AT LOS ANGELES THE GIFT OF MAY TREAT MORRISON IN MEMORY OF ALEXANDER F MORRISON if BOHN'S STANDARD LIBRARY. BENVENUTO CELLINI. " This is, perhaps, the moit porii^'t piece oi autabio^raphy that evor was written, whether considered with reference to t'ne candour and veracity of the author, the spirit of the incidents, or the breathing vitality of the narrative. 'A'e ue'tr in tj2 whole course of our lite read a book of a more engaging description." — Retrospective RnKiew. MEMOIRS OF BENVP^NUTO CELLINI, It gl ;(plortntine Artist; WRITTEN BY HIMSELF: CONTAINIMG A VARIETY OF INFORMATION RESPECTING THE ARTS, AND THE HISTORY OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. ROW V1B8T COLLATED WITH THE NEW TEXT OF GIUSEPPE MOUTII, AND CORRECTED AND ENLARGED FROM THE LAST MILAN EDITION, WITH - , . . ' . NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 0F> G. P. eARPANI' - TRANSLATED BY THOMAS ROSCOE. " Cellini w«5 one of the most extraordinary men of an extraordinary age : hU !ife, written b; blmielf, is more amusing than any norel I know." — Horace ^ViLPOLS. LONDON: GEORGE BELL & SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEJ^. 1889. i j' 1 J 1 J 1 ' It > il ' > 1 ' 11} > ) J t LOJIDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAUFORD STREET AKD CBABING CBOSS. , • . . . • ' .' . • . ' I • • • • • ...... . . • . • ... * »•» ... ... !!•••' C a. b « • *« « • • • «, • « •* • • • • 6 • » I • » • • • w • r I « » ■ ♦ 1\)13 ^ PEEFACE. t; ■ t •** As a very curious piece of autobiography, this work un- doubtedly possesses the most striking claims to attention. The Italian literati, particularly Parini and Tiraboschi, have carried their admiration of it to the very highest pitch, describing it as the most entertaining and delightful work in the whole compass of Italian literature ; an opinion corroborated by that of Horace Walpole, who regarded it as " more amusing than any novel." The distinguished eminence of Benvenuto Cellini in the times of the Old Masters (an age peculiarly fertile in genius, and to which, next to Grecian antiquity, we owe ^ all the most noble monuments of the fine arts) ; his in- ^ timacy with Michael Angelo, Titian, and all the great Ita- lian sculptors and painters of the age ; and his intercourse s with Francis I., Charles V., Popes Clement VII. and y;^ Paul III., the Dukes Alessandro and Cosmo of Florence, and many princes, statesmen, commanders, and dignified * ecclesiastics of that turbulent age ; afforded him oppor- tunities of making the most interesting observations ; and perhaps no man was ever more capable of availing him- self of such advantages. Of those great and prominent characters, who then disposed of the destinies of mankind, "v, and whom the historic page presents in all the formality V^vmd dignity of state ceremony, Cellini gives us, at every turn, a transient but distinct view — a glimpse — which dis- O^ plays them in their private domestic moments, when they '^^Jittle thought they were sitting for their portraits to one ^^ whose pen was no less effectively descriptive, than Ida pencil was strikingly imitative. The native genius which directed the one, animated the other, and produced with inconceivable facility the most masterly sketches of the 4 VI PREFACE. persons, manners, "^nd characters of that mass of power, rank, and splendour witli which it was the fortune of Cellini to come into contact. As to the incredibility which attaches to some of his narrations, his own confined education, his susceptible nerves, his superlative credulity and superstition, and wild imagination, may in general be sufficient apologies for him, and save him from the charge of intentional misrepresenta- tion. And as the other parts of his work are universally allowed to abound in knowledge of life, and of the passions and conduct of mankind, so these incredible stories, gravely asserted by a disinterested man of unquestionable talents, may contribute to convince us of the sti-ict caution with which we should receive all marvellous accounts, however well attested. In presenting a new edition of this curious autobiography to the public, it may be proper to state what additional claims it possesses, in addition to its intrinsic attractions. In the year 1830, Signor Giuseppe Molini, of Florence, brought out a new and most valuable edition of Cellini's Life, printed word for word from the original MS., as dic- tated by the author, forming one of the volumes of his " Biblioteca Italiana Portatile." Aware probably of my preceding English edition, printed in 1822, collated with the text, and enriched with notes from the Milan edition of G. P. Carpani, Signor Molini had the kindness to present me with a copy of his new Cellini. From this source I have derived several inter- esting additions, of which I have availed myself in the present popular form of publication. The learned Italian editor describes " this precious docu- ment" as having been accidentally discovered by Signor Poirot, in 1810, at the shop of "one of" our "booksellers" — we are led to infer — at Florence. At the death of the " Segretario" (Poirot) in 1825, it passed, with all his " MSS.," into the Laurentian library, in compliance with the tenor of his will. "With permission of the grand duke, the editor of the "Biblioteca" took a verbatim copy, which he collated with the Milan edition of 1821, from the Bettoni press. This is stated to have been done with the most scrupulous care and attention. Without assigning PREFACE. \n reasons for its non-appearance until 1830^ he [jroceerls in bis examination of the manuscript, in order clearlj to establish its authenticity. " It consistb," says the able and sagacious editor, " of a volume in folio, of 519 pages, num- bered only in part, with a rough cover of parchment, and tied by bands of the same material. On the back of the first covering is written, " De' libri d' Andrea de' Lorenzo Cavalcanti ; " and on the right of the first page, ' This most precious book was ever held in the highest esteem by the good, and, to me, always dear, Signor Andrea Cavalcanti, my father, who would permit no one to copy it ; resisting even the repeated solicitations made to hira by his most serene and reverend highness the Prince Cardinal Leopold of Tuscany, &c., because — " Sol negli Arabl regni una Fenice Vive a se stessa, e fjeiietrice e prole, Onde del' mondo e in pregio, a rai del sole, E vil quel che d' avere a ciascun lice." Lone in its happy realms one Phenix dwells, Lives to itself, parent and offspring both — So by the world is priz'd — rare worth is loth To court applause — what's each one's rankly smells. On the back of this is written, in Cellini's own hand, the sonnet and prose comment on his life, given in the Supplement of the present volume. In the second page begins the autobiography as dictated to the son of M. de Goro Vestri, which is continued up to page 460. Then follow three more, and one half of a fourth, in an un- known hand ; the remainder, to the close of the work, is in Cellini's handwriting. At the end of the volume are five blank pages, with exception of the first, on which are the words, ' dappoi me n' andai a Pisa.' " (I afterwards went to Pisa.) That this is the original volume which Cellini sent to Benedetto Varchi, for his revision, Signor Molini enter- tains no doubt. In various places, as he has shown in his interesting annotations, words inscribed by Varchi's hand occur ; and it is no less evident from the sonnet written by that eminent poet and critic, upon the supposed death of his friend Benvenuto. • •• VUl PREFACE. The fortunate and proud possessor of the original " MS.,** ' whose filial piety in the above record testifies at once to the J wide fame of Cellini, and the jealous Dilettanti spirit of \ his father, made a gift, it appears, of his family treasure to ' Redi, who extracted from it the words which were after- wards inserted in the Tuscan Vocabulary. How the long- \ treasured heir-loom subsequently found its way from the i learned Redi's library, through a great variety of hands, ^ till it arrived at the shop of Signor Cecchino — a man i justly esteemed by the collectors of curious books — Signor j Molini is at a loss, equally with the rest of the world, ■ to account. ; That this is the original document farther appears from j the fact of Cellini's having never made a copy, so that these j were dispersed throughout various libraries, obtained • doubtless from some clandestine copy, and, in Molini's j opinion, all imperfect ; each copyist having been found to j add to the errors of his predecessors. Without reference to these, therefore, Signor Molini adhered closely to the ^ original text ; a rule that has been as strictly observed in j this new English edition. Numerous omissions in the ' former translation have now been supplied, and errors and inadvertencies rectified, which often injured the effect of the narrative, and even rendered obscure the meaning of the author. i T. RoscoB. MEMOIKS OF BENVENUTO CELLIXl CHAPTER I. Motives which induced the Author to write the history of his own life Origin of the city of Florence Account of the Author's family and parentage, with the reason of his being named Benve- nuto. — He discovers an early taste for drawing and designing; but his father advises him to learn music ; he reluctantly learns to play the flute His father in favour with Pope Leo X Benvenuto is placed with a jeweller and goldsmith. It is a duty incumbent on upright and credible men of al) ranks, who have performed any thing noble or praise- worthy, to record, in their own writing, the events of their lives ; yet they should not commence this honourable task before they have passed their fortieth year. Such, at least, is my opinion, now that I have completed my fifty-eighth year, and am settled in Florence, where, considering the numerous ills that constantly attend human life, I perceive that I have never before been so free from vexations and calamities, or possessed of so great a share of content and health, as at this period. Looking back on some delightful and happy events of my life, and on many misfortunes so truly overwhelming, that the appalling retrospect makes me wonder how 1 have reached this age, in vigour and pros- perity, through God's goodness, I have resolved to publish an account of my life. And although men whose exertions have been crowned with any degree of honour, and who have rendered themselves conspicuous to the world, ought, perhaps, to regard only that personal merit to which they Si 2 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. I. owe their celebrity ; yet as in this world it is necessary to live iike. other .pBojple, J jmist, in commencing my narrative, satisfy" t'he p'jibiic on some few points to which its curiosity js utsu&lly, directed ; the first of wliicli is to ascertain .'whether i .man 'iis.dQ£c,fc?ide -etino and Poggio. 4 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. I. where tliey were lords of considerable domains : they were all trained to arms, and distinguished for military prowess. One of the family, a youth named Cristofano, had a fierce dispute with some of their neighbours and friends ; and because the chief relations on both sides had engaged in the dispute, and it seemed likely that the flames of discord would end in the destruction of the two families, the eldest people, having maturely considered the matter, unani- mously agreed to remove the two young men who began the quarrel out of the way. The opposite party obliged their kinsman to withdraw to Siena, and Cristofano's parents sent him to Florence, where they purchased a small house for him in the Via Chiara, from the monastery of St. Ursula, with a pretty good estate near the bridge of Rifredi. This Cristofano married in Florence, and had several sons and daughters : the daughters were por- tioned off; and the sons divided the remainder of their father's substance between them. After his decease, the house of Via Chiara, with some other property of no great amount, fell to one of the above-mentioned sons, whose name was Andrea. He took a wife, by whom he had four male children : the name of the first was Girolamo, that ot the second Bartolomeo ; the third was Giovanni, my father ; the fourth was Francesco. Andrea Cellini, my grandfather, was tolerably well versed in the architecture of those days, and made it his profession. Giovanni, my father, cultivated it more than any of his brothers ; and since, according to the opinion of Vitruvius, those who are desirous of succeeding in this art, should, amongst other things, know something of music and drawing, Giovanni, having acquired great proficiency in the art of designing, began to apply himself to music. He learned to play admirably well upon the viol and flute ; and being of a very studious disposition, he hardly ever went abroad. His next-door neighbour was Stefano Granacci, who had several daughters of extraordinary beauty. Giovanni soon became sensible to the charms of one of them, named Lisabetta ; and at length grew so deeply enamoured that he asked her in marriage. Their fathers being intimate, and next-door neighbours, it was no difficult matter to CH. I.J HIS FATHEU'S MARRIAGE. A bring about the match, as both parties thought they found their account in it. First of all, the two ohl men concluded the marriage, and then began to talk of the portion ; but they could not rightly agree on that point, for Andrea said to Stefano, ^' My son Giovanni is the best youth in Flo- rence, and even in all Italy ; and if I had thought of pro- curing him a wife before, I might have obtained for him the best portion in Florence amongst persons of our rank." Stefano answered, " You have a thousand reasons on your side, but I have five daughters and several sons ; so that, all things duly considered, it is as much as I can afford." Giovanni had stood some time listening to their conver- sation unperceived by them, but on hearing this he sud- denly interrupted them, saying, " Ah ! father, it is the girl that I love and desire, and not her money. Wretched is he who marries to repair his fortune by means of his wife's dowry. You boast that I am possessed of some talents : is it then to be supposed that I am unable to maintain my wife, and supply her necessities ? I want nothing of you but your consent ; and I must give you to understand that the girl shall be mine ; as to the portion you may take it yourself" Andrea Cellini, who was somewhat eccentric, was not a little displeased at this ; but in a few days Giovanni took his wife home, and never afterwards re- quired any portion of her father. They enjoyed their consecrated love for eighteen years ; but had no children, which they ardently desired. At the expiration of the eighteenth year, however, Giovanni's wife miscarried of two male children, through the unskil- fulness of her medical attendants. She became pregnant again, and gave birth to a girl, who was called Rosa, after my father's mother. Two years after, she was once more with child, and, as women in her condition are liable to certain longings, hers being exactly the same upon this occasion as before, it was generally thought that she would have another girl, and it had been already agreed to give her the name of Reparata, after my mother's mother. It happened that she was brought to bed precisely the night of All-Saints-day, in the year 1500, at half an hour past four. Tlie midwife, who was sensible that the family ex- pected the birth of a female, as soon as she had washed the 6 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. I. child and wrapped it up in fine swaddling-clothes, came softly up to my father, and said to him, " I here bring you a fine present which you little expected." My father, who was of a philosophical disposition, and happened to be then walking about, said, " What God gives me, I shall always receive thankfully ;" but, taking off the clothes, he saw with his own eyes the unexpected boy. Clasping his hands together, he lifted up his eyes to Heaven, saying : " Lord, I thank thee from the bottom of my heart for this present, which is very dear and welcome to me." The standers-by asked him, joyfully, how he proposed to call the child : he made them no other answer than, " He is Welcome." And this name of Welcome (Benvenuto) he resolved to give me at the font ; and so I was christ- ened accordingly. Andrea Cellini was still living when I was about three years of age ; and he was then above a hundred. As they were one day removing a water-pipe, a large scorpion, which they had not perceived, came out of it : the scorpion descended upon the ground and had got under a great bench, when I, seeing it, ran and caught it in my hand. This scorpion was of such a size, that whilst I held it in my little hand it put out its tail on one side, and on the other darted its two mouths. I ran overjoyed to my grand- father, crying out, " Grandfather, look at my pretty little crab ! " The good old man, who knew it to be a scorpion, was so frightened, and so apprehensive for my safety, that he seemed rfe,ady to drop down dead, and begged me with great eagerness to give the creature to him ; but I grasped it the harder, and cried, for I did not choose to part with it. My father, who was in' the house, ran to us upon hear- ing the noise ; but, stupified with terror at the sight of that venomous reptile, he could think of no means of rescuing me from my perilous situation. But happening just at that instant to espy a pair of scissors, he laid hold of them, and by caressing and playing with me, he contrived to cut off the tail and head of the scorpion. Then finding I had received no harm, he pronounced it a happy omen. When I was about five years of age, my father happened to be in a little room in which they had been washing, and where there was a good oak fire burning : with a fiddle in CH. 1.1 HIS AVERSION FOR UTDSIC. 7 his liand he sang and played near the fire, the weather being exceedingly cold. Looking into the i re, he saw a little animal resembling a lizard, which lived and enjoyed itself in the hottest flames. Instantly perceiving what it was, he called for my sister, and after he had shown us the creature, he gave me a box on the ear: I fell a-crying, while he, soothing me with his caressess, said, " My dear child, I don't give you that blow for any fault you have committed, but that you may remember that the little lizard which you see in the fire is a salamander ; a creature which no one that I have heard of ever beheld before." So saying, he embraced me, and gave me some money. My father began to teach me to play upon the flute, and to sing by note ; and though I was very young, at an age when children, generally speaking, are highly pleased with piping and such amusements, I had the utmost aversion for it, and played and sang merely in obedience to his autho- rity. My father at that time made the most curious organs with pipes of wood, the finest and best harpsichords that were to be seen in those days, and most beautiful and ex- cellent viols, lutes, and harps. He was an engineer, and constructed a variety of machines, such as draw-bridges, fulling-mills, &e. He worked admirably in ivory, and was the first artist of his time in that line. But as he was also musically inclined, insomuch that this art had engrossed his whole thoughts and attention, he was requested by the court musicians to join with them ; and as he was willing to oblige them, they made hira one of their band. Lorenzo* de' Medici, and Pietro, his son, who were veiy much his friends, seeing afterwards that he attached himself entirely to music, and neglected his business as an engineer, and his admirable art of working in ivory, removed him from that place. This my father highly resented, and thought him- self very ill used by his patrons. He therefore on a sudden applied again to his business, and made a looking-glass, about a cubit diameter, of bone and ivory, adorned with carved figui-es and foliages, with the tiuert polish and the ♦ Lorenzo the Ma-rnificent, who died in his 44th year, in 1402, one of the most munificent and iutelligint patrons of the fuie arts Italjf •ver possessed. 8 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. L most admirable elegance of design. It was in the form of a wheel ; the mirror was placed in the middle ; round it were seven circles, in which the seven virtues were carved in ivory and bone ; and both the mirror and the figures of the virtues were balanced in such a manner, that the wheel turning round, all the virtues moved at the same time, and had a weight to counterpoise them at their feet, which kept them in a straight direction. As he had a smattering of the Latin language, he carved a verse round the mirror, the purport of which was, "that on which side soever the wheel of fortune turns, virtue stands unshaken upon her feet." Ruta sum semper, quo quo me verto, stat virtus. A short time after, his place of court-musician was re- stored to him. At that period (which was before I was born) these musicians were all eminent artizans ; some of them, being manufacturers df wool, and others of silk, be- longed to the Arti Maggiori : * hence my father did not think this profession beneath him ; and his first desire with regard to me was, that I should become a great player on tlie flute. I on my part was never more offended than when he touched upon this subject, and when he told me that, if I had a mind, I might become the best musician in the universe. As I have already observed, my father was a staunch friend to the house of Medici, so that when Pietro was banished from Florence f, he intrusted him with many afi'airs of consequence. The illustrious Pietro Sode- rini| afterwards being elected to the government, when * In the year 1266, tlie Florentine people, to resist the influence of the aristocracy, established seven classes, termed " Arti Maggiori," each having a consul or leader. Among these were enumerated judges and notaries, manufacturers of wool, traders in foreign merchandize, brokers, physicians, mercers, silk, and fur dealers, &c. &c. All those entitled to rank in the " Arti Maggiori" were, at that period, consi- dered as gentlemen. f This happened in November, 1494. Pietro was drowned in passing the river Garigliano, in 1504. His brothers, the Cardinal Giovanni, afterwards Leo X., and Giuliano, returned to Florence in September, 1512, through the intervention of Julius II. % The only perpetual gonfalonier the Florentine republic ever had. He assumed the office in the year 1502, at a time when the publid liberty was in the utmost danger. Though worthy of the trust, Sode- tini was unequal to the difficulties which presented themselves, aoii CH, I.] CARDINAL DE' MEDICI ELECTED POPE. 9 my fathe: was in his service in quality of musician, that great statesman, discovering his extraordinary genius, began to have recourse to him in many matters of import- ance, showing him thenceforward the greatest kindness. At this time my father, as I was of a tender age, once caused me to be carried upon a person's shoulders to play upon the flute before the senate, and one of their servants supported me all the time. After the music was over, So- derini, then gonfalonier, or chief magistrate, amused him- self with my prattle, and giving me sweetmeats, said to my father, " Giovanni, you must teach him your other two elegant arts, as well as that of music." My father replied, that he did not intend I should follow any other business but that of playing upon the flute, and composing ; for if it pleased God to spare his days, he hoped to make me the first man in the world in that profession. To this one of the old gentlemen present replied, " Ah, master Cellini, mind what the gonfalonier says ; why should the boy aim at nothing higher all his life than being a good musician ? " Thus some time passed till the Medici family was re- stored. The Cardinal de' Medici, who was afterwards Pope Leo X., immediately upon his recall showed the ut- most kindness to my father. While the family was itt exile, the balls * were removed from the coat of arms in the front of their palace ; and the citizens had caused to be painted in their place the figure of a red cross, which was the arms of the republic. But at the sudden return of the Medicean princes the red cross was effaced, and upon the said escutcheon were again painted the red balls, and the golden field was replaced with the most beautilul decorations. My father, who had rather a turn for poetry, with somewhat of a prophetic vein — doubtless, a divine gift, — when the new arms were shown him, wrote the fol- lowing four lines : — " These arms, so long interr'd from human sight. Beneath the image hland of Holy Cross, Renew their glorious ensigns' proud emboss. And wait but Peter's sacred mantle bright." wanted energy to restrain the licentiousness of the citizens. Thus, he »t last fell a victim to some of the more daring and ambitious, and waa banished, after nine years' lulministration, from his country. • Tlie bails, called Pal/e, borne in the arms of the Medici. — Ed. 10 MEMOIKS OK BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. I This epigram was read throughout the whole of Flo- rence. A few days after died Pope Julius the Second, and the Car linal de' Medici, afterwards known as the magnani- mous and libei-al Leo X., having repaired to Rome, was elected Pope *, contrary to the general opinion : my father, having sent him the four verses which contained so happy an augury, was invited by him to repair to that capital, which would have been greatly to his advantage, but he did not choose to leave Florence. However, instead or being rewarded, his place at court was taken from him by Giacopo Salviati f , as soon as that nobleman was made gonfalonier. This was the reason of my applying myself to the gold- smith's business ; and while I was learning that trade I was compelled to spend part of my time in practising upon the flute, much against my inclination.^ For when my father spoke to me in the manner above mentioned, I re- quested him to let me draw so many hours a-day, telling him that I would dedicate the remainder of it to the flute ; upon which he said to me, " Do you not take pleasure in playing on that instrument ? " I answered in the negative, saying, the profession of a musician appeared to me base in comparison of that to which I aspired. My poor father then, in the utmost despair, placed me with the father of the cavalier Bandinello, who was called Michelagnolo, goldsmith of Pinzi di Monte, a man of great skill in his art. He was not descended from any illustrious race, but was the son of a collier. This I do not mention as a re- flection on Bandinello §, who, as the founder of a distin- * In 1513. He had been made a cardinal at fourteen, and was then thirty-seven years of age. Like his father, Lorenzo the Magnificent, he seemed to restore the times of Pericles and Augustus, and died at the early age of forty-four, in the year 1521. f Salviati married the eldest daughter of Lorenzo, and, attaching himself to the party of the Medici, obtained great influence in Florence. But he does not appear to have ever arrived at the office of gonfalo- nier, or chief magistrate. ^ There is here an hiatfis in the Laurentian MS. before-mentioned, by us consulted. § Baccio Bandinelli, knighted by Clement VII. and by Charles V. was born in 1487, and died at the age r.f seventy-two. Cellini oftea CH I.J ENGAGES HIMSELF WITH MARCONE. 11 guished family, is entitled to respect, provided his success was merited ; and however that may be, I have nothing to say against him. When I had stayed there a few days, my father took me away from Michelagnolo, as being unable to bear me any longer out of his sight ; so that I continued, much against my will, to play upon the flute till the age of fifteen. If I should attempt to relate the extra- ordinary events that befel me till that period, and the great danger to which my life was exposed, I should strike my readers with surprise and astonishment ; but to avoid prolixity, having more interesting matter, I shall wholly omit them. Having attained the age of fifteen, I engaged myself, against my father's inclination, with a goldsmith, named Antonio di Sandro, who was commonly called Marcone. This was an excellent artist, and a very worthy man, high-spirited, and generous in every respect. My fa- ther would not have him allow me any wages, as was customary with other workmen ; for this reason, that, since I voluntarily applied myself to this art, I might likewise have an opportunity to draw whenever I thought proper. To this arrangement I readily acceded, and my worthy master was much pleased with the bargain. He had an only, but illegitimate son, to whom he often directed his orders, on purpose to spare me. So great was my inclina- tion to improve, that in a few months I rivalled the most skilful journeyman in tlie business, and began to reap some fruits from my labour. I continued, however, to play, sometimes, through complaisance to my father, either upon the flute or the horn ; and I constantly drew tears and deep sighs from him every time he heard me. From a feeling of filial piety, I often gave him that satisfaction, endeavouring to persuade him that it gave me also particular pleasure. speaks of this celebrated sculptor, who approached, perhaps, the nearest of any in his age to Michel- Angelo Buonarroti. Disliking his avarice, as well as his envious and overbearing temper, Cellini alwa s attacked and ridiculed this artist's works. But in the opinion of Michei- Angelo, by no means a friend to Bandinelli, they are finely designee, and would have been as nobly executed, had not his inordinate desire »f money led him to adopt too hasty and loose a style. 12 CH. a CHAPTER II. The Author seeing his brother almost killed in a fray, takes his part; this gives rise to some untoward accidents, and is the cause of his being banished from Florence. — He removes to Siena, and from thence to Bologna, where he improves greatly in playing on the flute, and still more in his own art of a goldsmith. — Quarrel be- tween his father and Picrino, a musician; lamentable catastrophe of the latter The Author removes to Pisa, and enters into the service of a goldsmith of that city. — He returns to Florence, and is taken ill ; but, upon his recovery, engages with his old master Marcone. At this juncture an adventure happened to my brother, which was attended with very serious consequences to us both. He was two years younger than myself, of a warm tem- per and the most undaunted courage, qualities which fitted him for the military school of the illustrious Signor Giovanni de' Medici*, father to Duke Cosmo, where he became an • Giovanni de' IVIedici, called the Invincible, was descended from a brother of Cosmo, entitled " Padre della Patria." He was born at Forli, in 1498, educated under Jacopo Salviati, and wholly devoted himself to a military life. He commanded in the wars of Romagna for Leo X. and afterwards fitted out a squadron, at his own expense, against the Moors, till the conclusion of the league between Charles V. and Leo X. against the French, in 15-21, placed him at the head of the pontifical horse. In the ensuing campaign, in an action under the walls of Parma, and at the passnge of the river Adda, Giovanni greatly distinguished himself Under his discipline and conduct, the six bands which he commanded soon gained the reputation of being the finest soldiers of the age. After the death of Leo, he took the command of a body ot Swiss in the Florentine service, against a threatened attack by the Duke of Urbino, but could not bring the enemy to action, as they did not venture to wait for his approach. Hethen returned into Lombardy, and entered into the service of Francesco II., Duke of Milan, who was chiefly indebted to him for the signal victory obtained by the Milanese at Abbiategrasso, in 1524. At length, either through the policy of Clement VII., who dreaded the increasing power of Charles V., or induced by the offer of better pay, Giovanni accepted a command in the French army under Francis I. ; but, owing to a wound received in a skirmish, he wa> Absent from the great battle of Pavia. In every subsequent engage* CH. n. j BANISHED FROM FLORENCE. 1 3 excellent soldier. One Sunday evening, being between the gates of St. Gallo and Piti, he challenged a young man of twenty, though he was but fourteen himself, and behaved so gallantly, that, after wounding the youth dangerously, he was upon the point of either killing or disarming him. There was a great crowd present, and amongst others were many of the young man's relations : seeing their kinsman hard pressed, they took up stones and threw them at my brother's head, who immediately fell to the ground. I, who hap- pened to be present, alone and unarmed, cried out to my brother, as loud as I could, to quit the place. But as soon as I saw him fall, I ran to him, took his sword, and, stand- ing as near him as possible, I confronted a great many swords and stones, till some valiant soldiers, who came from the gate of St. Gallo, saved me from the exasperated multitude. I carried my brother home for dead, who was with great difficulty brought to himself, and afterwards cured. The Council of Eight* condemned our adversaries to a few years' imprisonment, and banished me and my brother, for six months, to the distance of ten miles from the city. Thus we took leave of our poor father, who, having no money gave us his blessing. I repaired to Siena, in quest of an honest goldsmith, whose name was Francesco Castoro. I was well acquainted with him, as I had worked with him some time before at my trade, when I had eloped, for some frivolous reason, from my father. Signor Castoro received me very kindly and found me employ, oifering me a house for the whol' time I should reside at Siena. I accepted his offer, aw brought my brother to the house, where I followed my business for several months with close application. My ment he attracted the admiration of the whole army, till he received a wound, in an affair near Governo sul Mantovano, of which he died in Nov. 1526, heing only twenty-eight jears of age. Out of grief for his loss, the squadrons he had commanded changed the white ensigns by which they were distinguished for black ones, which obtained for them the appellation of " Le IJande Neri," or the Black Bands. He mar ried the daughter of Jacopo Salviati, by whom he had a son, Cosmo I. Duke of Tuscany. * A tribunal so called from the number of which it was composed. 14 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. IL brotlier, too, had made some progress in the Latin hmguage, but, being young, he was not equally capable of appre- ciating the excellence of moral beauty, and led rather a dissipated life. Soon after this troublesome affair the Cardinal de' Medici, afterwards Pope Clement VIL*, was prevailed uixin, by the entreaties of my father, to obtain pv^rmission for us to return to Florence. A pupil of my father's, excited by the natural malignity of his temper, desired the cardinal to send me to Bologna, in order to take lessons on the flute of a great master, whose name was Antonio. The cardinal told my father that if he would send me thither he would give me a letter of recommendation : the old gentleman was extremely desirous that I should go, and I was glad of that opportunity of seeing the world. Upon my arrival at Bologna I undertook to work under a person whose name was Ercole del Piffero, and I began to make money. At the same time, I went every day to receive a lesson on the flute, and soon gained a considerable emolument by that odious profession ; but I got much more by my trade as a goldsmith and jeweller. Having received no assistance from the cardinal, I went to lodge with a miniature-painter, named Scipio Cavaletti, who lived in the street of our Lady of Baracani, and there I worked for a person named Grazia Dio, a Jew, with whom I earned a great deal of money. Six months afterwards I returned to Florence, where Pierino the musician, who had been a pupil to my father, •was greatly mortified at my success f; but I, through com- plaisance of my aged parent, waited upon Pierino, and played both upon the horn and flute with a brother of his, whose name was Girolamo. He was some years younger * Giulio, a natural son of that of Giuliano de' Medici, who was as- sassinated in the conspiracy of the Pazzi, in 1478. He succeeded Lorenzo, a son of the unfortunate Pietro, in the government of the republic, in 1519; and in 1523 he was elected Pope by the name ot' Clement VII. Our author will have much to say of him, and of the events of his pontificate, as he proceeds. He died in 1534. f From what appears afterwards, Pierino wished to divert Benvc- nuto from playing, and from home ; perhaps from jealousy in his art, < t to injure him in his father's good opinion. — Editor. CII. n.J QUARREL BETWEKN HIS FATHER AND PIERI^X. 15 than Pierino, and was moreover a well-disposed young man,, displaying a marked contrast to his brother. My father happening one day to be at the house of this Pierinc to hear us play, and being highly pleased with my per- formance, said, " I am determined to make a great musician of him, in spite of those who would fain pre- vent such a genius from shining in the world." To this Pierino answered (and what he said was very true), "Your son Benvenuto w^ill acquire more profit, as well as honour, by minding his business as a goldsmith, than by blowing the horn, or any other instrument." My father, finding I was of tlie same opinion, was incensed to the last degree ; he therefore said to him in a violent passion, " I was very sensible that you were the person who thwarted me in my design ; and it was you that were the cause of my being deprived of the place I held at court, behaving to me with that base ingratitude, which is but too frequently the re- turn for the greatest favours. I got you promoted, and you were so base as to undermine me ; but mark these words : in less than a few weeks you will rue this black ingratitude." Pierino replied : " Signor Giovanni Cellini, most men when they advance in years begin to doat : this is your case ; nor am I surprised at it, as you have already lavished all your substance, without reflecting that your children were likely to want. Now I, for my part, propose taking quite a different course : I intend to leave so much to ray sons, that they shall be able to assist yours." To this my father replied, " No bad tree ever brings forth good fruit, but the reverse ; and I must tell you, that if you be a bad man, your sons will be fools and indigent, and come to beg of my children, who shall be crowned with affluence." At this they parted, murmuring and railing at each other. I, who, as it was reasonable, took my worthy fiither's part, said to him at quitting the house, that I intended to revenge the affront he had received from that scoundrel, if he would give me leave to dedicate my talents to the art of design. My father made answer, " Dear child, I have been myself, in my time, a master of that art ; but will you not, in your turn, promise me, by way of recreation, after your noble labours are done, and for my sake, who am your father, who have begot you, educated yo i, and laid the 16 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI ^Cll. IL Ibundation of so many shining qualifications, sometimes to i take in hand your flute and cheerful horn, and play for your pastime and amusement?" I made answer, that I i would readily comply with his desire. My good father then rejoined, that the virtues which I displayed to the j world would be the best revenge I could take for tht? i affronts and abusive language he had received from his ! enemies. Before the month was expired, it happened that the i above-mentioned Pierino, causing a vault to be made to a j house he had in the street dello Studio, and being one day ! in a room on the ground-floor over the vault, which was then repairing, entered into conversation with some com- pany, and spoke of his master, who was no other than my father, repeating the prophetical words which the latter ; had uttered, concerning his approaching ruin. Scarcely | had he ended his discourse, when the chamber in which he i then stood suddenly sunk in, either because the vault had ' been unskilfully constructed, or through an effect of the | divine vengeance, which, though late, is only deferred to a i fitter season.* Some of the stones and bricks falling with i him, broke both his legs, whilst the rest of the com- pany, standing upon the extremities of the vault, received j no manner of hurt, but remained in the utmost surprise '< and astonishment at what they saw ; and most of all at \ what he had said to them a little before in a scoffing i mood. My father, having heard of this accident, took his sword, and went to see him ; and, in the presence of his 1 father, whose name was Niccolajo da Volterra, trumpeter i to the senate, addressed him in these words : " My dear pupil Pierino, I am very sorry for your misfortune ; but you may remember that it is but a short time since I apprised i you of it ; and my prophecy will likewise be verified with : regard to our children." i Soon after, the ungrateful Pierino died of the conse- I quences of his fall, and left behind him a wife of bad character, and a son, who, a few years after, came to me , i * Virtii di Dio, che non paga il sdbato. Heaven that fixes no pre- cise time for chastisement ; but inflicts it when it is most proper. — « Eo^or. i CH. II.] HIS LIBERALITY. 17 at Roirie, asking charity. I gave him ah^s, as well because I am naturally of a charitable disposition, as be- cause I could not without tears recollect the affluence with which Pierino was surrounded, when my father spoke the words above mentioned. Continuing to apply closely to my business as a gold- smith, by the emoluments arising from thence I assisted my good father, as well as my brother Cecchino, whom he caused to be instructed in the Latin language ; for, as he intended I should be the best player upon the flute in the world, it was his design that my younger brother should be a man of learning, and a profound civilian. He was not, however, able to force nature, which gave me a turn to drawing, and made my brother, who had a fine person, entirely devote himself to the military profession. 'J'his brother of mine, having in his early youth learned the first rudiments of war under that renowned commander Giovanni de' Medici, returned to my father's house, at a time when I happened to be out of the way : being very much in want of clothes, he applied to my sister, who, unknown to my father, gave him a new surtout and cloak which belonged to me ; for, besides assisting my father, and my sisters, who were virtuous and deserving girls, I had, by the profits arising from my extraordinary application, contrived to purchase this handsome apparel. Finding my clothes gone, and ray brother disappeared, I said to my father, " How could you suffer me to be wronged in such a manner, when you see I spare no toil nor trouble to assist the family ? " He made answer, "That I was his good and worthy son, but that what I thought a loss, I should find to be true gain ; adding that it was a duty in- cumbent on us, and the command of God himself, that he who had property should share it with him who had none ; and that, if I would for his sake patiently bear the wrong I had suffered, God would increase my store, and pour dowu blessings upon me." I behaved to my poor afflicted father like an inex perienced young man ; and, taking with me what little money and clothes I had left, I bent my course towards one of the city gates, and, not knowing which of them led C 18 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. IL to Rome, I travelled to Lucca, and from thence to Pisa. I was now about sixteen years of age. Upon my arrival in the last-mentioned city, I stopped near the middle bridge, hard by the fish-market, at a goldsmith's shop, and looked attentively at the master whilst he was at work. He asked me my name, and wdiat business I followed : I made answer, that I worked a little in the same branch that he did. The man thereupon bade me come in, and setting before me some tools to work with, he told me that my physiognomy induced him to believe that I was an honest youth ; so saying, he laid before me gold, silver, and jewels, and, after I had finished my first day's task, he carried me to his house, where he lived very respectably with his wife and children. I then called to mind the grief which my father must feel upon my account, and wrote him word that I was at the house of a very worthy tradesman, one Signor Ulivieri dello Chiostra ; and that, under him, I was employed in my profession on many great and beautiful works. I therefore desired him to make himself easy, as I was improving in my business, and hoped soon to procure him both profit and honour by my skill. He immediately wrote me an answer, the purport of which was as follows : " My dear son, so great is the love I bear to you, that I should instantly set out for the place where you now reside, were it not that the laws of honour, which I always adhere to, prevent me ; for I think myself deprived of the light of my eyes every day that I am without seeing you, as I did formerly, when I gave you the best instructions. I shall keep it in view to incite my family to virtuous enterprize, and pray lead the way in the attainment of good qualities, for which all I wish is that you would keep in mind those few simple words ; — observe, and never once allow them to escape your memory : — ' The man who consuhs his house's weal. Lives honest — and lives to work — not steal.' " This letter fell into the hands of my master Ulivieri, who read it to himself, and then said to me : " Thy good looks, Benvenuto, did not deceive me, as I find by a letter from thy father, which has fallen into my hands. He must CH. II.] DISCOVERS a NUMBKR OF ANTIQUITIES. 19 doubtless, be a man of worth, therefore consider thyself as in thine own house, and under the care of thy father." Whilst I stayed at Pisa I went to see the Campo Santo*, where I discovered a great number of antiquities, such as large marble urns ; and, in many parts of the town, I saw other monuments of antiquity, which afforded me constant amusement, whenever I was disengaged from the business of the shop. As my master came daily, with great good nature, to see me at the little apartment which he had assigned to my use, when he found that I spent all my time in laudable and virtuous occupations, he conceived as strong an aifection for me as if he had been my father. I improved considerably, during a year's stay in that city, and executed several tine pieces of workmanship, which in- spired me with an ardent desire to become more eminent in my profession. My father, at this juncture, wrote to me very affectionately to come home, and, in every letter, ex- horted me not to neglect my flute, in which he had taken so much pains to instruct me. Upon this I entirely lost all inclination to return to him ; and to such a degree did I hate that abominable flute, that I thought myself in a sort of paradise during my stay at Pisa, where I never once played upon that instrument. At the expiration of the year, Signor Ulivieri happened to have occasion to go to Florence, to dispose of some filings of gold and silver ; and, as I had in that unwholesome air caught a slight fever, I returned, whilst it was upon me, with my master to Florence ; where my father secretly in- treated my master, in the most urgent manner, not to carry me back again to Pisa. My fever still continuing, I kept my bed about two months, and my father attended me with the greatest affection imaginable ; telling me repeatedly that he thought it a thousand years till I recovered, that he The Campo Santo in Pisa, one of the most singular curiosities, belonging to that city. It is surrounded by a vast portico, built as- early as 1'278, every where richly studded with monumental figures in marble, and exhibiting the oldest paintings of Cimabue, Giotto, and other masters. It is said to be a fact, that the Pisanese were so anxious about their place of sepulture, that in 1189 they set sail in several vessels for Jerusalem, in order to bring back holy soil, r^f which to compose their " Campo Santo," or burial ground. c a 20 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. HI. might hear me play upon the flute ; but feeling my pulse, fts he had a smattering of physic and some learning, he perceived so great a change in it whenever he mentioned the flute, that he was often frightened, and left me in tears. Observing then the great concern he was in, I bade one of my sisters bring me a flute ; for, though I had a fever constantly upon me, the instrument was a very easy one, and would do me no hurt. I thereupon played with such skill and dexterity, that my father, entering the room on a sudden, gave me a thousand blessings, assuring me that, during my absence from him, I had made great improve- ment. He requested, moreover, that I would endeavour to continue my progress, and not neglect so admirable a qualification. But no sooner had I recovered my health, than I re- turned to my worthy friend, the goldsmith Marcone, who put me in a way of making money ; and with my gains I assisted my father and my relations. CHAPTER m. Pietro Torrigiani, an Italian statuary, comes to Florence in quest of young artists for the King of England. — The author gets acquainted with him, but refuses to leave Italy, He improves in drawing by studying the designs of Michel Angelo and Lionardo da Vinci. — He repairs to Rome for improvement, accompanied by a young artist named Tasso. — He meets with great encouragement in that capital as well as with a variety of adventures At the expiration of two years he returns to Florence, where he cultivates his art with great success. — • His fellow artists grow jealous of his abilities. — Quarrel between him and Gherardo Guasconti. — Being prosecuted for beating and wounding his antagonist, he disguises himself in a friar's habit, and makes his escape to Rome. About this time there came to Florence a sculptor named Pietro Torrigiani, who had just arrived from England, where he had resided several years ; and as he was an inti- mate friend of my master's, he every day came to see him. This artist, having seen my drawings and workmanship, said to me, — "I am come to Florence to invite as many voung artists as I can to England, and, having a great CH. m.] CARTOON OF jnCHEL ANCxELO. 21 work in hand for the King of England, I should be glad of the assistance of my fellow-citizens of Florence. I per- ceive that your manner of working and your designs are rather those of a sculptor than a goldsmith : now I have considerable undertakings in bronze, so that, if you will go with me to England, I will at once make your fortune." This Torrigiani was a liandsome man, of consummate as- surance, having rather the air of a bravo than of a sculptor ; above all, his fierce gestures and his sonorous voice, with a peculiar manner of knitting his brows, were enough to frighten every one that saw him ; and he was continually talking of his valiant feats among those bears of English- men. His conversation one day happened to turn upon Michel Angelo Buonarroti * ; a drawing of mine, taken from one of the cartoons of that divine artist, gave rise to this discourse. This cartoon was the first in which INIichel Angelo dis- played his extraordinary abilities, as he made this and another, which were to adorn the hall of the palace where the senators assembled, in emulation of Lionardo daVincif: they represented tlie taking of Pisat by the Florentines. § * Michel Angelo Buonarroti, called the elder, to distinguish him from his nephew, Michel Angelo, author of " The Tancia," and of the " Fiera," &c., was born in 1474, and gave the first proofs of his extra- ordinary genius in tiie school of Bertoldo. Lorenzo, who had opened this academy at his own house, secured the talents of this distinguished pupil, by inviting him to his table, and conferring a pension upon his father. In addition to the information thus acquired in the first society, he arrived at a practical knowledge of his art, and had full leisure to study the exquisite models of antiquity which Lorenzo had collected with so much care. By visiting Rome, after the banishment of the Medici, he was farther enabled to indulge liis passionate admir- ation of the ancients, until unvve;iried study, and long familiarity with their works, produced those master-pieces of art which contend for ex- cellence with the models upon which they were formed. Unequalled in scul|)ture, in drawing, and in architecture, his genius extended itself also to poetry. He seemed to live only for the perfec- feetion of the Arts, and St. Peter's is the right monument for his fame. f Respecting this celebrated artist and man of letters, we refer the reader to the very elegant life of him, by the learned Abate Amoretti, inserted Li Lionardo's works. \ This painting was never finished. § This was not the subject, as appears from Lionardo's own account It iras a great victory won by the Florentines, near Anghiari, 1440. c S 22 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. J_CH. III. The admirable Lionardo had chosen for his subject a battle tbuglit by cavalry, with the taking of certain standards, in which he acquitted himself with a force of genius that cannot be surpassed by conception. Michel Angelo Buo- narroti, in his cartoon, exhibited a considerable body of foot, who were bathing in summer-time in the river Amo ; at this very instant he represents an alarm of battle, and all the naked soldiers rushing to arms, with gestures so admirably expressive, that no ancient or modern perform- ance was ever known to attain to so high a degree of per- fection : and, as I have already observed, that of the great Lionardo was also a work of extraordinary beauty. These two cartoons stood, one of them in the palace of the Medici, the other in the pope's hall. So long as they remained there, they were the school * of the world ; and though the divine IMichel Angelo painted the great chapel of pope Julius, he never again rose to that pitch of excellence : his genius could not reach the force of those first essays. Let us now return to Pietro Torrigiani ; who, holding the above-mentioned drawing of mine in his hand, spoke thus : " This Buonarroti and I went, when we were boys, to learn to draw at the chapel of Masacciof, in the church * These are now lost. That by Buonarroti was engraved by Marc Antonio Raimondi. Sonne part of Lionardo's design appeared in a publication entitled the Etruna Pitlrice. f Tommaso Guidi, commonly called Masaccio, born in 1402. He studied under Donatello, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, and Masolino da Panicale, in Florence, and then went to Pisa and Rome, where he ac- quired such a degree of excellence, that, in the opinion of Vasari, he was the first who gave a natural expression, combined with an elevated style, to Italian painting. The chapel here mentioned was a fine school for Lionardo, IVIichel Angelo, and even for Raffaello. Masaccio died at the age of 41, ia 1443. Annibal Caro says of Masaccio : Pinsi, e la mia pittura al ver fu pari ; L'alteggiai, I'avvivai, le diedi il moto, Le diedi affetto : insegni il Buonarrottx A tutti gli altri ; da me solo imparl. My paintings seem to move and live ; Their truth and nature all discern : Let Buonarroti lessons give To others ; from Masaccio, leara. CH. ni.1 STUDIES THE DESIGNS OF JUCHEL ANGELO. 23 of the Carmelites . and it was customary with Buonarroti to rally all those who were learning to draw there. One day, a sarcasm of his having stung me to the quick, I was provoked to an uncommon degree, and gave him so violent a blow upon the nose with my fist, that I felt the bone and cartilage yield undei my hand as if they had been made of paste, and the mark I then gave him he will carry to his grave." This speech raised in me such an aversion to the fellow, because I had seen the works of the divine Michel Angelo ; that, far from having any inclination to go with him to England, I could never more bear the sight of him.