaven’s +sake lift me quickly, and I will give you a crown of gold.” Saying this, +I clapped my hand to my purse, where I had a good quantity. He took me +up at once, hitched me on his back, and carried me to the raised terrace +by the steps to San Piero. There I bade him leave me, saying he must run +back to his donkey. + +I resumed my march, crawling always on all fours, and making for the +palace of the Duchess, wife of Duke Ottavio and daughter of the Emperor. +[1] She was his natural child, and had been married to Duke Alessandro. +I chose her house for refuge, because I was quite certain that many of +my friends, who had come with that great princess from Florence, were +tarrying there; also because she had taken me into favour through +something which the castellan had said in my behalf. Wishing to be of +service to me, he told the Pope that I had saved the city more than a +thousand crowns of damage, caused by heavy rain on the occasion when the +Duchess made her entrance into Rome. He related how he was in despair, +and how I put heart into him, and went on to describe how I had pointed +several large pieces of artillery in the direction where the clouds were +thickest, and whence a deluge of water was already pouring; then, when I +began to fire, the rain stopped, and at the fourth discharge the sun +shone out; and so I was the sole cause of the festival succeeding, to +the joy of everybody. On hearing this narration the Duchess said: “That +Benvenuto is one of the artists of merit, who enjoyed the goodwill of my +late husband, Duke Alessandro, and I shall always hold them in mind if +an opportunity comes of doing such men service.” She also talked of me +to Duke Ottavio. For these reasons I meant to go straight to the house +of her Excellency, which was a very fine palace situated in Borgio +Vecchio. + +I should have been quite safe from recapture by the Pope if I could have +stayed there; but my exploits up to this point had been too marvellous +for a human being, and God was unwilling to encourage my vainglory; +accordingly, for my own good, He chastised me a second time worse even +than the first. The cause of this was that while I was crawling on all +fours up those steps, a servant of Cardinal Cornaro recognized me. His +master was then lodging in the palace; so the servant ran up to his room +and woke him, crying: “Most reverend Monsignor, your friend Benvenuto is +down there; he has escaped from the castle, and is crawling on all +fours, streaming with blood; to all appearances he has broken a leg, and +we don’t know whether he is going.” The Cardinal exclaimed at once: “Run +and carry him upon your back into my room here.” When I arrived, he told +me to be under no apprehension, and sent for the first physicians of +Rome to take my case in hand. Among them was Maestro Jacomo of Perugia, +a most excellent and able surgeon. He set the bone with dexterity, then +bound the limb up, and bled me with his own hand. It happened that my +veins were swollen far beyond their usual size, and he too wished to +make a pretty wide incision; accordingly the blood sprang forth so +copiously, and spurted with such force into his face, that he had to +abandon the operation. He regarded this as a very bad omen, and could +hardly be prevailed upon to undertake my cure. Indeed, he often +expressed a wish to leave me, remembering that he ran no little risk of +punishment for having treated my case, or rather for having proceeded to +the end with it. The Cardinal had me placed in a secret chamber, and +went off immediately to beg me from the Pope. + +Note 1. Margaret of Austria, who married Ottavio Farnese in November +1538, after Alessandro’s murder. + +CXI + +DURING this while all Rome was in an uproar; for they had observed the +bands of linen fastened to the great keep of the castle, and folk were +running in crowds to behold so extraordinary a thing. The castellan had +gone off into one of his worst fits of frenzy; in spite of all his +servants, he insisted upon taking his flight also from the tower, saying +that no one could recapture me except himself if he were to fly after +me. Messer Ruberto Pucci, the father of Messer Pandolfo, [1] having +heard of the great event, went in person to inspect the place; +afterwards he came to the palace, where he met with Cardinal Cornaro, +who told him exactly what had happened, and how I was lodged in one of +his own chambers, and already in the doctor’s hands. These two worthy +men went together, and threw themselves upon their knees before the +Pope; but he, before they could get a word out, cried aloud: “I know all +that you want of me.” Messer Ruberto Pucci then began: “Most blessed +Father, we beg you for Heaven’s grace to give us up that unfortunate +man; surely his great talents entitle him to exceptional treatment; +moreover, he has displayed such audacity, blent with so much ingenuity, +that his exploit might seem superhuman. We know not for what crimes you +Holiness has kept him so long in prison; however, if those crimes are +too exorbitant, your Holiness is wise and holy, and may your will be +done unquestioned; still, if they are such as can be condoned, we +entreat you to pardon him for our sake.” The Pope, when he heard this, +felt shame, and answered: “I have kept him in prison at the request of +some of my people, since he is a little too violent in his behaviour; +but recognising his talents, and wishing to keep him near our person, we +had intended to treat him so well that he should have no reason to +return to France. I am very sorry to hear of his bad accident; tell him +to mind his health, and when he is recovered, we will make it up to him +for all his troubles.” + +Those two excellent men returned and told me the good news they were +bringing from the Pope. Meanwhile the nobility of Rome, young, old, and +all sorts, came to visit me. The castellan, out of his mind as he was, +had himself carried to the Pope; and when he was in the presence of his +Holiness, began to cry out, and to say that if he did not send me back +to prison, he would do him a great wrong. “He escaped under parole which +he gave me; woe is me that he has flown away when he promised not to +fly!” The Pope said, laughing: “Go, go; for I will give him back to you +without fail.” The castellan then added, speaking to the Pope: “Send the +Governor to him to find out who helped him to escape; for if it is one +of my men, I will hang him from the battlement whence Benvenuto leaped.” +On his departure the Pope called the Governor, and said, smiling: “That +is a brave fellow, and his exploit is something marvellous; all the +same, when I was a young man, I also descended from the fortress at that +very spot.” In so saying the Pope spoke the truth: for he had been +imprisoned in the castle for forging a brief at the time when he was +abbreviator 'di Parco Majoris.' [2] Pope Alexander kept him confined for +some length of time; and afterwards, his offence being of too ugly a +nature, had resolved on cutting off his head. He postponed the +execution, however, till after Corpus Domini; and Farnese, getting wind +of the Pope’s will, summoned Pietro Chiavelluzi with a lot of horses, +and managed to corrupt some of the castle guards with money. +Accordingly, upon the day of Corpus Domini, while the Pope was going in +procession, Farnese got into a basket and was let down by a rope to the +ground. At that time the outer walls had not been built around the +castle; only the great central tower existed; so that he had not the +same enormous difficulty that I met with in escaping; moreover, he had +been imprisoned justly, and I against all equity. What he wanted was to +brag before the Governor of having in his youth been spirited and brave; +and it did not occur to him that he was calling attention to his own +huge rogueries. He said then: “Go and tell him to reveal his accomplice +without apprehension to you, be the man who he may be, since I have +pardoned him; and this you may assure him without reservation.” + +Note 1. See above, p. 114. + +Note 2. The Collegium Abbreviatorum di Parco Majori consisted of +seventy-two members. It was established by Pius II. Onofrio Panvinio +tells this story of Paul III.’s imprisonment and escape, but places it +in the Papacy of Innocent VIII. See 'Vita Pauli' III., in continuation +of Platina. + +CXII + +SO the Governor came to see me. Two days before he had been made Bishop +of Jesi; [1] and when he entered he said: “Friend Benvenuto, although my +office is wont to frighten men, I come to set your mind at rest, and to +do this I have full authority from his holiness’ own lips, who told me +how he also escaped from Sant’ Angelo, but had many aids and much +company, else he would not have been able to accomplish it. I swear by +the sacraments which I carry on my person (for I was consecrated Bishop +two days since) that the Pope has set you free and pardoned you, and is +very sorry for your accident. Attend to your health, and take all things +for the best; for your imprisonment, which you certainly underwent +without a shadow of guilt, will have been for your perpetual welfare. +Henceforward you will tread down poverty, and will have to go back to +France, wearing out your life in this place and in that. Tell me then +frankly how the matter went, and who rendered you assistance; afterwards +take comfort, repose, and recover.” I began at the beginning, and +related the whole story exactly as it had happened, giving him the most +minute countersigns, down to the water-carrier who bore me on his back. +When the Governor had heard the whole, he said: “Of a surety these are +too great exploits for one man alone; no one but you could have +performed them.” So he made me reach my hand forth, and said: “Be of +good courage and comfort your heart, for by this hand which I am holding +you are free, and if you live, shall live in happiness.” While thus +conversing with me, he had kept a whole heap of great lords and noblemen +waiting, who were come to visit me, saying one to the other: “Let us go +to see this man who works miracles.” So, when he departed, they stayed +by me, and one made me offers of kindness, and another made me presents. + +While I was being entertained in this way, the Governor returned to the +Pope, and reported all that I had said. As chance would have it, Signor +Pier Luigi, the Pope’s son, happened to be present, and all the company +gave signs of great astonishment. His Holiness remarked: “Of a truth +this is a marvellous exploit.” Then Pier Luigi began to speak as +follows: “Most blessed Father, if you set that man free, he will do +something still more marvellous, because he has by far too bold a +spirit. I will tell you another story about him which you do not know. +That Benvenuto of yours, before he was imprisoned, came to words with a +gentleman of Cardinal Santa Fiore, [2] about some trifle which the +latter had said to him. Now Benvenuto’s retort was so swaggeringly +insolent that it amounted to throwing down a cartel. The gentleman +referred the matter to the Cardinal, who said that if he once laid hands +on Benvenuto he would soon clear his head of such folly. When the fellow +heard this, he got a little fowling-piece of his ready, with which he is +accustomed to hit a penny in the middle; accordingly, one day when the +Cardinal was looking out of a window, Benvenuto’s shop being under the +palace of the Cardinal, he took his gun and pointed it upon the +Cardinal. The Cardinal, however, had been warned, and presently +withdrew. Benvenuto, in order that his intention might escape notice, +aimed at a pigeon which was brooding high up in a hole of the palace, +and hit it exactly in the head-a feat one would have thought incredible. +Now let your Holiness do what you think best about him; I have +discharged my duty by saying what I have. It might even come into his +head, imagining that he had been wrongly imprisoned, to fire upon your +Holiness. Indeed he is too truculent, by far too confident in his own +powers. When he killed Pompeo, he gave him two stabs with a poniard in +the throat, in the midst of ten men who were guarding him; then he +escaped, to their great shame, and yet they were no inconsiderable +persons.” + +Note 1. Cellini confuses Jesi with Forlimpopoli. See above, p. 203, note. + +Note 2. Ascanio Sforza, son of Bosio, Count of Santa Fiore, and grandson +of Paul III. He got the hat in 1534, at the age of sixteen. + +CXIII + +WHILE these words were being spoken, the gentleman of Santa Fiore with +whom I had that quarrel was present, and confirmed to the Pope what had +been spoken by his son. The Pope swelled with rage, but said nothing. I +shall now proceed to give my own version of the affair, truly and +honestly. + +This gentleman came to me one day, and showed me a little gold ring +which had been discoloured by quicksilver, saying at the same time: +“Polish up this ring for me, and be quick about it.” I was engaged at +the moment upon jewel-work of gold and gems of great importance: +besides, I did not care to be ordered about so haughtily by a man I had +never seen or spoken to; so I replied that I did not happen to have by +me the proper tool for cleaning up his ring, [1] and that he had better +go to another goldsmith. Without further provocation he retorted that I +was a donkey; whereupon I said that he was not speaking the truth; that +I was a better man than he in every respect, but that if he kept on +irritating me I would give him harder kicks than any donkey could. He +related the matter to the Cardinal, and painted me as black as the devil +in hell. Two days afterwards I shot a wild pigeon in a cleft high up +behind the palace. The bird was brooding in that cleft, and I had often +seen a goldsmith named Giovan Francesco della Tacca, from Milan, fire at +it; but he never hit it. On the day when I shot it, the pigeon scarcely +showed its head, being suspicious because it had been so often fired at. +Now this Giovan Francesco and I were rivals in shooting wildfowl; and +some gentlemen of my acquaintance, who happened to be at my shop, called +my attention, saying: “Up there is Giovan Francesco della Tacca’s +pigeon, at which he has so often fired; look now, the poor creature is +so frightened that it hardly ventures to put its head out.” I raised my +eyes, and said: “That morsel of its head is quite enough for me to shoot +it by, if it only stays till I can point my gun.” The gentlemen +protested that even the man who invented firearms could not hit it. I +replied: “I bet a bottle of that excellent Greek wine Palombo the host +keeps, that if it keeps quiet long enough for me to point my good +Broccardo (so I used to call my gun), I will hit it in that portion of +its head which it is showing.” So I aimed my gun, elevating my arms, and +using no other rest, and did what I had promised, without thinking of +the Cardinal or any other person; on the contrary, I held the Cardinal +for my very good patron. Let the world, then, take notice, when Fortune +has the will to ruin a man, how many divers ways she takes! The Pope, +swelling with rage and grumbling, remained revolving what his son had +told him. + +Note 1. Cellini calls it 'isvivatoio.' It is properly 'avvivatoio,' a +sort of brass rod with a wooden handle. + +CXIV + +TWO days afterwards the Cardinal Cornaro went to beg a bishopric from +the Pope for a gentleman of his called Messer Andrea Centano. The Pope, +in truth, had promised him a bishopric; and this being now vacant, the +Cardinal reminded him of his word. The Pope acknowledged his obligation, +but said that he too wanted a favour from his most reverend lordship, +which was that he would give up Benvenuto to him. On this the Cardinal +replied: “Oh, if your Holiness has pardoned him and set him free at my +disposal, what will the world say of you and me?” The Pope answered: “I +want Benvenuto, you want the bishopric; let the world say what it +chooses.” The good Cardinal entreated his Holiness to give him the +bishopric, and for the rest to think the matter over, and then to act +according as his Holiness decided. The Pope, feeling a certain amount of +shame at so wickedly breaking his word, took what seemed a middle +course: “I will send for Benvenuto, and in order to gratify the whim I +have, will put him in those rooms which open on my private garden; there +he can attend to his recovery, and I will not prevent any of his friends +from coming to visit him. Moreover, I will defray his expenses until his +caprice of mine has left me.” + +The Cardinal came home, and sent the candidate for this bishopric on the +spot to inform me that the Pope was resolved to have me back, but that +he meant to keep me in a ground-floor room in his private garden, where +I could receive the visits of my friends, as I had done in his own +house. I implored this Messer Andrea to ask the Cardinal not to give me +up to the Pope, but to let me act on my own account. I would have myself +wrapped up in a mattress, and carried to a safe place outside Rome; for +if he gave me up to the Pope, he would certainly be sending me to death. +It is believed that when the Cardinal heard my petition he was not +ill-disposed to grant it; but Messer Andrea, wanting to secure the +bishopric, denounced me to the Pope, who sent at once and had me lodged +in the ground-floor chamber of his private garden. The Cardinal sent me +word not to eat the food provided for me by the Pope; he would supply me +with provisions; meanwhile I was to keep my spirits up, for he would +work in my cause till I was set free. Matters being thus arranged, I +received daily visits and generous offers from many great lords and +gentlemen. Food came from the Pope, which I refused to touch, only +eating that which came from Cardinal Cornaro; and thus I remained awhile. + +I had among my friends a young Greek of the age of twenty-five years. He +was extremely active in all physical exercises, and the best swordsman +in Rome; rather poor-spirited, however, but loyal to the backbone; +honest, and ready to believe what people told him. He had heard it said +that the Pope made known his intention of compensating me for all I had +gone through. It is true that the Pope began by saying so, but he ended +by saying quite the opposite. I then determined to confide in the young +Greek, and said to him: “Dearest brother, they are plotting my ruin; so +now the time has come to help me. Do they imagine, when they heap those +extraordinary favours on me, that I am not aware they are done to betray +me?” The worthy young man answered: “My Benvenuto, they say in Rome that +the Pope has bestowed on you an office with an income of five hundred +crowns; I beseech you therefore not to let those suspicions deprive you +of so great a windfall.” All the same I begged him with clasped hands to +aid me in escaping from that place, saying I knew well that a Pope of +that sort, though he could do me much good if he chose, was really +studying secretly, and to save appearances, how he might best destroy +me; therefore we must be quick and try to save me from his clutches. If +my friend would get me out of that place by the means I meant to tell +him, I should always regard him as the saviour of my life, and when +occasion came would lay it down for him with gladness. The poor young +man shed tears, and cried: “Oh, my dear brother, though you are bringing +destruction on your head, I cannot but fulfil your wishes; so explain +your plan, and I will do whatever you may order, albeit much against my +will.” Accordingly we came to an agreement, and I disclosed to him the +details of my scheme, which was certain to have succeeded without +difficulty. When I hoped that he was coming to execute it, he came and +told me that for my own good he meant to disobey me, being convinced of +the truth of what he had heard from men close to the Pope’s person, who +understood the real state of my affairs. Having nothing else to rely +upon, I remained in despair and misery. This passed on the day of Corpus +Domini 1539. + +CXV + +AFTER my conversation with the Greek, the whole day wore away, and at +night there came abundant provisions from the kitchen of the Pope; the +Cardinal Cornaro also sent good store of viands from his kitchen; and +some friends of mine being present when they arrived, I made them stay +to supper, and enjoyed their society, keeping my leg in splints beneath +the bed-clothes. An hour after nightfall they left me; and two of my +servants, having made me comfortable for the night, went to sleep in the +antechamber. I had a dog, black as a mulberry, one of those hairy ones, +who followed me admirably when I went out shooting, and never left my +side. During the night he lay beneath my bed, and I had to call out at +least three times to my servant to turn him out, because he howled so +fearfully. When the servants entered, the dog flew at them and tried to +bite them. They were frightened, and thought he must be mad, because he +went on howling. In this way we passed the first four hours of the +night. At the stroke of four the Bargello came into my room with a band +of constables. Then the dog sprang forth and flew at them with such +fury, tearing their capes and hose, that in their fright they fancied he +was mad. But the Bargello, like an experienced person, told them: “It is +the nature of good dogs to divine and foretell the mischance coming on +their masters. Two of you take sticks and beat the dog off; while the +others strap Benvenuto on this chair; then carry him to the place you +wot of.” It was, as I have said, the night after Corpus Domini, and +about four o’clock. + +The officers carried me, well shut up and covered, and four of them went +in front, making the few passengers who were still abroad get out of the +way. So they bore me to Torre di Nona, such is the name of the place, +and put me in the condemned cell. I was left upon a wretched mattress +under the care of a guard, who kept all night mourning over my bad luck, +and saying to me: “Alas! poor Benvenuto, what have you done to those +great folk?” I could now form a very good opinion of what was going to +happen to me, partly by the place in which I found myself, and also by +what the man had told me. [1] During a portion of that night I kept +racking my brains what the cause could be why God thought fit to try me +so, and not being able to discover it, I was violently agitated in my +soul. The guard did the best he could to comfort me; but I begged him +for the love of God to stop talking, seeing I should be better able to +compose myself alone in quiet. He promised to do as I asked; and then I +turned my whole heart to God, devoutly entreating Him to deign to take +me into His kingdom. I had, it is true, murmured against my lot, because +it seemed to me that, so far as human laws go, my departure from the +world in this way would be too unjust; it is true also that I had +committed homicides, but His Vicar had called me from my native city and +pardoned me by the authority he had from Him and from the laws; and what +I had done had all been done in defence of the body which His Majesty +had lent me; so I could not admit that I deserved death according to the +dispensation under which man dwells here; but it seemed that what was +happening to me was the same as what happens to unlucky people in the +street, when a stone falls from some great height upon their head and +kills them; this we see clearly to be the influence of the stars; not +indeed that the stars conspire to do us good or evil, but the effect +results from their conjunctions, to which we are subordinated. At the +same time I know that I am possessed of free-will, and if I could exert +the faith of a saint, I am sure that the angels of heaven would bear me +from this dungeon and relieve me of all my afflictions, yet inasmuch as +God has not deemed me worthy of such miracles, I conclude that those +celestial influences must be wreaking their malignity upon me. In this +long struggle of the soul I spent some time; then I found comfort, and +fell presently asleep. + +Note 1. Cellini thought he was going to have his throat cut. And indeed +the Torre di Nona was a suspicious place, it being one of the worst +criminal prisons in Rome. + +CXVI + +WHEN the day dawned, the guard woke me up and said: “Oh, unfortunate but +worthy man, you have no more time to go on sleeping, for one is waiting +here to give you evil news.” I answered: “The sooner I escape from this +earthly prison, the happier shall I be; especially as I am sure my soul +is saved, and that I am going to an undeserved death. Christ, the +glorious and divine, elects me to the company of His disciples and +friends, who, like Himself, were condemned to die unjustly. I too am +sentenced to an unjust death, and I thank God with humility for this +sign of grace. Why does not the man come forward who has to pronounce my +doom?” The guard replied: “He is too grieved for you, and sheds tears.” +Then I called him by his name of Messer Benedetto da Cagli, [1] and +cried: “Come forward, Messer Benedetto, my friend, for now, I am +resolved and in good frame of mind; far greater glory is it for me to +die unjustly than if I had deserved this fate. Come forward, I beg, and +let me have a priest, in order that I may speak a couple of words with +him. I do not indeed stand in need of this, for I have already made my +heart’s confession to my Lord God; yet I should like to observe the +ordinances of our Holy Mother Church; for though she has done me this +abominable wrong, I pardon her with all my soul. So come, friend Messer +Benedetto, and despatch my business before I lose control over my better +instincts.” + +After I had uttered these words, the worthy man told the guard to lock +the door, because nothing could be done without his presence. He then +repaired to the house of Signor Pier Luigi’s wife, who happened to be in +company with the Duchess of whom I spoke above. [2] Presenting himself +before them both, he spoke as follows: “My most illustrious mistress, I +entreat you for the love of God to tell the Pope, that he must send some +one else to pronounce sentence upon Benvenuto and perform my office; I +renounce the task, and am quite decided not to carry it through.” Then, +sighing, he departed with the strongest signs of inward sorrow. The +Duchess, who was present, frowned and said: “So this is the fine justice +dealt out here in Rome by God’s Vicar! The Duke, my late husband, +particularly esteemed this man for his good qualities and eminent +abilities; he was unwilling to let him return to Rome, and would gladly +have kept him close to his own person.” Upon this she retired, muttering +words of indignation and displeasure. Signor Pier Luigi’s wife, who was +called Signora Jerolima, betook herself to the Pope, and threw herself +upon her knees before him in the presence of several cardinals. She +pleaded my cause so warmly that she woke the Pope to shame; whereupon he +said: “For your sake we will leave him quiet; yet you must know that we +had no ill-will against him.” These words he spoke because of the +cardinals who were around him, and had listened to the eloquence of that +brave-spirited lady. + +Meanwhile I abode in extreme discomfort, and my heart kept thumping +against my ribs. Not less was the discomfort of the men appointed to +discharge the evil business of my execution; but when the hour for +dinner was already past, they betook themselves to their several +affairs, and my meal was also served me. This filled me with a glad +astonishment, and I exclaimed: “For once truth has been stronger than +the malice of the stars! I pray God, therefore, that, if it be His +pleasure, He will save me from this fearful peril. Then I fell to eating +with the same stout heart for my salvation as I had previously prepared +for my perdition. I dined well, and afterwards remained without seeing +or hearing any one until an hour after nightfall. At that time the +Bargello arrived with a large part of his guard, and had me replaced in +the chair which brought me on the previous evening to the prison. He +spoke very kindly to me, bidding me be under no apprehension; and bade +his constables take good care not to strike against my broken leg, but +to treat me as though I were the apple of their eye. The men obeyed, and +brought me to the castle whence I had escaped; then, when we had mounted +to the keep, they left me shut up in a dungeon opening upon a little +court there is there. + +Note 1. It will be remembered that Benedetto da Cagli was one of +Cellini’s three examiners during his first imprisonment in S. Angelo. + +Note 2. The wife of Pier Luigi Farnese was Jeronima, daughter of Luigi +Orsini, Count of Pitigliano. + +CXVII + +THE CASTELLAN, meanwhile, ill and afflicted as he was, had himself +transported to my prison, and exclaimed: “You see that I have recaptured +you!” “Yes,” said I, “but you see that I escaped, as I told you I would. +And if I had not been sold by a Venetian Cardinal, under Papal +guarantee, for the price of a bishopric, the Pope a Roman and a Farnese +(and both of them have scratched with impious hands the face of the most +sacred laws), you would not have recovered me. But now that they have +opened this vile way of dealing, do you the worst you can in your turn; +I care for nothing in the world.” The wretched man began shouting at the +top of his voice: “Ah, woe is me! woe is me! It is all the same to this +fellow whether he lives or dies, and behold, he is more fiery than when +he was in health. Put him down there below the garden, and do not speak +to me of him again, for he is the destined cause of my death.” + +So I was taken into a gloomy dungeon below the level of a garden, which +swam with water, and was full of big spiders and many venomous worms. +They flung me a wretched mattress of course hemp, gave me no supper, and +locked four doors upon me. In that condition I abode until the +nineteenth hour of the following day. Then I received food, and I +requested my jailers to give me some of my books to read. None of them +spoke a word, but they referred my prayer to the unfortunate castellan, +who had made inquiries concerning what I said. Next morning they brought +me an Italian Bible which belonged to me, and a copy of the Chronicles +of Giovanni Villani. [1] When I asked for certain other of my books, I +was told that I could have no more, and that I had got too many already. + +Thus, then, I continued to exist in misery upon that rotten mattress, +which in three days soaked up water like a sponge. I could hardly stir +because of my broken leg; and when I had to get out of bed to obey a +call of nature, I crawled on all fours with extreme distress, in order +not to foul the place I slept in. For one hour and a half each day I got +a little glimmering of light, which penetrated that unhappy cavern +through a very narrow aperture. Only for so short a space of time could +I read; the rest of the day and night I abode in darkness, enduring my +lot, nor ever without meditations upon God and on our human frailty. I +thought it certain that a few more days would put an end of my unlucky +life in that sad place and in that miserable manner. Nevertheless, as +well as I was able, I comforted my soul by calling to mind how much more +painful it would have been, on passing from this life, to have suffered +that unimaginable horror of the hangman’s knife. Now, being as I was, I +should depart with the anodyne of sleepiness, which robbed death of half +its former terrors. Little by little I felt my vital forces waning, +until at last my vigorous temperament had become adapted to that +purgatory. When I felt it quite acclimatised, I resolved to put up with +all those indescribable discomforts so long as it held out. + +Note 1. This mention of an Italian Bible shows that we are still in the +days before the Council of Trent. + +CXVIII + +I BEGAN the Bible from the commencement, reading and reflecting on it so +devoutly, and finding in it such deep treasures of delight, that, if I +had been able, I should have done naught else but study it. However, +light was wanting; and the thought of all my troubles kept recurring and +gnawing at me in the darkness, until I often made my mind up to put an +end somehow to my own life. They did not allow me a knife, however, and +so it was no easy matter to commit suicide. Once, notwithstanding, I +took and propped a wooden pole I found there, in position like a trap. I +meant to make it topple over on my head, and it would certainly have +dashed my brains out; but when I had arranged the whole machine, and was +approaching to put it in motion, just at the moment of my setting my +hand to it, I was seized by an invisible power and flung four cubits +from the spot, in such a terror that I lay half dead. Like that I +remained from dawn until the nineteenth hour, when they brought my food. +The jailers must have visited my cell several times without my taking +notice of them; for when at last I heard them, Captain Sandrino Monaldi +[1] had entered, and I heard him saying: “Ah, unhappy man! behold the +end to which so rare a genius has come!” Roused by these words, I opened +my eyes, and caught sight of priests with long gowns on their backs, who +were saying: “Oh, you told us he was dead!” Bozza replied: “Dead I found +him, and therefore I told you so.” Then they lifted me from where I lay, +and after shaking up the mattress, which was now as soppy as a dish of +maccaroni, they flung it outside the dungeon. The castellan, when these +things were reported to him, sent me another mattress. Thereafter, when +I searched my memory to find what could have diverted me from that +design of suicide, I came to the conclusion that it must have been some +power divine and my good guardian angel. + +Note 1. A Florentine, banished in 1530 for having been in arms against +the Medici. + +CXIX + +DURING the following night there appeared to me in dreams a marvellous +being in the form of a most lovely youth, who cried, as though he wanted +to reprove me: “Knowest thou who lent thee that body, which thou wouldst +have spoiled before its time?” I seemed to answer that I recognized all +things pertaining to me as gifts from the God of nature. “So, then,” he +said, “thou hast contempt for His handiwork, through this thy will to +spoil it? Commit thyself unto His guidance, and lose not hope in His +great goodness!” Much more he added, in words of marvellous efficacy, +the thousandth part of which I cannot now remember. + +I began to consider that the angel of my vision spoke the truth. So I +cast my eyes around the prison, and saw some scraps of rotten brick, +with the fragments of which, rubbing one against the other, I composed a +paste. Then, creeping on all fours, as I was compelled to go, I crawled +up to an angle of my dungeon door, and gnawed a splinter from it with my +teeth. Having achieved this feat, I waited till the light came on my +prison; that was from the hour of twenty and a half to twenty-one and a +half. When it arrived, I began to write, the best I could, on some blank +pages in my Bible, and rebuked the regents of my intellectual self for +being too impatient to endure this life; they replied to my body with +excuses drawn from all that they had suffered; and the body gave them +hope of better fortune. To this effect, then, by way of dialogue, I +wrote as follows:- + + 'Benvenuto in the body. + + 'Afflicted regents of my soul! + Ah, cruel ye! have ye such hate of life? + + 'The Spirits of his soul. + + 'If Heaven against you roll, + Who stands for us? who saves us in the strife? + Let us, O let us go toward better life! + + 'Benvenuto. + + 'Nay, go not yet awhile! + Ye shall be happier and lighter far- + Heaven gives this hope-than ye were ever yet! + + 'The Spirits. + + 'We will remain some little while, + If only by great God you promised are + Such grace that no worse woes on us be set. + +After this I recovered strength; and when I had heartened up myself, I +continued reading in the Bible, and my eyes became so used to that +darkness that I could now read for three hours instead of the bare hour +and a half I was able to employ before. + +With profound astonishment I dwelt upon the force of God’s Spirit in +those men of great simplicity, who believed so fervently that He would +bring all their heart’s desire to pass. I then proceeded to reckon in my +own case too on God’s assistance, both because of His divine power and +mercy, and also because of my own innocence; and at all hours, sometimes +in prayer and sometimes in communion with God, I abode in those high +thoughts of Him. There flowed into my soul so powerful a delight from +these reflections upon God, that I took no further thought for all the +anguish I had suffered, but rather spent the day in singing psalms and +divers other compositions on the theme of His divinity. + +I was greatly troubled, however, by one particular annoyance: my nails +had grown so long that I could not touch my body without wounding it; I +could not dress myself but what they turned inside or out, to my great +torment. Moreover, my teeth began to perish in my mouth. I became aware +of this because the dead teeth being pushed out by the living ones, my +gums were gradually perforated, and the points of the roots pierced +through the tops of their cases. When I was aware of this, I used to +pull one out, as though it were a weapon from a scabbard, without any +pain or loss of blood. Very many of them did I lose in this way. +Nevertheless, I accommodated myself to these new troubles also; at times +I sang, at times I prayed, and at times I wrote by means of the paste of +brick-dust I have described above. At this time I began composing a +Capitolo in praise of my prison, relating in it all the accidents which +had befallen me. [1] This poem I mean to insert in its proper place. + +Note 1. Capitolo is the technical name for a copy of verses in 'terza +rima' on a chosen theme. Poems of this kind, mostly burlesque or +satirical, were very popular in Cellini’s age. They used to be written +on trifling or obscene subjects in a mock-heroic style. Berni stamped +the character of high art upon the species, which had long been in use +among the unlettered vulgar. See for further particulars Symonds’ +'Renaissance in Italy,' vol. v. chap. xiv. + +CXX + +THE GOOD castellan used frequently to send messengers to find out +secretly what I was doing. So it happened on the last day of July that I +was rejoicing greatly by myself alone while I bethought me of the +festival they keep in Rome upon the 1st of August; and I was saying to +myself: “In former years I kept the feast among the pleasures and the +frailties of the world; this year I shall keep it in communion with God. +Oh, how far more happy am I thus than I was then!” The persons who heard +me speak these words reported them to the castellan. He was greatly +annoyed, and exclaimed: “Ah, God! that fellow lives and triumphs in his +infinite distress, while I lack all things in the midst of comfort, and +am dying only on account of him! Go quickly, and fling him into that +deepest of the subterranean dungeons where the preacher Foiano was +starved to death. [1] Perhaps when he finds himself in such ill plight +he will begin to droop his crest.” + +Captain Sandrino Monaldi came at once into my prison with about twenty +of the castellan’s servants. They found me on my knees; and I did not +turn at their approach, but went on paying my orisons before a God the +Father, surrounded with angels, and a Christ arising victorious from the +grave, which I had sketched upon the wall with a little piece of +charcoal I had found covered up with earth. This was after I had lain +four months upon my back in bed with my leg broken, and had so often +dreamed that angels came and ministered to me, that at the end of those +four months the limb became as sound as though it never had been +fractured. So then these fellows entered, all in armour, as fearful of +me as though I were a poison-breathing dragon. The captain spoke as +follows: “You must be aware that there are many of us here, and our +entrance has made a tumult in this place, yet you do not turn round.” +When I heard these words, I was well able to conceive what greater harm +might happen to me, but being used and hardened to misfortune, I said to +them: “Unto this God who supports me, to Him in heaven I have turned my +soul, my contemplation, and all my vital spirits; to you I have turned +precisely what belongs to you. What there is of good in me, you are not +worthy to behold, nor can you touch it. Do then to that which is under +your control all the evil you are able.” The captain, in some alarm, and +not knowing what I might be on the point of doing, said to four of his +tallest fellows: “Put all your arms aside.” When they had done so, he +added: “Now upon the instant leap on him, and secure him well. Do you +think he is the devil, that so many of us should be afraid of him? Hold +him tight now, that he may not escape you.” Seized by them with force +and roughly handled, and anticipating something far worse than what +afterwards happened, I lifted my eyes to Christ and said: “Oh, just God, +Thou paidest all our debts upon that high-raised cross of Thine; +wherefore then must my innocence be made to pay the debts of whom I do +not even know? Nevertheless, Thy will be done.” Meanwhile the men were +carrying me away with a great lighted torch; and I thought that they +were about to throw me down the oubliette of Sammabo. This was the name +given to a fearful place which had swallowed many men alive; for when +they are cast into it, the fall to the bottom of a deep pit in the +foundation of the castle. This did not, however, happen to me; wherefore +I thought that I had made a very good bargain when they placed me in +that hideous dungeon I have spoken of, where Fra Foiano died of hunger, +and left me there without doing me further injury. + +When I was alone, I began to sing a 'De profundis clamavi,' a +'Miserere,' and 'In te Domine speravi.' During the whole of that first +day of August I kept festival with God, my heart rejoicing ever in the +strength of hope and faith. On the second day they drew me from that +hole, and took me back again to the prison where I had drawn those +representations of God. On arriving there, the sight of them filled me +with such sweetness and such gladness that I wept abundantly. On every +day that followed, the castellan sent to know what I was doing and +saying. The Pope, who had heard the whole history (and I must add that +the doctors had already given the castellan over), spoke as follows: +“Before my castellan dies I will let him put that Benvenuto to death in +any way he likes, for he is the cause of his death, and so the good man +shall not die unrevenged.” On hearing these words from the mouth of Duke +Pier Luigi, the castellan replied: “So, then, the Pope has given me +Benvenuto, and wishes me to take my vengeance on him? Dismiss the matter +from your mind, and leave me to act.” If the heart of the Pope was +ill-disposed against me, that of the castellan was now at the +commencement savage and cruel in the extreme. At this juncture the +invisible being who had diverted me from my intention of suicide, came +to me, being still invisible, but with a clear voice, and shook me, and +made me rise, and said to me: “Ah me! my Benvenuto, quick, quick, betake +thyself to God with thy accustomed prayers, and cry out loudly, loudly!” +In a sudden consternation I fell upon my knees, and recited several of +my prayers in a loud voice; after this I said 'Qui habitat in +adjutorio;' then I communed a space with God; and in an instant the same +clear and open voice said to me: “Go to rest, and have no further fear!” +The meaning of this was, that the castellan, after giving the most cruel +orders for my death, suddenly countermanded them, and said: “Is not this +Benvenuto the man whom I have so warmly defended, whom I know of a +surety to be innocent, and who has been so greatly wronged? Oh, how will +God have mercy on me and my sins if I do not pardon those who have done +me the greatest injuries? Oh, why should I injure a man both worthy and +innocent, who has only done me services and honour? Go to! instead of +killing him, I give him life and liberty: and in my will I’ll have it +written that none shall demand of him the heavy debt for his expenses +here which he would elsewise have to pay.” This the Pope heard, and took +it very ill indeed. + +Note 1. Fra Benedetto da Foiano had incurred the wrath of Pope Clement +VII. by preaching against the Medici in Florence. He was sent to Rome +and imprisoned in a noisome dungeon of S. Angelo in the year 1530, where +Clement made him perish miserably by diminishing his food and water +daily till he died. See Varchi’s 'Storia Fiorentina,' lib. xii. chap. 4. + +CXXI + +I MEANWHILE continued to pray as usual, and to write my Capitolo, and +every night I was visited with the gladdest and most pleasant dreams +that could be possibly imagined. It seemed to me while dreaming that I +was always in the visible company of that being whose voice and touch, +while he was still invisible, I had so often felt. To him I made but one +request, and this I urged most earnestly, namely, that he would bring me +where I could behold the sun. I told him that this was the sole desire I +had, and that if I could but see the sun once only, I should die +contented. All the disagreeable circumstances of my prison had become, +as it were, to me friendly and companionable; not one of them gave me +annoyance. Nevertheless, I ought to say that the castellan’s parasites, +who were waiting for him to hang me from the battlement whence I had +made my escape, when they saw that he had changed his mind to the exact +opposite of what he previously threatened, were unable to endure the +disappointment. Accordingly, they kept continually trying to inspire me +with the fear of imminent death by means of various terrifying hints. +But, as I have already said, I had become so well acquainted with +troubles of this sort that I was incapable of fear, and nothing any +longer could disturb me; only I had that one great longing to behold the +sphere of the sun, if only in a dream. + +Thus then, while I spent many hours a day in prayer with deep emotion of +the spirit toward Christ, I used always to say: “Ah, very Son of God! I +pray Thee by Thy birth, by Thy death upon the cross, and by Thy glorious +resurrection, that Thou wilt deign to let me see the sun, if not +otherwise, at least in dreams. But if Thou wilt grant me to behold it +with these mortal eyes of mine, I engage myself to come and visit Thee +at Thy holy sepulchre.” This vow and these my greatest prayers to God I +made upon the 2nd of October in the year 1539. Upon the following +morning, which was the 3rd of October, I woke at daybreak, perhaps an +hour before the rising of the sun. Dragging myself from the miserable +lair in which I lay, I put some clothes on, for it had begun to be cold; +then I prayed more devoutly than ever I had done in the past, fervently +imploring Christ that He would at least grant me the favour of knowing +by divine inspiration what sin I was so sorely expiating; and since His +Divine Majesty had not deemed me worthy of beholding the sun even in a +dream I besought Him to let me know the cause of my punishment. + +CXXII + +I HAD barely uttered these words, when that invisible being, like a +whirlwind, caught me up and bore me away into a large room, where he +made himself visible to my eyes in human form, appearing like a young +man whose beard is just growing, with a face of indescribable beauty, +but austere, not wanton. He bade me look around the room, and said: “The +crowd of men thou seest in this place are all those who up to this day +have been born and afterwards have died upon the earth.” Thereupon I +asked him why he brought me hither, and he answered: “Come with me and +thou shalt soon behold.” In my hand I had a poniard, and upon my back a +coat of mail; and so he led me through that vast hall, pointing out the +people who were walking by innumerable thousands up and down, this way +and that. He led me onward, and went forth in front of me through a +little low door into a place which looked like a narrow street; and when +he drew me after him into the street, at the moment of leaving the hall, +behold I was disarmed and clothed in a white shirt, with nothing on my +head, and I was walking on the right hand of my companion. Finding +myself in this condition, I was seized with wonder, because I did not +recognise the street; and when I lifted my eyes, I discerned that the +splendour of the sun was striking on a wall, as it were a house-front, +just above my head. Then I said: “Oh, my friend! what must I do in order +to be able to ascend so high that I may gaze upon the sphere of the sun +himself?” He pointed out some huge stairs which were on my right hand, +and said to me: “Go up thither by thyself.” Quitting his side, I +ascended the stairs backwards, and gradually began to come within the +region of the sunlight. Then I hastened my steps, and went on, always +walking backwards as I have described, until I discovered the whole +sphere of the sun. The strength of his rays, as is their wont, first +made me close my eyes; but becoming aware of my misdoing, I opened them +wide, and gazing steadfastly at the sun, exclaimed: “Oh, my sun, for +whom I have passionately yearned! Albeit your rays may blind me, I do +not wish to look on anything again but this!” So I stayed awhile with my +eyes fixed steadily on him; and after a brief space I beheld in one +moment the whole might of those great burning rays fling themselves upon +the left side of the sun; so that the orb remained quite clear without +its rays, and I was able to contemplate it with vast delight. It seemed +to me something marvellous that the rays should be removed in that +manner. Then I reflected what divine grace it was which God had granted +me that morning, and cried aloud: “Oh, wonderful Thy power! oh, glorious +Thy virtue! How far greater is the grace which Thou art granting me than +that which I expected!” The sun without his rays appeared to me to be a +bath of the purest molten gold, neither more nor less. While I stood +contemplating this wondrous thing, I noticed that the middle of the +sphere began to swell, and the swollen surface grew, and suddenly a +Christ upon the cross formed itself out of the same substance as the +sun. He bore the aspect of divine benignity, with such fair grace that +the mind of man could not conceive the thousandth part of it; and while +I gazed in ecstasy, I shouted: “A miracle! a miracle! O God! O clemency +Divine! O immeasurable Goodness! what is it Thou hast deigned this day +to show me!” While I was gazing and exclaiming thus, the Christ moved +toward that part where his rays were settled, and the middle of the sun +once more bulged out as it had done before; the boss expanded, and +suddenly transformed itself into the shape of a most beautiful Madonna, +who appeared to be sitting enthroned on high, holding her child in her +arms with an attitude of the greatest charm and a smile upon her face. +On each side of her was an angel, whose beauty far surpasses man’s +imagination. I also saw within the rondure of the sun, upon the right +hand, a figure robed like a priest; this turned its back to me, and kept +its face directed to the Madonna and the Christ. All these things I +beheld, actual, clear, and vivid, and kept returning thanks to the glory +of God as loud as I was able. The marvellous apparition remained before +me little more than half a quarter of an hour: then it dissolved, and I +was carried back to my dark lair. + +I began at once to shout aloud: “The virtue of God hath deigned to show +me all His glory, the which perchance no mortal eye hath ever seen +before. Therefore I know surely that I am free and fortunate and in the +grace of God; but you miscreants shall be miscreants still, accursed, +and in the wrath of God. Mark this, for I am certain of it, that on the +day of All Saints, the day upon which I was born in 1500, on the first +of November, at four hours after nightfall, on that day which is coming +you will be forced to lead me from this gloomy dungeon; less than this +you will not be able to do, because I have seen it with these eyes of +mine and in that throne of God. The priest who kept his face turned to +God and his back to me, that priest was S. Peter, pleading my cause, for +the shame he felt that such foul wrongs should be done to Christians in +his own house. You may go and tell it to whom you like; for none on +earth has the power to do me harm henceforward; and tell that lord who +keeps me here, that if he will give me wax or paper and the means of +portraying this glory of God which was revealed to me, most assuredly +shall I convince him of that which now perhaps he holds in doubt.” + +CXXIII + +THE PHYSICIANS gave the castellan no hope of his recovery, yet he +remained with a clear intellect, and the humours which used to afflict +him every year had passed away. He devoted himself entirely to the care +of his soul, and his conscience seemed to smite him, because he felt +that I had suffered and was suffering a grievous wrong. The Pope +received information from him of the extraordinary things which I +related; in answer to which his Holiness sent word-as one who had no +faith either in God or aught beside-that I was mad, and that he must do +his best to mend his health. When the castellan received this message, +he sent to cheer me up, and furnished me with writing materials and wax, +and certain little wooden instruments employed in working wax, adding +many words of courtesy, which were reported by one of his servants who +bore me good-will. This man was totally the opposite of that rascally +gang who had wished to see me hanged. I took the paper and the wax, and +began to work; and while I was working I wrote the following sonnet +addressed to the castellan:- + + “If I, my lord, could show to you the truth, + Of that Eternal Light to me by Heaven + In this low life revealed, you sure had given + More heed to mine than to a monarch’s sooth. + + Ah! could the Pastor of Christ’s flock in ruth + Believe how God this soul with sight hath shriven + Of glory unto which no wight hath striven + Ere he escaped earth’s cave of care uncouth; + + The gates of Justice, holy and austere, + Would roll asunder, and rude impious Rage + Fall chained with shrieks that should assail the skies. + + Had I but light, ah me! my art should rear + A monument of Heaven’s high equipage! + Nor should my misery bear so grim a guise.” + +CXXIV + +ON the following day, when the servant of the castellan who was my +friend brought me my food, I gave him this sonnet copied out in writing. +Without informing the other ill-disposed servants who were my enemies, +he handed it to the castellan. At that time this worthy man would gladly +have granted me my liberty, because he fancied that the great wrong done +to me was a main cause of his death. He took the sonnet, and having read +it more than once, exclaimed: “These are neither the words nor the +thoughts of a madman, but rather of a sound and worthy fellow.” Without +delay he ordered his secretary to take it to the Pope, and place it in +his own hands, adding a request for my deliverance. + +While the secretary was on his way with my sonnet to the Pope, the +castellan sent me lights for day and night, together with all the +conveniences one could wish for in that place. The result of this was +that I began to recover from my physical depression, which had reached a +very serious degree. + +The Pope read the sonnet several times. Then he sent word to the +castellan that he meant presently to do what would be pleasing to him. +Certainly the Pope had no unwillingness to release me then; but Signor +Pier Luigi, his son, as it were in the Pope’s despite, kept me there by +force. + +The death of the castellan was drawing near; and while I was engaged in +drawing and modelling that miracle which I had seen, upon the morning of +All Saint’s day he sent his nephew, Piero Ugolini, to show me certain +jewels. No sooner had I set eyes on them than I exclaimed: “This is the +countersign of my deliverance!” Then the young man, who was not a person +of much intelligence, began to say: “Never think of that, Benvenuto!” I +replied: “Take your gems away, for I am so treated here that I have no +light to see by except what this murky cavern gives, and that is not +enough to test the quality of precious stones. But, as regards my +deliverance from this dungeon, the day will not end before you come to +fetch me out. It shall and must be so, and you will not be able to +prevent it.” The man departed, and had me locked in; but after he had +remained away two hours by the clock, he returned without armed men, +bringing only a couple of lads to assist my movements; so after this +fashion he conducted me to the spacious rooms which I had previously +occupied (that is to say, in 1538), where I obtained all the +conveniences I asked for. + +CXXV + +AFTER the lapse of a few days, the castellan, who now believed that I +was at large and free, succumbed to his disease and departed this life. +In his room remained his brother, Messer Antonio Ugolini, who had +informed the deceased governor that I was duly released. From what I +learned, this Messer Antonio received commission from the Pope to let me +occupy that commodious prison until he had decided what to do with me. + +Messer Durante of Brescia, whom I have previously mentioned, engaged the +soldier (formerly druggist of Prato) to administer some deadly liquor in +my food; [1] the poison was to work slowly, producing its effect at the +end of four or five months. They resolved on mixing pounded diamond with +my victuals. Now the diamond is not a poison in any true sense of the +word, but its incomparable hardness enables it, unlike ordinary stones, +to retain very acute angles. When every other stone is pounded, that +extreme sharpness of edge is lost; their fragments becoming blunt and +rounded. The diamond alone preserves its trenchant qualities; wherefore, +if it chances to enter the stomach together with food, the peristaltic +motion [2] needful to digestion brings it into contact with the coats of +the stomach and the bowels, where it sticks, and by the action of fresh +food forcing it farther inwards, after some time perforates the organs. +This eventually causes death. Any other sort of stone or glass mingled +with the food has not the power to attach itself, but passes onward with +the victuals. Now Messer Durante entrusted a diamond of trifling value +to one of the guards; and it is said that a certain Lione, a goldsmith +of Arezzo, my great enemy, was commissioned to pound it. [3] The man +happened to be very poor, and the diamond was worth perhaps some scores +of crowns. He told the guard that the dust he gave him back was the +diamond in question properly ground down. The morning when I took it, +they mixed it with all I had to eat; it was a Friday, and I had it in +salad, sauce, and pottage. That morning I ate heartily, for I had fasted +on the previous evening; and this day was a festival. It is true that I +felt the victuals scrunch beneath my teeth; but I was not thinking about +knaveries of this sort. When I had finished, some scraps of salad +remained upon my plate, and certain very fine and glittering splinters +caught my eye among these remnants. I collected them, and took them to +the window, which let a flood of light into the room; and while I was +examining them, I remembered that the food I ate that morning had +scrunched more than usual. On applying my senses strictly to the matter, +the verdict of my eyesight was that they were certainly fragments of +pounded diamond. Upon this I gave myself up without doubt as dead, and +in my sorrow had recourse with pious heart to holy prayers. I had +resolved the question, and thought that I was doomed. For the space of a +whole hour I prayed fervently to God, returning thanks to Him for so +merciful a death. Since my stars had sentenced me to die, I thought it +no bad bargain to escape from life so easily. I was resigned, and +blessed the world and all the years which I had passed in it. Now I was +returning to a better kingdom with the grace of God, the which I thought +I had most certainly acquired. + +While I stood revolving these thoughts in my mind, I held in my hand +some flimsy particles of the reputed diamond, which of a truth I firmly +believed to be such. Now hope is immortal in the human breast; therefore +I felt myself, as it were, lured onward by a gleam of idle expectation. +Accordingly, I took up a little knife and a few of those particles, and +placed them on an iron bar of my prison. Then I brought the knife’s +point with a slow strong grinding pressure to bear upon the stone, and +felt it crumble. Examining the substance with my eyes, I saw that it was +so. In a moment new hope took possession of my soul, and I exclaimed: +“Here I do not find my true foe, Messer Durante, but a piece of bad soft +stone, which cannot do me any harm whatever!” Previously I had been +resolved to remain quiet and to die in peace; now I revolved other +plans, but first I rendered thanks to God and blessed poverty; for +though poverty is oftentimes the cause of bringing men to death, on this +occasion it had been the very cause of my salvation. I mean in this way: +Messer Durante, my enemy, or whoever it was, gave a diamond to Lione to +pound for me of the worth of more than a hundred crowns; poverty induced +him to keep this for himself, and to pound for me a greenish beryl of +the value of two carlins, thinking perhaps, because it also was a stone, +that it would work the same effect as the diamond. + +Note 1. For Messer Durante, see above, p. 180. For the druggist of Prato +employed as a warder in S. Angelo, see above, p. 216. + +Note 2. 