* Whilst I was in Florence I did my utmost to learn the exquisite manner of Michel Angelo, and never once lost sight of it. About this time I contracted an intimate acquaintance and friendship with a youth of my own age, who, like me, was learning the goldsmith's business : his name was Francesco, son of Filippo, whose father was Fra Filippo, an excellent painter. Our intercourse gave rise * TorrigianL began to study design in his own country, as we have already seen, under Bertoldo already named. He soon became famous in sculpture, and works in clay, but was of such an envious and haughty disposition, that he actually destroyed the productions of his fellow-students, when he thought they surpassed his own. From this cause, and for giving Michel Angelo the above-mentioned blow in the face, which occasioned the remarkable depression in that great man's nose, he was obliged to leave Florence. He then worked at Rome for Alexander VI., and soon after entered into the army and served under Duke Valentino, Paolo Vitelli and Pietro de' Medici, the last of whom he saw drowned in the Garigliano. Returning to his studies, he passed over into England, where he acquired great reputation as a sculptor ; and unfortunately proceeded thence to Spain, where he was employed by a grandee in modelling a statue of the Virgin. Not receiving the prownised reward, which he expected would make his fortune, in a fit of passion he dashed his work to pieces ; for which he was basely denounced by the disappointed Spaniard to the Inquiiition. In order to escape being burnt alive for heresy, he starved himself to death in the dungeons of the Inquisition, 1522. Some remnants of that fatal statue are still to be seen in Spain, in particular a hand, which exhibits a perfect model. ■j- Fra Filippo Lippi, so called from his having been a Carmelite monk in his youth. He was considered the best ))upil Masaccio ever had, and his figures are remarkable for their i)readth of drawing, and their animated expression. He died in 1469. Filippo, his son, in Addition to Ir.s oth«: merits, has that of having first studied ancient 24 MLMOmS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. UL to SO great an affection between us, that we were never asunder ; his house was full of the admirable performances of his father, which consisted of several books of drawings by his own hand representing the antiquities of Rome. I took great delight in these, and our acquaintance lasted about two years. At this time I produced a piece of basso- relievo in silver, about as big as the hand of a little child ; it served for the clasp of a man's belt ; clasps of that size being then in use. Upon it was carved a group of foliages, made in the antique taste, with several figures of youths, and other beautiful grotesques. This piece of work I made in the shop of a person named Francesco Salimbcni ; and, upon its coming under the inspection of the goldsmiths' company, I acquired the reputation of the most expert young man in the trade. At this time I was also acquainted with one Giovanni Battista, surnamed Tasso*, who was a carver in wood, a youth of my own age exactly. He one day began to talk to me about going to Rome, observing that he should like to accompany me thither (this occurred as we sat con- versing after dinner), and I having had a new difference with my father about learning the flute, said to Tasso, " You appear to be a man of words and not of deeds." Tasso answered, " I have had a dispute with my mother, and, if I had but money sufl[icient to bear my charges to Rome, I would never more trouble my head about my little hole of a shop." To this I replied, that if there was no other obstruction to our journey, I had money enough in my pocket to defray our expenses. Then chatting as monuments, with a view of exhibiting vases, thrones, trophies, and other ornaments, in his pictures. He died in his 45th year, in 1505. Cellini alone speaks of F'ran. Lippi, the goldsmith. * Tasso seems to have been a very constant friend of Cellini's, and stood high in his own profession, as appears from the testimony of Pietro Aretino and Vasari. By his accomplishments, and the peculiar attraction of his manners, he became a great favourite at the court of Duke Cosmo, deciding upon all the works that made their appearance, to the no small detriment of Vasari, Tribolo, and other artists. Wish- ing to display his skill in architecture, as well as on other subjects, and being deficient in the requisite attainments, he injured the reputatiou he had before acquired. Among the letters of painters, we perceive one by this same Tasso. OH. ra.J MEETS WITH GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT. 25 we walked along, before we knew whereabout we were, we came to the gate of San Pier Gattolini ; when I said to my companion : " My good friend, Tasso, it is the direction of God that we should insensibly reach this gate : since 1 have proceeded so far, I think 1 have performed half the journey." Matters being thus agreed, we said to each other, as we were Jogging on, " What will the old folks at home say thia evening ? " We then came to a resolution to think no more of them, till we arrived at Rome : so we buckled on our knapsacks, and proceeded in silence to Siena. When we reached that city, Tasso said that he had hurt his feet, and did not choose to walk any farther, at the same time asking rae to lend him money to return home. I answered that I should have none left to bear my expenses to Rome, and that he should have well weighed his project before he left Florence ; adding, that if the hurt he received prevented his accompanying me, we should find a return-horse for Rome, and then he would have no excuse. Thus having hired a horse, as I saw he did not answer me, I bent my course towards the gate that led to Rome. Perceiving that I was resolved, he came hopping after me as well as he could, at a distance, grurabUng and muttering all the time. When I reached the gate I was touched with compassion for my companion, and having waited for his coming, took him up behind me, using these words : " What would our friends say of us, if, after having commenced a journey to Rome, we had not the courage to push any farther than Siena?" My friend Tasso acknowledged that my observa- tion was just, and, as he was a person of a cheerful dispo- sition, he began to laugh and sing, and in this merry mood we pursued our journey to Rome. I was t\ien in the nine- teenth year of my age, as I was born exa; tly in the year 1500. As soon as we got to that capital, I went to work with a master whose name was Firenzuola of Lombardy, an excel- lent artist in making vases, and other things of a consider- able size. Having shewn him part of the model which I had made at Florence with Salimbeni, he was highly pleased with it, and spoke thus to a journeyman of his named Gianotto Gianotti, a native of Florence, that had J 26 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. m. lived witL him several years ; " This is one of the ge- niuses of Florence, and thou art one of its dunces." As I knew this Gianotto, I had a mind to have some chat with him. Before he set out for Rome, we often practised drawing in the same school, and had been for several years intimate acquaintances. He was, however, so much nettled at his master's speech, that he declared he was not ac- quainted with me, nor had ever seen me before. Provoked at his behaviour in this manner, I said to him, " Oh, Gia- notto ! formerly my intimate friend, when we were employed together in drawing, and when we ate and drank in such and such apartments of your native town, I do not desire that you should bear testimony of my abilities to your master, for I hope, by my own hands, to shew what I am, without your assistance." "When I had done speaking, Firenzuola, who was a passionate man, turned to Gianotto, and said : " You vile scoundrel, are you not ashamed to behave in such a manner to one that was formerly your intimate acquaintance ? " At the same time he addressed himself to me : " Come in, young man," said he, " and do as you pro- posed : let your own hands prove your abilities." 80 saying, he set me upon a fine piece of work in silver, which was intended for a cardinal. This was a small case, in imitation of that of porphyry, which stands before the door of the Rotunda. That which I made, I adorned with so many fine figures, that my master went about showing it every wliere, and making it his boast that his shop had produced so admirable a piece of art. It was about half a cubit in circumference, and made in such a manner as to hold a salt-cellar at table. This was the first time I earned money at Rome : part of it I sent to the relief of my good father, and the remainder 1 kept to support me whilst I studied the antiquities of that city, which I did till my money began to fail, and then I was obliged to return to the shop, and work for my subsistence. My fellow-traveller, Battista di Tasso, made but a short stay at Rome, and returned to Florence. For my part I undertook new com- missions, and when I had finished them, I took it into my head to change my master, being enticed away by a Mila- nese, whose name was signor Pagolo Ai'sago. , My first master Firenzuola had thereupon a great quarrel CB. in.^ REl URNS TO FLORENCE. 27 with this Arsago, and gave him some abusi\e language in my presence. I began to speak in defence of my new master ; and tohl Firenzuola that '• I was born free, and resolved to continue so ; that he had no cause of complaint either against Arsago or me; that I had still some money left to receive i'rom him, and that, as I was a free artificer, I would go wherever I thought proper, not being conscious of injuring anybody thereby." At the same time Arsago made a great many apologies, affirming that he had never persuaded me to leave my master, and that I should oblige him by returning to Firenzuola. I replied, that " as I was not conscious of having wronged my master in any respect, and as I had finished all the work I had undertaken, I was resolved to be at my own disposal, and that he who had a mind to employ me, had nobody to consult but myself." Firenzuola made answer: " I will no longer solicit you, or give myself any trouble about you ; and I desire you never more to appear in my presence." I then put him in mind of my money, but he only answered by scoffing and deri- sion. I told him that as I used my tools well, as he was sensible I did, in my trade, I knew equally well how to use my sword in recovering my right. As I uttered these words an old signor named Antonio da S. Marino came up ; he was one of the best goldsmiths in Rome, and had been Firenzuola's master : hearing what I had to say for myself, he immediately took my part, and desired Firenzuola to pay me. The dispute was very warm, for Firenzuola was Btill a better swordsman than a jeweller; however, justice and reason are not easily baffled, and I exerted myself to such purpose, that my demand was satisfied. Some time after Firenzuola and I were reconciled, and I stood god- father to a child of his, at his own request. Continuing to work with my new master Pagola Arsago, I earned a great deal of money, and constantly sent the best part of ray gains to my father. At the expiration of two years, I returned to Florence at the request of my good father, and began to work again under Francesco Salimbeni, with whom I gained a genteel subsistence, taking great pains to become perfect in my profession. Having renewed my acquaintance wfth Fran- cesco di Filippo, though that odious flute drew me into 28 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [C J. Ill fiome pleasurable dissipation, I contrived to dedici&te some hours, both of the night and the day, to my studies. About this time I made a silver clasp girdle *, such as were usually worn at that time by new-married ladies. It was three inches broad, and worked in half rilievo, with some small round figures in it ; this I made for a person of the name of Raffaello Rapaccini. Though I was very ill-paid for my trouble, the work did me so much honour, that the reputa- tion I acquired by it was of more service to me than a fair pecuniary recompense. Having at this time worked with several masters in Florence, amongst the different goldsmiths I knew in that city, I met with some persons of worth, as was Marcone, my first master ; whilst others, who had the character of honest men, being envious of my works, and robbing and calumniating me, did me the greatest injustice. When I perceived this, I shook off my connexions with them, and looked upon them all as unprincipled men, and little better than thieves. A goldsmith, amongst the rest, named Giovanni Battista Sogliani, was so complaisant as to lend me part of his shop, which stood at the side of the new market, hard by Landi's bank. There I executed many little works, earned a great deal of money, and was enabled to assist my relations materially. Envy began then to rankle in the liearts of my former bad masters, whose names were Salvadore and IVIichele Guasconti ; they all three kept shops, and had immense business. Seeing that they did me ill offices with some men of worth, I complained of it, and said they ought to be satisfied with having robbed me, as tliey had done, under the mask of benevolence. This coming to their ears, they declared loudly that they would make me repent having uttered such words ; but I, being a stranger to fear, little regarded their menaces. As I happened one day to lean against the shop of one of these men, he called me to him, and in the most abusive language bullied and threatened me. Upon which I said, that if they had done their duty with respect to me, I should have spoken of them as persons of fair character ; but, as they had behaved in a diiferent manner, they had only ♦ It was called a Chiava Cuore, or Heart's Key. — Editor. C3H. m.] PROSECUTED FOR AN ASSAULT. 29 themselves to complain of. Whilst I spoke thus, one Gherardo Guasconti, a cousin of theirs, who was in aU pro- bability set on by them, took the opportunity, as a beast loaded with bricks happened to pass by, to push it so violently against me, that I was very much hurt. Upon which I instantly turned about, and seeing him laugh, gave him so violent a blow on the temple that he fell down, and lay upon the ground motionless and insensible. Then turn- ing to his cousins, I said to them, " That is the way I use cowardly rascals like you ; " and as they, confiding in their number, seemed preparing to take their revenge, I, in a violent passion, drew a little knife, and vented my anger in these words, — " If any one of you offers to quit the shop, let another run for a confessor, as there will be no occasion for a surgeon." This declaration struck such terror into them all, that not one of them ventured to stir to the assist- ance of his cousin. No sooner had I left the place, but both the fathers and sons ran to the magistrates, and told them that I had vio- lently assaulted them with arms, in so audacious a manner, that the like had never been known in Florence, The Council of Eight summoned me, and I, without delay, pre- sented myself before them. Here I met with a severe reprimand, as well in consequence of the appearance of my adversaries in long mantles and robes, whilst I wore only a cloak *, as because they had taken care to prepossess them in their favour, u precaution which I, being inexperienced, and trusting to the goodness of my cause, had neglected. I told them, that " as I had received such provocation from Gherardo, and had only given him a slap on the face, I did not think I deserved so severe a rebuke." Prinzivalle della Stufa, who was one of that court, hardly suffering me to make an end of the words " slap on the face," exclaimed, *' You gave him a violent blow with your fist, and not a slap." The bell having rung, and we being all dismissed, Prinzivalle thus spoke in my favour to the rest of the bench : " Observe, gentlemen, the simplicity of this poor youth, * Varchi, who was contemporary with Cellini, says, that a man was tonsidered in Florence as a ruffian, and a low-lived fellow, if he wa« ieen in the day-time merely in his cloak, unless he was a soldier. 30 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. UL who acknowledges himself to have given a slap on the face, thinking it to be a less offence than a violent blow ; whereas there is a penalty of five-and-twenty crowns for giving a person a slap on the face, in the new-market ; while the penalty for a blow with the fist is little or nothing. This is a very worthy young man, who supports his poor rela- tions by his industry : would to God that there were many like him in our city, which can, indeed, boast but a very small number of virtuous citizens."* There were in the. court some persons in folded caps, who, moved by the importunities and misrepresentations of my adversaries, because they were of the faction of Fra Girolamof, were for having me sent to prison, and heavily fined : but the good Prinzivalle defeated their malice, by * Prinzivalle della Stufa, of the party of the Medici, in whose favour he formed a conspiracy, in the year 1510, against the Gonfalonier Soderini. f P^-a Girolamo Savonarola, of Ferrara, was invited to Florence by I>orenzo il Magnifico, in 1489, on account of the high reputation he had acquired throughout Italy by his eloquent discourses, which he well sustained on his arrival in Florence. — Early nursed in theological studies, and observing the utmost sanctity of manners, his daring and impetuous genius disdained to keep any terms with the splendid and somewhat free style and manners of the age and society in which Lo- renzo lived. In declaiming against the vices of the times, and calling for reformation, he took care also to predict numerous calamities. — The people soon became attached to his doctrines, but the nobles re- garded him with dislike. That he never, however, directly opposed Lorenzo, is known from the latter sending for him to receive his last benediction. When Pietro de' Medici deserted Florence, and went over to the French, Savonarola was sent, on the part of the Republic, as one of the mediators to Charles VIII. He afterwards became a busy statesman and staunch republican, and even ventured to attack the Pope, Alex- ander VI. in his sermons, for being on favourable terms with the exiled family of the Medici. By such conduct he brought down upon himself the vengeance of the Holy See; and his entmies becoming too strong for him, at a favourable opportunity, in 14 98, they broke into his convent, seized and imprisoned him, and shortly after, by seiv tence of the judges, expressly sent from Rome by the Pope, they hanged him ap and burnt him as a heretic, with two of his companions, in the 4Cth year of his age. The persons who distinguished them- selves by wearing folded caps were disciples of Savonarola, whom the Cardinal Giulio de' Medici and his friends permitted to be ill cSce ia order to flatter the Florentines with the shadois' of liberty. CH. m.J STABS GUASCONTI. 31 getting me fined only in four bushels of meal, vvbich .vere to be given in charity to the monastery delle Murate. Tliis same judge, having called me into his presence, commanded me not to say a single word, but obey the orders of the court, upon pain of incurring their displeasure. They sent us then to the chancellor, and I muttered the words "slap, and not a blow, on the face ;" the magistrates burst out a laugh- ing. The chancellor commanded us all to give security to each other for our good behaviour, and sentenced me only to pay the four measures of meal. I thought myself very hardly used, and having sent for a cousin of mine, whose name was Annibale Librodoro, father to Signer Librodoro, the surgeon, that he might be bail for me, he refused to appear. This incensed me to the highest degree, believing my case desperate, and I exclaimed loudly at his behaviour, as he was under great obligations to my family. Here it may be observed how a man's stars not only incline, but actually compel, him to do their behest. Inflamed by this treatment, swelling like an enraged asp, and being naturally of a very passionate temper, I waited till the court broke up, and the magistrates were gone to dinner. Finding myself then alone, and that I was no longer observed by any of the officers of the court, I left the place in a violent fury, and went in all haste to my workshop, where I took up a dagger, and ran to attack my adversaries, who by tliat time were come home. I found them at table, and young Gherardo, who had been the chief cause of the quarrel, immediately flew at me. I thereupon gave him a stab in the breast, which pierced through liis cloak and doublet, without once reaching his skin, or doing him any sort of harm. Imagining, however, from the rustling of his clothes, upon my giving the stab, and from his failing flat upon the ground, through fright and asto- nisliment, that I Imd done him some great hurt, I cried out, " Traitor, this day I shall be revenged on you all." The father, mother, and sisters, thinking that the day of judg- ment was come, fell prostrate upon their knees, and, with voices full of terror and consternation, implored for mercy. Seeing then that none of my adversaries stood upon the defensive, and that Gherardo lay stretched out upon the ground like a dead corpse, I scorned to meddle with them, 82 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI, LCH m. but ran down stairs like a madman. When I got into the street, I found ths rest of the family, who were about a dozen in number, ready to attack me. One of them held a ball of iron, another a thick iron tube, another a hammer taken from an anvil, and others again had cudgels in their hands. Rushing amongst them Uke a mad bull, I threw down four or five and fell to the ground along with them, now aiming my dagger at one, now at another. Those who continued standing exerted themselves to the utmost, belabouring me with their hammers and cudgels ; but, as God sometimes mercifully interposes upon such occasions, it so happened that I neither received nor did any harm. I lost nothing but my cap, which fell into the hands of some of my adversaries who at first had fled : being assured it was only my cap, each of them struck it with his weapon ; but, upon looking about for the wounded and slain, it ap- peared that none of them had sustained any injury. The scufl[ie being over, I bent my course towards the convent of Santa Maria Novella, and accidentally met with a friar named Alessio Strozzi. Though I was not acquainted with the good father, I intreated him to save my life, saying, I had been guilty of a serious offence. The friar desired me not to be under any apprehensions, for that whatever crimes I might have committed I should be in perfect secu- rity in his cell. In about an hour's time, the magistrates having assembled in an extraordinary meeting, published one of the most tremendous edicts that ever was heard of, threatening the severest penalties to whosoever should grant me an asylum, or be privy to my concealment, without any distinction of place or quality of the person that harboured me. My poor afflicted father, appearing before the eight judges, fell prostrate upon the ground, and begged them to show compassion on his young and unfortunate son. Thereupon one of those incensed magistrates, shaking the top of his venerable hood, stood up, and thus angrily ex- pressed himself : " Rise directly, and quit this spot, or, to-morrow morning, we shall send you from the town under a guard!" My father, in answer to these menaces, £!aid, " You will do v/hat God permits you, and nothing more." The magistrate replied that nothing could be more en. ni.'i DiSGDiSES himself in a friar's dress. 33 certain than that God had thus ordered matters. My father then said boklly to him, " My comfort is that you are. a stranger to the decrees of Providence." Having thus quitted the court, he came to me with a youth about my age, whose name was Piero, son of Gio- vanni Landi (we were dearer to each other than brothers); this young man had under his mantle an excellent sword and a coat of mail. My father having acquainted me with the situation of affairs, and what the magistrates had said, embraced me most tenderly, and gave me his blessing, saying, " May the protection of God be with you ! " Then presenting me with the sword, and the coat of mail, lie, with his own hands, helped to accoutre me, concluding with these words, " My worthy son, with these arms you must either live or die." Pier Landi, who was present, wept without ceasing, and brought me ten crowns of gold. I desired him to pull off a few hairs from my cheeks, wliich were the first down tliat overspread them. Father Alessio dressed me in the habit of a friar, and gave me a lay bro- ther for a companion. I came out of the convent by the Al Prato gate, and walked by tl:e side of the town walls, as for as the great square, ascending the steep of Montui, where I found, in .me of the first houses, a person of the name of Grassuccio, aatural brother to Benedetto da ]\Ionte Varchi.* After I Jiad laid aside my friar's disguise, and resumed my former appearance, we mounted two horses, which there stood ready for us, and galloped away in the night to Siena. Grassuccio, upon his return to Florence, waited on my father, and informed him of my having reached a place of safety. My father, highly rejoiced at these tidings, was impatient to see the magistrate who, the day before, had rebuked him with such severity. As soon as he came into his presence, he said, " You see at last, Antonio, it was God, not you, that knew what was to befall my son.'' To which the other answered, " I wish I could see him once more before this court." My father replied. " I return • Varchi, the celebrated poet, one of Benvenuto's most intimate friends, as will farther appear. We have met with no account ol (iraAsuccio. D 34 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. IV. thanks to Gotl, that he has rescued him out of your hands." In the mean time I was waiting at Siena for the Roman Procaccio, or mail, with which I travelled on the rest of my journey ; and when we had passed the Paglia, we met with the courier, who brought intelligence of the election of Pope Clement VII.* CHAPTER IV. The Author meets with extraordinary success at Rome : he is pa- tronized by Signora Porzia Chigi. — Rivalship between him and Lu- cagnolo da Jesi. — He plays at a concert before Pope Clement VII., who takes him into his service in the double capacity of goldsmith and musician. — He is employed by the Bishop of Salamanci, at the recommendation of a scholar of Raffaello da Urbino. — Anecdotes of the Bishop. Upon my arrival at Rome I went to work at the shop formerly of Santi the goldsmith ; who being dead, his son continued to carry on the business. The latter did not work himself, but employed a young man, whose name was Lucagnolo da Jesi, whom Signor Santi had taken into his service when a little country lad : he was low in stature, but very well proportioned. This youth was more expert than any journeyman I had ever seen before, possessing great facility and freedom of design ; he worked only on a large ecale, making beautiful vases, basons, and other things of the same kind. Having engaged to work in this shop, I began to make some chandeliers for the bishop of Salamanca, a Spaniard f ; these were wrought with as much art as it was possible to bestow upon a work of that nature. A pupil of Raffaello da Urbino, one Giovanni Francesco, sur- * In the year 1523. f Don Francesco de Bobadilla, bishop of Salamanca, arrived at Rome in 1 5 1 7, to attend the Lateran Council. He was afterwards shut up with Clement VI'., in the castle of St. Angelo, when it wtw besieged in 15^7. CH. IV.] INTRODUCED TO THE BISUOP OF SALAMANCA. 3i> named il Fattore, who was an excellent painter, and inti- mate with the bishop, found means to introduce me to his favour, insomuch that he frequently employed me, and I gained considerably by my business.* About this same period I sometimes went to draw at the chapel of Michel Angelof , and sometimes at the house of Agostino Chigi \ of Siena, in which were several admirable paintings by that great master, Raffaello da Urbino § ; this * Gio. Francesco Penni, called il Fattore, was a Florentine. Raf- faello, whose benevolence was scarcely exceeded by his talents, invari- ably treated this worthy pupil as if he had been his own son, entertained him in liis house, and left at his death, to him and Giulio Romano, the whole of his eflects. They completed together all the unfinished works of Raffaello. Penni then worked with his relation Pierino del Vaga, and succeeded better in design than in colouring. He died at Naples in the '10th year of his age. f The Sistine Chapel. \ It is now called " La Casa Farnesina," in the possession of the King of Naples. Agostino Chigi, a wealthy merchant, distinguished for his liberality to the arts, formerly assembled there some of the most celebrated painters of the age. He employed Raffaello, with the assistance of Giulio Romano, il Fattore Gaudcnzio, Raffaol del Borgo, and his other pupils, to paint for him the entire fable of Psyche, and the i)eautiful Galatea. Chigi died in or about 1520. § Raffaello Sanzio, one of the finest geniuses Nature in her most lavisli moments ever produced. Every thing seemed to have com- bined to render him great, whether we consider his talents, their cidti- vation, the career chalked out for him, the society and the munificent patronage of princes, or the spirit of the age in which he lived. In- ferior only to Michel Angelo in a knowledge of the human frame and the art of drawing ideal subjects, he was unequalled by any in the ex- quisite delineation of real human beauty and living forms, in which the expression of the passions and affections of our nature was carried to its very highest excellence. Where Buonarroti seizes upon and astonishes the mind by the f'randeur and imagination he displays, Raffaello's genius goes directlv to the heart, and, with a fascinating power which the most sceptical and indifferent in vain resist, compels them to ieel there is a language 111 the art wliich even the vulgar can understand. Admitting, then, the equal excellence of both, in their respective works, the preference nill be given to Raffaello, because men in general possess more feeling than imagination, and admire nature's living beauties more than the ideal and sublime. Hence Raffaello has for three centuries been con- sidered as the prince of painters; as JMichel Angelo would otherwise have been. Raffaello was also a good architect, and wrote comments upon n 2 86 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. IV. was only upon holidays, because Signer Gismondo, brother to the said Signor Agostino, was come to live there. The family, however, were greatly pleased when they saw young artists frequenting their house, as a school of paint- ing. The wife of the said Signor Gismondo, a most ele- gant and beautiful lady, having often seen me thus employed under her roof, one day came to look at my drawings, and asked me whether I was a painter or a statuary : I told her I was a goldsmith. She replied that I drew too well for a goldsmith ; and having ordered licr waiting-maid to bring her a jewel consisting of some \L-yy fine diamonds set in gold, she desired me to teU their value. I estimated them at eight hundred crowns. The lady declared that I had judged very rightly, and then asked whether I would undertake to set them properly ; I answered that I would do it most willingly ; and began the design in her presence, in which I was the more successful on account of the pleasure I took in conversing with so fair and agreeable a lady. When I had finished my sketch, another most beautiful Roman lady came down stairs into the room, and asked Porzia (which was the first lady's name) what she was about ; to wliich the latter answered, smiling, " I am amus- ing myself in seeing this young man draw, who is as good as he is handsome." Though I had acquired some assur- ance, I yet retained a mixture of bashfulness with it ; I Vitruvius. That fine letter to Leo X. on the best mode of designing the antiquities of Rome, is likewise, on the authority of Bald. Casti- glione, attributed to him : he also directed, and most probably modelled, the statue of Juno, placed near the IVIadonna del Popolo at Rome. He is said to have tried several different styles ; an opinion altogether unfounded : for when he left his master, Pietro Perugino, he adopted those excellent maxims which ever after continued to influence him in the various branches of his art. The Dispjite on the Sacrament marks the period, when his genius, emancipated from a school, began to see nature with free and unshackled eyes. The " Acts of the Apostles," and the " Transfiguration," show the sul)lime reach of his maturer powers. He had a noble figure, agreeable manners, and was conse- quently much admired, and addicted to pleasure. His liberality and otner distinguished qualities were such, that his most invidious rivals 4nd enemies were frequently loud in his praise. He was carried off suddenly, in the midst of his fame, and in the very flower of his age, pn his birth-day, Good Friday 1520, in the ?7th year of his age. CH. IV.] PATRONISED BY SIGNORA. PORZIA CHIGI. 37 coloured deeply, and said, "Let me be what I may, madam, I shall always be most ready to serve you." The lady, red- dening a little herself, replied, " You know I am desirous of your services." She then bade me take the diamonds home with me, and gave me twenty gold crowns, saying, " Set these diamonds according to the design which you have drawn, and preserve me the old gold in which they are mounted." The other lady then said, " If I were the young man I would go off with what I had got." Signora Porzia rejoined, " That virtues are seldom coupled with vices, and tliat, were I to behave in that manner, I should belie my honest open countenance;" then taking the other lady by the hand she turned about, and said to me with a smile of condescension, " Farewell, Benvenuto." I stayed some time after I had drawn the design, copying a figure of Jove*, the work of RafFaello da Urbino. As soon as I had finished it, I went away, and set about making a little model in wax, to show in what manner the work wa-s afterwards to be executed. This I carried to Signora Porzia, with whom I found the Roman lady : they were both highly pleased with my specimen, and encou- raged me by such obliging compliments, that I collected sufficient confidence to promise them that the work itself should be far superior to the model. I thereupon began my task, and in twelve days set the jewels in the form of a fleur-de-lys, as I said above, adorning it with little masks, figures of boys and animals, and the finest enamel, so that the diamonds of which the fleur-de-lys was composed ap- peared with redoubled lustre. Whilst I was engaged on this work, the worthy Lucag- nolo seemed much dissatisfied, frequently telling me that it would he more for my interest, as well as reputation, to help him in working on pieces of plate, as I had done at first. I made answer, that 1 could always obtain that kind of em- ployment, but tliat such commissions as that in which I was occupied did not occur every day ; and that they were no less reputable, and far more profitable, than large silver vessels. Upon my telling Lucagnolo that they were more • In the same fable of Psyche, where tfce figure of Jupiter is fre quently introduced. D S 42 7484 S8 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINT, [cif. I"» lucrative, he laughed at me, and said, " You'll see that, Benvenuto ; for by the time that you have completed your job I shall contrive to finish this piece of plate, which I began precisely at the same time when you undertook the setting of the jewels ; and experience will convince you of the diiference between the profit accruing to me from my piece of plate, and to you for your trinkets," I answered, that I would with pleasure make such a trial of skill with so consummate an artist, that it might appear which of us ■was mistaken, when both our performances were finished. Thus, with countenances that betokened some displea- sure, we both fell hard to work, eager to finish our several 'mdertakings ; and we laboured so industriously, that in about ten days' time we had both of us completed our re- spective tasks, in an elegant and workmanlike style. That of Lucagnolo was a large silver vase, which was to be placed on the table of Pope Clement, and to receive bones and the rinds of various fruits whilst that pontiff" was at his meals, — a work rather calculated for magnifioence and ostentation than any real use. This piece of plate was adorned with two beautiful handles, as likewise with many masks of different sizes, and several fine foliages of the most beautiful and ingenious design that could possibly be conceived. Upon seeing this performance, I told Lucag- nolo that it was the finest piece of plate J had ever beheld. Lucagnolo, thinking he had convinced me of my error, answered, " Your work appears to me equally admirable ; but we shall soon see the difference between them." He then carried his piece of plate to the pope, who was highly satisfied, and immediately caused him to be paid the ordi- nary price for works of that kind. In the mean time I took my performance to Signora Porzia, who expressed great surprise at my having finished it so expeditiously, and told me that I had far exceeded my promise to her. She then desired me to ask whatever I thought proper in recompence for my labour, declaring that, were she to make me lord of a castle, she should hardly think she had rewarded me in proportion to my de- serts ; but since that surpassed her ability, she desired me, with a smile, to ask something in her power to bestow. 1 answered that the most valued recompence which could crown ray endeavours, was the satisfaction of having pleased CH. IV.l HANDSOMELY UKAVAItDED UY SIGNORA PORZIA. 39 her ladyship. This I said in a cheerful way ; and, having made my bow, was departing, assuring her that I desired no other payment. Upon this, Signora Porzia, turning to the other hidy, said, " You see the virtues we discovered in him are accompanied by others, and not by vices ;" and they both expressed equal admiration. Signora Porzia then said to me, — " My good Benvenuto, did you never hear it said, that when the poor give to the rich, the devil laughs?" I replied, that since he had met with so many vexations, I had a mind he should laugh for once. But as I was going away, she said she did not intend to favour him so much this time. Upon my return to the shop, Lucagnolo, who had the money he received from the pope wrapped up in a paper, said to me, — " Now compare the payment I have received for my piece of plat(;, with what you have had for your jewels." I answered, that we might let the matter rest for that time, but I hoped the day following to make it ap- pear that, as my work was in its kind as exquisite as his, I should be rewarded with equal munificence. The next day Signora Porzia, having sent her s.teward to the shop, he called me out, and put into my hands a paper bag of money, which he brouglit from that lady, telling me, at the same time, it was not his mistress's intention that the devil should laugh at my expense ; and, that the money she sent me was by no means a reward adequate to my merit, with several other compliments worthy of such a lady. Lucagnolo, who thought it an age till he could compare his money to mine, that instant rushed into the shop ; and in the presence of twelve workmen, and other neiglibours, who were come to see how the contest would end, took his paper, laughing with an air of triumph ; tlien having pre- tended to make three or four efforts, he at last poured out the cash, which rattled loudly upon the counter : it amount- 3d to the sum of five and twenty crowns in silver. I who was quite stunned and disconcerted with his noise, and with the laughter and scofi's of the by-standers, having just peeped into my paper, and seeing it was filled with gold, without any emotion or bustle, held my paper bag up in the air, as I stood on one side of the counter, and emptied it as a miller does a sack. J\ly coin was double the number of D 4 40 MEMOIRS OF BENVENTITO CELLINI. [CH. IV his, SO that all the spectators who before had their eyes fixed upon me with a scornful air suddenly turned about to him, and said, " Lucagnolo, Benvenuto's pieces, being all gold, and twice as many as yours, make the grandest appearance of tlie two." Such an effect had envy, and the scorn shown by all present upon Lucagnolo, that I thought he would have dropped down dead ; and though he was to receive a third part of the money, as I was only a journey- man, and he my master, envy prevailed in him over avarice, which one would have expected to have been just the contrary, this Lucagnolo tracing his birth to a native of Jesi. He curst his art, and those from whom he had learnt it, declaring that from thenceforward he would re- nounce it, giving his whole mind to these toys, since they were so well paid for. Equally indignant on my part, I said, that every bird considered its own note the sweetest ; and that he talked like a rude uncultivated fellow in keeping with the Boeotian soil from which he had sprung. I then told him 1 would venture to prophesy, that I should succeed in his branch of business, but that he would never be successful in my gewgaws, as he called them. Thus I went off in a passion, telling him I would soon make it appear that I was no false prophet. Those who were pro- sent all declared him to be in the wrong, looking upon him as a mean fellow, which he was in fact ; and upon me as a man of spirit, as I had shown myself. The next day I went to return thanks to Signora Porzia, and told her tliat her ladyship had done the reverse of what she said she would ; that I proposed to make the devil laugh, and that she had made him once more renounce God. We both were merry upon the occasion, and she gave me orders for other fine and valuable works. About this time I contrived, by means of a pupil of Raffaello da Urbino, to get employed by the bishop of Salamanca, in making one of those large silver vases for holding water, which are used in cupboards, and generally laid upon them by way of ornament. Tlie bisliop being desirous of having two of equal size, employed Lucagnolo to make one, and me another ; but with regard to fashion, Giovanni Francesco, the painter, gave us a design, to which we sere to conform. I with great alacrity set about CH. IV.] EMPLOYED IN MAKING A SILVER VASE. 41 this piece of plate ; and a Milanese, whose name waa Signer Giovanni Pietro della Tacca, accommodated me with a part of his shop to follow my business. Having begun my work, I laid by what money I wanted for my own private use, and the remainder I sent to the relief of my poor father. At the very time the money was paid him in Florence, he happened to meet with one of those rigid magistrates, who had menaced and used him so roughly in consequence of my unfortunate scuffle. As this fiery magistrate had some very worthless sons, my father took an opportunity to say to him, " Untoward accidents may happen to any body, especially to men of choleric tempers, when they know themselves to be injured ; as was the case with my son, when he quarrelled with those jewellers : but it is evident from the general tenour of his life, that I knew how to give him a virtuous education. I pray God your sons may behave to you neither better nor worse than mine has to me ; and that I wish for your sake ; for as God enabled me to give them a virtuous education, so when my aid was unavailing, he interposed himself and found means to rescue them out of your violent hands." After he had left the magistrate, he wrote me an account of the vyhole affair, requesting me to play sometimes upon the flute, that I might not lose that admirable art, which he had taken so much pains to teach me. I now found myself strongly inclined to oblige him in this respect before he died : thus God often grants us those blessings which we pi'ay for with faitliful hearts. Whilst I was going on with the bishop of Salamanca's plate, I had no assistance but that of a little boy, whom, at the earnest request of his relations, I had, half against my will, taken as an apprentice. This boy, named Paulino, then about fourteen, was son to a citizen of Rome, whc lived upon his fortune. Paulino was one of the best bred, sweetest tempered and prettiest boys that I ever saw in my life ; and on account of his good qualities, his extraor- dinary beauty, and the great love he bore me, I conceived the strongest affection for him that the human breast can conceive. One of the effects of this great fondness was, that, in order to dilfuse a ray of cheerfulness over his featureai 42 MEMOIRS OF UKNVENUTO CELLINI. ^CH. TV which had naturally a seiious melancholy cast, I from time to time took in hand my Hute : he used then to smile in so graceful and affecting a manner, that I am not the least surprised at the fables which the Greeks have written concerning their deities. Had my apprentice lived in that age, he would, in all probability, have turned the heads of some of the poets of antiqnity. Paulino had a sister named Faustina, of so exquisite a form, that she might justly be compared to the renowned Faustina, whose charms are so much vaunted by historians ; and as he sometimes carried me with him to his father's, so iar as I could judge from ob- servation, that worthy man seemed desirous that I should be his son-in-law. This made me set a much higher value upon music than I had done before. It happened about this time that Giovanni Giacomo, a musician of Cesena, who belonged to the Pope's household, and was an excellent performer, sent Lorenzo Trombone, of Lucca, a person who is now in the service of our Duke, to propose to me to assist them with my flute at the Pope's Ferragosto*, in playing some concert music ; as he had selected some of the most beautiful com- positions for the occasion. Though I had an earnest desire to finisli the fine piece of plate that I had begun, yet as music has a secret charm in it, and as I was in some measure desirous of gratifying my aged father, I agreed to make one at their concert ; so tliat for eight days before the Ferra- gosto we every two hours hiid a rehearsal. Upon the first of August we repaired to Belvidere, and, whilst Pope Clement was at dinner, Ave played those fine compositions which we had long practised, insomuch that his Holiness declared he had never been delighted with more exquisite harmony : then sending for Giovanni Giacomo, he inquired of him how he had procured so able a master of the flute, and ordered him to give a full and circumstantial account of my person. Upon Giovanni Giacomo's mentioning my name, the Pope said, " Is he the son of Giovanni Cellini?" Finding who I was, he added, that he w^ould take me into his service, and make me one of his band of music. Giacomo answered, " As to hia joining your Iloliness's band, I will believe it when I scti • A feast at Home on the 1st of August CH. IV.] TAKKN INTO THE SliRVlCE OF THE POPE. 43 it : his business is tliat of a goldsmith and jeweller, iu which he is \ complete master, and, by working at it con- stantly, he makes a great deal more money than he could evf-r gain by music." The Pope replied, " I am, there- fore^ the more desirous of having him in my service, since he is possessed of one talent more than I expected. Let him have the same salary with the rest of you, and tell him from me that I desire he would become one of my band, and I will find him constant employment in his other business." His Holiness thereupon gave him a handker- chief, which contained a hundred gold crowns, desiring him to divide them amongst the band, and let me have my share. — Giacomo having quitted the Pope, came to us and repeated word for word all that his Holiness had said. Having then divided the money amongst eight of us musi- cians, and given me what fell to my share, he added — " I have orders to set you down as one of our band." To this I made answer — "Give me a day to consider of it, and to-morrow I will let you know my determination." When I had left them, I deliberated within myself whether I should accept the offer, as it was likely to inter- rupt me so much in the noble study of my q.wn art. The night following, my father appeared to me in a dream, and entreated me, with tears of affection, that I would for his sake accept of the place of musician to the Pope ; I thought 1 replied, that it was my firm resolution to do no such thing. He then appeared to me to assume a form so horrible, that I was shocked to behold him, and he said, " If you do not, you will have your father's curse ; but if you conform to my desire, I will bless you for ever." No sooner was I awake, than I ran in a fright to get my name entered amongst the Pope's musicians. I then wrote to my aged father, telling him what I had done ; who, upon receiving the intelligence, was, through excess of joy, attacked by a disorder, which brought him almost to death's door. Immediately upon his recovery he wrote me word that he had had exactly the same dream as mine : I therefore concluded that I had given my father full satisfaction, and that all things would succeed to my wishes. I then exerted myself to the utmost to finish the piece of plate, which I had begun for the bishop of Salamanca 44 MEMOIRS 01 BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cil. IV This prelate was an extraordinary person, and exceed ingly rich, but very difficult to please. He sent every day to inquire how I went on ; and as the messenger happened once not to find me at work, his master came in a gi-eat passion, and said he would take the work out of my hands, and give it to another to finish. This came of my attach- ing myself to that odious flute. I therefore continued the work day and night with the most assiduous application, till I had forwarded it to such a degree, that I thought I might venture to show it to the bishop ; but upon seeing what I had done, he grew so impatient to have it com- pleted, that I heartily repented having ever shown it to him. In about three months I finished this grand piece of plate, which I adorned with a surprising variety of beau- tiful animals, foliages, and figures. I then sent my appren- tice Paulino to show it to the ingenious Lucagnolo. Paulino delivered his message in the most graceful manner imagin- able, in these terms ; " Signor Lucagnolo, my master Benvenuto has, in pursuance of his promise, sent me to show you a piece of work, which he has made in imitation of your performances, and he expects in return to see some of your little nick-knacks." These words being uttered, Lucagnolo took the piece of plate into his hand, and having examined it sufficiently, said to Paulino : " My pretty youth, tell thy master that he is an excellent artist, and that there is nothing I desire more than his friendship." The lad joyfully delivered his message. The plate was then carried to the bishop, who wanted to have a price set upon it. Just at this juncture Lucag- nolo entered the room, who spoke of my work so honour- ably, and praised it to such a degree, that he even surpassed my own good opinion of it. The bishop having taken the plate into his hands, said, like a true Spaniard, " By G — I will be as slow in paying him, as he was in finishing the work." When I heard this, I was highly mortified, and cursed Spain and all who belonged to it. Amongst other beautiful ornaments, there was a handle to this silver vase of the most exquisite workmanship, which by means of a kind of spring stood exactly upon the mouth of it. The bishop one day ostentatiously exhibiting this piece of plate to some Spanish gentlemen of his ac« CH.rV.J DISPUTE WITH THE ]$ISnOP's SERVANT. 4/5 quaintance, it happened that one of them meddling indis- creetly with the handle, the delicate spring, ill-adapted to bear his rough touch, suddenly broke ; and this occurred after his lordship had left the room. The gentleman thinking this a most unlucky accident, entreated the person who took care of the cupboard, to carry the vase directly to the artist who had made it, and order him to mend it without delay, promising that he should be paid his own price, in case he proved expeditious. The piece of plate being thus again come into my hands, I promised to mend it without loss of time ; and this promise I performed, for it was brought me before dinner, and I finished it by ten o'clock at night. The person that left it with me then came in a most violent hurry, for my lord bishop had called for it again, to show it to other gentlemen. The messenger, not giving me time to utter a Avord, cried, •' Quick, quick, bring the plate in all haste." Being deter- mined to take my own time, and not to let him have it, I said I did not choose to make such despatch. The man then flew into a passion, and clapping his hand to his sword, seemed to be ready to break into the shop by main force ; but this I prevented by dint of arms and menacing expressions. " 1 will not let you have it," said I ; "go tell your master that it shall not be taken out of my shop, till I am paid for my trouble." Seeing he could not obtain it by bullying, he began to beg and pray in the most sup- pliant manner ; saying, that if I would put it into his hands, he would take care to see me satisfied. These words did not in the least shake my resolution ; and as I persisted in the same answer, he at last despaired of success, and swearing that he would return with a body of Spaniards and cut me to pieces, thought proper to depart. In the mean time I, who gave some credit to what 1 had heard of Spanish assassinations, resolved that I would defend myself courageously; and having put in order an excellent fow- ling-piece, I said in my own mind, " He that takes both my property and my labour, may as well deprive me of life." Whilst I thus argued with myself, a crowd of Spaniards made their appearance with the above-mentioned domestic at their head, who with great arrogance bade them break 46 MEMOIRS OF BFNVENUTO CELLINI. [cU. IV. open the shop. At these words I showed them the mu2zle of mj' loaded fusil, and ci'ied out with aloud voice, " Miscre- ants! traitors! cut-throats ! are the houses and shops of citi- zens of Rome to be assaulted in this manner? If any thief amonjrst you offers to approach this door, I will shoot him dead." Then taking aim at the domestic, and pretending that I was going to fire at him, I cried out, " As for you^ you rascal, that set them on, you are the very first I shall make an example of." Upon hearing this, he clapped spurs to a jennet, upon which he was mounted, and fled at full speed. The disturbance had now brought all the neighbours out of their houses, when some Roman gentle- men passing by said : " Kill the dogs, and we will stand by you." These words had such an effect on the Spaniards, that they left me in a terrible panic, and told his lordship all that had happened. The bishop, a proud haughty man, reprimanded and scolded his servants very severely, both because they had commenced such an act of violence, and because they had not gone through with it. The painter who had been pre- sent at the above-mentioned accident, entering at this juncture, his lordship desired him to go and tell me, that if I did not bring him the piece of plate directly, he would leave no part of my body entire but my ears, but that if I brought it without delay, he would instantly satisfy my demand. The proud prelate's menaces did not in the least terrify me, and I sent him word I should immediately lay the whole affair before the Pope. In the meantime his anger and my fear having subsided, and some gentlemen of Rome assuring me that I should come to no harm, and should be paid for ray trouble, I repaired armed with my dagger and coat of mail, to the house of the bishop, who had caused all his servants to be drawn up in a line. There I made my appearance, Paulino following close behind me with the piece of plate. To make my way through the line of domestics, was like pass- ing through the Zodiac ; one of them looked like a lion, another like a scorpion, and a third like a crab, till at last we came into the presence of this reverend prelate, who uttered the most priest-like, Spaniard-like words that I ev jr heard. All this time I never once looked at him, ot en. IV.] THE POPE APPROVES OF HIS CONDUCT. 47 60 much 33 answered a single word ; at which his lordship seemed to discover more resentment than ever, and having ordered pen, ink, and paper, desired me to write him a receipt. I then loolved him full in the face, and told him that I would readily do so, after I had received my money. The haughty bishop was then more exasperated than ever ; but in fine, after a great deal of scolding and hectoring, I was paid, and afterwards, having written an acquittance, left the ])lace in high spirits. Pope Clement afterwards heard the whole affair, having first seen the piece of plate in question, though it was not shown him by me. He was highly pleased at what had happened, and said publicly that he entirely approved of my behaviour, so that the bishop heartily repented what he had done ; and, in order to make atonement for the past, sent me word by the same painter, that he intended to employ me in many commissions of importance; to which I made answer, tliat I was very willing to undertake them, but tliat I should insist upon being paid beforehand. These words coming likewise to the ear of Pope Clement made him laugh heartily. Cardinal Cibo was at Rome when the affair happenoil ; and his Holiness told liim the whole story of the difference between me and the bishop of Salamanca, with all the disturbances it had given rise to ; upon which he turned to one of his domestics, and bade him find con- stant employment for me in my business as a goldsmith. The above cardinal* sent for me, and after much conversa- tion ordered me to make him a piece of plate, more consi- derable than that which I had lately finished for the bishop of Salamanca. I likewise worked for Cardinal Cornarof, * Cardinal Innocenzo Cibo IVIalaspina, Arcliliisliop of Genoa, was a son of Leo X.'s sister, and vied with liis maternal relations in patro- nising learned men, bestowing upon them the greater part of liis im- mense wealth. He died in 1550. ■f Marco Cornaro, brother of the Queen of Cyprus, and nephew of the Doge of Venice, a bishop and cardinal, was a person of great authority, both in Rome and Venice. He brought about a reconcilia- tion between the Venetians and Julius II., and was solemnly eulog.'zed by Leo X. for his skill and assiduity in )iromoting the interests of liis country and the Church. Tlie works in which Celliiu was engaged, must have been commenced before .luly 1524, as Cardinal Cornaro had at that time set out for Venice to avoid the plague, and died suddenly from excessive fatig w in the jdurney. 48 MEMOIRS OF BENYENUTO CELLINI, [CH. lY. and for many other cardinals, especially Ridolfi * and Sal- viati f : I was employed by them all, and earned a great deal of money. Signora Porzia Chigi recommended me to open a shop entirely upon my own account. I did so accord- ingly, and was kept in constant employment by that good lady, so that it was perhaps by her means chiefly that I came to make some figure in the world. At this time I contracted an intimate acquaintance with Signor Gabriello Cesarini, gonfalonier of Rome, and was frequently employed by that gentleman. Amongst other works which I executed for him, one was particulaidy re- markable, namely, a large gold medal to be worn upon a hat, and on which was engraved Leda with her enamoured swan. He was highly pleased with the execution, and said he would get my work examined, in order to pay me ac- cording to its full value. My medal being a masterpiece of art, the connoisseurs set a much higher price upon it than he expected ; he kept the medal, and I reaped no benefit from my labour. The same circumstance, however, happened respecting this medal, as in the case of the bishop of Salamanca's piece of plate ; but that narratives of this sort may not interfere with matters of much greater importance, I shall content myself with having barely touched upon this adventure. * Cardinal Niccolo Ridolfi, a Florentine, neplIe^v of Leo X., col- lected a splendid library at an enormous expense, enriched with the rarest works in art and literature. Sadoleto extols him for his great learning and liberality. f Gio. Salviati, son of Giacopo already mentioned, was made a car- dinal by his uncle Leo X. : he succeeded in some of the most difficult embassies of the Papal Court; and brought to a favourable termination several long and intricate treaties. He was an excellent scholar, as well as a patron of learned men, and by his unexceptionable manners, kindness, and liberality, acquired a high reputation, both at home and abroad. As he did not, however, always indulge Cellini in his humour end caprices, we shall see, as he proceeds, in v/hat terms he coropiMiK •sf this very respectable prelate, who died in 1553. OH. v.] 49 CHAPTER V. The Author quarrels with Rienzo da Ceri, and accepts a challenge from him. — He applies himself to seal-engraving, and improves in that art under Lautizio. — The plague breaks out at Rome, during which he amuses himself with taking views of the antiquities of that city Story of Signor Giacomo Carpi the surgeon, and of the vases designed by Benvenuto The pestilence having ceased, a society of artists is formed, who hold weekly meetings. — Grand entertainment at one of these meetings, and a frolic of the Author's, at which were present Michelagnolo of Siena, and Giulio Romano. As I am sometimes obliged to quit the sphere of my pro- fession, in writing the history of my life, I find it expe lient, with regard to such articles as the last mentioned, not to give a circumstantial account of them, but a summary of the chief particulars. I happened once, at our feast of Saint John, to dine with several of my countrymen of different callings — painters, sculptors, and goldsmiths ; where, amongst other artists of distinguished reputation, were present one Rosso*, a painter, Giovanni Francesco, a pupil of Raffaello da Urbino, and many more. As I had invited them without any ceremony or constraint, they laughed and jested, as is usual with mixed companies, and made merry upon occasion of so great a festival. In the mean time a swaggering, bullying youth, a soldier of Signor Rienzo da Cerit, happening to * Rosso, a Florentine painter, distinguished in his profession, and a great scholar, of a handsome person and prepossessing manners, was invited by Francis I. to take the place relinquished by Andrea del Sarto, at the French court. The liberality of that monarch enabled him to reside at Paris in comparative affluence and splendour. Imagin- ing one of his countrymen had robbed him, he began a prosecution, but failing to make out the proofs, and fearful of being punished as a calumniator, he took poison, and died in 1541. f Retizo, or Lorenzo da Ceri, was one of those stipendian oaptatns, who were ready at tlie head of their company to take any side, or figlit for any prince, according to their interest. Renzo gained high repu- tation by his defence of Crema, in the Venetian pay, 1514 :»nd enter- ing into the service of the Pope, afternards conquered the dukedom of Urbino. When the king of France arrived in Italy, Renao devoted bis services to that monarch. He failed in an attack on the citadel ot B 50 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. V pass by, thought proper to ridicule the Florentines, and tc cast many injurious reflections ujwn the whole body of the nation. As it was I who had invited all these men oi genius and worth to this meeting, I considered myself as the person cliiefly insulted ; and therefore, unnoticed by any of the company, I went quietly up to the gentleman, who was in company with a woman of the town, and continued his gibing to divert her. I asked him whether be was the audacious man that abused the Florentines ; and he imme- diately replied, " I am that man." Scarcely had he uttered these words, when I gave him a slap on the face, saying, " And I am this man : " we both instantly drew our swords in a violent rage. But we had hardly made three passes, when several of the byestanders interposed, most of them seem- ing to take my part, rather than that of my opponent ; per- ceiving from what they had heard and seen, that I was in the right. The next day I received a written challenge from my adversary, which T accepted with great cheerful- ness, declaring that I thought this an affair of much more urgent importance than the business of my art. I instantly went to consult an old man named Bevilacqua, who had the reputation of being the best swordsman in Italy, having fought above twenty duels, and always come off with honour* : this worthy man was my particular friend. He had become acquainted with me through my professional transactions, and had even interposed in some warm dis- putes between me and other persons : he therefore said to me, " My good friend, Benvenuto, if you were to cope with Mars himself, I have not the least doubt but you would acquire honour; for though I have been acnuainted with Arona, bat hi« defence of Marseilles obtained for him the confidence of Francis T, who sent him to defend Rome from the threatened attack of the Imperialists, In this he altogether failed, as well for want of forces, as through his presumption and incapacity. The French call him Rentio Ccrez. • Paolo Giovio (Paulus Jovius), in the history of his times, relates that in the battle of Rapallo, in which the Aragonese were routed by the Genoese, in 1494, there were 400 Prajtorians, all complete gladia- tors, famous for duels gallantly concluded, who fought in sight of "ihe Doge, anci among'-t tlifse he mfintions FeviJacqua, a Milane.se. Tnif may probably be the same herg mentioned by Cellir U en. v.] APPLIES HIMSELF TO SEAX-ENGRAAaNG. 51 yon so many years, I never knew you in the wrong in any quarrel." He consented, therefore, to be ray second, and, having repaired to the place appointed, in arms, I came off with much credit, by my opponent's yielding, though there was no blood shed. I pass by the particulars of this affair, which might indeed be entertaining in their way ; rather choosing to dwell upon the events that befell me in the pursuits of my art, which was my chief motive for taking pen in hand, and in recounting which I shall find sufficient employment. Tliough I was excited by an honest emulation to produce a piece of work which might equal, or even surpass, those of that able artist, Lucagnolo, I did not, however, upon that account, quit my agreeable art of jewelling ; and, by uniting the two, I acquired much more reputation and profit, than I could have done by either singly ; for, in both branches, I often accomplished things unknown to other artists. There was, at this time, in Rome, a native of Perugia, of great abilities, named Lautizio ; the only man that worked in his branch of the business, which was that of a seal- engraver. Every Cardinal, at Rome, has a seal on which his title is engraved ; it is made as large as the hand of a child ten years old, and the title is embellished with a variety of figures. One of these seals, well executed, costs a hundred crowns and upwards. I could not help desiring to rival so eminent an artist, though this business widely differs from that of the jeweller and goldsmith ; but Lautizio, who was master of the art of seal-making, seemed to be confined to that alone, and knew nothing of any other art. I therefore set about learning this business, and though I found it extremely difficult, was never wearied by any labour it cost me, but steadily pursued the objects of gain and improvement. There was likewise, in Rome, another eminent artist, a native of IVIilan, who went by the name of Caradosso.* This man worked only in medals, engraveJ • More commonly known l>y the name of Ambrogio Foppa, • jen-elk-r and goUlsinltli, exctlk-nt in every branch of his ait, (conipre heiidin;^ at that tim.' various JngtMiioiis ans and inventions). The ex trenie exactness of his works often delayed their appearance, and lit was in one instance so dilatory and slow, thit a Spanish j^entlemaja, ' E 2 52 TkTEMOIRS OV BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. V. with a chisel, upon thin plates of metal, and many other materials : he made some Scripture pieces in mezzo rilievo*, and figures of Christ, a palm long, of thin plates of gold, dnd of such admirable workmanship, that I looked upon liim to be one of the greatest masters in this art that I had ever known ; and T envied him more than any of the rest. There were likewise other masters there, who worked in medals engraved on steel ; these are the true guides and models of those who desire to acquire perfection in coining money. I set about learning all these different branches with the greatest assiduity. Next to these came the most elegant art of enamelling, in which I never heard of more than one that excelled, and this was a Florentine, named Amerigo, with whom I was not acquainted. His perform- ances were indeed admirable, and such as were never equalled in any part of the globe ; nor could I, or any other man, ever boast of having seen a piece of workmanship of the kind, that made even a faint approach to their excel- lence. The art of enamelling is extremely difficult on account of the fire, which is the last thing used in works of that nature, and often spoils and totally destroys them. Nevertheless, I attached myself likewise to it with the greatest ardour ; and, though I found it very hard to be acquired, such was the pleasure I took in learning it, that having lost all patience, addressed him with the epithet of Cara d'Osso^ or bear's face, in allusion to its deformity. Foppa, who was a quiet ■".nd simple kind of person, not aware of its application, only laughed, and applied to his companions for an explanation, which they gave him much to their amusement ; nor has he been able to get rid of this nickname (Messer Caradosso) ever since. When Lazzari built the grand Octagon in Milan, near the Sacristy of S. Satiro, Foppa finished the interior decorations, and modelled a magnificent frieze with gigantic heads and Cupids in terra-cotta bronzed, which is considered as a masterpiece of its kind. During tJie Pontificate of Julius II. Foppa went to Rome, and being employetl in the mint, produced both for Julius and Leo X. such noble medals and coins, as to be pronounced, by Vasari, incomparable. Few of his medals remain ; among which are heads of Bramante, Trivulzio, Galeazzo Sforza, Caleazzo Maria, and Lodovico il Moro. • Scripture-pieces, in the Italian, " Paci, " are those small tablets hung up in Catholic Churches, representing sacred emblems, to be kissed with the utmost devotion. One of these, from the hand of iCaradosso, is preserved in S. Satiro, in Milan. Ce, v.] PLAGUE BREAKS OCT AT ROME. 3ii its greatest ditficulties appeared delightful to me. This was through the peculiar indulgence of the Author of nature, who had gifted me with a genius so happy, that I could with the utmost ease learn any thing I gave my mind to. These several branches are very different from each other ; insomuch, that the man who excels in one, seldom or never attains to an equal degree of perfection in any of the rest ; whereas I, having exerted myself with the utmost assiduity to be eminent in all these different arts, at hist compassed my end, as I shall show in a proper place. About this time, whilst I was still a young man, of three-and-twenty, so dreadful an epidemic disease prevailed in Rome*, that several thousands died every day. Some- what terrified at this calamity, I began to indulge myself in certain recreations, as the fancy took me, and for a rea- son which I shall state. So on holidays 1 amused myself with visiting the antiquities of that city, and sometimes took their figures in wax, at other times I made drawings of tliem. As these antiquities are all ruinous edifices, where a number of pigeons build their nests, I had a mind to divert myself among them with my fowling-piece ; but being greatly afraid of the plague, I avoided all commerce with the inhabitants, and made Paulino carry my gun. Thus we repaired together to the ruins, from whence I often returned home laden with pigeons of the largest size. But I never chose to put more tlian a single ball into my piece; and, in this manner, being a good marksman, 1 procured a considerable quantity of game. The fowling- piece, which I held in my hand, was both on the inside and outside as bright as a looking-glass. I likewise made the powder as fine as the minutest dust; and, in the use of it, I discovered some of the most admirable secrets that ever were known till this time. Of this I will, to avoid prolixity, give only one proof, which will surprise even those who are adepts in this matter. When I had charged my piece with a quantity of powder, equal in weight to the fiith-part of * As Cellini arrived at Rome after the election of Clement VII., which took place November 1523, he could not have been witness to its ravages in 1522, by which Iloine lost more than eighteen thousand inhabitants. It continued, at different periods, for two or three year*, and 50,000 of the Milanese died in four months. 54 MK.MOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. T the ball, it carried two hundred paces point blank. In a word, so great was the delight I took in shooting, that it often diverted me from the business of my shop. Though it had this ill consequence, it in other respects procured me considerable advantages ; for, by this exercise of shooting, 1 greatly improved my constitution : the air was of vast service to me. Whilst I was enjoying these pleasures, my spirits suddenly revived ; I no longer had my usual gloom, and I worked to more purpose than when my attention was totally engrossed by business : upon the wiiole, my gun turned rather to my advantage than the contrary. By means of this recreation also, I contracted an ac- quaintance with certain persons, who were accustomed to watch for the peasants of Lombardy, Avho, at a particular season of the year, came to work in the vineyards about Rome. These peasants, in digging the ground, frequently discovered ancient medals, agates, cornelians, emeralds, and cameos. They likewise found precious stones, such as sapphires, diamonds, and rubies. Those who went in quest of the peasants often bought such things of them for a triile ; and I, dealing with the former, have frequently given them gold crowns for curiosities, which had cost them only so many pence. This traffic, besides the great profit I derived from it, which was ten-fold at least, procured me the friendship of most of the Roman cardinals. I shall mention only a few of the most remarkable of these rarities that happened to fall into my hands. One was a dolphin's head, about the size of a large bean. Though art was emi- nently conspicuous in this head, it was still surpassed by nature ; for this emerald was of so fine a colour, that the person who purchased it of me for ten crowns, caused it to be curiously set in a gold ring, and sold it for a hundred. I had likewise one of the finest topazes that ever was be- held : art and nature seemed to rival each other in embel- lishing this stone, of the size of a large nut ; and upon it was carved a remarkably fine head, intended to represent a Minerva. Also another stone, of a different sort from the latter: this was a cameo, upon which was engraved a Hercules, binding a triple-headed Cerberus. This was a piece of such extraordinary beauty, and such admirable workmanship, that our great Michel-Angelo declared he CH. V.J STORY OF GIACOMO DA CARPI. 53 !iad never holield any thing that surpassed it. Amongst a number of bronze incdals, one fell into my hands, upon which was represented a head of Jupiter. This medal was the largest I ever beheld: the head was one of the most complete masterpieces of art. On the reverse were several other figures in a similar style. I migh launch out into a long dissertation upon this subject, but I wish to avoid j)rolixity. As I before said, the plague had prevailed for some time in Rome (for thougli I must go back a little way, I shall still pursue my subject), when there arrived in that city an eminent surgeon, named Signer Giacomo da Carpi.* This extraordinary man, among other cures for which he was f\imous, undertook the most desperate cases in a cer- tain disease. And as this was extremely prevalent at Rome among the priests, especially the more wealthy eccle- siastics, on being informed of the fact, he maintained that by means of certain perfumes he could effectually eradicate this pest. But he wished to bargain for his fees before he made his cures, and that not by tens, but by hundreds. He also understood the art of design extremely well. Hap- pening one day to pass by my shop, he cast his eye upon some drawings, amongst which were several sketches of little fanciful vases, which I had drawn by way of amuse- ment. These vases being, in form, very different from any that had ever been seen before, Signer Giacomo desired me to make him some of silver, according to the same model : this I readily agreed to do, because they were of my own invention. Though he paid me generously for my trouble, the reputation which I acquired by them was of a hundred times more value to me than the profit ; for all the • Giacomo Bereiigaria da Carpi was no shrewd Charlatan, as Ctilini would have us believe, but an able surgeon and physician. He is con- sidered as tlie reviver of anatomical knowledsre, and made many important discoveries, falsely attributed to more modern names. The qualities of his heart, however, were not of an amiable kind. Such was bis cruelty in the exercise of his jjrofession, that he is accused of having cut up two poor Spaniards alive to make experiments on the living subject. He was Professor in Hologna, and died at Ferrara, 1530, leaving the tJuke in possession of the property accjuired in his profession. 56 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH 1 goldsmiths declared they had never seen any thing more comj)lete, or better executed. I had IK) sooner finished these pieces, than my new em- ployer showed them to the pope, and the day following quitted Rome. He was a man of great learning, and talked admirably upon medical subjects. The pope was desirous of having him in his service, but he declared he did not care to confine himself to any service whatever, and that whoever had occasion for his assistance, should send for him. He was a person of great sagacity, and did very wisely to leave Rome ; for, not many months after, all his patients relapsed, so that he would have been murdered, if he had stayed. He showed my little vases to the Duke of Ferrara* and to several other princes ; and told them that they were presents from a gi'cat nobleman at Rome, of whom he had demanded them, upon undertaking to cure him of a disorder ; that the nobleman had told him they wei'e antiques, and begged he would rather ask any thing else, which he would freely part with, and leave him those ; but he refused to cure him on any other terms, and thus got them into his possession.^ This I was told by Signor Alberto Bendidio, at Ferrara, who, with great ceremony, showed me certain figures, at which I laughed, without making any remark. Signor Alberto, who was a proud haughty man, said to me in a passion^ " You may laugh as much as you please, but I must tell you that there has not been a man these thousand * Alfonso I. da Este, one of the first commanders of his age, and adored as the father of his subjects. Living in turbulent times, among the petty princes of Italy, he was a powerful and zealous defender of his states ; and though no scholar, his encouragement of learned men was such, that he made use of his own plate and purse to relieve the wants, or pay the salaries, of those he had invited to his court, and whom he always treated like friends and equals. Among these, Ariosto pays high tribute to his merits. He had considerable knowledge of the mechanical arts, such as moulding, turnery, and founding artillery, and was an excellent engineer. He died in 1534, after a reign of 29» years. f This solemn imposture of Bnrengario's on the noble Duke con- firms us in our belief of what Bembo says of him, in one of his letters, that he thought there was nothing wrong in telling lies, where the* could be uijtde useful to the inventor CH. v.] IS ATTACKED BY THE ZPLDEMIC. 57 years able to make such figures." I, that I might aot seem to detract from their reputation, stood apparently admiring them in silent astonishment. I was afterwards told in Rome, by many noblemen, some of whom were my friends, that these works appeared to them very extraordinary, and of genuine antiquity. Encouraged by this declaration, I confessed that they were my performances. They not giving credit to what I said, I formed a resolution to make new designs, in order to prove my veracity, because the above-mentioned Signor Giacomo had carried off the others. By this work I made considerable gain. The epidemic disease continuing to rage for many months, ] took to a freer course of life, because many of my acquaint- ance had died of it, vvliile I had remained in perfect health. It happened one evening, that a companion of mine brought to his house a courtezan, a Bolognese lady of extreme beauty. Her name was Faustina. She was about thirty years of age, and had with her a young servant-girl, some thirteen or fourteen years old. As I knew she was engaged by my friend, no temptation in the world would have in- duced me to act dishonourably. Still it was evident that she was not ill affected towards me ; but finding me reso- lute in consulting my honour, she soon witlidrew with her first lover, leaving, however, her pretty young attendant, as if to console me ; a far more agreeable arrangement than if I had been favoured with the attentions of the mis- tress herself. Woe to us, however, had she divined the trutli! Tlie ensuing day, about dinner time, I was seized with a severe headache, with extreme pain in my left arm, while a tremendous carbuncle broke out on the palm of my left hand. Terrified at the sight, my friend, the great lady, and the little lady, all disappeared together. Left alone, except with one of my work-boys, who would never leave me. I felt as if I should be suffocated, and believed myself to be a dead man. The father of this boy liappening tc pass by the house, and being a medical man, physician to tlie Cardinal Jacoacci, the youth ran and stopped him : " Come, father, and see Benvenuto, who has been taken rather poorly, and is in bed." Knowing nothing respecting kh# nature of the attack, tlie doctor came close to me, and 58 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUrO CELLl>n. [CH. T. liavinoj felt my pulse, saw more than he would have desired. Turning suddenly upon the boy, he exclaimed, "' 0, thou treacherous child, thou hast ruined me for ever ! How- can I now go before the cardinal ? " To this the son hardily replied, " Why, father, my master, Benvenuto, is worth more than all the cardinals in Rome." Regardless of such consolation, the doctor, again turning towards me, said, " Since I am here, I will endeavour to save you. But in most cases such an attack is mortal ; it is well yours is not one of the worst kind, and that relief was near at hand." When he had left, my friend Giovanni Rigogli made his appearance, and taking compassion on my sutiferings and loneliness, exclaimed, " Be of good heart, Benvenuto, I will stay with you till you recover." I, on my side, told him not to come near me ; that I had no hope ; but begged him to take some crowns out of a little box close to my bed, and, after my death, to give them to my poor father. But he was unwilling to obey me, declaring that he knew what was due to friendship ; and, come what would, he would attend upon me. His care, with the help of God, and the medicine I took, had a wonderful eifect ; and I survived, to my own great surprise, that terrific attack. While my wound was still open, with the lint in it, covered with a plaster, I used to ride out on a little wild pony I had, with a long rough coat, about tlie size of a great bear, and resembling one in every respect. In this state I went to visit Rosso, the painter, who lived beyond the walls, on the road to Civita Vecchia, at a spot belonging to Count Anguillara, called Cerveterra, who seemed rejoiced to see me. " I am come," I said, " to do as you did to me, many, many months ago." He began to laugii, and giving me a hearty welcome, besought me, from regard to the count, not to flurry myself. Tlie latter, too, treated me with the utmost friendship, setting the greatest dainties before me; and invited me to remain, and enjoy the country air. This I did above a month, taking pleasure-rides along the shores on my little steed ; and there I made quite a collection of rare stones, shells, and other aquatic curiosities. On the last day I went, I waa suddenly assaulted by a band of Moors, 'a disguise, wbo en. V 1 THE PLAGUE AT ROME CEASES. 59 hiid disembarked from some pirate bout, and who cut off the only way by which I could etfect my escape. Leaping upon my little rough-coat, and resolved to dispute the pas- sage, though roasted or boiled alive, as there was nothing else for it, I spurred up to them in good style. As if aware of my purpose, my little Bayard, firing up when he reached the pass, took a running leap, which threw the rascals into confusion in a manner almost impossible to describe. Once on safe ground, I returned thanks to God, and went there no more. On mentioning the feat to the count, he ran for his arms ; but, on looking out, we saw the boats already upon the waters. Rejoiced at my good fortune, the next day I rode back merrily to Rome, The plague had by this time almost spent its fury, inso- much that those who had survived it congratulated each other, and expressed great joy at having escaped that fatal scourge. Upon this occasion there was established in Rome a society of painters, statuaries, and goldsmiths, the best that had ever been known in that capital. The founder of this society was a statuary, named Michel- agnolo *, a native of Siena, and possessed of such extraor- dinary abilities, that he might justly vie with any artist belonging to the profession ; but still more eminently dis- tinguished for being the most complaisant and obliging man in the universe. He was the oldest member of this society, but might be considered as the youngest, on account of his vigorous constitution. We were frequently together, at least twice in the week. I must not omit that to this society also belonged Giulio Romano f, a painter, * This sculptor spent great jjart of his early life in Sclavonia. Coming to Rome, in conjunction with the painter Baldassar Peruzzi, anil with the assistance of Tribolo, he built the splendid mausoleum of Adrian VI., in the churcii of the Germans, of which the design re- mains in the Ciaconio, and in the Adrian VI., of Gasp. Burmanno. He died about 1540. f Giulio Pippi, the Roman, was the best pupil RafTaello had, and jue who approached the nearest in design, invention, and colouring to his great master. He was also an excellent architect. Full of fire and imagination, he struck off his works at a fi^w strokes in bold and vivid lines, of which he sometimes diminished the force and l)eauty by over-colouring. He produced many pieces for Clement VII., and the Marchese Gonzaga, as we shall hereaft >r see. On the death of Antonie 60 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. V. and Giovanni Francesco, both excellent pupils of the great Raffaello da Urbino. Ai'ter we had been several times in company together, our worthy president thought proper to invite us to sup at his house one Sunday, directing that every man should bring his c/iere amie {whom he called cornacchia*) with him, and he who brought no lady should be obliged to treat the company with a supper. Such members of the society as had no acquaintance amongst the courtezans, were obliged to procure ladies with great trouble and expense, for fear of exposing themselves at tliis agreeable entertain- ment. I bad thought myself vastly Avell provided in a fine girl of the name of Pantasilea, who had a fondness for me ; but I was obliged to resign her to one of my most intimate friends, named Bachiacca j" , who had been, and still con- tinued, deeply in love with her. The girl, upon this occa- sion, was somewhat piqued, perceiving tliat I gave her up to Bachiacca, at the first word ; a circumstance which in- duced her to imagine that I slighted her, and made a bad return for the affection she bore me. Her resentment afterwards involved me in a perplexing affair, of which I shall speak more at large in its proper place. As the time drew near that we were to repair to the assembly above mentioned, and I happened to be without a female companion, I thought myself guilty of a great oversight in not having provided one ; but not choosing to be disgraced by bringing any low, despicable creature amongst so many brilliant beauties, I thought of a frolic to increase the mirth of the company. Having formed ray plan, I sent for a boy, of about sixteen, named Diego, whc lived next door to me, and was son to a Spanish copper- da S. Gallo, he was to have been employed as architect for St. Peter's, which was jirevented by his death in 1546. * A crow. f Bachiacca or Bachicca, was the surname of Francesco and Antonio twin-brothers, both very distinguished Florentine artists. Francesco was a fine painter of miniature figures, as well as of birds and animals »f every kind beautifully executed in oil. Antonio, on the testimony of Vasari, and particularly of Varchi, who compares liim in a sonnet to Buonarroti, Bronzino, and Ctllini, was one of the best chaseriv T« vbich of these he alludes as his intimate friend i* •: )t very cleox, CH. v.] A FROLIC IN DISGUISE 61 smith. Phis lad was learning Latin at the grammar-school, to which he applied with great diligence: he had a very genteel person, with a fine complexion : the contours of his face surpassed those of the ancient statue of Antinous *, and I had often drawn his likeness, by which I acquired great reputation in my performances. The boy had no acquaintance in town, nor was he known to any of the society: he neglected his dress very much, his attention being entirely engrossed by study. Having sent for him to my house, I begged that he would dress himself in female attire, which I had provided. He was easily pre- vailed on to comply, and I, by means of a variety of orna- ments, added a considerable lustre to the beauty of his countenance. I put two rings in his ears, in which were two beautiful pearls ; the rings being divided in the middle fastened upon his ears, which appeared to be bored : I then dressed his neck with gold necklaces and costly -ewels. In the same manner I adorned his fincrers with rings, and taking him gently by the ear, placed him before a looking- glass. The boy, seeing himself in the glass, exclaimed with an exulting tone, "Heavens! Is that Diego? " " Yes," I replied, " that is Diego, of whom I never before asked any favour, but now, for the first time, I will ask him to oblige me in one harmless request ; and that is, to go with me in his present dress to the agreeable society which I have mentioned so often." The lad, who was virtuous and discreet, modestly cast his eyes upon the ground, and deliberated for a few mo- ments, then suddenly looking up, made answer, " I will go with you, Benvenuto ; let us set out directly." I put on his head a large handkerchief, which is called at Rome a summer-cloth. When we came to the place, the whole company were already met, and all rose to ealute me : Michelagnolo was betw^een Giulio Romano and Giovanni Francesco. As soon as I had taken the h£,nd- * A youth of Bithynia, of extraordinary beauty, who is said to have devoted himself for the restoration of the emperor Adrian's health, by throwing himself iato the Nile in the year 132, on the faith of a pro- phecy to that effect. He was honoured by Adrian with medals and Btatues to his memory, and among these is preserved the exquisite model of mascu. ine grace and beauty above alludtd to. 62 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI, [CH V. kerchief from the head of my beautiful companion, Miehel- agnolo, who, as I have already observed, was one of the most facetious and diverting men in the world, with one hand taking hold of Giulio, and with the other of Giovanni Francesco, with his utmost might drew them towards Diego, and obliged tliem to kneel down ; at the same time fulling upon his knees himself, and calling to the company lie exclaimed aloud, " See in what form angels descend from the clouds ! Though celestial beings ai'e represented as males, behold there are female spirits in heaven like- wise ! beautiful angel ! angel worthy of all praise, vouchsafe to save — vouchsafe to direct me!" At these "words the facetious creature lifted up his right hand, and gave him a papal benediction. Michelagnolo rising, said, that it was customary to kiss the Pope's feet, but that angels were to be kissed on the cheeks ; he then gave him a salute, at which the youth coloured deeply, which greatly added to his beauty. This scene being over, every man produced a sonnet, upon some subject or other; and we gave them to Michelagnolo for his perusal. The latter read them aloud, in a manner which infinitely increased the effect of their excellence. The company fell into discourse, and many fine things were said, which I shall not here particularize, except one expression which I recollect to have heard from that fa- mous painter Giulio. This great man having looked upon all present with affection, but more attentively upon the ladies, turned about to Michelagnolo, and spoke to him thus : " My dear Michelagnolo, the name of croiv, which you have given to our ladies, suits them pretty well, though they even seem a little inferior in beauty to crows, when compared to one of the finest peacocks that ever was beheld." Dinner was now ready to serve up, when Giulio begged to be the person that should place us in proper order. His request being granted, he took the ladies by the hand, and made them sit at the upper end of the table, with mine in the midst of them ; the men he placed next, and me in the middle, telling me that I was deserving of all manner of honour and distinction. Behind us there were rows of flower-pots, with beautiful jessamines, which seemed to CH. v.] GRAKD ENTERTAIXMENT TO THE SOCIErT. 63 heighten the charms of the young ladies, and especially ot my Diego, beyond expi'ession. Thus we all began to regale ourselves, with great cheerfulness, at that elegant supper. After our repast was over, we were entertained with a con- cert of music, both vocal and instrumental ; and as the performers sang and played with books before them, my angelical companion desired that he might be allowed to sing his part. He acquitted himself better than any of the rest, and Giulio and Michelagnolo, instead of expressing themselves in the same facetious terms they had done before, seemed to be struck with astonishment, and grew wild and extravagant in their praises. The music being over, one Aurelio Ascolano, a most wonderful impro- visatore*, sang some admirable verses in praise of the ladies. Whilst this person was singing, the two girls who had my beauty between them, never ceased prating and chattering ; one of them explained in what manner she had fallen into that sort of life ; another asked my companion how it came to be her fate, who were her friends, and how long she had been at Rome, with several other questions of the same kind. Were I to dwell upon trifles of such a nature, I might relate many odd things that were said and done there, occasioned by Pantasilea, who was passionately fond of me ; but as that would be foreign to my design, I shall be content with briefly touching upon them. The discourse of the two courtezans began at last to displease my counterfeit lady, who had taken the name of Pomona. As she was desirous to disengage herself from them, and get rid of their loose conversation, she sometimes turned to one side, sometimes to the other : the lady that Giulio brought with him, asked whether she was not ill; the counterfeit Pomona answered in the affirmative, whis- pering that she believed herself to be some montlis advanced in pregnancy, and felt at that very moment far from well. Upon which the two ladies who had her between them, taking compassion of Pomona, begged her to retire; which in * Tiraboschi gives us no farther account of this improvisatore, vhan this of Cellini. But lam led to think, he is the same as Eurialo O Ascoli, of wjiom there is a letter, written in the true style of a pciet, in the Facetious Epistles, collected by Turchi. 64 MEMOmS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VI. spite of Diego's reluctance, led to an eclaircisseme7it. The exasperated females loaded him with abusive language. An outcry being instantly set up, accompanied with great laughter and expressions of surprise, the grave IMichelag- nolo desired permission of all present to inflict upon me a penance at his own discretion. The company giving their assent to this with loud acclamations, he put me out of pain by thrice repeating " Long live Signor Benvenuto ! " This, he said, was the punishment I deserved for so humorous a frolic. Thus ended this pleasant entertainment, together with the day : and the company separating, retired to their respective habitations. CHAPTER VI. "nie Author learns to make curious Damaskeenings of steel and silver on Turkish daggers, &c. — Derivation of the word grotesque in works of design. — His ingenuity in medals and rings. — His great humanity to Luigi Pulci is repaid with the utmost ingratitude. — Tragical end of Pulci in consequence of his amour with Pantasilea. — Gallant behaviour of the Author on this occasion, in defeating a band of armed adversaries. — His escape and reconciliation with Benvenuto of Perugia. Were I to give a complete account of all the works I had at this time for persons of diiFerent stations in life, my nar- rative would become altogether tedious ; suffice it at pre- sent to observe, that I exerted myself with the utmost diligence and care to acquire perfection in the variety of arts above enumerated ; and therefore with unceasing per- severance worked at them all. But as an opportunity has not hitherto occurred of giving an account of any of my remarkable performances, I shall presently do so. Michel- agnolo of Siena, the statuary, was at this time employed in erecting a monument to the late Pope Adrian. Giulio Romano the painter was gone into the service of the Mar- quis of Mantua*: the other members had retired to different * The Marchese Federico Gonzaga, a valiant commander, and a li- beral patron of the fine arts. He received a dukedom, in 1530, froia Ce. VI.] LEARNS TO DAMASKEEN ON DAGGKkS. 65 quarters, as their business happened to lead them, so tliai our ingenious society was almost entirely dispersed. Soon afterwards I met with some little Turkish daggers, the handles of which were of iron as well as the blade, and even the scabbard was of that metal. On these were en- graved several fine foliages in the Turkish taste, m ist beautifully filled up with gold. I found I had a stro jg inclination to cultivate this branch likewise, which was bo different from the rest ; and finding that I had great suc- cess in it, I produced several pieces in this way. My per- formances, indeed, wei-e much finer and more durable than the Turkish, for several reasons : one was, that I made a much deeper incision in the steel than is generally practised in Turkish works ; the other, that their foliages are nothing else but chiccory leaves, with some few flowers of Echites : these have, perhaps, some grace, but they do not continue to please like our foliages. In Italy there is a variety of tastes, and we cut foliages in many different forms. The Lombards make the most beautiful wreaths, representing ivy and vine leaves, and others of the same sort, with agree- able twinings highly pleasing to the eye. Tlie Romans and Tuscans have a much better notion in this respect, for they represent Acanthus leaves, with all their festoons and flowers, winding in a variety of forms ; and amongst these leaves they insert birds and animals of several sorts with great ingenuity and elegance in the arrangement. They likewise have recourse occasionally to wild flowers, such as those called lions' mouths, from their peculiar shape, accompanied by other fine inventions of the imagination, which are termed grotesques by the ignorant. These foli- ages have received that name from the moderns, because they are found in certain caverns in Rome, which in an- cient days were chambers, baths, studies, halls, and other places of the like nature. The curious happened to dis- cover them in these subterraneous caverns, whose low situation is owing to the raising of the surface of the Charles V. Glulio was introduced into his service by C. Baldassar Castiglione, in 1524. He was here very fortunate, and at the same time contrived to elude the just vengeance of the Pope, for designing a series of immoral prints, engraved by Marc Antonio, anil Eccompan-cd with the sonnets of Arctino. F 66 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VL' ground in a series of ages ; and as these caverns in Rome are commcnly called grottos, they from thence acquired the name of grotesque. But this is not their proper name ; for, as the ancients delighted in the composition of chimerical creatures, and gave to the supposed promiscuous breed of animals the appellation of monsters, in like manner artists produced by their foliages monsters of this sort : and that is the proper name for them — not grotesques. In such a taste I made foliages filled up in the manner above men- tioned, which were far more elegant and pleasing to the eye than the Turkish works. It happened about this time that certain vases were dis- covered, which appeared to be antique urns filled with ashes. Amongst these were iron rings inlaid with gold, in each of which was set a diminutive shell. Learned antiquarians, upon investigating the nature of these rings, declared their opinion that they were worn as charms by those who desired to behave with steadiness and resolution either in prosperous or adverse fortune. I likewise took things of this nature in hand at the request of some gentlemen who were my particular friends, and wrought some of these little rings ; but I made them of steel well-tempered, and then cut and inlaid with gold, so that they were very beautiful to behold : sometimes for a single ring of this sort I was paid above forty crowns. At that time a sort of small medals were in fashion, upon which it was customary for noblemen and gentlemen to cause to be engraved certain devices and fancies of their own, and they wore them commonly upon their caps. ] jnade several things of this sort, but found such works very difficult : the celebrated artist named Caradosso would not take less than a hundred crowns for one of them, because they contained a variety of figures. I was therefore em- ployed, not so much on account of the greatness of his price, as his slowness in working, by some gentlemen, for whom I made one medal, amongst others, in emulation of this renowned artist, on which were four figures that I took uncommon pains with. It happened upon this occasion that the gentlemen, comparing my work to that of the famous Caradosso, declared mine to be by much the more elegant and masterlj', and bid me ask whatever I thought CH. VI.^ ACCOUNT OF LUIGI PULCI. 67 proper for ray trouble, for I had given them such satisfac- tion, that they were willing to pay me my own price. To this I answered, that the best recompense I could receive for my labour, and that which I desired most, was the happiness of making an approach to the excellence of so great a master ; and if I appeared to gentlemen of their taste to have attained that honour, I thought myself suffi- ciently rewarded. Upon my leaving them at these words, they immediately sent me a generous present, with whicb I was perfectly satisfied ; and my ardour to gain the appro bation of my employers increased to such a degree, that i gave rise to the adventures which I am going to relate : for in the course of this history I must sometimes lose sight ol my profession, to record some unlucky accidents by which this toilsome life of mine has been occasionally embittered. I have already given an account of the ingenious society of artists, and of the adventure of Pantasilea the courtezan, who had so deceitful and dangerous a passion for me, and had been so greatly irritated on account of the frolic of introducing Diego, the Spanish boy, at supper : I shall now conclude that whimsical adventure. As she thought her- self injured in the most outrageous manner imaginable, and had vowed revenge, an opportunity soon offered to carry her wicked purpose into execution ; and I shall here ex- plain in what manner my life was brought by her malice into the most imminent danger. About this time there arrived at Rome a young gentleman named Luigi Pulci, son to one of the Pulci family who had been beheaded ibr having violated his own daughter. This young gentleman had an uncommon genius for poetry, was well versed in the Latin language, and wrote with great elegance ; he was likewise extremely handsome and genteel. He had just quitted the service of some bishop, whose name I do not remember, and was in a very bad state of health. AYhen he was at Florence, there were meetings in the open streets during summer, where he sang extempore, and distinguished himself amongst those who had the greatest talent that way. This singing was so well worth hearing, that the divine Michel Angeh' Buonarroti, that renowned statuary and painter, whenever he heard that Pulci was to perform, wont 'o listen to him with the utmost eagerness, and upon these 3 2 ftS MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [|CH. VI occasions was generally accompanied by one Piloto *, a gold- smith, and myself. This was the first rise of my intimacy with Luigi Pulci. After some years had elapsed, he dis- covered to me the distressed condition he was in at Rome, and begged I would procure him some relief. I was moved to pity on account of his excellent qualities, and farther excited by the love of my country, as well as a compassionate dis- position. I therefore took him into my house and had him treated with such care, that with the assistance of youth and a vigorous constitution, his health was quickly restored. While the young man was in this manner endeavouring to recover, he constantly amused himself with reading, and I procured him as many books as I could. Sensible of the obligations I laid him under, he often thanked me with tears in his eyes, assuring me if God ever prospered him, or any way put it in his power, he would endeavour to give me convincing marks of his gratitude. I told him that I had not served him as well as I could have wished, but had done my best, and it was the duty of human beings to assist each other ; only admonishing him to show the same kindness to others, who might happen to stand in need of his assistance, as he had done of mine, and desiring that he would look upon me as his friend, and always love me. The young man began to frequent the court of Rome, in which he was soon taken notice of, and entered into the service of a prelate, a man of fourscore, who was bishop of Urgenis. This prelate had a nephew, named Giovanni, a Venetian gentleman. Signer Giovanni seemed to be greatly struck with the shining qualities of Luigi Pulci, and had contracted such a familiar intimacy with him, that their mutual confidence seemed unbounded. Luigi having talked to him of me, and of the favours I had done him. Signer Giovanni conceived a desire to know me. It happened about this time that I had made a little en- tertainment one evening for my mistress Pantasilea, to * Piloto, of whom more hereafter, was an excellent Florentine gold- smith, and a friend of Michel Angelo, Eandinelli, Giacone, Pierino del Vaga, and all the distinguished artists. He was of a facetious disposi- tion, and fond of ridiculing his companions, and at length was assassk U^ted by a young man, whom he had irritsted by his raillery CH. Vl.J PULCT ABANDONS HIMSELF TO DEBAUCHERY. 69 which I invited several men of genius of my acquaintanco- At the very moment that we were sitting down to table, Signer Giovanni and Luigi Pulci entered the room, and after some little cei'emony, were prevailed upon to stay to supper. The amorous courtezan no sooner set her eye on the handsome youth, than she formed a design upon him. I perceived the snare, so that the instant supper was over, I called Luigi aside, and requested him, by the obligations which he had acknowledged himself under to me, not to listen, upon any account, to the insinuations of that artful woman. In answer to this, he exclaimed, " What, my friend Benvenuto, do you take me for a madman ? " I told him I did not take him for a madman, but for an inexperienced youth ; at the same time assuring him that I gave myself not the least trouble about her, but that my concern was for him, and I should be sorry to see him ruined by so aban- doned a etrumi:»et. To this he answered, that he wished he might break his neck if he ever w^ould so much as open his lips to her. He must have sworn this oath with great earnestness, for it was his fate afterwards to break hi" neck, as will appear in the sequel. He began to appear every day new clothed, either in velvet or silk, and appeared to be addicted to all manner of debauchery : in short, he had thrown aside all his virtuous qualities, and pretended neither to see nor know me when we met ; because I had reproved him, telling him that he had abandoned himself to ail kinds of vices, and that they would be his destruction. Signor Giovanni, with whom he was a favourite, had bought him a fine black horse, which cost a hundred and fifty crowns ; it was an admirable pacer, and Luigi rode it every day to pay his court to the cour- tezan Pantasilea. Though I beheld this scene, it gave me no manner of concern : I said only that all things act accord- ing to their nature, and I attached myself to my business. It happened one Sunday evening in the summer that we were invited by the famous statuary Michelagnolo of Siena to sup with him. At this supper Bacchiaca, of whom men- tion lias already been made, was a guest, and he had brought with him Pantasilea, with whom he had been formerly inti- mate. Whilst we were at supper she rose from table, tell- ing as that a sudden indisposition obliged her to retire, but t 3 70 MEIIOIRS OF BEN\T:NUT0 CELLINI. [_CH. VI, that she would quickly return. As we were engaged iij cheerful conversation, she stayed away longer than we ex- pected : I stood listening, and heard some people talking in a low voice in the street, whilst I held a knife in my hand, which I made use of at table to cut my victuals. The window was so near the table, that, having risen up a little, I saw Luigi Pulci and Pantasilea in close conference, and overheard the former say, " If that cursed Benvenuto should happen to discover us we should be undone." She made answer, " Luigi, be under no apprehensions ; observe what a noise they are making ; they are far from thinking of us." At these words I perceived who they were, when imme- diately leaping from the window, I seized Luigi by the cloak, and should certainly have killed him with the knife in my hand, had he not instantly clapped spurs to a little white horse which he rode, and leaving his cloak behind tc save his life, fled with Pantasilea to a neighbouring church. Those who were at table having suddenly risen, came all up to me, and begged I would not give myself or them any trouble for the sake of a harlot. I answered, that I should never have stirred upon her account, but that I could not help showing my resentment to that villain, who behaved to me in so perfidious a manner. I would not therefore give ear to the persuasions and entreaties of my worthy friends, but snatching up my sword, went unaccompanied to Prati, for the house where we were at supper was near the gate Del Castello, which led to Prati. It was not long before the sun set, and I re- turned slowly to Rome, when it was already dark, but the gates of the city were not locked. I repaired to Pantasi- lea's habitation, firmly resolved, in case Luigi Pulci should be there, to treat them both as they deserved. Perceiving that there was nobody in the house but a servant girl, named Corida, I laid aside my cloak and the scabbard of \ny sword, and came up to the house, which stood behind .he place called Banchi, upon the river Tiber. Opposite to this house was a garden belonging to an inn-keeper, whose name was Romolo : this garden was eoclosed with a quick-set hedge, in which I concealed myself in order to wait the coming of the lady and her gallant. — I had re mained there some time when my friend Bacchiaca hap» Cn. VI.] AN ADVENTURE. 71 pened to pass by, who, whether he really thought I should go there, or had been told so, called to me in a low voice by the name of gossip, for so we used to style each other in jest. He besought me for God's sake to desist, uttering these words almost with tears in his eyes : " Gossip, I beg you would not hurt this poor unfortunate woman, for nothing can justly be laid to her charge." " If you do not directly quit the place," cried I, " I will cut you across the head with my sword." My poor gossip, frightened by this language, felt much disordered, and had not gone far, when he found himself under a necessity of obeying a natural impulse. It was a bright starry night, and the sky shone with a refulgent lustre ; when suddenly I heard the noise of several horses galloping on both sides. This was occasioned by Luigi and Pantasilea, who were accompanied by one Signor Benvegnato of Perugia, chamberlain to Pope Clement : they had four valiant captains from Perugia attending them, with other bra\' e young officers, in all twelve persons that wore swords. AVhen I perceived my situation, not knowing which way to get off, I resolved to continue under the hedge ; but the briars pricked and hurt me very much, so that I could no longer bear it, but like a goaded bull, resolved to take a leap and seek my safety by flight. At this time Luigi had his arms about Pantasilea's neck, and told her that he must have a kiss in spite of that traitor Benvenuto. These words, which added a new sting to the pricking of the briars, provoked me to such a degree, that I leaped out of the hedge, and lifting up my sword, cried out, " I will instantly be the death of you all." My sword fell upon Luigi's shoulders, but as the young fellow was protected by a coat of mail, for they had wrapped him up in iron, the weapon w^as turned aside, and after cutting him over the nose, wounded the face of Pantasilea. Both having fallen to the ground, Bacchiaca with his hose half down his legs, ran away screaming. I then turned about boldly to the rest with my drawn sword, wh(.>n my valiant adversaries hearing a loud uproar in the inn, imagined they had to deal with a party of a hundred men ; they had how- ever drawn their swords, but .some of tlieir horses taking fright, this occasioned so much confusion amongst them, t 4 72 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. "CH. Vl that two of the cleverest were thrown, and the rest betook themselves to flight. I seeing the affair turn out happily, made off with the utmost speed, pleased to get handsomely rid of this trouble- some affair, and not caring to tempt fortune farther than honour required. In this terrible confusion and hurly- burly, some of the gentlemen and officers had wounded themselves with their own swords. Signor Benvegnato, the Pope's chamberlain, was thrown down and trampled upon by his own mule ; his servant attempting to draw his sword, fell with him at the same time, and gave his master a deep wound in the hand. This accident, more than all the rest, made Signor Benvegnato swear in his Perugian jargon, that by G — Benvegnato should teach Benvetiuto manners. He desired one of the officers, who perhaps had more courage than the rest, but was young and had very little to say for himself, to deliver me a challenge. This gentleman called upon me at the house of a Neapoli- tan nobleman, who had heard of my abilities, and seen some of my performances ; and being likewise convinced that I was both in mind and body fit for the military pro- fession, to which he was attached above all others, grew exceedingly fond of me. Seeing myself thus protected and caressed, and being in proper spirits, I gave such an answer to the officer, as I believe made him heartily repent his coming on such an errand. A few days after, Luigi, Pantasilea, and the rest, being pretty well recovered of their wounds, the nobleman, my patron, was solicited by Signor Benvegnato, whose passion had by this time subsided, to prevail upon me to be recon- ciled to Luigi, adding, that the gallant officers who were with liim, and who had never had any difference with me on their own account, would be glad to cultivate my ac- quaintance. The nobleman made answer, that he would persuade me to agree to all that was proposed, and should willingly undertake to accommodate matters, upon condi- tion that there was to be no upbraiding on either side for what had passed, as that would reflect dishonour on them- selves ; that we should only shake hands and drink together in token of reconcilement, and so he would engage to make all things agreeable. This design was carried into execu- CH. Xa."] TRAGICAi ENT> OF PULCI. 73 tion. One Thursday evening the nobleman carried me to the house of Signor Benvegnato, where all the military gentlemen, who had been in the late skirmish, were at table. My patron was accompanied by above thirty gallant men well armed, a circumstance which Signor Benvegnatc did not expect. — Having entered the hall, my friend going before, and I following him, he addressed them thus : " Save you, gentlemen ; I am come with Ben\ enuto, whom I love as my own brother ; and we gladly present ourselves with an intention to do whatever you think proper to enjoin us." Benvegnato seeing the hall crowded with such a number, made answer, " All we desire of you is peace : we want nothing more." He then promised that the governor of Rome should give me no trouble. Thus we were recon- ciled, and I returned to my shop ; but I was scarce able to pass an hour without the company of the Neapolitan noble- man, who either visited me, or sent for me to his own house. In the mean time Luigi Pulci being cured, every day took an airing upon his black horse, which he managed with great skill. One day, after there had fallen a driz- zling rain, having made his horse prance and curvet before Pantasilea's door, he happened to slip, and the horse fell upou him. By this accident he broke his right leg, and a few days after died in the house of Pantasilea ; the curse which he had solemnly invoked against himself in the pre- sence of God being thus accomplished. Hence it appears that the De ty watches over the conduct both of the good and bad, au 3 rewards all according to their deserts. 