'In quel girare che e’ fanno e’ cibi.' I have for the sake of +clearness used the technical phrase above. + +Note 3. The name of Leone Leoni is otherwise known as a goldsmith and +bronze-caster. He made the tomb for Giangiacomo de’ Medici, Il +Medighino, in the Cathedral of Milan. + +CXXVI + +AT this time the Bishop of Pavia, brother of the Count of San Secondo, +and commonly called Monsignor de’ Rossi of Parma, happened to be +imprisoned in the castle for some troublesome affairs at Pavia. [1] +Knowing him to be my friend, I thrust my head out of the hole in my +cell, and called him with a loud voice, crying that those thieves had +given me a pounded diamond with the intention of killing me. I also sent +some of the splinters which I had preserved, by the hand of one of his +servants, for him to see. I did not disclose my discovery that the stone +was not a diamond, but told him that they had most assuredly poisoned +me, after the death of that most worthy man the castellan. During the +short space of time I had to live, I begged him to allow me one loaf a +day from his own stores, seeing that I had resolved to eat nothing which +came from them. To this request he answered that he would supply me with +victuals. + +Messer Antonio, who was certainly not cognisant of the plot against my +life, stirred up a great noise, and demanded to see the pounded stone, +being also persuaded that it was a diamond; but on reflection that the +Pope was probably at the bottom of the affair, he passed it over lightly +after giving his attention to the incident. + +Henceforth I ate the victuals sent me by the Bishop, and continued +writing my Capitolo on the prison, into which I inserted daily all the +new events which happened to me, point by point. But Messer Antonio also +sent me food; and he did this by the hand of that Giovanni of Prato, the +druggist, then soldier in the castle, whom I have previously mentioned. +He was a deadly foe of mine, and was the man who had administered the +powdered diamond. So I told him that I would partake of nothing he +brought me unless he tasted it before my eyes. [2] The man replied that +Popes have their meat tasted. I answered: “Noblemen are bound to taste +the meat for Popes; in like measure, you, soldier, druggist, peasant +from Prato, are bound to taste the meat for a Florentine of my station.” +He retorted with coarse words, which I was not slow to pay back in kind. + +Now Messer Antonio felt a certain shame for his behaviour; he had it +also in his mind to make me pay the costs which the late castellan, poor +man, remitted in my favour. So he hunted out another of his servants, +who was my friend, and sent me food by this man’s hands. The meat was +tasted for me now with good grace, and no need for altercation. The +servant in question told me that the Pope was being pestered every day +by Monsignor di Morluc, who kept asking for my extradition on the part +of the French King. The Pope, however, showed little disposition to give +me up; and Cardinal Farnese, formerly my friend and patron, had declared +that I ought not to reckon on issuing from that prison for some length +of time. [3] I replied that I should get out in spite of them all. The +excellent young fellow besought me to keep quiet, and not to let such +words of mine be heard, for they might do me some grave injury; having +firm confidence in God, it was my duty to await. His mercy, remaining in +the meanwhile tranquil. I answered that the power and goodness of God +are not bound to stand in awe before the malign forces of iniquity. + +Note 1. Gio. Girolamo de’ Rossi, known in literature as a poet and +historian of secondary importance. + +Note 2. 'Me ne faceva la credenza.' + +Note 3. This was the Cardinal Alessandro, son of Pier Luigi Farnese. + +CXXVII + +A FEW days had passed when the Cardinal of Ferrara arrived in Rome. He +went to pay his respects to the Pope, and the Pope detained him up to +supper-time. Now the Pope was a man of great talent for affairs, and he +wanted to talk at his ease with the Cardinal about French politics. +Everybody knows that folk, when they are feasting together, say things +which they would otherwise retain. This therefore happened. The great +King Francis was most frank and liberal in all his dealings, and the +Cardinal was well acquainted with his temper. Therefore the latter could +indulge the Pope beyond his boldest expectations. This raised his +Holiness to a high pitch of merriment and gladness, all the more because +he was accustomed to drink freely once a week, and went indeed to vomit +after his indulgence. When, therefore, the Cardinal observed that the +Pope was well disposed, and ripe to grant favours, he begged for me at +the King’s demand, pressing the matter hotly, and proving that his +Majesty had it much at heart. Upon this the Pope laughed aloud; he felt +the moment for his vomit at hand; the excessive quantity of wine which +he had drunk was also operating; so he said: “On the spot, this instant, +you shall take him to your house.” Then, having given express orders to +this purpose, he rose from table. The Cardinal immediately sent for me, +before Signor Pier Luigi could get wind of the affair; for it was +certain that he would not have allowed me to be loosed from prison. + +The Pope’s mandatary came together with two great gentlemen of the +Cardinal’s, and when four o’clock of the night was passed, they removed +me from my prison, and brought me into the presence of the Cardinal, who +received me with indescribable kindness. I was well lodged, and left to +enjoy the comforts of my situation. + +Messer Antonio, the old castellan’s brother, and his successor in the +office, insisted on extracting from me the costs for food and other fees +and perquisites claimed by sheriffs and such fry, paying no heed to his +predecessor’s will in my behalf. This affair cost me several scores of +crowns; but I paid them, because the Cardinal told me to be well upon my +guard if I wanted to preserve my life, adding that had he not extracted +me that evening from the prison, I should never have got out. Indeed, he +had already been informed that the Pope greatly regretted having let me +go. + +THIS CAPITOLO I WRITE TO LUCA MARTIN +ADDRESSING HIM IN IT AS WILL APPEAR [1] + + WHOSO would know the power of God’s dominion, + And how a man resembles that high good, + Must lie in prison, is my firm opinion: + + On grievous thoughts and cares of home must brood, ' + ' Oppressed with carking pains in flesh and bone, + Far from his native land full many a rood. + + If you would fain by worthy deeds be known, + Seek to be prisoned without cause, lie long, ' + ' And find no friend to listen to your moan. + + See that men rob you of your all by wrong; + Add perils to your life; be used with force, + Hopeless of help, by brutal foes and strong. ' + + 'Be driven at length to some mad desperate course; + Burst from your dungeon, leap the castle wall; + Recaptured, find the prison ten times worse. + ' + 'Now listen, Luca, to the best of all! + Your leg’s been broken; you’ve been bought and sold; + Your dungeon’s dripping; you’ve no cloak or shawl. + + Never one friendly word; your victuals cold ' + ' Are brought with sorry news by some base groom + Of Prato-soldier now-druggist of old. + + Mark well how Glory steeps her sons in gloom! + You have no seat to sit on, save the stool: ' + ' Yet were you active from your mother’s womb. + + The knave who serves hath orders strict and cool + To list no word you utter, give you naught, + Scarcely to ope the door; such is their rule. ' + + 'These toys hath Glory for her nursling wrought! + No paper, pens, ink, fire, or tools of steel, + To exercise the quick brain’s teeming thought. + ' + 'Alack that I so little can reveal! + Fancy one hundred for each separate ill: + Full space and place I’ve left for prison weal! + + But now my former purpose to fulfil, ' + ' And sing the dungeon’s praise with honour due- + For this angelic tongues were scant of skill. + + Here never languish honest men and true, + Except by placemen’s fraud, misgovernment, ' + ' Jealousies, anger, or some spiteful crew. + + To tell the truth whereon my mind is bent, + Here man knows God, nor ever stints to pray, + Feeling his soul with hell’s fierce anguish rent. ' + + 'Let one be famed as bad as mortal may, + Send him in jail two sorry years to pine, + He’ll come forth holy, wise, beloved alway.' + + 'Here soul, flesh, clothes their substance gross refine; + Each bulky lout grows light like gossamere; + Celestial thrones before purged eyeballs shine. + + I’ll tell thee a great marvel! Friend, give ear! ' + ' The fancy took me on one day to write: + Learn now what shifts one may be put to here. + + My cell I search, prick brows and hair upright, + Then turn me toward a cranny in the door, ' + ' And with my teeth a splinter disunite; + + Next find a piece of brick upon the floor, + Crumble a part thereof to powder small, + And form a paste by sprinkling water o’er. [2] ' + + 'Then, then came Poesy with fiery call + Into my carcass, by the way methought + Whence bread goes forth-there was none else at all. + ' + 'Now to return unto my primal thought: + Who wills to know what weal awaits him, must + First learn the ill that God for him hath wrought. + + The jail contains all arts in act and trust; ' + ' Should you but hanker after surgeon’s skill, + ’Twill draw the spoiled blood from your veins adust. + + Next there is something in itself that will + Make you right eloquent, a bold brave spark, ' + ' Big with high-soaring thoughts for good and ill. + + Blessed is the man who lies in dungeon dark, + Languishing many a month, then takes his flight + Of war, truce, peace he knows, and tells the mark. ' + + 'Needs be that all things turn to his delight; + The jail has crammed his brains so full of wit, + They’ll dance no morris to upset the wight. + + Perchance thou’lt urge: “Think how thy life did flit; + Nor is it true the jail can teach thee lore, + To fill thy breast and heart with strength of it!” + + Nay, for myself I’ll ever praise it more: + Yet would I like one law passed-that the man + Whose acts deserve it should not scape this score. + + Whoso hath gotten the poor folk in ban, + I’d make him learn those lessons of the jail; + For then he’d know all a good ruler can: + + He’d act like men who weigh by reason’s scale, + Nor dare to swerve from truth and right aside, + Nor would confusion in the realm prevail. + + While I was bound in prison to abide, + Foison of priests, friars, soldiers I could see; + But those who best deserved it least I spied. + + Ah! could you know what rage came over me, + When for such rogues the jail relaxed her hold! + This makes one weep that one was born to be! + + I’ll add no more. Now I’m become fine gold, + Such gold as none flings lightly to the wind, + Fit for the best work eyes shall e’er behold. + + Another point hath passed into my mind, + Which I’ve not told thee, Luca; where I wrote, + Was in the book of one our kith and kind. [3] + + There down the margins I was wont to note + Each torment grim that crushed me like a vice: + The paste my hurrying thoughts could hardly float. + + To make an O, I dipped the splinter thrice + In that thick mud; worse woe could scarcely grind + Spirits in hell debarred from Paradise. + + Seeing I’m not the first by fraud confined, + This I’ll omit; and once more seek the cell + Wherein I rack for rage both heart and mind. + + I praise it more than other tongues will tell; + And, for advice to such as do not know, + Swear that without it none can labour well. + + Yet oh! for one like Him I learned but now, + Who’d cry to me as by Bethesda’s shore: + Take thy clothes, Benvenuto, rise and go! + + Credo I’d sing, Salve reginas pour + And Paternosters; alms I’d then bestow + Morn after morn on blind folk, lame, and poor. + + Ah me! how many a time my cheek must grow + Blanched by those lilies! Shall I then forswear + Florence and France through them for evermore? [4] + + If to the hospital I come, and fair + Find the Annunziata limned. I’ll fly: + Else shall I show myself a brute beast there. [5] + + These words flout not Her worshipped sanctity, + Nor those Her lilies, glorious, holy, pure, + The which illumine earth and heaven high! + + But for I find at every coign obscure + Base lilies which spread hooks where flowers should blow + Needs must I fear lest these to ruin lure. [6] + + To think how many walk like me in woe! + Born what, how slaved to serve that hateful sign! + Souls lively, graceful, like to gods below! + + I saw that lethal heraldry decline + From heaven like lightning among people vain; + Then on the stone I saw strange lustre shine. + + The castle’s bell must break ere I with strain + Thence issued; and these things Who speaketh true + In heaven on earth, to me made wondrous plain. [7] + + Next I beheld a bier of sombre hue + Adorned with broken lilies; crosses, tears; + And on their beds a lost woe-stricken crew. [8] + + I saw the Death who racks our souls with fears; + This man and that she menaced, while she cried: + “I clip the folk who harm thee with these shears!” + + That worthy one then on my brow wrote wide + With Peter’s pen words which-for he bade shun + To speak them thrice-within my breast I hide. [9] + + Him I beheld who drives and checks the sun, + Clad with its splendour ‘mid his court on high, + Seld-seen by mortal eyes, if e’er by one. [10] + + Then did a solitary sparrow cry + Loud from the keep; hearing which note, I said: + “He tells that I shall live and you must die!” + + I sang, and wrote my hard case, head by head, + Asking from god pardon and aid in need, + For now If felt mine eyes outworn and dead. + + Ne’er lion, tiger, wolf, or bear knew greed + Hungrier than that man felt for human blood; + Nor viper with more venomous fang did feed. [11] + + The cruel chief was he of robbers’ brood, + Worst of the worst among a gang of knaves; + Hist! I’ll speak soft lest I be understood! + + Say, have ye seen catchpolls, the famished slaves, + In act a poor man’s homestead to distrain, + Smashing down Christs, Madonnas, with their staves? + + So on the first of August did that train + Dislodge me to a tomb more foul, more cold:- + “November damns and dooms each rogue to pain!” [12] + + I at mine ears a trumpet had which told + Truth; and each word to them I did repeat, + Reckless, if but grief’s load from me were rolled. + + They, when they saw their final hope retreat, + Gave me a diamond, pounded, no fair ring, + Deeming that I must die if I should eat. + + That villain churl whose office ‘twas to bring + My food, I bade taste first; but meanwhile thought: + “Not here I find my foe Durante’s sting!” + + Yet erst my mind unto high God I brought + Beseeching Him to pardon all my sin, + And spoke a Miserere sorrow-fraught. + + Then when I gained some respite from that din + Of troubles, and had given my soul to God, + Contented better realms and state to win, + + I saw along the path which saints have trod, + From heaven descending, glad, with glorious palm, + An angel: clear he cried, “Upon earth’s sod + + Live longer thou! Through Him who heard thy psalm, + Those foes shall perish, each and all, in strife, + While thou remainest happy, free, and calm, + Blessed by our Sire in heaven on earth for life!” + +Note 1. Cellini’s Capitolo in Praise of the Prison is clearly made up of +pieces written, as escribed above, in the dungeon of S. Angelo, and of +passages which he afterwards composed to bring these pieces into a +coherent whole. He has not displayed much literary skill in the +redaction, and I have been at pains to preserve the roughness of the +original. + +Note 2. The Italian is 'acqua morta;' probably a slang phrase for urine. + +Note 3. 'Un nostro parente.' He says above that he wrote the Capitolo on +the leaves of his Bible. + +Note 4. 'Un nostro parente.' He says above that he wrote the Capitolo on +the leaves of his Bible. + +Note 5. Gabriel holds the lily in Italian paintings when he salutes the +Virgin Mary with 'Ave Virgo!' + +Note 6. That is, he finds everywhere in Italy the arms of the Farnesi. + +Note 7. Allusion to his prevision of the castellan’s death. + +Note 8. Allusion to his prevision of Pier Luigi Farnese’s murder. + +Note 9. Allusion to the angel who visited him in prison. + +Note 10. Allusion to his vision of the sun in the dungeon. + +Note 11. An invective against Pier Luigi Farnese. + +Note 12. Allusion to the prophetic words he flung at the officers who +took him to Foiano’s dungeon. + +End of Part One + +Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Part II + +I + +I REMAINED for some time in the Cardinal of Ferrara’s palace, very well +regarded in general by everybody, and much more visited even than I had +previously been. Everybody was astonished that I should have come out of +prison and have been able to live through such indescribable +afflictions; [1] and while I was recovering my breath and endeavouring +to resume the habit of my art, I had great pleasure in re-writing the +Capitolo. Afterwards, with a view to re-establishing my strength, I +determined to take a journey of a few days for change of air. My good +friend the Cardinal gave me permission and lent me horses; and I had two +young Romans for my companions, one of them a craftsman in my trade, the +other only a comrade in our journey. We left Rome, and took the road to +Tagliacozzo, intending to visit my pupil Ascanio, who lived there. On +our arrival, I found the lad, together with his father, brothers, +sisters, and stepmother. I was entertained by them two days with +indescribable kindness; then I turned my face towards Rome, taking +Ascanio with me. On the road we fell to conversing about our art, which +made me die of impatience to get back and recommence my labours. + +Having reached Rome, I got myself at once in readiness to work, and was +fortunate enough to find again a silver basin which I had begun for the +Cardinal before I was imprisoned. Together with this basin I had begun a +very beautiful little jug; but this had been stolen, with a great +quantity of other valuable articles. I set Pagolo, whom I have +previously mentioned, to work upon the basin. At the same time I +recommenced the jug, which was designed with round figures and +bas-reliefs. The basin was executed in a similar style, with round +figures and fishes in bas-relief. The whole had such richness and good +keeping, that every one who beheld it expressed astonishment at the +force of the design and beauty of invention, and also at the delicacy +[2] with which these young men worked. + +The Cardinal came at least twice a day to see me, bringing with him +Messer Luigi Alamanni and Messer Gabriel Cesano; [3] and here we used to +pass an hour or two pleasantly together. Notwithstanding I had very much +to do, he kept giving me fresh commissions. Among others, I had to make +his pontifical seal of the size of the hand of a boy of twelve. On it I +engraved in intaglio two little histories, the one of San Giovanni +preaching in the wilderness, the other of Sant’ Ambrogio expelling the +Arians [4] on horseback with a lash in his hand. The fire and +correctness of design of this piece, and its nicety of workmanship, made +every one say that I had surpassed the great Lautizio, who ranked alone +in this branch of the profession. The Cardinal was so proud of it that +he used to compare it complacently with the other seals of the Roman +cardinals, which were nearly all from the hand of Lautizio. + +Note 1. This assertion is well supported by contemporary letters of Caro +and Alamanni. + +Note 2. 'Pulitezza.' This indicates precision, neatness, cleanness of +execution. + +Note 3. The name of Cesano is well known in the literary correspondence +of those times. + +Note 4. It will be remembered that the Cardinal was Archbishop of Milan. + +II + +IN addition to these things the Cardinal ordered me to make the model +for a salt-cellar; but he said he should like me to leave the beaten +track pursued by such as fabricated these things. Messer Luigi, apropos +of this salt-cellar, made an eloquent description of his own idea; +Messer Gabriello Cesano also spoke exceedingly well to the same purpose. +The Cardinal, who was a very kindly listener, showed extreme +satisfaction with the designs which these two able men of letters had +described in words. Then he turned to me and said: “My Benvenuto, the +design of Messer Luigi and that of Messer Gabriello please me both so +well that I know not how to choose between them; therefore I leave the +choice to you, who will have to execute the work.” I replied as follows: +“It is apparent, my lords, of what vast consequence are the sons of +kings and emperors, and what a marvellous brightness of divinity appears +in them; nevertheless, if you ask some poor humble shepherd which he +loves best, those royal children or his sons, he will certainly tell you +that he loves his own sons best. Now I too have a great affection for +the children which I bring forth from my art; consequently the first +which I will show you, most reverend monsignor my good master, shall be +of my own making and invention. There are many things beautiful enough +in words which do not match together well when executed by an artist.” +Then I turned to the two scholars and said: “You have spoken, I will +do.” Upon this Messer Luigi Alamanni smiled, and added a great many +witty things, with the greatest charm of manner, in my praise; they +became him well, for he was handsome of face and figure, and had a +gentle voice. Messer Gabriello Cesano was quite the opposite, as ugly +and displeasing as the other was agreeable; accordingly he spoke as he +looked. + +Messer Luigi had suggested that I should fashion a Venus with Cupid, +surrounded by a crowd of pretty emblems, all in proper keeping with the +subject. Messer Gabriello proposed that I should model an Amphitrite, +the wife of Neptune, together with those Tritons of the sea, and many +such-like fancies, good enough to describe in words, but not to execute +in metal. + +I first laid down an oval framework, considerably longer than half a +cubit--almost two-thirds, in fact; and upon this ground, wishing to +suggest the interminglement of land and ocean, I modelled two figures, +considerably taller than a palm in height, which were seated with their +legs interlaced, suggesting those lengthier branches of the sea which +run up into the continents. The sea was a man, and in his hand I placed +a ship, elaborately wrought in all its details, and well adapted to hold +a quantity of salt. Beneath him I grouped the four sea-horses, and in +his right hand he held his trident. The earth I fashioned like a woman, +with all the beauty of form, the grace, and charm of which my art was +capable. She had a richly decorated temple firmly based upon the ground +at one side; and here her hand rested. This I intended to receive the +pepper. In her other hand I put a cornucopia, overflowing with all the +natural treasures I could think of. Below this goddess, in the part +which represented earth, I collected the fairest animals that haunt our +globe. In the quarter presided over by the deity of ocean, I fashioned +such choice kinds of fishes and shells as could be properly displayed in +that small space. What remained of the oval I filled in with luxuriant +ornamentation. + +Then I waited for the Cardinal; and when he came, attended by the two +accomplished gentlemen, I produced the model I had made in wax. On +beholding it, Messer Gabriel Cesano was the first to lift his voice up, +and to cry: “This is a piece which it will take the lives of ten men to +finish: do not expect, most reverend monsignor, if you order it, to get +it in your lifetime. Benvenuto, it seems, has chosen to display his +children in a vision, but not to give them to the touch, as we did when +we spoke of things that could be carried out, while he has shown a thing +beyond the bounds of possibility.” Messer Alamanni took my side; but the +Cardinal said he did not care to undertake so important an affair. Then +I turned to them and said: “Most reverend monsignor, and you, gentlemen, +fulfilled with learning; I tell you that I hope to complete this piece +for whosoever shall be destined to possess it; [1] and each one of you +shall live to I see it executed a hundred times more richly than the +model. Indeed, I hope that time will be left me to produce far greater +things than this.” The Cardinal replied in heat: “Unless you make if for +the King, to whom I mean to take you, I do not think that you will make +it for another man alive.” Then he showed me letters in which the King, +under one heading, bade him return as soon as possible, bringing +Benvenuto with him. At this I raised my hands to heaven, exclaiming: +“Oh, when will that moment come, and quickly?” The Cardinal bade me put +myself in readiness, and arrange the affairs I had in Rome. He gave me +ten days for these preparations. + +Note 1. 'A chi l’ard avere.' For whomsoever it in going to belong to. + +III + +WHEN the time came to travel, he gave me a fine and excellent horse. The +animal was called Tornon, because it was a gift from the Cardinal +Tornon. [1] My apprentices, Pagolo and Ascanio, were also furnished with +good mounts. + +The Cardinal divided his household, which was very numerous, into two +sections. The first, and the more distinguished, he took with him, +following the route of Romagna, with the object of visiting Madonna del +Loreto, and then making for Ferrara, his own home. The other section he +sent upon the road to Florence. This was the larger train; it counted a +great multitude, including the flower of his horse. He told me that if I +wished to make the journey without peril, I had better go with him, +otherwise I ran some risk of my life. I expressed my inclination to his +most reverend lordship to travel in his suite. But, having done so, +since the will of Heaven must be accomplished, it pleased God to remind +me of my poor sister, who had suffered greatly from the news of my +misfortunes. I also remembered my cousins, who were nuns in Viterbo, the +one abbess and the other camerlinga, [2] and who had therefore that rich +convent under their control. They too had endured sore tribulation for +my sake, and to their fervent prayers I firmly believed that I owed the +grace of my deliverance by God. Accordingly, when these things came into +my mind, I decided for the route to Florence. I might have travelled +free of expense with the Cardinal or with that other train of his, but I +chose to take my own way by myself. Eventually I joined company with a +very famous clockmaker, called Maestro Cherubino, my esteemed friend. +Thrown together by accident, we performed the journey with much +enjoyment on both sides. + +I had left Rome on Monday in Passion Week, together with Pagolo and +Ascanio. [3] At Monte Ruosi we joined the company which I have +mentioned. Since I had expressed my intention of following the Cardinal, +I did not anticipate that any of my enemies would be upon the watch to +harm me. Yet I ran a narrow risk of coming to grief at Monte Ruosi; for +a band of men had been sent forward, well armed, to do me mischief +there. It was so ordained by God that, while we were at dinner, these +fellows, on the news that I was not travelling in the Cardinal’s suite, +made preparation to attack me. Just at that moment the Cardinal’s +retinue arrived, and I was glad enough to travel with their escort +safely to Viterbo. From that place onward I had no apprehension of +danger, especially as I made a point of travelling a few miles in front, +and the best men of the retinue kept a good watch over me. [4] I arrived +by God’s grace safe and sound at Viterbo, where my cousins and all the +convent received me with the greatest kindness. + +Note 1. This was the famous François de Tournon, made Cardinal in 1530, +and employed as minister by François. I. + +Note 2. This official in a convent was the same as cellarer or +superintendent of the cellar and provisions. + +Note 3. This was March 22, 1540. + +Note 4. 'Tenevano molto conto di me.' This is perhaps equivalent to +'held me in high esteem.' But Cellini uses the same phrase with the +meaning I have given above, in Book I, chap. lxxxvi. + +IV + +I bought a new pair of stirrups, although I still hoped to regain my +good pad by persuasion; and since I was very well mounted, and well +armed with shirt and sleeves of mail, and carried an excellent arquebuse +upon my saddle-bow, I was not afraid of the brutality and violence which +that mad beast was said to be possessed of. I had also accustomed my +young men to carry shirts of mail, and had great confidence in the +Roman, who, while we were in Rome together, had never left it off, so +far as I could see; Ascanio too, although he was but a stripling, was in +the habit of wearing one. Besides, as it was Good Friday, I imagined +that the madnesses of madmen might be giving themselves a holiday. When +we came to the Camollia gate, I at once recognised the postmaster by the +indications given me; for he was blind of the left eye. Riding up to him +then, and leaving my young men and companions at a little distance, I +courteously addressed him: “Master of the post, if I assure you that I +did not override your horse, why are you unwilling to give me back my +pad and stirrups?” The reply he made was precisely as mad and brutal as +had been foretold me. This roused me to exclaim: “How then! are you not +a Christian? or do you want upon Good Friday to force us both into a +scandal?” He answered that Good Friday or the Devil’s Friday was all the +same to him, and that if I did not take myself away, he would fell me to +the ground with a spontoon which he had taken up--me and the arquebuse I +had my hand on. Upon hearing these truculent words, an old gentleman of +Siena joined us; he was dressed like a citizen, and was returning from +the religious functions proper to that day. It seems that he had +gathered the sense of my arguments before he came up to where we stood; +and this impelled him to rebuke the postmaster with warmth, taking my +side, and reprimanding the man’s two sons for not doing their duty to +passing strangers; so that their manners were an offence to God and a +disgrace to the city of Siena. The two young fellows wagged their heads +without saying a word, and withdrew inside the house. Their father, +stung to fury by the scolding of that respectable gentleman, poured out +a volley of abusive blasphemies, and levelled his spontoon, swearing he +would murder me. When I saw him determined to do some act of bestial +violence, I pointed the muzzle of my arquebuse, with the object only of +keeping him at a distance. Doubly enraged by this, he flung himself upon +me. Though I had prepared the arquebuse for my defence, I had not yet +levelled it exactly at him; indeed it was pointed too high. It went off +of itself; and the ball, striking the arch of the door and glancing +backwards, wounded him in the throat, so that he fell dead to earth. +Upon this the two young men came running out; one caught up a partisan +from the rack which stood there, the other seized the spontoon of his +father. Springing upon my followers, the one who had the spontoon smote +Pagolo the Roman first above the left nipple. The other attacked a +Milanese who was in our company, and had the ways and manners of a +perfect fool. This man screamed out that he had nothing in the world to +do with me, and parried the point of the partisan with a little stick he +held; but this availed him naught: in spite of his words and fencing, he +received a flesh wound in the mouth. Messer Cherubino wore the habit of +a priest; for though he was a clockmaker by trade, he held benefices of +some value from the Pope. Ascanio, who was well armed, stood his ground +without trying to escape, as the Milanese had done; so these two came +off unhurt. I had set spurs to my horse, and while he was galloping, had +charged and got my arquebuse in readiness again; but now I turned back, +burning with fury, and meaning to play my part this time in earnest. I +thought that my young men had been killed, and was resolved to die with +them. The horse had not gone many paces when I met them riding toward +me, and asked if they were hurt. Ascanio answered that Pagolo was +wounded to the death. Then I said: “O Pagolo, my son, did the spontoon +then pierce through your armour?” “No,” he replied, “for I put my shirt +of mail in the valise this morning.” “So then, I suppose, one wears +chain-mail in Rome to swagger before ladies, but where there is danger, +and one wants it, one keeps it locked up in a portmanteau? You deserve +what you have got, and you are now the cause of sending me back to die +here too.” While I was uttering these words, I kept riding briskly +onward; but both the young men implored me for the love of God to save +myself and them, and not to rush on certain death. Just then I met +Messer Cherubino and the wounded Milanese. The former cried out that no +one was badly wounded; the blow given to Pagolo had only grazed the +skin, [2] but the old postmaster was stretched out dead; his sons with +other folk were getting ready for attack, and we must almost certainly +be cut to pieces: “Accordingly, Benvenuto, since fortune has saved us +from this first tempest, do not tempt her again, for things may not go +so favourably a second time.” To this I replied: “If you are satisfied +to have it thus, so also am I;” and turning to Pagolo and Ascanio, I +said: “Strike spurs to your horses, and let us gallop to Staggia without +stopping; [3] there we shall be in safety.” The wounded Milanese groaned +out: “A pox upon our peccadilloes! the sole cause of my misfortune was +that I sinned by taking a little broth this morning, having nothing else +to break my fast with.” In spite of the great peril we were in, we could +not help laughing a little at the donkey and his silly speeches. Then we +set spurs to our horses, and left Messer Cherubino and the Milanese to +follow at their leisure. + +Note 1. The word I have translated by “pad” above is 'cucino' in the +original. It seems to have been a sort of cushion flung upon the saddle, +and to which the stirrups were attached. + +Note 2. The Italian is peculiar: 'il colpo di Pagolo era ito tanto ritto +che non era isfandato.' + +Note 3. Staggia is the next post on the way to Florence. + +V + +WHILE we were making our escape, the sons of the dead man ran to the +Duke of Melfi, and begged for some light horsemen to catch us up and +take us prisoners. [1] The Duke upon being informed that we were the +Cardinal of Ferrara’s men, refused to give them troops or leave to +follow. We meanwhile arrived at Staggia, where we were in safety. There +we sent for a doctor, the best who could be had in such a place; and on +his examining Pagolo, we discovered that the wound was only skin-deep; +so I felt sure [2] that he would escape without mischief. Then we +ordered dinner; and at this juncture there arrived Messer Cherubino and +that Milanese simpleton, who kept always muttering: “A plague upon your +quarrels,” and complaining that he was excommunicated because he had not +been able to say a single Paternoster on that holy morning. He was very +ugly, and his mouth, which nature had made large, had been expanded at +least three inches by his wound; so that what with his ludicrous +Milanese jargon and his silly way of talking, he gave us so much matter +for mirth, that, instead of bemoaning our ill-luck, we could not hold +from laughing at every word he uttered. When the doctor wanted to sew up +his wound, and had already made three stitches with his needle, the +fellow told him to hold hard a while, since he did not want him out of +malice to sew his whole mouth up. Then he took up a spoon, and said he +wished to have his mouth left open enough to take that spoon in, in +order that he might return alive to his own folk. These things he said +with such odd waggings of the head, that we never stopped from laughing, +and so pursued our journey mirthfully to Florence. + +We dismounted at the house of my poor sister, who, together with her +husband, overwhelmed us with kind attentions. Messer Cherubino and the +Milanese went about their business. In Florence we remained four days, +during which Pagolo got well. It was lucky for us that whenever we +talked about that Milanese donkey, we laughed as much as our misfortunes +made us weep, so that we kept laughing and crying both at the same +moment. + +Pagolo recovered, as I have said, with ease; and then we travelled +toward Ferrara, where we found our lord the Cardinal had not yet +arrived. He had already heard of all our accidents, and said, when he +expressed his concern for them: “I pray to God that I may be allowed to +bring you alive to the King, according to my promise.” In Ferrara he +sent me to reside at a palace of his, a very handsome place called +Belfiore, close under the city walls. There he provided me with all +things necessary for my work. A little later, he arranged to leave for +France without me; and observing that I was very ill pleased with this, +he said to me: “Benvenuto, I am acting for your welfare; before I take +you out of Italy, I want you to know exactly what you will have to do +when you come to France. Meanwhile, push on my basin and the jug with +all the speed you can. I shall leave orders with my factor to give you +everything that you may want.” + +He then departed, and I remained sorely dissatisfied, and more than once +I was upon the point of taking myself off without license. The only +thing which kept me back was that he had procured my freedom from Pope +Paolo; for the rest, I was ill-contented and put to considerable losses. +However, I clothed my mind with the gratitude due to that great benefit, +and disposed myself to be patient and to await the termination of the +business. So I set myself to work with my two men, and made great +progress with the jug and basin. The air was unwholesome where we +lodged, and toward summer we all of us suffered somewhat in our health. +During our indisposition we went about inspecting the domain; it was +very large, and left in a wild state for about a mile of open ground, +haunted too by multitudes of peacocks, which bred and nested there like +wildfowl. This put it into my head to charge my gun with a noiseless +kind of powder; then I tracked some of the young birds, and every other +day killed one, which furnished us with abundance of meat, of such +excellent quality that we shook our sickness off. For several months +following we went on working merrily, and got the jug and basin forward; +but it was a task that required much time. + +Note 1. The Duke of Melfi, or Amalfi, was at this time Alfonso +Piccolomini, acting as captain-general of the Sienese in the interests +of Charles V. + +Note 2. 'Cognobbi.' The subject to this verb may be either Cellini or +the doctor. + +VI + +AT that period the Duke of Ferrara came to terms with Pope Paul about +some old matters in dispute between them relating to Modena and certain +other cities. The Church having a strong claim to them, the Duke was +forced to purchase peace by paying down an enormous sum of money; I +think that it exceeded three hundred thousand ducats of the Camera. +There was an old treasurer in the service of the Duke, who had been +brought up by his father, Duke Alfonso, and was called Messer Girolamo +Giliolo. He could not endure to see so much money going to the Pope, and +went about the streets crying: “Duke Alfonso, his father, would sooner +have attacked and taken Rome with this money than have shown it to the +Pope.” Nothing would induce him to disburse it; at last, however, the +Duke compelled him to make the payments, which caused the old man such +anguish that he sickened of a dangerous colic and was brought to death’s +door. During this man’s illness the Duke sent for me, and bade me take +his portrait; this I did upon a circular piece of black stone about the +size of a little trencher. The Duke took so much pleasure in my work and +conversation, that he not unfrequently posed through four or five hours +at a stretch for his own portrait, and sometimes invited me to supper. +It took me eight days to complete his likeness; then he ordered me to +design the reverse. On it I modelled Peace, giving her the form of a +woman with a torch in her hand, setting fire to a trophy of arms; I +portrayed her in an attitude of gladness, with very thin drapery, and +below her feet lay Fury in despair, downcast and sad, and loaded with +chains. I devoted much study and attention to this work, and it won me +the greatest honour. The Duke was never tired of expressing his +satisfaction, and gave me inscriptions for both sides of the medal. That +on the reverse ran as follows: 'Pretiosa in conspectu Domini;' it meant +that his peace with the Pope had been dearly bought. + +VII + +WHILE I was still engaged upon the reverse of this medal, the Cardinal +sent me letters bidding me prepare for my journey, since the King had +asked after me. His next communication would contain full details +respecting all that he had promised. Accordingly, I had my jug and basin +packed up, after showing them to the Duke. Now a Ferrarese gentleman +named Alberto Bendedio was the Cardinal’s agent, and he had been twelve +years confined to his house, without once leaving it, by reason of some +physical infirmity. One day he sent in a vast hurry for me, saying I +must take the post at once, in order to present myself before the King +of France, who had eagerly been asking for me, under the impression that +I was in France. By way of apology, the Cardinal told him that I was +staying, slightly indisposed, in his abbey at Lyons, but that he would +have me brought immediately to his Majesty. Therefore I must lose no +time, but travel with the post. + +Now Messer Alberto was a man of sterling worth, but proud, and illness +had made his haughty temper insupportable. As I have just said, he bade +me to get ready on the spot and take the journey by the common post. I +said that it was not the custom to pursue my profession in the post, and +that if I had to go, it was my intention to make easy stages and to take +with me the workmen Ascanio and Pagolo, whom I had brought from Rome. +Moreover, I wanted a servant on horseback to be at my orders, and money +sufficient for my costs upon the way. The infirm old man replied, upon a +tone of mighty haughtiness, that the sons of dukes were wont to travel +as I had described, and in no other fashion. I retorted that the sons of +my art travelled in the way I had informed him, and that not being a +duke’s son, I knew nothing about the customs of such folk; if he treated +me to language with which my ears were unfamiliar, I would not go at +all; the Cardinal having broken faith with me, and such scurvy words +having been spoken, I should make my mind up once for all to take no +further trouble with the Ferrarese. Then I turned my back, and, he +threatening, I grumbling, took my leave. + +I next went to the Duke with my medal, which was finished. He received +me with the highest marks of honour and esteem. It seems that he had +given orders to Messer Girolamo Giliolo to reward me for my labour with +a diamond ring worth two hundred crowns, which was to be presented by +Fiaschino, his chamberlain. Accordingly, this fellow, on the evening +after I had brought the medal, at one hour past nightfall, handed me a +ring with a diamond of showy appearance, and spoke as follows on the +part of his master: “Take this diamond as a remembrance of his +Excellency, to adorn the unique artist’s hand which has produced a +masterpiece of so singular merit.” When day broke, I examined the ring, +and found the stone to be a miserable thin diamond, worth about ten +crowns. I felt sure that the Duke had not meant to accompany such +magnificent compliments with so trifling a gift, but that he must have +intended to reward me handsomely. Being then convinced that the trick +proceeded from his rogue of a treasurer, I gave the ring to a friend of +mine, begging him to return it to the chamberlain, Fiaschino, as he best +could. The man I chose was Bernardo Saliti, who executed his commission +admirably. Fiaschino came at once to see me, and declared, with vehement +expostulations, that the Duke would take it very ill if I refused a +present he had meant so kindly; perhaps I should have to repent of my +waywardness. I answered that the ring his Excellency had given me was +worth about ten crowns, and that the work I had done for him was worth +more than two hundred. Wishing, however, to show his Excellency how +highly I esteemed his courtesy, I should be happy if he bestowed on me +only one of those rings for the cramp, which come from England and are +worth tenpence. [1] I would treasure that so long as I lived in +remembrance of his Excellency, together with the honourable message he +had sent me; for I considered that the splendid favours of his +Excellency had amply recompensed my pains, whereas that paltry stone +insulted them. This speech annoyed the Duke so much that he sent for his +treasurer, and scolded him more sharply than he had ever done before. At +the same time he gave me orders, under pain of his displeasure, not to +leave Ferrara without duly informing him; and commanded the treasurer to +present me with a diamond up to three hundred crowns in value. The +miserly official found a stone rising a trifle above sixty crowns, and +let it be heard that it was worth upwards of two hundred. + +Note 1. 'Anello del granchio,' a metal ring of lead and copper, such as +are now worn in Italy under the name of 'anello di salute.' + +VIII + +MEANWHILE Messer Alberto returned to reason, and provided me with all I +had demanded. My mind was made up to quit Ferrara without fail that very +day; but the Duke’s attentive chamberlain arranged with Messer Alberto +that I should get no horses then. I had loaded a mule with my baggage, +including the case which held the Cardinal’s jug and basin. Just then a +Ferrarese nobleman named Messer Alfonso de’ Trotti arrived. [1] He was +far advanced in years, and a person of excessive affectation; a great +dilettante of the arts, but one of those men who are very difficult to +satisfy, and who, if they chance to stumble on something which suits +their taste, exalt it so in their own fancy that they never expect to +see the like of it again. Well, this Messer Alonso arrived, and Messer +Alberto said to him: “I am sorry that you are come so late; the jug and +basin we are sending to the Cardinal in France have been already +packed.” He answered that it did not signify to him; and beckoning to +his servant, sent him home to fetch a jug in white Faenzo clay, the +workmanship of which was very exquisite. During the time the servant +took to go and return, Messer Alfonso said to Messer Alberto: “I will +tell you why I do not care any longer to look at vases; it is that I +once beheld a piece of silver, antique, of such beauty and such finish +that the human imagination cannot possibly conceive its rarity. +Therefore I would rather not inspect any objects of the kind, for fear +of spoiling the unique impression I retain of that. I must tell you that +a gentleman of great quality and accomplishments, who went to Rome upon +matters of business, had this antique vase shown to him in secret. By +adroitly using a large sum of money, he bribed the person in whose hands +it was, and brought it with him to these parts; but he keeps it +jealously from all eyes, in order that the Duke may not get wind of it, +fearing he should in some way be deprived of his treasure.” While +spinning out this lengthy yarn, Messer Alfonso did not look at me, +because we were not previously acquainted. But when that precious clay +model appeared, he displayed it with such airs of ostentation, pomp, and +mountebank ceremony, that, after inspecting it, I turned to Messer +Alberto and said: “I am indeed lucky to have had the privilege to see +it!” [2] Messer Alfonso, quite affronted, let some contemptuous words +escape him, and exclaimed: “Who are you, then, you who do not know what +you are saying?” I replied: “Listen for a moment, and afterwards judge +which of us knows best what he is saying.” Then turning to Messer +Alberto, who was a man of great gravity and talent, I began: “This is a +copy from a little silver goblet, of such and such weight, which I made +at such and such a time for that charlatan Maestro Jacopo, the surgeon +from Carpi. He came to Rome and spent six months there, during which he +bedaubed some scores of nobleman and unfortunate gentlefolk with his +dirty salves, extracting many thousands of ducats from their pockets. At +that time I made for him this vase and one of a different pattern. He +paid me very badly; and at the present moment in Rome all the miserable +people who used his ointment are crippled and in a deplorable state of +health. [3] It is indeed great glory for me that my works are held in +such repute among you wealthy lords; but I can assure you that during +these many years past I have been progressing in my art with all my +might, and I think that the vase I am taking with me into France is far +more worthy of cardinals and kings than that piece belonging to your +little quack doctor.” + +After I had made this speech, Messer Alfonso seemed dying with desire to +see the jug and basin, but I refused to open the box. We remained some +while disputing the matter, when he said that he would go to the Duke +and get an order from his Excellency to have it shown him. Then Messer +Alberto Bendedio, in the high and mighty manner which belonged to him, +exclaimed: “Before you leave this room, Messer Alfonso, you shall see +it, without employing the Duke’s influence.” On hearing these words I +took my leave, and left Ascanio and Pagolo to show it. They told me +afterwards that he had spoken enthusiastically in my praise. After this +he wanted to become better acquainted with me; but I was wearying to +leave Ferrara and get away from all its folk. The only advantages I had +enjoyed there were the society of Cardinal Salviati and the Cardinal of +Ravenna, and the friendship of some ingenious musicians; [4] no one else +had been to me of any good: for the Ferrarese are a very avaricious +people, greedy of their neighbours’ money, however they may lay their +hands on it; they are all the same in this respect. + +At the hour of twenty-two Fiaschino arrived, and gave me the diamond of +sixty crowns, of which I spoke above. He told me, with a hang-dog look +and a few brief words, that I might wear it for his Excellency’s sake. I +replied: “I will do so.” Then putting my foot in the stirrup in his +presence, I set off upon my travels without further leave-taking. The +man noted down my act and words, and reported them to the Duke, who was +highly incensed, and showed a strong inclination to make me retrace my +steps. + +Note 1. This man was a member of a very noble Ferrarese family, and much +esteemed for his official talents. + +Note 2. 'Pur beato che io l’ ho veduto!' Leclanché translates thus: +'“Par Dieu! il y a longtemps que je l’ ai vu!”' I think Cellini probably +meant to hint that he had seen it before. + +Note 3. See above, book i., p. 51, for this story. + +Note 4. Cardinal Giovanni Salviati was Archbishop of Ferrara; Cardinal +Benedetto Accolti, Archbishop of Ravenna, was then staying at Ferrara; +the court was famous for its excellent orchestra and theatrical display +of all kinds. + +IX + +THAT evening I rode more than ten miles, always at a trot; and when, +upon the next day, I found myself outside the Ferrarese domain, I felt +excessively relieved; indeed I had met with nothing to my liking there, +except those peacocks which restored my health. We journeyed by the +Monsanese, avoiding the city of Milan on account of the apprehension I +have spoken of, [1] so that we arrived safe and sound at Lyons. Counting +Pagolo and Ascanio and a servant, we were four men, with four very good +horses. At Lyons we waited several days for the muleteer, who carried +the silver cup and basin, as well as our other baggage; our lodging was +in an abbey of the Cardinal’s. When the muleteer arrived, we loaded all +our goods upon a little cart, and then set off toward Paris. On the road +we met with some annoyances, but not of any great moment. + +We found the Court of the King at Fontana Beliò; [2] there we presented +ourselves to the Cardinal, who provided us at once with lodgings, and +that evening we were comfortable. On the following day the cart turned +up; so we unpacked our things, and when the Cardinal heard this he told +the King, who expressed a wish to see me at once. I went to his Majesty +with the cup and basin; then, upon entering his presence, I kissed his +knee, and he received me very graciously. I thanked his Majesty for +freeing me from prison, saying that all princes unique for generosity +upon this earth, as was his Majesty, lay under special obligations to +set free men of talent, and particularly those that were innocent, as I +was; such benefits, I added, were inscribed upon the book of God before +any other good actions. The King, while I was delivering this speech, +continued listening till the end with the utmost courtesy, dropping a +few words such as only he could utter. Then he took the vase and basin, +and exclaimed: “Of a truth I hardly think the ancients can have seen a +piece so beautiful as this. I well remember to have inspected all the +best works, and by the greatest masters of all Italy, but I never set my +eyes on anything which stirred me to such admiration.” These words the +King addressed in French to the Cardinal of Ferrara, with many others of +even warmer praise. Then he turned to me and said in Italian: +“Benvenuto, amuse yourself for a few days, make good cheer, and spend +your time in pleasure; in the meanwhile we will think of giving you the +wherewithal to execute some fine works of art for us.” + +Note 1. The 'Monsanese' is the 'Mont Cenis.' Cellini forgets that he has +not mentioned this apprehension which made him turn aside from Milan. It +may have been the fear of plague, or perhaps of some enemy. + +Note 2. It is thus that Cellini always writes Fontainebleau. + +X + +THE CARDINAL OF FERRARA saw that the King had been vastly pleased by my +arrival; he also judged that the trifles which I showed him of my +handicraft had encouraged him to hope for the execution of some +considerable things he had in mind. At this time, however, we were +following the court with the weariest trouble and fatigue; the reason of +this was that the train of the King drags itself along with never less +than 12,000 horse behind it; this calculation is the very lowest; for +when the court is complete in times of peace, there are some 18,000, +which makes 12,000 less than the average. Consequently we had to journey +after it through places where sometimes there were scarcely two houses +to be found; and then we set up canvas tents like gipsies, and suffered +at times very great discomfort. I therefore kept urging the Cardinal to +put the King in mind of employing me in some locality where I could stop +and work. The Cardinal answered that it was far better to wait until the +King should think of it himself, and that I ought to show myself at +times to his Majesty while he was at table. This I did then; and one +morning, at his dinner, the King called me. He began to talk to me in +Italian, saying he had it in his mind to execute several great works, +and that he would soon give orders where I was to labour, and provide me +with all necessaries. These communications he mingled with discourse on +divers pleasant matters. The Cardinal of Ferrara was there, because he +almost always ate in the morning at the King’s table. He had heard our +conversation, and when the King rose, he spoke in my favour to this +purport, as I afterwards was informed: “Sacred Majesty, this man +Benvenuto is very eager to get to work again; it seems almost a sin to +let an artist of his abilities waste his time.” The King replied that he +had spoken well, and told him to arrange with me all things for my +support according to my wishes. + +Upon the evening of the day when he received this commission, the +Cardinal sent for me after supper, and told me that his Majesty was +resolved to let me begin working, but that he wanted me first to come to +an understanding about my appointments. To this the Cardinal added: “It +seems to me that if his Majesty allows you three hundred crowns a year, +you will be able to keep yourself very well indeed, furthermore, I +advise you to leave yourself in my hands, for every day offers the +opportunity of doing some service in this great kingdom, and I shall +exert myself with vigour in your interest.” Then I began to speak as +follows: “When your most reverend lordship left me in Ferrara, you gave +me a promise, which I had never asked for, not to bring me out of Italy +before I clearly understood the terms on which I should be placed here +with his Majesty. Instead of sending to communicate these details, your +most reverend lordship urgently ordered me to come by the post, as if an +art like mine was carried on post-haste. Had you written to tell me of +three hundred crowns, as you have now spoken, I would not have stirred a +foot for twice that sum. Nevertheless, I thank God and your most +reverend lordship for all things, seeing God has employed you as the +instrument for my great good in procuring my liberation from +imprisonment. Therefore I assure your lordship that all the troubles you +are now causing me fall a thousand times short of the great good which +you have done me. With all my heart I thank you, and take good leave of +you; wherever I may be, so long as I have life, I will pray God for +you.” The Cardinal was greatly irritated, and cried out in a rage: “Go +where you choose; it is impossible to help people against their will.” +Some of his good-for-nothing courtiers who were present said: “That +fellow sets great store on himself, for he is refusing three hundred +ducats a year.” Another, who was a man of talent, replied: “The King +will never find his equal, and our Cardinal wants to cheapen him, as +though he were a load of wood.” This was Messer Luigi Alamanni who spoke +to the above effect, as I was afterwards informed. All this happened on +the last day of October, in Dauphiné, at a castle the name of which I do +not remember. + +XI + +ON leaving the Cardinal I repaired to my lodging, which was three miles +distant, in company with a secretary of the Cardinal returning to the +same quarters. On the road, this man never stopped asking me what I +meant to do with myself, and what my own terms regarding the appointment +would have been. I gave him only one word back for answer which was +that--I knew all. When we came to our quarters, I found Pagolo and +Ascanio there; and seeing me much troubled, they implored me to tell +them what was the matter. To the poor young men, who were all dismayed, +I said for answer: “To-morrow I shall give you money amply sufficient +for your journey home. I mean myself to go about a most important +business without you, which for a long time I have had it in my mind to +do.” Our room adjoined that of the secretary; and I think it not +improbable that he wrote to the Cardinal, and informed him of my +purpose. However, I never knew anything for certain about this. The +night passed without sleep, and I kept wearying for the day, in order to +carry out my resolution. + +No sooner did it dawn than I ordered out the horses, made my +preparations in a moment, and gave the two young men everything which I +had brought with me, and fifty ducats of gold in addition. I reserved +the same sum for myself, together with the diamond the Duke had given +me; I only kept two shirts and some well-worn riding-clothes which I had +upon my back. I found it almost impossible to get free of the two young +men, who insisted upon going with me, whatever happened. At last I was +obliged to treat them with contempt, and use this language: “One of you +has his first beard, and the other is just getting it; and both of you +have learned as much from me as I could teach in my poor art, so that +you are now the first craftsmen among the youths of Italy. Are you not +ashamed to have no courage to quit this go-cart, but must always creep +about in leading-strings? The thing is too disgraceful! Or if I were to +send you away without money, what would you say then? Come, take +yourselves out of my sight, and may God bless you a thousand times. +Farewell!” + +I turned my horse and left them weeping. Then I took my way along a very +fair road through a forest, hoping to make at least forty miles that +day, and reach the most out-of-the-way place I could. I had already +ridden about two miles, and during that short time had resolved never to +revisit any of those parts where I was known. I also determined to +abandon my art so soon as I had made a Christ three cubits in height, +reproducing, so far as I was able, that infinite beauty which He had +Himself revealed to me. So then, being thoroughly resolved, I turned my +face toward the Holy Sepulchre. [1] Just when I thought I had got so far +that nobody could find me, I heard horses galloping after. They filled +me with some uneasiness, because that district is infested with a race +of brigands, who bear the name of Venturers, and are apt to murder men +upon the road. Though numbers of them are hanged every day, it seems as +though they did not care. However, when the riders approached, I found +they were a messenger from the King and my lad Ascanio. The former came +up to me and said: “From the King I order you to come immediately to his +presence.” I replied: “You have been sent by the Cardinal, and for this +reason I will not come.” The man said that since gentle usage would not +bring me, he had authority to raise the folk, and they would take me +bound hand and foot like a prisoner. Ascanio, for his part, did all he +could to persuade me, reminding me that when the King sent a man to +prison, he kept him there five years at least before he let him out +again. This word about the prison, when I remembered what I had endured +in Rome, struck such terror into me, that I wheeled my horse round +briskly and followed the King’s messenger. He kept perpetually +chattering in French through all our journey, up to the very precincts +of the court, at one time bullying, now saying one thing, then another, +till I felt inclined to deny God and the world. + +Note 1. See above, p. 240, for Cellini’s vow in the Castle of S. Angelo. + +XII + +ON our way to the lodgings of the King we passed before those of the +Cardinal of Ferrara. Standing at his door, he called to me and said: +“Our most Christian monarch has of his own accord assigned you the same +appointments which his Majesty allowed the painter Lionardo da Vinci, +that is, a salary of seven hundred crowns; in addition, he will pay you +for all the works you do for him; also for your journey hither he gives +you five hundred golden crowns, which will be paid you before you quit +this place.” At the end of this announcement, I replied that those were +offers worthy of the great King he was. The messenger, not knowing +anything about me, and hearing what splendid offers had been made me by +the King, begged my pardon over and over again. Pagolo and Ascanio +exclaimed: “It is God who has helped us to get back into so honoured a +go-cart!” + +On the day following I went to thank the King, who ordered me to make +the models of twelve silver statues, which were to stand as candelabra +round his table. He wanted them to represent six gods and six goddesses, +and to have exactly the same height as his Majesty, which was a trifle +under four cubits. Having dictated this commission, he turned to his +treasurer, and asked whether he had paid me the five hundred crowns. The +official said that he had received no orders to that effect. The King +took this very ill, for he had requested the Cardinal to speak to him +about it. Furthermore, he told me to go to Paris and seek out a place to +live in, fitted for the execution of such work; he would see that I +obtained it. + +I got the five hundred crowns of gold, and took up my quarters at Paris +in a house of the Cardinal of Ferrera. There I began, in God’s name, to +work, and fashioned four little waxen models, about two-thirds of a +cubit each in height. They were Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, and Vulcan. In +this while the King returned to Paris; whereupon I went to him at once, +taking my models with me, and my two prentices, Ascanio and Pagolo. On +perceiving that the King was pleased with my work, and being +commissioned to execute the Jupiter in silver of the height above +described, I introduced the two young men, and said that I had brought +them with me out of Italy to serve his Majesty; for inasmuch as they had +been brought up by me, I could at the beginning get more help from them +than from the Paris workmen. To this the King replied that I might name +a salary which I thought sufficient for their maintenance. I said that a +hundred crowns of gold apiece would be quite proper, and that I would +make them earn their wages well. This agreement was concluded. Then I +said that I had found a place which seemed to me exactly suited to my +industry; it was his Majesty’s own property, and called the Little +Nello. The Provost of Paris was then in possession of it from his +Majesty; but since the Provost made no use of the castle, his Majesty +perhaps might grant it me to employ in his service. [1] He replied upon +the instant: “That place is my own house, and I know well that the man I +gave it to does not inhabit or use it. So you shall have it for the work +you have to do.” He then told his lieutenant to install me in the Nello. +This officer made some resistance, pleading that he could not carry out +the order. The King answered in anger that he meant to bestow his +property on whom he pleased, and on a man who would serve him, seeing +that he got nothing from the other; therefore he would hear no more +about it. The lieutenant then submitted that some small force would have +to be employed in order to effect an entrance. To which the King +answered: “Go, then, and if a small force is not enough, use a great +one.” + +The officer took me immediately to the castle, and there put me in +possession, not, however, without violence; after that he warned me to +take very good care that I was not murdered. I installed myself, +enrolled serving-men, and bought a quantity of pikes and partisans; but +I remained for several days exposed to grievous annoyances, for the +Provost was a great nobleman of Paris, and all the other gentlefolk took +part against me; they attacked me with such insults that I could hardly +hold my own against them. I must not omit to mention that I entered the +service of his Majesty in the year 1540, which was exactly the year in +which I reached the age of forty. + +Note 1. This was the castle of Le Petit Nesle, on the site of which now +stands the Palace of the Institute. The Provost of Paris was then Jean +d’Estouteville, lord of Villebon. + +XIII + +THE AFFRONTS and insults I received made me have recourse to the King, +begging his Majesty to establish me in some other place. He answered: +“Who are you, and what is your name?” I remained in great confusion, and +could not comprehend what he meant. Holding my tongue thus, the King +repeated the same words a second time angrily. Then I said my name was +Benvenuto. “If, then, you are the Benvenuto of whom I have heard,” +replied the King, “act according to your wont, for you have my full +leave to do so.” I told his Majesty that all I wanted was to keep his +favour; for the rest, I knew of nothing that could harm me. He gave a +little laugh, and said: “Go your ways, then; you shall never want my +favour.” Upon this he told his first secretary, Monsignor di Villerois, +to see me provided and accommodated with all I needed. 1 + +This Villerois was an intimate friend of the Provost, to whom the castle +had been given. It was built in a triangle, right up against the city +walls, and was of some antiquity, but had no garrison. The building was +of considerable size. Monsignor di Villerois counselled me to look about +for something else, and by all means to leave this place alone, seeing +that its owner was a man of vast power, who would most assuredly have me +killed. I answered that I had come from Italy to France only in order to +serve that illustrious King; and as for dying, I knew for certain that +die I must; a little earlier or a little later was a matter of supreme +indifference to me. + +Now Villerois was a man of the highest talent, exceptionally +distinguished in all points, and possessed of vast wealth. There was +nothing he would not gladly have done to harm me, but he made no open +demonstration of his mind. He was grave, and of a noble presence, and +spoke slowly, at his ease. To another gentleman, Monsignor di Marmagna, +the treasurer of Languedoc, he left the duty of molesting me. [2] The +first thing which this man did was to look out the best apartments in +the castle, and to have them fitted up for himself. I told him that the +King had given me the place to serve him in, and that I did not choose +it should be occupied by any but myself and my attendants. The fellow, +who was haughty, bold, and spirited, replied that he meant to do just +what he liked; that I should run my head against a wall if I presumed to +oppose him, and that Villerois had given him authority to do what he was +doing. I told him that, by the King’s authority given to me, neither he +nor Villerois could do it. When I said that he gave vent to offensive +language in French, whereat I retorted in my own tongue that he lied. +Stung with rage, he clapped his hand upon a little dagger which he had; +then I set my hand also to a large dirk which I always wore for my +defence, and cried out: “If you dare to draw, I’ll kill you on the +spot.” He had two servants to back him, and I had my two lads. For a +moment or two Marmagna stood in doubt, not knowing exactly what to do, +but rather inclined to mischief, and muttering: “I will never put up +with such insults.” Seeing then that the affair was taking a bad turn, I +took a sudden resolution, and cried to Pagolo and Ascanio: “When you see +me draw my dirk, throw yourselves upon those serving-men, and kill them +if you can; I mean to kill this fellow at the first stroke, and then we +will decamp together, with God’s grace.” Marmagna, when he understood my +purpose, was glad enough to get alive out of the castle. + +All these things, toning them down a trifle, I wrote to the Cardinal of +Ferrara, who related them at once to the King. The King, deeply +irritated, committed me to the care of another officer of his bodyguard +who was named Monsignor lo Iscontro d’Orbech. [3] By him I was +accommodated with all that I required in the most gracious way +imaginable. + +Note 1. M. Nicholas de Neufville, lord of Villeroy. + +Note 2. François l’Allemand, Seigneur de Marmagne. + +Note 3. Le Vicomte d’Orbec. It seems that by 'Iscontro' Cellini meant +Viscount. + +XIV + +AFTER fitting up my own lodgings in the castle and the workshop with all +conveniences for carrying on my business, and putting my household upon +a most respectable footing, I began at once to construct three models +exactly of the size which the silver statues were to be. These were +Jupiter, Vulcan and Mars. I moulded them in clay, and set them well up +on irons; then I went to the King, who disbursed three hundred pounds +weight of silver, if I remember rightly, for the commencement of the +undertaking. While I was getting these things ready, we brought the +little vase and oval basin to completion, which had been several months +in hand. Then I had them richly gilt, and they showed like the finest +piece of plate which had been seen in France. + +Afterwards I took them to the Cardinal, who thanked me greatly; and, +without requesting my attendance, carried and presented them to the +King. He was delighted with the gift, and praised me as no artist was +ever praised before. In return, he bestowed upon the Cardinal an abbey +worth seven thousand crowns a year, and expressed his intention of +rewarding me too. The Cardinal, however, prevented him, telling his +Majesty that he was going ahead too fast, since I had as yet produced +nothing for him. The King, who was exceedingly generous, replied: “For +that very reason will I put heart and hope into him.” The Cardinal, +ashamed at his own meanness, said: “Sire, I beg you to leave that to me; +I will allow him a pension of at least three hundred crowns when have +taken possession of the abbey.” He never gave me anything; and it would +be tedious to relate all the knavish tricks of this prelate. I prefer to +dwell on matters of greater moment. + +XV + +WHEN I returned to Paris, the great favour shown me by the King made me +a mark for all men’s admiration. I received the silver and began my +statue of Jupiter. Many journeymen were now in my employ; and the work +went onward briskly day and night; so that, by the time I had finished +the clay models of Jupiter, Vulcan, and Mars, and had begun to get the +silver statue forward, my workshop made already a grand show. + +The King now came to Paris, and I went to pay him my respects. No sooner +had his Majesty set eyes upon me than he called me cheerfully, and asked +if I had something fine to exhibit at my lodging, for he would come to +inspect it. I related all I had been doing; upon which he was seized +with a strong desire to come. Accordingly, after this dinner, he set off +with Madame de Tampes, the Cardinal of Lorraine, and some other of his +greatest nobles, among whom were the King of Navarre, his cousin, and +the Queen, his sister; the Dauphin and Dauphinéss also attended him; so +that upon that day the very flower of the French court came to visit me. +[1] I had been some time at home, and was hard at work. When the King +arrived at the door of the castle, and heard our hammers going, he bade +his company keep silence. Everybody in my house was busily employed, so +that the unexpected entrance of his Majesty took me by surprise. The +first thing he saw on coming into the great hall was myself with a huge +plate of silver in my hand, which I was beating for the body of my +Jupiter; one of my men was finishing the head, another the legs; and it +is easy to imagine what a din we made between us. It happened that a +little French lad was working at my side, who had just been guilty of +some trifling blunder. I gave the lad a kick, and, as my good luck would +have it, caught him with my foot exactly in the fork between his legs, +and sent him spinning several yards, so that he came stumbling up +against the King precisely at the moment when his Majesty arrived. The +King was vastly amused, but I felt covered with confusion. He began to +ask me what I was engaged upon, and told me to go on working; then he +said that he would much rather have me not employ my strength on manual +labour, but take as many men as I wanted, and make them do the rough +work; he should like me to keep myself in health, in order that he might +enjoy my services through many years to come. I replied to his Majesty +that the moment I left off working I should fall ill; also that my art +itself would suffer, and not attain the mark I aimed at for his Majesty. +Thinking that I spoke thus only to brag, and not because it was the +truth, he made the Cardinal of Lorraine repeat what he had said; but I +explained my reasons so fully and clearly, that the Cardinal perceived +my drift; he then advised the King to let me labour as much or little as +I liked. + +Note 1. These personages were Madame d’Etampes, the King’s mistress; +John of Lorraine, son of Duke Renée II., who was made Cardinal in 1518; +Henri d’Albret II. and Marguerite de Valois, his wife; the Duaphin, +afterwards Henri II., and his wife, the celebrated Caterina de’ Medici, +daughter of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino. + +XVI + +BEING very well satisfied with what he had seen, the King returned to +his palace, after bestowing on me too many marks of favour to be here +recorded. On the following day he sent for me at his dinner-hour. The +Cardinal of Ferrara was there at meat with him. When I arrived, the King +had reached his second course; he began at once to speak to me, saying, +with a pleasant cheer, that having now so fine a basin and jug of my +workmanship, he wanted an equally handsome salt-cellar to match them; +and begged me to make a design, and to lose no time about it. I replied: +“Your Majesty shall see a model of the sort even sooner than you have +commanded; for while I was making the basin, I thought there ought to be +a saltcellar to match it; therefore I have already designed one, and if +it is your pleasure, I will at once exhibit my conception.” The King +turned with a lively movement of surprise and pleasure to the lords in +his company--they were the King of Navarre, the Cardinal of Lorraine, +and the Cardinal of Ferrara--exclaiming as he did so: “Upon my word, +this is a man to be loved and cherished by every one who knows him.” +Then he told me that he would very gladly see my model. + +I set off, and returned in a few minutes; for I had only to cross the +river, that is, the Seine. I carried with me the wax model which I had +made in Rome at the Cardinal of Ferrara’s request. When I appeared again +before the King and uncovered my piece, he cried out in astonishment: +“This is a hundred times more divine a thing that I had ever dreamed of. +What a miracle of a man! He ought never to stop working.” Then he turned +to me with a beaming countenance, and told me that he greatly liked the +piece, and wished me to execute it in gold. The Cardinal of Ferrara +looked me in the face, and let me understand that he recognised the +model as the same which I had made for him in Rome. I replied that I had +already told him I should carry it out for one who was worthy of it. The +Cardinal, remembering my words, and nettled by the revenge he thought +that I was taking on him, remarked to the King: “Sire, this is an +enormous undertaking; I am only afraid that we shall never see it +finished. These able artists who have great conceptions in their brain +are ready enough to put the same in execution without duly considering +when they are to be accomplished. I therefore, if I gave commission for +things of such magnitude, should like to know when I was likely to get +them.” The King replied that if a man was so scrupulous about the +termination of a work, he would never begin anything at all; these words +he uttered with a certain look, which implied that such enterprises were +not for folk of little spirit. I then began to say my say: “Princes who +put heart and courage in their servants, as your Majesty does by deed +and word, render undertakings of the greatest magnitude quite easy. Now +that God has sent me so magnificent a patron, I hope to perform for him +a multitude of great and splendid master-pieces.” “I believe it, “ said +the King, and rose from table. Then he called me into his chamber, and +asked me how much gold was wanted for the salt-cellar. “A thousand +crowns,” I answered. He called his treasurer at once, who was the +Viscount of Orbec, and ordered him that very day to disburse to me a +thousand crowns of good weight and old gold. + +When I left his Majesty, I went for the two notaries who had helped me +in procuring silver for the Jupiter and many other things. Crossing the +Seine, I then took a small hand-basket, which one of my cousins, a nun, +had given me on my journey through Florence. It made for my good fortune +that I took this basket and not a bag. So then, thinking I could do the +business by daylight, for it was still early, and not caring to +interrupt my workmen, and being indisposed to take a servant with me, I +set off alone. When I reached the house of the treasurer, I found that +he had the money laid out before him, and was selecting the best pieces +as the King had ordered. It seemed to me, however, that that thief of a +treasurer was doing all he could to postpone the payment of the money; +nor were the pieces counted out until three hours after nightfall. + +I meanwhile was not wanting in despatch, for I sent word to several of +my journeymen that they should come and attend me, since the matter was +one of serious importance. When I found that they did not arrive, I +asked the messenger if he had done my errand. The rascal of a groom whom +I had sent replied that he had done so, but that they had answered that +they could not come; he, however, would gladly carry the money for me. I +answered that I meant to carry the money myself. But this time the +contract was drawn up and signed. On the money being counted, I put it +all into my little basket, and then thrust my arm through the two +handles. Since I did this with some difficulty, the gold was well shut +in, and I carried it more conveniently than if the vehicle had been a +bag. I was well armed with shirt and sleeves of mail, and having my +sword and dagger at my side, made off along the street as quick as my +two legs would carry me. + +XVII + +JUST as I left the house, I observed some servants whispering among +themselves, who also went off at a round pace in another direction from +the one I took. Walking with all haste, I passed the bridge of the +Exchange, [1] and went up along a wall beside the river which led to my +lodging in the castle. I had just come to the Augustines--now this was a +very perilous passage, and though it was only five hundred paces distant +from my dwelling, yet the lodging in the castle being quite as far +removed inside, no one could have heard my voice if I had shouted--when +I saw four men with four swords in their hands advancing to attack me. +[2] My resolution was taken in an instant. I covered the basket with my +cape, drew my sword, and seeing that they were pushing hotly forward, +cried aloud: “With soldiers there is only the cape and sword to gain; +and these, before I give them up, I hope you’ll get not much to your +advantage.” Then crossing my sword boldly with them, I more than once +spread out my arms, in order that, if the ruffians were put on by the +servants who had seen me take my money, they might be led to judge I was +not carrying it. The encounter was soon over; for they retired step by +step, saying among themselves in their own language: “This is a brave +Italian, and certainly not the man we are after; or if he be the man, he +cannot be carrying anything.” I spoke Italian, and kept harrying them +with thrust and slash so hotly that I narrowly missed killing one or the +other. My skill in using the sword made them think I was a soldier +rather than a fellow of some other calling. They drew together and began +to fall back, muttering all the while beneath their breath in their own +tongue. I meanwhile continued always calling out, but not too loudly, +that those who wanted my cape and blade would have to get them with some +trouble. Then I quickened pace, while they still followed slowly at my +heels; this augmented my fear, for I thought I might be falling into an +ambuscade, which would have cut me off in front as well as rear. +Accordingly, when I was at the distance of a hundred paces from my home, +I ran with all my might, and shouted at the top of my voice: “To arms, +to arms! out with you, out with you! I am being murdered.” In a moment +four of my young men came running, with four pikes in their hands. They +wanted to pursue the ruffians, who could still be seen; but I stopped +them, calling back so as to let the villains hear: “Those cowards +yonder, four against one man alone, had not pluck enough to capture a +thousand golden crowns in metal, which have almost broken this arm of +mine. Let us haste inside and put the money away; then I will take my +big two-handed sword, and go with you whithersoever you like.” We went +inside to secure the gold; and my lads, while expressing deep concern +for the peril I had run, gently chided me, and said: “You risk yourself +too much alone; the time will come when you will make us all bemoan your +loss.” A thousand words and exclamations were exchanged between us; my +adversaries took to flight; and we all sat down and supped together with +mirth and gladness, laughing over those great blows which fortune +strikes, for good as well as evil, and which, what time they do not hit +the mark, are just the same as though they had not happened. [3] It is +very true that one says to oneself: “You will have had a lesson for next +time.” But that is not the case; for fortune always comes upon us in new +ways, quite unforeseen by our imagination. + +Note 1. The Pont du Change, replaced by the Pont Neuf. + +Note 2. The excitement of his recollection makes Cellini more than +usually incoherent about this episode. The translator has to collect the +whole sense of the passage. + +Note 3. Cellini’s philosophy is summed up in the proverb: “A miss is as +good as a mile.” + +XVIII + +ON the morning which followed these events, I made the first step in my +work upon the great salt-cellar, pressing this and my other pieces +forward with incessant industry. My workpeople at this time, who were +pretty numerous, included both sculptors and goldsmiths. They belonged +to several nations, Italian, French, and German; for I took the best I +could find, and changed them often, retaining only those who knew their +business well. These select craftsmen I worked to the bone with +perpetual labour. They wanted to rival me; but I had a better +constitution. Consequently, in their inability to bear up against such a +continuous strain, they took to eating and drinking copiously, some of +the Germans in particular, who were more skilled than their comrades, +and wanted to march apace with me, sank under these excesses, and +perished. + +While I was at work upon the Jupiter, I noticed that I had plenty of +silver to spare. So I took in hand, without consulting the King, to make +a great two-handled vase, about one cubit and a half in height. I also +conceived the notion of casting the large model of my Jupiter in bronze. +Having up to this date done nothing of the sort, I conferred with +certain old men experienced in that art at Paris, and described to them +the methods in use with us in Italy. They told me they had never gone +that way about the business; but that if I gave them leave to act upon +their own principles, they would bring the bronze out as clean and +perfect as the clay. I chose to strike an agreement, throwing on them +the responsibility, and promising several crowns above the price they +bargained for. Thereupon they put the work in progress; but I soon saw +that they were going the wrong way about it, and began on my own account +a head of Julius Cæsar, bust and armour, much larger than the life, +which I modelled from a reduced copy of a splendid antique portrait I +had brought with me from Rome. I also undertook another head of the same +size, studied from a very handsome girl, whom I kept for my own +pleasures. I called this Fontainebleau, after the place selected by the +King for his particular delight. + +We constructed an admirable little furnace for the casting of the +bronze, got all things ready, and baked our moulds; those French masters +undertaking the Jupiter, while I looked after my two heads. Then I said: +“I do not think you will succeed with your Jupiter, because you have not +provided sufficient vents beneath for the air to circulate; therefore +you are but losing your time and trouble.” They replied that, if their +work proved a failure, they would pay back the money I had given on +account, and recoup me for current expenses; but they bade me give good +heed to my own proceedings, [1] for the fine heads I meant to cast in my +Italian fashion would never succeed. + +At this dispute between us there were present the treasurers and other +gentlefolk commissioned by the King to superintend my proceedings. +Everything which passed by word or act was duly reported to his Majesty. +The two old men who had undertaken to cast my Jupiter postponed the +experiment, saying they would like to arrange the moulds of my two +heads. They argued that, according to my method, no success could be +expected, and it was a pity to waste such fine models. When the King was +informed of this, he sent word that they should give their minds to +learning, and not try to teach their master. + +So then they put their now piece into the furnace with much laughter; +while I, maintaining a firm carriage, showing neither mirth nor anger +(though I felt it), placed my two heads, one on each side of the +Jupiter. The metal came all right to melting, and we let it in with joy +and gladness; it filled the mould of the Jupiter most admirably, and at +the same time my two heads. This furnished them with matter for +rejoicing and me with satisfaction; for I was not sorry to have +predicted wrongly of their work, and they made as though they were +delighted to have been mistaken about mine. Then, as the custom in +France is, they asked to drink, in high good spirits. I was very +willing, and ordered a handsome collation for their entertainment. When +this was over, they requested me to pay the money due to them and the +surplus I had promised. I replied: “You have been laughing over what, I +fear, may make you weep. On reflection, it seems to me that too much +metal flowed into you mould. Therefore I shall wait until to-morrow +before I disburse more money.” The poor fellows swallowed my words and +chewed the cud of them; then they went home without further argument. + +At daybreak they began, quite quietly, to break into the pit of the +furnace. They could not uncover their large mould until they had +extracted my two heads; these were in excellent condition, and they +placed them where they could be well seen. When they came to Jupiter, +and had dug but scarcely two cubits, they sent up such a yell, they and +their four workmen, that it woke me up. Fancying it was a shout of +triumph, I set off running, for my bedroom was at the distance of more +than five hundred paces. On reaching the spot, I found them looking like +the guardians of Christ’s sepulchre in a picture, downcast and +terrified. Casting a hasty glance upon my two heads, and seeing they +were all right, I tempered my annoyance with the pleasure that sight +gave me. Then they began to make excuses, crying: “Our bad luck!” I +retorted: “Your luck has been most excellent, but what has been indeed +bad is your deficiency of knowledge; had I only seen you put the soul +[2] into your mould, I could have taught you with one word how to cast +the figure without fault. This would have brought me great honour and +you much profit. I shall be able to make good my reputation; but you +will now lose both your honour and your profit. Let then this lesson +teach you another time to work, and not to poke fun at your masters.” + +Note 1. 'Ma che io guardassi bene, che, &c.' This is perhaps: 'but they +bade me note well that.' + +Note 2. I have here translated the Italian 'anima' literally by the +English word soul. It is a technical expression, signifying the block, +somewhat smaller than the mould, which bronze-founders insert in order +to obtain a hollow, and not a solid cast from the mould which gives form +to their liquid metal. + +XIX + +ABOUT this time the illustrious soldier Piero Strozzi arrived in France, +and reminded the King that he had promised him letters of +naturalisation. These were accordingly made out; and at the same time +the King said: “Let them be also given to Benvenuto, mon ami, and take +them immediately to his house, and let him have them without the payment +of any fees.” Those of the great Strozzi [1] cost him several hundred +ducats: mine were brought me by one of the King’s chief secretaries, +Messer Antonio Massone, [2] This gentleman presented them with many +expressions of kindness from his Majesty, saying: “The King makes you a +gift of these, in order that you may be encouraged to serve him,; they +are letters of naturalisation.” Then he told me how they had been given +to Piero Strozzi at his particular request, and only after a long time +of waiting, as a special mark of favour; the King had sent mine of his +own accord, and such an act of grace had never been heard of in that +realm before. When I heard these words, I thanked his Majesty with +heartiness; but I begged the secretary to have the kindness to tell me +what letters of naturalisation meant. He was a man accomplished and +polite, who spoke Italian excellently. At first my question made him +laugh; then he recovered his gravity, and told me in my own language +what the papers signified, adding that they conferred one of the highest +dignities a foreigner could obtain: “indeed, it is a far greater honour +than to be made a nobleman of Venice.” + +When he left me, he returned and told his Majesty, who laughed awhile, +and then said: “Now I wish him to know my object in sending those +letters of naturalisation. Go and install him lord of the castle of the +Little Nello, where he lives, and which is a part of my demesne, He will +know what that means better than he understood about the letters of +naturalisation.” A messenger brought me the patent, upon which I wanted +to give him a gratuity. He refused to accept it, saying that his Majesty +had so ordered. These letters of naturalisation, together with the +patent for the castle, I brought with me when I returned to Italy; +wherever I go and wherever I may end my days, I shall endeavour to +preserve them. 3 + +Note 1. Piero was the son of Filippo Strozzi, and the general who lost +the battle of Montemurlo, so disastrous to the Florentine exiles, in +1537. + +Note 2. Antoine le Macon, secretary to Margaret of Navarre. He +translated the 'Decameron' at her instance into French. + +Note 3. The letter of naturalisation exists. See 'Bianchi,' p. 583. For +the grant of the castle, see 'ibid.,' p. 585. + +XX + +I SHALL now proceed with the narration of my life. I had on hand the +following works already mentioned, namely, the silver Jupiter, the +golden salt-cellar, the great silver vase, and the two bronze heads. I +also began to cast the pedestal for Jupiter, which I wrought very richly +in bronze, covered with ornaments, among which was a bas-relief, +representing the rape of Ganymede, and on the other side Leda and the +Swan. On casting this piece it came out admirably. I also made another +pedestal of the same sort for the statute of Juno, intending to begin +that too, if the King gave me silver for the purpose. By working briskly +I had put together the silver Jupiter and the golden salt-cellar; the +vase was far advanced; the two bronze heads were finished. I had also +made several little things for the Cardinal of Ferrara, and a small +silver vase of rich workmanship, which I meant to present to Madame +d’Etampes. Several Italian noblemen, to wit, Signor Piero Strozzi, the +Count of Anguillara, the Count of Pitigliano, the Count of Mirandola, +and many others, gave me employment also. 1 + +For my great King, as I have said, I had been working strenuously, and +the third day after he returned to Paris, he came to my house, attended +by a crowd of his chief nobles. He marvelled to find how many pieces I +had advanced, and with what excellent results. His mistress, Madame +d’Etampes, being with him, they began to talk of Fontainebleau. She told +his Majesty he ought to commission me to execute something beautiful for +the decoration of his favourite residence. He answered on the instant: +“You say well, and here upon the spot I will make up my mind what I mean +him to do.” Then he turned to me, and asked me what I thought would be +appropriate for that beautiful fountain. [2] I suggested several ideas, +and his Majesty expressed his own opinion. Afterwards he said that he +was going to spend fifteen or twenty days at San Germano del Aia, [3] a +place twelve leagues distant from Paris; during his absence he wished me +to make a model for that fair fountain of his in the richest style I +could invent, seeing he delighted in that residence more than in +anything else in his whole realm. Accordingly he commanded and besought +me to do my utmost to produce something really beautiful; and I promised +that I would do so. + +When the King saw so many finished things before him, he exclaimed to +Madame d’Etampes: “I never had an artist who pleased me more, nor one +who deserved better to be well rewarded; we must contrive to keep him +with us. He spends freely, is a boon companion, and works hard; we must +therefore take good thought for him. Only think, madam, all the times +that he has come to me or that I have come to him, he has never once +asked for anything; one can see that his heart is entirely devoted to +his work. We ought to make a point of doing something for him quickly, +else we run a risk of losing him.” Madame d’Etampes answered: “I will be +sure to remind you.” Then they departed, and in addition to the things I +had begun, I now took the model of the fountain in hand, at which I +worked assiduously. + +Note 1. Anguillara and Pitigliano were fiefs of two separate branches of +the Orsini family. The house of Pico lost their lordship of Mirandola in +1536, when Galeotto Pico took refuge with his sons in France. His +descendants renewed their hold upon the fief, which was erected into a +duchy in 1619. + +Note 2. 'Per quella bella fonte.' Here, and below, Cellini mixes up +Fontainebleau and the spring which gave its name to the place. + +Note 3. S. Germain-en-laye is not so far from Paris as Cellini thought. + +XXI + +AT the end of a month and a half the King returned to Paris; and I, who +had been working day and night, went to present myself before him, +taking my model, so well blocked out that my intention could be clearly +understood. Just about that time, the devilries of war between the +Emperor and King had been stirred up again, so that I found him much +harassed by anxieties. [1] I spoke, however, with the Cardinal of +Ferrara, saying I had brought some models which his Majesty had ordered, +and begging him, if he found an opportunity, to put in a word whereby I +might be able to exhibit them; the King, I thought, would take much +pleasure in their sight. This the Cardinal did; and no sooner had he +spoken of the models, than the King came to the place where I had set +them up. The first of these was intended for the door of the palace at +Fontainebleau. I had been obliged to make some alterations in the +architecture of this door, which was wide and low, in their vicious +French style. The opening was very nearly square, and above it was a +hemicycle, flattened like the handle of a basket; here the King wanted a +figure placed to represent the genius of Fontainebleau. I corrected the +proportions of the doorway, and placed above it an exact half circle; at +the sides I introduced projections, with socles and cornices properly +corresponding: then, instead of the columns demanded by this disposition +of parts, I fashioned two satyrs, one upon each side. The first of these +was in somewhat more than half-relief, lifting one hand to support the +cornice, and holding a thick club in the other; his face was fiery and +menacing, instilling fear into the beholders. The other had the same +posture of support; but I varied his features and some other details; in +his hand, for instance, he held a lash with three balls attached to +chains. Though I call them satyrs, they showed nothing of the satyr +except little horns and a goatish head; all the rest of their form was +human. In the lunette above I placed a female figure lying in an +attitude of noble grace; she rested her left arm on a stag’s neck, this +animal being one of the King’s emblems. On one side I worked little +fawns in half relief, with some wild boars and other game in lower +relief; on the other side were hounds and divers dogs of the chase of +several species, such as may be seen in that fair forest where the +fountain springs. The whole of this composition was enclosed in an +oblong, each angle of which contained a Victory in bas-relief, holding +torches after the manner of the ancients. Above the oblong was a +salamander, the King’s particular device, with many other ornaments +appropriate to the Ionic architecture of the whole design. + +Note 1. Cellini refers to the renewal of hostilities in May 1542. + +XXII + +WHEN the King had seen this model, it restored him to cheerfulness, and +distracted his mind from the fatiguing debates he had been holding +during the past two hours. Seeing him cheerful as I wished, I uncovered +the other model, which he was far from expecting, since he not +unreasonably judged that the first had work in it enough. This one was a +little higher than two cubits; it figured a fountain shaped in a perfect +square, with handsome steps all round, intersecting each other in a way +which was unknown in France, and is indeed very uncommon in Italy. In +the middle of the fountain I set a pedestal, projecting somewhat above +the margin of the basin, and upon this a nude male figure, of the right +proportion to the whole design, and of a very graceful form. In his +right hand he raised a broken lance on high; his left hand rested on a +scimitar; he was poised upon the left foot, the right being supported by +a helmet of the richest imaginable workmanship. At each of the four +angles of the fountain a figure was sitting, raised above the level of +the base, and accompanied by many beautiful and appropriate emblems. + +The King began by asking me what I meant to represent by the fine fancy +I had embodied in this design, saying that he had understood the door +without explanation, but that he could not take the conception of my +fountain, although it seemed to him most beautiful; at the same time, he +knew well that I was not like those foolish folk who turn out something +with a kind of grace, but put no intention into their performances. I +then addressed myself to the task of exposition; for having succeeded in +pleasing him with my work, I wanted him to be no less pleased with my +discourse. “Let me inform your sacred Majesty,” I thus began, “that the +whole of this model is so exactly made to scale, that if it should come +to being executed in the large, none of its grace and lightness will be +sacrificed. The figure in the middle is meant to stand fifty-four feet +above the level of the ground.” At this announcement the King made a +sign of surprise. “It is, moreover, intended to represent the god Mars. +The other figures embody those arts and sciences in which your Majesty +takes pleasure, and which you so generously patronise. This one, upon +the right hand, is designed for Learning; you will observe that the +accompanying emblems indicate Philosophy, and her attendant branches of +knowledge. By the next I wished to personify the whole Art of Design, +including Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture. The third is Music, +which cannot be omitted from the sphere of intellectual culture. That +other, with so gracious and benign a mien, stands for Generosity, +lacking which the mental gifts bestowed on us by God will not be brought +to view. I have attempted to portray your Majesty, your very self, in +the great central statue; for you are truly a god Mars, the only brave +upon this globe, and all your bravery you use with justice and with +piety in the defence of your own glory.” Scarcely had he allowed me to +finish this oration, when he broke forth with a strong voice: “Verily I +have found a man here after my own heart.” Then he called the treasurers +who were appointed for my supplies, and told them to disburse whatever I +required, let the cost be what it might. Next, he laid his hand upon my +shoulder, saying: '“Mon ami' (which is the same as 'my friend'), I know +not whether the pleasure be greater for the prince who finds a man after +his own heart, or for the artist who finds a prince willing to furnish +him with means for carrying out his great ideas.” I answered that, if I +was really the man his Majesty described, my good fortune was by far the +greater. He answered laughingly: “Let us agree, then, that our luck is +equal!” Then I departed in the highest spirits, and went back to my work. + +XXIII + +MY ill-luck willed that I was not wide-awake enough to play the like +comedy with Madame d’Etampes. That evening, when she heard the whole +course of events from the King’s own lips, it bred such poisonous fury +in her breast that she exclaimed with anger: “If Benvenuto had shown me +those fine things of his, he would have given me some reason to be +mindful of him at the proper moment.” The King sought to excuse me, but +he made no impression on her temper. Being informed of what had passed, +I waited fifteen days, during which they made a tour through Normandy, +visiting Rouen and Dieppe; then, when they returned to S. +Germain-en-Laye, I took the handsome little vase which I had made at the +request of Madame d’Etampes, hoping, if I gave it her, to recover the +favour I had lost. With this in my hand, then, I announced my presence +to her nurse, and showed the gift which I had brought her mistress; the +woman received me with demonstrations of good-will, and said that she +would speak a word to Madame, who was still engaged upon her toilette; I +should be admitted on the instant, when she had discharged her embassy. +The nurse made her report in full to Madame, who retorted scornfully: +“Tell him to wait.” On hearing this, I clothed myself with patience, +which of all things I find the most difficult. Nevertheless, I kept +myself under control until the hour for dinner was past. Then, seeing +that time dragged on, and being maddened by hunger, I could no longer +hold out, but flung off, sending her most devoutly to the devil. + +I next betook myself to the Cardinal of Lorraine, and made him a present +of the vase, only petitioning his Eminence to maintain me in the King’s +good graces. He said there was no need for this; and if there were need +he would gladly speak for me. Then he called his treasurer, and +whispered a few words in his ear. The treasurer waited till I took my +leave of the Cardinal; after which he said to me: “Benvenuto, come with +me, and I will give you a glass of good wine to drink.” I answered, not +understanding what he meant: “For Heaven’s sake, Mr. Treasurer, let me +have but one glass of wine and a mouthful of bread; for I am really +fainting for want of food. I have fasted since early this morning up to +the present moment, at the door of Madame d’Etampes; I went to give her +that fine piece of silver-gilt plate, and took pains that she would be +informed of my intention; but she, with the mere petty will to vex me, +bade me wait; now I am famished, and feel my forces failing; and, as God +willed it, I have bestowed my gift and labour upon one who is far more +worthy of them. I only crave of you something to drink; for being rather +too bilious by nature, fast upsets me so that I run the risk now of +falling from exhaustion to the earth.” While I was pumping out these +words with difficulty, they brought some admirable wine and other +delicacies for a hearty meal. I refreshed myself, and having recovered +my vital spirits, found that my exasperation had departed from me. + +The good treasurer handed me a hundred crowns in gold. I sturdily +refused to accept them. He reported this to the Cardinal, who swore at +him, and told him to make me take the money by force, and not to show +himself again till he had done so. The treasurer returned, much +irritated, saying he had never been so scolded before by the Cardinal; +but when he pressed the crowns upon me, I still offered some resistance. +Then, quite angry, he said he would use force to make me take them. So I +accepted the money. When I wanted to thank the Cardinal in person, he +sent word by one of his secretaries that he would gladly do me a service +whenever the occasion offered. I returned the same evening to Paris. The +King heard the whole history, and Madame d’Etampes was well laughed at +in their company. This increased her animosity against me, and led to an +attack upon my life, of which I shall speak in the proper time and place. + +XXIV + +FAR back in my autobiography I ought to have recorded the friendship +which I won with the most cultivated, the most affectionate, and the +most companionable man of worth I ever knew in this world. He was Messer +Guido Guidi, an able physician and doctor of medicine, and a nobleman of +Florence. [1] The infinite troubles brought upon me by my evil fortune +caused me to omit the mention of him at an earlier date; and though my +remembrance may be but a trifle, I deemed it sufficient to keep him +always in my heart. Yet, finding that the drama of my life requires his +presence, I shall introduce him here at the moment of my greatest +trials, in order that, as he was then my comfort and support, I may now +recall to memory the good he did me. 2 + +Well, then, Messer Guido came to Paris; and not long after making his +acquaintance, I took him to my castle, and there assigned him his own +suite of apartments. We enjoyed our lives together in that place for +several years. The Bishop of Pavia, that is to say, Monsignore de’ +Rossi, brother of the Count of San Secondo, also arrived. [3] This +gentleman I removed from his hotel, and took him to my castle, assigning +him in like manner his own suite of apartments, where he sojourned many +months with serving-men and horses. On another occasion I lodged Messer +Luigi Alamanni and his sons for some months. It was indeed God’s grace +to me that I should thus, in my poor station, be able to render services +to men of great position and acquirements. + +But to return to Messer Guido. We enjoyed our mutual friendship during +all the years I stayed in Paris, and often did we exult together on +being able to advance in art and knowledge at the cost of that so great +and admirable prince, our patron, each in his own branch of industry. I +can indeed, and with good conscience, affirm that all I am, whatever of +good and beautiful I have produced, all this must be ascribed to that +extraordinary monarch. So, then, I will resume the thread of my +discourse concerning him and the great things I wrought for him. + +Note 1. Son of Giuliano Guidi and Costanza, a daughter of Domenico +Ghirlandajo. François I sent for him some time before 1542, appointed +him his own physician, and professor of medicine in the Royal College. +He returned to Florence in 1548. + +Note 2. Qui mi faccia memoria di quel bene. This is obscure. 'Quel bene' +may mean 'the happiness of his friendship.' + +Note 3. We have already met with him in the Castle of S. Angelo. His +brother, the Count, was general in the French army. This brought the +Bishop to Paris, whence he returned to Italy in 1545. + +XXV + +I HAD a tennis-court in my castle, from which I drew considerable +profit. The building also contained some little dwellings inhabited by +different sorts of men, among whom was a printer of books of much +excellence in his own trade. Nearly the whole of his premises lay inside +the castle, and he was the man who printed Messer Guido’s first fine +book on medicine. [1] Wanting to make use of his lodging, I turned him +out, but not without some trouble. There was also a manufacturer of +saltpetre; and when I wished to assign his apartments to some of my +German workmen, the fellow refused to leave the place. I asked him over +and over again in gentle terms to give me up my rooms, because I wanted +to employ them for my work-people in the service of the King. The more +moderately I spoke, the more arrogantly did the brute reply; till at +last I gave him three days’ notice to quit. He laughed me in the face, +and said that he would begin to think of it at the end of three years. I +had not then learned that he was under the protection of Madame +d’Etampes; but had it not been that the terms on which I stood toward +that lady made me a little more circumspect than I was wont to be, I +should have ousted him at once; now, however, I thought it best to keep +my temper for three days. When the term was over, I said nothing, but +took Germans, Italians, and Frenchmen, bearing arms, and many +hand-labourers whom I had in my employ, and in a short while gutted all +his house and flung his property outside my castle. I resorted to these +somewhat rigorous measures because he had told me that no Italian whom +he knew of had the power of spirit to remove one ring of iron from its +place in his house. Well, after the deed was done, he came to find me, +and I said to him: “I am the least of all Italians in Italy, and yet I +have done nothing to you in comparison with what I have the heart to do, +and will do if you utter a single further word,” adding other terms of +menace and abuse. The man, dumbfounded and affrighted, got his furniture +together as well as he was able; then he ran off to Madame d’Etampes, +and painted a picture of me like the very fiend. She being my great +enemy, painted my portrait still blacker to the King, with all her +greater eloquence and all her greater weight of influence. As I was +afterwards informed, his Majesty twice showed signs of irritation and +was minded to use me roughly: but Henry the Dauphin, his son, now King +of France, who had received some affronts from that imperious woman, +together with the Queen of Navarre, sister to King Francis, espoused my +cause so cleverly that he passed the matter over with a laugh. So with +God’s assistance I escaped from a great danger. + +Note 1. 'Chirurgia e Græco in Latinum Conversa, Vido Vidio Florentino +interprete, &c. Excudebat Petrus Galterius Luteciæ Parisiorum, prid. +Cal. Mai.' 1544. So this printer was Pierre Sauthier. + +XXVI + +I HAD to deal in like manner with another fellow, but I did not ruin his +house; I only threw all his furniture out of doors. This time Madame +d’Etampes had the insolence to tell the King: “I believe that devil will +sack Paris one of these days.” The King answered with some anger that I +was only quite right to defend myself from the low rabble who put +obstacles in the way of my serving him. + +The rage of this vindictive woman kept continually on the increase. She +sent for a painter who was established at Fontainebleau, where the King +resided nearly all his time. The painter was an Italian and a Bolognese, +known then as Il Bologna; his right name, however, was Francesco +Primaticcio. [1] Madame d’Etampes advised him to beg that commission for +the fountain which his Majesty had given me, adding that she would +support him with all her ability; and upon this they agreed. Bologna was +in an ecstasy of happiness, and thought himself sure of the affair, +although such things were not in his line of art. He was, however, an +excellent master of design, and had collected round him a troop of +work-people formed in the school of Rosso, our Florentine painter, who +was undoubtedly an artist of extraordinary merit; his own best qualities +indeed were derived from the admirable manner of Rosso, who by this time +had died. + +These ingenious arguments, and the weighty influence of Madame +d’Etampes, prevailed with the King; for they kept hammering at him night +and day, Madame at one time, and Bologna at another. What worked most +upon his mind was that both of them combined to speak as follows: “How +is it possible, sacred Majesty, that Benvenuto should accomplish the +twelve silver statues which you want? He has not finished one of them +yet. If you employ him on so great an undertaking, you will, of +necessity, deprive yourself of those other things on which your heart is +set. A hundred of the ablest craftsmen could not complete so many great +works as this one able man has taken in hand to do. One can see clearly +that he has a passion for labour; but this ardent temper will be the +cause of your Majesty’s losing both him and his masterpieces at the same +moment.” By insinuating these and other suggestions of the same sort at +a favourable opportunity, the King consented to their petition; and yet +Bologna had at this time produced neither designs nor models for the +fountain. + +Note 1. Primaticcio, together with Rosso, introduced Italian painting +into France. Vasari says he came to Paris in 1541. He died in 1570. He +was, like many other of the Lombard artists, an excellent master of +stucco. + +XXVII + +IT happened that just at this period an action was brought against me in +Paris by the second lodger I had ousted from my castle, who pretended +that on that occasion I had stolen a large quantity of his effects. This +lawsuit tormented me beyond measure, and took up so much of my time that +I often thought of decamping in despair from the country. Now the French +are in the habit of making much capital out of any action they commence +against a foreigner, or against such persons as they notice to be +indolent in litigation. No sooner do they observe that they are getting +some advantage in the suit, than they find the means to sell it; some +have even been known to give a lawsuit in dowry with their daughters to +men who make a business out of such transactions. They have another ugly +custom, which is that the Normans, nearly all of them, traffic in false +evidence; so that the men who buy up lawsuits, engage at once the +services of four or six of these false witnesses, according to their +need; their adversary, if he neglect to produce as many on the other +side, being perhaps unacquainted with the custom, is certain to have the +verdict given against him. + +All this happened in my case, and thinking it a most disgraceful breach +of justice, I made my appearance in the great hall of Paris, to defend +my right. There I saw a judge, lieutenant for the King in civil causes, +enthroned upon a high tribunal. He was tall, stout, and fat, and of an +extremely severe countenance. All round him on each side stood a crowd +of solicitors and advocates, ranged upon the right hand and the left. +Others were coming, one by one, to explain their several causes to the +judge. From time to time, too, I noticed that the attorneys at the side +of the tribunal talked all at once: and much admiration was roused in me +by that extraordinary man, the very image of Pluto, who listened with +marked attention first to one and then to the other, answering each with +learning and sagacity. I have always delighted in watching and +experiencing every kind of skill; so I would not have lost this +spectacle for much. It happened that the hall being very large, and +filled with a multitude of folk, they were strict in excluding every one +who had no business there, and kept the door shut with a guard to hold +it. Sometimes the guardian, in his effort to prevent the entrance of +some improper person, interrupted the judge by the great noise he made, +and the judge in anger turned to chide him. This happened frequently, so +that my attention was directed to the fact. On one occasion, when two +gentlemen were pushing their way in as spectators, and the porter was +opposing them with violence, the judge raised his voice, and spoke the +following words precisely as I heard them: “Keep peace, Satan, begone, +and hold your tongue.” These words in the French tongue sound as +follows: 'Phe phe, Satan, Phe, Phe, alé, phe!' [1] Now I had learned the +French tongue well; and on hearing this sentence, the meaning of that +phrase used by Dante came into my memory, when he and his master Virgil +entered the doors of Hell. Dante and the painter Giotto were together in +France, and particularly in the city of Paris, where, owing to the +circumstances I have just described, the hall of justice may be truly +called a hell. Dante then, who also understood French well, made use of +the phrase in question, and it has struck me as singular that this +interpretation has never yet been put upon the passage; indeed, it +confirms my opinion that the commentators make him say things which +never came into his head. + +Note 1. 