74 CHAPTER VII. The Duke of Bourbon besieges Rome, which is taken and plundered. — The Author kills the Duke of Bourbon as he is scaling the walls, — He retires to the castle of St. Angelo, where he acts as bombardier, and signalizes himself in an extraordinary manner. — ITie Prince oi Orange is wounded by a ball from a cannon directed by the Author. — The Pope's acknowledgments to Benvenuto. — The castle of St. Angelo surrendered by capitulation. All Italy was now up in arms*, when Pope Clement sent to Signor Giovannino de' Medici for some troops, which accordingly marched to his assistance. These auxiliaries * It will here be necessary to give the reader a brief view of the po- litical state of Italy at that period, in order to throw light on the en- suing account. Europe was involved in the wars between Charles V. and Francis I., in which the potentates of Italy took an active share. Jealous of the French interests, Leo X., and the other princes, after the battle of Marignano, when the dominions of Francesco Sforza had been twice occupied by the French, resolved to join the emperor. He had already in his service some of the best Italian generals, seconded by the voice of the people; and in the first campaign of 1521, succeeded in possessing himself of the wliole of the Milanese. In 1522, he took Genoa, and driving back the numerous forces sent against him from France, followed them into Provence, and finally laid siege, though unsuccessfully, to Marseilles. The Pope and the Italians, having thus attained their object, tried to negotiate a peace, soon after con- cluded under Adrian II., and Clement VII. In a short time, how- ever, they began to feel, that they had only made an exchange of masters, and even found the yoke of the emperor, who aspired after un- disputed dominion, and sacrificed the interests of his allies to his imme- diate objects, more intolerajjle than that of the French. When, therefore, Francis I., at the head of a fresh army, again descended the Alps, Clement VII. withdrew from the league, declaring his wish to become arbitrator of their differences, and to preserve the balance of political power in Europe. But when Francis was made prisoner at Pavia, and the power of France humbled, Clement renewed his offers of alliance to the emperor, wliich the latter refused, at the same time that he ac- cepted of the money advanced by the Pope to his viceroy of Naples, leaving the pontiff exposed to the insults and extortions of the Impe- rialists in Italy. On the liberation of Francis, and the renewal of the war in 1526, Clement, in league with the Venetians, and the other states of Italy, declared in favour of France. He proved, however, a rery inefScient ally to Francis, withdrawing the troops from all active en. \n.^ STATE OF ITALY. 75 did so much mischief in Rome, that tradesmen were not in safety in their shops, which made me retire to a small house, behind the place called Banchi, where I worked for my particular friends. The business I was employed in at that time was not of any great importance : I therefore shall not at present enlarge, upon it. I then took great delight in music, and other amusements of a like nature. Pope Clement having, by the advice of Signor Giacopo Salviati, dis- missed the five companies which had been sent him by Signor Giovannino, lately deceased in Lombardy, the Con- stable Bourbon*, finding that there were no troops in Rome, eagerly advanced with his army towards that capitaL Upon the news of his approach all the inhabitants took up arms. I happened to be intimately acquainted with Ales- sandro, the son of Pietro del Bene, who, at the time that the Colonnas came to Rome, had requested me to guard his house : upon this more important occasion, he begged I would raise a company of fifty men to guard the same house, and undertake to be their commander, as I had done at the time of the Colonnas.f I accordingly engaged fifty service, and even payinjr salaries to many of the Imperial generals, so as still to attempt to preserve the character of a mediator. To this undecided conduct, added to the impolitic measure of dis- banding the soldiers, and tjarrison of Rome, he owed the calamities he soon afterwards experienced, and full a victim to the cupidity of the Spanish and German army — a memorable example of the fate of those princes, who from weakness or incapacity, adopt only half- measures, and endanger their existence for want of bold and determined policy. * Charles of Bourbon, who won the famous battle of Marignano, was cousin to king Francis, and constable of France. Highly gifted, and every way meritorious, he was liitterly persecuted by the queen- mother for having declined the honour of her hand, as well as by the king, to such a degree, that having rebelled in September 15;^;?, he transferred his services to the Emperor Charles V. He then laid siege to Marseilles, fought at Biagrasso, and Pavia ; and, in 1527, having formed a junction with the Germans, under Giorgio Fronspergli, and taken into his service banditti and felons from all countries, he carried terror and desolation into the heart of Italy. Under pretence of being unable to restrain the licentiousness of his troops, he disregarded the treaties and authority of the imperial ministeys. He died in his 38th year, in the manner hereinafter related. t The Colonna family, one of the most ancient and distinguished in Rome, abounding in wealth and territories, which not unfrequentiy ?fi MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VH brave young men, and we took up our quarters in his house, where we were well paid and kindly treated. The army of the Duke of Bourbon f^ having already appeared before the ii alls of Rome, Alessundro del Bene requested I would go with him to oppose the enemy : I ac- cordingly complied, and taking one of the stoutest youtha with us, we were afterwards joined on our way by a young man of the name of Cecchino della Casa. We came up to the walls of Cainpo Santo, and there descried that great army, which was employing every effort to enter the town at that part of the wall to which we had approached. Many young men were slain without the walls, where they fought with the utmost fury : there was a remarkably thick mist. I turned to Alessandro, and spoke to him thus : — " Let us return home with the utmost speed, since it ia impossible for us here to make any stand ; behold the enemy scales the walls, and our countrymen fly before them, over- powered by numbers." Alessandro, much alarmed, an- swered, — " Would to God we had never come hither:" and, so saying, he turned with the utmost precipitation, in order to depart. I thereupon reproved him, saying, — " Since you have brought me hither, I am determined to perform some manly action;" and, levelling my arquebuse where I saw the thickest ci'owd of the enemy, I dis- charged it with a deliberate aim at a person who seemed to be lifted above the rest but the mist prevented me from distinguishing whether ne was on horseback or on foot. Then, turning suddenly about to Alessandro and Cecchino, I bid them fire off* their pieces, and showed them how to made even the pontiffs tremble for their power. In defiance of the subtle policy of Alexander VI. they maintained their splendour and authority, and were much courted by Julius II. and Leo X. During this war, always devoted to the Ghibelline party, their interference assumed an independent character; and finding Clement VII. in fa- vour of the French, they ventured, instigated, doubtless, by the em- peror, to march their forces into Rome, on the 19th of September, 1526, and, exciting the people to rebellion, they sacked the palace and St. Peter's, and shutting up the pope in the castle, obliged him to make a treaty in favour of the emperor. * Bourbon without any artillery, arrived quite unexpectedly at Rome, on the night of the 5th of May, with 40,000 men : the ensuing morning, the assault, of whidi Cellini gives this account, took place. CH. Vn.] KILLS THE DUKE OF BOURBON. 77 escape every shot of the besiegers. Having accordingly fired twice for the enemy's once, I cautiously approached the walls, and perceived that there was an extraordinary confusion among the assailants, occasioned by our havin" shot the Duke of Bourbon*: he was, as I understood afterwards, that chief personage whom I saw raised above the rest. Quitting our post we now passed through Campo Santo, and entered by the quarter of St. Peter ; from thence we passed behind the church of St. Angelo, and reached the gate of the Castle of St. Angelo with the greatest diffi- culty imaginable ; for Signer Rienzo da Ceri, and Signer Orazio Baglionif, were wounding and killing every body that deserted the walls. "When we arrived at the gate above mentioned, part of the enemy had already entered Rome, and were at our heels. The castellan had thought proper to let down the portcullis; but there was just room enough made for us four to enter. No sooner had we entered, than the captain Pallone de' Medici, pressed me into the service, because I belonged to the Pope's house- hold ; and forced me to leave Alessandro, very much against my will. At this very juncture, as I mounted the ramparts, Pope Clement had entered the Castle of St. Angelo, by the long gallery from St. Peter's ; for he did not choose to quit the Vatican sooner, never once dreaming • All historians agree, that Bourbon fell by a musket shot early in the assault, while, distinguished by his white mantle, with a scaling- ladder in his hand, he was leading on his troops to the walls. f Tlie Baglioni di Perugia, who, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, nearly rendered themselves masters of their country. They were all soldiers: Orazio, here mentioned, was the son of the great Gio. Paolo. He entered into the service of the Venetians, and after- wards, in 1522, fought for Florence. Clement VII. seizing upon his person, shut him up in the Castle of St. Angelo, under pretence of his having disturbed the peace of Perugia ; but on the attack of Bourbon, he was liberated by his Holiness, for the purpose of defending Rome, and (his prison) the castle. His military skill does net seem to have been very conspicuous on this occasion, any more than on others, al- thougii he obtained the command of the Black Bands, after the famous Giovanni. To obtain sole possession of Perugia, he caused several of his cousins to be assassinated. He fell in a battle fought near Naples, 1528. 78 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VD. that the enemy would storm the city. As soon as I found myself within the castle walls, I went up to some pieces of artillery, which a bombardier, named Giuliano, a Florentine, had under his direction. This Giuliano, standing upon one of the battlements, saw his house pillaged, and his wife and children cruelly used ; fearing to shoot any of his friends, he did not venture to fire the guns, but throw- ing the match upon the ground, made a piteous lamentation, tearing his hair, and uttering the most doleful cries. His example was followed by several other gunners, which vexed me to such a degree, that I took one of the matches, and getting some people to assist me, who had not th-e same passions to disturb them, I directed the fire of the artillery and falcons, where I saw occasion, and killed a considerable number of the enemy. > If I had not taken this step, the party, which entered Rome that morning, would have proceeded directly to the castle ; and it might, possibly, have been a very easy matter for them to have stormed it, as they would have met with no obstruction from the artillery. I continued to fire away, which made some cardinals and gentlemen bless me, and extol my activity to the skies. Emboldened by this, I used my utmost exertions : let it suffice that it was I that preserved the castle that morning, and by whose means the other bombardiers began to resume their duty ; and so I continued to act the whole day. Pope Clement having appointed a Roman nobleman, whose name was Antonio Santa Croce, to be chief engineer, this nobleman came to me in the evening, whilst the enemy's army was entering Rome, by the quarter of Tras- tevere, and behaving to me with the greatest demonstra- tions of kindness, posted me with five great guns in the highest parts of the castle, called " dall' Angiolo," which goes quite round the fortress, and looks both towards the meadows and towards Rome. He appointed several per- sons to serve under me, and assist me in managing the artillery ; then causing me to be paid beforehand, he gave me a portion of bread and wine, and begged I would con- tinue to behave as I had begun. I, who was at times more inclined to arms than to my own profession, obeyed my CH. VI.] GKEATLT SIGNALIZES HIMSELF. 79' orders with such alacrity, that I had better success than if I had been following my own business. Night being come, and the enemy having entered Rome, we, who were in the castle, and I, more than any of the rest, who always took delight in beholding new and ex- traordinary sights, stood contemplating this strange novelty and the fire which those who were in any other part of the city could neither see nor conceive. I shall not, how- ever, deviate from the history of my life, for the sake of such descriptions. As I continued my operations in the artillery, there happened to me, during a month that we were besieged in the castle*, many extraordinaiy accidents, and all very well worth relating ; but in order to be concise, and keep as much within the sphere of my profession as possible, I shall pass over most of these events in silence, relating only such as I cannot suppress : — I mean the most re- markable. The first then is, that Signor Antonio Santa Croce, having made me come down from the place called Angiolo, with a view to fire at certain houses in the neighbourhood of the castle, into which some of the enemy had entered, whilst I was firing, a cannon-shot fell near me, which hit part of a battlement, and, fortunately for me, carried off a great part of it ; for the remainder, falling upon my breast, stopped my breath, and I lay prostrate upon the ground, but could hear a great deal of what was said by the by-standers ; amongst others, Signor Antonio Croce lamented me as dead, and exclaimed aloud — " Alas ! we have lost our best support ! " At this noise, an intimate acquaintance of mine, who was called Giovanni Francesco, the musician, ' The castle of St. Angelo was besieged from the 6th of Way to the 5th of June, during which time slaughter and desolation, accompanied with every excess of impiety, rapine, and lust, on the side of the Impe- rialists, devastated the city of Rome. For this picture of horrors, I need only refer the reader to the sackage of Rome by Guicciardini, by Jacopo IJuonaparte, and by Valdes. Clement VII., being distressed for provisions, surrendered the castle, with all its treasures, and re- mained a prisoner until the 9th of September, when, disguised as a merchant, he fled almost alone to Orvieto, having leant, though late, to distrust all conventions. 80 MEMOIRS O^ BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cn. %TL (though this person had a greater turn to physic than music,) wept bitterly, and ran directly for a flask of the best Greek wine ; then making a slate red hot, put a handful of wormwood upon it, and sprinkling it with the wine, applied it to that part of my breast where I appeared to have received the injury. Such was the effi- cacy of the wormwood, that it immediately restored my vigour. I made an attempt to speak, but found myself unable to articulate, because some foolish soldiers had filled my mouth with earth, thinking that they had thereby given me the sacrament ; though it had nearly proved an excommunication to me, for I could scarcely recover myself, as the earth did me a great deal more harm than the contusion. However, I escaped with life, and returned to those who were about the artillery, seconding their operations with my best abilities and endeavours. Pope Clement had sent to ask assistance of the Duke of Urbino, who was with the Venetian army, and directed his ambassador to tell his excellency, that so long as the castle should continue every night to make three fires on its top, at the same time firing three guns thrice over, these should be considered as signals that the fort had not surrendered. I was employed to make these signals, and to fire the guns ; and as the besiegers continued to annoy us greatly, I pointed the artillery in such a manner as might be likely to injure them most, and retard their operations. The Pope upon this account conceived a great liking to me, seeing that I acquitted myself with all the prudence and sagacity requisite on such occasions. The Duke of Urbino never sent the succours stipulated ; therefore as my inten- tion is not to give a particular account of this siege, I shall dwell upon no more of the circumstances of it. Whilst I continued to be employed in my destructive business of an engineer, several cardinals* came frequently to see me, but above all the cardinals of Ravenna f and * Guicciardini and Valdes say, there were thirteen cardinals shut up in the castle of St. Angelo. \ Benedetto Accolti of Arezzo was secretary to Pope Clement VII., together with his friend Sadoleto. In 1524, he was made Archbishop of Ravenna, and afterwards a cardinal in 1527, just three days beforfl the assault. He is extolled as a very elegant st;holar by Bembo CH. Vn.] DISAGREES WITH TWO CARDINALS. 81 Gaddi*, whom I often warned not to come near me, as their scarlet hats could be seen at a distance, which exposed both them and myself to great danger from the neigh- bouring palaces, such as the Torre de Beni ; but persua- sions having no effect, I at last got them confined, by which I incurred their enmity and ill-will. Signor Orazio Bag- lioni, my very good friend, likewise frequently came where I was. Happening to be one day in conversation with me, he observed some appearances at a certain inn, which stood without the Castle-gate, at a place called Baccanello : the sign of this inn was the Sun, painted between two red windows, which were shut. Orazio, apprehending that opposite to this sign between the two windows was a table surrounded by soldiers carousing, said to me : " Benve- nuto, if you were to fire your middle cannon near yonder Sun, I believe you would do execution ; for I hear a great noise, and fancy there must be persons of consequence in that quarter." " Sir," said I, " what I myself see is suffi- cient to induce me to make a discharge at yon Sun, but I am afraid of that barrel full of stones, which stands hard by the mouth of the gun ; for the force of the discharge, and the very wind of the cannon, will certainly throw it down. Orazio replied, " For God's sake, Benvenuto, lose no time : in the first place, it is impossible, considering iiow the barrel stands, that the wind of the cannon should throw it down ; but even if it should fall, and the Pope himself be under it, the harm would not be so great as you imagine ; so fire, fire." I, without thinking more of the matter, made a discharge at the Sun as I had promised . the barrel, which was filled with stones, fell to the ground, Molza, and Ariosto. When he was governor of the March of Ancona in 1535, Paul III. ordered him to be imprisoned in the castle of St. Angelo ; but he was afterwards set at liberty at the intercession ot Charles V. • Nicholo Gaddi, a Floreirtinc, created cardinal on the same day as Accolti. He was delivered as hostnge to the imperialists, and sent tc Naples, October, 1527. After the death of Alessandro de' Medici, cardinal Gaddi attempted to re-establish the Florentine republic ; but failed through the superior policy and power of Cosmo I. He w«« learned, liberal, and skilful in affairs of state. He died in 1532. Cellini gives a farther account of him. O 82 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. Vll, as I thought it would, exactly between Cardinal Farnese * and Signer Jacopo Salviati, both of whom it was near destroying. What saved them was Cardinal Farnese's reproaching Signor Jacopo f with being the cause of the sack of Rome ; and as they both abused and railed at each other, their movements on the occasion alone prevented the barrel of stones from dashing them to pieces. Orazic having heard the noise, went down as fast as possible ; and I going towards the place where the barrel had fiiUen, heard some people say, " Those gunners should be killed.' This induced me to turn two falconets towards the steps leading to the battery, with a firm resolution to fire one ot them at the first that should presume to ascend. The servants of Cardinal Farnese being sent by their master to attack me, I advanced in order to fire. As I knew some of them, I said — " Villains, if you do not instantly quit the place, or if any of you attempt to mount these stairs, I have two falconets ready charged, with which I will blow you into dust. Go, tell the cardinal from me, that I have done nothing but by the command of my supe- riors : I have been acting in defence of the clergy, and not to hurt them." The servants having retired, Orazio came running up stairs ; but I ordered him to stand back, declaring that if he did not, I would kill him upon the spot. He stopped a little, not without fear, and cried out, " Benvenuto, I am your friend." I answered, " Sir, only come by yourself, and you may come as often as you think proper." He then made a pause, for he was exceedingly proud, and said pee. vishly, " I have a mind to come up no more, but to act quite the reverse of what I had intended towards you." I told him, that as I had received my post to defend others, I was likewise able to defend myself. He declared he was alone ; and when he came up, appeared to be so much altered in countenance, that I kept my hand upon my * i^Je?isandro Farnese, dean of the sacred college, a learned and distinguished personage, and successor of Clement VII. by the name of Paul III. in 1534. Cellini will have occasion to speak of hini Ngain. t F<>r having persuaded the Pope to dismiss the troops from Rome. CH. Vn.J DOES GREAT EXECCTION AMONGST THE ENEMY. 83 sword and looked sternly at him as an enemy. Upon this he began to laugh, and his colour retui-ning, he said to me with all the good humour imaginable, " My dear Benvenuto, no man can be more your friend than I am, and when an opportunity oiFers, I will endeavour to prove it ; would to God you had killed those two scoundrels ! one of whom has already done so much mischief, and the other is likely to do more." He then desired me, in case I was asked, not to discover that he had been present when I fired the guns, and to make myself quite easy about the consequences. This affair made a great noise, which lasted a long time: but I sluill not dwell upon it any longer. I now gave my whole attention to firing my guns, by which means I did signal execution, so that I had in a high degree acquired the favour and good graces of his Holiness. There passed not a day that I did not kill some of the army without the Castle. One day amongst others the Pope happened to walk upon the round rampart, when he saw in the public walks a Spanish colonel, whom he knew by certain tokens ; and understanding that he had formerly been in his service, he said something concerning him, all the while observing him attentively. I who was above at the battery, and knew nothing of the matter, but saw a man who was em- ployed in getting the trenches repaired, and who stood with a spear in his hand, dressed in rose-colour, began to deli- berate how I should lay him flat. I took my swivel, which was almost equal to a derai-culverin, turned it round, and chai'ging it with a good quantity of fine and coarse jjowder mixed, aimed it at him exactly, though he was at so great a distance that it could not be expected any effort of art should make such pieces carry so far. I fired ofl" the gun, and hit the man exactly in the middle. He had arrogantly placed his sword before him in a sort of Spanish bravado ; but the ball of my piece struck against his sword, and the man was seen severed into two pieces. The Pope, who did not dream of any such thing, was highly delighted and sur- prised at what he saw, as well because he thought it im- j)Ossible that such a piece could carry so far, as that he could not cont^eive how the man could be cut into two pic ?s. Upon this he sent for me, and made an inquir; 84 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VIL into the whole affiiir. I told him the art I had used to fire in that manner ; but as lor the man's being split into two pieces, neither he nor I was able to account for it. So, falling upon my knees, I intreated his Holiness to absolve me from the guilt of homicide, as likewise from other crimes which I had committed in tliat Castle in the service of the Church. The Pope, lifting up his hands, and making the sign of the cross over me, said that he blessed me, and gave me his absolution for all the homicides that I had ever committed, or ever sliould commit, in the service of the Apostolic Church. Upon quitting him I again went up to the battery, and continuing to keep a constant fire, 1 scarcely once missed all the time. My drawing, my elegant studies, and my taste for music, all vanished before this butchering business ; and if I were to give a particular account of all the exploits I performed in this infernal employment, I should astonish the world ; but I pass them by for the sake of brevity. 1 I shall only touch upon some of the most remarkable, which should not be omitted upon any account. As I was inces- santly meditating how to employ myself in defence of the Church, I took it into consideration that the enemy every night changed their guard, and passed through the great gate of S. Spirito, which was indeed a reasonable length for the artillery to carry ; but because I shot crossways I did not do so much execution as I wished. And yet there was every day a considerable number slain, so that the enemy, seeing the pass become dangerous, one night heaped above a hundred barrels upon the top of a house, which ob- structed my prospect. Having now reflected more maturely upon the matter than I had done at first, I levelled my whole five pieces of artillery against those barrels, and waited for the relieving of the guard till the dusk of the evening. As they imagined themselves in perfect security, they came on slower and in greater numbers than usual. I then fired off my pieces, and not only threw the barrels to the ground, but with the same shot killed above thirty men. Upon my repeating this feat two or three times more, the soldiers were put into such disorder, that amongst those who had loaded themselves with plunder at the sacking of Rome, some of them, desirous of enjoying the fruits of their imli- CH. VII.] SENT FOR BY THE POPE. Sfi tary toil, were disposed to mutiny against their officers and march off; but being appeased by a valiant captain, whose name was Gian d'Urbino*, they were with great difficulty prevailed on to turn through another pass in order to relievo the guard. This obliged them to fetch a compass of about three miles ; whereas they at first had but half a mile to march. This affair being over, all the nobility in the Castle conferred extraordinary favours on me. I chose to relate this exploit on account of its importance, though it is foreign to the profession which first induced me to take pen in hand. But if I wished to embellish the history of my life with such events, my narrative would become too voluminous. I shall, therefore, relate but one more of this sort, which I havy reserved for its proper place. I must here anticipate a little in point of time, and inform the reader how Pope Clement, in order to preserve his re- galia, together with all the jewels of the apostolical chamber, sent for me, and shut himself up with the master of the horse and me in an apartment. This master of the horse had formerly been equerry to Filippo Strozzif, and was a Frenchman. Pope Clement had enriched him considerably, being one of his favourite domestics. He was a pei'son of mean birth, yet the Pope put as much confidence in him as if he had been his own brother. Thus, while we were shut * Juan d'Urbino, Urbiiia, or, according to others, Durbino, was a commander of distinguislied reputation during this war. By birth a Spaniard, he fought his way from the ranks to the very highest station in the army, by which he was much behivetl. He was also in high esteem with I'rospero Colonna, the Marchese Davalo, and the Prince of Orange, to whom he was lieutenant-general. He ac(]uired great reputation in the reduction of Genoa, and at the two battles of Lodi, in 15'2'J and 1526. He had an engagement with Fillippiiio Doria, in tiie Mediterranean : and, in a sortie from Naples, routed and killed Orazio Baglioni. Varchi informs us he was of an extremely haughty and cruel disposition. t This wealthy Florentine married the daughter of Pietro de' Medici. He was a person of very distinguished merit and considera- tion in Florence, and was sent as cliief minister from the Medici to the Courts of France and Home. When Duke Alessandro, in 1535, usurped the government of Florence, he joined the exiled citizens ; but falling into the hands of Duke Cosmo, after many fruitless at. tetnpts, he was thrown into a dungeon, where, after languishing a yea ; he put a period to his life, like another Cato, iii 15:59. 8 86 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELIINI. [CH. VII up together in the above-mentioned chamber, they placed before me the regalia, with all the vast quantity of jewels belonging to the apostolical chamber, and his Holiness ordered me to take off the gold in which they were set. I did as I was directed, and wrapping up each of them in a little piece of paper, we sewed them in the skirts of the Pope's clothes, and those of the master of the horse. They then gave me all the gold, which amounted to about a hundred pounds weight, and ordered me to melt it with the utmost secrecy. I repaired to the Angelo battery, where was my apartment, which I could shut to avoid being seen or interrupted in my operation ; and having there made a little furnace with bricks, and fastened to the bottom of the furnace a little pot about the size of a dish, I threw the gold upon the coals, and it fell by degrees into the pot.* Whilst this furnace was going, I constantly watched my opportunity to annoy the enemy, and soon did them a great deal of damage in their trenches with certain antique mis- siles f, which I found in the armoury belonging to the castle. Having taken a swivel and a Mconet, both some- what broken at the mouth, I filled them with those weapons, and then fired off the pieces, which flew down like wild- fire, doing a great deal of damage to the trenches. Thus keeping my pieces constantly in order whilst I was melting the gold, I saw towards the evening a person mounted upon a little mule, who came upon the border of the trench ; the mule went at a great rate, and the person spoke to the men in the trenches. I thought it most advisable to fire of! my artillery before he came quite opposite to me ; so having taken aim exactly, I fired and wounded him in the face with one of the missiles ; the others hit the mule, which instantly fell dead. Hearing a loud noise in the trenches, * Giacopo Buonaparte relates, that the Pope meUed down all hia plate, and gold and silver vases, to pay the soldiers. Though amount, ing to more than three hundred thousand crowns, it proved too little for the imperial generals only, without the soldiers. Our author farther explains the result of this proceeding, in the Xlth Chapter of his Art of Jewellery. f Id the original, passatojacci, the signification of which is no' &"v;cr« utlned. Dr. Nugent translates it "javelins." CH. VII. J LOSS OP THE BESIEGERS. .S7 I discharged the other piece, which did great execution. Tii.e person above mentioned was the Prince of Orange*, who was carried through the trenches to a neighbouring- inn, whither all the nobility of the army quickly repaired. Pope Clement having heard of what 1 had done, imme- diately sent for me, and desired me to give him an account of what had happened. I related to him the whole trans- action, and farther told him that this must be some person of the first rank, because all the chief officers of the army, as they appeared to me, had immediately repaired to the inn to which he had been conveyed. The Pope, being a person of great sagacity, sent for Signor Antonio Croce, who was the chief engineer, as I have already observed, and directed him to command all the gunners to point their whole artillery, which was very considerable, against the inn, and all to discharge their pieces at the firing of a musket ; that by killing those chief officers, the army, wliich would be in a great measure deprived of its leaders, might be totally dispersed ; and God would at last hear their fervent and constant prayers, and thus deliver them from those impious invaders. We thereupon put our artillery in order according vo the directions of Santa Croce, and waited for the signal to fire. Cardinal Orsini f being informed of this resolution, came * Filiberto di Chalons, Prince of Orange, disliking his command under Francis tlie First, made an offer of his services to the emperor, forfeitinjT at once liis fcrtune and his principality. He was a sworn and impl:icai)le eneiny to France. When taken prisoner by Andrea Doria, and thrown mto the castle of Lusignano, he indulged his hatred by writing lampoons against France Upon the wails. He no sooner ol)tained his freedom, by the peace of Madrid, than he returned to the irmy of ihe emperor. He was in imminent danger from his wound, which historians agree in attribiiling to a musket-shot. He fell in the siege of Florence, l,j.'?0, only thirty years of age. He died, like the constable Bourbon, leaving his troops victorious. f Franciotto Orsini, of Rome, was educated in the house of Lo- renzo de' Medici, his relation, and there became acquainted with Poli- lian, who devoted himself to his service. Having been first a soldier, after marrying and becoming a widower, he determinec to enter the church, and w;is elected cardinal iti 1517. In the treaty here men- tioned, concluded on the 5th of June, some hostages were surrendered b> thf Pope, wlio having broken prison, by inebriating their German G 4 88 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VII. to high words with the Pope, and declared in the most per- emptory manner, that no such step should be taken upon any account, as an accommodation was then upon the carpet, and if those officers were killed, the army being without a leader, would storm the castle, and put them all to the sword, therefore he would by no means agree to our project. The poor Pope, quite in despair to see himselt thus attacked both within and without, told the cardinal and his party, that he left the whole affair to their discre- tion. The order being thus revoked, I, who could not stand idle and inactive, when I perceived that they were come to command me not to fire, discharged the middle cannon, and the ball hit a pillar of that house, about which a considerable crowd was gathered. This shot made such havoc amongst the enemy, that they were upon the point of quitting the inn. Cardinal Orsini was so incensed at this, that he was absolutely for having me hanged or put to death in some way or other ; but the Pope took my part with great spirit and resolution. As I do not consider myself in the light of a professed historian, I shall not here insert the altercation that passed between them upon the occasion, but shall give my whole attention to my own business. As soon as I had melted the gold, I carried it to the Pope, who returned me thanks, and ordered the master of the horse to give me five-and-twenty crowns, at the same time making an apology because he had it not in his power to recompense me more amply. guards, because they were threatened with death, for the purpose of extorting more money, the Pope was obliged to send Orsini, vith four Other cardinals, in their place. He died in 1553. 89 CHAPTER VHL The Author returns to Florence, and, with the assistance of Pier Maria di Lotto, compromises matters with the magistrates of that city. — He is pressed to go into tlie army by Orazio Baglioni ; but, at his father's request, removes to Mantua. — There lie sees his friend Giulio Romano, who recommends him to the Duke of Mantua as an artist. — An indiscreet speech obliges him to quit Mantua. — He goes back to Florence, where he finds that his father, and most of his relations, had been carried off by the plague. — In- timacy between him and Michel Angelo Buonarroti, through whose recommetidation he is greatly encouraged in his business Storv of Federigo Ginori. — Rupture between Pope Clement and the eitv of Florence. — The Author, at the Pope's solicitation, returns to Rome. A FEW days after, an agreement was concluded with the imperialists, when I set out with Signor Orazio Baglioni, and three hundred soldiers, towards Perugia. This gentle- man wished me to accept of the command of those men ; but I declined his offer, telling him I chose to see my father first, and settle the affair of my banishment from Florence. He then acquainted me that I had already been made a captain by the Florentines. Signor Pier Maria di Lotto * was also there, on a mission from Florence, to whom Signor Baglioni highly recommended me as a follower of his own. So I repaired to Florence, in company with several comrades. The plague had made terrible havoc in that city; but I found my worthy father alive, who thought that I must eitlier have been killed at the sack of Rome, or that I should return to him quite naked and destitute. It proved however quite tlie reverse : I was alive, with my pockets well lined, and had a servant and a horse. So overjoyed • Pier Maria di Lotto di S. Miniato was notary this vear to the republic, which, having collected the remnants of the black bands, gave the command to Signor Orazio. Joined by Renzo da Ceri, he made a gallant sally out of the castle of St. Angelo, just before the treaty, and brought his company safe off to Perugia, whilst Renzo waa •urprised and taken prisoner by the imperialists. 90 ME.MOi:v« OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VIIL ivas my aged father at the sight of his son, that I thought, whilst he was kissing and embracing me, he would die oif the transport. I soon related to him the horrors of the sack of Rome, and presented him with a considerable num- ber of crowns, which I had gained by the war. Our first caresses and demonstrations of joy being over, we repaired to the magistrates to compromise the affair of my banish- ment. One of those who had been concerned in pronounc- ing the sentence against me, happened to be then in the rotation of liis office ; he was the same that had said to my father, in a passion, that he would send me with a guard of spearmen to prison. My father, therefore, to avenge my severe treatment, threw out some sharp expressions against him, emboldened by the favours which I had received from Signer Orazio Baglioni. Matters standing thus, I told my father tliat Signer Orazio had appointed me captain in the Florentines' service, and it was proper I should begin to think of raising my company. My poor father, quite stunned at these words, begged and entreated me not to think of any such thing, though he was very sensible that I was equal to that, and even to any undertaking of the greatest importance ; adding, that he had already one son in the army, my younger brother, who was so gallant a youth ; and that I ought to attach myself totally to that admirable art, which I had followed so many years with unwearied application. Though I promised to obey him, he judged, like a man of sense, that in case Signer Orazio should come to Flo- rence, I sliould not fail, eitlier through a regard to my pro- mise, or some other t)tlier motives, to embrace the military profession. He therefore devised a very good expedient to prevent it, which was to persuade me to remove fi'om Florence ; and said, " My dear son, a most dreadfid pesti- lence rages in this city, and you are come home just at the time of its greatest fury: I remember when I was very young I went to Mantua, where I met with a kind recep- tion, and made a stay of several years. I reques<: you, and even command you, for my sake to repair thither, and to do it directly, and not so much as defer it till to-morrow." As I was always glad of an opportunity of seeing the world, and had never been at Mantua, I readily complied en. Vin.] LEAVES FLORENCE FOR MANTUA. 91 with liis request. The greatest part of tlie money I jad brought with inc I left with the old man, promisin;^ to as- sist him in whatever part of the world I should happen to live : at the same time I earnestly recommended it to my eldest sister to take care of my lather. The name of this sister was Cosa ; and as she never chose to marry, she was admitted as a nun of St. Ursula; so she stayed to attend and take care of my old father, and likewise to direct my younger sister, who was married to a statuary of the name of Bartolomeo. Thus, my fother giving me his blessing, I mounted my good horse, and set out for Mantua. My narrative would swell to a tedious prolixity, were I to give the reader a circumstantial account of this little journey. As all Italy was at that time ravaged by war and pestilence, I, with great difficidty, travelled as far as Mantua, where, when I arrived, I endeavoured to get into business, and was immediately employed by one Signor Niccolo, a Milanese, who was goldsmith to the duke. As soon as I had obtained employment, I went to pay a visit to Giulio Romano, a most excellent painter, and my parti- cular friend : he gave me the kindest reception imaginable, and seemed to take it very ill that I had not, on my arrival, come directly to alight at his door. This painter lived like a nobleman, and was employed in a work for the duke, without the gate of Mantua, at a place called the Te.* This work was grand and magnificent, as it appears to this day.— Giulio immediately recommended me in the most honourable terms to the duke, who gave me an order to make a little shrine for the relic of the blood of Christ, which the Mantuans boast themselves to be possessed of, and affirm to have been brought thither by Longinus : he then turned to Signor Giulio, and desired him to draw a model of the shrine. Giulio made answer, — " Please your excellency, Benvenuto is a man that has no occasion for the design of another artist ; and this you will readily ac- knowledge when you see his performance." Having under- taken this task, 1 sketched out a design for the shrine, in • Sipn. Gio. Bottani has published a fine historical description of thir. villa, on wliich Giulio llomano exhausted his extraordin iry talvnw both in painting and architecture. 92 MKMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. VIH. which the phial of blood could easily be contained. I also made a little model of wax repivsenting a Christ sitting, who, in his lei't hand, which was raised aloft, held his cross, in a recHning attitude, and, with his right hand, seemed to be going to tear open the wound in his side. When I had finished this model, the duke was so highly pleased with it that he grew lavish of his favours to me, giving me to understand that I should continue in his service, and he would amply provide for me. Having at this juncture paid my respects to the car dinal Ids brother*, the latter requested the duke to give me permission to make his pontifical seal, which I imme- diately took in hand. Whilst I was employed about this work, a quartan fever attacked me, and I grew delirious ; I then began to curse Mantua, and its sovereign, and all that chose it for their place of residence. These words were reported to the duke by his jSIilanese goldsmith, who saw plainly that his excellency had a desire to retain me in his service. The duke having lieard these ravings, was incensed against me to the highest degree, and I being as much dissatisfied with Mantua, our disgust was reciprocal. After finishing my seal in about four montlis, with several other little works which I executed for the duke in the name of the cardinal, I was well paid by the latter, who entreated me to return to Rome, to that excellent country where we had become acquainted. I left Mantua with a good purse of crowns, and arrived at Governo, the place where the brave Signor Giovanni de' Medici was slain. I was attacked in this place by a slight fever, which did not in the least interrupt my jour- ney ; there it left me, never to trouble me afterwards. Upon my arrival at Florence, thinking to find my dear fiither alive, I knocked at the door ; when a hump-backed old woman, in a violent rage, looked out of the window, • Ercole Gonzaga, bishop of Mantua, made a cardinal in 1527, was one of the brightest ornaments of tiie church in the sixteenth century Of an elevated genius, and excellent disposition, he cultivated litera- ture and the arts, gave them every encouragement in his power ; and took singular pleasure in the company of artists and of scholars. After the death of duke Frederic, he was sixteen years regent of Mantuai during the minority of his nephews. CH. Vni.] HIS FATHER CARRIED OFF BY THK PLAGUE. 93 and bidding me, with the most abusive language, be gone, told me I had infected her. I made answer to the hag, " Old beldame, is there no other face to be seen in this house but you, with your unlucky ill-boding voice?" *' No ! begone, and bad luck to you ! " she retorted. I rebuked her sharply ; and it was more than two hours before our dispute brought a woman in the neighbourliood to her window, who told me that my father, and all be- longing to my family, were dead of the plague * ; and as I partly guessed this to be the case, my grief was the less violent. The good woman, at the same time, acquainted me that the only one of my relations left alive was my younger sister, whose name was Liparata ; and that a reli- gious lady, called Mona Andrea de Bellacci, had taken care of her. I then set out for my inn, and accidentally meet- ing a friend of mine, whose name was Giovanni liigogli, I alighted at his house, and we went together to the grand square, where I received information that my brother was still living, of whom I went in quest to the house of a friend of his, named Bertino Aldobrandi. Upon finding my brother, we embraced each other with the utmost ardour of affection, and what rendered our demonstrations of joy the more rapturous was, that we had each received news of the other's death. My brother after- wards bursting into a loud fit of laughter, and at the same time expressing the utmost surprise, took me by the hand, and said : " Come, brother, I will conduct you to a place which you would never think of. The case is this : I have procured our sister Liperata, who has no doubt of your death, a second husband." Whilst we were going to her house, we related to each other the many extraordinary events which had befallen us ; and when we reached the place, our sister was so astonished at the unexpected sight, that she fell into my arms in a swoon. If my brother had not been present, this sudden accident, which deprived her of all utterance, would have prevented the husband from knowing that I was her relation. My brother Ceccliino assisting our sister, who had fainted away, she soon came • From the month of May to November, in 1527, no lc«8 than 10,000 per ons died of the plague in Florence. 94 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLIXT, ] CH. VIIL to herself. Having for a while lamented her father, her sister, her husband, and a little son that she had been de- prived of, she began to prepare supper*; and during the rest of the evening, there was not a word more spoken of the dead ; but much about weddings : thus we supped together with the greatest cheerfulness and satisfaction imaginable. My brother and sister prevailed upon me to stay at Florence, though my own inclination led me to return to Rome. Besides that, my dear fiiend, by whom, as I have already mentioned, I had been assisted in my distress, I mean Piero, the son of Giovanni Landi, joined with them in persuading me to reside some time in Florence. For the Medici family being driven out of that city, viz. Signer Ippolito and Signor Alessandro (one of whom w^as after- wards cardinal, and the other duke of Florence), Piero was for having me stay by all means, and await the event.f I therefore began to work in the New Market, and set a great number of jewels, by which I was a considerabh'. gainer. About this time arrived at Florence a native of Siena, a man of lively genius, whose name was Girolamo Mazetti, and who had resided a long time in Turkey : he came to my shop, and employed me to make him a golden medal, to be worn upon a hat. He desired me to represent upon the * She who lamented over these persons was Liperata, younger sister of Cosa, and first married to Bartolomeo, a sculptor, as stated before. I As soon a': the Fh^rentines saw the Pope besieged, they persuaded Cardinal Passerini, his vice-governor of Florence, to restore the ancient government, by obliging the Medici to resume a private station. The Cardinal, yielding to circumstances, soon alter retired with the yovng princes to I.ncca. In the r volution whioli followed, lui the 17th of May. the papal authority was abolished, and Niccolo Capponi elected gonfaloniere, by the grand council. All the military and civil powers M-ere strenuously exerted to support the change; and the magistrates, having no reliance upon earthh/ princes, had recourse to the enthu- siasm, and the tenets of Savonarola, and .lesus Christ was solemnly deelaied sole lord and king of Florence; but when peace was made between the Pope and the emperor Charles V. the republic was soon overihrown, and Floience ever afterwirls remained an absolute here- ditMry principality. en. Vni.J MICIIEI. ANGEI.O COMMENDS IIlS WOKK. )o medal the fijiure of Hercules* tearing asundci- the jaw? ol the lion. I instantly set about the work, and, whilst I was employed upon it, Michel Angelo Buonarroti came to see it. I had taken immense pains with this piece : the attitude and strength of the animal were better represented than in any previous performance of the kind. My manner of work- ing was likewise entirely new to the divine Michel Angelo, so that he praised me to such a degree, that I conceived the strongest inclination imaginable to perform something ex- traordinary. But as I had no other employ than setting jewels, though I could not earn more money in any other branch, I was not yet satisfied, but wished to be concerned in business of more consequence. It happened about this time that one Federigo Ginori, a young man of sublime genius (who had resided several years at Naples, and having a very advantageous person, had an intrigue with a princess in that city.) conceived a fancy to make a medal representing Atlas, witli a world upon his shoulders : he therefore requested the divine Michel Angelo to draw him a design. The latter said to him, " Go to a young jeweller, whose name is Benvenuto : he will serve you as well as you could wish : but that you may not think 1 shun so slight a trouble, I will, with all the pleasure imaginable, sketch you out a design ; but at the same time speak to Benvenuto to draw you another, and take the best of the two for your model." Federigo Ginori came to me accordingly, and told me what he wanted, letting me know withal how higlily the divine Michel Angelo had commended me ; and that it w\as at his recommendation he had recourse to my assistance, that tliat great man had promised him a design, and that I was also to make a little waxen model. I accordingly set about it with the utmost ardour of application. When I had linislied it, a painter, who was an intimate friend of Michel Angelo, and whose name was Giuliani Bugiardinif • In Ills treatise on the " Goldsmith's Art," our author speaks more Ht length respecting this medal. It is there said to have been made for Girolamo Mairetta. t Buf;iardini, a disciple of Bertoldo was a very diligent artist, and exact co))yist of tlie pictures of others. Such also was his simplicity of taste and manners, that Michel Angelo, who was fond of being in hi» 96 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. J^CH. VUl, brought me his design of the Atlas. At the same time I showed this Giuliani my little model of wax, which waa very different from the drawing made by Michel Angelo •, but Federigo and Bugiardini determined that I should follow my own model. I then began my work, and the divine Michel Angelo bestowed the highest praises imagin- able, both on me and my performance. This work was a figure engraved on a thin plate, supporting on its shoulders the heavens, represented by a ball of crystal, on which was cut the zodiac, with a field of lapis lazuli. The effect was excessively fine. Under it was this motto, Summam tidisse juvat* Federigo, being satisfied with my perform ance, paid me generously. Signor Luigi Alamannif, an intimate friend of Federigo, happening to be at this time in Florence, the latter brought him several times to my house, and by his means we became intimately acquainted. Pope Clement having declared war against Florence^, :ompany, used to call him the happy man, because, when he had be- stowed the utmost pains upon his labours, lie appeared perfectly satis- fied with the result ; whilst he (Michel Angelo) was neTer known to be contented with any thing he did. Notwithstanding this happy taste, Bugiardini, with the assistance of his friends, left many elegant works behind him, both in Bologna and Florence. He died in 1556, in his 75th year. * There is mention of this medal again, in the Vth chapter of " The Goldsmith's Art," where the motto is, Stimma tulisse, and not Summam, &c. Cellini's pencil-design of the zodiac is found cata- logued by Bartsch, in the prince of Ligne's collection, and was most probably intended for this same work. f Alamanni, whose genius seemed peculiarly fitted to succeed in eclogue, pastoral, and romance, was unfortunately involved in the po- litical biitcrness and distractions of the times. Kngaged in the conspi- racy o(]55'2, against the Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, he was first imprisoned, aiid afterwards, on his release, wandered in desertion and poverty through many parts of France and Italy. Returning to his native place about 1527, he again devoted himself to his favourite object of restoring the ancient government ; but all his attempts proving abortive, he was compelled, after being declared a rebel, to return into exile He went to France, where his poetical talents ac- quired him the favour and protection of Francis I., and of Catherine de' Medicis. \ The peace between the Pope and the Emperor was concluded in June, 15'J9, and the Prince of Orange marched towards Florence the ensuing September. ^n. Vlll.] KUPTUItE liET>rEEN THE POPF. ANT) FI.OUKNCE. 97 that city prepared to make a defence ; orders w(;re tlierefore given that the militia should muster in every quarter, and I was commanded to take arms myself. I got ready in the best manner I could, and exercised with the first nobility in Florence, who seemed all very well disposed to exert their utmost efforts in defence of their country : the prayers customary on such occasions were made in every quarter of the city. The young men were oftener assembled than usual, and nothing else was talked of, but how to repel tiie enemy. It happened one day, about noon, that a number of gallant youths, of the first quality in the city, were assembled in my shop, when a letter was brought me from a certain person at Rome, who was called Jacopino della Barca : his true name was Jacopo della Sciorina, but in Rome he had the appellation of " d(^lla Barca," because he was master of a ferry over the river Tiber, between the Ponte Sisto, and the Ponte St. Angelo. This Jacopo was a very ingenious person, highly entertaining and agreeable in company : he had formerly been a manufacturer of cloth in Florence, and was now in high favour with Pope Cle- ment, who took great delight in his conversation. As tLey happened, at a particular time, to be conversing on various topics, the sack of Rome was mentioned, with the affair of the castle. In the course of this conversation, the Pope, recollecting my services, spoke of my conduct on that occa- sion in the most favourable terms imaginable ; adding, that if he knew where I was, he should be glad to have me again in his service. Master Jacopo thereupon telling him that I resided at Florence, the Pope desired him to invite me to return. The purport of this invitation was, that I should enter into the service of Pope Clement, which would turn out considerably to my advantage. The young gentle- men present were very earnest to know the contents of the letter, which I endeavoured to conceal from them as well as I could ; and I wrote to Signor Jacopo, requesting him to send me no more letters, upon any account. Jacopo, however, growing more officious and obstinate, wrote me a second epistle, couched in such terms, that if it had been discovered, I might have been involved in (jreat difficulty. The substance of it was, that I should repair directly to Rome, where the Poi)e wanted to employ me in u 98 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. IX. affairs of the greatest importance ; and that the best course for me to take was to drop all other projects, and not join with a pack of senseless rebels, in acting against his Holi- ness. When I had perused this letter, I was so much alarmed that I immediately went in quest of my dear friend Pier Landi, who, upon seeing me, asked what had happened, that I appeared to be in such disorder. I answered my friend, that I could by no means disclose what occasioned my un- easiness ; I only begged the favour of him to take my keys, which I put into his hands, and deliver the jewels, with the gold he should find, to the persons whose names were set down in my memorandum-book ; and then pack up the furniture of my house, and keep an account of it, with his usual fidelity and friendship ; adding that I should, in a few days, let him know what should become of me. Pier Landi, guessing pretty nearly how the matter stood, made answer : " Brother, go your ways without loss of time, and write to me afterwards. Make yourself quite easy about your affairs, and do not give yourself the least concern on that account."' I took his advice. This was the most faithful, the most prudent, virtuous, and loving friend that I ever had in my whole life. CHAPTER IX. Pie Author returns to Rome, and is introduced to the Pope. — Con- versation between him and his Holiness — the Pope employs him as a jeweller in a piece of exquisite workmanship. — He is made en- graver of the Mint, notwithstanding the obloquy and detraction of several courtiers, and particularly of Pompeo of Milan, and Trajano, the PontitI'"s favourites. — Fine medal of his designing. — Dispute between him and Bandinelli, the sculptor. After I had retired from Florence, I repaired to Rome, and immediately upon my arrival wrote to myfrienc landi. I met with many of my former acquaintance in thi.i city, by whom I was well received, and greatly caressed ; how- ever, I lost no time, but set about several works, which proved very lucrative; but were act of sufficient impcrtance CH. IX.3 IIIS INTERVIEW WITH THE POPE. 99 to require a particular description. There was an old gold- smith in Rome, named Raffacllo del Moro, who had great reputation in his profession, and was moreover an honest man. He requested me to go to work at his shop, because he had some business of consequence upon his hands, which would not fail to turn out to good account : I readily accepted the offer. Ten days had already elapsed before I had seen Jacopo della Barca, who meeting me by chance, accosted me in the most affectionate manner imaginable. Upon his asking me how long I had been there, I answered about a fortnight : at this he was highly offended, telling me that I showed very little respect to a Pope who had written for me thrice, in terms the most pressing. I was not at all pleased with his freedom, yet made no reply, suppressing my indignation as well as I could. This person, who was exceedingly loquacious, began to run on at a strange rate ; and when I at last perceived that he was tired, I merely said to him, that he might conduct me to his Holiness when- ever he thought proper. lie told me that any time suited him ; and I replied that I for my part was always ready. We bent our course towards the palace (this Avas on Holy Thursday), and as soon as we arrived at the Pope's apartments, he being known, and I expected, were both admitted into his Holiness's presence. The Pope* being somewhat indisposed, was in bed, attended by Signor Jacopo Salviati and the Archbishop of Capua.f As soon as his Holiness saw me, he was quite overjoyed : I approached him in the most humble manner, kissed his feet, and endeavoured to show by my gestures that I had something of the last importance to communicate. The Pope thereupon made a sign with his hand, and Signor * This was in l.)30. The Pope never enjoyed good heahh after his illness in 1529. V. Warini, Archittri, vol. i. p. S?C>. t F. Niccliola Scliomlierg. a learned Dominican and disciple of Fra Savonarola, was in;:df archbishop of Capua in 1520. He was one of Pop'j Clement Vll.'s most intimate and faithful counsellors ; and succeeding in several delicate negotiations, he acquired .so much credit, that, though a Swede by birth, and wanting a caidnial's hat, he iiad very nearly succeeded in being appointed by the Pope as his successor. He received the purple from Paul II I. in l.'