'Paix, paix, Satan, allez, paix.' The line in Dante to which +Cellini alludes is the first of the seventh canto of the 'Inferno.' His +suggestion is both curious and ingenious; but we have no reason to think +that French judges used the same imprecations, when interrupted, in the +thirteenth as they did in the sixteenth century, or that what Cellini +heard on this occasion was more than an accidental similarity of sounds, +striking his quick ear and awakening his lively memory. + +XXVIII + +WELL, then, to return to my affairs. When certain decisions of the court +were sent me by those lawyers, and I perceived that my cause had been +unjustly lost, I had recourse for my defence to a great dagger which I +carried; for I have always taken pleasure in keeping fine weapons. The +first man I attacked was the plaintiff who had sued me; and one evening +I wounded him in the legs and arms so severely, taking care, however, +not to kill him, that I deprived him of the use of both his legs. Then I +sought out the other fellow who had brought the suit, and used him also +in such wise that he dropped it. + +Returning thanks to God for this and every other dispensation, and +hoping to be left awhile without worries, I bade the young men of my +household, especially the Italians, for God’s sake to attend each +diligently to the work I set him, and to help me till such time as I +could finish the things I had in hand. I thought they might soon be +completed, and then I meant to return to Italy, being no longer able to +put up with the rogueries of those Frenchmen; the good King too, if he +once grew angry, might bring me into mischief for many of my acts in +self-defence. I will describe who these Italians were; the first, and +the one I liked best, was Ascanio, from Tagliacozzo in the kingdom of +Naples; the second was Pagolo, a Roman of such humble origin that he did +now know his own father. These were the two men who had been with me in +Rome, and whom I had taken with me on the journey. Another Roman had +also come on purpose to enter my service; he too bore the name of +Pagolo, and was the son of a poor nobleman of the family of the +Macaroni; he had small acquirements in our art, but was an excellent and +courageous swordsman. I had another from Ferrara called Bartolommeo +Chioccia. There was also another from Florence named Pagolo Micceri; his +brother, nicknamed “Il Gatta,” was a clever clerk, but had spent too +much money in managing the property of Tommaso Guadagni, a very wealthy +merchant. This Gatta put in order for me the books in which I wrote the +accounts of his most Christian Majesty and my other employers. Now +Pagolo Micceri, having learned how to keep them from his brother, went +on doing this work for me in return for a liberal salary. He appeared, +so far as I could judge, to be a very honest lad, for I noticed him to +be devout, and when I heard him sometimes muttering psalms, and +sometimes telling his beads, I reckoned much upon his feigned virtue. + +Accordingly I called the fellow apart and said to him, “Pagolo, my +dearest brother, you know what a good place you have with me, and how +you had formerly nothing to depend on; besides, you are a Florentine. I +have also the greater confidence in you because I observe that you are +pious and religious, which is a thing that pleases me. I beg you +therefore to assist me, for I cannot put the same trust in any of your +companions: so then I shall ask you to keep watch over two matters of +the highest importance, which might prove a source of much annoyance to +me. In the first place, I want you to guard my property from being +stolen, and not touch it yourself. In the next place, you know that poor +young girl, Caterina; I keep her principally for my art’s sake, since I +cannot do without a model; but being a man also, I have used her for my +pleasures, and it is possible that she may bear me a child. Now I do not +want to maintain another man’s bastards, nor will I sit down under such +an insult. If any one in this house had the audacity to attempt anything +of the sort, and I were to become aware of it, I verily believe that I +should kill both her and him. Accordingly, dear brother, I entreat you +to be my helper; should you notice anything, tell it me at once; for I +am sure to send her and her mother and her fellow to the gallows. Be you +the first upon your watch against falling into this snare.” The rascal +made a sign of the cross from his head to his feet and cried out: “O +blessed Jesus! God preserve me from ever thinking of such a thing! In +the first place, I am not given to those evil ways; in the next place, +do you imagine I am ignorant of your great benefits toward me?” When I +heard these words, which he uttered with all appearance of simplicity +and affection for me, I believed that matters stood precisely as he +asserted. + +XXIX + +TWO days after this conversation, M. Mattio del Nazaro took the occasion +of some feast-day to invite me and my workpeople to an entertainment in +a garden. [1] He was an Italian in the King’s service, and practised the +same art as we did with remarkable ability. I got myself in readiness, +and told Pagolo that he might go abroad too and amuse himself with us; +the annoyances arising from that lawsuit being, as I judged, now settled +down. The young man replied in these words: “Upon my word, it would be a +great mistake to leave the house so unprotected. Only look how much of +gold, silver, and jewels you have here. Living as we do in a city of +thieves, we ought to be upon our guard by day and night. I will spend +the time in religious exercises, while I keep watch over the premises. +Go then with mind at rest to take your pleasure and divert your spirits. +Some other day another man will take my place as guardian here.” + +Thinking that I could go of with a quiet mind, I took Pagolo, Ascanio, +and Chioccia to the garden, where we spent a large portion of the day +agreeably. Toward the middle of the afternoon, however, when it began to +draw toward sundown, a suspicion came into my head, and I recollected +the words which that traitor had spoken with his feigned simplicity. So +I mounted my horse, and with two servants to attend me, returned to the +castle, where I all but caught Pagolo and that little wretch Caterina +'in flagrante.' No sooner had I reached the place, than that French +bawd, her mother, screamed out: “Pagolo! Caterina! here is the master!” +When I saw the pair advancing, overcome with fright, their clothes in +disorder, not knowing what they said, nor, like people in a trance, +where they were going, it was only too easy to guess what they had been +about. The sight drowned reason in rage, and I drew my sword, resolved +to kill them both. The man took to his heels; the girl flung herself +upon her knees, and shrieked to Heaven for mercy. In my first fury I +wanted to strike at the male; but before I had the time to catch him up, +second thoughts arose which made me think it would be best for me to +drive them both away together. I had so many acts of violence upon my +hands, that if I killed him I could hardly hope to save my life. I said +then to Pagolo: “Had I seen with my own eyes, scoundrel, what your +behaviour and appearance force me to believe, I should have run you with +this sword here ten times through the guts. Get out of my sight; and if +you say a Paternoster, let it be San Giuliano’s.” [2] Then I drove the +whole lot forth, mother and daughter, lamming into them with fist and +foot. They made their minds up to have the law of me, and consulted a +Norman advocate, who advised them to declare that I had used the girl +after the Italian fashion; what this meant I need hardly explain. [3] +The man argued: “At the very least, when this Italian hears what you are +after, he will pay down several hundred ducats, knowing how great the +danger is, and how heavily that offence is punished in France.” Upon +this they were agreed. The accusation was brought against me, and I +received a summons from the court. + +Note 1. Matteo del Nassaro, a native of Verona, was employed in France +as engraver, die-caster, and musician. + +Note 2. See Boccaccio, 'Decam.,' Gior. ii. Nov. ii. + +Note 3. 'Qual modo s’intendeva contro natura, cioè in soddomia.' + +XXX + +THE MORE I sought for rest, the more I was annoyed with all sorts of +embarrassments. Being thus daily exposed to divers persecutions, I +pondered which of two courses I ought to take; whether to decamp and +leave France to the devil, or else to fight this battle through as I had +done the rest, and see to what end God had made me. For a long while I +kept anxiously revolving the matter. At last I resolved to make off, +dreading to tempt my evil fortune, lest this should bring me to the +gallows. My dispositions were all fixed; I had made arrangements for +putting away the property I could not carry, and for charging the +lighter articles, to the best of my ability, upon myself and servants; +yet it was with great and heavy reluctance that I looked forward to such +a departure. + +I had shut myself up alone in a little study. My young men were advising +me to fly; but I told them that it would be well for me to meditate this +step in solitude, although I very much inclined to their opinion. +Indeed, I reasoned that if I could escape imprisonment and let the storm +pass over, I should be able to explain matters to the King by letter, +setting forth the trap which had been laid to ruin me by the malice of +my enemies. And as I have said above, my mind was made up to this point; +when, just as I rose to act on the decision, some power took me by the +shoulder and turned me round, and I heard a voice which cried with +vehemence: “Benvenuto, do as thou art wont, and fear not!” Then, on the +instant, I changed the whole course of my plans, and said to my +Italians: “Take your good arms and come with me; obey me to the letter; +have no other thought, for I am now determined to put in my appearance. +If I were to leave Paris, you would vanish the next day in smoke; so do +as I command, and follow me.” They all began together with one heart and +voice to say: “Since we are here, and draw our livelihood from him, it +is our duty to go with him and bear him out so long as we have life to +execute what he proposes. He has hit the mark better than we did in this +matter; for on the instant when he leaves the place, his enemies will +send us to the devil. Let us keep well in mind what great works we have +begun here, and what vast importance they possess; we should not know +how to finish them without him, and his enemies would say that he had +taken flight because he shrank before such undertakings.” Many other +things bearing weightily upon the subject were said among them. But it +was the young Roman, Macaroni, who first put heart into the company; and +he also raised recruits from the Germans and the Frenchmen, who felt +well disposed toward me. + +We were ten men, all counted. I set out, firmly resolved not to let +myself be taken and imprisoned alive. When we appeared before the judges +for criminal affairs, I found Caterina and her mother waiting; and on +the moment of my arrival, the two women were laughing with their +advocate. I pushed my way in, and called boldly for the judge, who was +seated, blown out big and fat, upon a tribunal high above the rest. On +catching sight of me, he threatened with his head, and spoke in a +subdued voice: “Although your name is Benvenuto, this time you are an +ill-comer.” I understood his speech, and called out the second time: +“Despatch my business quickly. Tell me what I have come to do here.” +Then the judge turned to Caterina, and said: “Caterina, relate all that +happened between you and Benvenuto.” She answered that I had used her +after the Italian fashion. The judge turned to me and said: “You hear +what Caterina deposes, Benvenuto.” I replied: “If I have consorted with +her after the Italian fashion, I have only done the same as you folk of +other nations do.” He demurred: “She means that you improperly abused +her.” I retorted that, so far from being the Italian fashion, it must be +some French habit, seeing she knew all about it, while I was ignorant; +and I commanded her to explain precisely how I had consorted with her. +Then the impudent baggage entered into plain and circumstantial details +regarding all the filth she lyingly accused me of. I made her repeat her +deposition three times in succession. When she had finished, I cried out +with a loud voice: “Lord judge, lieutenant of the Most Christian King, I +call on you for justice. Well I know that by the laws of his Most +Christian Majesty both agent and patient in this kind of crime are +punished with the stake. The woman confesses her guilt; I admit nothing +whatsoever of the sort with regard to her; her go-between of a mother is +here, who deserves to be burned for either one or the other offence. +Therefore I appeal to you for justice.” These words I repeated over and +over again at the top of my voice, continually calling out: “To the +stake with her and her mother!” I also threatened the judge that, if he +did not send her to prison there before me, I would go to the King at +once, and tell him how his lieutenant in criminal affairs of justice had +wronged me. When they heard what a tumult I was making, my adversaries +lowered their voices, but I lifted mine the more. The little hussy and +her mother fell to weeping, while I shouted to the judge: “Fire, fire! +to the stake with them!” The coward on the bench, finding that the +matter was not going as he intended, began to use soft words and excuse +the weakness of the female sex. Thereupon I felt that I had won the +victory in a nasty encounter; and, muttering threats between my teeth, I +took myself off, not without great inward satisfaction. Indeed, I would +gladly have paid five hundred crowns down to have avoided that +appearance in court. However, after escaping from the tempest, I thanked +God with all my heart, and returned in gladness with my young men to the +castle. + +XXXI + +WHEN adverse fortune, or, if we prefer to call it, our malignant planet, +undertakes to persecute a man, it never lacks new ways of injuring him. +So now, when I thought I had emerged from this tempestuous sea of +troubles, and hoped my evil star would leave me quiet for a moment, it +began to set two schemes in motion against me before I had recovered my +breath from that great struggle. Within three days two things happened, +each of which brought my life into extreme hazard. One of these occurred +in this way: I went to Fontainebleau to consult with the King; for he +had written me a letter saying he wanted me to stamp the coins of his +whole realm, and enclosing some little drawings to explain his wishes in +the matter; at the same time he left me free to execute them as I liked; +upon which I made new designs according to my own conception, and +according to the ideal of art. When I reached Fontainebleau, one of the +treasurers commissioned by the King to defray my expenses (he was called +Monsignor della Fa 1) addressed me in these words: “Benvenuto, the +painter Bologna has obtained commission from the King to execute your +great Colossus, and all the orders previously given as on your behalf +have been transferred to him. [2] We are all indignant; and it seems to +us that that countryman of yours has acted towards you in a most +unwarrantable manner. The work was assigned you on the strength of your +models and studies. He is robbing you of it, only through the favour of +Madame d’Etampes; and though several months have passed since he +received the order, he has not yet made any sign of commencing it.” I +answered in surprise: “How is it possible that I should have heard +nothing at all about this?” He then informed me that the man had kept it +very dark, and had obtained the King’s commission with great difficulty, +since his Majesty at first would not concede it; only the importunity of +Madame d’Etampes secured this favour for him. + +When I felt how greatly and how wrongfully I had been betrayed, and saw +a work which I had gained with my great toil thus stolen from me, I made +my mind up for a serious stroke of business, and marched off with my +good sword at my side to find Bologna. [3] He was in his room, engaged +in studies; after telling the servant to introduce me, he greeted me +with some of his Lombard compliments, and asked what good business had +brought me hither. I replied: “A most excellent business, and one of +great importance.” He then sent for wine, and said: “Before we begin to +talk, we must drink together, for such is the French custom.” I +answered: “Messer Francesco, you must know that the conversation we have +to engage in does not call for drinking at the commencement; after it is +over, perhaps we shall be glad to take a glass.” Then I opened the +matter in this way: “All men who wish to pass for persons of worth allow +it to be seen that they are so by their actions; if they do the +contrary, they lose the name of honest men. I am aware that you knew the +King had commissioned me with that great Colossus; it had been talked of +these eighteen months past; yet neither you nor anybody else came +forward to speak a word about it. By my great labours I made myself +known to his Majesty, who approved of my models and gave the work into +my hands. During many months I have heard nothing to the contrary; only +this morning I was informed that you have got hold of it, and have +filched it from me. I earned it by the talents I displayed, and you are +robbing me of it merely by your idle talking.” + +Note 1. His name in full was Jacques de la Fa. He and his son Pierre +after him held the office of 'trésorier de l’epargne.' See Plon, p. 63. + +Note 2. By Colossus, Cellini means the fountain with the great statue of +Mars. + +Note 3. 'I. e.,' Primaticcio. + +XXXII + +TO this speech Bologna answered: “O Benvenuto! all men try to push their +affairs in every way they can. If this is the King’s will, what have you +to say against it? You would only throw away your time, because I have +it now, and it is mine. Now tell me what you choose, and I will listen +to you.” I replied: “I should like you to know, Messer Francesco, that I +could say much which would prove irrefragably, and make you admit, that +such ways of acting as you have described and used are not in vogue +among rational animals. I will, however, come quickly to the point at +issue; give close attention to my meaning, because the affair is +serious.” He made as though he would rise form the chair on which he was +sitting, since he saw my colour heightened and my features greatly +discomposed. I told him that the time had not yet come for moving; he +had better sit and listen to me. Then I recommenced: “Messer Francesco, +you know that I first received the work, and that the time has long gone +by during which my right could be reasonably disputed by any one. Now I +tell you that I shall be satisfied if you will make a model, while I +make another in addition to the one I have already shown. Then we will +take them without any clamour to our great King; and whosoever in this +way shall have gained the credit of the best design will justly have +deserved the commission. If it falls to you, I will dismiss from my mind +the memory of the great injury you have done me, and will bless your +hands, as being worthier than mine of so glorious a performance. Let us +abide by this agreement, and we shall be friends; otherwise we must be +enemies; and God, who always helps the right, and I, who know how to +assert it, will show you to what extent you have done wrong.” Messer +Francesco answered: “The work is mine, and since it has been given me, I +do not choose to put what is my own to hazard.” To this I retorted: +“Messer Francesco, if you will not take the right course which is just +and reasonable, I will show you another which shall be like your own, +that is to say, ugly and disagreeable. I tell you plainly that if I ever +hear that you have spoken one single word about this work of mine, I +will kill you like a dog. We are neither in Rome, nor in Bologna, nor in +Florence; here one lives in quite a different fashion; if then it comes +to my ears that you talk about this to the King or anybody else, I vow +that I will kill you. Reflect upon the way you mean to take, whether +that for good which I formerly described, or this latter bad one I have +just now set before you.” + +The man did not know what to say or do, and I was inclined to cut the +matter short upon the spot rather than to postpone action. Bologna found +no other words than these to utter: “If I act like a man of honesty, I +shall stand in no fear.” I replied: “You have spoken well, but if you +act otherwise, you will have to fear, because the affair is serious.” +Upon this I left him, and betook myself to the King. With his Majesty I +disputed some time about the fashion of his coinage, a point upon which +we were not of the same opinion; his council, who were present, kept +persuading him that the monies ought to be struck in the French style, +as they had hitherto always been done. I urged in reply that his Majesty +had sent for me from Italy in order that I might execute good work; if +he now wanted me to do the contrary, I could not bring myself to submit. +So the matter was postponed till another occasion, and I set off again +at once for Paris. + +XXXIII + +I HAD but just dismounted from my horse, when one of those excellent +people who rejoice in mischief-making came to tell me that Pagolo +Micceri had taken a house for the little hussy Caterina and her mother, +and that he was always going there, and whenever he mentioned me, used +words of scorn to this effect: “Benvenuto set the fox to watch the +grapes, [1] and thought I would not eat them! Now he is satisfied with +going about and talking big, and thinks I am afraid of him. But I have +girt this sword and dagger to my side in order to show him that my steel +can cut as well as his, and that I too am a Florentine, of the Micceri, +a far better family than his Cellini.” The scoundrel who reported this +poisonous gossip spoke it with such good effect that I felt a fever in +the instant swoop upon me; and when I say fever, I mean fever, and no +mere metaphor. The insane passion which took possession of me might have +been my death, had I not resolved to give it vent as the occasion +offered. I ordered the Ferrarese workman, Chioccia, to come with me, and +made a servant follow with my horse. When we reached the house where +that worthless villain was, I found the door ajar, and entered. I +noticed that he carried sword and dagger, and was sitting on a big chest +with his arm round Caterina’s neck; at the moment of my arrival, I could +hear that he and her mother were talking about me. Pushing the door +open, I drew my sword, and set the point of it at his throat, not giving +him the time to think whether he too carried steel. At the same instant +I cried out: “Vile coward! recommend your soul to God, for you are a +dead man.” Without budging from his seat, he called three times: +“Mother, mother, help me!” Though I had come there fully determined to +take his life, half my fury ebbed away when I heard this idiotic +exclamation. I ought to add that I had told Chioccia not to let the girl +or her mother leave the house, since I meant to deal with those trollops +after I had disposed of their bully. So I went on holding my sword at +his throat, and now and then just pricked him with the point, pouring +out a torrent of terrific threats at the same time. But when I found he +did not stir a finger in his own defence, I began to wonder what I +should do next; my menacing attitude could not be kept up for ever; so +at last it came into my head to make them marry, and complete my +vengeance at a later period. Accordingly, I formed my resolution, and +began: “Take that ring, coward, from your finger, and marry her, that I +may get satisfaction from you afterwards according to your deserts.” He +replied at once: “If only you do not kill me, I will do whatever you +command.” “Then,” said I, “put that ring upon her hand.” When the +sword’s point was withdrawn a few inches from his throat, he wedded her +with the ring. But I added: “This is not enough. I shall send for two +notaries, in order that the marriage may be ratified by contract.” +Bidding Chioccia go for the lawyers, I turned to the girl and her +mother, and, using the French language, spoke as follows: “Notaries and +witnesses are coming; the first of you who blabs about this affair will +be killed upon the spot; nay, I will murder you all three. So beware, +and keep a quiet tongue in your heads.” To him I said in Italian: “If +you offer any resistance to what I shall propose, upon the slightest +word you utter I will stab you till your guts run out upon this floor.” +He answered: “Only promise not to kill me, and I will do whatever you +command.” The notaries and witnesses arrived; a contract, valid and in +due form, was drawn up; then my heat and fever left me. I paid the +lawyers and took my departure. + +On the following day Bologna came to Paris on purpose, and sent for me +through Mattio del Nasaro. I went to see him; and he met me with a glad +face, entreating me to regard him as a brother, and saying that he would +never speak about that work again, since he recognised quite well that I +was right. + +Note 1. 'Aveva dato a guardia la lattuga ai paperi.' + +XXXIV + +IF I did not confess that in some of these episodes I acted wrongly, the +world might think I was not telling the truth about those in which I say +I acted rightly. Therefore I admit that it was a mistake to inflict so +singular a vengeance upon Pagolo Micceri. In truth, had I believed him +to be so utterly feeble, I should not have conceived the notion of +branding him with such infamy as I am going to relate. + +Not satisfied with having made him take a vicious drab to wife, I +completed my revenge by inviting her to sit to me as a model, and +dealing with her thus. I gave her thirty sous a day, paid in advance, +and a good meal, and obliged her to pose before me naked. Then I made +her serve my pleasure, out of spite against her husband, jeering at them +both the while. Furthermore, I kept her for hours together in position, +greatly to her discomfort. This gave her as much annoyance as it gave me +pleasure; for she was beautifully made, and brought me much credit as a +model. At last, noticing that I did not treat her with the same +consideration as before her marriage, she began to grumble and talk big +in her French way about her husband, who was now serving the Prior of +Capua, a brother of Piero Strozzi. [1] On the first occasion when she +did this, the mere mention of the fellow aroused me to intolerable fury; +still I bore it, greatly against the grain, as well as I was able, +reflecting that I could hardly find so suitable a subject for my art as +she was. So I reasoned thus in my own mind: “I am now taking two +different kinds of revenge. In the first place, she is married; and what +I am doing to her husband is something far more serious than what he did +to me, when she was only a girl of loose life. If then I wreak my spite +so fully upon him, while upon her I inflict the discomfort of posing in +such strange attitudes for such a length of time--which, beside the +pleasure I derive, brings me both profit and credit through my art--what +more can I desire?” While I was turning over these calculations, the +wretch redoubled her insulting speeches, always prating big about her +husband, till she goaded me beyond the bounds of reason. Yielding myself +up to blind rage, I seized her by the hair, and dragged her up and down +my room, beating and kicking her till I was tired. There was no one who +could come to her assistance. When I had well pounded her she swore that +she would never visit me again. Then for the first time I perceived that +I had acted very wrongly; for I was losing a grand model, who brought me +honour through my art. Moreover, when I saw her body all torn and +bruised and swollen, I reflected that, even if I persuaded her to +return, I should have to put her under medical treatment for at least a +fortnight before I could make use of her. + +Note 1. Leone, son of Filippo Strozzi, Knight of Jerusalem and Prior of +Capua, was, like his brother Piero, a distinguished French general. + +XXXV + +WELL, to return to Caterina. I sent my old serving-woman, named Ruberta, +who had a most kindly disposition, to help her dress. She brought food +and drink to the miserable baggage; and after rubbing a little bacon fat +into her worst wounds, they ate what was left of the meat together. When +she had finished dressing, she went off blaspheming and cursing all +Italians in the King’s service, and so returned with tears and murmurs +to her home. + +Assuredly, upon that first occasion, I felt I had done very wrong, and +Ruberta rebuked me after this fashion: “You are a cruel monster to +maltreat such a handsome girl so brutally.” When I excused my conduct by +narrating all the tricks which she and her mother had played off upon me +under my own roof, Ruberta scoldingly replied that 'that' was +nothing--that was only French manners, and she was sure there was not a +husband in France without his horns. When I heard this argument, I +laughed aloud, and then told Ruberta to go and see how Caterina was, +since I should like to employ her again while finishing the work I had +on hand. The old woman took me sharply up, saying that I had no 'savoir +vivre:' “Only wait till daybreak, and she will come of herself; whereas, +if you send to ask after her or visit her, she will give herself airs +and keep away.” + +On the following morning Caterina came to our door, and knocked so +violently, that, being below, I ran to see whether it was a madman or +some member of the household. When I opened, the creature laughed and +fell upon my neck, embracing and kissing me, and asked me if I was still +angry with her. I said, “No!” Then she added: “Let me have something +good to break my fast on.” So I supplied her well with food, and partook +of it at the same table in sign of reconciliation. Afterwards I began to +model from her, during which occurred some amorous diversions; and at +last, just at the same hour as on the previous day, she irritated me to +such a pitch that I gave her the same drubbing. So we went on several +days, repeating the old round like clockwork. There was little or no +variation in the incidents. + +Meanwhile, I completed my work in a style which did me the greatest +credit. Next I set about to cast it in bronze. This entailed some +difficulties, to relate which would be interesting from the point of +view of art; but since the whole history would occupy too much space, I +must omit it. Suffice it to say, that the figure came out splendidly, +and was as fine a specimen of foundry as had ever been seen. 1 + +Note 1. This figure was undoubtedly the Nymph of Fontainebleau. + +XXXVI + +WHILE this work was going forward, I set aside certain hours of the day +for the salt-cellar, and certain others for the Jupiter. There were more +men engaged upon the former than I had at my disposal for the latter, so +the salt-cellar was by this time completely finished. The King had now +returned to Paris; and when I paid him my respects, I took the piece +with me. As I have already related, it was oval in form, standing about +two-thirds of a cubit, wrought of solid gold, and worked entirely with +the chisel. While speaking of the model, I said before how I had +represented Sea and Earth, seated, with their legs interlaced, as we +observe in the case of firths and promontories; this attitude was +therefore metaphorically appropriate. The Sea carried a trident in his +right hand, and in his left I put a ship of delicate workmanship to hold +the salt. Below him were his four sea-horses, fashioned like our horses +from the head to the front hoofs; all the rest of their body, from the +middle backwards, resembled a fish, and the tails of these creatures +were agreeably inter-woven. Above this group the Sea sat throned in an +attitude of pride and dignity; around him were many kinds of fishes and +other creatures of the ocean. The water was represented with its waves, +and enamelled in the appropriate colour. I had portrayed Earth under the +form of a very handsome woman, holding her horn of plenty, entirely nude +like the male figure; in her left hand I placed a little temple of Ionic +architecture, most delicately wrought, which was meant to contain the +pepper. Beneath her were the handsomest living creatures which the earth +produces; and the rocks were partly enamelled, partly left in gold. The +whole piece reposed upon a base of ebony, properly proportioned, but +with a projecting cornice, upon which I introduced four golden figures +in rather more than half-relief. They represented Night, Day, Twilight, +and Dawn. I put, moreover, into the same frieze four other figures, +similar in size, and intended for the four chief winds; these were +executed, and in part enamelled, with the most exquisite refinement. 1 + +When I exhibited this piece to his Majesty, he uttered a loud outcry of +astonishment, and could not satiate his eyes with gazing at it. Then he +bade me take it back to my house, saying he would tell me at the proper +time what I should have to do with it. So I carried it home, and sent at +once to invite several of my best friends; we dined gaily together, +placing the salt-cellar in the middle of the table, and thus we were the +first to use it. After this, I went on working at my Jupiter in silver, +and also at the great vase I have already described, which was richly +decorated with a variety of ornaments and figures. + +Note 1. This salt-cellar is now at Vienna. It is beautifully represented +by two photogravures in Plon’s great book on Cellini. + +XXXVII + +AT that time Bologna, the painter, suggested to the King that it would +be well if his Majesty sent him to Rome, with letters of recommendation, +to the end that he might cast the foremost masterpieces of antiquity, +namely, the Laocoon, the Cleopatra, the Venus, the Commodus, the +Zingara, and the Apollo. [1] These, of a truth, are by far the finest +things in Rome. He told the King that when his Majesty had once set eyes +upon those marvellous works, he would then, and not till then, be able +to criticise the arts of design, since everything which he had seen by +us moderns was far removed from the perfection of the ancients. The King +accepted his proposal, and gave him the introductions he required. +Accordingly that beast went off, and took his bad luck with him. Not +having the force and courage to contend with his own hands against me, +he adopted the truly Lombard device of depreciating my performances by +becoming a copyist of antiques. In its own proper place I shall relate +how, though he had these statues excellently cast, he obtained a result +quite contrary to his imagination. + +I had now done for ever with that disreputable Caterina, and the +unfortunate young man, her husband, had decamped from Paris. Wanting +then to finish off my Fontainebleau, which was already cast in bronze, +as well as to execute the two Victories which were going to fill the +angles above the lunette of the door, I engaged a poor girl of the age +of about fifteen. She was beautifully made and of a brunette complexion. +Being somewhat savage in her ways and spare of speech, quick in +movement, with a look of sullenness about her eyes, I nicknamed her +Scorzone; [2] her real name was Jeanne. With her for model, I gave +perfect finish to the bronze Fontainebleau, and also to the two +Victories. + +Now this girl was a clean maid, and I got her with child. She gave birth +to a daughter on the 7th of June, at thirteen hours of the day, in 1544, +when I had exactly reached the age of forty-four. I named the infant +Costanza; and Mr. Guido Guidi, the King’s physician, and my most +intimate friend, as I have previously related, held her at the font. He +was the only godfather; for it is customary in France to have but one +godfather and two godmothers. One of the latter was Madame Maddalena, +wife to M. Luigi Alamanni, a gentleman of Florence and an accomplished +poet. The other was the wife of M. Ricciardo del Bene, our Florentine +burgher, and a great merchant in Paris; she was herself a French lady of +distinguished family. This was the first child I ever had, so far as I +remember. I settled money enough upon the girl for dowry to satisfy an +aunt of hers, under whose tutelage I placed her, and from that time +forwards I had nothing more to do with her. + +Note 1. The Cleopatra is that recumbent statue of a sleeping Ariadne or +Bacchante now in the Vatican. The Venus (neither the Medicean nor the +Capitoline) represents the goddess issuing from the bath; it is now in +the Museo Pio Clementino of the Vatican. The Commodus is a statue of +Hercules, with the lion’s skin and an infant in his arms, also in the +Vatican. The Zingara may be a statue of Diana forming part of the +Borghese collection. The Apollo is the famous Belvedere Apollo of the +Vatican. + +Note 2. That is, in Italian, “the rough rind,” a name given to rustics. +'Scorzone' is also the name for a little black venomous serpent. + +XXXVIII + +BY labouring incessantly I had now got my various works well forward; +the Jupiter was nearly finished, and the vase also; the door began to +reveal its beauties. At that time the King came to Paris; and though I +gave the right date of the year 1544 for my daughter’s birth, we were +still in 1543; but an opportunity of mentioning my daughter having +arisen, I availed myself of it, so as not to interrupt the narrative of +more important things. Well, the King, as I have said, came to Paris, +and paid me a visit soon after his arrival. The magnificent show of +works brought well-nigh to completion was enough to satisfy anybody’s +eye; and indeed it gave that glorious monarch no less contentment than +the artist who had worked so hard upon them desired. While inspecting +these things, it came into his head that the Cardinal of Ferrara had +fulfilled none of his promises to me, either as regarded a pension or +anything else. Whispering with his Admiral, he said that the Cardinal of +Ferrara had behaved very badly in the matter; and that he intended to +make it up to me himself, because he saw I was a man of few words, who +in the twinkling of an eye might decamp without complaining or asking +leave. + +On returning home, his Majesty, after dinner, told the Cardinal to give +orders to his treasurer of the Exchequer that he should pay me at an +early date seven thousand crowns of gold, in three or four instalments, +according to his own convenience, provided only that he executed the +commission faithfully. At the same time he repeated words to this +effect: “I gave Benvenuto into your charge, and you have forgotten all +about him.” The Cardinal said that he would punctually perform his +Majesty’s commands; but his own bad nature made him wait till the King’s +fit of generosity was over. Meanwhile wars and rumours of wars were on +the increase; it was the moment when the Emperor with a huge army was +marching upon Paris. [1] Seeing the realm of France to be in great need +of money, the Cardinal one day began to talk of me, and said: “Sacred +Majesty, acting for the best, I have not had that money given to +Benvenuto. First, it is sorely wanted now for public uses. Secondly, so +great a donation would have exposed you to the risk of losing Benvenuto +altogether; for if he found himself a rich man, he might have invested +his money in Italy, and the moment some caprice took of him, he would +have decamped without hesitation. I therefore consider that your +Majesty’s best course will be to present him with something in your +kingdom, if you want to keep him in your service for any length of +time.” The King, being really in want of money, approved of these +arguments; nevertheless, like the noble soul he was, and truly worthy of +his royal station, he judged rightly that the Cardinal had acted thus in +order to curry favour rather than from any clear prevision of distressed +finances in so vast a realm. + +Note 1. In 1544 Charles V. advanced toward Champagne and threatened +Paris, while the English were besieging Boulogne. + +XXXIX + +AS I have just said, his Majesty affected to concur with the Cardinal, +but his own private mind was otherwise made up. Accordingly, upon the +day after his arrival, without solicitation upon my part, he came of his +own accord to my house. I went to meet him, and conducted him through +several rooms where divers works of art were on view. Beginning with the +less important, I pointed out a quantity of things in bronze; and it was +long since he had seen so many at once. Then I took him to see the +Jupiter in silver, now nearly completed, with all its splendid +decorations. It so happened that a grievous disappointment which he had +suffered a few years earlier, made him think this piece more admirable +than it might perhaps have appeared to any other man. The occasion to +which I refer was this: After the capture of Tunis, the Emperor passed +through Paris with the consent of his brother-in-law, King Francis, [1] +who wanted to present him with something worthy of so great a potentate. +Having this in view, he ordered a Hercules to be executed in silver, +exactly of the same size as my Jupiter. The King declared this Hercules +to be the ugliest work of art that he had ever seen, and spoke his +opinion plainly to the craftsmen of Paris. They vaunted themselves to be +the ablest craftsmen in the world for works of this kind, and informed +the King that nothing more perfect could possibly have been produced in +silver, insisting at the same time upon being paid two thousand ducats +for their filthy piece of work. This made the King, when he beheld mine, +affirm that the finish of its workmanship exceeded his highest +expectations. Accordingly he made an equitable judgment, and had my +statue valued also at two thousand ducats, saying: “I gave those other +men no salary; Cellini, who gets about a thousand crowns a year from me, +can surely let me have this masterpiece for two thousand crowns of gold, +since he has his salary into the bargain.” Then I exhibited other things +in gold and silver, and a variety of models for new undertakings. At the +last, just when he was taking leave, I pointed out upon the lawn of the +castle that great giant, which roused him to higher astonishment than +any of the other things he had inspected. Turning to his Admiral, who +was called Monsignor Aniballe, [2] he said: “Since the Cardinal had made +him no provision, we must do so, and all the more because the man +himself is so slow at asking favours--to cut it short, I mean to have +him well provided for; yes, these men who ask for nothing feel that +their masterpieces call aloud for recompense; therefore see that he gets +the first abbey that falls vacant worth two thousand crowns a year. If +this cannot be had in one benefice, let him have two or three to that +amount, for in his case it will come to the same thing.” As I was +standing by, I could hear what the King said, and thanked his Majesty at +once for the donation, as though I were already in possession. I told +him that as soon as his orders were carried into effect, I would work +for his Majesty without other salary or recompense of any kind until old +age deprived me of the power to labour, when I hoped to rest my tired +body in peace, maintaining myself with honour on that income, and always +bearing in mind that I had served so great a monarch as his Majesty. At +the end of this speech the King turned toward me with a lively gesture +and a joyous countenance, saying, “So let it then be done.” After that +he departed, highly satisfied with what he had seen there. + +Note 1. In the year 1539 Charles V obtained leave to traverse France +with his army on the way Flanders. + +Note 2. Claude d’ Annebault; captured at Pavia with François; Marshall +in 1538; Admiral of France in 1543. + +XL + +MADAME D’ETAMPES, when she heard how well my affairs were going, +redoubled her spite against me, saying in her own heart: “It is I who +rule the world to-day, and a little fellow like that snaps his fingers +at me! She put every iron into the fire which she could think of, in +order to stir up mischief against me. Now a certain man fell in her way, +who enjoyed great fame as a distiller; he supplied her with perfumed +waters, which were excellent for the complexion, and hitherto unknown in +France. This fellow she introduced to the King, who was much delighted +by the processes for distilling which he exhibited. While engaged in +these experiments, the man begged his Majesty to give him a tennis-court +I had in my castle, together with some little apartments which he said I +did not use. The good King, guessing who was at the bottom of the +business, made no answer; but Madame d’Etampes used those wiles with +which women know so well to work on men, and very easily succeeded in +her enterprise; for having taken the King at a moment of amorous +weakness, to which he was much subject, she wheedled him into conceding +what she wanted. + +The distiller came, accompanied by Treasurer Grolier, a very great +nobleman of France, who spoke Italian excellently, and when he entered +my castle, began to jest with me in that language. [1] Watching his +opportunity, [2] he said: “In the King’s name I put this man here into +possession of that tennis-court, together with the lodgings that pertain +to it.” To this I answered: “The sacred King is lord of all things here: +so then you might have effected an entrance with more freedom: coming +thus with notaries and people of the court looks more like a fraud than +the mandate of a powerful monarch. I assure you that, before I carry my +complaints before the King, I shall defend my right in the way his +Majesty gave me orders two days since to do. I shall fling the man whom +you have put upon me out of windows if I do not see a warrant under the +King’s own hand and seal.” After this speech the treasurer went off +threatening and grumbling, and I remained doing the same, without, +however, beginning the attack at once. Then I went to the notaries who +had put the fellow in possession. I was well acquainted with them; and +they gave me to understand that this was a formal proceeding, done +indeed at the King’s orders, but which had not any great significance; +if I had offered some trifling opposition the fellow would not have +installed himself as he had done. The formalities were acts and customs +of the court, which did not concern obedience to the King; consequently, +if I succeeded in ousting him, I should have acted rightly, and should +not incur any risk. + +This hint was enough for me, and next morning I had recourse to arms; +and though the job cost me some trouble, I enjoyed it. Each day that +followed, I made an attack with stones, pikes and arquebuses, firing, +however, without ball; nevertheless, I inspired such terror that no one +dared to help my antagonist. Accordingly, when I noticed one day that +his defence was feeble, I entered the house by force, and expelled the +fellow, turning all his goods and chattels into the street. Then I +betook me to the King, and told him that I had done precisely as his +Majesty had ordered, by defending myself against every one who sought to +hinder me in his service. The King laughed at the matter, and made me +out new letters-patent to secure me from further molestation. 3 + +Note 1. Jean Grolier, the famous French Mæcenas, collector of books, +antiquities, &c. + +Note 2. 'Vedendo il bello.' + +Note 3. This document exists, and is dated July 15, 1544. See 'Bianchi,' +p. 585. + +XLI + +IN the meantime I brought my silver Jupiter to completion, together with +its gilded pedestal, which I placed upon a wooden plinth that only +showed a very little; upon the plinth I introduced four little round +balls of hard wood, more than half hidden in their sockets, like the nut +of a crossbow. They were so nicely arranged that a child could push the +statue forward and backwards, or turn it round with ease. Having +arranged it thus to my mind, I went with it to Fountainebleau, where the +King was then residing. + +At that time, Bologna, of whom I have already said so much, had brought +from Rome his statues, and had cast them very carefully in bronze. I +knew nothing about this, partly because he kept his doings very dark, +and also because Fontainebleau is forty miles distant from Paris. On +asking the King where he wanted me to set up my Jupiter, Madame +d’Etampes, who happened to be present, told him there was no place more +appropriate than his own handsome gallery. This was, as we should say in +Tuscany, a loggia, or, more exactly, a large lobby; it ought indeed to +be called a lobby, because what we mean by loggia is open at one side. +The hall was considerably longer than 100 paces, decorated, and very +rich with pictures from the hand of that admirable Rosso, our Florentine +master. Among the pictures were arranged a great variety of sculptured +works, partly in the round, and partly in bas-relief. The breadth was +about twelve paces. Now Bologna had brought all his antiques into this +gallery, wrought with great beauty in bronze, and had placed them in a +handsome row upon their pedestals; and they were, as I have said, the +choicest of the Roman antiquities. Into this same gallery I took my +Jupiter; and when I saw that grand parade, so artfully planned, I said +to myself: “This is like running the gauntlet; [1] now may God assist +me.” I placed the statue, and having arranged it as well as I was able, +waited for the coming of the King. The Jupiter was raising his +thunderbolt with the right hand in the act to hurl it; his left hand +held the globe of the world. Among the flames of the thunderbolt I had +very cleverly introduced a torch of white wax. Now Madame d’Etampes +detained the King till nightfall, wishing to do one of two mischiefs, +either to prevent his coming, or else to spoil the effect of my work by +its being shown off after dark; but as God has promised to those who +trust in Him, it turned out exactly opposite to her calculations; for +when night came, I set fire to the torch, which standing higher than the +head of Jupiter, shed light from above and showed the statue far better +than by daytime. + +At length the King arrived; he was attended by his Madame d’Etampes, his +son the Dauphin and the Dauphinéss, together with the King of Navarre +his brother-in-law, Madame Marguerite his daughter, [2] and several +other great lords, who had been instructed by Madame d’Etampes to speak +against me. When the King appeared, I made my prentice Ascanio push the +Jupiter toward his Majesty. As it moved smoothly forwards, my cunning in +its turn was amply rewarded, for this gentle motion made the figure seem +alive; the antiques were left in the background, and my work was the +first to take the eye with pleasure. The King exclaimed at once: “This +is by far the finest thing that has ever been seen; and I, although I am +an amateur and judge of art, could never have conceived the hundredth +part of its beauty.” The lords whose cue it was to speak against me, now +seemed as though they could not praise my masterpiece enough. Madame +d’Etampes said boldly: “One would think you had no eyes! Don’t you see +all those fine bronzes from the antique behind there? In those consists +the real distinction of this art, and not in that modern trumpery.” Then +the King advanced, and the others with him. After casting a glance at +the bronzes, which were not shown to advantage from the light being +below them, he exclaimed: “Whoever wanted to injure this man has done +him a great service; for the comparison of these admirable statues +demonstrates the immeasurable superiority of his work in beauty and in +art. Benvenuto deserves to be made much of, for his performances do not +merely rival, but surpass the antique.” In reply to this, Madame +d’Etampes observed that my Jupiter would not make anything like so fine +a show by daylight; besides, one had to consider that I had put a veil +upon my statue to conceal its faults. I had indeed flung a gauze veil +with elegance and delicacy over a portion of my statue, with the view of +augmenting its majesty. This, when she had finished speaking, I lifted +from beneath, uncovering the handsome genital members of the god; then +tore the veil to pieces with vexation. She imagined I had disclosed +those parts of the statue to insult her. The King noticed how angry she +was, while I was trying to force some words out in my fury; so he wisely +spoke, in his own language, precisely as follows: “Benvenuto, I forbid +you to speak; hold your tongue, and you shall have a thousand times more +wealth than you desire.” Not being allowed to speak, I writhed my body +in a rage; this made her grumble with redoubled spite; and the King +departed sooner than he would otherwise have done, calling aloud, +however, to encourage me: “I have brought from Italy the greatest man +who ever lived, endowed with all the talents.” + +Note 1. 'Questo si è come passare in fra le picche.' + +Note 2. Born 1523. Married Emmanuele Filiberto, Duke of Savoy, in 1559. +Died 1574. + +XLII + +I LEFT the Jupiter there, meaning to depart the next morning. Before I +took horse, one thousand crowns were paid me, partly for my salary, and +partly on account of monies I had disbursed. Having received this sum, I +returned with a light heart and satisfied to Paris. No sooner had I +reached home and dined with merry cheer, than I called for all my +wardrobe, which included a great many suits of silk, choice furs, and +also very fine cloth stuffs. From these I selected presents for my +workpeople, giving each something according to his own desert, down to +the servant-girls and stable-boys, in order to encourage them to aid me +heartily. + +Being then refreshed in strength and spirits, I attacked the great +statue of Mars, which I had set up solidly upon a frame of +well-connected woodwork. [1] Over this there lay a crust of plaster, +about the eighth of a cubit in thickness, carefully modelled for the +flesh of the Colossus. Lastly, I prepared a great number of moulds in +separate pieces to compose the figure, intending to dovetail them +together in accordance with the rules of art; and this task involved no +difficulty. + +I will not here omit to relate something which may serve to give a +notion of the size of this great work, and is at the same time highly +comic. It must first be mentioned that I had forbidden all the men who +lived at my cost to bring light women into my house or anywhere within +the castle precincts. Upon this point of discipline I was extremely +strict. Now may lad Ascanio loved a very handsome girl, who returned his +passion. One day she gave her mother the slip, and came to see Ascanio +at night. Finding that she would not take her leave, and being driven to +his wits’ ends to conceal her, like a person of resources, he hit at +last upon the plan of installing her inside the statue. There, in the +head itself, he made her up a place to sleep in; this lodging she +occupied some time, and he used to bring her forth at whiles with +secrecy at night. I meanwhile having brought this part of the Colossus +almost to completion, left it alone, and indulged my vanity a bit by +exposing it to sight; it could, indeed be seen by more than half Paris. +The neighbours, therefore, took to climbing their house-roofs, and +crowds came on purpose to enjoy the spectacle. Now there was a legend in +the city that my castle had from olden times been haunted by a spirit, +though I never noticed anything to confirm this belief; and folk in +Paris called it popularly by the name of Lemmonio Boreò. [2] The girl, +while she sojourned in the statue’s head, could not prevent some of her +movements to and fro from being perceptible through its eye-holes; this +made stupid people say that the ghost had got into the body of the +figure, and was setting its eyes in motion, and its mouth, as though it +were about to talk. Many of them went away in terror; others, more +incredulous, came to observe the phenomenon, and when they were unable +to deny the flashing of the statue’s eyes, they too declared their +credence in a spirit--not guessing that there was a spirit there, and +sound young flesh to boot. + +Note 1. This was what he called the Colossus above, p. 310. He meant it +for the fountain of Fontainebleau. See p. 295. + +Note 2. Properly, 'Le Moine Bourru,' the ghost of a monk dressed in +drugget ('bure'). Le Petit Nesle had a bad reputation on account of the +murders said to have been committed there in the fourteenth century by +Queen Jeanne, wife of Philip V. + +XLIII + +ALL this while I was engaged in putting my door together, with its +several appurtenances. As it is no part of my purpose to include in this +autobiography such things as annalists record, I have omitted the coming +of the Emperor with his great host, and the King’s mustering of his +whole army. [1] At the time when these events took place, his Majesty +sought my advice with regard to the instantaneous fortification of +Paris. He came on purpose to my house, and took me all round the city; +and when he found that I was prepared to fortify the town with +expedition on a sound plan, he gave express orders that all my +suggestions should be carried out. His Admiral was directed to command +the citizens to obey me under pain of his displeasure. + +Now the Admiral had been appointed through Madame d’Etampes’ influence +rather than from any proof of his ability, for he was a man of little +talent. He bore the name of M. d’Annebault, which in our tongue is +Monsignor d’Aniballe; but the French pronounce it so that they usually +made it sound like Monsignore Asino Bue. [2] This animal then referred +to Madame d’Etampes for advice upon the matter, and she ordered him to +summon Girolamo Bellarmato without loss of time. [3] He was an engineer +from Siena, at that time in Dieppe, which is rather more than a day’s +journey distant from the capital. He came at once, and set the work of +fortification going on a very tedious method, which made me throw the +job up. If the Emperor had pushed forward at this time, he might easily +have taken Paris. People indeed said that, when a treaty of peace was +afterwards concluded, Madame d’Etampes, who took more part in it than +anybody else, betrayed the King. [4] I shall pass this matter over +without further words, since it has nothing to do with the plan of my +'Memoirs.' Meanwhile, I worked diligently at the door, and finished the +vase, together with two others of middling size, which I made of my own +silver. At the end of those great troubles, the King came to take his +ease awhile in Paris. + +That accursed woman seemed born to be the ruin of the world. I ought +therefore to think myself of some account, seeing she held me for her +mortal enemy. Happening to speak one day with the good King about my +matters, she abused me to such an extent that he swore, in order to +appease her, he would take no more heed of me thenceforward than if he +had never set eyes upon my face. These words were immediately brought me +by a page of Cardinal Ferrara, called Il Villa, who said he had heard +the King utter them. I was infuriated to such a pitch that I dashed my +tools across the room and all the things I was at work on, made my +arrangements to quit France, and went upon the spot to find the King. +When he had dined, I was shown into a room where I found his Majesty in +the company of a very few persons. After I had paid him the respects due +to kings, he bowed his head with a gracious smile. This revived hope in +me; so I drew nearer to his Majesty, for they were showing him some +things in my own line of art; and after we had talked awhile about such +matters, he asked if I had anything worth seeing at my house, and next +inquired when I should like him to come. I replied that I had some +pieces ready to show his Majesty, if he pleased, at once. He told me to +go home and he would come immediately. + +Note 1. Toward the end of August 1544, the Imperial army advanced as far +as Epernay, within twenty leagues of Paris. + +Note 2. 