>:i'), and died in 1537, tjjed 65 years. Many of his works are published. H 8 I (K) MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. IX. Jacopo Salviati and the arclibishop retired to a considerable distance from us. I thereupon addressed his Holiness in these terms : " Holy father, ever since this city was sacked, I have not been able to confess or receive the sacrament, because nobody will give me absolution. The case is this: when I melted down the gold in the tower, after labouring so hard to take off the jewels, your Holiness charged the master of the horse to give me some little recompcnce for my trouble ; but I received nothing from him : on the con- trary, he loaded me Avith abusive language. Thus provoked, I went up to the place where I had melted the gold, and removiag the ashes, took out about a pound and a half of that metal, in a number of grains, small like millet ; and not having sufficient money to bear my charges in my journey home, I thought to apply them to my private use, and afterwards make restitution when I should have an opportunity. I am now here at tlie feet of your Holiness, who are possessed of the full power of absolving, and re- quest you would be so good as to give me permission to confess and communicate, that I may with your favour be restored to the divine grace." The Pope, with a faint sigh, perhaps occasioned by the remembrance of his past sorrows, uttered these words : — " Benvenuto, I have not the least doubt of the truth of what you say : I have it in my power, and am even willing, to absolve you from any guilt you may have incurred. Therefore freely and with confidence confess the whole ; for if you had taken the value of one of those triple crowns, I am ready and willing to pardon you." I then said — " Holy father, I took nothing but what I have mentioned, and it did not amount to above the value of one hundred and fifty ducats ; for that was the sum I received for the gold at the mint of Perugia, and I went with it to assist my aged father." The Pope replied : — " Your father was as virtuous, as good, and worthy a man as ever was born, and you do not in the least degenerate from him. I am very much concerned that you got so little money, but I make you a present of it, whatever it was, and absolve you of any crime you may have com- mitted. Declare this to the confessor, if that be all you require; when you have confessed and communicated, let me see you agzin ; it will be for your interest." Cir. EX. J RECEIVES ABSOLUTION. 101 As soon as the Pope had dismissed me, Master Jacopo and the Archbishop of Capua came forward. The Pope spoke as favourably of me as possible, declaring that he had heard my confession, and given mp absolution : .' he moreover desired the archbishon to send for me to his house, and ask me if there was any other case ihay .tr^iilHbd my conscience, directing him to give me a thorough abso- lution ; and at the same time to treat me with all possible marks of kindness. This interview being over, little Signor Jacopino had a curiosity to know what long conversation 1 had had with the Pope. After he had asked me this question several times, I made answer that I did not choose to tell him, for it was no concern of his, and he might, there- fore, save himself the trouble of interrogating me any far- ther. I then went to execute all that I had agreed for with the Pope ; and the two festivals being over, I paid him another visit. His Holiness received me in a still more gracious manner than before, and told me that if I had come a little sooner to Rome I should have been employed in setting the jewels again, Avhich I had taken out of the two crowns at the castle. As that was not, however, a work in which I could gain great reputation, he Avas re- solved, he said, to employ me in an undertaking of the last importance, in which I should have an opportunity of dis- playing ray abilities. " The work," added he, " I mean, is the button for the pontifical cope, which is made round, and in the form of a large trencher, and sometimes like a small one, half or one third of a cubit wide. In this I would have God the Father represented in half rilievo, and in the midst of it I would have the fine edge of the large diamond set, with many other jewels of the greatest value. Caradosso began one some time ago, but never finished it : this I would have completed with all speed, for I should be glad to have the pleasure of wearing it a little while my- self: go then, and draw a fine design of it." Thereupon he caused all his jewels to be shown me, and I left him, highly pleased with my success. During the siege of Florence, Federigo Ginori, for whom I made the medal of Atlas, died of a consumption, and it fell into the hands of Signor Luigi Alamanni, wlio soon after made a present of it to Kmg Francis I., together with H S 102 mi;moirs of benvenuto cellini. [ch. ix, some of his admirable writings. His majesty being highlj pleased with the medal, the worthy Liiigi Alamanni spoke of. me in such , favourable terms to that monarch, that he tesltifie/i a deii!*e "to know: me. Being now employed on this little model, I proceeded with the utmost expedition, making itTOitch of 'the "same size as tjiat intended for the work itself. Meanw'hiie'sev6r&l persons "of my profession, who thought themselves equal to such a task, began to stir upon the occasion, and among the rest one Micheletto*, who had not been long in Rome, a person noted for his skill in cutting cornelians, and an excellent jeweller. This man was ad- vanced in years, and having acquired a high degree of reputation, was employed in adjusting the Pope's triple diadem. Finding that I was engaged in designing this model, he expressed great surprise that I had not informed him of the affair, as he was an intelligent man, and in great favour with the Pope. At last, perceiving that I did not go near him, he came to my house, and asked me what I was about. 1 answered that I was busy with a work, which was put into my hands by the Pope himself. He replied, that he had received orders to examine the several works then in hand for his Holiness. I told him I would first inquire of the Pope, and then I should know what answer to return him. Upon which he said that he would make me repent. After leaving me in a passion, he had an interview with all the most eminent men in the business ; and when they had consulted about the affair, they made choice of Miche- letto for their agent. The latter being a man of genius, got certain able designers to draw about thirty models, all different from 'each other : at the same time knowing the Pope to be very ready to listen to his insinuations, he en- tered into a confederacy against me with another artist, named Pompeo, a Milanese, who was very much in favour with his Holiness, and related to Signer Trajano, first gentle- man of the bedchamber, and highly in the Pope's good graces. * Micheletto, or as Vasari writes it, IMichelino, was a very fine an-d accurate artist, as we!l on a grand scale, as on smaller works. He wa« equal to the very first engravers of an age rich in every species of ei.' lellence depending on the arts. CU. IX. J THK POPK DELIGHTED WITH HIS DE3IGX. 103 Thev began to intimate to the Pontiff that they had seen my design, and did not tiiink me capable of so great an undertaking. He answered that he would examine into the affair himself", and in case I should not prove equal to the task, he would tind a more proper person. They both said that they had got sevei'al admirable designs for the purpose ; the Pope replied, " That he was satisfied with what they had done, but did not choose to inspect their designs till I had finished mine, and then he would examine them all tojrether." In a few days I had completed my model, and carried it one morning to the Pope ; Signor Trajano made me wait a long while, and in tiie mean time sent for Micheletto and Pompeo in all haste, desiring them to bring their models with them. As soon as they came, we were all admitted ; Micheletto and Pompeo began to show their plans, and the Pope to examine them ; and because designers unacquainted with the jewelling business do not understand the placing of precious stones, unless those who are practised in the art have taught them the secret, (for when a figure is to be set off with jewels, the jeweller must know how to design, other- wise he can produce nothing good,) it happened that all those who had drawn those designs had laid the fine, large, and beautiful diamond in the middle of the breast of God the Fatlier. The Pope, who was a person of uncommon genius, having taken notice of tliis blunder, was highly de- lighted with his own discovery. After he had inspected about ten, he threw the rest upon the ground, and said, "Let us now see what Benvenuto has got;" desiring me to give him my model, that he might ascertain whether I had committed the same mistake. Thereupon I came forward, and opened a little round box, when instantly there seemed to flash from it a lustre which dazzled the Pope himself, and he cried out with a loud voice, " Benvenuto, had you been my very self, you could not have designed this other- wise than you have. Your rivals have done every thing they could 1o disgrace themselves." Several nobles ap- proaching, the Pope showed them the difference between the models: and when he had bestowed sufficient praises upon it, and my enemies appeared ready to burst with pride and vexation, he turned about to me and eaid, "I discover K 4 i04 MEMOIRS OF BLNVENUTO CELLINI. fCH. IX. here an inconvenience which is of the utmost consequence ; my friend Benvenuto, it is easy to work in wax, the grand ditficulty is to execute it in gold." To which I tnswered boldly, " Most holy father, I will make it my bargain with you, that if I do not execute the work itself in a manner ten times superior to this model, I am to have nothing for my trouble." Upon my uttering these words there was a general outcry, the noblemen affirming that I promised too much. But one of them, who was a great philosopher, said in my favour, " From the admirable symmetry of shape, and happy physiognomy of this young man, I venture to engage that he will perform all he promises, and more." The Pope replied, " I am of the same opinion ;" then calling to Trajano, his gentleman of the bedchamber, he ordered him to fetch five hundred ducats. Whilst they were bringing the money, he examined more minutely the ingenious artifice by which I had placed that fine diamond, and God the Father, in a proper position. I had laid the diamond exactly in the middle of the work, and over it I had represented God the Father sitting in a sort of a free, easy attitude, which suited admirably well with the rest of the piece, and did not in the least crowd the dia- mond ; his right hand was lifted up, giving his blessing. Under the diamond 1 had drawn three little boys, who sup- ported it with their arms raised aloft. One of these boys, which stood in the middle, was in full, the other two in half, rilievo. Round it were several figures of boys placed amongst other glittering jewels. The remainder of God the Father was covered with a mantle, which waved in the wind, from whence issued several figures of boys, with other striking ornaments, most beautiful to behold. This work was made of a white stucco upon a black stone When the officer brought the money, the Pope gave it to me with his own hand, and in the most obliging manner requested me to endeavour to please him by my execution, promising me that I should find my account in it. Having taken leave of his Holiness, I went home with the money and the model, and was in the utmost impatience to begin the work. I set about it with the greatest assiduity, ind in a week's time the Pope sent one of his gentlemen oi 3ie bedchamber, a native of Bologna, and of great distinc* CH. IX.J MADE ENGRAVER OF THE MINT. 105 tion. to desire I would repair to him directly, and cany my work along with me. By the way, the gentleman of the bedchamber, who was one ot" the politest persons at court, told me that the Pope not only wanted to see how far I had advanced in that undertaking, but likewise intended to employ me in another business of great importance, which was the stamping of the coins in the Roman mint, desiring ine at the same time to be in readiness to answer his Holi- ness, for he had given me previous notice, that I might not be unprepared. I waited upon his Holiness, and showed him the golden plate, upon which was engraved God the Father alone ; which figure, even in this sketch, discovered a degree of perfection greatly superior to the model of wax. The Pope exclaimed with astonishment, "P'rom this time I will believe whatever you say." After several other decla- rations in my favour, he added, " I propose employing you in another work, which you will be as much pleased with as this, or rather more, if you have but the spirit to under- take it ; " then telling me that he would be glad to have his coins struck, he desired to know whether I had ever done any thing in that way, and had the courage to engage in such a work. I answered, that I was very ready to accept of it, and that I had seen how it was done, though I had never been employed in that business. There was present at this conversation, Signer Tom- masso da Prato, datary to his Holiness ; this man, being greatly attached to my enemies, said, upon the occasion, " Holy father, the favours which you lavish upon this young man, and his own presumption, would mnke him promise you a new creation ; but as you have put a work of vast importance into his hands, and now are giving him anotlier of still greater, the consequence must be that one will interfere with the other." The Pope turned about to Iiim in an indignant mood, and bade him mind his own business. He then ordered me to make him a model of a broad piece of gold, upon which he wished to have en- graved a naked Christ witli his hands tied behind him, and the words Ecce Homo, as a legend ; with a reverse, on which should be represented a pope and an emperor toge- ther, iixing up a cross, which should appear to be falling, with these words inscribed, Unas spiritus et una fides erak 106 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELT.INI. [CII IX. in eis.* Tlie Pope havinir employed me to stamp this fin^ medal, BandiiK^llo, the sculptor, who was not yet made a knight, came forward, and with his usual presumption and ignorance, said, before all present, " These goldsmiths must have some person to draw the designs of these fine pieces for them." I immediately turned about and told him, that I did not want his assistance in my business ; but that I hoped by my skill and designs in a short time to give him some uneasiness with respect to his own professional reputa- tion. The Pope seemed to be highly pleased with what I said, and addressing himself to me, said, " Go, my dear Benvenuto, exert your utmost efforts to serve me, and never mind these blockheads." So having taken my leave, I, with great expedition, made two irons ; and having stamped a piece of gold, I carried both the money and irons to the Pope one Sunday after dinner. He then saia, his surprise was equal to his satisfaction ; and though the exe- cution pleased him highly, he was still moi'e amazed at my expedition. In order to increase his satisfaction and surprise, I had brought with me all the old coins which had formerly been struck by those able artists, who had been in the service of Pope Julius and Pope Leo ; and seeing that mine gained much higher approbation, I took a petition out of my bosom, requesting to be made stamp-master to the mint, the salary annexed to which place was six gold crowns a month ; besides that the dies were afterwards paid for by the superintendent of the mint, who for three gave a ducat. * Cellini speaks more at length of this coin with the " Ecce Homo" in his Goldsmith's Art, chapter vii , where he says, lie had given on the reverse tlie head of the Pi)])e, and transferred liis fine design of the Pope and Emperor sustaining the cross, to another e(]iially well exe- cuted in gold, with a reverse representing St. Peter and St. Paul. In fact, the coin of " Ecce Homo," with the head of the Pope, was pub- lished by Floravantes, and was to be seen in the Museum of IMons. Leoni Strozzi, and at the Marchese haggi's in Rome. The otiier oi the Pope and the Emperor, with the heads of the Saints on the re- verse, is described by Saverio Scilla, who supposes it to liave been pul>lished by the Chevalier Rlaruscotti. Indeed both are extremely rare, as we gather from CelliniY own words. These coins, made to the great disadvantage of the Pope, weru >.n a short time Helted down by the avaric'ous bankers. CH X 1 KALLi IX LOVE. 10" The Po[)c luiving approved of my request, charged the. datary to make out my commission ; the latter, who had views of his own, an,] wanted to be a gainer by the affair, said, '• Holy father, do not so jjrecipitate matters ; things of this nature require mature deliberation." The Pontiff replied, " I know what you would be at ; give me that petition directly." Having taken it, he instantly signed it, and putting it into the hand of the datary, said, " Now you have no farther objections to make, draw up the commis- sion directly, for such is my pleasure ; the very slx)es of Benvenuto are more precious than the eyes of all those blunderers." So having thanked his Holiness with the warmest sentiments of gratitude, I returned overjoyed to my work. CHAPTER X. The daughter of RafTaello del Moro having an ailing hand, the Author gets her cured, but is disappointed in his design of marrying her. — He strikes a fine coin of Pope Clement VI J. — Melancholy catas- trophe of his brother, who is ivilled at Rome in a fray. — His grief for tile loss of his brother, to whom he erects a monument, with an epitaph He revenges his brother's death.— His shop is robbed. — Extraordinary instance of tlie fidelity of his dog upon that occasion. — Tlie Pope puts great confidence in him, and gives him all pos- sible encouragement. I CONTINUED Still to Work in th'- shop of Raffaello del Moro. This worthy man had a handsome young daughter, respecting whom he formed a design on me ; and I having partly discovered his views, felt well disposed to second them : I did not, however, make the least discovery of the affair ; but was so discreet and circumspect that her father was highly pleased with my behaviour. This girl was attacked by a disorder in her right hand, which corroded the two bones belonging to the little finger and the one next to it. Through the inadvertency of her father, she had fallen into the hands of an ignoiant quack, who de- clared it as his opinion that she would lose her right arm. 108 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. f CII, X- if no worse were to befall her. I seeirg her father terribly frightened, desired him not to mind what was said by that ignorant pretender ; he told me that he had no a(;quaint- ance either with physicians or surgeons, and requested me to recommend him a skilful person, if I knew any such : I then sent for one Signor Jacopo of Perugia*, an eminent surgeon. As soon as he had seen the poor frightened girl, and been informed of what the ignorant quack had said, he affirmed that she was in no danger, but that she would have the full use of her right hand, though her two last fingers might remain somewhat weak ; therefore her father need not be under the least apprehension. As he had undertaken the cure, and was preparing to cut off part of the diseased flesh about the two little bones, her father called me, and desired that I would myself be a spectator of the operation. Having observed that Signor Jacopo was making use of some clumsy instruments, with which he hurt the girl very much, and did her no manner of good, I bade him wait for about a quarter of an hour, and proceed no farther. I then ran to my shop, and made a little instrument of the finest steel, which I delivered to the surgeon, who continued his operation with so gentle a hand, that the patient did not feel the least pain, and the affiiir was soon over. Upon this and many other accounts the worthy man conceived so warm a friendship for me, that he seemed to love me better than his two sons, who were grown young men, and applied his whole attention to the recovery of his fair daughter. He was very intimate with Signor Giovanni Gaddi f, • Jacopo Rastelli (ii Rimini, more commcnly called di Perugia, having been born and passed his infancy there, was considered one of the most distinguished professors of his time, and was surgeon to Clement VII. and the succeeding Popes, until the year 1566. He died at Home, in his 75th year. ■f Gio. Gaddi, a Florentine, an extremely able and intelligent man. passionately devoted to literature and learned men, but probably of unamiable and repulsive manners, since Annibal Caro, for many years patronised and supported by him, could never become sincerely at- tached to his benefactor. Gaddi was on intimate terms with Aretino, and other distinguished characters, and his death was lamented in a Bonnet of Caro's, lieglnning " Lasso quando fioria," &c. He died ia 1542, in hi? 49th year CH. T.J INTRODUCED TO A SOCIETY OF ARXiSTS. 109 who was a clerk of the chamber, and had a great attachment to the polite arts, though no artist himself. He was als* connected with Signor Giovanni Greco, a person of tlie most profound erudition ; with Signor Luigi da Fano, whc was likewise a man of letters ; with Signor Antonio AUe- gretti *, and with Signor Annibal Caro f , a young man from a distant part of Italy. I became a member of this society, in conjunction with Signor Bastiano :{:, a Venetian, and excellent painter ; and we almost every day saw each other once at least at the house of Signor Giovanni. This intimacy having given the worthy Signor RafFuello an op- portunity, he said to the other, " My good friend, Signor Giovanni, you know me very well ; as it is my intention to give my daughter in marriage to Benvenuto, I am not ac- quainted with a fitter person to apply to upon this occasion than yourself; I therefore request you to assist me in settling • Some poems of Allegretti's are preserved in a collection by Atanigi, and by Gobbi. He was an intimate friend of Alamanni. f Caro was born in Civitaiiova, in Ancona, in 1507. Driven by th« narrowness of his circumstances to instruct the children of Luigi Gaddi, in Florence, he there became acquainted with Monsignor Gio- vanni, who engaged him as his private secretary, and conferred upon him many ecclesiastical distinctions, Caro frequently tried to with- draw himself from this kind but disagreeable patron ; and once actually engaged himself in the service of Sig. Guidiccioni ; but Gaddi re- covered his secretary, and retained him in his service till his death. Caro then went into the service of Pier Luigi Farnese, who not only availed himself of his talents as a secretary, but employed him in many important negotiations. After the assassination of Pier Luigi, by his courtiers, he was engaged by tlie Cardinals Rannucio and Ales- sandro Farnese, in whose service he died in 1566. His high literary and political character is too well known to require comment. \ Sehastiano was born at Venice, 1485. Tnvited to Rome by Agos- tino Chigi, he gave his whole study to Michel Angelo, but by hij advice attempted the manner of RafFaello, and soon acquired a dis- tinguished reputation. As a disciple of Giorgione, he became ex- tremely successful in colouring, and his portraits were much admired. Oiflfident, however, of his talents, he painted with so much timidity and caution, that he left many noble works unfinished ; and as soon as Clement VIL gave him the office of Sealer in the Chancery lie resolved to abandon the art altogether. Finding himself in easy circumstances, he gave himself up to a love of ease and pleasure, living in the society of liis friends, and devoting much of his time to th« eharms of poetry ard muiic, in which he excelled. He died in 15-17. 110 MEMOIRS OF IJENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH, X. on her what portion out of my property she wishes to have." The shallow fellow scarcely let the w^orthy man make an end of speaking, when he cried out, without the least hesitation, " Say no more, Signor Raffaello, what you propose is a thing utterly impracticable." The poor man, much morti- fied, sought to marry his daughter without loss of time, as the mother and all the relations were highly offended. I was entirely ignorant of the cause, and thinking they made me a very bad return for all my politeness, endeavoured to open a shop hard by them. Signor Giovanni said nothing to me of what had passed, till the girl was married, which happened a few months after. I attached myself with the most unremitting application to my work, which I was in the utmost haste to finish, and likewise attended to my business at the Mint, when the Pope set me to make a piece equal in value to two carlins, upon which was his Holiness's head, on the reverse, Christ walking upon the sea, and stretching out his hands to St. Peter, with this inscription round it, Quare dubitasti .^ * This piece gave such high satisfaction that a certain secre- tary to the Pope, a man of great worth, whose name was Sanga f , said on the occasion, " Your Holiness may boast of having a coin superior to that of the Roman emperors, amidst all their pomp and magnificence." The Pope made answer, " Benvenuto may also boast of serving a prince like me, who knows his merit." I continued my grand work in gold, frequently showing it to the Pope, who was very earnest to see it, and every day expressed new admiration at the performance. A brother of mine was at this time in Rome, in the ser- * There is also mention made of this silver coin in the same treatise, Dell ' Orifficeria. Floravantes has puhlished as the work of our author, another of nearly similar desifjn. It is distinguished, however, from that of Cellini, by having the date of the year XI. round the head ol tlie Pope, and hy representing our Saviour in the act of supporting St. Peter with his left hand, and blessing him witli the rigiit ; whilst in the former Christ is seen stretching out his right hand only to the Apostle, without any date to it whatever. f Battista Sanga, of Rome, secretary to Giammatreo Ghiberti, and afterwards to Clement VII., was celebrated for his Latin poems. Ha was carried off bv poison at an early age. CH, X."! Al'KRAV WITH I HE CITY-GUARD 111 vice of Duke Alessandni, for whom tlie Pope liad procured the duchy of Penna; in tlie liaiiie service were a4so a con- eide.able number of gallant men, trained in the school ot that great prince Giovannino de' Medici ; and my brotlier was esteemed by the duke, as one of the bravest of tlie whole corps. Happening one day, after dinner, to be in the part of the town called Banchi, at the shop of Baccino della Croce, to which all those brave fellows resorted, he had laid himself down upon a bench, and was overcome with sleep. At this time there passed by a company of city-guards, having in their custody one Captain Cisti, a Lombard, who had been bred likewise in the school of the same great Signor Giovannino, but was not then in the service of the duke. Captain Cattivanza degli Strozzi, happening to be in the shop of Baccino della Croce, Captain Cisti saw him, and immediately cried out, " I was bringing you that large sum of money which I owed you : if you want it, come for it, before they carry me to gaol." This Cattivanza was very ready to put the courage of others to the proof, but did not care to run any risk himself; and as some gallant youths were present, Avho were willing to undertake this hazardous enterprise, though scarce strong enough for it, he desired them lo advance towards Captain Cisti, in order to get the money from him, and, in case the guards made any resistance, to overpower them if necessary. These young men were only four in number, all of them beardless : the first was Bertino Aldobrandi, the second Anguillotto da Lucca, I cannot recollect the names of the rest. Bertino had been pupil to my brother, who was be- yond measure attached to him. These four bold young men came up to the city-guards, who were above fifty in num- ber, pikemen, musqueteers, and two-handed swordmen. After a few words they drew their swords, and the four youths pressed the guards so hard, that if Captain Catti- vanza had only just shown liimself a little, even without drawing his sword, they would inevitably have put their adversaries to flight; but as the latter made a stand for a while, Bertino received some dangerous wounds, which brought him to tlie ground. Anguillotto too, at the same time, was wounded in his right arm, and being so far ilisabled that he could not Iiold his sword, he retreated 112 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. fcH. X. in the best way he could ; whereupon the others followed his example. Bertino was taken up in a dangerous cou- dition. During this transaction we were all at table,, having dined about an hour later than usual ; upon hearing of the disturbance, the eldest of the young men rose from table, to go and see the scuffle : his name was Giovanni. I said to him, " For God's sake do not stir from hence, for ic such affairs as this the loss is always certain, and there is nothing to be gained." His father spoke to him to the same effect, begging he would not leave the room. The youth without minding a word that was said to him, in- stantly ran down stairs. Being come to the place, where the grand confusion was, and seeing Bertino raised from the ground, he began to turn back, when he met with my brother Cecchino, who asked him the cause of this quarrel. Giovanni, though warned by some persons not to tell the affair to Cecchino, cried out foolishly and indiscreetly, that Bertino Aldobrandi had been murdered by the city-guards. At this my brother set up a loud howl, which might be heard ten miles off, and said to Giovanni, " Alas ! unhappy wretch that I am : can you tell me which of them it was that killed him ?" Giovanni made answer that it was one who wore a large two-handed sword, with a blue feather in his hat. My poor brother having followed the guards, and knowing the person by the mark he had been told of, fell upon the murderer with great agility and bravery, and in spite of all resistance run his sword tlu'ough his body, pushing him with the hilt of it to the ground. He then assailed the rest with such intrepidity, that he alone and unassisted would have put all the guards to flight ; but un- luckily turning about to attack a musqueteer, the latter finding himself obliged to fire in his own defence, hit the valiant but unfortunate youth, just above the right knee, which brought him to the ground ; whereupon the guards made iuiste to retreat, lest some otlier formidable champion should fly to his assistance. Finding the tumult continue, I likewise rose from table, and putting on my sword, as swords were, then worn by every body, I repaired to the bridge of St. Angelo, where I saw a great concourse of people. I advanced up to th iKrarer, and died at sixty years of age in 1555. CH. Xm.] DISPUTE WITH BENEDETTO. 149 with me, and keep out of the way of a very great danger, which I see impending over your head." I had resolved, however, to finish my medal first, and the end of the month was now approaching, but my mind was so taken up with my medal, that T thought no more either of Angelica, or any thing else, except my present task. I happened one day, about the hour of vespers, to have occasion to go from home at an unusual hour to my shop (fronting Banchi, while my house was situated at the back), where I left all the business to the care of my part- ner, whose name was Felice. Having stayed there a short time, and recollecting that I had something to say to Ales- sandro del Bene, I instantly set out, and being arrived in the quarter of Banchi, accidentally met with a friend of mine, v/hose name was Benedetto ; he was a notary public, a native of Florence, and the son of a blind man of Siena, who hved by alms. This Benedetto had resided several years at Naples, from whence he went to Rome, where he transacted business for certain merchants of Siena, of the name of Figi. My partner had several times requested him to pay for some rings, which Benedetto had given him to mend. Meeting him that day in the quarter of Banchi, he asked him again for the money with some asperity (which was customary with him), when Benedetto was with his employers. These people, observing what passed, rebuked the latter severely, telling him they would employ another person, to prevent their being any longer disturbed with such uproars. Benedetto made the best defence he could, assuring them that he had paid that goldsmith, and could not prevent madmen from raving. The merchants, not satisfied with this excuse, dismissed him their service. Im- mediately after this afiair, he dressed himself and came to my shop, in a great rage, perhaps in order to abuse Felice. It happened that we met exactly in the middle of the Banchi quarter. As I knew nothing of what had passed, I saluted him with my usual complaisance, but he returned my politeness with a torrent of opprobrious language. I thereui)on recollected what the necromancer had told me of an impending danger, and keeping upon my guard in ths best manner I could, I said to him, " My dear friend, Bene- detto, don't be angry with me, for I have done you no in- I. 3 ISC MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XIU jurj-, and know nothing of the misfortunes that may have befallen you. If you have any thing to do with Felice, go and settle it with himself: he is very able to give you an answer. As I am entirely ignorant of the affair in question, you are in the wrong to give me such language, especially as you know that I am not a man to put up with an affront." He made answer, — " That I was thoroughly acquainted with the Avhole transaction ; that it sliould not end so, and that Felice and I were both very great scoundrels." By this time a crowd had gathered about us to hear the dispute. Provoked by his abusive language, I stooped down, and taking up a lump of dirt (for it had just been raining), I aimed it at him, intending to throw it full in his face, but he bowed himself down a little, and it hit ex- actly in the middle of liis head. In this dirt was a sharp flint, which cut him most severely, so that he fell upon the ground insensible, and like a dead person. From this circumstance, and from the great quantity of blood which flowed from his wound, it was the opinion of all the by- standers that he was killed upon the spot. Whilst he lay stretched out upon the ground, and some .porters who were amongst the crowd expected to be em- ployed to carry off the corpse, Pompeo, the jeweller, whom the Pope had sent for about some job in his way, happening to pass by, and seeing the man in so dismal a plight, asked who had used him in that manner. He was told that Ben- venuto was the man, but that it had been all the fool's own seeking. Pompeo ran in all haste to the pope, and said to him, "Most holy father, Benvenuto has just murdered Tobbia ; I saw it with my own eyes." The Pope hearing this, flew into a most violent passion, and ordered the governor, who happened to be present, to seize and hang me directly upon the very spot where the murder was com- mitted. He enjoined him to use the utmost diligenc-e in taking me, and upon no account to appear before him till he had seen justice done. As soon as I beheld the unfortunate man in the situation I have described, I bagan to think of taking measures for my safety, seriously reflecting on the power of my enemies, and the danger in which this afitiir might involve me. I tlierefore quitted the place, and retired to the house of CH. XIU.] CO:«PELLED TO FLY FOR SAFETY. 151 Signer Gaddi, clerk of the chamber, proposing to get myself in readiness with all possible expedition, and go where Providence should direct me ; though Signor Gaddi ad- vised me not to be in such a hurry, as the danger might pissibly be much less than I imagined. Having thereupon e«nt for Signor Annibale Caro, who lived in the same house with him, he desired him to inquire into the atifair. Whilst we were talking of this matter, and the above orders were giving, there came to us a Roman gentleman, who lived with the Cardinal de' Medici*, and had been sent to us by that prince. This gentleman, taking Signor Gaddi and me aside, told us that the cardinal had repeated to him the words above-mentioned, which he had heard uttered by the Pope ; he added, that it was impossible to save me, ad- vising me to fly that first ebullition of anger, and not ven- ture upon any account to stay in Rome. As soon as the gentleman was gone, Signor Gaddi, looking at me atten- tively, seemed to shed tears, and said, " Alas ! how un- fortunate am I, that I have it not in my power to assist you." I answered, " With the help of God I shall extri- cate myself out of all difficulties ; all I ask of you is, that you will be so good as to lend me a horse." Instantly a brown Turkish horse, one of the handsomest and best in -'J • Ippolito, the same mentioned at page 94, a natural son of Julian, brother of Leo X., was made a cardinal at eighteen years of age in 1529. He possessed all the qualities fitted for a prince, but by no means for an ecclesiastic. With a fine person, and accomplished in every manly and elegant art, lie soon became weary of the cluirchman's gown, and delighted to wear the knightly sword and mantle. Sur- rounded by military men, artists, and scholars, he boasted of assembling at his table persons of all nations and professions, speaking more tlian twenty different languages. In 15;iy he was sent Apostolic Legate, at the head often thousand Italians against the Turks in Hungary, but so far awakened the suspicions of the Emperor by his martial charactei and am.bition, that he was in a few days put under arrest. Unsatisfied with his immense wealth, and jealous of the power of the Duke ."Vlessandro in Florence, he entered into a conspiracy against him, which failed of success. Stung with insult and disap])ointment, he offered his services to Charles V. in the expedition to Tunis; but finding himself e(]ually neglected by the Imperialists, this added disgrace threw him into a violent fever, of which he died in 1555. He left a natural son of the name of Asdrubal. who gave his countrymen an elegant translation of the Second book of the ^lineid. L 4 1 52 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XHI. Rome, was got ready for me ; I mounted it, and placed a wheel musquet at the pummel of the saddle, to defend myself. When I arrived at Sixtus's bridge, I found the whole body of city-guards, horse and foot, drawn up there ; so, making a virtue of necessity, I boldly clapped spurs to my horse, and, by God's mercy, passed free and unobserved. Thus I repaired with the utmost speed to Palombara, the place of residence of Signor Giambattista Savelli ; and from thence I sent back the horse to Signor Giovanni Gaddi, but chose to make a secret of the place where I was, even to that gentleman. Signor Giambattista, after giving me the kindest reception imaginable, and treating me in the most generous manner during two whole days, advised me to quit the place, and bend my course towards Naples, till the first gust of the Pope's fury should be over. Having procured me company, he put me in the road to Naples. I met by the way a statuary, a friend of mine, named Solosmeo, who was going to S. Germano, to finish the tomb of Piero de' Medici at Monte Casini. This person informed me, that the very evening of my departure. Pope Clement had sent one of the gentlemen of his bedchamber to inquire after Tobbia ; and that the gentleman upon find- ing him at work, and that nothing at all had happened to him, nay, that he was quite ignorant of the whole affair, had made a report to his Holiness of the real state of the case. The Pope thereupon turned to Pompeo, and said, " You are a most abandoned wretch ; but one thing I can assure you of, you have stirred a snake which will sting you, and that's what you well deserve." He next ad- dressed himself to the Cardinal de' Medici, and desired him to inquire after me, telling him he would not lose me upon any account whatever. In thti mean time, Solosmeo and I jogged on together townrds Naples, by way of Monte Casini, singing all the wjy. 153 CHAPTER XIV. The Aulhor arrives safe at Naples. — There he finds his mistress An« geliea and her mother, which gives rise to an extraordinary interview. He meets with a favourable reception from the Viceroy of Naples who endeavours to fix him in his service. — Finding himself greatly imposed upon by Angelica's mother, he accepts of Cardinal de' Me- dici's invitation to return to Rome, the Pope having discovered his error concerning the supposed death of 'J'obbia, the goldsmith. — Curious adventure upon the road. — He arrives safe at Rome, where he hears that Benedetto was recovered of his wound. — Benvenuto strikes a fine medal of Pope Clement, and waits upon his Holiness. — What passed at this interview. — The Pope forgives and takes him again into his service. SoLOSifEO* having reviewed his work at Monte Casini, we travelled together towards Naples. When we came within half a mile of that capital, we were accosted by an inn- keeper, who invited us to put up at his house, and told us that he had lived several years in Florence with Cardinal Ginorif, adding that if we would take up our quarters with him, we should meet with the civilest and kindest treatment. We told the man several times that we did not choose to stop at his house. The fellow, notwithstanding, continued to ride on with us ; and frequently turning back, repeated the same thing, telling us he should be very glad of our company at his inn. Tired at last of his importu- nity, I asked him whether he could direct me to a Sicilian lady, named Beatrice, who had a daughter called Angelica, and who were both courtezans. The innkeeper thinking I was in jest, made answer, " Curse on all such, and all that take pleasure in their company ; " then clapping spurs to * Antonio Solosmeo da Settignano, with the exception of the large figures, completed the whole of this magnificent tomb, which was begun in 1532, and which long engaged the talents of the most emi- nent artists; — .Antonio da St. Gallo, in the architecture, Giuliano da St. Gallo, for the statues, and Blatteo de' Qu.iranta, a Neapolitan. Solosmeo was pupil to Sansovino, and being of an animated and daring character, very satirical, and a declared enemy oF Bandinelli's, be stood high in favour with Cellini. See Gattula and Vasari. ■\ Carlo Ginori was Gonfalonier of the Florentine Republic in 1527 154 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CII. XIT his horse, he galloped off, as if determined to quit us en- tirely. I began to applaud the address with which I had got rid of this impertinent devil ; though I still was never the nearer, for when I recollected my passion for Angiilica, I fetched a deep sigh, and began to talk of her to Solosmeo. As we were thus engaged in chat, the innkeeper came riding up to us again full speed, and as soon as he joined us, said, " Two or three days ago, there came a lady and her daughter to lodge next door to me, of the very name you mention, but whether they are Sicilians or not I can- not justly say." I rejilied, " The name of Angelica has such charms for me, that I am resolved by all means to take up my quarters at your inn." Thus we rode into Naples in company with the innkeeper, and dismounted at his house. 1 thought it an age till I had put every thing belonging to me into proper order ; and then went to the house adjoining to the inn, where I found my dear An- gelica, who received me with the greatest demonstrations of affection and kindness. I continued with her from eight o'clock that evening until the following morning. Whilst I enjoyed the exquisite pleasure of her company, I recol- lected that this very day the month was expired, which had been fixed in the necromancer's circle by the demons : so let every one who has recourse to such oracles, seriously reflect upon the dangers which I had to encounter. I happened to have in my purse a diamond, which was particularly noticed by the goldsmiths ; and though but a young man, I was generally known in Naples for a person of some consequence, and greatly caressed by the citizens. Amongst others a very worthy man, a jeweller, named Signer Dominico Fontana, was lavish of his civilities to me, so as to discontinue the business of his shop during three days that 1 passed at Naples ; he showed me the most in- teresting remains of art both in and beyond the city ; and moreover introduced me to the viceroy, who had intimated a desire to see me. As soon as I came into the presence of his excellency, he showed me a thousand civilities, during which my diamond dazzled his eye. When at his particular desire I had shown it him, he told me, that if I were dis- posed to part with it, he hoped I would not forget hini CH. XTV.] WELL RECEIVED AT NAPLES. 155 Upon his returning me the diamond, I again put it into hia excellency's hand, telling him, that both the jewel and its owner were very much at his service. He declared that he set a high value upon the diamond, but should be better pleased if I would reside at his court ; adding that he would take care I should be satisfied with my treatment. Many civilities thereupon passed between us ; but the con- versation afterwards turning on the value of the diamond, his excellency commanded me to set a price upon it. I told him that it was worth exactly two hundred crowns. To this his excellency made answer, that I appeared to him not to be unreasonable ; but that he ascribed the extraor- dinary beauty of the stone to its being set by me, who was one of the first men living in the jewelling business ; and if it were set by another hand, it would not seem to be of half the value. I told him it was not I that had set the diamond, for the work was but inditterent, and that he who did it had considered only its intrinsic value ; but, if I were to set it myself, it would appear to much greater advan- tage, and shine with redoubled lustre. Thereupon I put my thumb-nail to the ligatures of the diamond, and drew it out of the ring : then rubbing it a little, I handed it to the viceroy. His excellency's surprise was equal to his satis- faction, and he wrote me an order that the two hundred crowns whioh I demanded should be paid at sight. At my n!turn to my lodgings I found a letter from the Cardinal de' Medici, by which I was desired to return to Rome without loss of time; and, immediately upon my arrival, to dismount at his palace. When I had read the letter to Angelica, she with a flood of tears entreated me either to stay at Naples, or to carry her with me to Rome. I answered, that if she chose to accompany me to Rome, I would give her the two hundred ducats, which I had received from the viceroy, to keep for me. Her mother, seeing us close in conversation, came up to us, and ac- costed me thus, " Benvenuto, if you propose carrying my Angelica to Rome with you, leave me fifteen ducats to pay for my lying-in, and afterwards I will follow you myself." I told the old beldame, that I would leave her thirty with pleasure, if she would let her daughter accompany me. This being agreed on, Angelica requested me to buy her a *56 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XIV. gown of black velvet, as that manufacture was cheap at Naples. I consented to every thing, and having sent for the velvet, bargained for it myself. The old woman there- upon thinking me soft and easy to be made a dupe of, asked me for fine clothes for herself and her sons, and a larger supply of money than I had promised her. I com- plained of this in gentle terms, and said, " My dear Bea- trice, is not what I have offered you enough ? " She an- swered in the negative. I then told her, that what was not enough for her, would suffice for me ; and taking my leave of Angelica, who shed tears at parting, whilst I only laughed, I set out in order to return to Rome. I left Naples with my pocket full of money by night, for fear of being way -laid and assassinated, which is a common thing in that country. When I arrived at Selciata, I with great valour and address defended myself against several men on horseback, who attacked and would have murdered me. Having left Solosmeo busy with his monument at Monte Casini, I one day stopped at the inn of Adananni to dine. Near this place, I shot at some birds and killed them, but at the same time tore ray right hand with the lock of my gun ; and though the hurt Avas not of much consequence, it had an ugly appearance, the blood flowing in copious streams from my hand. When I had got to the inn, and put my horse into the stable, I was shown into a room, where I found several Neapolitan gentlemen just going to sit down to table, and with them a young lady, one of the most lovely creatures my eyes ever beheld. On entering the chamber, I was attended by my servant, a clever stout young fellow, armed with a long partizan : the sight of us, together with the arms and the blood, threw the poor gentlemen into such a panic (there being a nest of assassins in the place), that, rising from their seats, they in the utmost terror and consternation prayed to God to assist them. I told them with a smile that God had already heard their prayers, and that I was ready to be their defender against whoever should dare to attack them. I then asked them to help me to some sort of bandage for my hand, when the beautiful lady took a handkerchief em- broidered with gold, in order to make a bandage. I de* clined this offer, but the lady tore it in two, and wrapt up »»* CH, XrV.] ARRIVES SAFELY AT ROME 157 my hand in it herself with a grace inexpressible. Our fears seemed to be now removed, and we dined together cheei-fuUy. Dinner being over we mounted on horseback, and travelled on in company. Yet as there still remained some distrust on the side of the gentlemen, they caused the lady to engage me in conversation, leaving us at some little distance, and she and I rode on together. I made a sign to my servant to lag behind, so tliat we had an oppor- tunity of conversing on subjects which are not to be dis- closed to all the world. Thus was my journey to Rome the most agreeable I ever had in my life. Upon my arrival at that city I went to aliglit at the palace of the Cardinal de' Medici. I soon was introduced to that prince, and paid my respects to him, with thanks for his favours : I at the same time requested him to secure me from all danger of imprisonment, or even from a fine if it were possible. The cardinal appeared overjoyed to see me, and desired me to fear nothing : he then turned to one of his gentlemen, whose name was Pierantonio Pecci of Siena*, and bid him, in his name, command the city-guards not to meddle with me. He asked him next in what con- dition the person was, whom I had wounded in the head with a stone ? Pierantonio answered that he was very ill, but would soon be worse ; for having heard that I was at Rome, he declared he should willingly die to do me mischief. The cardinal answered laughing, " The man could not have taken a surer way to convince us that he was born in Siena." Addressing himself next to me he said, " For ray sake and your's avoid being seen in the quarter of Banchi for four or five days ; after that you may go where you please, and let fools die when they will." I went to my own house, and set about finishing the medal I had begun, which was a head of Pope Clement : on the reverse was a figure representing Peace. This was a little female, dressed in a thin garment, Avith a torch in her hand ; a heap of arms tied together like a trophy, near to which was part of a temple, with a figure of Discord bound by mary chains, and round it these words as a motto: * He afterwards passed into the service of Catherine de' Medici, and havinp attem])ted to surprise and deliver up Siena to the Frencli, te was declared a rebel by the Spaniards. — Sec Pecci, Mem. di Siena. 158 MEMOIRS OF BKNVEXUTO CELLINI. [CH. XrV Claudimtur belli porfcB* Whilst I was employed about this medal, the man whom I had wounded was cured. The Pope was incessantly asking me why I did not go near the Cardinal de' Medici, though every time I visited his Holi- ness he put some job of importance into my hands, which was sufficient to prevent me. When I had finished the medal, it came to pass that Signor Piero Carnesecchi f , the Pope's chief favoui'ite, became my patron. He took care to acquaint me that his master was extremely desirous to retain me in his service. I told this gentleman, that I should soon make it appear that I had been always animated by an equal zeal for his Holiness. Having a few days after finished my medal, I stamped it upon gold, silver, and copper, and showed it to Signor Piero, who immediately introduced me to the Pope. I was admitted into the presence of his Holiness one day just after dinner : it was in the month of April, and the weather very fine, when he was at Belvidere. Upon entering the apart- ment I delivered him the medals, with the steel instruments which I used in stamping them. He took them into hia hand, and observing the great ingenuity with which they were made, looked at Signor Piero, and said, " Were the ancients ever as successful in striking medals as we ?" Whilst they both were examining, now the instruments, * This iccdal was struck in reference to the peace, which con- tinued throughout Christendom from tlie year 1530 to 1536. It was published l)y Molinet and Bonanni, who were ecjually unacquainted with the artist, and tlie description he gives of it, both in this place and m the Sth Chap, of the Oreficeria. Thus in explaining the figure of Fury, they call her Discord or Mars, or a personification of War. That beautiful design of Peace of Guercino's, engraved by Rosaspina. seems to have been taken from the reverse. t A Florentine, distinguished for his learning and agreeable quali- ties, and a great favourite with Clement VII. His society was much sought by most of the literary geniuses of the time, as appears from the letters of Mureto, Bonfadio, Casa, Flaminio, and others; but having formed an intimacy with Giovanni Valdes, in Naples, and with Melancthon in France, he imbibed the doctrines of those reformers. Accused of here.sy at Rome, in 154G, he was in the first instance ab- solved ; but, on a fresh accusation, he was condemned by the Inqulsi tion for contumacy. At the instance of Pius V. he was sent by Duke Cosmo to Rome, where he was beheaded and burnt, as an obstinatf heretic, in Augus-^,, 1567. CH. XIT.] -WAITS UPON THE POPE. 159 now the medals themselves, I atklressed tlie Pope in the most modest terras I could think of. " If the influence of my adverse stars had not been counteracted by a power still greater than theirs, your Holiness would have lost a faithful and zealous servant, without its being either your fault or mine. For it must be allov/ed to be right and well- j udged in cases of the utmost emergency, to do according to the proverbial expression of the vulgar, namely, to look before you leap* ; since the wicked, lying tongue of one of my malicious adversaries had so irritated your Holiness against me, that you were incensed to the highest degree, and commanded the governor to seize and hang me directly. I make no doubt, however, that your Holiness, upon reflect- ing on your loss, and the prejudice you had done to your own interest, in depriving youi'self of such a servant as you acknowledge me to be, would have felt some remorse, and been sorry for what you had done. Neither parents, nor masters, possessed of prudence or good-natui-e, will ever proceed to sudden severities against their children or their servants, since to repent afterwards of what they liav(; done in a passion can avail them nothing. But as the Divine Providence has defeated this malignant influence of the stars, and preserved me for your Holiness's service, I must entreat that for the future you Avould not so easily suffer yourself to be incensed against me." The Pope having made an end of looking at the medals, was listening to me with the greatest attention. As there were present several noblemen of the first rank, he coloured a little, and appeared to be in some confusion ; but not knowing how to palliate what he had done, he declared that he did not remember to have ever given any such order. Perceiving this, I turned the conversation to other topics, in order to amuse him, and dissipate his confusion. His Holiness again entering upon the subject of the medals, asked me by what means I had contrived to stamp them so well being so very large, for he had never observed any antique medals of the same size. We talked of this for a while, and his Holiness being apprehensive that I might • An Italian proverb: — "Si deve ^egnar sette e tagliar una" To mark seven aa i cut oH' one. — Ed. 160 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XTV'. say something still more severe than I had done already, told me that the medals were very fine, that he was highly pleased with them, and should be glad to have another reverse made to them, agreeable to his fancy, if medals of that sort could be stamped with two reverses. I declared they could. Upon this he ordered me to represent that part of the history of Moses, where he strikes the rock, and water issues from it, with a Latin inscription to this effect, Ut bibat populus.* He then added, " Set about it, Ben- ^^enuto, and when you have done, I will begin to think of providing for you." As soon as I was gone he boasted that he would find me constant employ, so that I should have no occasion to work for any body else. Thus encouraged, I exerted myself to the utmost, and lost no time till I had finished the reverse, with the figure of Moses upon it. * This reverse is also to be seen in Bonanni, with the allusion ex- plained as follows : When the Pope was at Orvieto, in 1528, having noticed the scarcity of water to which the city was liable, being built upon a rock, at a distance from any spring, he ordered Antonio da S. Gallo to open a large well, which was in fact a wonderful effort of art. It was cut tlirough the solid rock to the depth of 265 feet, and 25 ells wide. It has two flights of hanging steps, one above the other, to ascend and descend, executed in such a manner, that even beasts of burden may enter ; and by 248 convenient steps they arrive at a bridge placed over a spring, where the water is laden. And thus, without returning back, they arrive at the other stairs, which rise above the first, and by these return from the well by a passage different to the one they entered. This work was nearly finished at the desth of Clerc«ut VII., and it was therefore natural that he should rccos I tbis 8ii)j$)2li CH. XV. J KILLS POMPEO. 163 slowly towards a place called Chiavica, and reached a cross- way where several streets meet ; but that in which stood the house of my adversary, Pompeo, led directly to the Campo di Fiore. Pompeo entered an apothecary's shop at the corner of the Chiavica, about some business, and stayed there some time : I was told that he had boasted of havins: bullied me ; but it turned out a fatal adventure to him. Just as I arrived at that quarter, he was coming out of the shop, and his bravoes having made an opening formed a circle round him. I thereupon clapped my hand to a sharp dagger, and having forced my way through the file of ruf- fians, laid hold of him by the throat so quickly, and with such presence of mind, that there was not one of his friends could defend him. I pulled him towards me, to give him a blow in front, but he turned his face about through ex- cess of teri'or, so that I wounded him exactly under the ear ; and upon repeating my blow, he fell down dead. It had never been my intention to kill him, but blows are not always under command. Having withdrawn the dagger with my left hand, and drawn my sword with the right, in order to defend myself, when I found that all the heroes of his faction ran up to the dead body, and that none of them advanced towards me, or seemed at all disposed to encounter me, I retreated down the street Julia, revolving within myself whither I could make my escape. When I had walked about three hundred paces, Piloto, the goldsmith, my intimate friend, came up to me, and said, " Brother, since the mischief is done, we must think of preserving you from danger." I answered him, " Let us go to Albertaccio del Bene, whom I told awhile ago that I should shortly have occasion for his assistance." As soon as we reached Albertaccio's dwell- ing-house, infinite caresses were lavished on me, and all the young persons of condition, of the different nations in the quarter of Banchi, except those of Milan, made their appearance, offering to risk their lives in order to presei've mine. Signor Luigi Rucellai also sent to make me a tender of all the service in his power, as did likewise several of the nobility besides him, for they were glad that I had des- patched Pompeo, from an opinion that he had insulted me SI 2 164 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cil. XV, past all enduring, and they expressed great surprise that I had so long been patient under accumulated injuries. In the mean time, the affair coming to the knowledge of Cardinal Cornaro, he sent thirty soldiers, and as many spear-men, pike-men, and musketeers, who were charged to conduct me to his house. I accepted the offer and went with them, accompanied by more than an equal number of the brave young fellows above-mentioned. Signor Tra- jano *, Pompeo's relation, and first gentleman of the bed- chamber, being likewise informed of the affair, sent a person of quality, of IMilan, to Cardinal de' Medici, to acquaint him with the heinous crime I had committed, and excite him to bring me to condign punishment. The Cardinal immediately made answer, " Benvenuto would have done very wrong not to prefer the lesser to the greater evil : I thank Signor Trajano, for having informed me of what I was ignorant of." Then, in the presence of the person of quality above-mentioned, he turned to the Bishop of Furli, his intimate acquaintance, and said to him, " Make diligent inquiry after my friend Benvenuto, and conduct him hither, because I intend to befriend and assist him, and shall look upon his enemies as mine." Hearing this the Milanese gentleman coloured, and left the place ; but the Bishop of Furli came in search of me to Cardinal Cornaro's palace. Upon seeing his reverence, he told him that the Cardinal de' Medici had sent for Benvenuto, and proposed taking him under his protection. Cornaro, who was one of the most whimsical men breathing, flew into a violent passion, and told the Bishop that he was as proper a person to take care of me as the Cardinal de' Medici. The Bishop replied, that he begged it as a favour that he might be allowed to speak a word to me about some other business of the Car- dinal's. Cornaro made answer, that he should not see m© * There is a letter of Bembo's, dated 1530, directed to Messer Tra^ jano Alicorno, master of the bedchamber to the Pope ; from which it is conjectured, he must have liad great influence with the Pope. I presume he was a Roman, since I find in the inscriptions of Rome, collected by Galetti, others of the same name. In other respects, he seems not to have enjoyed any great reputation ; for Pao. Jovio, in a letter dated 1535, mentions that Trajano would obtain payment of his pensions which were granted to him rather through good fortune than merit. CH. XV.] CARDINAL FARNESE ELECTED POPE. 165 that day. The Cardinal de' Medici was highly incensed at this ; however I went the night following without Cornaro's knowledge, well guarded, to pay him a visit. I then hegged it of him as a favour that he would permit me to stay with Cornaro, telling him of the great politeness with which the latter had treated me; and that if his revex'ence would suffer me to stay at that Cardinal's palace, I should always be sure of an additional friend in my utmost need, other- wise his reverence might dispose of me as he judged proper He made answer that I might act as I thought fit. I then returned to Cornaro. A few days after. Cardinal Farnese* was elected Pope. As soon as this new pontiff had settled other affairs of greater importance, he inquired after me, and declared that he would employ nobody else to stamp his coins. When he spoke thus, a gentleman, whose name was Signor Latino Giovenalef , said that I was obliged to abscond, for having killed one Pompeo, a Milanese, in a fray : he then gave an account of the whole affair, putting it in the most favourable light for me that was possible. The Pope made answer : " I never heard of the death of Pompeo, but I have often heard of Benvenuto's provocation ; so let a safe-conduct be instantly made out, and that will secure him from all manner of danger." There happened to be present an intimate friend of Pompeo's, who was likewise a favourite of the pontiff : this w'as Signor Ambrogio, a native of IVIilan. This person told his Holiness, that it might be of dangerous consequence to grant such favours, immediately upon being raised to his new dignity. The Pope instantly said, "You do not understand these matters : I must inform you that men who are masters in their profession, like Benvenuto, should not be subject to the laws : but he less than any other, for • The same already mentioned, page 82. He was elected to the papal chair, on the 13th October, 1534. f Latino Giovenale de' Manetti, extolled by Bembo, Sadoleto, Cas- tiglione, and others, as an excellent poet and scholar. He was equally distinguished for his knowledge of antiquities and the fine arts. On Charles the Fifth's arrival in Rome, he was fixed upon to accompany that sovereign in a survey of the ancient monuments. He conducted many important negotiations both at Home and elsewhere, and would have arrived at still higher honours, had he consented to devote hit days to celibacy, (See Marini.) U S 166 MEMOIRS OF BENTENUTO CELLINI. [CB. X\, I am sensible that he was in the right in the whole affair." So the safe-conduct being immediately made out, I entered into his service, and met with great encouragement. About this time, Signor Latino Giovenale came to me, and gave me an order to work for the Mint directly. Thereupon all my enemies rose up against me, and used their utmost endeavours to prevent me from being em- ployed in that department. I began to make the dies for crown-pieces, upon which I represented the bust of St. Paul with this legend, Vas Electionis.* This piece proved far more agreeable to his Holiness than those of the other artists, who worked in competition with me ; insomuch, that he declared that I alone should have the stamping of his coins. I therefore exerted all my diligence in my art, and Latino Giovenale introduced me occasionally to the Pope, who had made choice of him for that purpose. I applied again for the place of engraver to the Mint ; but the Pope having asked advice upon this point, told me that I must first receive pardon for the manslaughter, which I should have by the festival of the Virgin Mary in August, by order of the Caporioni ; for every year at that solemn festival, tweve persons under sentence of banishment are pardoned upon the account of those magistrates. He di- rected at the same time that, during this interval, another safe-conduct should be taken out in my behalf, that I might remain till then secure and unmolested. My enemies finding that they could by no means what- ever exclude me from the ]\Ent, had recourae to another expedient to wreak their malice. Pompeo, whom I sent to the other world, having left a portion of three thousand ducats to a bastard daughter of his, they contrived to prevail upon a favourite of Signor Pier Luigif, bastard * This piece of coin is mentioned in the catalogue of Saverio Scilla. Molinet, who produced a medal of Paul III., with the very same motto of Vas Electionis, is of opinion that he thus meant to al- lude to the very unanimous consent of the Cardinals in electing this Pontiff, which, according to Jovius, was ^carried by acclamation with the general voice. f Pier Luigi Farnese, a natural son of Paul HI. whose violent and savage temper so long disturbed the repose and glory of this Poniifl^ who always evinced for him the utmost paternal tenderness. The titles of gonfalonier of the church, Duke of Castro, Marquess of No- CH. Xy.^ PIER LUIGI BECOMES HIS ENEMY. 167 son to tl i Pope, lo marry her ; which was brought about by means of that lord. This favourite was a country fellow, in narrow circumstances : it was said that he received but very little of the money, for Pier Luigi laid hands on it, and was for converting it to his own use. But as this favourite had several times, through complaisance to his wife, requested Pier Luigi to get me taken into custody, the latter promised to bring ic about, as soon as the high favour in which I was with the Pope had somewhat sub- sided. Things continuing in this state about two months, as that servant endeavoured to get the portion paid to him. Pier Luigi avoided giving a direct answer, but told his wife that he would revenge the death of her father. Though I knew something of what was in agitation, whenever I happened to appear in the presence of Pier Luigi, he was lavish of demonstrations of kindness to me : he had, notwithstanding, at the same time, secretly given orders to the captain of the city-guard, either to cause me to be seized, or to get somebody to assassinate me. As he thought it most advisable to determine upon one of these two methods, he employed a cut-throat of a Corsican sol- dier to do the work ; and my other enemies, especially Signor Trajano, promised to make the assassin a present of a hundred crowns : the latter declared thereupon, that he would make no more of it than swallowing a new-laid egg. Having heard the whole affair, I kept a constant look-out, and went always well accompanied and armed with a coat of mail, for I had received permission from the govern- ment. This bravo was so covetous, that in order to en- gross the whole money to himself, he thought he might undertake the murder unassisted. One day, just after din- ner, they sent for me in the name of Signor Pier Luigi. I went directly, as that lord had often talked to me about se- veral pieces of plate of new invention, which he proposed to have executed. I left my house in a hurry with my usual vara, and lastly, in 1545, Duke of Parma and Placenza, were in a short period conferred upon him ; but he wholly disappointed the high expectations formed of him. Ungoverned, rash, and dissipated, his contempt of his father's counsels and his usage of his own courtierj were tiae cause of his being assassinated by the latter in the year 1547i u 4 16S MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XV arms, and went down the street Julia, not thinking to meet any body at that time of day. When I Avas at the top of the street, and preparing to turn towards the Farnese palace, it being customary with me to take the round-about way, I saw this Corsican quit the place where he was sitting, and advance to the middle of the street. Without being in the least disconcerted, I kept on my guard, and having slackened my pace a little, approached the wall as close as I could, to make way for the ruffian, and the better to defend myself. He drew to- wards the wall, and we were near to each other, when I plainly perceived by his gestures, that he had a design upon me, and seeing me alone in that manner, imagined it would succeed. I broke silence first : " Valiant soldier," said I, " if it were night-time you might possibly have mis- taken me for another, but as it is broad daylight you must be sensible who I am, and that I never had any connexion with you, nor ever gave you offence, but should rather be disposed to serve you, were it in my power." Upon my uttering these words, he, with a resolute air, and without ever quitting his ground, told me that he did not know what I meant. I replied, " But I know very well what you mean ; yet your enterprise is more dangerous than you are aware of, and the success may be very different from what you imagine. I must tell you, that you have a man to deal with who will sell his life very dear ; neither does your design become such a brave soldier as you appear to be." All this while I stood upon my guard with a stern and watchful eye, and we both changed colour. By this time a crowd was gathered about us, and the people per- ceived what we were talking of, so that, not having the spirit to attack me under those circumstances, he only said, " We shall see one another again." I answered, " I am always glad to see gallant men, and those who behave themselves as such." Having left him, I went to Signor Pier Luigi, but found that he had not sent for me. From thence I returned to my shop, when the bravo gave me notice, by means of a particular friend of his and mine, that I had no longer any danger to apprehend from him, since he would for the future consider me as a brother ; but that I must beware en. XVl.] WELL KECErVTID AT FLORENCE. 169 of Others, for many persons of distinction had sworn tliey would have my life. I returned him thanks by the messenger, and kept upon my guard in the best way I could. A. few days after I was told by an intimate friend, that Signor Pier Luigi had given express orders for taking me that evening : this I heard at eight o'clock. I thereupon spoke to some of my friends, who advised me to make my escape without loss of time ; and as the order was to be canned into execution at one in the morning, I took post at eleven for Florence. The truth is, when the soldier had miscarried in his enterprise for want of courage, Signor Pier Luigi had, by his own authority, given orders that I should be arrested, to make Pompeo's daughter easy, who was restless to know where her portion was deposited. Unsuccessful in his two first attempts to revenge the death of that woman's father, he had recourse to a third, of which I shall give the reader an account in its proper place. CHAPTER XVI. Duke Alessandro receives the Author with great kindness. — The latter sets out from Florence with Tribolo and Sansovino, two sculptors, upon a tour to Venice. — They pass through Ferrara, and meet with several adventures upon the road. — After a short stay at Venice, they return to Florence. — The Author's extraor- dinary buhaviour to an innkeeper. — At his return to Florence he is appointed master of the INIint by Duke Alessandro de' Medici, who makes him a present of a very curious gun. — 111 offices done the Author by Ottaviano de' Medici. — He receives a promise of pardon from Pope Paul III., with an invitation to return to Rome and enter again into his service. — He accepts of the invitation, and goes back to Rome. — Generous behaviour of Duke Alessandro. Upon my arrival at Florence I paid a visit to Duke Ales- sandro, who gave me the most gracious reception, and even pressed me to stay with him. There happened to be in Florence at that time a statuary, named Tribolo*, to one of • Niccolo de' Pericoli, a Florentine, whose extraordinary humour •Jid vivacity, from bis earliest years, ac(juired for hira the name of 170 MEMOIRS OK BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XVl, whose children I had stood godfatner. In some conversa* tions between us, he acquainted me that Giacopo del San- sovino*, his first master, had sent for him to Venice ; and as he 'had never seen that city, and expected to gain con- siderably there, he was glad of an opportunity of making the trip. He asked me whether 1 had ever seen Venice ? I answered in the negative, whereupon he pressed me to bear him company. I immediately accepted his proposal, and told Duke Alessandro that I intended to undertake a journey to Venice, and, upon my return, should be at his service. This he made me promise, desiring, at the same time, that I would call upon him before my departure. I got myself in readiness the next day, and went to take my leave of the duke, whom I found at the palace of Pazzi, where the wife and daughter of Signor Lorenzo Cibo "f" were also lodged. Having given his excellency to under- Tribolo. He was an eminent sculptor, and produced some specimens of such very extraordinary merit, that they were believed to be from the hand of Michel Angelo. He was also equally excellent in other branches of his art ; and among other ingenious works, produced a to- pographical rilievo of the city and environs of Florence, one of the earliest efforts in that branch of art which has been since carried to such a degree of perfection by Exchaquet, and by Gen. Pfiffer, of Lu- cerne. His success in hydraulics, to which he also applied himself, was not equally great. * Giacopo was born hi Florence, and assumed the name of Sanso- vino, from the master under whom he studied, Andrea Contucci da Monte a Sansovino, one of the most eminent sculptors of his time. His family name was Tatti. His works acquired him a high reputa- tion at Rome and Florence. In the year 1527 he visited Venice, and being made architect to the procurature, he renounced the study of sculpture, to devote himself entirely to his new profession, by which he obtained equal reputation and emolument. He was thus enabled to leave his son Francesco a noble fortune, which is, perhaps, the reason he has written so many indifferent books. Giacopo died in 1570, aged 93 years. t Lorenzo Cibo, brother of the cardinal already mentioned (p. 47. ), ■was Marquess of Massa, where he resided. It appears on the autho- rity of Varchi, that his marchioness was a little too often honoured with the visits of the duke, who had very nearly paid a high price for his attentions. The Cardinal de' Medici, and Giambaptista Cibo, Archbishop of Marseilles, and a relation of the lady, had taken mea- sures in 1535 to rid the marquess of the invader of his honour, by means of a small barrel of gunpowder, placed under his chair near th< bed, but from some accident it failed to explode. OH. XVI.' PASSES THROUGH FERRARA. 171 Stand that I wts just setting out for Venice, an answer was brought me by Signor Cosmo de' Medici, the present Duke of Florence, that I should go to Niccolo di Monte Acuto, to receive fifty crowns, of which his excellency made me a present, and that after I had taken my pleasure at Venice, he expected I would return to his service. Having received the money from Niccolo, I repaired to my friend Tribolo, who was ready for his journey, and asked me whether I had bound up my sword. I told him that a man who was just mounted for a journey had no occasion for any such precaution. He replied that it was the custom in Florence, for that there was in that city a certain Signor Maurizio, who for the least offence used to olague and persecute every body, so that travellers were :bliged to keep their swords bound up till they had passed the gate. I laughed at this ; so we set out with the pro- caccio or postman of Venice, named Lamentone, and tra- velled in his company. Having passed the other towns without stopping at any of them, we at last arrived at Ferrara, and took up our quarters at the inn in the great square. The procaccio went in quest of some of the Florentine exiles, in order to deliver them letters and messages from their wives ; for such was the pleasure of the duke, that this fellow should speak with them ; but no Florentine traveller was to take the same liberty, upon pain of being involved in their punishment. In the mean time, as it was not above six in the afternoon, Tribolo and I went to see the Duke of Fer- rara come back from Belfiore, whither he was gone, to be present at a tournament. At his return we met with several of the exiles, who looked at us attentively, as if to force us to speak to them. Tribolo, who was one of the most timorous men breathing, said to me every moment, " Neither look at nor speak to them, if you intend ever to return to Florence." So we stayed to see the duke's en- trance ; then going back to the inn, we found Lamentone. It was almost eleven o'clock at night, when Niccolo Benin- tendi made his appearance, with Piero his brother, and an old man, whom I take to have been Giacopo Nardi*, toge* * Giacopo, born of a noble family in Florence, 1476, higbly distin* guishcd himself both as a soldier and a statesman, and rendered greM 172 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cn. XVI. ther with several young gentlemen. The procaccio went to talk with the Florentine exiles : Tribolo and I stood at some distance, to avoid their conversation. After they had chatted a considerable time with Lamentone, Niccofo Ben- intendi said, " I know those two men there very welL What's the reason they make such a difficulty about speak- ing to us ? " Tribolo begged I would remain silent. Lamen- tone told them that we had not the same permission as he had. Benintendi swore it was all mere nonsense, and wished the devil might take us, with other imprecations. I looked up, and said in the gentlest terms I could, " Dear gentlemen, do but seriously consider that you may hurt us ; but it is not in our power to be of any manner of service to you ; and though you have given us language by no means becoming gentlemen, yet we are willing to overlook that affront." Thereupon old Nardi declared that I spoke like a worthy young man. Niccolo Benintendi said, " I know how to deal both with them and the duke." • I answered that he had behaved very ill to us, and that we had nothing to do with him or his atfaii'S. Old Nardi took our part, and told Benintendi that he was in the wrong. The latter still continued to insult us with abusive language : I assured him that I would pre- sently take such a course with him as he would not like, so he had best attend to his own business, and let us alone. He replied that he held both the duke and us in abhor- rence, and that we were no better than so many jackasses, I thereupon gave him the lie, and drew my sword ; the old man, who wanted to be the first to get down stairs, had not descended many steps, when he tumbled down, and all the rest fell over him. I rushed towards them, and brandish- ing my sword, cried out in a furious manner, " I will kill every man of you ; " but I took particular care not to hurt any one, as I might easily have done. The innkeeper, services to the republic. He was afterwards declared an enemy to the Medici, his fortunes confiscated, and he himself imprisoned. His pleasing qualities and powerful talents acquired for him the praises and esteem of his contemporaries. He chiefly resided at Venice, where he wrote the history of his country, a translation of Titus Livy, and other exojUeDt works. He lived beyond his 80th year, CH. XVI.1 FRACAS AT AN INN. 173 J hearing the noise, set up a loud outcry ; Lamentone begged for quarter ; one cried out, " Oh, my liead ! " another, " Let me get out of this cursed place." lu short, there waa a most horrid uproar, you would have thought a whole herd of swine had got together. At last the innkeeper carae with a light, when I drew back, and put up my sword. Lamentone told Niccolo Benintendi that he had behaved very ill : the landlord assured him that it was as much as his life was worth to wear arms in such a place. " If the duke," said he, " were to be acquainted with your insolence, he would order you to be hanged. I will not treat you as you deserve ; but begone from my house, and let me see you no more, at your peril." After this speech the host came up to me, and, as I was going to make an apology for what had passed, he would not suffer me to say a word, but telling me he knew I was entirely in the right, advised me to beware of them upon the road. As soon as we had supped, the master of a bark came to carry us to Venice. I asked him whether he would let us have the bark to ourselves, to which he agreed. In the morning we took horse betimes, to ride to the port, which is but a few miles distant from Ferrara. When we got thither, we met with the brother of Niccolo Benintendi, and three of his companions, who waited my coming ; they had with them two pikes, and I had purchased a fine spear at Ferrara. Being thus well armed, I was not in the least terrified, as Tribolo was, who exclaimed, " God help us ! these men have waylaid us, and will murder us." Lamen- tone, addressing himself to me, said, " The best course you can take is to return directly to Ferrara, for I see there is great danger : my dear Benvenuto, avoid the fury of these savage beasts." " Let us go on boldly," said I ; " God assists those who are in the right, and you shall see how I assist myself. Is not this bark hired for us ? " " It is," an- swered Lamentone. I then rejoined, " We will make our passage without them, or I will die for it." I spurred my horse forward, and when I was within ten paces of them, dismounted, and boldly advanced, with my spear in my hand. Tribolo staid behind, and had so contracted himself upon his horse, that he seemed to be quite frozen. Lamen- tone, the procaccio, who always puffed and blew in such a 174 MEMOIRS OP BENV'ENUTO CELLINI. [OH. XVI. manner tliat he might have passed for Boreas, now puffed more than ever, being impatient to see how this fray was to conclude. When I reached the bark, the master told me "that there was a considerable number of gentlemen from Flo- rence, who wanted to sail in the vessel, if it were agreeable to me." " The boat," said I, " is hired for us, and for no- body else ; and I am very sorry that I cannot have the pleasure of their company." To this a stout young fellow, named Magalotti, answered, " Benvenuto, we will contrive matters so as to put it in your power." I replied, " If God and the justice of my cause, together with my own arm, have any efficacy or influence, you will never be able to fulfil your promise." Having uttered these words, I leapt into the bark, and turning the point of my weapon towards them, said, *' By this I will prove to you that I cannot comply with your request." In order to show that he was in earnest, Magalotti clapped his hand to his sword, and made towards me; when instantly I jumped upon the side of the bark, and gave him so violent a thrust, that, if he had not instantly fallen flat, I should have run him through the body. His companions, instead of assisting him, re- treated ; and I, seeing that it was in my power to kill him, would not repeat my blow, but said, " Arise, brother, take your arms, and go about your business : I have sufficiently shown you that I can do nothing contrary to my own will ; and that which I am able to do, I have not wished to do." I then called to Tribolo, the master of the bark, and Lamentone, and we set out for Venice together. After we had sailed ten miles upon the Po, the young fellows above-mentioned, having embarked in a skiff, came up with us, and when they were opposite to our boat, that fool Piero Benintendi said to me, " Benvenuto, this is not the time to decide our difference ; but you are to be seen igain at Venice." — " Take care of yourself," said I, " for I am going thither, and shall frequent all places of public resort." In this manner we arrived at Venice ; where I applied to a brother of Cardinal Cornaro's, for permission to wear a sword. He told me that I was at liberty to do so, and the worst that could befall me was, that I might lose my sword, CH. XVI.J SETS OCT FOR FLORENCE. 1 73 Thus having p ceived permission to carry arms, we went to visit Giacopo del Sansovino the statuary, who had sent for Tribolo : he caressed me greatly, and invited us both to dinner. In his conversation with Tribolo, he told him he had no business for him then, but that he might call another time. Hearing him speak thus, I burst out a-laugh- ing, and said jestingly to Sansovino, " His house is at too great a distance from yours for him to call again." Pooi Tribolo, quite shocked at the man's behaviour, said, " I have your letter in my pocket, inviting me to come and see you at Venice." Sansovino replied, " That such men as himself, of abilities and unexceptionable character, might do that and greater things." Tribolo shrugged up his shoulders, muttering patience several times. Upon this occasion, without considering the splendid manner in which Sansovino had treated me, I took my friend Tribolo's part, who was certainly in the right ; and as the former had never once ceased to boast at table of his own performances, whilst he made very free with Michel Angelo and all other C/tists, however eminent, I was so disgusted at this beha- viour that I did not eat one morsel with appetite. I only took the liberty to express my sentiments thus: " Signor Giacopo, men of worth act as such ; and men of genius, who distinguish themselves by their works, are much better known by the commendations of others, than by vainly sounding their own praises." Upon my uttering these words, we all rose from table murmuring our discontent. Happening the very same day to be near the Rialto, I met with Piero Benintendi, who was in company with several others, and, perceiving that they intended to attack me, I retired to an apothecary's shop till the storm blew over. I was afterwards informed that young Magalotti, to whom I had behaved so generously, had expressed a great dislike to their proceedings, and thus the affair ended. A few days after we set out on our return to Florence. Happening to lie at a place on this side of Chioggia, ot the left hand as you go to Ferrara, the landlord demanded his reckoning before we went to bed. Upon my telling him that in other places it was customary to pay in the morning, he answered, " I insist upon being paid over- night, and as I think proper." I replied, "That when 176 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cH. XYi j)eople insist upon having things their own way, they should make a world of their own ; but the practice of thia globe of ours was very different." The landlord said, " That it did not signify disputing the matter, for he was determined it should be so." Tribolo trembled with fear, and by signs entreated me to be quiet, lest the man should do something worse : so we paid him in the manner he re- quired, and went to bed. We had very fine new beds, with every thing else new, and in the utmost elegance. Not- withstanding all this I never closed my eyes the whole night, being entirely engaged in meditating revenge for the insolent treatment of our landlord. Now it came into my head to set the house on fire, and now to kill four good horses which the fellow had in his stable. I thought it was no difScult matter to put either design in execution, but did not see how I could easily secure my own escape and that of my fellow-traveller afterwards. At last I resolved to put our baggage into the ferry, and requesting my companions to go on board, I fastened the horses to the rope that drew the vessel, desiring my friends not to move it till my return, because I had left a pair of slippers in the room where I lay. This being settled, I went back to the inn, and inquired for the landlord, who told me that he had nothing to say to us, and that we might all go to the devil. There happened to be a little stable- boy in the inn, who appeared quite drowsy. He told me that his master would not stir a foot for the Pope himself, and asked me to give him something to drink my health ; so I gave him some small Venetian coin, and desired him to stay awhile with the ferryman, till I had searched for my slip- pers. I went up stairs, carrying with me a little knife, which had an exceeding sharp edge, and with it I cut four beds, till I had done damage to the value of upwards of fifty crowns. I then returned to the ferry, with some scraps of bed- clothes in my pocket, and ordered the person who held the cable to which the ft^rry was tied, to set off with all speed. When we wero got to some little distance from the inn, my friend Tribolo said, " That he had left behind him some little leatlier straps, with which he used to tie his cloak- bag, and that he wanted to go back in search of them " I desired him not to trouble his head about two little straps CH. X\a.] ADVENTTOE AT AN INN. 177 of leather, and assured him that I would make him as many large ones as he should have occasion for. He told me that I was very merry, but that he was resolved to return foi- his leather straps ; but as he called out to the ferryman to stop, I bade him go on, and in the mean time told Tribolo all the damage I had done at the inn, in proof of which I produced some of the scraps of the bed-clothes. He there- upon was seized with a panic so violent, that he never ceased crying out to the ferryman to make haste, and did not think himself secure from danger till we arrived at the gates of Florence. When we had thus reached our jour- ney's end, Tribolo said to me, " Let us bind up our swords, for God's sake, and do nothing to bring us into any more scrapes, for I have been continually scared out of my wits for some days past." — " My good friend, Tribolo," an- swered I, " you need not bind up your sword, for it was fast enough dui-ing the whole journey." This I said, be- cause he had not shown the least sign of courage upon the road. He looked at his sword, and said, " By the Lord, you say true ; it is still tied up in the very same manner it was before I went from home." My fellow-traveller thought I had been a bad companion to him, because I had shown some resentment, and defended myself against those who would have used us ill ; while I looked upon him in a worse light, for neglecting to assist me upon those occa- sions : let the impartial reader determine who was in the right. LTpon my arrival at Florence, I went directly to Duke Alessandro, and returned him a great many thanks for the fifty crowns, telling his excellency that I was ready to undertake any thing to serve him. He answered, that he wanted me to be engraver to his mint. I accepted the offer ; and the first coin I stamped was a piece of forty pence, with the duke's head on one side, and on the other, a San Coscino, and a San Damiano. He declaimed tliat these silver coins were the finest in Christendom ; and all Florence said the same. I then desired to be put into possession of the offices, with a provision, to which the duke replied that it slujuld be done, — that I must devote myself to his service, that I should receive more than I x-equired, and that he had N 178 MEMOIRS OF BENVENDTO CELLINI. [CH. XVI. given orders to Carlo Acceainolo, the master of the mint, to supply me with every thing I should want. After that I made a stamp for the half giulios, upon which I represented a head of St. John, in profile, with a book in his hand, and the ducal arms upon the reverse. This was the first piece of the kind that had been ever made of so thin a plate of silver. The dif- ficulty of such a piece of work is known only to those who are masters of the business. I then made stamps for the gold crowns, on which a cross was represented on one side, with certain figures of little cherubim, and on the other were the duke's arms. When I had finished this job, that is, when I had stamped these four sorts of pieces*, I again re- quested his excellency that he would provide apartments t for me according to his promise, if he was satisfied with my services. He answered in the most obliging terms, " that he was perfectly satisfied, and would give the proper orders." When I spoke to him on this occasion, he happened to be in his armoury, in which was a fusil of admirable workmanship, that had been sent him from Germany. Seeing me look attentively at this fine piece, lie delivered it into my hands, telling me that he knew very well how fond I was of fowling, and, as an earnest of what he proposed doing for me, he desired I would choose any other gun, except that, out of his armoury ; assuring me that I should meet with some that were full as handsome and as good. I accepted of his kind offer, and returned him thanks ; whereupon he gave direc- tions to the keeper of his armoury, one Pietrino da Lucca, to let me have any piece I should make choice of : he then * In a letter from Bembo addressed to Varchi, dated the 15th July, 1535, he says, " I have received the impressions of the seven different coins from the hands of Benvenuto, all as excellent as his other works." The opinion of his contemporary Vasari, though he was by no means on fi-iendly terms with Cellini, is no less honourable to him as an artist. " When Benvenuto had the making of the coins in the Roman mint, they were the most beautiful which had ever appeared there. After the death of Clement, the reputation he thus acquired obtained for him the same situation in Florence, where he cast such exquisite specimens representing the head of the Duke Alessandro, that they are held in as much estimation as the ancient medals, and I think very deservedly so, as in this effort he appears to have even surpassed himself." f In fact, he never before mentioned these apartments. CH. X^^.] TAKES THE DUKE's LIKENESS. 179 said many obliging things to me, and withdrew, to give me an opportunity of pleasing my fancy. I stayed some time behind, picked out the finest and best gun I ever saw in my life, and carried it home with me. Two days after, I waited upon him with some little sketches which I had received orders from his excellency to draw, for some works in gold ; these he had given me directions to begin directly, proposing to send them as presents to his consort*, who was then at Naples. I again pressed him to provide for me in the manner he had pro- mised. He thereupon told me, that I should make the mould for a fine portrait of him, as I had done for Pope Clement. I began this portrait in wax, and his excellency gave orders, that at whatever hour I came to take his likeness, I should be admitted. Perceiving that the affair hung a long time upon my hands, I sent for one Pietro Paolo of Monte-ritondo, the son of him at Rome, whom I had known from a child : and finding that he was then in the service of one Bernardaccio, a goldsmith, who did not use him well, I took him from his master, and taught him the art of coining. In the mean time I drew the duke's likeness, and often found him taking a nap after dinner, with his kinsman Lorenzo de' Medici f, who afterwards • Margaretta a natural daughter of Charles the Fifth, by Margaret Vangest, betrothed, as before mentioned, to Alessandro, in 1530. The nuptials were celebrated in Naples, February, 1536, when the duke visited that place for the purpose of dissuading Charles from his in- tended expedition to Tunis. The bride did not arrive in Florence until the May following, having then but just completed her fourteenth year. f He is also called Lorenzino, and was descended from Lozenzo, a brother of Cosmo, " the father of his country." He was at that time about twenty years of age, by no means deficient in talent and cultiva- tion. He was in strict intimacy with the Strozzi, avowed republicans; but treacherous in his conduct to both parties: he betrayed their designs to the duke, in order to obtain his confidence. Having thus become his favourite minister and the companion of his pleasures, he induced him to abandon himself to his inclinations without restraint. — Carpani. Lorenzino long premeditated the assassination of the duke, the cousin, as appears from the well-known anecdote of the reverse of Cel- .ini's medal, and which Lorenzo a-aiused himself with turning into a pun. — Ed. M 2 180 MEMOIRS OF BENVENDTO CELLINI. LL..XVT. murdered him, but with nobody else. I was very much surprised that so great a prince should have so little re- gard to the security of his person. It came to pass that Ottaviano de' Medici *, who seemed to have the general direction of affairs, showed a desire, contrary to the Duke'a inclination, to favour the old master of the mint, named Bastiano Cennini. This man, who adhered to the ancient taste, and knew but little of the business, had caused his ill-contrived tools to be used promiscuously with mine in stamping the crowns. This I complained of to the Duke, who finding that I spoke the truth, grew very angry, and said to me, " Go tell Ottaviano of this, and let him see the pieces." I went directly, and showed him the injury that was done to my fine coins : he told me bluntly, that it was his pleasure to have matters conducted in that manner. I answei*ed, that it was a very imj^roper manner, and extremely disagreeable to me. He replied, " But suppose it should be agreeable to the Duke ? " " Even so I should disapprove of it," answered I, "for the thing is neither just nor reasonable." He then bade me begone, telling me I must swallow the pill were I even to burst. Upon my return to the Duke, I related to him the whole contest between Ottaviano de' Medici and myself, request- ing his Excellency not to suffer the fine pieces which I had stamped for him to be brought into disgrace ; and at the same time I desired my discharge. He then said, " Otta- viano presumes too much : you shall have what you re- quire of me, for the insult upon this occasion is offered to myself." That very day, which was Thursday, I received from Rome an ample safe-conduct of the Pope's, directing me to repair forthwith to that city, at the celebration of the feast of the Virgin Mary in August, that I might clear * Ottaviano was related to neither of the branches of the Medici who had the government of Florence. He was, however, a decided friend to their party, and possessed considerable influence and autho- rity in the city. This was farther promoted by his marriage with a daughter of Giacopo Salviati, no less than by his eminent qualifica- tions as a courtier. He was proportionably arrogant and overbearing towards his inferiors, hated by his equals, and generally believed unworthy of the high station, which, by little merit of his ovn, he bad obtained. TH. XVI.] TAKES LEAVE OF THE DUKE. l8l myself from the charge of murder. When I waited on tl ^^ Duke I found him in bed ; being indisposed, from some in- temperance, as he told me himself. I finished in a little more than two hours what remained for me to do of his waxen medal, and he w^as highly pleased with it. I then showed his excellency the safe-conduct, which I had re- ceived by the Pope's order, telling him at the same time, that his Holiness was for employing me in some works, which would give me an opportunity of seeing once more the beautiful city of Rome, and in the mean time I would finish his excellency's medal. The duke answered, half angrily, " Benvenuto, do as I desire of you : I will provide for you and assign you apartments in the mint, with much greater advantages than you could expect from me, since what you ask is but just and reasonable. Who else do you think is able to stamp my coins like you, if you should leave me ? " I replied, " My lord, I have taken care to obviate all inconveniences : I have a pupil of mine here, a young Roman, whom I have trained to my business, and who will serve your Excellency to your satisfaction, till I finish the medal, and at my return I will devote myself for ever to your service. As I have a shop open in Rome, with workmen and some business, as soon as I have re- ceived my pardon at the capitol, I intend to leave all my afiairs at Rome under the care of a pupil of mine, who re- sides in that city, and then, with your excellency's permis- sion, I will come back to serve you." Upon this occasion there was present Lorenzo de' Medici, to whom the duke made several signs for him to join in persuading me to stay ; but Lorenzo never said more than, " Benvenuto, jouT best way would be to remain where you are." I made inswer, that I was resolved by all means to see Rome again. Lorenzo did not add another word ; but continued to eye the duke with the most malicious glances. Having finished the medal, and shut it up in a little box, I said to his excellency : " My lord, you shall have reason to be satisfied, for I will make you a much finer medial than that of Pope Clement. It is natural that I should succeed better in this than in the other, as it was my first essay ; and Signor Lorenzo, being a person of learning and genius, will furnish me with a device for a fine reverse." Lo« M 3 182 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CD. XVTL renzo »nstantly replied, " That is the very thing I was just tLinking of, to give you the hint of a reverse worthy of his excellency." The duke smiled, and looking upon Lorenzo, said, "You shall give him the subject of the reverse, and he will stay with us." Lorenzo thei'eupon answered without hesitation, " I will think of it as soon as I possibly can : my intention is to produce something to surprise the world." The duke, who sometimes was inclined to think him a little foolish, and sometimes to look upon him as a coward, turned about in bed, and laughed at his boasts. I then took my leave without any ceremony, and left them together. The duke, who never thought I would leave him, said nothing farther. When he was afterwards informed that I had set out for Kome, he sent one of his servants after me, who overtook me at Siena, and gave me fifty gold ducats as a present from his master, desiring me to return as soon as I possibly could, and adding from Signor Lorenzo, that he was preparing an admirable re- verse for the medal which I had in hand. I had left full directions to Pietro Paolo, the Roman above-mentioned, in what manner to stamp the coins ; but as it was a very nice and difficult affair, he never acquitted himself in it as well as I could have wished. There remained at this time above twenty crowns due to me from the mint for making the irons. CHAPTER XVII. The Author, soon after his return, is attacked in his house by night by a numerous posse of sbirri, or constables, sent by the Magistrate to apprehend him for killing Pompeo of Milan. — He makes a noble defence, and shows them the Pope's safe-conduct. — He waits upon the Pope, and his pardon is registered at the Capitol. — He is taken dangerously ill. — Account of what passed during his illness, — Surprising fidelity of his partner Felice. In my journey to Rome, I carried with me the fine gun which had been given me by Duke Alessandro, and with great pleasure made use of it several times by the way. I CU. XVn. j ATTACKED BY THE CITY-GUARD. J 83 had a litile house in the street Julia at Rome ; but as it was not in order upon my arrival in that capital, I went to dismount at the house of Signer Giovanni Gaddi, a clerk of the chamber, to whose care I had at my departure com- mitted a quantity of choice arms, and many other things upon which I set a high value. I did not, therefore, choose to alight at my own shop ; but sent for my partner Felice, and desired him to set my little house in order. The day following I went to lie there, and provided my- self with clothes and all other necessaries, intending the next morning to pay my respects to the Pope, and thank him for all favours. I had two servant boys, and a laun- dress, who cooked for me incomparably. Having in the evening entertained several of my friends at supper, and passed the time very agreeably, I went quietly to bed ; but scarce had the morning dawned, when I heard a violent knocking at the door. I thereupon called to the eldest of my boys, named Cencio (the very same whom I carried with me into the necromancer's circle), and bade him go and see what fool knocked at such a strange rate at that unseasonable hour. Whilst Cencio was gone, I lighted another candle (for I always kept one burning by night), and immediately put over my shirt an excellent coat of mail, and over that again some clothes, that accidentally came to hand. Cencio returning, said, " Alas ! master, it is the captain of the city-guards, with all his followers ; and he declares that if you make him wait, he will pull the door off the hinges ; they have lighted torches, and a thousand implements with them." " Go tell them," I answered, " that as soon as I have hud- dled on my clothes, I will come down." Thinking that it might be an attempt to assassinate me, like that already made by Signer Pier Luigi, I took an excellent hanger in my right hand, and in my left the Pope's safe-conduct, and ran directly to the back window, which looked into certain gardens, where I saw above thirty of the city-guards, which convinced me that it would be impossible to make my es- cape on that side. Having placed my two boys before me, I directed them to be ready to open the door when I should bid them ; then holding the hanger in my right bHud, and M 4 184 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XVn. my safe-conduct in my left, quite in a posture of defence, I ordered the boys to open the door, and fear nothing. That instant, Vittorio, the captain of the city-guards, rushed in with two of his myrmidons, thinking they should find it an easy matter to seize me ; but when they saw me prepared for them, they fell back, and said one to another, " This affair is no jest." I threw them the safe-conduct, and said, " Read that : you have no authority to arrest me, and I am resolved you shall not so much as touch my per- son." The captain of the guard ordered some of his fol- lowers to seize me, adding, " That he would examine the safe-conduct at his leisure." Upon this I was animated with new courage, and brandishing my sword, I exclaimed, "You shall not take me alive!" The place we were in was very narrow : they seemed determined to have recourse to violence, and I was resolved to defend myself. The captain perceived that there was actually no probability of getting me alive into their power. The clerk being called whilst he was reading the safe-conduct, the captain madf signs two or three times to his men to lay hands on me , but they were intimidated at seeing me continue in tba same posture of defence. At last giving up the enterprise, they threw the safe-conduct upon the ground, and went away without me. I went to bed again, but found myself extremely fatigued, and could not sleep a wink afterwards. Though I formed a resolution to get myself blooded as soon as it should be day, I asked the advice of Signor Giovanni Gaddi, who consulted his physician : the latter desired to know whether I had been frightened ? Here was a pretty physician to ask such a question, after I had related an event so replete with terror. He was one of those vain triflers who are always laughing, the least thing being sufficient to put him into a merry mood ; so in his usual jocular strain he bid me drink a glass of good Greek wine, be cheerful, keep up my spirits, and fear nothing. Signor Giovanni then said, "A statue of bronze or marble would have been afraid upon such an occasion, much more a man." This precious physician replied, " My lord, we are not all formed in the game manner : tlxis is neither a man of bronze nor of marble, but of iron itself." So having felt my pulse, he burst out CH. XVn.] WAITS UPON "HE POPE. 185 a laughing, as was customary with him, and said to Signor Giovanni, " Do but feel this pulse, it is neither that of a man nor of a timorous person, but of a lion or a dragon." But I, finding my pulse immoderately high, knew what that meant, and perceived that my doctor was an ignorant quack, who had neither studied Galen nor Hippocrates ; but for fear of increasing the terror and agitation I was in, I assumed an appearance of intrepidity and resolution. In the mean time, Signor Giovanni ordered dinner to be served up, and we all dined together. The company, ex- clusive of Signor Giovanni, consisted of Signor Luigi da Fano, Signor Giovanni Greco, Signor Antonio Allegretti, all men of profound learning, and Signor Annibale Caro, who was very young. The conversation, during the whole time that we were at table, turned upon no other topic but the gallant action which has been related above. They likewise caused the whole story to be related by my boy Cencio, who was very ready-witted, had a becoming confidence, and fine person. The lad, as he related my bold exploit, assumed the attitudes which I had thrown myself into, and repeated exactly the expressions I made use of, constantly making me recollect some new circum- stance ; and as they asked liim several times whether he had been afraid, he answered that they should propose the question to me, for he had been affected upon the occasion just in the same manner that I was. This trifling became at last disagreeable to me, and finding myself very much disordered, I rose from table, telling the company that I intended to change my clothes, and to dress myself, together with my boy, in blue and silk ; for I proposed in four days time, upon the festival of the Virgin Mary, to Avalk in proces- sion, and that Cencio should carry before me a white torch liglited. Having left them, I went and cut out the blue clothes and a fine waistcoat of blue silk, with a little cloak of the same ; and I had a cloak and a waistcoat of blue taffety made for the lad. As soon as I had cut out the clothes, I repaired to the Pope, who desired me to confer with Signor Ambrogio, as he had given orders for a work of great importance, which I was immediately to take in hand. I went directly to Sigi.or Ambrogio, who had received a circumstantial &> 186 MKMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CII. X^ n, count of the wliole proceedings of the captain of the city- guard, was in the plot with my enemies to drive me from Rome, and had reprimanded the captain for not taking me ; but the latter alleged in his vindication that he could not do it in defiance of a safe-conduct. This Signor Ambrogio began to talk to me of the work which the Pope had pro- posed to him ; and next desired me to commence the de- signs, declaring that he would afterwards provide whatever was necessary. In the mean time the festival of the A'^irgin Mary drew near ; and as it was customary for those who had received such a pardon as mine to surrender themselves prisoners, I went again to the Pope, and told his Holiness that I did not choose to be confined, but begged it as a favour of him that he would dispense with my going to prison. The Pope answered that it was an established custom, and that I must conform to it. I fell upon my knees again, and returned thanks for the safe-conduct which his Holiness had granted me ; adding, that I should return with it to serve my patron the Duke of Florence, who waited for me with so much eagerness and ardour of aifec- tion. Upon this, his Holiness turned about to one of his confidants, and said, " Let the pardon be granted to Ben- venuto without his complying with the condition of im- prisonment ; and let his patent be properly made out." So the patent being settled, the Pope returned it, and caused it to be registered in the Capitol. Upon the day appointed for that purpose I walked very honourably in procession between two gentlemen, and received a full pardon. About four days after I was attacked by a violent fever, which began with a most terrible shivering. I confined myself to my bed, and immediately concluded the disease to be mortal. I sent, however, for the most eminent phy- sicians of Rome, amongst whom was Signor Francesco da Norcia*, an old physician, and one of the greatest repu- tation in his business in that city. I told the physicians what I apprehended to be the cause of my disorder, and that I had desired to be let blood, but was dissuaded from it ; but if it was not too late, I begged they would order me * Francesco Fusconi was physician to Adrian VIL, t/> Oement VII., and to Paul III. He possessed a distinguished reputation in his pro- fession, and had amassed immense wealth. CH. XVn.] -WHAT PASSED DURING HIS ILLNESS. 