'I. e.,' ass-ox, 'Ane-et-bo.' + +Note 3. Girolamo Bellarmati, a learned mathematicians and military +architect, banished from Siena for political reasons. He designed the +harbour of Havre. + +Note 4. There is indeed good reason to believe that the King’s mistress, +in her jealousy of the Dauphin and Diane de Poitiers, played false, and +enabled the Imperialists to advance beyond Epernay. + +XLIV + +I WENT accordingly, and waited for the good King’s visit, who, it seems, +had gone meanwhile to take leave of Madame d’Etampes. She asked whither +he was bound, adding that she would accompany him; but when he informed +her, she told him that she would not go, and begged him as a special +favour not to go himself that day. She had to return to the charge more +than twice before she shook the King’s determination; however, he did +not come to visit me that day. Next morning I went to his Majesty at the +same hour; and no sooner had he caught sight of me, than he swore it was +his intention to come to me upon the spot. Going then, according to his +wont, to take leave of his dear Madame d’Etampes, this lady saw that all +her influence had not been able to divert him from his purpose; so she +began with that biting tongue of hers to say the worst of me that could +be insinuated against a deadly enemy of this most worthy crown of +France. The good King appeased her by replying that the sole object of +his visit was to administer such a scolding as should make me tremble in +my shoes. This he swore to do upon his honour. Then he came to my house, +and I conducted him through certain rooms upon the basement, where I had +put the whole of my great door together. Upon beholding it, the King was +struck with stupefaction, and quite lost his cue for reprimanding me, as +he had promised Madame d’Etampes. Still he did not choose to go away +without finding some opportunity for scolding; so he began in this wise: +“There is one most important matter, Benvenuto, which men of your sort, +though full of talent, ought always to bear in mind; it is that you +cannot bring your great gifts to light by your own strength alone; you +show your greatness only through the opportunities we give you. Now you +ought to be a little more submissive, not so arrogant and headstrong. I +remember that I gave you express orders to make me twelve silver +statues; and this was all I wanted. You have chosen to execute a +salt-cellar, and vases and busts and doors, and a heap of other things, +which quite confound me, when I consider how you have neglected my +wishes and worked for the fulfillment of your own. If you mean to go on +in this way, I shall presently let you understand what is my own method +of procedure when I choose to have things done in my own way. I tell +you, therefore, plainly: do your utmost to obey my commands; for if you +stick to your own fancies, you will run your head against a wall.” While +he was uttering these words, his lords in waiting hung upon the King’s +lips, seeing him shake his head, frown, and gesticulate, now with one +hand and now with the other. The whole company of attendants, therefore, +quaked with fear for me; but I stood firm, and let no breath of fear +pass over me. + +XLV + +WHEN he had wound up this sermon, agreed upon beforehand with his +darling Madame d’Etampes, I bent one leg upon the ground, and kissed his +coat above the knee. Then I began my speech as follows: “Sacred Majesty, +I admit that all that you have said is true. Only, in reply, I protest +that my heart has ever been, by day and night, with all my vital forces, +bent on serving you and executing your commands. If it appears to your +Majesty that my actions contradict these words, let your Majesty be sure +that Benvenuto was not at fault, but rather possibly my evil fate or +adverse fortune, which has made me unworthy to serve the most admirable +prince who ever blessed this earth. Therefore I crave your pardon. I was +under the impression, however, that your Majesty had given me silver for +one statue only; having no more at my disposal, I could not execute +others; so, with the surplus which remained for use, I made this vase, +to show your Majesty the grand style of the ancients. Perhaps you never +had seen anything of the sort before. As for the salt-cellar, I thought, +if my memory does not betray me, that your Majesty on one occasion +ordered me to make it of your own accord. The conversation falling upon +something of the kind which had been brought for your inspection, I +showed you a model made by me in Italy; you, following the impulse of +your own mind only, had a thousand golden ducats told out for me to +execute the piece withal, thanking me in addition for my hint; and what +is more, I seem to remember that you commended me highly when it was +completed. As regards the door, it was my impression that, after we had +chanced to speak about it at some time or other, your Majesty gave +orders to your chief secretary, M. Villerois, from whom the order passed +to M. de Marmagne and M. de la Fa, to this effect, that all these +gentlemen should keep me going at the work, and see that I obtained the +necessary funds. Without such commission I should certainly not have +been able to advance so great an undertaking on my own resources. As for +the bronze heads, the pedestal of Jupiter and other such-like things, I +will begin by saying that I cast those heads upon my own account, in +order to become acquainted with French clays, of which, as a foreigner, +I had no previous knowledge whatsoever. Unless I had made the +experiment, I could not have set about casting those large works. Now, +touching the pedestals, I have to say that I made them because I judged +them necessary to the statues. Consequently, in all that I have done, I +meant to act for the best, and at no point to swerve from your Majesty’s +expressed wishes. It is indeed true that I set that huge Colossus up to +satisfy my own desire, paying for it from my own purse, even to the +point which it has reached, because I thought that, you being the great +King you are, and I the trifling artist that I am, it was my duty to +erect for your glory and my own a statue, the like of which the ancients +never saw. Now, at the last, having been taught that God is not inclined +to make me worthy of so glorious a service, I beseech your Majesty, +instead of the noble recompense you had in mind to give me for my +labours, bestow upon me only one small trifle of your favour, and +therewith the leave to quit your kingdom. At this instant, if you +condescend to my request, I shall return to Italy, always thanking God +and your Majesty for the happy hours which I have passed in serving you.” + +XLVI + +THE KING stretched forth his own hands and raised me very graciously. +Then he told me that I ought to continue in his service, and that all +that I had done was right and pleasing to him. Turning to the lords in +his company, he spoke these words precisely: “I verily believe that a +finer door could not be made for Paradise itself.” When he had ceased +speaking, although his speech had been entirely in my favour, I again +thanked him respectfully, repeating, however, my request for leave to +travel; for the heat of my indignation had not yet cooled down. His +Majesty, feeling that I set too little store upon his unwonted and +extraordinary condescension, commanded me with a great and terrible +voice to hold my tongue, unless I wanted to incur his wrath; afterwards +he added that he would drown me in gold, and that he gave me the leave I +asked; and over and above the works he had commissioned, [1] he was very +well satisfied with what I had done on my account in the interval; I +should never henceforth have any quarrels with him, because he knew my +character; and for my part, I too ought to study the temper of his +Majesty, as my duty required. I answered that I thanked God and his +Majesty for everything; then I asked him to come and see how far I had +advanced the Great Colossus. So he came to my house, and I had the +statue uncovered; he admired it extremely, and gave orders to his +secretary to pay me all the money I had spent upon it, be the sum what +it might, provided I wrote the bill out in my own hand. Then he departed +saying: “Adieu, mon ami,” which is a phrase not often used by kings. + +Note 1. The MSS. in this phrase vary, and the meaning is not quite +clear. According to one reading, the sense would be: “Though the works +he had commissioned were not yet begun.” But this involves an awkward +use of the word 'dipoi.' + +XLVII + +AFTER returning to his palace, he called to mind the words I had spoken +in our previous interview, some of which were so excessively humble, and +others so proud and haughty, that they caused him no small irritation. +He repeated a few of them in the presence of Madame d’Etampes and +Monsignor di San Polo, a great baron of France. [1] This man had always +professed much friendship for me in the past, and certainly, on that +occasion, he showed his good-will, after the French fashion, with great +cleverness. It happened thus: the King in the course of a long +conversation complained that the Cardinal of Ferrara, to whose care he +had entrusted me, never gave a thought to my affairs; so far as he was +concerned, I might have decamped from the realm; therefore he must +certainly arrange for committing me to some one who would appreciate me +better, because he did not want to run a farther risk of losing me. At +these words Monsieur de Saint Paul expressed his willingness to +undertake the charge, saying that if the King appointed him my guardian, +he would act so that I should never have the chance to leave the +kingdom. The King replied that he was very well satisfied, if only Saint +Paul would explain the way in which he meant to manage me. Madame sat by +with an air of sullen irritation and Saint Paul stood on his dignity, +declining to answer the King’s question. When the King repeated it, he +said, to curry favour with Madame d’Etampes: “I would hang that +Benvenuto of yours by the neck, and thus you would keep him for ever in +your kingdom.” She broke into a fit of laughter, protesting that I +richly deserved it. The King, to keep them company, began to laugh, and +said he had no objection to Saint Paul hanging me, if he could first +produce my equal in the arts; and although I had not earned such a fate, +he gave him full liberty and license. In this way that day ended, and I +came off safe and sound, for which may God be praised and thanked. + +Note 1. François de Bourbon, Comte de Saint Paul, one of the chief +companions in arms and captains of François I. + +XLVIII + +THE KING had now made peace with the Emperor, but not with the English, +and these devils were keeping us in constant agitation. [1] His Majesty +had therefore other things than pleasure to attend to. He ordered Piero +Strozzi to go with ships of war into the English waters; but this was a +very difficult undertaking, even for that great commander, without a +paragon in his times in the art of war, and also without a paragon in +his misfortunes. Several months passed without my receiving money or +commissions; accordingly, I dismissed my work people with the exception +of the two Italians, whom I set to making two big vases out of my own +silver; for these men could not work in bronze. After they had finished +these, I took them to a city which belonged to the Queen of Navarre; it +is called Argentana, and is distant several days’ journey from Paris. +[2] On arriving at this place, I found that the King was indisposed; and +the Cardinal of Ferrara told his Majesty that I was come. He made no +answer, which obliged me to stay several days kicking my heels. Of a +truth, I never was more uncomfortable in my life; but at last I +presented myself one evening and offered the two vases for the King’s +inspection. He was excessively delighted, and when I saw him in good +homier, I begged his Majesty to grant me the favour of permitting me to +travel into Italy; I would leave the seven months of my salary which +were due, and his Majesty might condescend to pay me when I required +money for my return journey. I entreated him to grant this petition, +seeing that the times were more for fighting than for making statues; +moreover, his Majesty had allowed a similar license to Bologna the +painter, wherefore I humbly begged him to concede the same to me. While +I was uttering these words the King kept gazing intently on the vases, +and from time to time shot a terrible glance at me; nevertheless, I went +on praying to the best of my ability that he would favour my petition. +All of a sudden he rose angrily from his seat, and said to me in +Italian: “Benvenuto, you are a great fool. Take these vases back to +Paris, for I want to have them gilt.” Without making any other answer he +then departed. + +I went up to the Cardinal of Ferrara, who was present, and besought him, +since he had already conferred upon me the great benefit of freeing me +from prison in Rome, with many others besides, to do me this one favour +more of procuring for me leave to travel into Italy. He answered that he +should be very glad to do his best to gratify me in this matter; I might +leave it without farther thought to him, and even if I chose, might set +off at once, because he would act for the best in my interest with the +King. I told the Cardinal that since I was aware his Majesty had put me +under the protection of his most reverend lordship, if he gave me leave, +I felt ready to depart, and promised to return upon the smallest hint +from his reverence. The Cardinal then bade me go back to Paris and wait +there eight days, during which time he would procure the King’s license +for me; if his Majesty refused to let me go, he would without fail +inform me; but if I received no letters, that would be a sign that I +might set off with an easy mind. + +Note 1. The peace of Crépy was concluded September 18, 1544. The English +had taken Boulogne four days earlier. Peace between France and England +was not concluded till June 7, 1546. + +Note 2. Argentan, the city of the Duchy of Alencon. Margaret, it will be +remembered, had been first married to the Duc d’Alencon, and after his +death retained his fiefs. + +XLIX + +I OBEYED the Cardinal, and returned to Paris, where I made excellent +cases for my three silver vases, After the lapse of twenty days, I began +my preparations, and packed the three vases upon a mule. This animal had +been lent me for the journey to Lyons by the Bishop of Pavia, who was +now once more installed in my castle. + +Then I departed in my evil hour, together with Signor Ippolito Gonzaga, +at that time in the pay of the King, and also in the service of Count +Galeotto della Mirandola. Some other gentlemen of the said count went +with us, as well as Lionardo Tedaldi, our fellow-citizen of Florence. + +I made Ascanio and Pagolo guardians of my castle and all my property, +including two little vases which were only just begun; those I left +behind in order that the two young men might not be idle. I had lived +very handsomely in Paris, and therefore there was a large amount of +costly household furniture: the whole value of these effects exceeded +1500 crowns. I bade Ascanio remember what great benefits I had bestowed +upon him, and that up to the present he had been a mere thoughtless lad; +the time was now come for him to show the prudence of a man; therefore I +thought fit to leave him in the custody of all my goods, as also of my +honour. If he had the least thing to complain of from those brutes of +Frenchmen, he was to let me hear at once, because I would take post and +fly from any place in which I found myself, not only to discharge the +great obligations under which I lay to that good King, but also to +defend my honour. Ascanio replied with the tears of a thief and +hypocrite: “I have never known a father better than you are, and all +things which a good son is bound to perform for a good father will I +ever do for you.” So then I took my departure, attended by a servant and +a little French lad. + +It was just past noon, when some of the King’s treasurers, by no means +friends of mine, made a visit to my castle. The rascally fellows began +by saying that I had gone off with the King’s silver, and told Messer +Guido and the Bishop of Pavia to send at once off after his Majesty’s +vases; if not, they would themselves despatch a messenger to get them +back, and do me some great mischief. The Bishop and Messer Guido were +much more frightened than was necessary; so they sent that traitor +Ascanio by the post off on the spot. He made his appearance before me +about midnight. I had not been able to sleep, and kept revolving sad +thoughts to the following effect: “In whose hands have I left my +property, my castle? Oh, what a fate is this of mine, which forces me to +take this journey! May God grant only that the Cardinal is not of one +mind with Madame d’Etampes, who has nothing else so much at heart as to +make me lose the grace of that good King.” + +L + +WHILE I was thus dismally debating with myself, I heard Ascanio calling +me. On the instant I jumped out of bed, and asked if he brought good or +evil tidings. The knave answered: “They are good news I bring; but you +must only send back those three vases, for the rascally treasurers keep +shouting, ‘Stop thief!’ So the Bishop and Messer Guido say that you must +absolutely send them back. For the rest you need have no anxiety, but +may pursue your journey with a light heart.” I handed over the vases +immediately, two of them being my own property, together with the silver +and much else besides. [1] I had meant to take them to the Cardinal of +Ferrara’s abbey at Lyons; for though people accused me of wanting to +carry them into Italy, everybody knows quite well that it is impossible +to export money, gold, or silver from France without special license. +Consider, therefore, whether I could have crossed the frontier with +those three great vases, which, together with their cases, were a whole +mule’s burden! It is certainly true that, since these articles were of +great value and the highest beauty, I felt uneasiness in case the King +should die, and I had lately left him in a very bad state of health; +therefore I said to myself: “If such an accident should happen, having +these things in the keeping of the Cardinal, I shall not lose them.” + +Well, to cut the story short, I sent back the mule with the vases, and +other things of importance; then, upon the following morning, I +travelled forward with the company I have already mentioned, nor could +I, through the whole journey, refrain from sighing and weeping. +Sometimes, however, I consoled myself with God by saying: “Lord God, +before whose eyes the truth lies open! Thou knowest that my object in +this journey is only to carry alms to six poor miserable virgins and +their mother, my own sister. They have indeed their father, but he is +very old, and gains nothing by his trade; I fear, therefore, lest they +might too easily take to a bad course of life. Since, then, I am +performing a true act of piety, I look to Thy Majesty for aid and +counsel.” This was all the recreation I enjoyed upon my forward journey. + +We were one day distant from Lyons, and it was close upon the hour of +twenty-two, when the heavens began to thunder with sharp rattling claps, +although the sky was quite clear at the time. [2] I was riding a +cross-bow shot before my comrades. After the thunder the heavens made a +noise so great and horrible that I thought the last day had come; so I +reined in for a moment, while a shower of hail began to fall without a +drop of water. A first hail was somewhat larger than pellets from a +popgun, and when these struck me, they hurt considerably. Little by +little it increased in size, until the stones might be compared to balls +from a crossbow. My horse became restive with fright; so I wheeled +round, and returned at a gallop to where I found my comrades taking +refuge in a fir-wood. The hail now grew to the size of big lemons. I +began to sing a Miserere; and while I was devoutly uttering this psalm +to God, there fell a stone so huge that it smashed the thick branches of +the pine under which I had retired for safety. Another of the hailstones +hit my horse upon the head, and almost stunned him; one struck me also, +but not directly, else it would have killed me. In like manner, poor old +Lionardo Tedaldi, who like me was kneeling on the ground, received so +shrewd a blow that he fell grovelling upon all fours. When I saw that +the fir bough offered no protection, and that I ought to act as well as +to intone my Misereres, I began at once to wrap my mantle round my head. +At the same time I cried to Lionardo, who was shrieking for succour, +“Jesus! Jesus!” that Jesus would help him if he helped himself. I had +more trouble in looking after this man’s safety than my own. The storm +raged for some while, but at last it stopped; and we, who were pounded +black and blue, scrambled as well as we could upon our horses. Pursuing +the way to our lodging for the night, we showed our scratches and +bruises to each other; but about a mile farther on we came upon a scene +of devastation which surpassed what we had suffered, and defies +description. All the trees were stripped of their leaves and shattered; +the beasts in the field lay dead; many of the herdsmen had also been +killed; we observed large quantities of hailstones which could not have +been grasped with two hands. Feeling then that we had come well out of a +great peril, we acknowledged that our prayers to God and Misereres had +helped us more than we could have helped ourselves. Returning thanks to +God, therefore, we entered Lyons in the course of the next day, and +tarried there eight days. At the end of this time, being refreshed in +strength and spirits, we resumed our journey, and passed the mountains +without mishap. On the other side I bought a little pony, because the +baggage which I carried had somewhat overtired my horses. + +Note 1. 'Con l’argento e ogni cosal.' These words refer perhaps to the +vases: 'the silver and everything pertaining to them.' + +Note 2. 'E l’aria era bianchissima.' Perhaps this ought to be: 'and the +air blazed with lightnings.' Goethe takes it as I do above. + +LI + +AFTER we had been one day in Italy, the Count Galeotto della Mirandola +joined us. He was travelling by post; and stopping where we were, he +told me that I had done wrong to leave France; I ought not to journey +forwards, for, if I returned at once, my affairs would be more +prosperous than ever. On the other hand, if I persisted in my course, I +was giving the game up to my enemies, and furnishing them with +opportunities to do me mischief. By returning I might put a stop to +their intrigues; and those in whom I placed the most confidence were +just the men who played most traitorously. He would not say more than +that he knew very well all about it; and, indeed, the Cardinal of +Ferrara had now conspired with the two rogues I left in charge of all my +business. Having repeated over and over again that I ought absolutely to +turn back, he went onward with the post, while I, being influenced by my +companions, could not make my mind up to return. My heart was sorely +torn asunder, at one moment by the desire to reach Florence as quickly +as I could, and at another by the conviction that I ought to regain +France. At last, in order to end the fever of this irresolution, I +determined to take the post for Florence. I could not make arrangements +with the first postmaster, but persisted in my purpose to press forward +and endure an anxious life at Florence. 1 + +I parted company with Signor Ippolito Gonzaga, who took the route for +Mirandola, while I diverged upon the road to Parma and Piacenza. In the +latter city I met Duke Pier Luigi upon the street, who stared me in the +face, and recognised me. [2] Since I knew him to have been the sole +cause of my imprisonment in the castle of St. Angelo, the sight of him +made my blood boil. Yet being unable to escape from the man, I decided +to pay him my respects, and arrived just after he had risen from table +in the company of the Landi, who afterwards murdered him. On my +appearance he received me with unbounded marks of esteem and affection, +among which he took occasion to remark to the gentlemen present that I +was the first artist of the world in my own line, and that I had been +for a long while in prison at Rome. Then he turned to me and said: “My +Benvenuto, I was deeply grieved for your misfortune, and knew well that +you were innocent, but could not do anything to help you, In short, it +was my father, who chose to gratify some enemies of yours, from whom, +moreover, he heard that you had spoken ill of him. I am convinced this +was not true, and indeed I was heartily sorry for your troubles.” These +words he kept piling up and repeating until he seemed to be begging my +pardon. Afterwards he inquired about the work I had been doing for his +Most Christian Majesty; and on my furnishing him with details, he +listened as attentively and graciously as possible. Then he asked if I +had a mind to serve him. To this I replied that my honour would not +allow me to do so; but that if I had completed those extensive works +begun for the King, I should be disposed to quit any great prince merely +to enter his Excellency’s service. + +Hereby it may be seen how the power and goodness of God never leave +unpunished any sort or quality of men who act unjustly toward the +innocent. This man did what was equivalent to begging my pardon in the +presence of those very persons who subsequently took revenge on him for +me and many others whom he had massacred. Let then no prince, however +great he be, laugh at God’s justice, in the way that many whom I know +are doing, and who have cruelly maltreated me, as I shall relate at the +proper time. I do not write these things in any worldly spirit of +boasting, but only to return thanks to God, my deliverer in so many +trials. In those too which daily assail me, I always carry my complaint +to Him, and call on Him to be my defender. On all occasions, after I +have done my best to aid myself; if I lose courage and my feeble forces +fail, then is the great might of God manifested, which descends +unexpectedly on those who wrongfully injure their neighbours, or neglect +the grave and honourable charge they have received from Him. + +Note 1. The text here is obscure. The words 'venire a tribulare' might +mean “to get, by any means, however inconvenient, to Florence.” I have +chosen another interpretation in the text, as more consonant with the +Italian idiom. For Cellini’s use of 'tribulare' or 'tribolare,' see lib. +i. 112, 'andando a tribolare la vita tua.' + +Note 2. Pier Luigi Farnese was not formally invested with the Duchy of +Parma and Piacenza until September 1545. Cellini, therefore, gives him +this title as Duke of Castro. He was assassinated on September 10, 1547. +The Landi, among other noblemen of the duchy, took part in a conspiracy +which had its ground in Pier Luigi’s political errors no less than in +his intolerable misgovernment and infamous private life. + +LII + +WHEN I returned to my inn, I found that the Duke had sent me abundance +to eat and drink of very excellent quality. I made a hearty meal, then +mounted and rode toward Florence. There I found my sister with six +daughters, the eldest of whom was marriageable and the youngest still at +nurse. Her husband, by reason of divers circumstances in the city, had +lost employment from his trade. I had sent gems and French jewellery, +more than a year earlier, to the amount of about two thousand ducats, +and now brought with me the same wares to the value of about one +thousand crowns. I discovered that, whereas I made them an allowance of +four golden crowns a month, they always drew considerable sums from the +current sale of these articles. My brother-in-law was such an honest +fellow, that, fearing to give me cause for anger, he had pawned nearly +everything he possessed, and was devoured by interest, in his anxiety to +leave my monies untouched. It seems that my allowance, made by way of +charity, did not suffice for the needs of the family. When then I found +him so honest in his dealings, I felt inclined to raise his pension; and +it was my intention, before leaving Florence, to make some arrangement +for all of his daughters. 1 + +Note 1. Though this paragraph is confused, the meaning seems to be that +Cellini’s brother-in-law did not use the money which accrued from the +sale of jewellery, and got into debt, because his allowance was +inadequate, and he was out of work.] + +LIII + +THE DUKE OF FLORENCE at this time, which was the month of August 1545, +had retired to Poggio a Cajano, ten miles distant from Florence. Thither +then I went to pay him my respects, with the sole object of acting as +duty required, first because I was a Florentine, and next because my +forefathers had always been adherents of the Medicean party, and I +yielded to none of them in affection for this Duke Cosimo. As I have +said, then, I rode to Poggio with the sole object of paying my respects, +and with no intention of accepting service under him, as God, who does +all things well, did then appoint for me. + +When I was introduced, the Duke received me very kindly; then he and the +Duchess put questions concerning the works which I had executed for the +King. [1] I answered willingly and in detail. After listening to my +story, he answered that he had heard as much, and that I spoke the +truth. Then he assumed a tone of sympathy, and added: “How small a +recompense for such great and noble masterpieces! Friend Benvenuto, if +you feel inclined to execute something for me too, I am ready to pay you +far better than that King of yours had done, for whom your excellent +nature prompts you to speak so gratefully.” When I understood his drift, +I described the deep obligations under which I lay to his Majesty, who +first obtained my liberation from that iniquitous prison, and afterwards +supplied me with the means of carrying out more admirable works than any +artist of my quality had ever had the chance to do. While I was thus +speaking, my lord the Duke writhed on his chair, and seemed as though he +could not bear to hear me to the end. Then, when I had concluded, he +rejoined: “If you are disposed to work for me, I will treat you in a way +that will astonish you, provided the fruits of your labours give me +satisfaction, of which I have no doubt.” I, poor unhappy mortal, burning +with desire to show the noble school [2] of Florence that, after leaving +her in youth, I had practised other branches of the art than she +imagined, gave answer to the Duke that I would willingly erect for him +in marble or in bronze a mighty statue on his fine piazza. He replied +that, for a first essay, he should like me to produce a Perseus; he had +long set his heart on having such a monument, and he begged me to begin +a model for the same. [3] I very gladly set myself to the task, and in a +few weeks I finished my model, which was about a cubit high, in yellow +wax and very delicately finished in all its details. I had made it with +the most thorough study and art. 4 + +The Duke returned to Florence, but several days passed before I had an +opportunity of showing my model. It seemed indeed as though he had never +set eyes on me or spoken with me, and this caused me to augur ill of my +future dealings with his Excellency. Later on, however, one day after +dinner, I took it to his wardrobe, where he came to inspect it with the +Duchess and a few gentlemen of the court. No sooner had he seen it than +he expressed much pleasure, and extolled it to the skies; wherefrom I +gathered some hope that he might really be a connoisseur of art. After +having well considered it for some time, always with greater +satisfaction, he began as follows: “If you could only execute this +little model, Benvenuto, with the same perfection on a large scale, it +would be the finest piece in the piazza.” I replied: “Most excellent my +lord, upon the piazza are now standing works by the great Donatello and +the incomparable Michel Angelo, the two greatest men who have ever lived +since the days of the ancients. [5] But since your Excellence encourages +my model with such praise, I feel the heart to execute it at least +thrice as well in bronze.” [6] No slight dispute arose upon this +declaration; the Duke protesting that he understood these matters +perfectly, and was quite aware what could be done. I rejoined that my +achievements would resolve his dubitations and debates; I was absolutely +sure of being able to perform far more than I had promised for his +Excellency, but that he must give me means for carrying my work out, +else I could not fulfil my undertaking. In return for this his +Excellency bade me formulate my demands in a petition, detailing all my +requirements; he would see them liberally attended to. + +It is certain that if I had been cunning enough to secure by contract +all I wanted for my work, I should not have incurred the great troubles +which came upon me through my own fault. But he showed the strongest +desire to have the work done, and the most perfect willingness to +arrange preliminaries. I therefore, not discerning that he was more a +merchant than a duke, dealt very frankly with his Excellency, just as if +I had to do with a prince, and not with a commercial man. I sent in my +petition, to which he replied in large and ample terms. The memorandum +ran as follows: “Most rare and excellent my patron, petitions of any +validity and compacts between us of any value do not rest upon words or +writings; the whole point is that I should succeed in my work according +to my promise; and if I so succeed, I feel convinced that your most +illustrious Excellency will very well remember what you have engaged to +do for me.” This language so charmed the Duke both with my ways of +acting and of speaking that he and the Duchess began to treat me with +extraordinary marks of favour. + +Note 1. This Duchess was Eleonora di Toledo, well known to us through +Bronzino’s portrait. + +Note 2. This school was the Collegio dei Maestri di Belle Arti in +Florence, who had hitherto known of Cellini mainly as a goldsmith. + +Note 3. Cosimo chose the subject of Perseus because it symbolised his +own victory over the Gorgon of tyrannicide and Republican partisanship. +Donatello’s Judith, symbolising justifiable regicide, and Michel +Angelo’s David, symbolising the might of innocent right against an +overbearing usurper, already decorated the Florentine piazza. Until +lately, both of these masterpieces stood together there with the Perseus +of Cellini. + +Note 4. This is probably the precious model now existing in the Bargello +Palace at Florence, in many points more interesting than the completed +bronze statue under the Loggia de’ Lanzi. + +Note 5. Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes; Michel Angelo’s David. + +Note 6. It is difficult to give the exact sense of 'pertanto' and +'perchè' in the text, but I think the drift of the sentence is rendered +above. + +LIV + +BEING now inflamed with a great desire to begin working, I told his +Excellency that I had need of a house where I could install myself and +erect furnaces, in order to commence operations in clay and bronze, and +also, according to their separate requirements, in gold and silver. I +knew that he was well aware how thoroughly I could serve him in those +several branches, and I required some dwelling fitted for my business. +In order that his Excellency might perceive how earnestly I wished to +work for him, I had already chosen a convenient house, in a quarter much +to my liking. [1] As I did not want to trench upon his Excellency for +money or anything of that sort, I had brought with me from France two +jewels, with which I begged him to purchase me the house, and to keep +them until I earned it with my labour. These jewels were excellently +executed by my workmen, after my own designs. When he had inspected them +with minute attention, he uttered these spirited words, which clothed my +soul with a false hope: “Take back your jewels, Benvenuto! I want you, +and not them; you shall have your house free of charges.” After this, he +signed a rescript underneath the petition I had drawn up, and which I +have always preserved among my papers. The rescript ran as follows: +'“Let the house be seen to, and who is the vendor, and at what price; +for we wish to comply with Benvenuto’s request.”' [2] I naturally +thought that this would secure me in possession of the house; being over +and above convinced that my performances must far exceed what I promised. + +His Excellency committed the execution of these orders to his majordomo, +who was named Ser Pier Francesco Riccio. [3] The man came from Prato, +and had been the Duke’s pedagogue. I talked, then, to this donkey, and +described my requirements, for there was a garden adjoining the house, +on which I wanted to erect a workshop. He handed the matter over to a +paymaster, dry and meagre, who bore the name of Lattanzio Gorini. This +flimsy little fellow, with his tiny spider’s hands and small gnat’s +voice, moved about the business at a snail’s pace; yet in an evil hour +he sent me stones, sand, and lime enough to build perhaps a pigeon-house +with careful management. When I saw how coldly things were going +forward, I began to feel dismayed; however, I said to myself: “Little +beginnings sometimes have great endings;” and I fostered hope in my +heart by noticing how many thousand ducats had recently been squandered +upon ugly pieces of bad sculpture turned out by that beast of a Buaccio +Bandinelli. [4] So I rallied my spirits and kept prodding at Lattanzio +Gorini, to make him go a little faster. It was like shouting to a pack +of lame donkeys with a blind dwarf for their driver. Under these +difficulties, and by the use of my own money, I had soon marked out the +foundations of the workshop and cleared the ground of trees and vines, +labouring on, according to my wont, with fire, and perhaps a trifle of +impatience. + +On the other side, I was in the hands of Tasso the carpenter, a great +friend of mine, who had received my instructions for making a wooden +framework to set up the Perseus. This Tasso was a most excellent +craftsman, the best, I believe, who ever lived in his own branch of art. +[5] Personally, he was gay and merry be temperament; and whenever I went +to see him, he met me laughing, with some little song in falsetto on his +lips. Half in despair as I then was, news coming that my affairs in +France were going wrong, and these in Florence promising but ill through +the luke-warmness of my patron, I could never stop listening till half +the song was finished; and so in the end I used to cheer up a little +with my friend, and drove away, as well as I was able, some few of the +gloomy thoughts which weighed upon me. + +Note 1. This house is in the Via del Rosaio, entered from Via della +Pergola, No. 6527. + +Note 2. The petition and the rescript are in existence, and confirm +Cellini’s veracity in this transaction. See Bianchi, p. 587. + +Note 3. Varchi, 'St. Fior.,' lib. XV. 44, gives to this man the +character of a presumptuous conceited simpleton. + +Note 4. Cellini calls this man, his bitter foe and rival, 'Buaccio' or +the 'great ox, blockhead,' instead of Baccio, which is shortened for +Bartolommeo. + +Note 5. See p. 25. Vasari introduced him, together with Cosimo’s other +favoured artists, in a fresco of the Palazzo Vecchio at Florence. See +Plon, p. 124. + +LV + +I HAD got all the above-mentioned things in order, and was making +vigorous preparations for my great undertaking--indeed a portion of the +lime had been already used--when I received sudden notice to appear +before the majordomo. I found him, after his Excellency’s dinner, in the +hall of the clock. [1] On entering, I paid him marked respect, and he +received me with the greatest stiffness. Then he asked who had installed +me in the house, and by whose authority I had begun to build there, +saying he marvelled much that I had been so headstrong and foolhardy. I +answered that I had been installed in the house by his Excellency, and +that his lordship himself, in the name of his Excellency, had given the +orders to Lattanzio Gorini. “Lattanzio brought stone, sand, and lime, +and provided what I wanted, saying he did so at your lordship’s orders.” +When I had thus spoken, the brute turned upon me with still greater +tartness, vowing that neither I nor any of those whom I had mentioned +spoke the truth. This stung me to the quick, and I exclaimed: “O +majordomo, so long as your lordship [2] chooses to use language +befitting the high office which you hold, I shall revere you, and speak +to you as respectfully as I do to the Duke; if you take another line +with me, I shall address you as but one Ser Pier Francesco Riccio.” He +flew into such a rage that I thought he meant to go mad upon the spot, +anticipating the time ordained by Heaven for him to do so. [3] Pouring +forth a torrent of abuse, he roared out that he was surprised at himself +for having let me speak at all to a man of his quality. Thereupon my +blood was up, and I cried: “Mark my words, then, Ser Pier Francesco +Riccio! I will tell you what sort of men are my equals, and who are +yours--mere teachers of the alphabet to children!” His face contracted +with a spasm, while he raised his voice and repeated the same words in a +still more insulting tone. I, too, assumed an air of menace, and +matching his own arrogance with something of the same sort, told him +plainly that men of my kind were worthy to converse with popes and +emperors, and great kings, and that perhaps there were not two such men +alive upon this earth, while ten of his sort might be met at every +doorway. On hearing these words he jumped upon a window-seat in the hall +there, and defied me to repeat what I had said. I did so with still +greater heat and spirit, adding I had no farther mind to serve the Duke, +and that I should return to France, where I was always welcome. The +brute remained there stupefied and pale as clay; I went off furious, +resolved on leaving Florence; and would to God that I had done so! + +The Duke cannot, I think, have been informed at once of this diabolical +scene, for I waited several days without hearing from him. Giving up all +thoughts of Florence, except what concerned the settlement of my +sister’s and nieces’ affairs, I made preparations to provide for them as +well as I could with the small amount of money I had brought, and then +to return to France and never set my foot in Italy again. This being my +firm purpose, I had no intention to ask leave of the Duke or anybody, +but to decamp as quickly as I could; when one morning the majordomo, of +his own accord, sent very humbly to entreat my presence, and opened a +long pedantic oration, in which I could discover neither method, nor +elegance, nor meaning, nor head, nor tail. I only gathered from it that +he professed himself a good Christian, wished to bear no man malice, and +asked me in the Duke’s name what salary I should be willing to accept. +Hearing this, I stood a while on guard, and made no answer, being firmly +resolved not to engage myself. When he saw that I refused to reply, he +had at least the cleverness to put in: “Benvenuto, dukes expect to be +answered; and what I am saying to you, I am saying from his Excellency’s +lips.” Then I rejoined that if the message came from his Excellency, I +would gladly reply, and told him to report to the Duke that I could not +accept a position inferior to that of any one employed by him as artist. +The majordomo answered: “Bandinello receives two hundred crowns a year; +if then you are contented with that, your salary is settled.” I agreed +upon these terms, adding that what I might earn in addition by the merit +of my performances, could be given after they were seen; that point I +left entirely to the good judgment of his Excellency. Thus, then, +against my will, I pieced the broken thread again, and set to work; the +Duke continually treating me with the highest imaginable marks of favour. + +Note 1. One of the rooms in the Palazzo Vecchio, so called because the +famous cosmographical timepiece, made about 1484 for Lorenzo de’ Medici +by Lorenzo della Volpaia, stood there. + +Note 2. It was the custom at that epoch to address princes by the title +of 'Signore' or 'Vostra Signoria;' gentlemen (armigeri) had the title of +'Messer;' simple 'Ser' was given to plebeians with some civil or +ecclesiastical dignity. + +Note 3. Vasari, in his 'Life of Montorsoli,' says in effect that this +Riccio died about 1559, after having been insane several years. + +LVI + +I RECEIVED frequent letters from France, written by my most faithful +friend Messer Guido Guidi. As yet they told nothing but good news; and +Ascanio also bade me enjoy myself without uneasiness, since, if anything +happened, he would let me know at once. + +Now the King was informed that I had commenced working for the Duke of +Florence, and being the best man in the world, he often asked: “Why does +not Benvenuto come back to us?” He put searching questions on the +subject to my two workmen, both of whom replied that I kept writing I +was well off where I was, adding they thought I did not want to re-enter +the service of his Majesty. Incensed by these presumptuous words, which +were none of my saying, the King exclaimed: “Since he left us without +any cause, I shall not recall him; let him e’en stay where he is.” Thus +the thievish brigands brought matters exactly to the pass they desired; +for if I had returned to France, they would have become mere workmen +under me once more, whereas, while I remained away, they were their own +masters and in my place; consequently, they did everything in their +power to prevent my coming back. + +LVII + +WHILE the workshop for executing my Perseus was in building, I used to +work in a ground-floor room. Here I modelled the statue in plaster, +giving it the same dimensions as the bronze was meanst to have, and +intending to cast it from this mould. But finding that it would take +rather long to carry it out in this way, I resolved upon another +expedient, especially as now a wretched little studio had been erected, +brick on brick, so miserably built that the mere recollection of it +gives me pain. So then I began the figure of Medusa, and constructed the +skeleton in iron. Afterwards I put on the clay, and when that was +modelled, baked it. + +I had no assistants except some little shopboys, among whom was one of +great beauty; he was the son of a prostitute called La Gambetta. I made +use of the lad as a model, for the only books which teach this art are +the natural human body. Meanwhile, as I could not do everything alone, I +looked about for workmen in order to put the business quickly through; +but I was unable to find any. There were indeed some in Florence who +would willingly have come, but Bandinello prevented them, and after +keeping me in want of aid awhile, told the Duke that I was trying to +entice his work-people because I was quite incapable of setting up so +great a statue by myself. I complained to the Duke of the annoyance +which the brute gave me, and begged him to allow me some of the +labourers from the Opera. [1] My request inclined him to lend ear to +Bandinello’s calumnies; and when I noticed that, I set about to do my +utmost by myself alone. The labour was enormous: I had to strain every +muscle night and day; and just then the husband of my sister sickened, +and died after a few days’ illness. He left my sister, still young, with +six girls of all ages, on my hands. This was the first great trial I +endured in Florence, to be made the father and guardian of such a +distressed family. + +Note 1. That is, the Opera del Duomo, or permanent establishment for +attending to the fabric of the Florentine Cathedral. + +LVIII + +IN my anxiety that nothing should go wrong, I sent for two +hand-labourers to clear my garden of rubbish. They came from Ponte +Vecchio, the one an old man of sixty years, the other a young fellow of +eighteen. After employing them about three days, the lad told me that +the old man would not work, and that I had better send him away, since, +beside being idle, he prevented his comrade from working. The little I +had to do there could be done by himself, without throwing money away on +other people. The youth was called Bernardino Mannellini, of Mugello. +When I saw that he was so inclined to labour, I asked whether he would +enter my service, and we agreed upon the spot. He groomed my horse, +gardened, and soon essayed to help me in the workshop, with such success +that by degrees he learned the art quite nicely. I never had a better +assistant than he proved. Having made up my mind to accomplish the whole +affair with this man’s aid, I now let the Duke know that Bandinello was +lying, and that I could get on famously without his workpeople. + +Just at this time I suffered slightly in the loins, and being unable to +work hard, I was glad to pass my time in the Duke’s wardrobe with a +couple of young goldsmiths called Gianpagolo and Domenico Poggini, [1] +who made a little golden cup under my direction. It was chased in +bas-relief with figures and other pretty ornaments, and his Excellency +meant it for the Duchess to drink water out of. He furthermore +commissioned me to execute a golden belt, which I enriched with gems and +delicate masks and other fancies. The Duke came frequently into the +wardrobe, and took great pleasure in watching me at work and talking to +me. When my health improved, I had clay brought, and took a portrait of +his Excellency, considerably larger than life-size, which I modelled +while he stayed with me for pastime. He was highly delighted with this +piece, and conceived such a liking for me that he earnestly begged me to +take up my working quarters in the palace, selecting rooms large enough +for my purpose, and fitting them up with furnaces and all I wanted, for +he greatly enjoyed watching the processes of art. I replied that this +was impossible; I should not have finished my undertakings in a hundred +years. + +Note 1. These two brothers were specially eminent as die-casters. +Gianpagolo went to Spain, and served Philip II. + +LIX + +THE DUCHESS also treated me with extraordinary graciousness, and would +have been pleased if I had worked for her alone, forgetting Perseus and +everything besides. I for my part, while these vain favours were being +showered upon me knew only too well that my perverse and biting fortune +could not long delay to send me some fresh calamity, because I kept ever +before my eyes the great mistake I had committed while seeking to do a +good action. I refer to my affairs in France. The King could not swallow +the displeasure he felt at my departure; and yet he wanted me to return, +if only this could be brought about without concessions on his part. I +thought that I was entirely in the right, and would not bend +submissively, because I judged that if I wrote in humble terms, those +enemies of mine would say in their French fashion that I had confessed +myself to blame, and that certain misdoings with which they wrongfully +taxed me were proved true. Therefore I stood upon my honour, and wrote +in terms of haughty coldness, which was precisely what those two +traitors, my apprentices, most heartily desired. In my letters to them I +boasted of the distinguished kindness shown me in my own birthplace by a +prince and princess the absolute masters of Florence. Whenever they +received one of these despatches, they went to the King, and besieged +his Majesty with entreaties for the castle upon the same terms as he had +granted it to me. The King, who was a man of great goodness and +perspicacity, would never consent to the presumptuous demands of those +scoundrels, since he scented the malignity of their aims. Yet, wishing +to keep them in expectation, and to give me the opportunity of coming +back, he caused an angry letter to be written to me by his treasurer, +Messer Giuliano Buonaccorsi, a burgher of Florence. The substance was as +follows: If I wanted to preserve the reputation for honesty which I had +hitherto enjoyed, it was my plain duty, after leaving France with no +cause whatsoever, to render an account of all that I had done and dealt +with for his Majesty. + +The receipt of this letter gave me such pleasure that, If I had +consulted my own palate, I could not have wished for either more or +less. I sat down to write an answer, and filled nine pages of ordinary +paper. In this document I described in detail all the works which I had +executed, and all the adventures I had gone through while performing +them, and all the sums which had been spent upon them. The payments had +always been made through two notaries and one of his Majesty’s +treasurers; and I could show receipts from all the men into whose hands +they passed, whether for goods supplied or labour rendered. I had not +pocketed one penny of the money, nor had I received any reward for my +completed works. I brought back with me into Italy nothing but some +marks of favour and most royal promises, truly worthy of his Majesty. +“Now, though I cannot vaunt myself of any recompense beyond the salaries +appointed for my maintenance in France, seven hundred golden crowns of +which are still due, inasmuch as I abstained from drawing them until I +could employ them on my return-journey; yet knowing that malicious foes +out of their envious hearts have played some knavish trick against me, I +feel confident that truth will prevail. I take pride in his Most +Christian Majesty and am not moved by avarice. I am indeed aware of +having performed for him far more than I undertook; and albeit the +promised reward has not been given me, my one anxiety is to remain in +his Majesty’s opinion that man of probity and honour which I have always +been. If your Majesty entertains the least doubt upon this point, I will +fly to render an account of my conduct, at the risk even of my life. But +noticing in what slight esteem I am held I have had no mind to come back +and make an offer of myself, knowing that I shall never lack for bread +whithersoever I may go. If, however, I am called for, I will always +answer.” The letter contained many further particulars worthy of the +King’s attention, and proper to the preservation of my honour. Before +despatching it, I took it to the Duke, who read it with interest; then I +sent it into France, addressed to the Cardinal of Ferrara. + +LX + +ABOUT this time Bernardone Baldini, [1] broker in jewels to the Duke, +brought a big diamond from Venice, which weighed more than thirty-five +carats. Antonio, son of Vittorio Landi, was also interested in getting +the Duke to purchase it. [2] The stone had been cut with a point; but +since it did not yield the purity of lustre which one expects in such a +diamond, its owners had cropped the point, and, in truth, it was not +exactly fit for either point or table cutting. [3] Our Duke, who greatly +delighted in gems, though he was not a sound judge of them, held out +good hopes to the rogue Bernardaccio that he would buy this stone; and +the fellow, wanting to secure for himself alone the honour of palming it +off upon the Duke of Florence, abstained from taking his partner Antonio +Landi into the secret. Now Landi had been my intimate friend from +childhood, and when he saw that I enjoyed the Duke’s confidence, he +called me aside (it was just before noon at a corner of the Mercato +Nuovo), and spoke as follows: “Benvenuto, I am convinced that the Duke +will show you a diamond, which he seems disposed to buy; you will find +it a big stone. Pray assist the purchase; I can give it for seventeen +thousand crowns. I feel sure he will ask your advice; and if you see +that he has a mind for it, we will contrive that he secures it.” Antonio +professed great confidence in being able to complete the bargain for the +jewel at that price. In reply, I told him that if my advice was taken, I +would speak according to my judgment, without prejudice to the diamond. + +As I have above related, the Duke came daily into our goldsmith’s +workshop for several hours; and about a week after this conversation +with Antonio Landi he showed me one day after dinner the diamond in +question, which I immediately recognised by its description, both as to +form and weight. I have already said that its water was not quite +transparent, for which reason it had been cropped; so, when I found it +of that kind and quality, I felt certainly disinclined to recommend its +acquisition. However, I asked his Excellency what he wanted me to say; +because it was one thing for jewellers to value a stone after a prince +had bought it, and another thing to estimate it with a view to purchase. +He replied that he bought it, and that he only wanted my opinion. I did +not choose to abstain from hinting what I really thought about the +stone. Then he told me to observe the beauty of its great facets. [4] I +answered that this feature of the diamond was not so great a beauty as +his Excellency supposed, but came from the point having been cropped. At +these words my prince, who perceive that I was speaking the truth, made +a wry face, and bade me give good heed to valuing the stone, and saying +what I thought it worth. I reckoned that, since Landi had offered it to +me for 17,000 crowns, the Duke might have got it for 15,000 at the +highest; so, noticing that he would take it ill if I spoke the truth, I +made my mind up to uphold him in his false opinion, and handing back the +diamond, said: “You will probably have paid 18,000 crowns.” On hearing +this the Duke uttered a loud “Oh!” opening his mouth as wide as a well, +and cried out: “Now am I convinced that you understand nothing about the +matter.” I retorted: “You are certainly in the wrong there, my lord. Do +you attend to maintaining the credit of your diamond, while I attend to +understanding my trade. But pray tell me at least how much you paid, in +order that I may learn to understand it according to the way of your +Excellency.” The Duke rose, and, with a little sort of angry grin, +replied: “Twenty-five thousand crowns and more, Benvenuto, did that +stone cost me!” + +Having thus spoken he departed. Giovanpagolo and Domenico Poggini, the +goldsmiths, were present; and Bachiacca, the embroiderer, who was +working in an adjacent room, ran up at the noise. [5] I told them that I +should never have advised the Duke to purchase it; but if his heart was +set on having it, Antonio Landi had offered me the stone eight days ago +for 17,000 crowns. I think I could have got it for 15,000 or less. But +the Duke apparently wishes to maintain his gem in credit; for when +Antonio Landi was willing to let it go at that price, how the devil can +Bernardone have played off such a shameful trick upon his Excellency? +Never imagining that the matter stood precisely as the Duke averred, we +laughingly made light of his supposed credulity. + +Note 1. Varchi and Ammirato both mention him as an excellent jeweller. + +Note 2. Antonio Landi was a Florentine gentleman, merchant, and author. +A comedy of his called 'Commodo' is extant. + +Note 3. Italians distinguished cut diamonds of three sorts: 'in tavola, +a faccette,' and 'in punta.' The word I have translated 'cropped' is +'ischericato,' which was properly applied to an unfrocked or degraded +ecclesiastic. + +Note 4. 'Filetti,' the sharp lines which divide one facet from another. + +Note 5. Antonio Ubertini, called Il Bachiacca, a brother of Cellini’s +friend in Rome. See p. 56. He enjoyed great reputation, and was praised +by Varchi in a sonnet for his mastery of embroidery. + +LXI + +MEANWHILE I was advancing with my great statue of Medusa. I had covered +the iron skeleton with clay, which I modelled like an anatomical +subject, and about half an inch thinner than the bronze would be. This I +baked well, and then began to spread on the wax surface, in order to +complete the figure to my liking. [1] The Duke, who often came to +inspect it, was so anxious lest I should not succeed with the bronze, +that he wanted me to call in some master to case it for me. + +He was continually talking in the highest terms of my acquirements and +accomplishments. This made his majordomo no less continually eager to +devise some trap for making me break my neck. Now his post at court gave +him authority with the chief-constables and all the officers in the poor +unhappy town of Florence. Only to think that a fellow from Prato, our +hereditary foeman, the son of a cooper, and the most ignorant creature +in existence, should have risen to such a station of influence, merely +because he had been the rotten tutor of Cosimo de’ Medici before he +became Duke! Well, as I have said, he kept ever on the watch to serve me +some ill turn; and finding that he could not catch me out on any side, +he fell at last upon this plan, which meant mischief. He betook himself +to Gambetta, the mother of my apprentice Cencio; and this precious pair +together--that knave of a pedant and that rogue of a strumpet--invented +a scheme for giving me such a fright as would make me leave Florence in +hot haste. Gambetta, yielding to the instinct of her trade, went out, +acting under the orders of that mad, knavish pedant, the majordomo--I +must add that they had also gained over the Bargello, a Bolognese, whom +the Duke afterwards dismissed for similar conspiracies. Well, one +evening, after sunset, Gambetta came to my house with her son, and told +me she had kept him several days indoors for my welfare. I answered that +there was no reason to keep him shut up on my account; and laughing her +whorish arts to scorn, I turned to the boy in her presence, and said +these words: “You know, Cencio, whether I have sinned with you!” He +began to shed tears, and answered, “No!” Upon this the mother, shaking +her head, cried out at him: “Ah! you little scoundrel! Do you think I do +not know how these things happen?” Then she turned to me, and begged me +to keep the lad hidden in my house, because the Bargello was after him, +and would seize him anywhere outside my house, but there they would not +dare to touch him. I made answer that in my house lived my widowed +sister and six girls of holy life, and that I wanted nobody else there. +Upon that she related that the majordomo had given orders to the +Bargello, and that I should certainly be taken up: only, if I would not +harbour her son, I might square accounts by paying her a hundred crowns; +the majordomo was her crony, and I might rest assured that she could +work him to her liking, provided I paid down the hundred crowns. This +cozenage goaded me into such a fury that I cried: “Out with you, +shameful strumpet! Were it not for my good reputation, and for the +innocence of this unhappy boy of yours here, I should long ago have cut +your throat with the dagger at my side; and twice or thrice I have +already clasped my fingers on the handle.” With words to this effect, +and many ugly blows to boot, I drove the woman and her son into the +street. + +Note 1. This is an important passage, which has not, I think, been +properly understood by Cellini’s translators. It describes the process +he now employed in preparing a mould for bronze-casting. First, it +seems, he made a solid clay model, somewhat smaller than the bronze was +meant to be. This he overlaid with wax, and then took a hollow mould of +the figure thus formed. Farther on we shall see how he withdrew the wax +from the hollow mould, leaving the solid model inside, with space enough +between them for the metal to flow in. + +LXII + +WHEN I reflected on the roguery and power of that evil-minded pedant, I +judged it best to give a wide berth to his infernal machinations; so +early next morning I mounted my horse and took the road for Venice, +leaving in my sister’s hands jewels and articles to the value of nearly +two thousand crowns. I took with me my servant Bernardino of Mugello; +and when I reached Ferrara, I wrote word to his Excellency the Duke, +that though I had gone off without being sent, I should come back again +without being called for. + +On arriving at Venice, and pondering upon the divers ways my cruel +fortune took to torment me, yet at the same time feeling myself none the +less sound in health and hearty, I made up my mind to fence with her +according to my wont. While thus engrossed in thoughts about my own +affairs, I went abroad for pastime through that beautiful and sumptuous +city, and paid visits to the admirable painter Titian, and to Jacopo del +Sansovino, our able sculptor and architect from Florence. The latter +enjoyed an excellent appointment under the Signoria of Venice; and we +had been acquainted during our youth in Rome and Florence. These two men +of genius received me with marked kindness. The day afterwards I met +Messer Lorenzo de’ Medici, [1] who took me by the hand at once, giving +me the warmest welcome which could be imagined, because we had known +each other in Florence when I was coining for Duke Alessandro, and +afterwards in Paris while I was in the King’s service. At that time he +sojourned in the house of Messer Giuliano Buonaccorsi, and having +nowhere else to go for pastime without the greatest peril of his life, +he used to spend a large part of the day in my house, watching me +working at the great pieces I produced there. As I was saying, our +former acquaintance led him to take me by the hand and bring me to his +dwelling, where I found the Prior degli Strozzi, brother of my lord +Peiro. While making good cheer together, they asked me how long I +intended to remain in Venice, thinking that I was on my return journey +into France. To these gentlemen I replied that I had left Florence on +account of the events I have described above, and that I meant to go +back after two or three days, in order to resume my service with the +Duke. On hearing this, the Prior and Messer Lorenzo turned round on me +with such sternness that I felt extremely uneasy; then they said to me: +“You would do far better to return to France, where you are rich and +well known; for if you go back to Florence, you will lose all that you +have gained in France, and will earn nothing there but annoyances. + +I made no answer to these words, and departed the next day as secretly +as I was able, turning my face again towards Florence. In the meanwhile +that infernal plot had come to a head and broken, for I had written to +my great master, the Duke, giving him a full account of the causes of my +escapade to Venice. I went to visit him without any ceremony, and was +received with his usual reserve and austerity. Having maintained this +attitude awhile, he turned toward me pleasantly, and asked where I had +been. I answered that my heart had never moved one inch from his most +illustrious Excellency, although some weighty reasons had forced me to +go a roaming for a little while. Then softening still more in manner, he +began to question me concerning Venice, and after this wise we conversed +some space of time. At last he bade me apply myself to business, and +complete his Perseus. So I returned home glad and light-hearted, and +comforted my family, that is to say, my sister and her six daughters. +Then I resumed my work, and pushed it forward as briskly as I could. + +Note 1. This is Lorenzino de’ Medici, the murderer of Alessandro, who +was himself assassinated by two Tuscan bravi in 1548. See 'Renaissance +in Italy,' vol. vi. chap. 6. + +LXIII + +THE FIRST piece I cast in bronze was that great bust, the portrait of +his Excellency, which I had modelled in the goldsmith’s workroom while +suffering from those pains in my back. [1] It gave much pleasure when it +was completed, though my sole object in making it was to obtain +experience of clays suitable for bronze-casting. I was of course aware +that the admirable sculptor Donatello had cast his bronzes with the clay +of Florence; yet it seemed to me that he had met with enormous +difficulties in their execution. As I thought that this was due to some +fault in the earth, I wanted to make these first experiments before I +undertook my Perseus. From them I learned that the clay was good enough, +but had not been well understood by Donatello, inasmuch as I could see +that his pieces had been cast with the very greatest trouble. +Accordingly, as I have described above, I prepared the earth by +artificial methods, and found it serve me well, and with it I cast the +bust; but since I had not yet constructed my own furnace, I employed +that of Maestro Zanobi di Pagno, a bell-founder. + +When I saw that this bust came out sharp and clean, I set at once to +construct a little furnace in the workshop erected for me by the Duke, +after my own plans and design, in the house which the Duke had given me. +No sooner was the furnace ready than I went to work with all diligence +upon the casting of Medusa, that is, the woman twisted in a heap beneath +the feet of Perseus. It was an extremely difficult task, and I was +anxious to observe all the niceties of art which I had learned, so as +not to lapse into some error. The first cast I took in my furnace +succeeded in the superlative degree, and was so clean that my friends +thought I should not need to retouch it. It is true that certain Germans +and Frenchmen, who vaunt the possession of marvellous secrets, pretend +that they can cast bronzes without retouching them; but this is really +nonsense, because the bronze, when it has first been cast, ought to be +worked over and beaten in with hammers and chisels, according to the +manner of the ancients and also to that of the moderns--I mean such +moderns as have known how to work in bronze. + +The result of this casting greatly pleased his Excellency, who often +came to my house to inspect it, encouraging me by the interest he showed +to do my best. The furious envy of Bandinello, however, who kept always +whispering in the Duke’s ears, had such effect that he made him believe +my first successes with a single figure or two proved nothing; I should +never be able to put the whole large piece together, since I was new to +the craft, and his Excellency ought to take good heed he did not throw +his money away. These insinuations operated so efficiently upon the +Duke’s illustrious ears, that part of my allowance for workpeople was +withdrawn. I felt compelled to complain pretty sharply to his +Excellency; and having gone to wait on him one morning in the Via de’ +Servi, I spoke as follows: “My lord, I do not now receive the monies +necessary for my task, which makes me fear that your Excellency has lost +confidence in me. Once more then I tell you that I feel quite able to +execute this statue three times better than the model, as I have before +engaged my word.” + +Note 1. Now in the Museum of the Bargello Palace at Florence + +LXIV + +I COULD see that this speech made no impression on the Duke, for he kept +silence; then, seized with sudden anger and a vehement emotion, I began +again to address him: “My lord, this city of a truth has ever been the +school of the most noble talents. Yet when a man has come to know what +he is worth, after gaining some acquirements, and wishing to augment the +glory of his town and of his glorious prince, it is quite right that he +should go and labour elsewhere. To prove the truth of these words, I +need only remind your Excellency of Donatello and the great Lionardo da +Vinci in the past, and of our incomparable Michel Angelo Buonarroti in +the present; they augment the glory of your Excellency by their genius. +I in my turn feel the same desire and hope to play my part like them; +therefore, my lord, give me the leave to go. But beware of letting +Bandinello quit you; rather bestow upon him always more than he demands; +for if he goes into foreign parts, his ignorance is so presumptuous that +he is just the man to disgrace our most illustrious school. Now grant me +my permission, prince! I ask no further reward for my labours up to this +time than the gracious favour of your most illustrious Excellency.” When +he saw the firmness of my resolution, he turned with some irritation and +exclaimed: “Benvenuto, if you want to finish the statue, you shall lack +for nothing.” Then I thanked him and said I had no greater desire than +to show those envious folk that I had it in me to execute the promised +work. When I left his Excellency, I received some slight assistance; but +this not being sufficient, I had to put my hand into my own purse, in +order to push the work forward at something better than a snail’s pace. + +It was my custom to pass the evening in the Duke’s wardrobe, where +Domenico Poggini and his brother Gianpagolo were at work upon that +golden cup for the Duchess and the girdle I have already described. His +Excellency had also commissioned me to make a little model for a pendent +to set the great diamond which Bernardone and Antonio Landi made him +buy. I tried to get out of doing it, but the Duke compelled me by all +sorts of kindly pressure to work until four hours after nightfall. He +kept indeed enticing me to push this job forward by daytime also; but I +would not consent, although I felt sure I should incur his anger. Now +one evening I happened to arrive rather later than usual, whereupon he +said: “I’ll come may you be!” [1] I answered: “My lord, that is not my +name; my name is Welcome! But, as I suppose your Excellency is joking, I +will add no more.” He replied that, far from joking, he meant solemn +earnest. I had better look to my conduct, for it had come to his ears +that I relied upon his favour to take in first one man and then another. +I begged his most illustrious Excellency to name a single person whom I +had ever taken in. At this he flew into a rage, and said: “Go, and give +back to Bernardone what you have of his. There! I have mentioned one.” I +said: “My lord, I thank you, and beg you to condescend so far as to +listen to four words. It is true that he lent me a pair of old scales, +two anvils, and three little hammers, which articles I begged his +workman, Giorgio da Cortona, fifteen days ago, to fetch back. Giorgio +came for them himself. If your Excellency can prove, on referring to +those who have spoken these calumnies, or to others, that I have ever, +from the day of my birth till now, got any single thing by fraud from +anybody, be it in Rome or be it in France, then let your Excellency +punish me as immoderately as you choose.” When the Duke saw me in this +mighty passion, he assumed the air of a prudent and benevolent lord, +saying: “Those words are not meant for well-doers; therefore, if it is +as you say, I shall always receive you with the same kindness as +heretofore.” To this I answered: “I should like your Excellency to know +that the rascalities of Bernardone compel me to ask as a favor how much +that big diamond with the cropped point cost you. I hope to prove on +what account that scoundrel tries to bring me into disgrace.” Then his +Excellency replied: “I paid 25,000 ducats for it; why do you ask me?” +“Because, my lord, on such a day, at such an hour, in a corner of +Mercato Nuovo, Antonio Landi, the son of Vittorio, begged me to induce +your Excellency to buy it, and at my first question he asked 16,000 +ducats for the diamond; [2] now your Excellency knows what it has cost +you. Domenico Poggini and Gianpagolo his brother, who are present, will +confirm my words; for I spoke to them at once about it, and since that +time have never once alluded to the matter, because your Excellency told +me I did not understand these things, which made me think you wanted to +keep up the credit of your stone. I should like you to know, my lord, +that I do understand, and that, as regards my character, I consider +myself no less honest than any man who ever lived upon this earth. I +shall not try to rob you of eight or ten thousand ducats at one go, but +shall rather seek to earn them by my industry. I entered the service of +your Excellency as sculptor, goldsmith, and stamper of coin; but to blab +about my neighbour’s private matters,--never! What I am now telling you +I say in self-defence; I do not want my fee for information. [3] If I +speak out in the presence of so many worthy fellows as are here, it is +because I do not wish your Excellency to believe what Bernardone tells +you.” + +When he had heard this speech, the Duke rose up in anger, and sent for +Bernardone, who was forced to take flight as far as Venice, he and +Antonio Landi with him. The latter told me that he had not meant that +diamond, but was talking of another stone. So then they went and came +again from Venice; whereupon I presented myself to the Duke and spoke as +follows: “My lord, what I told you is the truth; and what Bernardone +said about the tools he lent me is a lie. You had better put this to the +proof, and I will go at once to the Bargello.” The Duke made answer: +“Benvenuto, do your best to be an honest man, as you have done until +now; you have no cause for apprehension.” So the whole matter passed off +in smoke, and I heard not one more word about it. I applied myself to +finishing his jewel; and when I took it to the Duchess, her Grace said +that she esteemed my setting quite as highly as the diamond which +Bernardaccio had made them buy. She then desired me to fasten it upon +her breast, and handed me a large pin, with which I fixed it, and took +my leave in her good favour. [4] Afterwards I was informed that they had +the stone reset by a German or some other foreigner--whether truly or +not I cannot vouch--upon Bernardone’s suggestion that the diamond would +show better in a less elaborate setting. + +Note 1. Benvenuto and 'Malvenuto.' + +Note 2. He forgets that he has said above that it was offered him by +Landi for 17,000 ducats. + +Note 3. This fee was 'il quarto,' or the fourth part of the criminal’s +fine, which came to the delator. + +Note 4. It is worthy of notice that from this point onward the MS. is +written by Cellini in his own hand. + +LXV + +I BELIEVE have already narrated how Domenico and Giovanpagolo Poggini, +goldsmiths and brothers, were at work in the Duke’s wardrobe upon some +little golden vases, after my design, chased with figures in bas-relief, +and other ornaments of great distinction. I oftentimes kept saying to +his Excellency: “My lord, if you will undertake to pay some workpeople, +I am ready to strike coins for your mint and medals with your portrait. +I am willing to enter into competition with the ancients, and feel able +to surpass them; for since those early days in which I made the medals +of Pope Clement, I have learned so much that I can now produce far +better pieces of the kind. I think I can also outdo the coins I struck +for Duke Alessandro, which are still held in high esteem; in like manner +I could make for you large pieces of gold and silver plate, as I did so +often for that noble monarch, King Francis of France, thanks to the +great conveniences he allowed me, without ever losing time for the +execution of colossal statues or other works of the sculptor’s craft.” +To this suggestion the Duke replied: “Go forward; I will see;” but he +never supplied me with conveniences or aid of any kind. + +One day his most illustrious Excellency handed me several pounds weight +of silver, and said: “This is some of the silver from my mines; [1] take +it, and make a fine vase.” Now I did not choose to neglect my Perseus, +and at the same time I wished to serve the Duke, so I entrusted the +metal, together with my designs and models in wax, to a rascal called +Piero di Martino, a goldsmith by trade. He set the work up badly, and +moreover ceased to labour at it, so that I lost more time than if I had +taken it in hand myself. After several months were wasted, and Piero +would neither work nor put men to work upon the piece, I made him give +it back. I moved heaven and earth to get back the body of the vase, +which he had begun badly, as I have already said, together with the +remainder of the silver. The Duke, hearing something of these disputes, +sent for the vase and the models, and never told me why or wherefore. +Suffice it to say, that he placed some of my designs in the hands of +divers persons at Venice and elsewhere, and was very ill served by them. + +The Duchess kept urging me to do goldsmith’s work for her. I frequently +replied that everybody, nay, all Italy, knew well I was an excellent +goldsmith; but Italy had not yet seen what I could do in sculpture. +Among artists, certain enraged sculptors laughed at me, and called me +the new sculptor. “Now I hope to show them that I am an old sculptor, if +God shall grant me the boon of finishing my Perseus for that noble +piazza of his most illustrious Excellency.” After this I shut myself up +at home, working day and night, not even showing my face in the palace. +I wished, however, to keep myself in favour with the Duchess; so I got +some little cups made for her in silver, no larger than two penny +milk-pots, chased with exquisite masks in the rarest antique style. When +I took them to her Excellency, she received me most graciously, and +repaid the gold and silver I had spent upon them. Then I made my suit to +her and prayed her tell the Duke that I was getting small assistance for +so great a work; I begged her also to warn him not to lend so ready an +ear to Bandinello’s evil tongue, which hindered me from finishing my +Perseus. In reply to these lamentable complaints the Duchess shrugged +her shoulders and exclaimed: “Of a surety the Duke ought only too well +to know that this Bandinello of his is worth nothing.” + +Note 1. Cosimo’s silver mines were at Campiglia and Pietrasantra. He +worked them, however, rather at a loss than profit. + +LXVI + +I NOW stayed at home, and went rarely to the palace, labouring with +great diligence to complete my statue. I had to pay the workmen out of +my own pocket; for the Duke, after giving Lattanzio Gorini orders to +discharge their wages, at the end of about eighteen months, grew tired, +and withdrew this subsidy. I asked Lattanzio why he did not pay me as +usual. The man replied, gesticulating with those spidery hands of his, +in a shrill gnat’s voice: “Why do not you finish your work? One thinks +that you will never get it done.” In a rage I up and answered: “May the +plague catch you and all who dare to think I shall not finish it!” + +So I went home with despair at heart to my unlucky Perseus, not without +weeping, when I remembered the prosperity I had abandoned in Paris under +the patronage of that marvellous King Francis, where I had abundance of +all kinds, and here had everything to want for. Many a time I had it in +my soul to cast myself away for lost. One day on one of these occasions, +I mounted a nice nag I had, put a hundred crowns in my purse, and went +to Fiesole to visit a natural son of mine there, who was at nurse with +my gossip, the wife of one of my workpeople. When I reached the house, I +found the boy in good health, and kissed him, very sad at heart. On +taking leave, he would not let me go, but held me with his little hands +and a tempest of cries and tears. Considering that he was only two years +old or thereabouts, the child’s grief was something wonderful. Now I had +resolved, in the heat of my despair, if I met Bandinello, who went every +evening to a farm of his above San Domenico, that I would hurl him to +destruction; so I disengaged myself from my baby, and left the boy there +sobbing his heart out. Taking the road toward Florence, just when I +entered the piazza of San Domenico, Bandinello was arriving from the +other side. On the instant I decided upon bloodshed; but when I reached +the man and raised my eyes, I saw him unarmed, riding a sorry mule or +rather donkey, and he had with him a boy of ten years old. No sooner did +he catch sight of me than he turned the colour of a corpse, and trembled +from head to foot. Perceiving at once how base the business would be, I +exclaimed: “Fear not, vile coward! I do not condescend to smite you.” He +looked at me submissively and said nothing. Thereupon I recovered +command of my faculties, and thanked God that His goodness had withheld +me from so great an act of violence. Then, being delivered from that +fiendish fury, my spirits rose, and I said to myself: “If God but grant +me to execute my work, I hope by its means to annihilate all my +scoundrelly enemies; and thus I shall perform far greater and more +glorious revenges that if I had vented my rage upon one single foe.” +Having this excellent resolve in heart, I reached my home. At the end of +three days news was brought me that my only son had been smothered by +his nurse, my gossip, which gave me greater grief than I have ever had +in my whole life. However, I knelt upon the ground, and, not without +tears, returned thanks to God, as I was wont, exclaiming, “Lord, Thou +gavest me the child, and Thou hast taken him; for all Thy dealings I +thank Thee with my whole heart.” This great sorrow went nigh to +depriving me of reason; yet, according to my habit, I made a virtue of +necessity, and adapted myself to circumstances as well as I was able. + +LXVII + +ABOUT this time a young fellow called Francesco, the son of a smith, +Matteo, left Bandinello’s employment, and inquired whether I would give +him work. I agreed, and sent him to retouch my Medusa, which had been +new cast in bronze. After a fortnight he mentioned that he had been +speaking with his master, that is, Bandinello, who told him, if I cared +to make a marble statue, he would give me a fine block of stone. I +replied at once: “Tell him I accept his offer; perhaps this marble will +prove a stumbling block to him, for he keeps on provoking me, and does +not bear in mind the great peril he ran upon the piazza of San Domenico. +Tell him I will have the marble by all means. I never speak about him, +and the beast is perpetually causing me annoyance. I verily believe you +came to work here at his orders for the mere purpose of spying upon me. +Go, then, and tell him I insist on having the marble, even against his +will: see that you do not come back without it.” + +LXVIII + +MANY days had elapsed during which I had not shown my face in the +palace, when the fancy took me to go there one morning just as the Duke +was finishing his dinner. From what I heard, his Excellency had been +talking of me that morning, commending me highly, and in particular +praising my skill in setting jewels. Therefore, when the Duchess saw me, +she called for me by Messer Sforza; [1] and on my presenting myself to +her most illustrious Excellency, she asked me to set a little +point-diamond in a ring, saying she wished always to wear it; at the +same time she gave me the measure and the stone, which was worth about a +hundred crowns, begging me to be quick about the work. Upon this the +Duke began speaking to the Duchess, and said: “There is no doubt that +Benvenuto was formerly without his peer in this art; but now that he has +abandoned it, I believe it will be too much trouble for him to make a +little ring of the sort you want. I pray you, therefore, not to +importune him about this trifle, which would be no trifle to him owing +to his want of practice.” I thanked the Duke for his kind words, but +begged him to let me render this trifling service to the Duchess. Then I +took the ring in hand, and finished it within a few days. It was meant +for the little finger; accordingly I fashioned four tiny children in the +round and four masks, which figures composed the hoop. I also found room +for some enamelled fruits and connecting links, so that the stone and +setting went uncommonly well together. Then I took it to the Duchess, +who told me graciously that I had produced a very fine piece, and that +she would remember me. She afterwards sent the ring as a present to King +Philip, and from that time forward kept charging me with commissions, so +kindly, however, that I did my best to serve her, although I saw but +very little of her money. God knows I had great need of that, for I was +eager to finish my Perseus, and had engaged some journeymen, whom I paid +out of my own purse. I now began to show myself more often than I had +recently been doing. + +Note 1. Sforza Almeni, a Perugian gentleman, the Duke’s chamberlain. +Cosimo killed this man with his own hand in the year 1566. + +LXIX + +IT happened on one feast-day that I went to the palace after dinner, and +when I reached the clockroom, I saw the door of the wardrobe standing +open. As I drew nigh it, the Duke called me, and after a friendly +greeting said: “You are welcome! Look at that box which has been sent me +by my lord Stefano of Palestrina. [1] Open it, and let us see what it +contains.” When I had opened the box, I cried to the Duke: “My lord, +this is a statue in Greek marble, and it is a miracle of beauty. I must +say that I have never seen a boy’s figure so excellently wrought and in +so fine a style among all the antiques I have inspected. If your +Excellency permits, I should like to restore it--head and arms and feet. +I will add an eagle, in order that we may christen the lad Ganymede. It +is certainly not my business to patch up statues, that being the trade +of botchers, who do it in all conscience villainously ill; yet the art +displayed by this great master of antiquity cries out to me to help +him.” The Duke was highly delighted to find the statue so beautiful, and +put me a multitude of questions, saying: “Tell me, Benvenuto, minutely, +in what consists the skill of this old master, which so excites your +admiration.” I then attempted, as well as I was able, to explain the +beauty of workmanship, the consummate science, and the rare manner +displayed by the fragment. I spoke long upon these topics, and with the +greater pleasure because I saw that his Excellency was deeply interested. + +Note 1. Stefano Colonna, of the princely house of Palestrina. He was a +general of considerable repute in the Spanish, French, and Florentine +services successively. + +LXX + +WHILE I was thus pleasantly engaged in entertaining the Duke, a page +happened to leave the wardrobe, and at the same moment Bandinello +entered. When the Duke saw him, his countenance contracted, and he asked +him drily: “What are you about here?” Bandinello, without answering, +cast a glance upon the box, where the statue lay uncovered. Then +breaking into one of his malignant laughs and wagging his head, he +turned to the Duke and said: “My lord, this exactly illustrates the +truth of what I have so often told your Excellency. You must know that +the ancients were wholly ignorant of anatomy, and therefore their works +abound in mistakes.” I kept silence, and paid no heed to what he was +saying; nay, indeed, I had turned my back on him. But when the brute had +brought his disagreeable babble to an end, the Duke exclaimed: “O +Benvenuto, this is the exact opposite of what you were just now +demonstrating with so many excellent arguments. Come and speak a word in +defence of the statue.” In reply to this appeal, so kindly made me by +the Duke, I spoke as follows: “My lord, your most illustrious Excellency +must please to know that Baccio Bandinello is made up of everything bad, +and thus has he ever been; therefore, whatever he looks at, be the thing +superlatively excellent, becomes in his ungracious eyes as bad as can +be. I, who incline to the good only, discern the truth with purer sense. +Consequently, what I told your Excellency about this lovely statue is +mere simple truth; whereas what Bandinello said is but a portion of the +evil out of which he is composed.” The Duke listened with much +amusement; but Bandinello writhed and made the most ugly faces--his face +itself being by nature hideous beyond measure--which could be imagined +by the mind of man. + +The Duke at this point moved away, and proceeded through some ground +floor rooms, while Bandinello followed. The chamberlains twitched me by +the mantle, and sent me after; so we all attended the Duke until he +reached a certain chamber, where he seated himself, with Bandinello and +me standing at his right hand and his left. I kept silence, and the +gentlemen of his Excellency’s suite looked hard at Bandinello, tittering +among themselves about the speech I had made in the room above. So then +Bandinello began again to chatter, and cried out: “Prince, when I +uncovered my Hercules and Cacus, I verily believe a hundred sonnets were +written on me, full of the worst abuse which could be invented by the +ignorant rabble.” [1] I rejoined: “Prince, when Michel Agnolo Buonarroti +displayed his Sacristy to view, with so many fine statues in it, the men +of talent in our admirable school of Florence, always appreciative of +truth and goodness, published more than a hundred sonnets, each vying +with his neighbour to extol these masterpieces to the skies. [2] So +then, just as Bandinello’s work deserved all the evil which, he tells +us, was then said about it, Buonarroti’s deserved the enthusiastic +praise which was bestowed upon it.” These words of mine made Bandinello +burst with fury; he turned on me, and cried: “And you, what have you got +to say against my work?” “I will tell you if you have the patience to +hear me out.” “Go along then,” he replied. The Duke and his attendants +prepared themselves to listen. I began and opened by oration thus: “You +must know that it pains me to point out the faults of your statue; I +shall not, however, utter my own sentiments, but shall recapitulate what +our most virtuous school of Florence says about it.” The brutal fellow +kept making disagreeable remarks and gesticulating with his hands and +feet, until he enraged me so that I began again, and spoke far more +rudely than I should otherwise have done, if he had behaved with +decency. “Well, then, this virtuous school says that if one were to +shave the hair of your Hercules, there would not be skull enough left to +hold his brain; it says that it is impossible to distinguish whether his +features are those of a man or of something between a lion and an ox; +the face too is turned away from the action of the figure, and is so +badly set upon the neck, with such poverty of art and so ill a grace, +that nothing worse was ever seen; his sprawling shoulders are like the +two pommels of an ass’ pack-saddle; his breasts and all the muscles of +the body are not portrayed from a man, but from a big sack full of +melons set upright against a wall. The loins seem to be modelled from a +bag of lanky pumpkins; nobody can tell how his two legs are attached to +that vile trunk; it is impossible to say on which leg he stands, or +which he uses to exert his strength; nor does he seem to be resting upon +both, as sculptors who know something of their art have occasionally set +the figure. It is obvious that the body is leaning forward more than +one-third of a cubit, which alone is the greatest and most insupportable +fault committed by vulgar commonplace pretenders. Concerning the arms, +they say that these are both stretched out without one touch of grace or +one real spark of artistic talents, just as if you had never seen a +naked model. Again, the right leg of Hercules and that of Cacus have got +one mass of flesh between them, so that if they were to be separated, +not only one of them, but both together, would be left without a calf at +the point where they are touching. They say, too, that Hercules has one +of his feet underground, while the other seems to be resting on hot +coals.” + +Note 1. Vasari confirms this statement. The statue, which may still be +seen upon the great piazza, is, in truth, a very poor performance. The +Florentines were angry because Bandinello had filched the commission +away from Michel Angelo. It was uncovered in 1534, and Duke Alessandro +had to imprison its lampooners. + +Note 2. Cellini alludes of course to the Sacristy of S. Lorenzo, +designed by Michel Angelo, with the portraits of the Medici and statues +of Day, Night, Dawn, and Twilight. + +LXXI + +THE FELLOW could not stand quiet to hear the damning errors of his Cacus +in their turn enumerated. For one thing, I was telling the truth; for +another, I was unmasking him to the Duke and all the people present, who +showed by face and gesture first their surprise, and next their +conviction that what I said was true. All at once he burst out: “Ah, you +slanderous tongue! why don’t you speak about my design?” I retorted: “A +good draughtsman can never produce bad works; therefore I am inclined to +believe that your drawing is no better than your statues.” When he saw +the amused expression on the Duke’s face and the cutting gestures of the +bystanders, he let his insolence get the better of him, and turned to me +with that most hideous face of his, screaming aloud: “Oh, hold your +tongue, you ugly…” [1] At these words the Duke frowned, and the +others pursed their lips up and looked with knitted grows toward him. +The horrible affront half maddened me with fury; but in a moment I +recovered presence of mind enough to turn it off with a jest; “You +madman! you exceed the bounds of decency. Yet would to God that I +understood so noble an art as you allude to; they say that Jove used it +with Ganymede in paradise, and here upon this earth it is practised by +some of the greatest emperors and kings. I, however, am but a poor +humble creature, who neither have the power nor the intelligence to +perplex my wits with anything so admirable.” When I had finished this +speech, the Duke and his attendants could control themselves no longer, +but broke into such shouts of laughter that one never heard the like. +You must know, gentle readers, that though I put on this appearance of +pleasantry, my heart was bursting in my body to think that a fellow, the +foulest villain who ever breathed, should have dared in the presence of +so great a prince to cast an insult of that atrocious nature in my +teeth; but you must also know that he insulted the Duke, and not me; for +had I not stood in that august presence, I should have felled him dead +to earth. When the dirty stupid scoundrel observed that those gentlemen +kept on laughing, he tried to change the subject, and divert them from +deriding him; so he began as follows: “This fellow Benvenuto goes about +boasting that I have promised him a piece of marble.” I took him up at +once. “What! did you not send to tell me by your journeyman, Francesco, +that if I wished to work in marble you would give me a block? I accepted +it, and mean to have it.” He retorted: “Be very well assured that you +will never get it.” Still smarting as I was under the calumnious insults +he had flung at me, I lost my self-control, forgot I was in the presence +of the Duke, and called out in a storm of fury: “I swear to you that if +you do not send the marble to my house, you had better look out for +another world, for if you stay upon this earth I will most certainly rip +the wind out of your carcass. [2] Then suddenly awaking to the fact that +I was standing in the presence of so great a duke, I turned submissively +to his Excellency and said: “My lord, one fool makes a hundred; the +follies of this man have blinded me for a moment to the glory of your +most illustrious Excellency and to myself. I humbly crave your pardon.” +Then the Duke said to Bandinello: “Is it true that you promised him the +marble?” He replied that it was true. Upon this the Duke addressed me: +“Go to the Opera, and choose a piece according to your taste.” I +demurred that the man had promised to sent it home to me. The words that +passed between us were awful, and I refused to take the stone in any +other way. Next morning a piece of marble was brought to my house. On +asking who had sent it, they told me it was Bandinello, and that this +was the very block which he had promised. 3 + +Note 1. 'Oh sta cheto, soddomitaccio.' + +Note 2. 'In questo' ('mondo') 'ti sgonfieró a ogni modo.' + +Note 3. Vasari, in his 'Life of Bandinello,' gives a curious +confirmation of Cellini’s veracity by reporting this quarrel, with some +of the speeches which pdssed between the two rival artists. Yet he had +not read Cellini’s 'Memoirs,' and was far from partial to the man. +Comparing Vasari’s with Cellini’s account, we only notice that the +latter has made Bandinello play a less witty part in the wordy strife +than the former assigned him. + +LXXII + +I HAD it brought at once in to my studio, and began to chisel it. While +I was rough-hewing the block, I made a model. But my eagerness to work +in marble was so strong, that I had not patience to finish the model as +correctly as this art demands. I soon noticed that the stone rang false +beneath my strokes, which made me often-times repent commencing on it. +Yet I got what I could out of the piece--that is, the Apollo and +Hyacinth, which may still be seen unfinished in my workshop. While I was +thus engaged, the Duke came to my house, and often said to me: “Leave +your bronze awhile, and let me watch you working on the marble.” Then I +took chisel and mallet, and went at it blithely. He asked about the +model I had made for my statue; to which I answered: “Duke, this marble +is all cracked, but I shall carve something from it in spite of that; +therefore I have not been able to settle the model, but shall go on +doing the best I can.” + +His Excellency sent to Rome post-haste for a block of Greek marble, in +order that I might restore his antique Ganymede, which was the cause of +that dispute with Bandinello. When it arrived, I thought it a sin to cut +it up for the head and arms and other bits wanting in the Ganymede; so I +provided myself with another piece of stone, and reserved the Greek +marble for a Narcissus which I modelled on a small scale in wax. I found +that the block had two holes, penetrating to the depth of a quarter of a +cubit, and two good inches wide. This led me to choose the attitude +which may be noticed in my statue, avoiding the holes and keeping my +figure free from them. But rain had fallen scores of years upon the +stone, filtering so deeply from the holes into its substance that the +marble was decayed. Of this I had full proof at the time of a great +inundation of the Arno, when the river rose to the height of more than a +cubit and a half in my workshop. [1] Now the Narcissus stood upon a +square of wood, and the water overturned it, causing the statue to break +in two above the breasts. I had to join the pieces; and in order that +the line of breakage might not be observed, I wreathed that garland of +flowers round it which may still be seen upon the bosom. I went on +working at the surface, employing some hours before sunrise, or now and +then on feast-days, so as not to lose the time I needed for my Perseus. + +It so happened on one of those mornings, while I was getting some little +chisels into trim to work on the Narcissus, that a very fine splinter of +steel flew into my right eye, and embedded itself so deeply in the pupil +that it could not be extracted. I thought for certain I must lose the +sight of that eye. After some days I sent for Maestro Raffaello dé +Pilli, the surgeon, who obtained a couple of live pigeons, and placing +me upon my back across a table, took the birds and opened a large vein +they have beneath the wing, so that the blood gushed out into my eye. I +felt immediately relieved, and in the space of two days the splinter +came away, and I remained with eyesight greatly improved. Against the +feast of S. Lucia, [2] which came round in three days, I made a golden +eye out of a French crown, and had it presented at her shrine by one of +my six nieces, daughters of my sister Liperata; the girl was ten years +of age, and in her company I returned thanks to God and S. Lucia. For +some while afterwards I did not work at the Narcissus, but pushed my +Perseus forward under all the difficulties I have described. It was my +purpose to finish it, and then to bid farewell to Florence. + +Note 1. Cellini alludes to a celebrated inundation of the year 1547. + +Note 2. S. Lucy, I need hardly remark, is the patroness of the eyes. In +Italian art she is generally represented holding her own eyes upon a +plate. + +LXXIII + +HAVING succeeded so well with the cast of the Medusa, I had great hope +of bringing my Perseus through; for I had laid the wax on, and felt +confident that it would come out in bronze as perfectly as the Medusa. +The waxen model produced so fine an effect, that when the Duke saw it +and was struck with its beauty--whether somebody had persuaded him it +could not be carried out with the same finish in metal, or whether he +thought so for himself--he came to visit me more frequently than usual, +and on one occasion said: “Benvenuto, this figure cannot succeed in +bronze; the laws of art do not admit of it.” These words of his +Excellency stung me so sharply that I answered: “My lord, I know how +very little confidence you have in me; and I believe the reason of this +is that your most illustrious Excellency lends too ready an ear to my +calumniators, or else indeed that you do not understand my art.” He +hardly let me close the sentence when he broke in: “I profess myself a +connoisseur, and understand it very well indeed.” I replied: “Yes, like +a prince, not like an artist; for if your Excellency understood my trade +as well as you imagine, you would trust me on the proofs I have already +given. These are, first, the colossal bronze bust of your Excellency, +which is now in Elba; [1] secondly, the restoration of the Ganymede in +marble, which offered so many difficulties and cost me so much trouble, +that I would rather have made the whole statue new from the beginning; +thirdly, the Medusa, cast by me in bronze, here now before your +Excellency’s eyes, the execution of which was a greater triumph of +strength and skill than any of my predecessors in this fiendish art have +yet achieved. Look you, my lord! I constructed that furnace anew on +principles quite different from those of other founders; in addition to +many technical improvements and ingenious devices, I supplied it with +two issues for the metal, because this difficult and twisted figure +could not otherwise have come out perfect. It is only owing to my +intelligent insight into means and appliances that the statue turned out +as it did; a triumph judged impossible by all the practitioners of this +art. I should like you furthermore to be aware, my lord, for certain, +that the sole reason why I succeeded with all those great arduous works +in France under his most admirable Majesty King Francis, was the high +courage which that good monarch put into my heart by the liberal +allowances he made me, and the multitude of workpeople he left at my +disposal. I could have as many as I asked for, and employed at times +above forty, all chosen by myself. These were the causes of my having +there produced so many masterpieces in so short a space of time. Now +then, my lord, put trust in me; supply me with the aid I need. I am +confident of being able to complete a work which will delight your soul. +But if your Excellency goes on disheartening me, and does not advance me +the assistance which is absolutely required, neither I nor any man alive +upon this earth can hope to achieve the slightest thing of value.” + +Note 1. At Portoferraio. It came afterwards to Florence. + +LXXIV + +IT was as much as the Duke could do to stand by and listen to my +pleadings. He kept turning first this way and then that; while I, in +despair, poor wretched I, was calling up remembrance of the noble state +I held in France, to the great sorrow of my soul. All at once he cried: +“Come, tell me, Benvenuto, how is it possible that yonder splendid head +of Medusa, so high up there in the grasp of Perseus, should ever come +out perfect?” I replied upon the instant: “Look you now, my lord! If +your Excellency possessed that knowledge of the craft which you affirm +you have, you would not fear one moment for the splendid head you speak +of. There is good reason, on the other hand, to feel uneasy about this +right foot, so far below and at a distance from the rest.” When he heard +these words, the Duke turned, half in anger, to some gentlemen in +waiting, and exclaimed: “I verily believe that this Benvenuto prides +himself on contradicting everything one says.” Then he faced round to me +with a touch of mockery, upon which his attendants did the like, and +began to speak as follows: “I will listen patiently to any argument you +can possibly produce in explanation of your statement, which may +convince me of its probability.” I said in answer: “I will adduce so +sound an argument that your Excellency shall perceive the full force of +it.” So I began: “You must know, my lord, that the nature of fire is to +ascend, and therefore I promise you that Medusa’s head will come out +famously; but since it is not in the nature of fire to descend, and I +must force it downwards six cubits by artificial means, I assure your +Excellency upon this most convincing ground of proof that the foot +cannot possibly come out. It will, however, be quite easy for me to +restore it.” “Why, then,” said the Duke, “did you not devise it so that +the foot should come out as well as you affirm the head will?” I +answered: “I must have made a much larger furnace, with a conduit as +thick as my leg; and so I might have forced the molten metal by its own +weight to descend so far. Now, my pipe, which runs six cubits to the +statue’s foot, as I have said, is not thicker than two fingers. However, +it was not worth the trouble and expense to make a larger; for I shall +easily be able to mend what is lacking. But when my mould is more than +half full, as I expect, from this middle point upwards, the fire +ascending by its natural property, then the heads of Perseus and Medusa +will come out admirably; you may be quite sure of it.” After I had thus +expounded these convincing arguments, together with many more of the +same kind, which it would be tedious to set down here, the Duke shook +his head and departed without further ceremony. + +LXXV + +ABANDONED thus to my own resources, I took new courage, and banished the +sad thoughts which kept recurring to my mind, making me often weep +bitter tears of repentance for having left France; for though I did so +only to revisit Florence, my sweet birthplace, in order that I might +charitably succour my six nieces, this good action, as I well perceived, +had been the beginning of my great misfortune. Nevertheless, I felt +convinced that when my Perseus was accomplished, all these trials would +be turned to high felicity and glorious well-being. + +Accordingly I strengthened my heart, and with all the forces of my body +and my purse, employing what little money still remained to me, I set to +work. First I provided myself with several loads of pinewood from the +forests of Serristori, in the neighbourhood of Montelupo. While these +were on their way, I clothed my Perseus with the clay which I had +prepared many months beforehand, in order that it might be duly +seasoned. After making its clay tunic (for that is the term used in this +art) and properly arming it and fencing it with iron girders, I began to +draw the wax out by means of a slow fire. This melted and issued through +numerous air-vents I had made; for the more there are of these, the +better will the mould fill. When I had finished drawing off the wax, I +constructed a funnel-shaped furnace all round the model of my Perseus. +[1] It was built of bricks, so interlaced, the one above the other, that +numerous apertures were left for the fire to exhale at. Then I began to +lay on wood by degrees, and kept it burning two whole days and nights. +At length, when all the wax was gone, and the mould was well baked, I +set to work at digging the pit in which to sink it. This I performed +with scrupulous regard to all the rules of art. When I had finished that +part of my work, I raised the mould by windlasses and stout ropes to a +perpendicular position, and suspending it with the greatest care one +cubit above the level of the furnace, so that it hung exactly above the +middle of the pit, I next lowered it gently down into the very bottom of +the furnace, and had it firmly placed with every possible precaution for +its safety. When this delicate operation was accomplished, I began to +bank it up with the earth I had excavated; and, ever as the earth grew +higher, I introduced its proper air-vents, which were little tubes of +earthenware, such as folk use for drains and such-like purposes. [2] At +length, I felt sure that it was admirably fixed, and that the filling-in +of the pit and the placing of the air-vents had been properly performed. +I also could see that my work people understood my method, which +differed very considerably from that of all the other masters in the +trade. Feeling confident, then, that I could rely upon them, I next +turned to my furnace, which I had filled with numerous pigs of copper +and other bronze stuff. The pieces were piled according to the laws of +art, that is to say, so resting one upon the other that the flames could +play freely through them, in order that the metal might heat and liquefy +the sooner. At last I called out heartily to set the furnace going. The +logs of pine were heaped in, and, what with the unctuous resin of the +wood and the good draught I had given, my furnace worked so well that I +was obliged to rush from side to side to keep it going. The labour was +more than I could stand; yet I forced myself to strain every nerve and +muscle. To increase my anxieties, the workshop took fire, and we were +afraid lest the roof should fall upon our heads; while, from the garden, +such a storm of wind and rain kept blowing in, that it perceptibly +cooled the furnace. + +Battling thus with all these untoward circumstances for several hours, +and exerting myself beyond even the measure of my powerful constitution, +I could at last bear up no longer, and a sudden fever, [3] of the utmost +possible intensity, attacked me. I felt absolutely obliged to go and +fling myself upon my bed. Sorely against my will having to drag myself +away from the spot, I turned to my assistants, about ten or more in all, +what with master-founders, hand-workers, country-fellows, and my own +special journeymen, among whom was Bernardino Mannellini of Mugello, my +apprentice through several years. To him in particular I spoke: “Look, +my dear Bernardino, that you observe the rules which I have taught you; +do your best with all despatch, for the metal will soon be fused. You +cannot go wrong; these honest men will get the channels ready; you will +easily be able to drive back the two plugs with this pair of iron +crooks; and I am sure that my mould will fill miraculously. I feel more +ill than I ever did in all my life, and verily believe that it will kill +me before a few hours are over. [4] Thus, with despair at heart, I left +them, and betook myself to bed. + +Note 1. This furnace, called 'manica,' was like a grain-hopper, so that +the mould could stand upright in it as in a cup. The word 'manica' is +the same as our 'manuch,' an antique form of sleeve. + +Note 2. These air-vents, or 'sfiatatoi,' were introduced into the outer +mould, which Cellini calls the 'tonaca,' or clay tunic laid upon the +original model of baked clay and wax. They served the double purpose of +drawing off the wax, whereby a space was left for the molten bronze to +enter, and also of facilitating the penetration of this molten metal by +allowing a free escape of air and gas from the outer mould. + +Note 3. 'Una febbre efimera.' Lit., 'a fever of one day’s duration.' + +Note 4. Some technical terms require explanation in this sentence. The +'canali' or channels were sluices for carrying the molten metal from the +furnace into the mould. The 'mandriani,' which I have translated by +'iron crooks,' were poles fitted at the end with curved irons, by which +the openings of the furnace, 'plugs,' or in Italian 'spine,' could be +partially or wholly driven back, so as to the molten metal flow through +the channels into the mould. When the metal reached the mould, it +entered in a red-hot stream between the 'tonaca,' or outside mould, and +the 'anima,' or inner block, filling up exactly the space which had +previously been occupied by the wax extracted by a method of slow +burning alluded to above. I believe that the process is known as +'casting á cire perdue.' The 'forma,' or mould, consisted of two pieces; +one hollow ('la tonaca'), which gave shape to the bronze; one solid and +rounded ('la anima'), which stood at a short interval within the former, +and regulated the influx of the metal. See above, p. 354, note. + +LXXVI + +NO sooner had I got to bed, than I ordered my serving-maids to carry +food and wine for all the men into the workshop; at the same time I +cried: “I shall not be alive tomorrow.” They tried to encourage me, +arguing that my illness would pass over, since it came from excessive +fatigue. In this way I spent two hours battling with the fever, which +steadily increased, and calling out continually: “I feel that I am +dying.” My housekeeper, who was named Mona Fiore da Castel del Rio, a +very notable manager and no less warm-hearted, kept chiding me for my +discouragement; but, on the other hand, she paid me every kind attention +which was possible. However, the sight of my physical pain and moral +dejection so affected her, that, in spite of that brave heart of hers, +she could not refrain from shedding tears; and yet, so far as she was +able, she took good care I should not see them. While I was thus +terribly afflicted, I beheld the figure of a man enter my chamber, +twisted in his body into the form of a capital S. He raised a +lamentable, doleful voice, like one who announces their last hour to men +condemned to die upon the scaffold, and spoke these words: “O Benvenuto! +your statue is spoiled, and there is no hope whatever of saving it.” No +sooner had I heard the shriek of that wretch than I gave a howl which +might have been heard from the sphere of flame. Jumping from my bed, I +seized my clothes and began to dress. The maids, and my lads, and every +one who came around to help me, got kicks or blows of the fist, while I +kept crying out in lamentation: “Ah! traitors! enviers! This is an act +of treason, done by malice prepense! But I swear by God that I will sift +it to the bottom, and before I die will leave such witness to the world +of what I can do as shall make a score of mortals marvel.” + +When I had got my clothes on, I strode with soul bent on mischief toward +the workshop; there I beheld the men, whom I had left erewhile in such +high spirits, standing stupefied and downcast. I began at once and +spoke: “Up with you! Attend to me! Since you have not been able or +willing to obey the directions I gave you, obey me now that I am with +you to conduct my work in person. Let no one contradict me, for in cases +like this we need the aid of hand and hearing, not of advice.” When I +had uttered these words, a certain Maestro Alessandro Lastricati broke +silence and said: “Look you, Benvenuto, you are going to attempt an +enterprise which the laws of art do not sanction, and which cannot +succeed.” I turned upon him with such fury and so full of mischief, that +he and all the rest of them exclaimed with one voice: “On then! Give +orders! We will obey your least commands, so long as life is left in +us.” I believe they spoke thus feelingly because they thought I must +fall shortly dead upon the ground. I went immediately to inspect the +furnace, and found that the metal was all curdled; an accident which we +express by “being caked.” [1] I told two of the hands to cross the road, +and fetch from the house of the butcher Capretta a load of young +oak-wood, which had lain dry for above a year; this wood had been +previously offered me by Madame Ginevra, wife of the said Capretta. So +soon as the first armfuls arrived, I began to fill the grate beneath the +furnace. [2] Now oak-wood of that kind heats more powerfully than any +other sort of tree; and for this reason, where a slow fire is wanted, as +in the case of gun-foundry, alder or pine is preferred. Accordingly, +when the logs took fire, oh! how the cake began to stir beneath that +awful heat, to glow and sparkle in a blaze! At the same time I kept +stirring up the channels, and sent men upon the roof to stop the +conflagration, which had gathered force from the increased combustion in +the furnace; also I caused boards, carpets, and other hangings to be set +up against the garden, in order to protect us from the violence of the +rain. + +Note 1. 'Essersi fatto un migliaccio.' + +Note 2. The Italian is 'bracciaiuola,' a pit below the grating, which +receives the ashes from the furnace. + +LXXVII + +WHEN I had thus provided against these several disasters, I roared out +first to one man and then to another: “Bring this thing here! Take that +thing there!” At this crisis, when the whole gang saw the cake was on +the point of melting, they did my bidding, each fellow working with the +strength of three. I then ordered half a pig of pewter to be brought, +which weighed about sixty pounds, and flung it into the middle of the +cake inside the furnace. By this means, and by piling on wood and +stirring now with pokers and now with iron rods, the curdled mass +rapidly began to liquefy. Then, knowing I had brought the dead to life +again, against the firm opinion of those ignoramuses, I felt such vigour +fill my veins, that all those pains of fever, all those fears of death, +were quite forgotten. + +All of a sudden an explosion took place, attended by a tremendous flash +of flame, as though a thunderbolt had formed and been discharged amongst +us. Unwonted and appalling terror astonished every one, and me more even +than the rest. When the din was over and the dazzling light +extinguished, we began to look each other in the face. Then I discovered +that the cap of the furnace had blown up, and the bronze was bubbling +over from its source beneath. So I had the mouths of my mould +immediately opened, and at the same time drove in the two plugs which +kept back the molten metal. But I noticed that it did not flow as +rapidly as usual, the reason being probably that the fierce heat of the +fire we kindled had consumed its base alloy. Accordingly I sent for all +my pewter platters, porringers, and dishes, to the number of some two +hundred pieces, and had a portion of them cast, one by one, into the +channels, the rest into the furnace. This expedient succeeded, and every +one could now perceive that my bronze was in most perfect liquefaction, +and my mould was filling; whereupon they all with heartiness and happy +cheer assisted and obeyed my bidding, while I, now here, now there, gave +orders, helped with my own hands, and cried aloud: “O God! Thou that by +Thy immeasurable power didst rise from the dead, and in Thy glory didst +ascend to heaven!”…. even thus in a moment my mould was filled; +and seeing my work finished, I fell upon my knees, and with all my heart +gave thanks to God. + +After all was over, I turned to a plate of salad on a bench there, and +ate with hearty appetite, and drank together with the whole crew. +Afterwards I retired to bed, healthy and happy, for it was now two hours +before morning, and slept as sweetly as though I had never felt a touch +of illness. My good housekeeper, without my giving any orders, had +prepared a fat capon for my repast. So that, when I rose, about the hour +for breaking fast, she presented herself with a smiling countenance, and +said: “Oh! is that the man who felt that he was dying? Upon my word, I +think the blows and kicks you dealt us last night, when you were so +enraged, and had that demon in your body as it seemed, must have +frightened away your mortal fever! The fever feared that it might catch +it too, as we did!” All my poor household, relieved in like measure from +anxiety and overwhelming labour, went at once to buy earthen vessels in +order to replace the pewter I had cast away. Then we dined together +joyfully; nay, I cannot remember a day in my whole life when I dined +with greater gladness or a better appetite. + +After our meal I received visits from the several men who had assisted +me. They exchanged congratulations, and thanked God for our success, +saying they had learned and seen things done which other masters judged +impossible. I too grew somewhat glorious; and deeming I had shown myself +a man of talent, indulged a boastful humour. So I thrust my hand into my +purse, and paid them all to their full satisfaction. + +That evil fellow, my mortal foe, Messer Pier Francesco Ricci, majordomo +of the Duke, took great pains to find out how the affair had gone. In +answer to his questions, the two men whom I suspected of having caked my +metal for me, said I was no man, but of a certainty some powerful devil, +since I had accomplished what no craft of the art could do; indeed they +did not believe a mere ordinary fiend could work such miracles as I in +other ways had shown. They exaggerated the whole affair so much, +possibly in order to excuse their own part in it, that the majordomo +wrote an account to the Duke, who was then in Pisa, far more marvellous +and full of thrilling incidents than what they had narrated. + +LXXVIII + +AFTER I had let my statue cool for two whole days, I began to uncover it +by slow degrees. The first thing I found was that the head of Medusa had +come out most admirably, thanks to the air-vents; for, as I had told the +Duke, it is the nature of fire to ascend. Upon advancing farther, I +discovered that the other head, that, namely, of Perseus, had succeeded +no less admirably; and this astonished me far more, because it is at a +considerably lower level than that of the Medusa. Now the mouths of the +mould were placed above the head of Perseus and behind his shoulders; +and I found that all the bronze my furnace contained had been exhausted +in the head of this figure. It was a miracle to observe that not one +fragment remained in the orifice of the channel, and that nothing was +wanting to the statue. In my great astonishment I seemed to see in this +the hand of God arranging and controlling all. + +I went on uncovering the statue with success, and ascertained that +everything had come out in perfect order, until I reached the foot of +the right leg on which the statue rests. There the heel itself was +formed, and going farther, I found the foot apparently complete. This +gave me great joy on the one side, but was half unwelcome to me on the +other, merely because I had told the Duke that it could not come out. +However, when I reached the end, it appeared that the toes and a little +piece above them were unfinished, so that about half the foot was +wanting. Although I knew that this would add a trifle to my labour, I +was very well pleased, because I could now prove to the Duke how well I +understood my business. It is true that far more of the foot than I +expected had been perfectly formed; the reason of this was that, from +causes I have recently described, the bronze was hotter than our rules +of art prescribe; also that I had been obliged to supplement the alloy +with my pewter cups and platters, which no one else, I think, had ever +done before. + +Having now ascertained how successfully my work had been accomplished, I +lost no time in hurrying to Pisa, where I found the Duke. He gave me a +most gracious reception, as did also the Duchess; and although the +majordomo had informed them of the whole proceedings, their Excellencies +deemed my performance far more stupendous and astonishing when they +heard the tale from my own mouth. When I arrived at the foot of Perseus, +and said it had not come out perfect, just as I previously warned his +Excellency, I saw an expression of wonder pass over his face, while he +related to the Duchess how I had predicted this beforehand. Observing +the princes to be so well disposed towards me, I begged leave from the +Duke to go to Rome. He granted it in most obliging terms, and bade me +return as soon as possible to complete his Perseus; giving me letters of +recommendation meanwhile to his ambassador, Averardo Serristori. We were +then in the first years of Pope Giulio de Monti. 