1 87 to be blooded. Signer Francesco made answer, that bleed- ing could then be of no service, though it might have been so at first ; for if I had opened a vein in time 1 should have had no illness, but now it would be necessary to have re- course to a ditferent method of cure. Thus they began to treat me to the best of their knowledge, and with the utmost care. My disorder, however, gained ground daily, so that in about a week it rose to such a pitch that the physicians gave me over, and directed that whatever I desired should be given me. Signer Francesco said, " As long as there is breath in his body send for me at all hours, for it is impos- sible to conceive how great the power of nature is in such a young man : but even if it should quite fail him, apply these tive medicines one after another, and send for me. I will come at any hour of the night, and should be better pleased to save his life than that of any cardinal in Rome.* Signer Giovanni Gaddi came to see me two or three times a-day, and was continually handling my fine fowling- pieces, my coat of mail, and my swords, saying, " This is very fine ; this again is much finer." The same of ray little models, and other knick-knacks, insomuch that he quite tired my patience. With him there came one Mattio Franzesif, who seemed quite impatient till I was dead; not because he was to inherit any thing of mine, but he wished for what Signer Giovanni appeared to have so much at heart. I had with me my partner Felice, of whom men- tion has so often been made, and who gave me the greatest assistance that ever one man aflferded another. Nature was in me debilitated to such a degree, and brought so low, that I was scarcely able to fetch my breath ; but my un- derstanding was as unimpaired as when I enjoyed perfect health. Nevertheless I imagined that an old man, of an hideous figure, came to my bedside, to haul me violently * Fusconi was a great admirer of the fine arts, and collected many beautiful ancient statues : it is not surprising then that he took so much pleasure in the society of Benvcnuto. t Fraiizesi is distinguished among Italian poets for his humorous pieces, and the correctness and case of his versification. lie stands among the Test! di Lingua, in the list of Herni, and other burlesque writers. Ranking with the Florentine nobles he generally resided at the court of Rom^ esteemed and loved both by his noble and learned contemporaries. 188 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [oH. XVII. into a large bark : I thereupon called to my friend Felice, and desired him to approach, and drive away the old villain. Felice, who had a great friendship for me, ran towards the bedside in tears, and cried out, " Get thee gone, old traitor, who attemptest to bereave me of all that is dear to me in life." Signor Gaddi, who was then present, said, " The poor man raves, and has but a few hours to live." Mattio observed, that I had read Dante*, and in the violence of my disorder was raving from passages in that author ; so he continued to say laughing, " Get hence, old villain, and do not disturb the repose of our friend Benvenuto." Perceiving myself derided, I turned to Signor Gaddi, and said to him, " My dear sir, do not think I rave : what I tell you of the old man who persecutes me so cruelly is strictly true. You would do well to turn out that cursed Mattio, who laughs at my sufferings ; and since you do me the honour to visit me, you should come in the company of Signor Antonio AUegretti, and Signor Annibale Caro, with the other men of genius of your acquaintance, who are very different in sentiment and understanding from that block- head." Thereupon Signor Gaddi, in a jesting way, bade Mattio quit his presence for ever. However, though the fellow laughed, the jest became earnest, for Gaddi would never see him more, but sent for Signor Antonio Allegretti, Signor Lodovicof, and Signor Caro. No sooner had those worthy persons appeared, than I began to take comfort, and conversed with them awhile in my right senses. As I, notwithstanding, from time to time urged Felice to drive away the old man, Signor Lodovico asked me, what I thought I saw, and what appearance the old man had. Whilst I was giving him a description of this figure, the old man pulled me by the arm, and dragged * Alluding to the following grand lines from " The Inferno," so simply and nobly rendered by Mr. Cary — Ed. " And lo ! towards us, in a bark, Comes on an old man, hoary white with age, Crying, ' Woe to you, wicked spirits ; hope not Ever to see the sky again,' " &c. Gary's Dante. t Lodovico da Fane, before mentioned among the other friends of Gaddi (pp. 109 and 185.). CH. Xni.J SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. 1S9 me by main force towards his horrid bark. TVTien I had uttered the last word, I Avas seized with a terrible fit, and thought that the old man threw me into the vessel. I was told that whilst I was in this fainting fit, I struggled and tossed about in bed, and gave Signor Gaddi abusive language, telling him that he came to rob me, and not for an/ good purpose ; with many other ugly expressions, which occasioned great confusion to Gaddi ; after which, as I was told, I left off speaking, and remained like a dead creature for above an hour. Those that were present, imagining that the agonies of death were coming upon me, gave me over and went to their respective homes. Mattio heard the news, and im- mediately wrote to Florence, to Benedetto Varchi*, my most intimate friend, that I had expired at such an hour of the night. That great genius, upon this false intelli- gence, which gained universal credit, wrote an admirable sonnet, which shall be inserted in its proper place. It was three hours before I came to myself, and all the remedies prescribed by Signor Francesco having been administered without effect, my good friend Felice flew to the doctor's house, and knocked till he made him awake and get out of bed : he then with tears in his eyes entreated him to come and see me, as he was afraid I had just expired. Signor Francesco, who was one of the most passionate men living, answered, " To what purpose should I go ? If he is dead, I am more sorry for him than yourself. Do you think, even if I should go, that I am possessed of any nostrum to restore him to life ?" Perceiving however that the poor young man was going away in tears, he called him back and gave him a sort of oil to anoint the several pulses of • Benedetto Varchi, or da Montivarchi, a Florentine, was one of the most learned and elegant writers of his age. As a supporter of the Strozzi, he was numbered among the exiles in 1537, and spent many years in Venice, Padua, and Bologna, in habits of the strictest intimacy with the most illustrious characters of each place. Recalled by Cosmo, through the mediation of Luca INIartini, in 1542, he was taken into that duke's service, and employed in writing his intended history. Of the greatest integrity, and wiili excellent dispositions, he fvcry way fulfilled the expectations of his prince, by inviting his sub- jects to the study of letters, and promoting a knowledge of literature and the purity of the Tuscan language throughout Italy. ISO MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XVIL my body, directing my little fingers and toes to be pressed hard, and that they might send for him again in case I was to come to myself. Felice, at his return, did all that no was ordered by Signor Francesco ; and having in vain con- tinued to do so until day-light, they all believed the case to be hopeless, and were just going to lay me out. In a moment, however, I came to myself, and called to Felice to drive away the old man that tormented me. Felice was for sending for Signor Francesco, but I told him that he need not send for any body, that he had nothing more to do but to come close to me himself, for the old man was afraid of him, and would immediately quit me upon his approach. Upon Felice's coming up to the bedside, I touched him, and then my imagination was impressed, as if the old man had left me in a passion : I therefore entreated my friend to stay constantly by my bedside. Signor Francesco then making his appearance, declared that at any rate he would save me, and that he had never in his life known a young man of so vigorous a constitu- tion. Then sitting down to write a recipe, he prescribed perfumes, poultices, washings, unctions, and many things more, too tedious to enumerate. In the mean time I found myself in a sad perplexity, a prodigious crowd being come to see my resuscitation. There were present men of great importance, and in vast numbers, before whom I declared, that what little gold and money I had, (the whole might amount to the value of about eight hundred crowns in gold, silver, jewels, and money,) I desired to me made over to my poor sister, who lived at Florence, and whose name was Mona Lipperata. The remainder of my effects, whether furniture, or other things, I left to my poor Felice, and fifty gold crowns besides, to purchase clothes. At these words, Felice threw his arms about my neck, and protested he desired nothing but that I should recover and live. I then said, " If you wish me to live, touch me in this manner, and scold this old fellow who is so much afraid of you." When I spoke thus, some present were quite fright- ened, seeing that I did not rave, but spoke coherently, and to the purpose. In this manner ny disorder continued, and I recovered but slow'ly. The kind Signor Francesco visit<,d me four or five times a-day, but I saw no more ol CH. XVII.] SONNET UPON THE REPORT OF HIS DEATH. 191 Signer Gaddi, whom I had put into such confusion. My brother-in-law came from Fk)rence for the legacy, but being a very worthy man, was highly rejoiced to find me alive. It was a great consolation to me to see him, and he behaved to me with the utmost kindness, declaring that his visit was with no other view but to take care of me himself; so he did for several days, and then I dismissed him, having scarce any doubt of my recovery. At his departure he left the sonnet of Signor Benedetto Varchi, which is as follows. SONNET UPON THE FALSE REPORT OP THE DEATH OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. Who shall, Mattio, ease our present grief? Can streaming tears and sorrow soften deatli ? Can sad complaints bestow the wish'd relief? Since our loved friend resigns his latest breath. His soul, with all the shining graces fraught, In early youth felt friendship's sacred flame To tread the rugged path of virtue taught. To mount the skies, and leave a matchless name. O gentle shade, if in the realms of day, Thou'rt sway'd by love or tender friendships powers ; Hear me bewail my loss in mournful lay, Not weep a friend transferr'd to heavenly bowers. To blissful seats, in glories bright array'd, Too soon, alas ! thou'st wing'd thy rapid flight ; The great Creator, to full view display'd, There without dazzling meets thy ravish'd sight. Thus thou beholdest in yon radiant sphere, Him*, whom thy art so well depicted here. My disorder was so exceedingly violent, that there ap- peared no possibility of a cure, and the good Signor Francesco da Norcia had more trouble than ever, bringing me new remedies every day, and endeavouring to strengthen and repair my poor crazy frame ; but notwithstanding all the pains he took, it did not appear possible for him to succeed. All my physicians were disheartened, and quite at a loss what course to follow. I was troubled with a violent thirst, but for several days observed the rules they prescribed me ; • Alluding to the representation of the Deity, on a medal of CeU Jini's. — p. :04. 192 MEMOIRS OF BENVKNUTO CELLINI. [CH. XVH while Felice, who thought his achievement great in saving my life, never quitted my bedside : at the same time the old man began to be less troublesome, though he sometimes visited me in my dreams. One day Felice happened to be out, and there were left to take care of me an apprentice and a girl named Beatrice. I asked the apprentice what had become of my boy, Cencio, and why I had never seen him thei-e to attend me ? The lad told me, that Cencio had been afflicted with a more severe disorder than myself, and was then at the point of death ; adding, that Felice had strictly enjoined them to conceal it from me. When he told me this, I was very much concerned. Shortly after, the servant Beatrice, who was a native of Pistoia, was in an adjoining room ; I called and begged of her to bring me a large crystal wine-cooler, which stood hard by^ full of cold water. The girl ran directly and brought iv I desired her to hold it up to my mouth, telling her, that if she would let me drink a good draught, I would make her a present of a new gown. Beatrice, who had stolen some things of value from me, and was apprehensive that the theft might be discovered, wished very much for my death ; she therefore let me, at two draughts, swill myself with as much water as I could swallow, so that I may say, without exaggeration, that I drank above a quart. I then covered myself up with the bed clothes, began to sweat, and fell asleep. Felice returning after I had slept about an hour, asked the boy how I was ? He answered, " I cannot tell, Beatrice has taken the wine-cooler full of water, and he has drunk it nearly all : I do not know now whether he is dead or alive." They say that the poor young man was so affected at this intelligence, that he was almost ready to drop ; but seizing a stick he soundly cudgelled the girl, exclaiming, " Ah ! traitress, that you should be the cause of bis death." Whilst Felice was beating, and the girl screaming. I dreamt that the old man had cords in his hands, and that upon his making an attempt to bind me, Felice came upon him with an axe, which he used to such effect, that the old fellow ran away, crying out, " Let me be gone ; I shall be in no hurry to return," In the mean time Beatrice ran into my chamber, bawling so loud that I aw^oke and said, " Lot the girl alone , with a design^ CH. XVn.] A WATER CUHE. 19S perhaps, to hurt me, she has done me more good than you, with all your kind attentions : now lend me a helpino' hand, for I have just had a sweat." Felice, recovering his spirits, rubbed me well, and said all he could to hearten me ; and I finding myself much better, began to have hopes of my recovery. Signor Francesco soon made his ap- pearance, and seeing me so much better, the girl crying, the apprentice running backwards and forwards, and Fe- lice laughing, concluded from this hurry, that soraetliing extraordinary had happened, which was the cause of so great a cliange. Immediately after came in Bernardino, who had been against bleeding me in the beginning. Sig- nor Francesco, who was a man of sagacity, could not help exclaiming, " O wonderful power of iSTature ! She knows her own wants ; physicians know nothing !" The fool Bernardino* thereupon said, "Had I drunk another flask, I had been immediately cured." Signor Francesco da Norcia, from his great experience, treated this opinion with the contempt it deserved; saying, "The devil give you good of such a notion!" and turning about to me, asked me, whether I could have drunk any more ? I an- swered that I could I not, as I had completely quenched my thirst. Then addressing himself to Bernardino, " Do not you see," said he, " that nature took just what she had need of, and neither more nor less : in like manner she required what was necessary for her relief, when the poor young man begged of you to bleed him. If you knew that drinking two flasks of water would save his life, why did you not say so before ? you would tlien have had something to boast of." At these words the little doctor took himself off crest-fallen, and never made his appearance again. Signor Francesco directed, that I should be removed out of that apartment, to a lodging upon one of the hills of Rome. Cardinal Cornaro, having heard of my recovery, ordered me to be carried to a house which he had at Monte Ca- vallo. That very evening I was carefully conveyed in a sedan, well covered and wrapt up. No sooner was I arrived, than I began vomiting, during which there came • Probably Bernardino Lilj da Todi, of wliom little more is known than the name, a»d tliat he was phyiician to tlie Uoman court so \s^ »s the year 1 528. O 194 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. ( CH. XVUL from my stomach a hairy worm, about a quarter of a cubit long : the hairs wei'e very long, and the worm was most disgusting, having spots of different colours, green, black, and red — it was kept to be shown to the doctor. Signor Francesco, declaring he had never seen any thing like it, addressed himself thus to Felice : " Take care of your friend Benvenuto, who is now cured : do not let him be any way intemperate, tor though he has escaped this time, another excess may occasion his death. You see his dis- order was so violent, that when the holy oil was brought him, it was too late. I now perceive that, with a little patience and time, he will be again in a condition to pro- duce more masterpieces of art." He then turned about to me and said, " Dear Benvenuto, be careful, and do not in- dulge in any excess, and as you are now recovered, I intend you shall make me an image of our Lady, whom I shall always worship for your sake." I promised to follow his advice, and asked him whether it would be safe to have myself removed to Florence. He answered that I should stay till I was a little better, and we saw how nature stood affected. CHAPTER XVIII. The Author upon his recovery sets out for Florence, with Felice, for the benefit of his native air. — He finds Duke Alessandro greatly prepossessed against him by the malicious insinuations of his ene- mies. — He returns again to Rome, and attaches himself with assiduity to his busineas. — Strange phenomenon seen by him in coming home from shooting in the neigiibourhood of Home. — His opinion concerning it. — News of the murder of Duke Alessandro, who is succeeded by Cosmo de' Medici. — The Pope having re- ceived intelligence that the Emperor Charles V. was setting out for Rome after his successful expedition against Tunis, sends for our Author, to employ him in a curious piece of workmanship, intended as a present for his Imperial Majesty. Having waited a week, I found in myself so little altera- tion for the better, that my patience was almost tired out, lor my illness had now continued above fifty days ; I re- solved to delay no longer, and Laving accommodated my- self with an open carriage, my dear friend Felice and I set CH. X\m.] VISITED BY MANY OF HIS FRIENDS. 195 out directly for Florence. As I had not written to any person, I went to my sister's *, who welcomed me with tears and smiles at the same moment. The same day many of my friends came to see me, and among them Pier Landi, one of the best and dearest I ever had. A day or two after, there came one Niccolo da Monte Acuto, who was likewise my particular acquaintance. He had heard the duke say, " It would have been better for Benvenuto if he had died, for in coming hither he has fallen into a snare, and I will never forgive him." Pooi Niccolo said to me, with the tone of a man in despair, " Alas ! my dear Benvenuto, what brought you hither ? Did you not know that you had given oifence to the duke ? I have heard him swear that you had fallen into a snare." I answered, " Signor Niccolo, I beg you Avill put his excel- lency in mind that Pope Clement was going to treat me in the same manner, and with as little reason. Let him but suffer me to recover my health thoroughly, and I shall con- vince him that I am the most faithful servant he ever had in his life, and that some of my enemies have prejudiced him against me." The person that had thus brought me into disgrace with his excellency, was Giorgetto Vasellai of Arezzo f, the • Cellini arrived at Florence on the 9th November, 1535, as we learn, from a letter of Vaiclii to Demho, dated the 10th, in which he says, "our friend Benvenuto, for so he may justly be culled, arrived here in an easy carriage yesterday evening from Rome, not quite recovered from his fever, but so well as not to give us any uneasiness on his ac- count." How agreeable this information was to Bembo, we mav gather from his reply to Varchi on the 28th of the same month. t Giorgio Vasari, of whom Cellini speaks more than once in terms of reproach, perhaps because he had tlie tault so common to artists, of wishing to preserve an unrivalled influence at court ; but who was in other respects a man of worth and ability. Not possessing a pure and refined taste, and having little knowledge of colouring, his pic- tures derive their chief merit from a certain facility acquired from tbt» stiidy of the anti(|ue, and from the school of Andrea del Sarto and Michel Angelo. He was most successful in ornamental designs and architecture, particularly the latter. But that which stamjied his fime, was the History of Artists and of the Fine Arts in Italy, written by him with the assistance of some of his friends, men of letters, with great correctness, and in a style peculiarly elegant and unafVected. He is accused indeed, of having fallen into some errors as to the facts he relates, and of manifesting too ini'ch partiality for the Florentines: fcults which are palliated by the rirtumstances in which he was. placed O S 196 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XVUL paintei , in retiirn for the many favours I had conferred on him. I had maintained him at Rome, and borne his charges, though he had turned my house topsy-turvy ; for he was troubled with a sort of dry leprosy, which made him con- tract a habit of scratching himself continually : hence, aa he lay with a journeyman of mine, named Manno *, whilst he thought he was scratching himself, he tore the skin off one of Manno's legs, with his great claws, for he never pared his nails : Manno thereupon left me, and would have put him to death ; but I found means to reconcile them, I afterwards got Giorgio into the service of the Cardinal de' Medici, and was always a friend to the man. In return for all these favours and acts of friendship, he told Duke Ales- isandro, that I had spoken ill of his excellency, and had made it my boast that I should be one of the first to scale the walls of Florence, and assist his enemies against him. These words, as I understood afterwards, he dropped at the instigation of Ottaviano de' Medici, whose aim was to be revenged for the trouble given him by the duke upon occa- sion of my coins, and my departure from Florence. But as I knew myself entirely innocent of the charge, I was not under any sort of apprehensions : what contributed still more to make me easy was, that the worthy Signor F'ran- cesco da Monte Varchi f attended me with the utmost care, and had brought thither my dear friend Luca Martini |, who passed the greatest part of the day with me. In the mean time I despatched my trusty partner Felice to Home, to look into the state of my affairs in that city. As soon as I could raise my head from the pillow, which and redeemed by the erudition and beauties of style in which the work abounds. He was employed by Cardinal Ippolito, and by all the family of the Medici; he died in 1574, at the age of 62. * Vasari, who admits that he had been much in Manno's company, says he was a man very eminent in his art (of a goldsmith), and of un- cepiionable conduct and maimers. He was a Florentine; bat chiefly worked at Rome. ■f A distinguished naturalist, and extremely devoted to the fine arts, ^ An eminent and learned character, of great influence and autho- rity at the court of Duke Cosmo, of which he availed himself, for the protection of letters and learned men. He produced two excellent burlesque pieces, no less humorous and elegant than those of Berni Mad others. He was also very intimate with Caro, as appears from • v{Mluiue of " The Letters," CH. XVIII.] -SV MTS UPON DUKE ALESSANDRO. 197 was at the end of a fortnight, being still unable to walk, I desired to be carried into tlie palace of the Medici, to the little terrace, and there to be left seated till the duke should pass by. Several of my friends at court expressed great surprise that I should suffer the inconvenience of being carried in that manner, being still so very infirm ; telling me, that I should have waited till my health was thoroughly restored, and then have visited the duke. A great number had now gathered about me, and they all seemed to consider my being there as a sort of miracle, not so much from their having heard that I was dead, as that I should make my appearance there in such a state. I said to the gentlemen present, that some malicious villain had told the duke, that I had boasted I should be one of the first to scale his ex- cellency's walls, and that I had spoken disrespectfully of him ; therefore I could neither live nor die contented, till I had cleared myself from the infamous aspersions cast upon me, and discovered the villain who gave rise to so black a calunmy. When I spoke thus, there was gathered about me a crowd of courtiers, all of whom seemed deeply to compassionate my case, and expressed their sentiments variously concerning it : as for me, I declared my resolution never to quit the place till I had discovered my accuser. When I had uttered these words, Signor Agostino, the duke's tailor, mixing with the gentlemen belonging to the court, came up to me, and said, " If that is all you are so solicitous to know, you shall soon be satisfied." Just at that instant, Giorgetto the painter, of whom mention has been made, passed that way . Agostino said, " There goes your accuser ; whether what he says be true or false, you know best." Though I could neither stir nor move, I boldly asked Giorgetto, whether it was true that he had accused me in that manner ? Giorgetto answered, that it was false, and that he had never said any such thing. Agostino then replied, " Abandoned wretch, don't you know that I speak upon a certainty ?" Giorgetto instantly quitted the place, declaring it was false. A short time after the duke himself appeared : I caused myself to be supported in his excellency's presence, and he stopped. I then said, tliat I was come there for no other motive but to justify my conduct. The duke looked at me attentively, and express- ing great surprise that I was still alive, bade me endeavour o 3 198 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XVIII. to show myself an honest man, and take care of my health. As soon as I had got home, Niccolo da Monte Acuto came to me, and told me that I was in the most dreadful jeopardy conceivable, such as he never should have believed ; that I was a marked man ; that it was most advisable therefore for me to endeavour to recover my health with all conve- nient speed, for danger impended over my head from a man who was to be feared. He then added, " Consider with yourself, how have you offended that good-for-nothing Ot- taviano de' Medici ?" I answered that I had never offended him, but that he had wronged me ; so I related to him the whole affair of the mint. His reply to me was, " Go your ways, in God's name, with all the expedition possible, and make yourself quite easy, for you will have the pleasure of being revenged sooner than you desire." I made a short stay to recover my health, gave Pietro Paolo my directions with regard to stamping tiie coins, and then set out upon my return to Rome, without saying a word to the duke, or to any body else. Upon my arrival in that capital, after I had sufficiently enjoyed myself in the company of my friends, I began the duke's medal, and had in a few days engraved the head upon steel : it was the finest piece of work of the sort that ever came out of my hands. At this time I was visited at least once every day by a foolish sort of a person, named Francesco Soderini *, who seeing what I was about, fre- quently said to me, " Cruel man, will you then immortalise so fierce a tyrant ? As you never made any thing so fine before, it is evident that you are our inveterate foe, and so much a friend to that party, that both the Pope and he were mistaken when they would have hanged you : one was the Father, the other the Son, now beware of the Holy Ghost." It was believed for a certainty that Duke Alessandro was the son of Pope Clement, f Signor Fi'ancesco farther added, and even swore, that if he had had an opportunity, he would have stolen the irons with which I made that medal. I replied that he had done well to tell me his mind, for I would take particular care he should never see them again. • He had been banished from Florence, as an enemy to the Slcdicit in 1530. + Thus stated by Ammirato, and Antonio Magliabecchi. CH. XVHI.l AMUSES HIMSELF rneeting a lady, a relation of Lorenzo's, of whom he was deeply enamoured : and when he had brought him into the cliaml)er, assassinated liim wit!) a dagger. This tragical event is described by Varchi in his XVth book, and by Segni in the Vllth; and it is to be observed, that these writers refer it to the year 1536, for, in Florence, previous to 1750, the year did not commence till the 25tli of March, tiie day of the incarnation of our Lord. Alessandro was twenty-six years of age. t Bartolomeo Bettini was tile particular friend of Buonarroti, and mu.t have been a person of wealth, as he took great pleasure in having the best ai lists employed for hiui. 202 MKMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINu [cil. X^^^ goldsmith, und work for whoever pays me, yet you turn me into ridicule, as if I were the leader of a party. I Avill not, however, in return reproach you with the avarice, folly, and worthlessness of your ancestors ; but I must tell you, in answer to all your insipid raillery, that before two, or at iarthest three days are over, you will have another duke, and perhaps a much worse than your last." A day or two after Bettini came again to my shop, and said, " You have no occasion to spend your money to pay messengers, since you are acquainted with events before they come to pass* : Wiiat familiar spirit are you indebted to for your intelligence ?" He then gave me to under- stand that "Cosmo de' Medici, son to Signer Giovanni^ was made duke, but that he was invested with the dignity on certain conditions, which would control him in the in- dulgence of his caprice." I now had an opportunity of laughing at them in my turn, so I said, " The citizens of Florence have put a young man upon a mettlesome horse ; they have fitted him with spurs, left the bridle to his guidance, and set him at liberty upon a fine plain, in which are flowers, fruits, and all things that can delight the senses: after this they direct him not to go beyond certain limits assigned. Now pray tell me, who has the power to prevent bim, when he has an inclination to pass them ? Laws cannot be prescribed to him who is master of the law." From that time forward they ceased to molest me. Beginning now to attend the business of my shop, I set about some jobs which were not of great importance ; for I made the recovery of my health my chief care, and did not think myself yet entirely secure from a relapse. About this time the Emperor returned victorious from his enter- prise against Tunisf, when the Pope sent for me and asked * The crime committed by Lorenzo was rendered worse than use- less: lie himself fled like a madman to Venice, while tlie party of the Medici soon prevailed over the weak and divided friends of the re- public. Cosmo was elected duke in Florence on tlie 9th of January followinjj, and exercised his power with justice and moderation. Lo- renzo, after some time residing at Constantinople, went to France, and thence to Venice in l5-i7, where he was assassinated by two soldiers who would take no reward, one of whom had been among the guards of the late Duke Alessandro. f Cellini, who, on the mention of the reverse promised him by Lo- renzo, in 1535, went on to describe the death of the Duke AlessandrOj CH. XVIII.] PRESENT TO CIiAKLES V. FROM THE POPE. 203 my advice what sort of present lie shoukl make that prince. I answered, tliat tlie most proper present to make his im- perial majesty was agv)l(len crucifix, for which I had devised a sort of ornament which would be extremely suitable, and do both his Holiness and myself great honour ; having already made three small figui-es in gold, round, and about a span high. These were the same figures that I had begun for the chalice of Pope Clement ; and which were intended to represent Faith, Hope, and Charity.* Having therefore added, in wax, what was wanting at the foot of the cross, I carried it to the Pope with the figure of Christ in wax, and several other elegant ornaments, with which he was highly pleased, and before I left him Ave agreed upon every thing that was to be done, and calculated the expense of the work. This Avas a little after sunset, and the Pope had given orders to Signor Latino Giovenale to supply me with money the next morning. Latino, who had a great dash of the fool in his composition, wanted to furnish the Pope witli a new invention, Avhich should come entirely from himself, so that he counteracted all that his Holiness and I had settled. In the morning, when I Avent for the money, he said to me, in that coarse tone of presumption | so pe- culiar to him : " It is our part to invent, yours to execute: before I left the Pope last evening, Ave designed something much better." When he had uttered these Avords, I did not suffer him to proceed, but said, " Neither you nor the Pope can ever think of a better device than this, in Avhich Christ is represented Avith his cross, so noAV you may con- tinue your courtier-like impertinence as long as you please." Without making any answer, he quitted me Avith great indignation, and endeavoured to get the work put into the hands of another goldsmith ; but the Pope Avas against it. wlikh happened in 1537, now reverts to the former year, since Charles V. arrived at Xajjles from his expedition to Tunis, the SOth November, 1535. • See page 125. These three fijjures must have been masterpieces in their way, as they are mentioned also by Vasari with the highest praise. t It justly excites the laughter of Marini, to see Cellini accuse I^atino INIanetti so freely of folly and presumption, as if he himfelf hud been a perfect pattern of mode it y and discretion. 204 MEMOIRS OF KEXVENUTO CELLINI. [ClI. XIX. His Holiness sent for me directly, and told me, "That I had given very good advice, but that they intended to make use of an office of the Virgin Mary, with admirable illuminations, which had cost the Cardinal de' Medici above two thousand crowns, and that this would be a very pro- per present for the empress ; that the emperor should afterwards receive what I had proposed, which would be indeed a present worthy of his majesty ; but now there Avas no time to lose, that prince being expected in about six weeks. For this book, the Pope desired to have a cover made of massy gold, richly chased, and adorned with a considerable number of jewels, worth about six thousand crowns : so when he had fui'nished me with the jewels and the gold, 1 immediately set about the work, and, as I used all possible expedition, it appeared in a few days to be of such admirable beauty, that the Pontiff was surprised at it, and conferred extraordinary favours upon me, at the same time forbidding that fool, Giovenale, to disturb me in my business. CHAPTER XIX. The Emperor Charles V. makes a triumphant entry into Rome. — Fine diamond presented hy that Prince to the Pope. — Signor Du- rante and the Author nominated by his Holiness to carry his presents to the Emperor The presents sent by the Pope. — The Author makes a speech to the Emperor, who admits him to a private con- ference. — He is employed to set the fine diamond, which the Em- peror had presented to the Pope. — Signor Latino Giovenale invents some stories to prejudice his Holiness against the Author, who thinking himself neglected, forms a resolution to go to France.— Anecdote of his boy Ascanio. When I had almost finished the work above mentioned, the emperor arrived at Rome *, and a great number of grand triumphal arches were erected for h\s reception. He entered that capital with extraordinary pomp, which it is the province of others to describe, as I shall not treat of subjects that do not concern me. Immediately on his ar- rival he made the Pope a present of a diamond, which ♦ He entered Rome on the 6th of April, 1 536. CH. XIX.] CARKIES PRESENTS TO THE EMPEHOR. 205 had cost him twelve thousand crowns. The latter sent I'or me, and putting the diamond into my hands, desired me to set it in a ring for his finger ; but first to bring him the book unfinished as it was. When I carried it to his Holiness, he was highly pleased with it, and consulted me respectingthe excuse to be made to the emperor for the non- completion of the work. I said, " That the most plausible apology was my being indisposed, which his imperial majesty would be very ready to believe, upon seeing me so pale and emaciated." The Pope answered, "Tiiat he highly approved of the excuse; but desired me to add in his name, that in presenting his majesty with tlie book, 1 at the same time made him a present of myself." He suggested the words I was to pronounce, an/1 the manner in which I was to be- have : these words I repeated in his presence, asking him whether he approved of my delivery ? He made answer, " That if I had but the confidence to speak in the em- peror's presence in the same manner, I should acquit my- self to admiration." I replied, " That without being in the least confusion, I could deliver, not only those words, but many more, because the emperor wore a lay habit like myself, and I should feel that I was speaking to one formed like myself : but it was different when I addressed my • self to his Holiness, in whom I discovered a much more awful representation of the divine power, as well because of his ecclesiastical ornaments which were heightened with a sort of glory, as on account of his venerable and majestic age : ail which circumstances made me stand much more in awe in his presence, than in that of the emperor." The Pope then said, " Go, my good friend Benvenuto, acquit yourself like a man of worth, and you will find your account in it." His Holiness at tlie same time ordered out two Turkish horses, which had formerly belonged to Pope Clement, and were the finest that had ever been brought into Cliristen- dom. These he committed to tlie care of Signor Durante*, his chamberlain, to conduct them to the porch of the • Durante Duranti, of Brescia, a prelate well read in the Belles Leftres, and in the science of jiiri^^ijrudence. He was high cliam- berlain to Paul III , who had a particular rejrard for him; he made him a cardinal in 1544, and afterwarUs Bishop of Brest ia. If i di».i 1587, aged 71, 206 MEMOIRS OF HENVENUTO CELLINI. [CU. XIX. palace, and there present them to the emperor, at the same time directing him what to say on the occasion. We both went together, and wlien we were admitted into the pre- sence of that great prince, the two horses entered the pahice with so much grandeur and spirit, that the emperor and all the bystanders were astonished. Thereupon Signor Durante advanced in the most awkward and ungra- cious manner, and delivered himself in a sort of Bx'escian jargon, with such hesitation, and so disagreeably, that the emperor could not help smiling. In the mean time I had already uncovered my work, and perceiving that his Majesty looked at me very graciously, I stepped forward and expressed myself thus : " Sire, our holy father. Pope Paul, sends this office of our Lady, as a present to your Majesty: it was written, and the figures of it were drawm by the ablest man that the world ever produced. He presents you likewise with this rich cover of gold and jewels, which as yet remain unfinished in consequence of my indisposition : upon this account his Holiness, together with the book, presents me also, desiring that I should come to finish the Vr'ork near your sacred person, and also serve you Ma-iesty in whatever you may require of me, so long as I live." To this the emperor made answer : " The book is highly agreeable to me, and you are so likewise ; but I w^ish you to finish the work for me at Rome, and wdien it is completed, and you are thoroughly recovered, I shall be glad to see you at my court." In the course of his conversation with me, he called me by my name, which I was greatly surprised at, as in what passed between us it had not been mentioned. He told me that he had seen the button of Pope Clement's pontifical habit, upon which I had de- signed such admirable figures. In this manner we pro- tracted our discourse for the space of half an hour, talking upon many other curious and entertaining subjects. I ac- quitted myself upon the whole better than I expected ; and when the conversation came to a pause, I bowed and retired. The emperor was then heard to say : " Let five hundred gold crowns be given to Benvenuto without delay." The person who brought them, inquired which was he that had delivered the message from the Pope to the emperor. Durante thereupon came forward, and robbed me of the money. I complained of this to his Iloli- CH. XIX."] EMPLOYED TO SET A FIXE DIAMOND. 20? ncss, who desired me to be under no apprehensions, saying he was sensible how well I luul behaved, and that I should certainly liave my share of his majesty's bounty. Upon my returning to my shop, I exerted myself with the utmost assiduity to finish the ring for the diamond, upon which account four of the most eminent jewellers in Kome were ordered to consult with me. The Pope had been given to understand, that the diamond had been set at Venice by the first artist in the world, whose name was Miliano Targhetta ; and as the stone was somewhat sharp, it was thought too difficult an attempt to set it, without the advice and assistance of others. I made the four jewellers highly welcome ; amongst whom was a native of Milan, named Gajo. This was one of the most arrogant block- heads breathing, who pretended to great skill in what he was altogether ignorant of: the rest were men of singular modesty and merit. Gajo took the lead of the rest, and said, " Endeavour to preserve the tint of Miliano : to that, Benvenuto, you must show due respect ; for as the tinting of diamonds is the nicest and most difficult article in the jeweller's business, so Miliano is the greatest jeweller the world ever produced, and this is the hardest diamond that ever was worked upon." I answered, that it would be so much the more glorious for me to vie with so renowned an artist : then addressing myself to the other jewellers, I added, " You shall see now that I will preserve the tint of Miliano, and try whether I can in so doing improve it: in case I should fail of success, I will restore its former tint." The fool Gajo answered, '* That if I could contrive to be as good as my word, he would bow to my superior genius." When he had finished, I began to make my tints. In the composition of these, I exerted myself with the utmost diligence, and shall in a proper place inform the reader how they are made. I must acknowledge that this diamond gave me the most trouble of any that ever before or since fell into my hands, and Miliano's tint appeared to be a masterpiece of art ; however I was not discouraged. My genius being upon this occasion in a particular manner sharpened and elevated, I not only equalled, but even surpassed it. Per- ceiving that I had C()n(|uered Miliano, I endeavoured to excel even myscU^ and by new methods made a tint much 208 MKMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH XIX superior to mj former. I then sent for the jewellers, and Having givMi to the diamond Miliano's tint, I afterwards tinted it again with my own. I showed it to the artists, and one of the cleverest amongst them, whose name was Riiffaello del Moro, took the stone in his hand, and said to Giovanni, "Benvenuto has surpassed Miliano's tint." Gajo, who could not believe what he heard, upon taking the jewel into his hand cried out, "Benvenuto, this diamond is worth two thousand ducats more than it was with Miliano's tint." I replied, " Since I have surpassed Miliano, let me see whether I cannot outdo myself." Having requested them to have patience a few moments, I went into a little closet, and unseen by them gave a new tint to my diamond : upon showing it to the jewellers, Gajo instantly exclaimed, " This is the most extraordinary case I ever knew in my life; the diamond is now worth above 18,000 crowns, and we hardly valued it at 12,000." The other artists turning about to Gajo, said to him, " Benvenuto is an honour to our profession : it is but just that we should bow to the superiority of his genius and the excellence of his tints." Gajo made answer, "I will go and inform the Pope in what manner he has acquitted himself; and contrive so that he shall receive a thousand crowns for setting this diamond." Accordingly he waited on his Holiness and told him all he had seen : the Pontiff thereupon sent three times that day to inquire whether the ring was finished. Towards evening I carried it to him : and as I had free access, and was not obliged to observe any ceremony, I I softly lifted up a curtain, and saw his Holiness with the Marquess of Guasto*, who would fain persuade him to * Alfonso d'Avalos, Marquess of Guasto or Vasto, succeeded to the immense riches as well as to the reputation of the great Ferdinando d'Avalos, Marquess of Pescara. He had just arrived from the expe- dition to Tunis, where he had served as lieut.-general, under the em- peror. To fine military qualities, he added lofty but generous man- ners, and a cool, calculating mind equal to any undertaking. When governor of Milan he caused two of the ambassadors of Francis I. to be assassinated on tlieir way to Venice and Constantinople, in order to possess himself of their ijistructioRs, and traverse their designs. War being on this declared, in the famous battle of Ceresola, he was seized with such a panic of falling into his enemy's hands, that he lost the battle by retiring precipitately in an early part of the day. Ha did not long survive his fame, dying in his 42ni year. CH. XIX.] LONG CONVERSATION 'WITH THE POPE. 209 8ca,3thing he did not approve of. I heard the Pope say to the marquess, " I tell you no, for it is proper that I should be neuter in the affair."* As I immediately drew back, the Pope himself called to me : upon which I advanced, and put the fine diamond into his hand : his Holiness then took me aside, and the marquess retired to some distance. The Pope, whilst he was examining the diamond, said to me, " Benvenuto, pretend to talk to me of some subject of im • portance, and never once leave off whilst the marquess staj s in this apartment." So choosing the subject that was most interesting to myself, I began to discourse of the method which I had observed in tinting the diamond. The mar- quess stood leaning on one side against a tapestry-hanging ; sometimes he turned round on one foot, sometimes on the other.f The subject of this conversation of ours was of such consequence, that we could have talked upon it three hours. The Pope took such delight in it, that it countei'- balanced the disagreeable impression, which the conference with the marquess had made upon his mind. As I mixed with our conversation that part of natural philosophy which is connected with the jeweller's art, our chat was protracted almost the space of an hour, and the marquess's patience was so worn out, that he went away half angry. The Pope then showed me great demonstrations of kind- ness, and concluded with these words, " My dear Benve- nuto, be diligent in your business, and I will reward your merit with something more considerable than the thousand crowns which Gajo told me you deserved for your trouble.' I took my leave, and his Heliness praised me afterwards in the presence of his domestic officers, amongst whom was Latino Giovenale, who, being now become my enemy, endeavoured to do me all the ill offices in his power. Per- ceiving that the Pope spoke of me so advantageously, he said, " Benvenuto indeed is acknowledged to be a person of * Charles V. declared his intention of renewing the war against Francis when at Rome. Savoy had been already occupied by the French king, and Charles had in vain attempted to rouse the Pope to take part against him He had the terrible picture of the unfortu- nate Clement too recently before his eyes, to think of intcnueddling again so soon among these cliristian potentates, and resolved to reinair neutral. y This is. at least the reading in the Laureutian MS. 210 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XIX. extraordinary talents ; but thougli it is natural for every man to be partial to liis own countrymen, and give them the preference, still the manner of speaking to so great a personage as a Pope deserves a proper degree of attention. He has had the boldness to declare, that Pope Clement was the handsomest prince that ever existed, and that his vir- tues and abilities were worthy of his majestic person, though he had adverse fortune to struggle with. This man, at the same time affirms, that your Holiness is quite the reverse, that your triple crown does not sit well on your head, and that you appear to be nothing more than a figure of straw dressed up, though you have always had prosper- ous fortune." These words were pronounced in so empha- tical a manner by the person that spoke them, who knew very well how to give them a proper emphasis, that the Pope believed him. I had, notwithstanding, neither uttered such words, nor had it ever come into my head to make any such comparison. If the Pope had had it in his power to do it without hurting his character, he would certainly have done me some great injury, but being a man of understand- ing, he pretended to turn the thing into a jest : yet he bore me an inconceivable grudge in his heart, and I soon began to perceive it ; for I had no longer the same easy access to him as formerly, but found it exceedingly difficult to be admitted into his presence. As I had long frequented his court, I immediately concluded that somebody had been doing me ill offices with him, and upon my artfully tracing the affair to its source, I was told all, but could not dis- cover the person who had thus traduced me. I for my part was incapable of guessing who it was : had I come to the knowledge of the villain, I should have wreaked an ample revenge. In the mean time I worked at my little book with the utmost assiduity, and when I had finished it, carried it to the Pope, who upon seeing it could not contain himself, but extolled it to the skies. I thereupon reminded him of his promise of sending me with it to the emperor. He made answer, that he would do what was proper, and that I had done my part. He then gave orders that I should be well paid for my trouble. However, for the different works upon which I had been employed two months, I was paid five hundi'ed crowns, and no more. All the great promises that CH, XIX.] ANECDOIE OF ASCAXIO. 211 had been made me were totally forgotten. I received for the diamond, a hundred and fifty crowns only; the remainder I had for the little book, for which I deserved above a thousand crowns, as the work was rich in figures, foliages, enamel, and jewels. I took what I could get, and formed a resolution to quit Rome directly. His Holiness sent the book to the emperor, by a nephew of his, named Signor Sforza* : that great prince was so pleased with the present as to bestow excessive praises on it, and immediately inquired after mc. Signor Sforza, having received proper instructions, made answer, that an indisposition had pre- vented my waiting upon his imperial majesty ; for I was afterwards informed of all that had passed upon the occasion. Having in the mean time got myself in readiness for a journey to France, I proposed visiting that kingdom un- accompanied ; but could not do as I intended on account of a youth who lived with me, and whose name was Ascanio. This young person was the best servant in the world : when I took him into my house he had just left a master, named Francesco, who was a Spanish goldsmith. I was unwilling to receive the lad for fear of having some dispute with the Spaniard, and therefore told him that I could not receive him, lest his master should be offended. At last the young man contrived to get his master to write me a letter, inti- mating that he had no objection to his entering into my service. He passed several months with me as meagre and lean as a skeleton. We called him the old man, and I thought that he was in fact old, as well because he was so good a servant, and so knowing, as because it did not appear probable that at the age of thirteen (for he said he was no more) he should be possessed of such maturity of understanding. To return to my subject : the young man in a few montlis began to improve in his person, and, get- ting into a good plight, was become the handsomest young fellow in Rome. As I found him so good a servant, and so apt and ready in learning my business, I conceived as great an aiFection for him as if he had been my son, and kept him * Sforza Sforza, son of Bosio, Count of Santa Fiore, and of Costanza Farnese, a natural daughter of Paul III. He was then only 4 youth of sixteen years of age, but had at that time volunteered into the ve- teran army of Ciiarlcs V., and proved one of the first commanders of the age. — See Haiti's Hittory of the Sfsrza Family. 212 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XIX. as w.^U dressed as if I had really been his father. Seeing himself so much altered for the better, he thought himself very happy in falling into my hands, and went several times to return thanks to his old master, who had been the cause of his good fortune. The Spaniard had a handsome young wife, who frequently said to Ascanio, " My lad, how have you contrived to grow so handsome ? " (for it was cus- tomary with them to call him lad at the time that he lived with them.) Ascanio answered, " Donna Francesca, it is my new master I am obliged to for this improvement in my person, and in every thing else." The malicious woman was not well pleased that Ascanio should praise me : how- ever, being loosely inclined, she stifled her resentment so as to caress the youth a little more perhaps than was consistent with the laws of strict virtue ; and I quickly perceived that he went much oftener to see his mistress than had been usuaL It happened one day that he struck one of my appren- tices, who, upon my return home, for I had been out at that time, complained to me that Ascanio had beaten him with- out his having given him any sort of provocation. I there- upon said to Ascanio, " Never presume again to strike any body that belongs to my family, either with or without pro- vocation, for, if you do, I will make you feel the weight of my arm." To this he made a pert answer ; so I imme- diately fell upon him, and laying on both with my hands and feet, gave him the severest correction he had ever received in his life. As soon as he could get out of my grasp, he ran from the house, without either cloak or hat, and for two days after I neither knew nor inquired what was become of him. At length a Spanish gentleman, named Don Diego, came and desired to speak to me. This was one of the most generous men I had ever known in my life. I had executed several orders for him, and had then some in hand : in a word, he was my very good friend. He gave me to understand that Ascanio had returned to his old master, and desired I would please to let him have his cloak and hat. I answered, " That Francesco had behaved very ill, and acted in a very unpolite and ungentlemanlike manner ; adding, that if he had sent me word, immediately apon Ascanio's repairing to him, that he had taken re- frige at his house, I should have been very ready to i.ave discharged him ; but that as he had kept him two CH. XIX.] QUARRELS WITH DON FRAJiCESCO. 