1 + +Note 1. Gio Maria del Monte Sansovino was elected Pope, with the title +of Julius III., in February 1550. + +LXXIX + +BEFORE leaving home, I directed my workpeople to proceed according to +the method I had taught them. The reason of my journey was as follows. I +had made a life-sized bust in bronze of Bindo Altoviti, [1] the son of +Antonio, and had sent it to him at Rome. He set it up in his study, +which was very richly adorned with antiquities and other works of art; +but the room was not designed for statues or for paintings, since the +windows were too low, so that the light coming from beneath spoiled the +effect they would have produced under more favourable conditions. It +happened one day that Bindo was standing at his door, when Michel Agnolo +Buonarroti, the sculptor, passed by; so he begged him to come in and see +his study. Michel Agnolo followed, and on entering the room and looking +round, he exclaimed: “Who is the master who made that good portrait of +you in so fine a manner? You must know that that bust pleases me as +much, or even more, than those antiques; and yet there are many fine +things to be seen among the latter. If those windows were above instead +of beneath, the whole collection would show to greater advantage, and +your portrait, placed among so many masterpieces, would hold its own +with credit.” No sooner had Michel Agnolo left the house of Bindo than +he wrote me a very kind letter, which ran as follows: “My dear +Benvenuto, I have known you for many years as the greatest goldsmith of +whom we have any information; and henceforward I shall know you for a +sculptor of like quality. I must tell you that Master Bindo Altoviti +took me to see his bust in bronze, and informed me that you had made it. +I was greatly pleased with the work; but it annoyed me to notice that it +was placed in a bad light; for if it were suitably illuminated, it would +show itself to be the fine performance that it is.” This letter abounded +with the most affectionate and complimentary expressions towards myself; +and before I left for Rome, I showed it to the Duke, who read it with +much kindly interest, and said to me: “Benvenuto, if you write to him, +and can persuade him to return to Florence, I will make him a member of +the Forty-eight.” [2] Accordingly I wrote a letter full of warmth, and +offered in the Duke’s name a hundred times more than my commission +carried; but not wanting to make any mistake, I showed this to the Duke +before I sealed it, saying to his most illustrious Excellency: “Prince, +perhaps I have made him too many promises.” He replied: “Michel Agnolo +deserves more than you have promised, and I will bestow on him still +greater favours.” To this letter he sent no answer, and I could see that +the Duke was much offended with him. + +Note 1. This man was a member of a very noble Florentine family. Born in +1491, he was at this epoch Tuscan Consul in Rome. Cellini’s bust of him +still exists in the Palazzo Altoviti at Rome. + +Note 2. This was one of the three Councils created by Clement VII. in +1532, when he changed the Florentine constitution. It corresponded to a +Senate. + +LXXX + +WHEN I reached Rome, I went to lodge in Bindo Altoviti’s house. He told +me at once how he had shown his bronze bust to Michel Agnolo, and how +the latter had praised it. So we spoke for some length upon this topic. +I ought to narrate the reasons why I had taken this portrait. Bindo had +in his hands 1200 golden crowns of mine, which formed part of 5000 he +had lent the Duke; 4000 were his own, and mine stood in his name, while +I received that portion of the interest which accrued to me. [1] This +led to my taking his portrait; and when he saw the wax model for the +bust, he sent me fifty golden scudi by a notary in his employ, named Ser +Giuliano Paccalli. I did not want to take the money, so I sent it back +to him by the same hand, saying at a later time to Bindo: “I shall be +satisfied if you keep that sum of mine for me at interest, so that I may +gain a little on it.” When we came to square accounts on this occasion, +I observed that he was ill disposed towards me, since, instead of +treating me affectionately, according to his previous wont, he put on a +stiff air; and although I was staying in his house, he was never +good-humoured, but always surly. However, we settled our business in a +few words. I sacrificed my pay for his portrait, together with the +bronze, and we arranged that he should keep my money at 15 per cent. +during my natural life. + +Note 1. To make the sum correct, 5200 ought to have been lent the Duke. + +LXXXI + +ONE of the first things I did was to go and kiss the Pope’s feet; and +while I was speaking with his Holiness, Messer Averardo Serristori, our +Duke’s Envoy, arrived. [1] I had made some proposals to the Pope, which +I think he would have agreed upon, and I should have been very glad to +return to Rome on account of the great difficulties which I had at +Florence. But I soon perceived that the ambassador had countermined me. + +Then I went to visit Michel Agnolo Buonarroti, and repeated what I had +written from Florence to him in the Duke’s name. He replied that he was +engaged upon the fabric of S. Peter’s, and that this would prevent him +from leaving Rome. I rejoined that, as he had decided on the model of +that building, he could leave its execution to his man Urbino, who would +carry out his orders to the letter. I added much about future favours, +in the form of a message from the Duke. Upon this he looked me hard in +the face, and said with a sarcastic smile: “And you! to what extent are +you satisfied with him?” Although I replied that I was extremely +contented and was very well treated by his Excellency, he showed that he +was acquainted with the greater part of my annoyances, and gave as his +final answer that it would be difficult for him to leave Rome. To this I +added that he could not do better than to return to his own land, which +was governed by a prince renowned for justice, and the greatest lover of +the arts and sciences who ever saw the light of this world. As I have +remarked above, he had with him a servant of his who came from Urbino, +and had lived many years in his employment, rather as valet and +housekeeper than anything else; this indeed was obvious, because he had +acquired no skill in the arts. [2] Consequently, while I was pressing +Michel Agnolo with arguments he could not answer, he turned round +sharply to Urbino, as though to ask him his opinion. The fellow began to +bawl out in his rustic way: “I will never leave my master Michel +Agnolo’s side till I shall have flayed him or he shall have flayed me.” +These stupid words forced me to laugh, and without saying farewell, I +lowered my shoulders and retired. + +Note 1. His despatches form a valuable series of historical documents. +'Firenze,' Le Monnier, 1853. + +Note 2. Upon the death of this Urbino, Michel Agnolo wrote a touching +sonnet and a very feeling letter to Vasari. + +LXXXII + +THE MISERABLE bargain I had made with Bindo Altoviti, losing my bust and +leaving him my capital for life, taught me what the faith of merchants +is; so I returned in bad spirits to Florence. I went at once to the +palace to pay my respects to the Duke, whom I found to be at Castello +beyond Ponte a Rifredi. In the palace I met Messer Pier Francesco Ricci, +the majordomo, and when I drew nigh to pay him the usual compliments, he +exclaimed with measureless astonishment: “Oh, are you come back?” and +with the same air of surprise, clapping his hands together, he cried: +“The Duke is at Castello!” then turned his back and left me. I could not +form the least idea why the beast behaved in such an extraordinary +manner to me. + +Proceeding at once to Castello, and entering the garden where the Duke +was, I caught sight of him at a distance; but no sooner had he seen me +than he showed signs of surprise, and intimated that I might go about my +business. I had been reckoning that his Excellency would treat me with +the same kindness, or even greater, as before I left for Rome; so now, +when he received me with such rudeness. I went back, much hurt, to +Florence. While resuming my work and pushing my statue forward, I racked +my brains to think what could have brought about this sudden change in +the Duke’s manner. The curious way in which Messer Sforza and some other +gentlemen close to his Excellency’s person eyed me, prompted me to ask +the former what the matter was. He only replied with a sort of smile: +“Benvenuto, do your best to be an honest man, and have no concern for +anything else.” A few days afterwards I obtained an audience of the +Duke, who received me with a kind of grudging grace, and asked me what I +had been doing at Rome. To the best of my ability I maintained the +conversation, and told him the whole story about Bindo Altoviti’s bust. +It was evident that he listened with attention; so I went on talking +about Michel Agnolo Buonarroti. At this he showed displeasure; but +Urbino’s stupid speech about the flaying made him laugh aloud. Then he +said: “Well, it is he who suffers!” and I took my leave. + +There can be no doubt that Ser Pier Francesco, the majordomo, must have +served me some ill turn with the Duke, which did not, however, succeed; +for God, who loves the truth, protected me, as He hath ever saved me, +from a sea of dreadful dangers, and I hope will save me till the end of +this my life, however full of trials it may be. I march forward, +therefore, with a good heart, sustained alone by His divine power; nor +let myself be terrified by any furious assault of fortune or my adverse +stars. May only God maintain me in His grace! + +LXXXIII + +I MUST beg your attention now, most gracious reader, for a very terrible +event which happened. + +I used the utmost diligence and industry to complete my statue, and went +to spend my evenings in the Duke’s wardrobe, assisting there the +goldsmiths who were working for his Excellency. Indeed, they laboured +mainly on designs which I had given them. Noticing that the Duke took +pleasure in seeing me at work and talking with me, I took it into my +head to go there sometimes also by day. It happened upon one of those +days that his Excellency came as usual to the room where I was occupied, +and more particularly because he heard of my arrival. His Excellency +entered at once into conversation, raising several interesting topics, +upon which I gave my views so much to his entertainment that he showed +more cheerfulness than I had ever seen in him before. All of a sudden, +one of his secretaries appeared, and whispered something of importance +in his ear; whereupon the Duke rose, and retired with the official into +another chamber. Now the Duchess had sent to see what his Excellency was +doing, and her page brought back this answer: “The Duke is talking and +laughing with Benvenuto, and is in excellent good-humour.” When the +Duchess heard this, she came immediately to the wardrobe, and not +finding the Duke there, took a seat beside us. After watching us at work +a while, she turned to me with the utmost graciousness, and showed me a +necklace of large and really very fine pearls. On being asked by her +what I thought of them, I said it was in truth a very handsome ornament. +Then she spoke as follows: “I should like the Duke to buy them for me; +so I beg you, my dear Benvenuto, to praise them to him as highly as you +can.” At these words I disclosed my mind to the Duchess with all the +respect I could, and answered: “My lady, I thought this necklace of +pearls belonged already to your most illus trious Excellency. Now that I +am aware you have not yet acquired them, it is right, nay, more, it is +my duty to utter what I might otherwise have refrained from saying, +namely, that my mature professional experience enables me to detect very +grave faults in the pearls, and for this reason I could never advise +your Excellency to purchase them.” She replied: “The merchant offers +them for six thousand crowns; and were it not for some of those trifling +defects you speak of, the rope would be worth over twelve thousand.” To +this I replied, that “even were the necklace of quite flawless quality, +I could not advise any one to bid up to five thousand crowns for it; for +pearls are not gems; pearls are but fishes’ bones, which in the course +of time must lose their freshness. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and +sapphires, on the contrary, never grow old; these four are precious +stones, and these it is quite right to purchase.” When I had thus +spoken, the Duchess showed some signs of irritation, and exclaimed: “I +have a mind to possess these pearls; so, prithee, take them to the Duke, +and praise them up to the skies; even if you have to use some words +beyond the bounds of truth, speak them to do me service; it will be well +for you!” + +I have always been the greatest friend of truth and foe of lies: yet +compelled by necessity, unwilling to lose the favour of so great a +princess, I took those confounded pearls sorely against my inclination, +and went with them over to the other room, whither the Duke had +withdrawn. No sooner did he set eyes upon me than he cried: “O +Benvenuto! what are you about here?” I uncovered the pearls and said: +“My lord, I am come to show you a most splendid necklace of pearls, of +the rarest quality, and truly worthy of your Excellency; I do not +believe it would be possible to put together eighty pearls which could +show better than these do in a necklace. My counsel therefore is, that +you should buy them, for they are in good sooth miraculous.” He +responded on the instant: “I do not choose to buy them; they are not +pearls of the quality and goodness you affirm; I have seen the necklace, +and they do not please me.” Then I added: “Pardon me, prince! These +pearls exceed in rarity and beauty any which were ever brought together +for a necklace.” The Duchess had risen, and was standing behind a door +listening to all I said. Well, when I had praised the pearls a +thousandfold more warmly than I have described above, the Duke turned +towards me with a kindly look, and said. “O my dear Benvenuto, I know +that you have an excellent judgment in these matters. If the pearls are +as rare as you certify, I should not hesitate about their purchase, +partly to gratify the Duchess, and partly to possess them, seeing I have +always need of such things, not so much for her Grace, as for the +various uses of my sons and daughters.” When I heard him speak thus, +having once begun to tell fibs, I stuck to them with even greater +boldness; I gave all the colour of truth I could to my lies, confiding +in the promise of the Duchess to help me at the time of need. More than +two hundred crowns were to be my commission on the bargain, and the +Duchess had intimated that I should receive so much; but I was firmly +resolved not to touch a farthing, in order to secure my credit, and +convince the Duke I was not prompted by avarice. Once more his +Excellency began to address me with the greatest courtesy: “I know that +you are consummate judge of these things; therefore, if you are the +honest man I always thought you, tell me now the truth.” Thereat I +flushed up to my eyes, which at the same time filled with tears, and +said to him: “My lord, if I tell your most illustrious Excellency the +truth, I shall make a mortal foe of the Duchess; this will oblige me to +depart from Florence, and my enemies will begin at once to pour contempt +upon my Perseus, which I have announced as a masterpiece to the most +noble school of your illustrious Excellency. Such being the case, I +recommend myself to your most illustrious Excellency.” + +LXXXIV + +THE DUKE was now aware that all my previous speeches had been, as it +were, forced out of me. So he rejoined: “If you have confidence in me, +you need not stand in fear of anything whatever.” I recommenced: “Alas! +my lord, what can prevent this coming to the ears of the Duchess?” The +Duke lifted his hand in sign of troth-pledge, [1] and exclaimed: “Be +assured that what you say will be buried in a diamond casket!” To this +engagement upon honour I replied by telling the truth according to my +judgment, namely, that the pearls were not worth above two thousand +crowns. The Duchess, thinking we had stopped talking, for we now were +speaking in as low a voice as possible, came forward, and began as +follows: “My lord, do me, the favour to purchase this necklace, because +I have set my heart on them, and your Benvenuto here has said he never +saw a finer row of pearls.” The Duke replied: “I do not choose to buy +them.” “Why, my lord, will not your Excellency gratify me by buying +them?” “Because I do not care to throw my money out of the window.” The +Duchess recommenced: “What do you mean by throwing your money away, when +Benvenuto, in whom you place such well-merited confidence, has told me +that they would be cheap at over three thousand crowns?” Then the Duke +said; “My lady! my Benvenuto here has told me that, if I purchase this +necklace, I shall be throwing my money away, inasmuch as the pearls are +neither round nor well-matched, and some of them are quite faded. To +prove that this is so, look here! look there! consider this one and then +that. The necklace is not the sort of thing for me.” At these words the +Duchess cast a glance of bitter spite at me, and retired with a +threatening nod of her head in my direction. I felt tempted to pack off +at once and bid farewell to Italy. Yet my Perseus being all but +finished, I did not like to leave without exposing it to public view. +But I ask every one to consider in what a grievous plight I found myself! + +The Duke had given orders to his porters in my presence, that if I +appeared at the palace, they should always admit me through his +apartments to the place where he might happen to be. The Duchess +commanded the same men, whenever I showed my face at that palace, to +drive me from its gates. Accordingly, no sooner did I present myself, +than these fellows left their doors and bade me begone; at the same time +they took good care lest the Duke should perceive what they were after; +for if he caught sight of me before those wretches, he either called me, +or beckoned to me to advance. + +At this juncture the Duchess sent for Bernardone, the broker, of whom +she had so often complained to me, abusing his good-for-nothingness and +utter worthlessness. She now confided in him as she had previously done +in me. He replied: “My princess, leave the matter in my hands.” Then the +rascal presented himself before the Duke with that necklace in his +hands. No sooner did the Duke set eyes on him than he bade him begone. +But the rogue lifted his big ugly voice, which sounded like the braying +of an ass through his huge nose, and spoke to this effect: “Ah! my dear +lord, for Heaven’s sake buy this necklace for the poor Duchess, who is +dying to have it, and cannot indeed live without it.” The fellow poured +forth so much of this stupid nonsensical stuff that the Duke’s patience +was exhausted, and he cried: “Oh, get away with you, or blow your chaps +out till I smack them!” The knave knew very well what he was after; for +if by blowing out his cheeks or singing 'La Bella Frances-china,' [2] he +could bring the Duke to make that purchase, then he gained the good +grace of the Duchess, and to boot his own commission, which rose to some +hundreds of crowns. Consequently he did blow out his chaps. The Duke +smacked them with several hearty boxes, and, in order to get rid of him, +struck rather harder than his wont was. The sound blows upon his cheeks +not only reddened them above their natural purple, but also brought +tears into his eyes. All the same, while smarting, he began to cry: “Lo! +my lord, a faithful servant of his prince, who tries to act rightly, and +is willing to put up with any sort of bad treatment, provided only that +poor lady have her heart’s desire!” The Duke tired of the ribald fellow, +either to recompense the cuffs which he had dealt him, or for the +Duchess’ sake, whom he was ever most inclined to gratify, cried out: +“Get away with you, with God’s curse on you! Go, make the bargain; I am +willing to do what my lady Duchess wishes.” + +From this incident we may learn to know how evil Fortune exerts her rage +against a poor right-minded man, and how the strumpet Luck can help a +miserable rascal. I lost the good graces of the Duchess once and for +ever, and thereby went close to having the Duke’s protection taken from +me. He acquired that thumping fee for his commission, and to boot their +favour. Thus it will not serve us in this world to be merely men of +honesty and talent. + +Note 1. 'Alzò la fede.' + +Note 2. A popular ballad of the time. + +LXXXV + +ABOUT this time the war of Siena broke out, [1] and the Duke, wishing to +fortify Florence, distributed the gates among his architects and +sculptors. I received the Prato gate and the little one of Arno, which +is on the way to the mills. The Cavaliere Bandinello got the gate of San +Friano; Pasqualino d’Ancona, the gate at San Pier Gattolini; Giulian di +Baccio d’Agnolo, the wood-carver, had the gate of San Giorgio; + +Particino, the wood-carver, had the gate of Santo Niccolò; Francesco da +San Gallo, the sculptor, called Il Margolla, got the gate of Santa +Croce; and Giovan Battista, surnamed Il Tasso, the gate Pinti. [2] Other +bastions and gates were assigned to divers engineers, whose names I do +not recollect, nor indeed am I concerned with them. The Duke, who +certainly was at all times a man of great ability, went round the city +himself upon a tour of inspection, and when he had made his mind up, he +sent for Lattanzio Gorini, one of his paymasters. Now this man was to +some extent an amateur of military architecture; so his Excellency +commissioned him to make designs for the fortifications of the gates, +and sent each of us his own gate drawn according to the plan. After +examining the plan for mine, and perceiving that it was very incorrect +in many details, I took it and went immediately to the Duke. When I +tried to point out these defects, the Duke interrupted me and exclaimed +with fury: “Benvenuto, I will give way to you upon the point of +statuary, but in this art of fortification I choose that you should cede +to me. So carry out the design which I have given you.” To these brave +words I answered as gently as I could, and said: “My lord, your most +illustrious Excellency has taught me something even in my own fine art +of statuary, inasmuch as we have always exchanged ideas upon that +subject; I beg you then to deign to listen to me upon this matter of +your fortifications, which is far more important than making statues. If +I am permitted to discuss it also with your Excellency, you will be +better able to teach me how I have to serve you.” This courteous speech +of mine induced him to discuss the plans with me; and when I had clearly +demonstrated that they were not conceived on a right method, he said: +“Go, then, and make a design yourself, and I will see if it satisfies +me.” Accordingly, I made two designs according to the right principles +for fortifying those two gates, and took them to him; and when he +distinguished the true from the false system, he exclaimed good +humouredly: “Go and do it in your own way, for I am content to have it +so.” I set to work then with the greatest diligence. + +Note 1. In the year 1552, when Piero Strozzi acted as general for the +French King, Henri II., against the Spaniards. The war ended in the +capitulation of Siena in 1555. In 1557 it was ceded by Philip II. to +Cosimo de’ Medici. + +Note 2. These artists, with the exception of pasqualino, are all known +to us in the conditions described by Cellini. Francesco da San Gallo was +the son of Giuliano, and nephew of Antonio da San Gallo. + +LXXXVI + +THERE was on guard at the gate of Prato a certain Lombard captain; he +was a truculent and stalwart fellow, of incredibly coarse speech, whose +presumption matched his utter ignorance. This man began at once to ask +me what I was about there. I politely exhibited my drawings, and took +infinite pains to make him understand my purpose. The rude brute kept +rolling his head, and turning first to one side and then to the other, +shifting himself upon his legs, and twirling his enormous moustachios; +then he drew his cap down over his eyes and roared out: “Zounds! deuce +take it! I can make nothing of this rigmarole.” At last the animal +became so tiresome that I said: “Leave it then to me, who do understand +it,” and turned my shoulders to go about my business. At this he began +to threaten me with his head, and, setting his left hand on the pommel +of his sword, tilted the point up, and exclaimed: “Hullo, my master! you +want perhaps to make me cross blades with you?” I faced round in great +fury, for the man had stirred my blood, and cried out: “It would be less +trouble to run you through the body than to build the bastion of this +gate.” In an instant we both set hands to our swords, without quite +drawing; for a number of honest folk, citizens of Florence, and others +of them courtiers, came running up. The greater part of them rated the +captain, telling him that he was in the wrong, that I was a man to give +him back as good as I got, and that if this came to the Duke’s ears, it +would be the worse for him. Accordingly he went off on his own business, +and I began with my bastion. + +After setting things in order there, I proceeded to the other little +gate of Arno, where I found a captain from Cesena, the most polite, +well-mannered man I ever knew in that profession. He had the air of a +gentle young lady, but at need he could prove himself one of the boldest +and bloodiest fighters in the world. This agreeable gentleman observed +me so attentively that he made me bashful and self-conscious; and seeing +that he wanted to understand what I was doing, I courteously explained +my plans. Suffice it to say, that we vied with each other in civilities, +which made me do far better with this bastion than with the other. + +I had nearly finished the two bastions when an inroad of Piero Strozzi’s +people struck such terror into the countryfolk of Prato that they began +to leave it in a body, and all their carts, laden with the household +goods of each family, came crowding into the city. The number of them +was so enormous, cart jostling with cart, and the confusion was so +great, that I told the guards to look out lest the same misadventure +should happen at this gate as had occurred at the gates of Turin; for if +we had once cause to lower the portcullis, it would not be able to +perform its functions, but must inevitably stick suspended upon one of +the waggons. When that big brute of a captain heard these words, he +replied with insults, and I retorted in the same tone. We were on the +point of coming to a far worse quarrel than before. However, the folk +kept us asunder; and when I had finished my bastions, I touched some +score of crowns, which I had not expected, and which were uncommonly +welcome. So I returned with a blithe heart to finish my Perseus. + +LXXXVII + +DURING those days some antiquities had been discovered in the country +round Arezzo. Among them was the Chimæra, that bronze lion which is to +be seen in the rooms adjacent to the great hall of the palace. [1] +Together with the Chimæra a number of little statuettes, likewise in +bronze, had been brought to light; they were covered with earth and +rust, and each of them lacked either head or hands or feet. The Duke +amused his leisure hours by cleaning up these statuettes himself with +certain little chisels used by goldsmiths. It happened on one occasion +that I had to speak on business to his Excellency; and while we were +talking, he reached me a little hammer, with which I struck the chisels +the Duke held, and so the figures were disengaged from their earth and +rust. In this way we passed several evenings, and then the Duke +commissioned me to restore the statuettes. He took so much pleasure in +these trifles that he made me work by day also, and if I delayed coming, +he used to send for me. I very often submitted to his Excellency that if +I left my Perseus in the daytime, several bad consequences would ensue. +The first of these, which caused me the greatest anxiety, was that, +seeing me spend so long a time upon my statue, the Duke himself might +get disgusted; which indeed did afterwards happen. The other was that I +had several journeymen who in my absence were up to two kinds of +mischief; first, they spoilt my piece, and then they did as little work +as possible. These arguments made his Excellency consent that I should +only go to the palace after twenty-four o’clock. + +I had now conciliated the affection of his Excellency to such an extent, +that every evening when I came to him he treated me with greater +kindness. About this time the new apartments were built toward the +lions; [2] the Duke then wishing to be able to retire into a less public +part of the palace, fitted up for himself a little chamber in these new +lodgings, and ordered me approach to it by a private passage. I had to +pass through his wardrobe, then across the stage of the great hall, and +afterwards through certain little dark galleries and cabinets. The +Duchess, however, after a few days, deprived me of this means of access +by having all the doors upon the path I had to traverse locked up. The +consequence was that every evening when I arrived at the palace, I had +to wait a long while, because the Duchess occupied the cabinets for her +personal necessities. [3] Her habit of body was unhealthy, and so I +never came without incommoding her. This and other causes made her hate +the very sight of me. However, nothwithstanding great discomforts and +daily annoyances, I persevered in going. The Duke’s orders, meanwhile, +were so precise, that no sooner did I knock at those doors, than they +were immediately opened, and I was allowed to pass freely where I chose. +The consequence was that occasionally, while walking noiselessly and +unexpectedly through the private rooms, I came upon the Duchess at a +highly inconvenient moment. Bursting then into such a furious storm of +rage that I was frightened, she cried out: “When will you ever finish +mending up those statuettes? Upon my word, this perpetual going and +coming of yours has grown to be too great a nuisance.” I replied as +gently as I could: “My lady and sole mistress, I have no other desire +than to serve you loyally and with the strictest obedience. This work to +which the Duke has put me will last several months; so tell me, most +illustrious Excellency, whether you wish me not to come here any more. +In that case I will not come, whoever calls me; nay, should the Duke +himself send for me, I shall reply that I am ill, and by no means will I +intrude again.” To this speech she made answer: “I do not bid you not to +come, nor do I bid you to disobey the Duke; but I repeat that your work +seems to me as though it would never be finished.” + +Whether the Duke heard something of this encounter, or whatever the +cause was, he began again as usual. Toward twenty-four o’clock he sent +for me; and his messenger always spoke to this effect: “Take good care, +and do not fail to come, for the Duke is waiting for you.” In this way I +continued, always with the same inconveniences, to put in an appearance +on several successive evenings. Upon one occasion among others, arriving +in my customary way, the Duke, who had probably been talking with the +Duchess about private matters, turned upon me in a furious anger. I was +terrified, and wanted to retire. But he called out: “Come in, friend +Benvenuto; go to your affairs; I will rejoin you in a few moments.” +While I was passing onward, Don Garzia, then quite a little fellow, +plucked me by the cape, and played with me as prettily as such a child +could do. The Duke looked up delighted, and exclaimed: “What pleasant +and friendly terms my boys are on with you!” + +Note 1. Now in the Uffizzi. + +Note 2. Lions from a very early period had always been kept in part of +the Palazzo Vecchio. + +Note 3. 'Alle sue comoditâ.' + +LXXXVIII + +WHILE I was working at these bagatelles, the Prince, and Don Giovanni, +and Don Arnando, and Don Garzia kept always hovering around me, teasing +me whenever the Duke’s eyes were turned. [1] I begged them for mercy’s +sake to hold their peace. They answered: “That we cannot do.” I told +them: “What one cannot is required of no one! So have your will! Along +with you!” At this both Duke and Duchess burst out laughing. + +Another evening, after I had finished the small bronze figures which are +wrought into the pedestal of Perseus, that is to say, the Jupiter, +Mercury, Minerva, and Danæ, with the little Perseus seated at his +mother’s feet, I had them carried into the room where I was wont to +work, and arranged them in a row, raised somewhat above the line of +vision, so that they produced a magnificent effect. The Duke heard of +this, and made his entrance sooner than usual. It seems that the person +who informed his Excellency praised them above their merit, using terms +like “far superior to the ancients,” and so forth; wherefore the Duke +came talking pleasantly with the Duchess about my doings. I rose at once +and went to meet them. With his fine and truly princely manner he +received me, lifting his right hand, in which he held as superb a +pear-graft as could possibly be seen. “Take it, my Benvenuto!” he +exclaimed; “plant this pear in your garden.” To these words I replied +with a delighted gesture: “O my lord, does your most illustrious +Excellency really mean that I should plant it in the garden of my house? +“Yes,” he said, “in the garden of the house which belongs to you. Have +you understood me?” I thanked his Excellency, and the Duchess in like +manner, with the best politeness I could use. + +After this they both took seats in front of the statues, and for more +than two hours went on talking about nothing but the beauties of the +work. The Duchess was wrought up to such an enthusiasm that she cried +out: “I do not like to let those exquisite figures be wasted on the +pedestal down there in the piazza, where they will run the risk of being +injured. I would much rather have you fix them in one of my apartments, +where they will be preserved with the respect due to their singular +artistic qualities.” I opposed this plan with many forcible arguments; +but when I saw that she was determined I should not place them on the +pedestal where they now stand, I waited till next day, and went to the +palace about twenty-two o’clock. Ascertaining that the Duke and Duchess +were out riding, and having already prepared the pedestal, I had the +statues carried down, and soldered them with lead into their proper +niches. Oh, when the Duchess knew of this, how angry she was! Had it not +been for the Duke, who manfully defended me, I should have paid dearly +for my daring. Her indignation about the pearls, and now again about +this matter of the statues, made her so contrive that the Duke abandoned +his amusements in our workshop. Consequently I went there no more, and +was met again with the same obstructions as formerly whenever I wanted +to gain access to the palace. + +Note 1. The Prince was Don Francesco, then aged twelve; Don Giovanni was +ten, Don Garzia was six, and Don Ferdinando four. + +LXXXIX + +I RETURNED to the Loggia, [1] whither my Perseus had already been +brought, and went on putting the last touches to my work, under the old +difficulties always; that is to say, lack of money, and a hundred +untoward accidents, the half of which would have cowed a man armed with +adamant. + +However, I pursued my course as usual; and one morning, after I had +heard mass at San Piero Scheraggio, that brute Bernardone, broker, +worthless goldsmith, and by the Duke’s grace purveyor to the mint, +passed by me. No sooner had he got outside the church than the dirty pig +let fly four cracks which might have been heard from San Miniato. I +cried: “Yah! pig, poltroon, donkey! is that the noise your filthy +talents make?” and ran off for a cudgel. He took refuge on the instant +in the mint; while I stationed myself inside my housedoor, which I left +ajar, setting a boy at watch upon the street to warn me when the pig +should leave the mint. After waiting some time, I grew tired, and my +heat cooled. Reflecting, then, that blows are not dealt by contract, and +that some disaster might ensue, I resolved to wreak my vengeance by +another method. The incident took place about the feast of our San +Giovanni, one or two days before; so I composed four verses, and stuck +them up in an angle of the church where people go to ease themselves. +The verses ran as follows:-- + +“Here lieth Bernardone, ass and pig, + +Spy, broker, thief, in whom Pandora planted + +All her worst evils, and from thence transplanted + +Into that brute Buaccio’s carcass big.” 2 + +Both the incident and the verses went the round of the palace, giving +the Duke and Duchess much amusement. But, before the man himself knew +what I had been up to, crowds of people stopped to read the lines and +laughed immoderately at them. Since they were looking towards the mint +and fixing their eyes on Bernardone, his son, Maestro Baccio, taking +notice of their gestures, tore the paper down with fury. The elder bit +his thumb, shrieking threats out with that hideous voice of his, which +comes forth through his nose; indeed he made a brave defiance. 3 + +Note 1. That is, the Loggia de’ Lanzi, on the great piazza of Florence, +where Cellini’s statue still stands. + +Note 2. If I understand the obscure lines of the original, Cellini +wanted to kill two birds with one stone by this epigram--both Bernardone +and his son Baccio. But by Buaccio he generally means Baccio Bandinelli. + +Note 3. To bite the thumb at any one was, as students of our old drama +know, a sign of challenge or provocation. + +XC + +WHEN the Duke was informed that the whole of my work for the Perseus +could be exhibited as finished, he came one day to look at it. His +manner showed clearly that it gave him great satisfaction; but +afterwards he turned to some gentlemen attending him and said: “Although +this statue seems in our eyes a very fine piece, still it has yet to win +the favour of the people. Therefore, my Benvenuto, before you put the +very last touches on, I should like you, for my sake, to remove a part +of the scaffolding on the side of the piazza, some day toward noon, in +order that we may learn what folk think of it. There is no doubt that +when it is thrown open to space and light, it will look very differently +from what it does in this enclosure.” I replied with all humility to his +Excellency: “You must know, my lord, that it will make more than twice +as good a show. Oh, how is it that your most illustrious Excellency has +forgotten seeing it in the garden of my house? There, in that large +extent of space, it showed so bravely that Bandinello, coming through +the garden of the Innocents to look at it, was compelled, in spite of +his evil and malignant nature, to praise it, he who never praised aught +or any one in all his life! I perceive that your Excellency lends too +ready an ear to that fellow.” When I had done speaking, he smiled +ironically and a little angrily; yet he replied with great kindness: “Do +what I ask, my Benvenuto, just to please me.” + +When the Duke had left, I gave orders to have the screen removed. Yet +some trifles of gold, varnish, and various other little finishings were +still wanting; wherefore I began to murmur and complain indignantly, +cursing the unhappy day which brought me to Florence. Too well I knew +already the great and irreparable sacrifice I made when I left France; +nor could I discover any reasonable ground for hope that I might prosper +in the future with my prince and patron. From the commencement to the +middle and the ending, everything that I had done had been performed to +my great disadvantage. Therefore, it was with deep ill-humour that I +disclosed my statue on the following day. + +Now it pleased God that, on the instant of its exposure to view, a shout +of boundless enthusiasm went up in commendation of my work, which +consoled me not a little. The folk kept on attaching sonnets to the +posts of the door, which was protected with a curtain while I gave the +last touches to the statue. I believe that on the same day when I opened +it a few hours to the public, more than twenty were nailed up, all of +them overflowing with the highest panegyrics. Afterwards, when I once +more shut it off from view, every day brought sonnets, with Latin and +Greek verses; for the University of Pisa was then in vacation, and all +the doctors and scholars kept vying with each other who could praise it +best. But what gratified me most, and inspired me with most hope of the +Duke’s support, was that the artists, sculptors and painters alike, +entered into the same generous competition. I set the highest value on +the eulogies of that excellent painter Jacopo Pontormo, and still more +on those of his able pupil Bronzino, who was not satisfied with merely +publishing his verses, but sent them by his lad Sandrino’s hand to my +own house. [1] They spoke so generously of my performance, in that fine +style of his which is most exquisite, that this alone repaid me somewhat +for the pain of my long troubles. So then I closed the screen, and once +more set myself to finishing my statue. + +Note 1. Jacopo Carrucci da Pantormo was now an old man. He died in 1558, +aged sixty-five years. Angelo Allori, called Il Bronzino, one of the +last fairly good Florentine painters, won considerable distinction as a +writer of burlesque poems. He died in 1571, aged sixty-nine years. We +possess his sonnets of the perseus. + +XCI + +THE GREAT compliments which this short inspection of my Perseus had +elicited from the noble school of Florence, though they were well known +to the Duke, did not prevent him from saying: “I am delighted that +Benvenuto has had this trifling satisfaction, which will spur him on to +the desired conclusion with more speed and diligence. Do not, however, +let him imagine that, when his Perseus shall be finally exposed to view +from all sides, folk in general will be so lavish of their praises. On +the contrary, I am afraid that all its defects will then be brought home +to him, and more will be detected than the statue really has. So let him +arm himself with patience.” These were precisely the words which +Bandinello had whispered in the Duke’s ears, citing the works of Andrea +del Verrocchio, who made that fine bronze of Christ and S. Thomas on the +front of Orsammichele; at the same time he referred to many other +statues, and dared even to attack the marvellous David of divine Michel +Agnolo Buonarroti, accusing it of only looking well if seen in front; +finally, he touched upon the multitude of sarcastic sonnets which were +called forth by his own Hercules and Cacus, and wound up with abusing +the people of Florence. Now the Duke, who was too much inclined to +credit his assertions, encouraged the fellow to speak thus, and thought +in his own heart that things would go as he had prophesied, because that +envious creature Bandinello never ceased insinuating malice. On one +occasion it happened that the gallows bird Bernardone, the broker, was +present at these conversations, and in support of Bandinello’s +calumnies, he said to the Duke: “You must remember, prince, that statues +on a large scale are quite a different dish of soup from little figures. +I do not refuse him the credit of being excellent at statuettes in +miniature. But you will soon see that he cannot succeed in that other +sphere of art.” To these vile suggestions he added many others of all +sorts, plying his spy’s office, and piling up a mountain of lies to boot. + +XCII + +NOW it pleased my glorious Lord and immortal God that at last I brought +the whole work to completion: and on a certain Thursday morning I +exposed it to the public gaze. [1] Immediately, before the sun was fully +in the heavens, there assembled such a multitude of people that no words +could describe them. All with one voice contended which should praise it +most. The Duke was stationed at a window low upon the first floor of the +palace, just above the entrance; there, half hidden, he heard everything +the folk were saying of my statue. After listening through several +hours, he rose so proud and happy in his heart that he turned to his +attendant, Messer Sforza, and exclaimed: “Sforza, go and seek out +Benvenuto; tell him from me that he has delighted me far more than I +expected: say too that I shall reward him in a way which will astonish +him; so bid him be of good courage.” + +In due course, Messer Sforza discharged this glorious embassy, which +consoled me greatly. I passed a happy day, partly because of the Duke’s +message, and also because the folk kept pointing me out as something +marvellous and strange. Among the many who did so, were two gentlemen, +deputed by the Viceroy of Sicily [2] to our Duke on public business. Now +these two agreeable persons met me upon the piazza: I had been shown +them in passing, and now they made monstrous haste to catch me up; then, +with caps in hand, they uttered an oration so ceremonious, that it would +have been excessive for a Pope. I bowed, with every protestation of +humility. They meanwhile continued loading me with compliments, until at +last I prayed them, for kindness’ sake, to leave the piazza in my +company, because the folk were stopping and staring at me more than at +my Perseus. In the midst of all these ceremonies, they went so far as to +propose that I should come to Sicily, and offered to make terms which +should content me. They told me how Fra Giovan Agnolo de’ Servi [3] had +constructed a fountain for them, complete in all parts, and decorated +with a multitude of figures; but it was not in the same good style they +recognised in Perseus, and yet they had heaped riches on the man. I +would not suffer them to finish all their speeches, but answered: “You +give me much cause for wonder, seeking as you do to make me quit the +service of a prince who is the greatest patron of the arts that ever +lived; and I too here in my own birthplace, famous as the school of +every art and science! Oh, if my soul’s desire had been set on lucre, I +could have stayed in France, with that great monarch Francis, who gave +me a thousand golden crowns a year for board, and paid me in addition +the price of all my labour. In his service I gained more than four +thousand golden crowns the year.” + +With these and such like words I cut their ceremonies short, thanking +them for the high praises they had bestowed upon me, which were indeed +the best reward that artists could receive for their labours. I told +them they had greatly stimulated my zeal, so that I hoped, after a few +years were passed, to exhibit another masterpiece, which I dared believe +would yield far truer satisfaction to our noble school of Florence. The +two gentlemen were eager to resume the thread of their complimentary +proposals, whereupon I, lifting my cap and making a profound bow, bade +them a polite farewell. + +Note 1. April 27, 1554. + +Note 2. Don Juan de Vega. + +Note 3. Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli entered the Order of the Servites in +1530. This did not prevent him from plying his profession of sculptor. +The work above alluded to is the fountain at Messina. + +XCIII + +WHEN two more days had passed, and the chorus of praise was ever on the +increase, I resolved to go and present myself to the Duke, who said with +great good-humour: “My Benvenuto, you have satisfied and delighted me; +but I promise that I will reward you in such wise as will make you +wonder; and I tell you that I do not mean to delay beyond to-morrow.” On +hearing this most welcome assurance, I turned all the forces of my soul +and body to God, fervently offering up thanks to Him. At the same moment +I approached the Duke, and almost weeping for gladness, kissed his robe. +Then I added: “O my glorious prince, true and most generous lover of the +arts, and of those who exercise them! I entreat your most illustrious +Excellency to allow me eight days first to go and return thanks to God; +for I alone know what travail I have endured, and that my earnest faith +has moved Him to assist me. In gratitude for this and all other +marvellous mercies, I should like to travel eight days on pilgrimage, +continually thanking my immortal God, who never fails to help those who +call upon Him with sincerity.” The Duke then asked me where I wished to +go. I answered: “To-morrow I shall set out for Vallombrosa, thence to +Camaldoli and the Ermo, afterwards I shall proceed to the Bagni di Santa +Maria, and perhaps so far as Sestile, because I hear of fine antiquities +to be seen there. [1] Then I shall retrace my steps by San Francesco +della Vernia, and, still with thanks to God, return light-hearted to +your service.” The Duke replied at once with cheerful kindness: “Go and +come back again, for of a truth you please me; but do not forget to send +a couple of lines by way of memorandum, and leave the rest to me.” + +I wrote four lines that very day, in which I thanked his Excellency for +expected favours, and gave these to Messer Sforza, who placed them in +the Duke’s hands. The latter took them, and then handed them to Messer +Sforza, remarking: “See that you put these lines each day where I can +see them; for if Benvenuto comes back and finds I have not despatched +his business, I think that he will murder me.” Thus laughing, his +Excellency asked to be reminded. Messer Sforza reported these precise +words to me on the same evening, laughing too and expressing wonder at +the great favour shown me by the Duke. He pleasantly added: “Go, +Benvenuto, and come again quickly, for indeed I am jealous of you.” + +Note 1. The Ermo is more correctly Eremo, and Vernia is Alvernia. + +XCIV + +IN God’s name then I left Florence, continually singing psalms and +prayers in His honour upon all that journey. I enjoyed it extremely; for +the season was fine, in early summer, and the country through which I +travelled, and which I had never seen before, struck me as marvellously +beautiful. Now I had taken with me to serve as guide a young workman in +my employ, who came from Bagno, and was called Cesare. Thanks to him, +then, I received the kindest hospitality from his father and all his +family, among whom was an old man of more than seventy, extremely +pleasant in his conversation. He was Cesare’s uncle, a surgeon by +profession, and a dabbler in alchemy. This excellent person made me +observe that the Bagni contained mines of gold and silver, and showed me +many interesting objects in the neighbourhood; so that I enjoyed myself +as much as I have ever done. + +One day, when we had become intimate and he could trust me, he spoke as +follows: “I must not omit to tell you a thought of mine, to which his +Excellency might with advantage pay attention. It is, that not far from +Camaldoli there lies a mountain pass so ill defended, that Piero Strozzi +could not only cross it without risk, but might also seize on Poppi [1] +unmolested.” Not satisfied with this description, he also took a sheet +of paper from his pouch, upon which the good old man had drawn the whole +country, so that the seriousness of the danger could be manifest upon +inspection of the map. I took the design and left Bagno at once, +travelling homeward as fast as I could by Prato Magno and San Francesco +della Vernia. On reaching Florence, I only stopped to draw off my +riding-boots, and hurried to the palace. Just opposite the Badia I met +the Duke, who was coming by the palace of the Podesta. When he saw me he +gave me a very gracious reception, and showing some surprise, exclaimed: +“Why have you come back so quickly; I did not expect you for eight days +at least.” I answered: “The service of your most illustrious Excellency +brings me back, else I should very willingly have stayed some few days +longer on my journey through that lovely country.” “Well, and what good +news have you?” said he. I answered: “Prince, I must talk to you about +things of the greatest importance which I have to disclose.” So I +followed him to the palace, and when we were there, he took me privately +into a chamber where we stayed a while alone together. I then unfolded +the whole matter and showed him the little map, with which he seemed to +be much gratified. When I told his Excellency that one ought to take +measures at once, he reflected for a little while and then said: “I may +inform you that we have agreed with the Duke of Urbino that he should +guard the pass; but do not speak about it.” Then he dismissed me with +great demonstrations of good-will, and I went home. + +Note 1. A village in the Castenino. Piero Strozzi was at this time in +Valdichiana. + +XCV + +NEXT day I presented myself, and, after a few words of conversation, the +Duke addressed me cheerfully; “To-morrow, without fail, I mean to +despatch your business; set your mind at rest, then.” I, who felt sure +that he meant what he said, waited with great impatience for the morrow. +When the longed-for day arrived, I betook me to the palace; and as it +always happens that evil tidings travel faster than good news, Messer +Giacopo Guidi, [1] secretary to his Excellency, called me with his wry +mouth and haughty voice; drawing himself up as stiff as a poker, he +began to speak to this effect: “The Duke says he wants you to tell him +how much you ask for your Perseus.” I remained dumbfounded and +astonished; yet I quickly replied that it was not my custom to put +prices on my work, and that this was not what his Excellency had +promised me two days ago. The man raised his voice, and ordered me +expressly in the Duke’s name, under the penalty of his severe +displeasure, to say how much I wanted. Now I had hoped not only to gain +some handsome reward, trusting to the mighty signs of kindness shown me +by the Duke, but I had still more expected to secure the entire good +graces of his Excellency, seeing I never asked for anything, but only +for his favour. Accordingly, this wholly unexpected way of dealing with +me put me in a fury, and I was especially enraged by the manner which +that venomous toad assumed in discharging his commission. I exclaimed +that if the Duke gave me ten thousand crowns I should not be paid +enough, and that if I had ever thought things would come to this +haggling, I should not have settled in his service. Thereupon the surly +fellow began to abuse me, and I gave it him back again. + +Upon the following day, when I paid my respects to the Duke, he beckoned +to me. I approached, and he exclaimed in anger: “Cities and great +palaces are built with ten thousands of ducats.” I rejoined: “Your +Excellency can find multitudes of men who are able to build you cities +and palaces, but you will not, perhaps, find one man in the world who +could make a second Perseus.” Then I took my leave without saying or +doing anything farther. A few days afterwards the Duchess sent for me, +and advised me to put my difference with the Duke into her hands, since +she thought she could conduct the business to my satisfaction. On +hearing these kindly words I replied that I had never asked any other +recompense for my labours than the good graces of the Duke, and that his +most illustrious Excellency had assured me of this; it was not needful +that I should place in their Excellencies’ hands what I had always +frankly left to them from the first days when I undertook their service. +I farther added that if his most illustrious Excellency gave me but a +'crazia,' [2] which is worth five farthings, for my work, I should +consider myself contented, provided only that his Excellency did not +deprive me of his favour. At these words the Duchess smiled a little and +said: “Benvenuto, you would do well to act as I advise you.” Then she +turned her back and left me. I thought it was my best policy to speak +with the humility I have above described; yet it turned out that I had +done the worst for myself, because, albeit she had harboured some angry +feelings toward me, she had in her a certain way of dealing which was +generous. + +Note 1. It appears from a letter written by Guidi to Bandinelli that he +hated Cellini, whom he called 'pessimo mostro di natura.' Guidi was made +Bishop of Penna in 1561, and attended the Council of Trent. + +Note 2. A small Tuscan coin. + +XCVI + +ABOUT that time I was very intimate with Girolamo degli Albizzi, [1] +commissary of the Duke’s militia. One day this friend said to me: “O +Benvenuto, it would not be a bad thing to put your little difference of +opinion with the Duke to rights; and I assure you that if you repose +confidence in me, I feel myself the man to settle matters. I know what I +am saying. The Duke is getting really angry, and you will come badly out +of the affair. Let this suffice; I am not at liberty to say all I know.” +Now, subsequently to that conversation with the Duchess, I had been told +by some one, possibly a rogue, that he had heard how the Duke said upon +some occasion which offered itself: “For less than two farthings I will +throw Perseus to the dogs, and so our differences will be ended.” This, +then, made me anxious, and induced me to entrust Girolamo degli Albizzi +with the negotiations, telling him anything would satisfy me provided I +retained the good graces of the Duke. That honest fellow was excellent +in all his dealings with soldiers, especially with the militia, who are +for the most part rustics; but he had no taste for statuary, and +therefore could not understand its conditions. Consequently, when he +spoke to the Duke, he began thus: “Prince, Benvenuto has placed himself +in my hands, and has begged me to recommend him to your Excellency.” The +Duke replied: “I too am willing to refer myself to you, and shall be +satisfied with your decision.” Thereupon Girolamo composed a letter, +with much skill and greatly to my honour, fixing the sum which the Duke +would have to pay me at 3500 golden crowns in gold; and this should not +be taken as my proper recompense for such a masterpiece, but only as a +kind of gratuity; enough to say that I was satisfied; with many other +phrases of like tenor, all of which implied the price which I have +mentioned. + +The Duke signed this agreement as gladly as I took it sadly. When the +Duchess heard, she said: “It would have been better for that poor man if +he had placed himself in my hands; I could have got him five thousand +crowns in gold.” One day, when I went to the palace, she repeated these +same words to me in the presence of Messer Alamanno Salviati, [2] and +laughed at me a little, saying that I deserved my bad luck. + +The Duke gave orders that I should be paid a hundred golden crowns in +gold per month, until the sum was discharged; and thus it ran for some +months. Afterwards, Messer Antonio de’ Nobili, who had to transact the +business, began to give me fifty, and sometimes later on he gave me +twenty-five, and sometimes nothing. Accordingly, when I saw that the +settlement was being thus deferred, I spoke good-humouredly to Messer +Antonio, and begged him to explain why he did not complete my payments. +He answered in a like tone of politeness; yet it struck me that he +exposed his own mind too much. Let the reader judge. He began by saying +that the sole reason why he could not go forward regularly with these +payments, was the scarcity of money at the palace; but he promised, when +cash came in, to discharge arrears. Then he added: “Oh heavens! if I did +not pay you, I should be an utter rogue.” I was somewhat surprised to +hear him speak in that way; yet I resolved to hope that he would pay me +when he had the power to do so. But when I observed that things went +quite the contrary way, and saw that I was being pillaged, I lost temper +with the man, and recalled to his memory hotly and in anger what he had +declared he would be if he did not pay me. However, he died; and five +hundred crowns are still owing to me at the present date, which is nigh +upon the end of 1566. [3] There was also a balance due upon my salary +which I thought would be forgotten, since three years had elapsed +without payment. But it so happened that the Duke fell ill of a serious +malady, remaining forty-eight hours without passing water. Finding that +the remedies of his physicians availed nothing, it is probable that he +betook himself to God, and therefore decreed the discharge of all debts +to his servants. I too was paid on this occasion, yet I never obtained +what still stood out upon my Perseus. + +Note 1. A warm partisan of the Medici. He was a cousin of Maria +Salviati, Cosimo’s mother. It was rumoured that he caused the historian +Francesco Guicciardini’s death by poison. We find him godfather to one +of Cellini’s children. + +Note 2. This Salviati and the De’ Nobili mentioned afterwards occupied a +distinguished place in Florentine annals as partisans of the Medici. + +Note 3. Cellini began to write his 'Memoirs' in 1558. Eight years had +therefore now elapsed. + +XCVII + +I HAD almost determined to say nothing more about that unlucky Perseus; +but a most remarkable incident, which I do not like to omit, obliges me +to do so; wherefore I must now turn back a bit, to gather up the thread +of my narration. I thought I was acting for the best when I told the +Duchess that I could not compromise affairs which were no longer in my +hands, seeing I had informed the Duke that I should gladly accept +whatever he chose to give me. I said this in the hope of gaining favour; +and with this manifestation of submissiveness I employed every likely +means of pacifying his resentment; for I ought to add that a few days +before he came to terms with Albizzi, the Duke had shown he was +excessively displeased with me. The reason was as follows: I complained +of some abominable acts of injustice done to me by Messer Alfonso +Quistelli, Messer Jacopo Polverino of the Exchequer, and more than all +by Ser Giovanbattista Brandini of Volterra. When, therefore, I set forth +my cause with some vehemence, the Duke flew into the greatest rage +conceivable. Being thus in anger, he exclaimed: “This is just the same +as with your Perseus, when you asked those ten thousand crowns. You let +yourself be blinded by mere cupidity. Therefore I shall have the statue +valued, and shall give you what the experts think it worth.” To these +words I replied with too much daring and a touch of indignation, which +is always out of place in dealing with great princes: “How is it +possible that my work should be valued at its proper worth when there is +not a man in Florence capable of performing it?” That increased his +irritation; he uttered many furious phrases, and among them said: “There +is in Florence at this day a man well able to make such a statue, and +who is therefore highly capable of judging it.” He meant Bandinello, +Cavaliere of S. Jacopo. [1] Then I rejoined: “My lord, your most +illustrious Excellency gave me the means of producing an important and +very difficult masterpiece in the midst of this the noblest school of +the world; and my work has been received with warmer praises than any +other heretofore exposed before the gaze of our incomparable masters. My +chief pride is the commendation of those able men who both understand +and practise the arts of design--as in particular Bronzino, the painter; +this man set himself to work, and composed four sonnets couched in the +choicest style, and full of honour to myself. Perhaps it was his example +which moved the whole city to such a tumult of enthusiasm. I freely +admit that if sculpture were his business instead of painting, then +Bronzino might have been equal a to task like mine. Michel Agnolo +Buonarroti, again, whom I am proud to call my master; he, I admit, could +have achieved the same success when he was young, but not with less +fatigue and trouble than I endured. But now that he is far advanced in +years, he would most certainly be found unequal to the strain. Therefore +I think I am justified in saying that no man known upon this earth could +have produced my Perseus. For the rest, my work has received the +greatest reward I could have wished for in this world; chiefly and +especially because your most illustrious Excellency not only expressed +yourself satisfied, but praised it far more highly than any one beside. +What greater and more honourable prize could be desired by me? I affirm +most emphatically that your Excellency could not pay me with more +glorious coin, nor add from any treasury a wealth surpassing this. +Therefore I hold myself overpaid already, and return thanks to your most +illustrious Excellency with all my heart.” The Duke made answer: +“Probably you think I have not the money to pay you. For my part, I +promise you that I shall pay you more for the statue than it is worth.” +Then I retorted: “I did not picture to my fancy any better recompense +from your Excellency; yet I account myself amply remunerated by that +first reward which the school of Florence gave me. With this to console +me, I shall take my departure on the instant, without returning to the +house you gave me, and shall never seek to set my foot in this town +again.” We were just at S. Felicita, and his Excellency was proceeding +to the palace. When he heard these choleric words, he turned upon me in +stern anger and exclaimed: “You shall not go; take heed you do not go!” +Half terrified, I then followed him to the palace. + +On arriving there, his Excellency sent for the Archbishop of Pisa, named +De, Bartolini, and Messer Pandolfo della Stufa, [2] requesting them to +order Baccio Bandinelli, in his name, to examine well my Perseus and +value it, since he wished to pay its exact price. These excellent men +went forthwith and performed their embassy. In reply Bandinello said +that he had examined the statue minutely, and knew well enough what it +was worth; but having been on bad terms otherwise with me for some time +past, he did not care to be entangled anyhow in my affairs. Then they +began to put a gentle pressure on him, saying: “The Duke ordered us to +tell you, under pain of his displeasure, that you are to value the +statue, and you may have two or three days to consider your estimate. +When you have done so, tell us at what price it ought to be paid.” He +answered that his judgment was already formed, that he could not disobey +the Duke, and that my work was rich and beautiful and excellent in +execution; therefore he thought sixteen thousand crowns or more would +not be an excessive price for it. Those good and courteous gentlemen +reported this to the Duke, who was mightily enraged; they also told the +same to me. I replied that nothing in the world would induce me to take +praise from Bandinello, “seeing that this bad man speaks ill of +everybody.” My words were carried to the Duke; and that was the reason +why the Duchess wanted me to place the matter in her hands. All that I +have written is the pure truth. I will only add that I ought to have +trusted to her intervention, for then I should have been quickly paid, +and should have received so much more into the bargain. + +Note 1. Bandinelli was a Knight of S. James of Compostella. + +Note 2. Onofrio de’ Bartolini was made Archbishop of Pisa in 1518, at +the age of about seventeen. He was a devoted adherent of the Medici. He +was shut up with Clement in S. Angelo, and sent as hostage to the +Imperial army. Pandolfo della Stufa had been cup-bearer to Caterina de’ +Medici while Dauphinéss. + +XCVIII + +THE DUKE sent me word by Messer Lelio Torello, [1] his Master of the +Rolls, [2] that he wanted me to execute some bas-reliefs in bronze for +the choir of S. Maria del Fiore. Now the choir was by Bandinello, and I +did not choose to enrich his bad work with my labours. He had not indeed +designed it, for he understood nothing whatever about architecture; the +design was given by Giuliano, the son of that Baccio d’Agnolo, the +wood-carver, who spoiled the cupola. [3] Suffice it to say that it shows +no talent. For both reasons I was determined not to undertake the task, +although I told the Duke politely that I would do whatever his most +illustrious Excellency ordered. Accordingly, he put the matter into the +hands of the Board of Works for S. Maria del Fiore, [4] telling them to +come to an agreement with me; he would continue my allowance of two +hundred crowns a year, while they were to supply the rest out of their +funds. + +In due course I came before the Board, and they told me what the Duke +had arranged. Feeling that I could explain my views more frankly to +these gentlemen, I began by demonstrating that so many histories in +bronze would cost a vast amount of money, which would be totally thrown +away, giving all my reasons, which they fully appreciated. In the first +place, I said that the construction of the choir was altogether +incorrect, without proportion, art, convenience, grace, or good design. +In the next place, the bas-reliefs would have to stand too low, beneath +the proper line of vision; they would become a place for dogs to piss +at, and be always full of ordure. Consequently, I declined positively to +execute them. However, since I did not wish to throw away the best years +of my life, and was eager to serve his most illustrious Excellency, whom +I had the sincerest desire to gratify and obey, I made the following +proposal. Let the Duke, if he wants to employ my talents, give me the +middle door of the cathedral to perform in bronze. This would be well +seen, and would confer far more glory on his most illustrious +Excellency. I would bind myself by contract to receive no remuneration +unless I produced something better than the finest of the Baptistery +doors. [5] But if I completed it according to my promise, then I was +willing to have it valued, and to be paid one thousand crowns less than +the estimate made by experts. + +The members of the Board were well pleased with this suggestion, and +went at once to report the matter to the Duke, among them being Piero +Salviati. They expected him to be extremely gratified with their +communication, but it turned out just the contrary. He replied that I +was always wanting to do the exact opposite of what he bade me; and so +Piero left him without coming to any conclusion. On hearing this, I went +off to the Duke at once, who displayed some irritation when he saw me. +However, I begged him to condescend to hear me, and he replied that he +was willing. I then began from the beginning, and used such convincing +arguments that he saw at last how the matter really stood, since I made +it evident that he would only be throwing a large sum of money away. +Then I softened his temper by suggesting that if his most illustrious +Excellency did not care to have the door begun, two pulpits had anyhow +to be made for the choir, and that these would both of them be +considerable works, which would confer glory on his reign; for my part, +I was ready to execute a great number of bronze bas-reliefs with +appropriate decorations. In this way I brought him round, and he gave me +orders to construct the models. + +Accordingly I set at work on several models, and bestowed immense pains +on them. Among these there was one with eight panels, carried out with +far more science than the rest, and which seemed to me more fitted for +the purpose. Having taken them several times to the place, his +Excellency sent word by Messer Cesare, the keeper of his wardrobe, that +I should leave them there. After the Duke had inspected them, I +perceived that he had selected the least beautiful. One day he sent for +me, and during our conversation about the models, I gave many reasons +why the octagonal pulpit would be far more convenient for its destined +uses, and would produce a much finer effect. He answered that he wished +me to make it square, because he liked that form better; and thus he +went on conversing for some time very pleasantly. I meanwhile lost no +opportunity of saying everything I could in the interests of art. Now +whether the Duke knew that I had spoken the truth, or whether he wanted +to have his own way, a long time passed before I heard anything more +about it. + +Note 1. A native of Fano. Cosimo’s Auditore, 1539; first Secretary or +Grand Chancellor, 1546. He was a great jurist. + +Note 2. 'Suo auditore.' + +Note 3. It was Baccio d’Agnolo who altered Brunelleschi’s plan for the +cupola. Buonarroti used to say that he made it look like a cage for +crickets. His work remained unfinished. + +Note 4. 'Operai di S. Maria del Fiore.' + +Note 5. He means Ghiberti’s second door, in all probability. + +XCIX + +ABOUT this time the great block of marble arrived which was intended for +the Neptune. It had been brought up the Arno, and then by the Grieve [1] +to the road at Poggio a Caiano, in order to be carried to Florence by +that level way; and there I went to see it. Now I knew very well that +the Duchess by her special influence had managed to have it given to +Bandinello. No envy prompted me to dispute his claims, but rather pity +for that poor unfortunate piece of marble. Observe, by the way, that +everything, whatever it may be, which is subject to an evil destiny, +although one tries to save it from some manifest evil, falls at once +into far worse plight; as happened to this marble when it came into the +hands of Bartolommeo Ammanato, [2] of whom I shall speak the truth in +its proper place. After inspecting this most splendid block, I measured +it in every direction, and on returning to Florence, made several little +models suited to its proportions. Then I went to Poggio a Caiano, where +the Duke and Duchess were staying, with their son the Prince. I found +them all at table, the Duke and Duchess dining in a private apartment; +so I entered into conversation with the Prince. We had been speaking for +a long while, when the Duke, who was in a room adjacent, heard my voice, +and condescended very graciously to send for me. When I presented myself +before their Excellencies, the Duchess addressed me in a very pleasant +tone; and having thus opened the conversation, I gradually introduced +the subject of that noble block of marble I had seen. I then proceeded +to remark that their ancestors had brought the magnificent school of +Florence to such a pitch of excellence only by stimulating competition +among artists in their several branches. It was thus that the wonderful +cupola and the lovely doors of San Giovanni had been produced, together +with those multitudes of handsome edifices and statues which made a +crown of artistic glory for their city above anything the world had seen +since the days of the ancients. Upon this the Duchess, with some anger, +observed that she very well knew what I meant, and bade me never mention +that block of marble in her presence, since she did not like it. I +replied: “So, then, you do not like me to act as the attorney of your +Excellencies, and to do my utmost to ensure your being better served? +Reflect upon it, my lady; if your most illustrious Excellencies think +fit to open the model for a Neptune to competition, although you are +resolved to give it to Bandinello, this will urge Bandinello for his own +credit to display greater art and science than if he knew he had no +rivals. In this way, my princes, you will be far better served, and will +not discourage our school of artists; you will be able to perceive which +of us is eager to excel in the grand style of our noble calling, and +will show yourselves princes who enjoy and understand the fine arts.” +The Duchess, in a great rage, told me that I tired her patience out; she +wanted the marble for Bandinello, adding: “Ask the Duke; for his +Excellency also means Bandinello to have it.” When the Duchess had +spoken, the Duke, who had kept silence up to this time, said: “Twenty +years ago I had that fine block quarried especially for Bandinello, and +so I mean that Bandinello shall have it to do what he likes with it.” I +turned to the Duke and spoke as follows: “My lord, I entreat your most +illustrious Excellency to lend a patient hearing while I speak four +words in your service.” He told me to say all I wanted, and that he +would listen. Then I began: “You will remember, my lord, that the marble +which Bandinello used for his Hercules and Cacus was quarried for our +incomparable Michel Agnolo Buonarroti. He had made the model for a +Samson with four figures, which would have been the finest masterpiece +in the whole world; but your Bandinello got out of it only two figures, +both ill-executed and bungled in the worst manner; wherefore our school +still exclaims against the great wrong which was done to that +magnificent block. I believe that more than a thousand sonnets were put +up in abuse of that detestable performance; and I know that your most +illustrious Excellency remembers the fact very well. Therefore, my +powerful prince, seeing how the men to whose care that work was +entrusted, in their want of taste and wisdom, took Michel Agnolo’s +marble away from him, and gave it to Bandinello, who spoilt it in the +way the whole world knows, oh! will you suffer this far more splendid +block, although it belongs to Bandinello, to remain in the hands of that +man who cannot help mangling it, instead of giving it to some artist of +talent capable of doing it full justice? Arrange, my lord, that every +one who likes shall make a model; have them all exhibited to the school; +you then will hear what the school thinks; your own good judgment will +enable you to select the best; in this way, finally, you will not throw +away your money, nor discourage a band of artists the like of whom is +not to be found at present in the world, and who form the glory of your +most illustrious Excellency.” + +The Duke listened with the utmost graciousness; then he rose from table, +and turning to me, said: “Go, my Benvenuto, make a model, and earn that +fine marble for yourself; for what you say is the truth, and I +acknowledge it.” The Duchess tossed her head defiantly, and muttered I +know not what angry sentences. + +I made them a respectful bow and returned to Florence, burning with +eagerness to set hands upon my model. + +Note 1. Instead of the Grieve, which is not a navigable stream, it +appears that Cellini ought to have written the Ombrone. + +Note 2. This sculptor was born in 1511, and died in 1592. He worked +under Bandinelli and Sansovino. + +C + +WHEN the Duke came to Florence, he sought me at my house without giving +me previous notice. I showed him two little models of different design. +Though he praised them both, he said that one of them pleased him better +than the other; I was to finish the one he liked with care; and this +would be to my advantage. Now his Excellency had already seen +Bandinello’s designs, and those of other sculptors; but, as I was +informed by many of his courtiers who had heard him, he commended mine +far above the rest. Among other matters worthy of record and of great +weight upon this point, I will mention the following. The Cardinal of +Santa Fiore was on a visit to Florence, and the Duke took him to Poggio +a Caiano. Upon the road, noticing the marble as he passed, the Cardinal +praised it highly, inquiring of his Excellency for what sculptor he +intended it. The Duke replied at once: “For my friend Benvenuto, who has +made a splendid model with a view to it.” This was reported to me by men +whom I could trust. + +Hearing what the Duke had said, I went to the Duchess, and took her some +small bits of goldsmith’s work, which greatly pleased her Excellency. +Then she asked what I was doing, and I replied: “My lady, I have taken +in hand for my pleasure one of the most laborious pieces which have ever +been produced. It is a Christ of the whitest marble set upon a cross of +the blackest, exactly of the same size as a tall man. She immediately +inquired what I meant to do with it. I answered: “You must know my lady, +that I would not sell it for two thousand golden ducats; it is of such +difficult execution that I think no man ever attempted the like before; +nor would I have undertaken it at the commission of any prince whatever, +for fear I might prove inadequate to the task. I bought the marbles with +my own money, and have kept a young man some two years as my assistant +in the work. What with the stone, the iron frame to hold it up, and the +wages, it has cost me above three hundred crowns. Consequently, I would +not sell it for two thousand. But if your Excellency deigns to grant me +a favour which is wholly blameless, I shall be delighted to make you a +present of it. All I ask is that your Excellency will not use your +influence either against or for the models which the Duke has ordered to +be made of the Neptune for that great block of marble.” She replied with +mighty indignation: “So then you value neither my help nor my +opposition?” “On the contrary, I value them highly, princess; or why am +I offering to give you what I value at two thousand ducats? But I have +such confidence in my laborious and well-trained studies, that I hope to +win the palm, even against the great Michel Agnolo Buonarroti, from whom +and from no one else I have learned all that I know. Indeed, I should be +much better pleased to enter into competition with him who knows so much +than with those others who know but little of their art. Contending with +my sublime master, I could gain laurels in plenty, whereas there are but +few to be reaped in a contest with these men.” After I had spoken, she +rose in a half-angry mood, and I returned to work with all the strength +I had upon my model. + +When it was finished, the Duke came to see it, bringing with him two +ambassadors, one from the Duke of Ferrara, the other from the Signory of +Lucca. They were delighted, and the Duke said to those two gentlemen: +“Upon my word, Benvenuto deserves to have the marble.” Then they both +paid me the highest compliments, especially the envoy from Lucca, who +was a person of accomplishments and learning. [1] I had retired to some +distance in order that they might exchange opinions freely; but when I +heard that I was being complimented, I came up, turned to the Duke, and +said: “My lord, your most illustrious Excellency ought now to employ +another admirable device: decree that every one who likes shall make a +model in clay exactly of the same size as the marble has to be. In this +way you will be able to judge far better who deserves the commission; +and I may observe that if your Excellency does not give it to the +sculptor who deserves it, this will not wrong the man so much, but will +reflect great discredit upon yourself, since the loss and shame will +fall on you. On the other hand, if you award it to the one who has +deserved it, you will acquire great glory in the first place, and will +employ your treasure well, while artists will believe that you +appreciate and understand their business.” No sooner had I finished +speaking than the Duke shrugged his shoulders, and began to move away. +While they were taking leave the ambassador of Lucca said to the Duke: +“Prince, this Benvenuto of yours is a terrible man!” The Duke responded: +“He is much more terrible than you imagine, and well were it for him if +he were a little less terrible; then he would possess at the present +moment many things which he has not got.” These precise words were +reported to me by the envoy, by way of chiding and advising me to change +my conduct. I told him that I had the greatest wish to oblige my lord as +his affectionate and faithful servant, but that I did not understand the +arts of flattery. Several months after this date, Bandinello died; and +it was thought that, in addition to his intemperate habits of life, the +mortification of having probably to lose the marble contributed to his +decline. + +Note 1. Probably Girolamo Lucchesini. + +CI + +BANDINELLO had received information of the crucifix which, as I have +said above, I was now engaged upon. Accordingly he laid his hands at +once upon a block of marble, and produced the Pietà which may be seen in +the church of the Annunziata. Now I had offered my crucifix to S. Maria +Novella, and had already fixed up the iron clamps whereby I meant to +fasten it against the wall. I only asked for permission to construct a +little sarcophagus upon the ground beneath the feet of Christ, into +which I might creep when I was dead. The friars told me that they could +not grant this without the consent of their building committee. [1] I +replied: “Good brethren, why did not you consult your committee before +you allowed me to place my crucifix? Without their leave you suffered me +to fix my clamps and other necessary fittings.” + +On this account I refused to give those fruits of my enormous labours to +the church of S. Maria Novella, even though the overseers of the fabric +came and begged me for the crucifix. I turned at once to the church of +the Annunziata, and when I explained the terms on which I had sought to +make a present of it to S. Maria Novella, those virtuous friars of the +Nunziata unanimously told me to place it in their church, and let me +make my grave according to my will and pleasure. When Bandinello became +aware of this, he set to work with great diligence at the completion of +his Pietà, and prayed the Duchess to get for him the chapel of the Pazzi +for his monument. This he obtained with some difficulty; and on +receiving the permission, he erected his Pietà with great haste. It was +not altogether completed when he died. + +The Duchess then said that, even as she had protected him in life, so +would she protect him in the grave, and that albeit he was dead, I need +never try to get that block of marble. Apropos of which, the broken +Bernardone, meeting me one day in the country, said that the Duchess had +assigned the marble. I replied: “Unhappy piece of stone! In the hands of +Bandinello it would certainly have come to grief; but in those of +Ammanato its fate is a hundred times worse.” Now I had received orders +from the Duke to make a clay model, of the same size as the marble would +allow; he also provided me with wood and clay, set up a sort of screen +in the Loggia where my Perseus stands, and paid me one workman. I went +about my business with all diligence, and constructed the wooden +framework according to my excellent system. Then I brought the model +successfully to a conclusion, without caring whether I should have to +execute it in marble, since I knew the Duchess was resolved I should not +get the commission. Consequently I paid no heed to that. Only I felt +very glad to undergo this labour, hoping to make the Duchess, who was +after all a person of intelligence, as indeed I had the means of +observing at a later period, repent of having done so great a wrong both +to the marble and herself. Giovanni the Fleming also made a model in the +cloister of S. Croce; Vinzenzio Danti of Perugia another in the house of +Messer Ottaviano de’ Medici; the son of Moschino began a third at Pisa, +and Bartolommeo Ammanato a fourth in the Loggia, which we divided +between us. 2 + +When I had blocked the whole of mine out well, and wanted to begin upon +the details of the head, which I had already just sketched out in +outline, the Duke came down from the palace, and Giorgetto, the painter, +[3] took him into Ammanato’s workshed. This man had been engaged there +with his own hands several days, in company with Ammanato and all his +workpeople. While, then, the Duke was inspecting Ammanato’s model, I +received intelligence that he seemed but little pleased with it. In +spite of Giorgetto’s trying to dose him with his fluent nonsense, the +Duke shook his head, and turning to Messer Gianstefano, [4] exclaimed: +“Go and ask Benvenuto if his colossal statue is far enough forward for +him to gratify us with a glance at it.” Messer Gianstefano discharged +this embassy with great tact, and in the most courteous terms. He added +that if I did not think my work quite ready to be seen yet, I might say +so frankly, since the Duke knew well that I had enjoyed but little +assistance for so large an undertaking. I replied that I entreated him +to do me the favour of coming; for though my model was not far advanced, +yet the intelligence of his Excellency would enable him to comprehend +perfectly how it was likely to look when finished. This kindly gentleman +took back my message to the Duke, who came with pleasure. No sooner had +he entered the enclosure and cast his eyes upon my work, than he gave +signs of being greatly satisfied. Then he walked all round it, stopping +at each of the four points of view, exactly as the ripest expert would +have done. Afterwards he showed by nods and gestures of approval that it +pleased him; but he said no more than this: “Benvenuto, you have only to +give a little surface to your statue.” Then he turned to his attendants, +praising my performance, and saying: “The small model which I saw in his +house pleased me greatly, but this has far exceeded it in merit.” + +Note 1. 'I loro Operai.' + +Note 2. Gian Bologna, or Jean Boullogne, was born at Douai about 1530. +He went, while a very young man, to Rome, and then settled at Florence. +There he first gained reputation by a Venus which the Prince Francesco +bought. The Neptune on the piazza at Bologna, which is his work, may +probably have been executed from the model he made in competition upon +this occasion. Vincenzo Danti was born at Perugia in 1530. He produced +the bronze statute of Pope Julius III., which may still be seen in his +native city. Simone Cioli, called Il Mosca, was a very fair sculptor who +died in 1554, leaving a son, Francesco, called Il Moschino, who was also +a sculptor, and had reached the age of thirty at this epoch. It is +therefore to this Moschino probably that Cellini refers above. + +Note 3. Giorgio Vasari. + +Note 4. Probably Gianstefano Lalli. + +CII + +IT pleased God, who rules all things for our good--I mean, for those who +acknowledge and believe in Him; such men never fail to gain His +protection--that about this time a certain rascal from Vecchio called +Piermaria d’Anterigoli, and surnamed Lo Sbietta, introduced himself to +me. He is a sheep-grazier; and being closely related to Messer Guido +Guidi, the physician, who is now provost of Pescia, I lent ear to his +proposals. The man offered to sell me a farm of his for the term of my +natural life. I did not care to go and see it, since I wanted to +complete the model of my colossal Neptune. There was also no reason why +I should visit the property, because Sbietta only sold it to me for the +income. [1] This he had noted down at so many bushels of grain, so much +of wine, oil, standing corn, chestnuts, and other produce. I reckoned +that, as the market then ran, these together were worth something +considerably over a hundred golden crowns in gold; and I paid him 650 +crowns, which included duties to the state. Consequently, when he left a +memorandum written in his own hand, to the effect that he would always +keep up these products of the farm in the same values during my +lifetime, I did not think it necessary to inspect it. Only I made +inquiries, to the best of my ability, as to whether Sbietta and his +brother Ser Filippo were well off enough to give me good security. Many +persons of divers sorts, who knew them, assured me that my security was +excellent. We agreed to call in Ser Pierfrancesco Bertoldi, notary at +the Mercantanzia; and at the very first I handed him Sbietta’s +memorandum, expecting that this would be recited in the deed. But the +notary who drew it up was so occupied with detailing twenty-two +boundaries described by Sbietta, [2] that, so far as I can judge, he +neglected to include in the contract what the vendor had proposed to +furnish. While he was writing, I went on working; and since it took him +several hours, I finished a good piece of my Neptune’s head. + +After the contract was signed and sealed, Sbietta began to pay me the +most marked attentions, which I returned in like measure. He made me +presents of kids, cheese, capons, fresh curds, and many sorts of fruits, +until I began to be almost ashamed of so much kindness. In exchange for +these courtesies I always took him from the inn to lodge with me when he +came into Florence, often inviting a relative or two who happened to +attend him. On one of these occasions he told me with a touch of +pleasantry that it was really shameful for me to have bought a farm, +and, after the lapse of so many weeks, not yet to have left my business +for three days in the hands of my workpeople, so as to have come to look +at it. His wheedling words and ways induced me to set off, in a bad hour +for my welfare, on a visit to him. Sbietta received me in his own house +with such attentions and such honours as a duke might covet. His wife +caressed me even more than he did; and these excellent relations +continued between us until the plans which he and his brother Ser +Filippo had in mind were fully matured. + +Note 1. What Cellini means is that Sbietta was to work the farm, paying +Cellini its annual value. It appears from some particulars which follow +that the 'entrate' were to be paid in kind. + +Note 2. The word 'confini,' which I have translated 'boundaries,' may +mean 'limiting conditions.' + +CIII + +MEANWHILE I did not suspend my labours on the Neptune, which was now +quite blocked out upon an excellent system, undiscovered and unknown +before I used it. Consequently, although I knew I should not get the +marble for the reasons above narrated, I hoped to have it soon +completed, and to display it on the piazza simply for my satisfaction. + +It was a warm and pleasant season; and this, together with the +attentions of those two rascals, disposed me to set out one Wednesday, +which happened to be a double holiday, for my country-house at +Trespiano. [1] Having spent some time over an excellent lunch, it was +past twenty o’clock when I reached Vicchio. There, at the towngate, I +met Ser Filippo, who appeared to know already whither I was bound. He +loaded me with attentions, and took me to Sbietta’s house, where I found +that fellow’s strumpet of a wife, who also overwhelmed me with caresses. +I gave the woman a straw hat of the very finest texture, the like of +which she told me she had never seen. Still, up to this time, Sbietta +had not put in his appearance. + +Toward the end of the afternoon we all sat down to supper in excellent +spirits. Later on, they gave me a well appointed bedroom, where I went +to rest in a bed of the most perfect cleanliness. Both of my servants, +according to their rank, were equally well treated. On the morrow, when +I rose, the same attentions were paid me. I went to see my farm, which +pleased me much; and then I had some quantities of grain and other +produce handed over. But when I returned to Vicchio, the priest Ser +Filippo said to me: “Benvenuto do not be uneasy; although you have not +found here quite everything you had the right to look for, yet put your +mind to rest; it will be amply made up in the future, for you have to +deal with honest folk. You ought, by the way, to know that we have sent +that labourer away, because he was a scoundrel.” The labourer in +question bore the name of Mariano Rosegli; and this man now kept +frequently repeating in my ear: “Look well after yourself; in the end +you will discover which of us here is the greatest villain.” The +country-fellow, when he spoke those words, smiled with an evil kind of +sneer, and jerked his head as though to say: “Only go up there, and you +will find out for yourself.” + +I was to some extent unfavourably influenced by these hints, yet far +from forming a conception of what actually happened to me. So, when I +returned from the farm, which is two miles distant from Vicchio, toward +the Alpi, [2] I met the priest, who was waiting for me with his +customary politeness. We then sat down together to breakfast; it was not +so much a dinner as an excellent collation. Afterwards I took a walk +through Vicchio--the market had just opened--and noticed how all the +inhabitants fixed their eyes upon me, as on something strange. This +struck me particularly in the case of a worthy old man, who has been +living for many years at Vicchio, and whose wife bakes bread for sale. +He owns some good property at the distance of about a mile; however, he +prefers this mode of life, and occupies a house which belongs to me in +the town of Vicchio. This had been consigned to me together with the +farm above mentioned, which bears the name of Della Fonte. The worthy +old man spoke as follows: “I am living in your house, and when it falls +due I shall pay you your rent; but if you want it earlier, I will act +according to your wishes. You may reckon on never having any disputes +with me.” While we were thus talking I noticed that he looked me hard in +the face, which compelled me to address him thus: “Prithee, tell me, +friend Giovanni, why you have more than once stared at me in that way?” +He replied: “I am quite willing to tell you, if, being the man of worth +I take you for, you will promise not to say that I have told you.” I +gave the promise and he proceeded: “You must know then that that +worthless priest, Ser Filippo, not many days since, went about boasting +of his brother Sbietta’s cleverness, and telling how he had sold his +farm to an old man for his lifetime, and that the purchaser could hardly +live the year out. You have got mixed up with a set of rogues; therefore +take heed to living as long as you are able, and keep your eyes open, +for you have need of it. I do not choose to say more.” + +Note 1. From Cellini’s 'Ricordi' it appears that he bought a farm at +this village, north-east of Florence, on October 26, 1548. In 1556 he +also purchased land there. + +Note 2. The Alpi are high mountain pastures in the Apennines. + +CIV + +DURING my promenade through the market, I met Giovan Battista Santini, +and he and I were taken back to supper by the priest. As I have related +above, we supped at the early hour of twenty, because I made it known +that I meant to return to Trespiano. Accordingly they made all ready; +the wife of Sbietta went bustling about in the company of one Cecchino +Buti, their knave of all work. After the salads had been mixed and we +were preparing to sit down to table, that evil priest, with a certain +nasty sort of grin, exclaimed: “I must beg you to excuse me, for I +cannot sup with you; the reason is that some business of importance has +occurred which I must transact for my brother Sbietta. In his absence I +am obliged to act for him.” We all begged him to stay, but could not +alter his determination; so he departed and we began our supper. After +we had eaten the salads on some common platters, and they were preparing +to serve the boiled meat, each guest received a porringer for himself. +Santini, who was seated opposite me at table exclaimed: “Do you notice +that the crockery they give you is different from the rest? Did you ever +see anything handsomer?” I answered that I had not noticed it. He also +prayed me to invite Sbietta’s wife to sit down with us; for she and that +Cecchino Buti kept running hither and thither in the most extraordinary +fuss and hurry. At last I induced the woman to join us; when she began +to remonstrate: “You do not like my victuals, since you eat so little.” +I answered by praising the supper over and over again, and saying that I +had never eaten better or with heartier appetite. Finally, I told her +that I had eaten quite enough. I could not imagine why she urged me so +persistently to eat. After supper was over, and it was past the hour of +twenty-one, I became anxious to return to Trespiano, in order that I +might recommence my work next morning in the Loggia. Accordingly I bade +farewell to all the company, and having thanked our hostess, took my +leave. + +I had not gone three miles before I felt as though my stomach was on +fire, and suffered such pain that it seemed a thousand years till I +arrived at Trespiano. However, it pleased God that I reached it after +nightfall with great toil, and immediately proceeded to my farm, where I +went to bed. During the night I got no sleep, and was constantly +disturbed by motions of my bowels. When day broke, feeling an intense +heat in the rectum, I looked eagerly to see what this might mean, and +found the cloth covered with blood. Then in a moment I conceived that I +had eaten something poisonous, and racked my brains to think what it +could possibly have been. It came back to my memory how Sbietta’s wife +had set before me plates, and porringers, and saucers different from the +others, and how that evil priest, Sbietta’s brother, after giving +himself such pains to do me honour, had yet refused to sup with us. +Furthermore, I remembered what the priest had said about Sbietta’s doing +such a fine stroke of business by the sale of his farm to an old man for +life, who could not be expected to survive a year. Giovanni Sardella had +reported these words to me. All things considered, I made my mind up +that they must have administered a dose of sublimate in the sauce, which +was very well made and pleasant to the taste, inasmuch as sublimate +produces all the symptoms. I was suffering from. Now it is my custom to +take but little sauce or seasoning with my meat, excepting salt; and yet +I had eaten two moderate mouthfuls of that sauce because it was so +tasteful. On further thinking, I recollected how often that wife of +Sbietta had teased me in a hundred ways to partake more freely of the +sauce. On these accounts I felt absolutely certain that they had given +me sublimate in that very dish. + +CV + +ALBEIT I was suffering so severely, I forced myself to work upon my +Colossus in the Loggia; but after a few days I succumbed to the malady +and took to my bed. No sooner did the Duchess hear that I was ill, than +she caused the execution of that unlucky marble to be assigned to +Bartolommeo Ammanato. [1] He sent word to me through Messer…. +living…. Street, that I might now do what I liked with my model +since he had won the marble. This Messer…. was one of the lovers +of Bartolommeo Ammanato’s wife; and being the most favoured on account +of his gentle manners and discretion, Ammanato made things easy for him. +There would be much to say upon this topic; however, I do not care to +imitate his master, Bandinello, who always wandered from the subject in +his talk. Suffice it to say that I told Ammanato’s messenger I had +always imagined it would turn out thus; let the man strain himself to +the utmost in proof of gratitude to Fortune for so great a favour so +undeservedly conferred on him by her. + +All this while I stayed with sorry cheer in bed, and was attended by +that most excellent man and physician, Maestro Francesco da Montevarchi. +Together with him Maestro Raffaello de’ Pilli undertook the surgical +part of my case, forasmuch as the sublimate had so corroded the +intestines that I was unable to retain my motions. When Maestro +Francesco saw that the poison had exerted all its strength, being indeed +insufficient in quantity to overcome my vigorous constitutions, he said +one day: “Benvenuto, return thanks to God, for you have won the battle. +Have no anxiety, since I mean to cure you in spite of the rogues who +sought to work your ruin.” Maestro Raffaello then put in: “This will be +one of the finest and most difficult cures which was ever heard of; for +I can tell you, Benvenuto, that you swallowed a good mouthful of +sublimate.” Thereupon Maestro Francesco took him up and said: “It may +possibly have been some venomous caterpillar.” I replied: “I know for +certain what sort of poison it was, and who gave it to me;” upon which +we all were silent. They attended me more than six full months, and I +remained more than a whole year before I could enjoy my life and vigour. + +Note 1. What follows has been so carefully erased, possibly by Cellini’s +own hand, in the autograph, that it is illegible. Laura Battiferra, +Ammanato’s wife, was a woman of irreproachable character, whom Cellini +himself praised in a sonnet. + +CVI + +AT this time [1] the Duke went to make his triumphal entry into Siena, +and Ammanato had gone there some months earlier to construct the arches. +A bastard of his, who stayed behind in the Loggia, removed the cloths +with which I kept my model of Neptune covered until it should be +finished. As soon as I knew this, I complained to Signor Don Francesco, +the Duke’s son, who was kindly disposed toward me, and told him how they +had disclosed my still imperfect statue; had it been finished, I should +not have given the fact a thought. The Prince replied with a threatening +toss of his head: “Benvenuto, do not mind your statue having been +uncovered, because these men are only working against themselves; yet if +you want me to have it covered up, I will do so at once.” He added many +other words in my honour before a crowd of gentlemen who were there. I +then begged his Excellency to give me the necessary means for finishing +it, saying that I meant to make a present of it together with the little +model to his Highness. He replied that he gladly accepted both gifts, +and that he would have all the conveniences I asked for put at my +disposal. Thus, then, I fed upon this trifling mark of favour, which, in +fact, proved the salvation of my life; for having been overwhelmed by so +many evils and such great annoyances all at one fell swoop, I felt my +forces failing; but this little gleam of encouragement inspired me with +some hope of living. + +Note 1. October 28, 1560. + +CVII + +A YEAR had now passed since I bought the farm of Della Fonte from +Sbietta. In addition to their attempt upon my life by poisoning and +their numerous robberies, I noticed that the property yielded less than +half what had been promised. Now, in addition to the deeds of contract, +I had a declaration written by Sbietta’s own hand, in which he bound +himself before witnesses to pay me over the yearly income I have +mentioned. Armed with these documents, I had recourse to the Lords +Counsellors. At that time Messer Alfonso Quistello was still alive and +Chancellor of the Exchequer; he sat upon the Board, which included +Averardo Serristori and Federigo de’ Ricci. I cannot remember the names +of all of them, but I know that one of the Alessandri was a member. +Suffice it to say, the counsellors of that session were men of weight +and worth. When I had explained my cause to the magistracy, they all +with one voice ruled that Sbietta should give me back my money, except +Federigo de’ Ricci, who was then employing the fellow himself; the +others unanimously expressed sorrow to me that Federigo de’ Ricci +prevented them from despatching the affair. Averardo Serristori and +Alessandri in particular made a tremendous stir about it, but Federigo +managed to protect matters until the magistracy went out of office; +whereupon Serristori, meeting me one morning after they had come out +upon the Piazza dell’ Annunziata, cried aloud, without the least regard +to consequences: “Federigo de’ Ricci has been so much stronger than all +of us put together that you have been massacred against our will.” I do +not intend to say more upon this topic, since it would be too offensive +to the supreme authorities of state; enough that I was cruelly wronged +at the will of a rich citizen, only because he made use of that +shepherd-fellow. + +CVIII + +THE DUKE was staying at Livorno, where I went to visit him in order +merely to obtain release from his service. Now that I felt my vigour +returning, and saw that I was used for nothing, it pained me to lose +time which ought to have been spent upon my art. I made my mind up, +therefore, went to Livorno, and found my prince, who received me with +exceeding graciousness. Now I stayed there several days, and went out +riding daily with his Excellency. Consequently I had excellent +opportunities for saying all I wanted, since it was the Duke’s custom to +ride four miles out of Livorno along the sea-coast to the point where he +was erecting a little fort. Not caring to be troubled with a crowd of +people, he liked me to converse with him. So then, on one of these +occasions, having observed him pay me some remarkable attentions, I +entered into the affair of Sbietta and spoke as follows: “My lord, I +should like to narrate to your most illustrious Excellency a very +singular incident, which will explain why I was prevented from finishing +that clay model of Neptune on which I was working in the Loggia. Your +Excellency must know that I bought a farm for my life from Sbietta--” To +cut the matter short, I related the whole story in detail, without +contaminating truth with falsehood. Now when I came to the poison, I +remarked that if I had ever proved an acceptable servant in the sight of +his most illustrious Excellency, he ought not to punish Sbietta or those +who administered the poison, but rather to confer upon them some great +benefit, inasmuch as the poison was not enough to kill me, but had +exactly sufficed to cleanse me of a mortal viscosity from which I +suffered in my stomach and intestines. “The poison,” quoth I, “worked so +well, that whereas, before I took it, I had perhaps but three or four +years to live, I verily believe now that it has helped me to more than +twenty years by bettering my constitution. For this mercy I return +thanks to God with greater heartiness than ever; and this proves that a +proverb I have sometimes heard spoken is true, which runs as follows:-- + +‘God send us evil, that may work us good.’” + +The Duke listened to my story through more than two miles of travel, +keeping his attention fixed, and only uttering: “Oh, the villains!” I +said, in conclusion, that I felt obliged to them, and opened other and +more cheerful subjects of conversation. + +I kept upon the look-out for a convenient day; and when I found him well +disposed for what I wanted, I entreated his most illustrious Excellency +to dismiss me in a friendly spirit, so that I might not have to waste +the few years in which I should be fit to do anything. As for the +balance due upon my Perseus, he might give this to me when he judged it +opportune. Such was the pith of my discourse: but I expanded it with +lengthy compliments, expressing my gratitude toward his most illustrious +Excellency. To all this he made absolutely no answer, but rather seemed +to have taken my communication ill. On the following day Messer +Bartolommeo Concino, [1] one of the Duke’s secretaries, and among the +chiefest, came to me, and said with somewhat of a bullying air: “The +Duke bids me tell you that if you want your dismissal, he will grant it; +but if you choose work, he will give you plenty: God grant you may have +the power to execute all he orders.” I replied that I desired nothing +more than work to do, and would rather take it from the Duke than from +any man whatever in the world. Whether they were popes, emperors, or +kings, I should prefer to serve his most illustrious Excellency for a +halfpenny than any of the rest of them for a ducat. He then remarked: +“If that is your mind, you and he have struck a bargain without the need +of further speech. So, then, go back to Florence, and be unconcerned; +rely on the Duke’s goodwill towards you.” Accordingly I made my way +again to Florence. + +Note 1. This man was the son of a peasant at Terranuova, in Valdarno. He +acquired great wealth and honour at the court of Duke Cosimo, and was +grandfather of the notorious Maréchal d’Ancre. + +CIX + +IMMEDIATELY after my arrival, there came to visit me a certain +Raffaellone Scheggia, whose trade was that of a cloth-of-gold weaver. He +began thus: “My Benvenuto, I should like to reconcile you with Piermaria +Sbietta.” I replied that nobody could settle the affairs between us +except the Lords Counsellors; in the present court Sbietta would not +have a Federigo de’ Ricci to support him, a man willing, for the bribe +of a couple of fatted kids, without respect of God or of his honour, to +back so infamous a cause and do so vile a wrong to sacred justice. When +I had uttered these words, and many others to the like effect, Raffaello +kept on blandly urging that it was far better to eat a thrush in peace +than to bring a fat capon to one’s table, even though one were quite +sure to get it, after a hot fight. He further reminded me that lawsuits +had a certain way of dragging on, and that I could employ the time far +better upon some masterpiece of art, which would bring me not only +greater honour, but greater profit to boot. I knew that he was speaking +the mere truth, and began to lend ear to his arguments. Before long, +therefore, we arranged the matter of this way: Sbietta was to rent the +farm from me at seventy golden crowns in gold the year during the whole +term of my natural life. But when we came to the contract, which was +drawn up by Ser Giovanni, son of Ser Matteo da Falgano, Sbietta objected +that the terms we had agreed on would involve our paying the largest +duties to the revenue. He was not going to break his word; therefore we +had better draw the lease for five years, to be renewed on the expiry of +the term. He undertook to abide by his promise to renew, without raising +further litigation. That rascal, the priest, his brother, entered into +similar engagements; and so the lease was drawn for five years. + +CX + +THOUGH I want to enter upon other topics, and to leave all this +rascality alone awhile, I am forced to narrate what happened at the +termination of this five years’ contract. Instead of abiding by their +promised word, those two rogues declared they meant to give me up my +farm, and would not keep it any longer upon lease. I not unnaturally +complained, but they retorted by ostentatiously unfolding the deed; and +I found myself without any defense against their chicanery. When it came +to this, I told them that Duke and Prince of Florence would not suffer +folk to be so infamously massacred in their cities. That menace worked +so forcibly upon their minds that they once more despatched Raffaello +Schegcia, the same man who negotiated the former arrangement. I must add +that they professed their unwillingness to pay the same rent of seventy +crowns as during the five years past, while I replied that I would not +take a farthing less. So then Raffaello came to look me up, and spoke to +this effect: “My Benvenuto, you know that I am acting in your interest. +Now these men have placed themselves entirely in my hands;” and he +showed me a writing to this effect signed by them. Not being aware that +he was their close relative, I thought he would be an excellent +arbitrator, and therefore placed myself also absolutely in his hands. +This man of delicate honour then came one evening about a half hour +after sunset, in the month of August, and induced me with the strongest +pressure to draw up the contract then and there. He did so because he +knew that if he waited till the morning, the deceit he wished to +practise on me must have failed. Accordingly the deed was executed, to +the effect that they were to pay me a rent of sixty-five crowns, in two +half-yearly installments, during the term of my natural life. +Notwithstanding I rebelled against it, and refused to sit down quietly +under the injustice, all was to no purpose. Raffaello exhibited my +signature, and every one took part against me. At the same time he went +on protesting that he acted altogether in my interest and as my +supporter. Neither the notary nor any others who heard of the affair, +knew that he was a relative of those two rogues; so they told me I was +in the wrong. Accordingly, I was forced to yield with the best grace I +could; and what I have now to do is to live as long as I can manage. + +Close after these events, that is to say, in the December of 1566 +following, I made another blunder. I bought half of the farm Del Poggio +from them, or rather from Sbietta, for two hundred crowns. [1] It +marches with my property of La Fonte. Our terms were that the estate +should revert at the term of three years, [2] and I gave them a lease of +it. I did this for the best; but I should have to dilate too long upon +the topic were I to enter into all the rascalities they practised on me. +Therefore, I refer my cause entirely to God, knowing that He hath ever +defended me from those who sought to do me mischief. + +Note 1. 'Scudi di moneta,' not 'd’oro.' + +Note 2. This seems to be the meaning of 'compare con riservo di tre +anni.' Cellini elsewhere uses the equivalent term 'patto resolutivo.' +See Tassi, vol. ii. p. 583. + +CXI + +HAVING quite completed my crucifix, I thought that if I raised it some +feet above the ground, it would show better than it did upon a lower +level. After I had done so, it produced a far finer effect than even it +had made before, and I was greatly satisfied. So then I began to exhibit +it to every one who had the mind to see it. + +As God willed, the Duke and the Duchess heard about it. On their arrival +then from Pisa, both their Excellencies arrived one day quite +unexpectedly, attended by all the nobles of their court, with the sole +purpose of inspecting my crucifix. They were so much delighted, that +each of these princes lavished endless praises on it, and all the lords +and gentlefolk of their suites joined in chorus. Now, when I saw how +greatly they were taken with the piece, I began to thank them with a +touch of humour, saying that, if they had not refused me the marble for +the Neptune, I should never have undertaken so arduous a task, the like +whereof had not been attempted by any sculptor before me.” “It is true,” +I added, “that this crucifix has cost me hours of unimaginable labour; +yet they have been well expended, especially now when your most +illustrious Excellencies have bestowed such praises on it. I cannot hope +to find possessors of it worthier than you are; therefore I gladly +present it to you as a gift.” [1] + +After speaking to this effect, I prayed them, before they took their +leave, to deign to follow me into the ground-floor of my dwelling. They +rose at once with genial assent, left the workshop, and on entering the +house, beheld my little model of the Neptune and the fountain, which had +not yet been by the Duchess. This struck her with such force that she +raised a cry of indescribable astonishment, and turning to the Duke, +exclaimed: “Upon my life, I never dreamed it could be one-tenth part so +beautiful!” The Duke replied by repeating more than once: “Did I not +tell you so?” Thus they continued talking together for some while +greatly in my honour. Afterwards the Duchess called me to her side; and +when she had uttered many expressions of praise which sounded like +excuses (they might indeed have been construed into asking for +forgiveness), she told me that she should like me to quarry a block of +marble to my taste, and then to execute the work. In reply to these +gracious speeches I said that, if their most illustrious Excellencies +would provide me with the necessary accommodations, I should gladly for +their sakes put my hand to such an arduous undertaking. The Duke +responded on the moment: “Benvenuto, you shall have all the +accommodations you can ask for; and I will myself give you more besides, +which shall surpass them far in value.” With these agreeable words they +left me, and I remained highly satisfied. + +Note 1. The Duchess would not take the crucifix as a gift. The Duke +bought it for fifteen hundred golden crowns, and transferred it to the +Pitti in 1565. It was given by the Grand Duke Francesco in 1576 to +Philip II., who placed it in the Escorial, where it now is. + +CXII + +MANY weeks passed, but of me nothing more was spoken. This neglect drove +me half mad with despair. Now about that time the Queen of France sent +Messer Baccio del Bene to our Duke for a loan of money, which the Duke +very graciously supplied, as rumour went. Messer Baccio del Bene and I +had been intimate friends in former times; so when we renewed our +acquaintance in Florence, we came together with much mutual +satisfaction. In course of conversation he related all the favours shown +him by his most illustrious Excellency, and asked me what great works I +had in hand. In reply, I narrated the whole story of the Neptune and the +fountain, and the great wrong done me by the Duchess. He responded by +telling me how her Majesty of France was most eager to complete the +monument of her husband Henri II., and how Daniello da Volterra [1] had +undertaken a great equestrian statue in bronze, but the time had already +elapsed in which he promised to perform it, and that a multitude of the +richest ornaments were required for the tomb. If, then, I liked to +return to France and occupy my castle, she would supply me with all the +conveniences I could ask for, provided only I cared to enter her +service. These proposals he made on the part of the Queen. I told Messer +Baccio to beg me from the Duke; if his most illustrious Excellency was +satisfied, I should very willingly return to France. He answered +cheerfully: “We will travel back together!” and considered the affair +settled. Accordingly, next day, in course of conversation with the Duke, +he alluded to myself, declaring that if his Excellency had no objection, +the Queen would take me into her employ. The Duke replied without a +moment’s hesitation: “Benvenuto’s ability in his profession is known to +the whole world; but at the present time he does not care to go on +working.” Then they touched on other topics; and upon the day following +I called on Messer Baccio, who reported what had passed between them. +Then I lost all patience, and exclaimed: “Oh, me! His most illustrious +Excellency gave me nothing to do, while I was bringing to perfection one +of the most difficult master-pieces ever executed in this world; and it +stands me in more than two hundred crowns, which I have paid out of my +poverty! Oh, what could I not have done if his Excellency had but set me +to work! I tell you in pure truth, that they have done me a great +wrong!” The good-natured gentleman repeated to the Duke what I had +answered. The Duke told him we were joking, and that he wanted me for +his own service. The result was that in my irritation I more than once +made up my mind to make off without asking leave. However, the Queen +preferred to drop negotiations, in fear of displeasing the Duke; and so +I remained here, much to my regret. + +Note 1. This painter is chiefly famous for his “Descent from the Cross” +in the Church of the Trinità de’ Monti at Rome. He died in 1566. + +CXIII + +ABOUT that time the Duke went on a journey, attended by all his court +and all his sons, except the prince, who was in Spain. They travelled +through the Sienese Maremma, and by this route he reached Pisa. The +poison from the bad air of those marshes first attacked the Cardinal, +who was taken with a pestilential fever after a few days, and died at +the end of a brief illness. He was the Duke’s right eye, handsome and +good, and his loss was most severely felt. I allowed several days to +elapse, until I thought their tears were dried, and then I betook myself +to Pisa. + +End of Part Two + +End of Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini + diff --git a/4028-8.zip b/4028-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68ea39f --- /dev/null +++ b/4028-8.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e301fa1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #4028 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4028) |