213 days without ever letting me know any thing of the matter I was determined the lad should not stay with him, but in- sisted that upon no account he should keep him any longer in his house. Don Diego told what I had said to Don Francesco, wlio only turned it into a jest. The next morning I saw Ascanio employed upon some little trifling knick-knacks in his master's shop* As I passed by he made me a bow, and his master burst out a-laughing : he then sent to me Don Diego, the gentleman above-mentioned, to desire I would let Ascani(» have the clothes which I had given him ; but that if I chose to do otherwise, he did not care, for the lad should never want for clothes. Hereupon I turned to Don Diego, and said, " Signer Don Diego, I never in my life knew a more generous or a more worthy man than yourself, nor a person of greater integrity, or more just in all his dealings ; but this Francesco is the very reverse of you in every re- spect : he is one of the most worthless scoundrels breathing. Tell him from me, that if he does not, before the bell rings for vespers, bring back Ascanio to my shop himself, I am determined I wiU have his life ; and tell Ascanio, that if he does not quit the place where he is, in the time which I have allotted his master, he must expect the same fate." Don Diego made no reply ; but, instantly departing, re- peated all I had said to Francesco, who, upon hearing this intelligence, was frightened out of his wits, and did not know what to resolve upon. In the mean time Ascanio went in quest of his father, who was just arrived at Rome from Tagliacozzo, the place of his nativity. Upon bearing the disturbance that had happened, he was the first to advise Francesco to bring back Ascanio to me. Francesco said to Ascanio. " Go yourself, and your father will go with you." Don Diego then interfered, saying, " Francesco, I see impending danger : you know better than I do what sort of a man Benvenuto is. Carry the boy back to him without any sort of apprehension, and I will accompany you." I had now got myself in readiness, and was walking to and fro in my shop, intending to wait till the bell rang for vespers ; and then to make this one of the most despe- rate affairs I had ever been concerned in, during the Avhole course of my life. Just then entered Don Diego, Francesco^ T 3 214 MEMOIRg OF BENVENCTTO CELLINI. [CH. XX. Ascanio, and his father, whom I did not knew. Upon Aecanio's entering, I looked angrily at them all, when Francesco, who was as pale as death through fear, said, " I have here brought you back your servant Ascanio, whom I entertained in my house without any intention to oiFend you." Ascanio then said, in a respectful manner, " Master, forgive me ; I am come here to submit to what- ever you shall please to enjoin." I asked him whether he was come to serve out the time he had agreed to ? He an- swered that he was, and never to leave me more. I then turned about to the apprentice whom he had beaten, and bade him reach him that bundle of clothes, saying at the same time, " Here are all the clothes that I gave you ; with these I likewise restore you to your liberty, so you may go wherever you think proper." Don Diego, who by no means expected this, was in the utmost atonishment. At the same time both Ascanio and his father entreated me to forgive and take him again into my service. Upon my asking him who the person was that pleaded his cause, he told me it was his father, to whom, after much entreaty, I said, " As you are his father, I am willing, upon your ac- count, to take him again into my service." CHAPTER XX. The Author sets out with Ascanio for France, and passing through Florence, Bologna, and Venice, arrives at Padua, where he makes some stay with the celebrated Cardinal Bembo Generous be- haviour of the latter to Cellini. — The Author soon after resumes his journey, and travels through Switzerland. — He is in great danger in crossing a lake. — He visits Geneva in his way to Lyons, and after having rested four days in the last-mentioned city, arrives safe at Paris. I HAD formed a resolution to set out for France, as well because I perceived that the Pope's favour was withdrawn from me, by means of slanderers, who misrepresented my services, as for fear that those of my enemies, who had most influence, might still do me some greater injury: for these reasons I was desirous to remove to some other country, and see whether fortune would there prove more CH. XX."1 SETS OUT FOK FRANCE. 21o favourable to me. Having determined to set out the next morning, I bid my faithful Felice enjoy all I had as his own till my return ; and in case I should never come back, my intention was that the whole should devolve to him Happeaing at this time to have a Perugian journeyman, who assisted me in the last-mentioned work for the Pope, I paid him off and dismissed him my service. The poor man entreated me to let him go with me, offering to bear his own expenses : he observed to me, moreover, that if I should happen to be employed for any length of time by th« king of France, it was proper I should have Italians in my service, especially such as I knew, and were most likely to be of use to me. In a word, he used such persuasions, that I agreed to carry him with me upon his own terms. Ascanio happening to be present at this conversation, said to me, with tears in his eyes, " When you took me again into your service I intended it should be for life, and now I am resolved it shall." I answered, that it should not be 80 upon any account. The poor lad was then preparing to follow me on foot. When I perceived that he had formed such a resolution, I hired a horse for him likewise, and having put my portmanteau behind him, took with me a great deal more baggage than I should otherwise have done. Leaving Rome*, I bent my course to Florence, from whence I travelled on to Bologna, Venice, and Padua. Upon my arrival at the last city, my friend, Albertaccio del Bene, took me to his own house from the inn where I had put up. The day following I went to pay my respects to Signor Pietro Bembof , who had not then been made a • He set out from Rome on the second day after Easter, 1537, as appears from a letter of Varchi to Bembo, dated tlie 5th April of the same year ; as is also Cellini's first letter given at the end of his life. t Pietro Bembo, born at Venice, received an excellent education in some of the most learned universities of the age. He had so highly- distinguished himself before the time of Leo X., that, on that Pontiff's ascending the papal throne, he was invited to the place of secretary, with a salary of 3000 crowns in addition to considerable ecclesiastical rank and benefices. On the death of Po))e Leo, Bembo having amassed some property, and giving way to a passionate admiration of a beau- tiful lady called Marosiiii, no less than to his love of letters, retired to Padua. He there collected a splendid library, and entered into habita of intimacy with the learned and scientific characters of that placft p 4 2J6 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CTXLINI. [^CH. XX. cardinal. He gave me the kindest reception I had over met with ; and said to Albertaccio, I am resolved that Benvenuto shall stay here with all his company, if there were a hundred in number ; so make up your mind to stay ?iere with him, for I will not restore him to you upon any account. I stayed accordingly to enjoy the conversation of that excellent person. He had caused an apartment to be prepared for me, which would have been too magnificent even for a cardinal, and insisted upon my sitting constantly next to him at table : he then intimated to me in the most modest terms he could think of, that it would be highly agreeable to him if I were to model his likeness. There was, luckily for me, nothing that I desired more*; so, having put some pieces of the whitest alabaster into a little box, I began the work, working the first day two hours without ceasing. I made so fine a sketch of the head, that He formed a museum, and a botanic garden, and such was his liberality to poets and scholars, that he soon became a centre of union for the taste and literature of all Italy. Paul III. ambitious of adding such a name to his College of Cardinals, was frequently dissuaded from it, by the malicious accusations ot atheism and dissipation, brought against him by his enemies. But, on the death of the lady to whom he was attached, having answered the charge of want of orthodoxy, he was elected in 1539, and invited to Rome. He soon discovered by his great qualities, how well entitled he had been to this dignity, by his devotion to the Pope and to the church. He had the merit of re- storing the Latin language to the polished style and graces of Cicero ; and of leading back his countrymen to a purer taste in Tuscan poetry, by imitating Petrarch. He has, however, been censured for following too closely in the footsteps of those two great masters of poetry and eloquence, as well as for too great study of refinement and elegance of style. * A medal of Bembo, had already been struck by Valerio de' Belli, in 1532, and is now in the Museo Mazzucchelliano. It has the head without a beard ; and on the reverse, a figure of a man seated beside a fountain. But as this did not altogether please, Benvenuto undertook to produce a better in 1535 ; but not having it in his power to go to Padua, he made up his mind to prepare the reverse for it at Rome. We are convinced of this, from a letter of Varchi to Bembo, dated 3d July, 1536, as well as from part of a letter of Cellini himself, addressed to Luca Martini, mentioned by Martelli in one of his to Bembo, where he says, " I have heard from IM. Benedetto (Varchi) of the wish ot Monsignor Bembo respecting the medal, and I will do what he desires nie. Indeed, I shall have particular pleasure in obliging him : only I must beg, that I may have the reverse as I please, and with sonui motto in honour of so great a man." CH. XX.] MODELS BEMBO'S LIKENESS. 217 my illustrious friend was astoniahed at it ; for though he was a person of immense literature, and had an uncommon genius for poetry, he had not the least knowledge of my business ; for which reason he thought that I had finished the figure when I had hardly begun it ; insomuch, that I could not make him sensible that it required a considerable time to bring it to perfection. At last I formed a resolu- tion to take my own time about it, and finish it in the com- pletest manner I could ; but as he wore a short beard, according to the Venetian fashion, I found it a very diffi- cult matter to make a head to please myself. I, however, finished it at last, and it appeared to me to be one of the most complete pieces I had ever produced. He seemed to be in the utmost astonishment ; for he took it for granted, that as I had made it of wax in two hours, I could make it of steel in ten ; but when he saw that it was not possible for me to do it in two hundred, and that I was upon the point of taking my leave of him, in order to set out for France, he was greatly concerned, and begged I would make him a reverse for his medal, and that the device should be the horse Pegasus, in the midst of a garland of myrtle. This I did in about three hours, and it was fi- nished in an admirable taste : he was highly pleased with it, and said, " Such a horse as this appears to be a work ten times more considerable than that little head, upon which you bestowed so much pains : I cannot possibly ac- count for this." He then desired me to make it for him in steel, and said, " I hope you will oblige me ; you can do it very soon if you will." I promised him that, though it did not suit me to make it there, I would do it for him without fail at the first place at which I should happen to fix my residence.* After this conversation, I went to bargain for three * Cinelli informs us, that he had seen " a very beautiful medal by Cellini, with the head of Cardinal Bembo, having on the reverse a Pegasus, both of them admirably executed," belonging to Antonio Maglial)ecclii. Among the four medals of Bembo in the Mazzucchelli Museum, the largest and the best has exactly the reverse here described, which would lead us to take it for a Cellini, if the learned Mazzuc- chelli himself did not convince us of the contrary, by observing that it bears the title of Cardinal, has a long beard to tlie portrait, and wants the crown of myrtle on the reverse, so as not at all to eorrespond with the model by Cellini, 218 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XX- horses, whith I had occasion for on my journey to France, My illustrious host, who had great interest in Padua, se- cretly befriended me on this occasion ; insomuch that when I was going to pay for the horses, for which I had agreed to give fifty ducats, the owner of them said to me, " In con- sideration of your merit, sir, I make you a present of the three horses." I answered, " It is not you who make me the present ; and I do not choose to accept it of the real donor, because I have not earned it by my services." The good man told me, that if I did not take those horses, I could not get any others in Padua, but should be under a necessity of walking. I thereupon went to the munificent Signor Pietro, who affected to know nothing at all of the matter, but loaded me with caresses, and used his utmost persuasions to prevail upon me to stay at Padua. I, who would by HO means hear of this, and was determined to perform the journey at any rate, found myself obliged to accept of the three horses, and with them instantly set out for France. I took the road through the Grisons, for it was unsafe to travel any other way, on account of the war.* We passed the two great mountains of Alba and Merlinaf, (it was then the eighth of May, and they were, nevertheless, co- vered with snow,) at the utmost hazard of our lives. When we had travelled over them, we stopped at a little town, which, as nearly as I can remember, is called Valdista J, and there took up our quarters. In the night a courier arrived from Florence, whose name was Burbacca. I had heard this courier spoken of as a man of character, and clever at his business, but did not know that he had then forfeited that reputation by his knavery. As soon as he saw me at the inn, he called me by my name, and said that he was going about some business of importance to Lyons, and begged I would be so good as to lend him a little money * In 1537, the Imperialists, after their famous retreat from Pro- vence, gave battle to the French in Piedmont, and resisted until the truce concluded in November, and a peace was stipilated the year fol- lowing for ten years. f The principal mountains which Cellini had to pass, in his road through the Grisons, were the Bernirta, near Puschiavo, and the AlbuL in the Engadine. Merlina (in the text) is a corruption of Bernina. J Wallenstadt, in the province of Sargans, CH. XX.J HE RESUMES HIS JOURNEY. 219 to defray the expense of his journey. I ans^vered that I could not lend him money, but if he would travel in my company, I would bear his charges as far as Lyons. The rogue then began crying, and counterfeited great concern, telling me that when a poor courier, who was about business of im- portance to tlie nation, happened to be in want of cash, it was the part of a man like me to assist him. He told me at the same time, that he was charged with things of great value belonging to Signor Filippo* Strozzi ; and as he had a casket with a leather cover, he whispered me very softly, that there were jewels to the amount of many thousand ducats in it, together with letters of the utmost conse- quence from Signor Filippo Strozzi, I thereupon desired him to let me fasten the jewels somewhere about his body, which would be running less hazard than carrying them in the casket ; at the same time he might leave the casket, worth, perhaps, ten crowns, to me, and I would assist him as far as five-and-twenty. The fellow made answer, that he would travel with me in that manner, since he had no other remedy, for it would do him no honour to leave the casket ; and so we were both agreed. Setting out betimes in the morning, we arrived at a place situated between Valdistate and Vessa, where there is a lake fifteen miles long, upon which we were to sail to Vessa. When I saw the barks, I was terribly frightened, because they are made of deal boards, neither well nailed together, nor even pitched ; and if I had not seen four German gentlemen, with their horses, in one of them, I should never have ventured on board, but have turned back directly. I tliought within myself, at seeing the stupid security of these gentlemen, that the waters of the German lakes did not drown the passengers like those of Italy, My two young fellow-travellers said to me, " Ben- venuto, it is a dangerous thing to enter one of these barks with four horses." My answer to them was, " Don't you see, you poor cowards, that those four gentlemen have en- tered one before you, and that they sail away merrily ? If it were a lake of wine, I should fancy that they were re- joiced at the thoughts of being plunged into it ; but as it is a lake of water only, I take it for granted they have no • Filippo was, at this period, at the head of the Florentine exiles, ■nd fell into the unds of Duke Cosmo on the 1st August, 1537. 220 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [ctl. XX. more inclination to be drowned in it than ourselves." This lake was fifteen miles long, and about three broad : the country, on one side, was a lofty mountain, full of caverns^ on the other it was level, and covered over with grass. When we had advanced about four miles, it began to grow stormy, insomuch that the watermen called out to us for help, begging that we would assist them in rowing ; and so we did for a time. I signified to them soon after that their best way was to make the opposite shore ; but they affirmed it to be impossible, because there was not a sufficient depth of water, so that the bark would be soon beaten to pieces in the shallows, and we should all go to the bottom. They, however, still importuned us to lend them a hand, and were constantly calling out to each other for assistance. As I perceived them in such terror and jeopardy, having a sorrel horse on board, I put on its bridle, and held it in my left hand. The horse, by a kind of in- stinct, and intelligence, common to these animals, seemed to perceive my intention ; for by turning his face towards the fresh grass, I wanted him to swim to the opposite shore, and carry me over upon his back. At the very same in- stant there poured in from that side a wave so large that it almost overwhelmed the vessel. Ascanio then crying out, " Mercy! help me, dear father!" was going to throw him- self upon me ; but I clapped my hand to my dagger, and bid the rest follow the example I had set them, since by means of their horses they might save their lives, as I hoped to save mine ; adding, that I would kill the first who should offer to throw himself upon me. In this manner we proceeded several miles in the most imminent danger of our lives. When we had advanced about half-way, we saw a piece of level ground under the foot of a mountain, where we might get ashore and refresh ourselves. Here the four German gentlemen landed. But upon our expressing a desire to go on shore, the watermen would not consent to it upon any account, I then said to my young men, " Now is the time, my boys, to show your spirit ; clap your hands to your swords, and compel them to land us." We effected our purpose with great difficulty, as they made a long resistance ; however, even after we had landed, we were obliged to climb a steep mountain for two miles, which was more difficult than going up a laddei CH. XX.] ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. 221 of equal height. I was armed with a coat of mail, had heavy boots, with a fowlingpiece in my hand, and it rained as hard as it could pour.* Those devils of Germans ascended at a surprising rate with their horses, whilst ours were quite unequal to the task, and ready to sink with the fatigue of climbing the rugged steep. When we had mounted a good way, Ascanio's horse, which was a fine Hungarian courser, had got a little before Burbacca, the courier, and the young man had given him his pike to carry. It happened through the ruggedness ot the road that the horse slipped, and went staggering on in such a manner, being quite helpless, as to come in contact with the point of the courier's pike, which he could not keep out of the way, and which ran into the beast's throat and killed it. My other young man, in attempting to help his brown nag, slipped down towards the lake, but saved himself by catching at a very small vine-branch. Upon this horse there was a cloak-bag, in which I had put all my m.oney, with whatever else I had most valuable, to avoid being under a necessity of carrying it about me. I bid the youth endeavour to save his life, and never mind what became of the horse : the full was of above a mile, and he would have tumbled headlong down into the lake. Exactly under this place our watermen had stationed them- selves, so that if the horse had fallen it would have come directly down upon their heads. I was before all the rest, and waited to see the horse tumble, which seemed without the least fear to go headlong to perdition. I said to my young men, " Be under no sort of concern : let us endea- vour to preserve ourselves, and return thanks to God for all his mercies. I am most sorry for poor Burbacca, who has lost a casket of jewels to such an enormous amount. Mine is only a few paltry crowns. Burbacca told he was not concerned for his own loss, but for mine. I asked him why he was sorry for my trifling loss, and not for his own, which was so considerable. He then answered in a passion, " In such a case as this, and considering the terms we are upon, it is proper to tell the whole truth. I knew that you iiad a good heap of ducats in the cloak-bag : as for my casket, which I affirmed to be full of jewels and precious etones, it is all false: there is nothing in it but a little • Cellini says, Quanto Dio ne sapeva mandare. 222 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [CH. XX. tavier." Wlien I heard this I could not help laughing ; the young fellow laughed also ; as for Burbacca, he lamented and expressed great concern for my loss. The horse made an effort to relieve and extricate itself, when we had let it go, so that it was happily saved. Thus laughing, and making ourselves merry, we again exerted our strength to ascend the steep mountain. The four German gentlemen who had got to the summit of the craggy precipice before us, sent some peasants to our assistance. At last we arrived at the miserable inn, wet, tired, and hungry. We were received in the kindest manner by the people of the house, and met with most comfortable refreshment. The horse which had been so much hurt was cured by means of certain herbs of which the hedges are full : and we were told, that if we constantly applied those herbs to the wound, the beast would not only recover, but be of as much use to us as ever : accordingly we did as we were directed. Having thanked the gentle- men, and being well refreshed and recovered of our fatigue, we left the inn, and continued our journey, returning thanks to God for preserving us from so great and imminent a danger. We arrived at a village beyond Vessa, where we took up our quarters : here we heard the watch sing at all hours of the night very agreeably ; and as the houses in town were of wood, he was constantly bidding them take care of their fires. Burbacca, who had been greatly fright- ened in the daytime, was continually crying out in his dreams, " O God, I am drowning ! " This was occasioned by his panic the day before, and by his having indulged in the bottle too freely, and drunk with all the Germans. Sometimes he roared out, " I am burning ;" sometimes " I am drowning;" and sometimes he thought himself in hell suffering punishment for his sins. This night passed away so merrily, that all our anxiety and trouble were converted into laughter. Having risen very early next morning, we proceeded on our journey, and went to dine at a very agreeable place called Lacca, where we met with the best of treatment. We then took guides to conduct us to a town called Zurich. The guide who attended me passed over a dyke which was overflowed, so that the stupid creature slipped, and both the horse and he tumbled into the water. I, who was be* CH. XX.] ARRIVES IN PARIS. 223 hind, having that instant stopped my horse, stayed awhile to see him rise, and behold, the fellow, as if nothing at all had happened, fell a-singing again, and made signs to me to go on. I thereupon turned to the right, and breaking through certain hedges, served as a guide to Burbacca and my young men. The guide began scolding, telling me in the German language that if the country-people saw me they would put me to death. We travelled on, and escaped this second danger. Our next stage was Zurich, a fine city, which may be compared to a jewel for lustre, and there we stayed a day to rest ourselves. We left it early in the morning, and arrived at another handsome town called Solthurn. From thence we proceeded to Lausanne, Geneva, and Lyons. We stopped four days at this last city, having travelled thither very merrily, singing and laughing all the way. I enjoyed myself highly in the company of some of my friends ; was reimbursed the expenses I had been at ; and at the expiration of four days set out for Paris. This part of our journey was exceedingly agreeable, except that, when we came as far as Palesse, a gang of freebooters made an attempt to assassinate us, and with great difficulty we escaped them. From thence we continued our journey to Paris, without meeting any ill accident, and travelling on in uninterrupted mirth, arrived safely at that metro- puUs. 224 CHAPTER XXI. Ungrateful behaviour of Rosso the painter. — The Author is intrc* duced to the French king, Francis I. at Fontainebleau, and meet* with a most gracious reception. — The King offers to take him into his service, but, from a sudden illness, he conceives a great dislike to France, and returns to Italy. — Great kindness of the Cardinal of Ferrara to the Author. — Adventures on the road from Lyons to Ferrara. — Cellini is kindly received by the duke. — He arrives at Rome, where he finds Felice. — Curious letter from the Cardinal of Ferrara concerning the behaviour of Cardinal Gaddi The Author is falsely accused by his Perugian servant of being possessed of a great treasure, of w^hich he had robbed the Castle of St. Angelo, when Rome was sacked by the Spaniards He is arrested and carried prisoner to the Castle of St. Angelo. After having rested myself a short time, I went in search of Rosso* the painter, who was then in the service of King Francis. I took it for granted that this man was one of the best friends I had in the world, because 1 had in Rome behaved to him in as obliging a manner as it is possible for one person to behave to another ; and as a concise account may be sufficient to convey an idea of my conduct to the reader, I will here lay the whole before him, that the sin of ingratitude may appear in its most odious and shocking colours. When he was at Rome he endeavoured to depreciate the works of Raffiiello da Urbino, at which his scholars were provoked to such a degree that they were bent on killing him : this danger I preserved liim from, watching over him day and night with the greatest fatigue imaginable. Upon another occasion he had spoken ill of Signor Antonio da San Gallo, an excellent architect ; in consequence of which the latter soon had him turned out of an employment, which he had procured for him from Signor Agnolo da Cesi, and from that time forward became so much his enemy, that he would have starved, if I had not often lent him ten crowns for his support. As he had never dis- charged this trifling debt, I went to pay him a visit, being * The French (who seem very fond of disguising nami?i) call hilt Maitre Roux. — Ed. CH. XXl-l ONGKATEFUL BKUAVIOUK OF ROSSO. 225 intbrmed that he was in the king's service, and thought h« would not only return me my money, but do all that lay in iiis power in recommending me to the service of the great monarch. But the fellow no sooner saw me, than he appeared to be in a terrible confusion, and said, " My friend Benvenuto, you have put yourself to too great an expenses to come so long a journey^ especially at such a time as this, when the court is entirely taken up with tlie approaching war, and can give no attention to our trifling performances." I answered that I had brought with me money enough to bear my expenses back to Rome, in the same manner tiiat I had travelled to Paris ; adding, that he made me a \ery indifferent return for all I had suffered on his account, and tiiat 1 began to believe what Signor Antonio da San Gallo had told me concerning him. Upon his turning what I said into a jest, I saw thnnigh his low malice, and showed him a bill of exchange for .500 crowns addressed to Ricardo del Bene. The wretch was greatly ashamed, and would have detained me in a manner by force, but I laughed at him, and went away in the company of a painter who hap- pened to be then present. His name was Sguazelk*, and he was a Florentine likewise. I went to lodge and board at his house, having with me three horses and three ser- vants. I met with the best of treatment there, and paid liberally for it. I afterwards solicited an interview with the kinor, t(^ whom I was introduced by Signor Giuliano Buonaccorsi f his treasurer. I was in no haste on the occasion, as I did not know that Rosso had exerted himself to the utmost to prevent my speaking to his Majesty. But, as soon as Signor Giuliano perceived this, he carried me with him to P'ontainebleau, and introduced me into the presence of the monarch, of wiiom I had a most favourable audience a whole hour. The king was preparing for a journey to Lyons, wiiich made him desire Signor Giuliano to take me with him, adding, that we should discourse bythewayof sonm fine works which his majesty intended to have executed. • Andrea S^^nazella went witli liis master, Andrta del Sarto, tu France, and tliere produced many estimable works. f A Florentine exile mentioned by Varolii. I suspect, howevtr he was not the same who attempted to kill Cosmo I., executi-i la Florence in Io43. 226 MKMOmS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. fCH. XXf. r. So I travelled in the retinue of the court, and cultivated the friendship of the Cardinal of Ferrara*, who had not as yet received the scarlet hat. I had every evening a long conversation with this great personage, who told me that I should stay at Lyons at an abbey of his, and there enjoy myself till the king returned from the campaign ; adding, that he himself was going to Grenoble, and that I should find all proper accommodation at his abbey at Lyons. Upon our arrival at that city I was taken ill, and Asca- nio found himself attacked by a quartan ague ; I now began to dislike the P^rench and their court, and to be in the utmost impatience to return to Rome. The cardinal seeing me resolved to go back, gave me a sum of money tc make him a basin and a cup of silver. Things being thus settled, my young man and I set out for Rome, extremely well mounted. As we crossed the mountains of the Simplon, I happened to fall into the company of some Frenchmen, with whom we travelled part of the way ! Ascanio had his quartan ague, and I a slow fever, which 1 thought would never leave me. My stomach was so much out of order, that for four months, 1 hardly eat a roll a week, and was very eager to get to Italy, choosing rather to die in my own country than in France. When we had passed the moun- tains of the Simplon above mentioned, we came to a river hard by a place called Isdevedro.f This river was very broad and 1eep, and had a long narrow bridge over it with- out any rails. A shower had fallen in the morning, so that when I came to the bridge, which was some time before the rest, I perceived it to be very dangerous : I therefore ordered my young men to dismount, and lead their horses. Thus I safely got over, and rode on, talking to one of the Frenchmen, who was a person of condition. The other, who was a scrivener, stayed behind us, and laughed at the French gentleman and me, for being so * Ippolito da Este, son of Alfonzo, Duke of Ferrara, was elected Archbishoo of Milan, at fifteen years of age. Residing at the French court, he obtained many benefices, and was at length made a Cardinal ii. 1539. Faithful to the ruling bias of his family, Ippolito persevered in patronising artists and learned men, ill whose company he was ao castomed to relax his mind from the vexations and tedious carea t4 jrtAte ^ The Doveria, in the Valdivedro. na. XXI.1 SAVES a man from bkixg drowned. 22T fearful about nothing as to take the trouble of walking. I turned about, and seeing him at the middle of the bridge, begged of him to come on cautiously, as the place was exceedingly dangerous: the other, keeping up to tlie national character of his country, told me in French that I was a poor, timid creature, and that there was no danger at all. Whilst he uttered these words, he spurred his horse a little, which, instantly stumbling, fell close by the side of a great rock ; but as God is very merciful to fools, the stupid rider and his horse both tumbled into a great hole. As soon as I perceived this, I began to run as fast as 1 could, and with great difficulty got upon the rock ; from this I reached down, and catching at the border of the scrivener's cloak, pulled him up by it, whilst the water still ran from his nostrils ; for he had swallowed a great quan- tity of it, and narrowly escaped being drowned. Seeing him at last out of danger I congratulated him on his escape, and expressed my joy at having saved his life. He an- swered in French that I had done nothing at all, and the point of most importance was his having lost a bundle of papers, to the value of many a score crowns ; and this he seemed to say in anger, being still wet, and his clothes all dripping with water. I turned about to our guides, and desired them to help the fool, telling them I would pay them for their trouble. One of the men exerted himself to the utmost, and fished up his papers, so that the scrivener lost nothing. The other would put himself to no trouble to assist him or save his bundle, and therefore deserved no recompense. When we were arrived at the place above mentioned, we had made up a purse amongst us, which was to be at my disposal. After dinner I gave several pieces out of the common purse to the guide who had helped the scrivener : the latter said that I might be liberal of my own, for he did not intend to give the man any thing more than was in our agreement for conducting us. This provoked me to give the sordid wretch much opprobrious language. Tho other guide, who had taken no trouble, came up, and in- sisted on sharing the reward ; when I told him, that ho who had borne the cross deserved the recompense, he answered, tliat he would soon show me a cross, at which I Q ^ 228 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [ CII. XXI fhould b 3wail my folly. I told him that I would light « candle at that cross, by means of which I hoped that he should b3 the first who would have cause to weep. As we were then upon the confines of the Italian and German territories, the fellow ran to alarm the neigh- bourliood, and returned with a liunting-pole in his hand, followed by a crowd. I being still on horseback, cocked my piece, and turning about to my fellow-travellers, said, " I will begin with shooting that man, and do you endea- voMr to do your duty : these fellows are cut-throats and common assassins, who catch at this opportunity to rob and juLirder us." The innkeeper, at whose house we had dined, then called to one of the ringleaders of the band of ruffians, who was a man advanced in years, and begged he would endeavour to prevent the mischief likely to ensue, telling liim, that they had a young man of great spirit to deal with ; that even if they were to cut me to pieces, I should be sure to kill a number of them first ; and that after all I might very probably escape out of their hands, and even kill the guide. Thereupon the old ruffian said to me, " Go your ways ; you would have enough to do to cope with us, even if you had a hundred men to back you." I, Avho was aware that he spoke the trutli, and finding resolution in despair, had determined to sell my life as dear as I could, shook my head and answered, I should have done my best, and endeavoured to show myself a man. We continued our journey, and as soon as we put up in the evening, we settled accounts with regard to our com- mon purse. I separated from the sordid scrivener with ihe utmost contempt, whilst I had a great esteem for the other Frenchman, who was in every respect a gentleman. Soon afterwards I arrived at Ferrara, accompanied only by my two fellow-travellers on horseback. I had no sooner dismounted, than I went to pay my respects to the duke, that I might set out next morning for our Lady of Loretto. After I had waited till it was dark, the duke made his appearance: I kissed his hand, and Jte received me with all possible demonstrations of kindnesi, desiring me to stay to supper. I answ^ered him in th« politest manner, " Most excellent sir, for these four months past I have eaten so little that it is almost a wonder I should be alive : as I am, therefore, sensible that I can eat CU. XXI.] ARRIVES IN SAFETY AT ROME. 229 nothing that is served up to your tabic, I will pass away the time you are at supper in cliat, whicli will prove more agreeable to us both, than if I were to sup with your excel- lency." Thus we entered into a conversation which Insted till late at night. I then took my leave, and, upon re- turning to my inn, found grand preparations made tliero for the duke had sent me the remains of liis sui)per. witri plenty of excellent wine, so, as I had passed my usual time of supper by two hours, I sat down to table with a must voracious appetite ; and this was the first time I had been able to eat heartily during the course of four months. Having set out in the morning I repaired to our Lady of Loretto, and after paying my devotions at that place, I continued my journey to Rome, where I found my faithful friend Felice, to whom I resigned my shop, with all my fur- niture and ornaments, and opened another next door to Sugarello, the perfumer, which was much more spacious and handsome than that Avhicli I had quitted. I took it I'or granted, that the great French monaixh would forget me, and therefore I eng-agred in several works for noblemen. Amongst others I began the cup and basin that I had pro- mised to make for the Cardinal of Ferrara. I had a number of hands at w'ork, and several things to be done both in gold and silver. I had made an agreement with my Peru- gian journeyman, who liad kept an exact account of all tlie money that had been laid out for him in clothes and other articles (which, with his travelling expenses, amounted to about seventy croAvns), that three crowns a month shoidd be set aside to clear them off, as he earned above eight crowns a month in my service. In about two months the rogue left my shop, whilst I had a great deal of business upon my hands, declaring that I should have no further satisfaction. I was advised to have recourse to the law ibr redress, for I had formed a resolution to cut off one of his arms ; and should certainly have done it, if my friends had not remon- strated with me, advising me to take care how I attempted any such thing, as it might be the cause not only of my losing the money entirely, but even of my being I)anislied a second time from Rome; since it was impossible to tell how far my violence might extend. They arlded, that it was in my power to get him arrested directly, by virtue ol the bill in his own liaiidwrititig, wiiich I had in my poi* 230 MEMOIRS OF BENVEXUTO OELLINT. [ciI. XXL session. This advice I determined to follow, but chose to behave as dispassionately in the affiiir as I could. I coni- menced a suit witli him before the auditor of the chamber; and, having succeeded in it, I threw him into prison, in consequence of a decree of the court, after the cause had been several months depending. My .sliop was at tiiis time full of works of great importance ; and, amongst others, were the ornaments in gold and jewels of the wife of Signor Girolamo Orsino *, father to Signor Paolo, now son-in-law to our duke Cosmo. These pieces T had brought pretty near a conclusion, and others of still greater importance offered every day. I had eight hands in all, and worked day and night myself, excited by the desire of reputation and profit. Whilst I was tlius assiduous in ffoin"; on with my busi- ness, I receivi'd a letter from the Cardinal of Ferrara, the ])urport of which was as follows : — " My dear friend Benvenuto, A few days ago his Most Cliristian Majesty mentioned your name, and said he would be glad to have you in his service. I told him that you bad made me a promise, that whenever I should send for you upon his majesty's account, you would come directly. His majesty replied, ' I desire he may be supplied with money, to enable him to perfoi-m the journey in a manner l)ecpoli in Octoljer, 1537, and in \5-iO he had the archbishopric of Jesi. He bore a high diarac- ter, and was well skilled in the jurisprudence of his time. t It was Benedetto Valenti, mentioned at p. 149. i Perh.tps we ought to read Benedetto da Cagli, of whom mention i< made a^ruh,. 234 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CKLLINI. fCII. XXC and let me hear something like sense and reason from you, and not idle stories and fabulous inventions." At these words the governor could no longer disguise his brutal nature, but said to me, " You speak with too much confi- dence, or rather with too much insolence ; however, I will humble your pride, and make you as tame as a spaniel, by what I am going to tell you, which you will find to be neither an idle story nor nonsense, but such conclusive reasoning that you will be obliged to submit to it." So he began to deliver his sentiments as follows: — " We know with certainty that you were in Rome at the time of the sacking of this unfortunate city, and in this very castle of St. Angelo, where you performed the office of gunner. As you are by trade a goldsmith and jeweller, Pope Clement, having a particular knowledge of you, and being unable to meet with others of the business, employed you secretly to take out all the precious stones fi'om his crowns, mitres, and rings ; and putting entire confidence in you, desired you to sew them up in your clothes. You availed yourself of that confidence to appropriate to your own use to the value of 80,000 crowns unknown to his Holiness. This information we had from a journeyman of yours, to whom you discovered the whole affair, and boasted of the fraud. We now therefore enjoin and command you to find these jewels, or the value of them, after which we will discharge and set you at liberty." I could not hear these words without bursting out into a loud laugh. When I had sufficiently indulged my mirth, ] expressed myself thus : " I return my hearty thanks to God, that tliis first time it has pleased his divine majesty tliat I siiould be made a prisoner, I have the happiness not to be confined for any criminal excess of passion, as gene- rally happens to young men. If what you say were true, I am in no danger of suffering corporal punishment, as the laws at that time had lost all their force and authority : for I might excuse myself by affirming that, as a servant to his Holiness, I had kept that treasure as a deposit for the Apostolical See, with an intention to put it into the hands of some good pope, or of those that should claim it of me, SIS you do now, if the fact were as you represent it." The tyrannical governor would not suffer me to proceed anj CH. XXn I SPEECH IN HIS DEFKNCF. 235 farther, bu.t interrupting me at these words, cried out in a fury, " Give what gloss you please to the affair, Ben- veiiuto, it is enough for us that we have discovered the person who possessed himself of the treasure. Be as ex peditious therefore as possible ; otherwise we shall take other methods with you, and not stop at words." As they were therj preparing to depart, I said to them, " Gentle- men, you have not finished my examination : hear me out, and then do as you please." They seated themselves again, though they appeared to be much enraged, and unwilling to hear any thing I could say for myself; nay, they seemed to be in a manner satisfied with their inquiry, and to think that they had discovered all they wanted to know. I there- fore addressed them in the following terms : " You are to know, gentlemen, that I have lived in Rome nearly twenty years, and I was never before imprisoned either here or any where else." At these words the brute of a Governor in- terrupted me and said, " Yet you have killed men enough in your time." I replied, " That is your bare assertion, unsupported by any acknowledgment of mine : but if a person were to endeavour to deprive you of life, no doubt but you would defend yourself in the best way you could ; and if you were to kill him, you would be fully justified in the eye of the law : so let me conclude my defence, as you propose to lay it before his Holiness, and profess that you mean to pass a just judgment. " I must repeat it to you, gentlemen, that I have been nearly twenty years an inhabitant of this great metropolis, and iiave been often employed in works of the greatest importance. I am sensible that this is the seat of Christ, and should, in case any temporal prince had made a wicked attempt against me, immediately have had recourse to this holy tribunal, and to God's Vicegerent, to prevail on him to espouse my cause. But alas! what power shall I have recourse to in my present distress? To what prince shall I fly, to defend me from so wicked an attempt ? Should not you, before you ordered me to be arrested, inquire wliere I had deposited the 80,000 ci'owns in question ? Should not you likewise have examined the list of those jewtils, as they were carefully numbered in the Apostolical Chamber five hundred years ago? In case you had found Bny thing wanting, you should have taken my books and 236 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLLNI. [ CII. XXll, myself, and confronted thom with the jewels. I must Ik form you, that the books, in which the pope's jewels and those of the triple crown have been registered, are all ex- tant ; and you will find that Pope Clement was possessed of nothing but what was committed to writing with tiic utmost care and exactness. All I have to add is, that when the unfortunate Pope Clement was for making an accommodation with the Im])erial freebooters, who had plundered Rome and insulted the Church there came a person to negotiate the accommodation, whose name was Caesar Iscatinaro*, if my memory does not fail me, who having virtually concluded the treaty with tliat injured pontiff, the latter, in order to con)pliment the negotiatoi', let a ring drop from Iiis finger, wortli about four thousand crowns, and upon Iscatinaro's stooping to take it up, his Holiness desired him to wear it for his sake. I was pre- sent when all this happened, and if the diamond be miss • ing, I have told you what became of it ; but I am almost positive that you will find even this registered. You may therefore well be ashamed of having thus attacked a man of my cliaracter, who has been employed in so many affairs of importance for the Apostolical See. I must acquaint you, that had it not been for me, the morning that the Imperialists scaled the walls of Eome, they would have entered the castle without meeting with any opposition ; I, though unrewarded for my services, exerted myself vigorously in managing the artillery, when all the soldiers iiad forsaken their posts. I likewise animated to the fight a companion of mine, named Raffaello da Montelupof, a statuary, who had quitted his post like the rest, and hid himself in a corner quite frightened and dismayed ; when I saw^ him entirely neglect the defence of the castle, 1 • He means to speak of Gio. Bartolommeo di Gattinara, brotlier of the celebrated Mercurio di Gattinara, High Chancellor of Charles \'. He was Regent of Naples, and being present at Rome with tiie Im- perial army when Clement was besieged, he concluded the capitulation entered into on the 5th June, 1527, which is published at the end of Guicciardini's account of the sack of Rome, but wliich was not ob- served. f He not only excelled Baccio, his father, who had l)een a sculptor, but under the direction of Michel Angelo, produced some statues oi nrst-rate merit. He successively worked at Rome, at Loretto, at Orvieto, and at Florence, his native place. r,H. XXll. j BPEF.CII l.\ HIS DEFENCE. 237. luusecl his courage, and lie and I, unassisted, slaughtered such numbBrs of our foes, that the soldiers turned their force another way. I Avas the man who iired at Iscaiinaro Decause I had seen him speak disrespectfully to Pope Clement, and behave insolcMitly to hi.s Holiness, like a Lutlieran and an impious heretic as he was. Pope Clement, notwithstanding, caused the person who had performed that glorious action to be sought all over the Castle in order to have him hanged.* I was the man that shot the prince of Orange in the head, under the ramparts of this Castle. I have, moreover, made for the use of the Holy Church a vast number of ornaments of silver, gold, and precious stones ; as likewise many medals, and the finest and most valuable coins. Is this, then, the priest-like re- turn which is made to a man that has served you with so much diligence and zeal ? Go now and repeat to the Pope all I have said, assuring him that he has all his jewels, and that I got nothing else in the Church's service at the melan- choly sack of this city but wounds and bruises ; and reckoned upon nothing but an inconsiderable recompence which Pope Paul had promised me. Now I know what to think of his Holiness, and of you his ministers." Whilst I uttered these words they stood astonished, and looking attentively at each other departed with gestures that testified wonder and surprise. They then went all three together to inform the Pope of what I had said : the latter in some confusion gave orders that a diligent and accurate inquiry should be made into the account of all the jewels; and upon finding that none of them were miss- ing, ihey left me in the castle, without taking any farther notice of me. Signor Pier Luigi, however, went so far as to endeavour to destroy me, in order to conceal his own Jiiisconduct in the affair. During this time of agitation and trouble. King Francis /lad heard a circumstantial account of the Poj)e's keeping me in confinement so unjustly; and as a nobleman belong- * Valdes informs us, tliat whilst Gio Bartoloininuo di Gattimra w,.s employed in going from one party to the other, endeavouring tn ('(include the armistice, a shot was fired at him from tlie castle, wliieli hioke his arm; and takes occasion to insinuate that (Jlemtnt VII. h.nl til us %i<)late prevent his father from libeiatinij Cellini. — Cardinal Cornaro is induced to deliver him up to the Po|)e. — He is a second time coin- '"itted close prisoner to the Castle of St. Angelo, and treated with v.ie utmost severity. vIeanwhile the report of my escape made a great noise all over Rome, for the long string of sheeting fastened to the top of the lofty tower of the castle had excited atten- tion, and the inliabitants ran in crowd.s, to behold the strange sight. By this time the frenzy of the constable had risen to its highest pitch : he wanted, in spite of all his servants, to fly from the same tower him.self, declaring that there was but one way to re-take me, and that was for him to fly after me. Signor Roberto Pucci, fother to Signor Pandolfo, having heard the rumour, went in person to see whether it was as lame had reported. He then repaired to the Vatican, where he happened to meet with Cardinal Cornaro, who told him all that liad pas.sed ; that my wounds were dressed, and that I was at his apartments. These two worthy men threw themselves upon their knees before the Pope, who, before they could begin their su[)plication, cried out, "I know what you want." Signor Roberto Pucci answered, " Most holy father, we come to intercede for that poor man, who, on account of his extraordinary abilities, desei'ves some compassion. He lias di.'ri)layed such courage, and exerted such extraordinary efforts of ingenuity, as seem to surpas:^ human ca[)acitv. We know not for what offences your Holiness has si. long confined 254 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLIM. fcil. XXVI. him ; if his crimes, however, ai"e enormous, convinced as we are of your piety and wisdom, we leave him to your decision ; but if they are of a pardonable nature, we beg you will forgive liiin at our intercession." The Pope, in some confusion, replied that " he had detained me in prison by the advice of some persons at court, because I had been too presumptuous ; that, in consideration of my extraordi- nary talents, he had intended to keep me near his person, and to confer such favours upon me that I should have no occasion to return to France. " I am concerned to hear of his sufferings ; liowever," added he, " bid him take care of his health, and when he io thoroughly recovered, it shall be my study to make him some amends for his past troubles." The two great personages then came to me from the Pope with this good news. In the mean time I was visited by the nobility of Rome, by young and old, and persons of all ranks. The constable of the castle, quite out of his senses, caused himself to be carried into his Holiness's pre- sence ; and, when he was come, began to make a terrible outcry, declaring that if the Pope did not send me back to prison, it would be doing him gi'eat injustice. He added, th;it I had made my escape in violation of my word ; for that I had promised him upon my honour that I would not fly away, and had flown away notwithstanding. The Pope ansvrered him, laughing, ••• Go, go, I will restore your pri- soner by some means." The constable said to the Pope, " Send the governor then to examine him concerning the accomplices of his escape. If any of my people had a hand in it, I will have them hanged from the same battlement from which Benvenuto flew." As soon as the constable was gone, the Pope sent for the governor of Rome, and said to him, laughing, " This Ben- venuto is a brave fellow : the exploit he has performed is very extraordinary ; and yet, when I was a young man, I descended from the very same place." In this tne Pope spoke the truth, for he had himself been a prisoner in the Castle of St. Angelo, for forging a papal brief, when he was abbreviator in the pontificate of Pope Alexander, who kept him a long time in confinement ; and afterwards, as bib offence was of a very heinous nature, determined to have him beheaded. But as he cliose to defer the execution tUl after Corpus Christi day, Faruese, having discoveied tne ca.xxiv.] iiii: governor avaits upon uim. 255 design, got Pi(.'tro Chiavelluzzi to come to him with some horsemen, and bribed several of the guards ; so tliat whilst tl'.e Pope was walking in procession on that day, Farnese was put into a basket, and with a cord let down to the ground. The precincts of tlie castle wall had not then been ei'ccted, but the tower only, so that he had not so many difficulties to encounter in making his escape as I ; besides, he was a prisoner for a real crime, and I upon an unjust accusation. He meant to boast to the governor only of his having bren a brave and gallant fellow in his youth ; but instead of that, he inadvertently discovered liis own villany. He then said to the governor, " Go to Ben- venuto, and desire him to let you know who assisted him in making his escape ; let him be who he will, Benvenuto may depend upon being pardoned himself, and of that }'0U may freely assure him." The governor, who had two days before been made Bishop of Jesi, came to me in consequence of the order from the Pope, and addressed me in these terms : " My friend Benvenuto, though my office is of a nature that terri- fies men, I come to encourage you and dispel your fears, and that by authority of his Holiness, who has told me that he made his escape himself out of the Castle of St. Angelo ; but tiiat he had been assisted by several associates, other- wise he could not have effected his purpose. I swear to you by the sacrament that I have just now received (and it is but two days since I was consecrated bishop), that the Pop(; has liberated and pardoned you, and that he is sorry for your suiferings. Therefore, endeavour to recover your health, and you will find that all has happened to you for the best, and that the confinement which you have suffered, though innocently, will be the making of you for ever; for you will thereby emerge from your poverty, and not be obliged to return to France, or to endure any distresses in foreign countries. So, freely tell me how the whole affiiir passed, and who assisted you in your escape ; then be com- forted, indulge yourself in repose, and endeavour to recover your health." I thereupon began my story from tJie be- ginning, delivered a circumstantial account of the wliole affair exactly as it happened, and gave him all the tokens cf the truMi of my narrative that I could possibly tliink of, not tbi'getting even the poor waterman that had taken me 256 MEMOIRS OF CENVENUTO CELLINI. [ciI. XXl'V upon bis back. Tbe governor, baving heard my story to the end, said, " You have achieved too many great things for one person ; at least, you are the only man deserving of the glory of sncli an exploit." So, taking me by tbe hand, be said to me, " Be of good cheer ; by this hand you are free, and shall be a happy man." He thereupon withdrew, and left me at liberty to see a considerable number of nobility and gentry, who had been waiting, for they were every day coming to see me as a man that had performed miracles. Some of them made me promises, whilst others made me presents. In the mean time, the governor of Rome repaired to the Pope, and related to him all that he had heard from me. Signor Pier Luigi, the Pope's son, happened to be then present, and both he and all who heard the story expressed the utmost astonishment. The Pope said, " This is cer- tainly one of the most extraordinary events that ever hap- pened." Signor Pier Luigi then interposing, said, " Most holy father, if you liberate this man, he will do something slse still more daring, for he is one of the boldest and most audacious of mortals. I must tell you of another exploit of his, wliich you have not heard of. This favourite of yours, Benvenuto, happening before his confinement to have some words with a gentleman belonging to Cardinal Santo Fiora, occasioned by some expression of that gentleman's, Benve- nuto answered with the utmost audacity, and seemed bent on quarrelling. The gentleman having informed Cardinal Santa Fiora of all that had passed, the latter said that if he once took Benvenuto in hand, he Avould soon find means to tame him. After Benvenuto heard of this, he always kept in readiness a fowling-piece, with which he can hit a farthing. The cardinal happening one day to look out at a window (the shrp of Benvenuto being under his palace), the latter took his fowling-piece, levelled it at the cardinal, and was about to fire, when the latter, being apprised of his inten- tion, instantly quitted the place. Upon this, Benvenuto, in order to conceal his purpose, took aim at a pigeon, which was hatching its eggs in a hole upon the roof of the palace, and shot it through the head ; a feat almost incredible. Your Holiness may now act as you think proper with respect to the man. I thought it a duty incumbent on me to tell you what 1 knew. He may possibly one day, i:. a CH. XXIV.] AN AFFAIR OF PIGEON-SHOOTING. 257 persuasion that he was imprisoned unjustly, take it into his heiid lo have a shot at your Holiness. He is a man of too fierce and audacious a spirit. When he killed Pompeo, he gave him two staba with a dagger in the throat, though he was surrounded by ten of his friends ; and then made his escape, to the disgrace of those ten, though they were men of worth and reputation." Whilst he was saying this, the gentleman belonging to the Cardinal Santa Flora, with whom I had had the dispute, happened to be present, and confirmed to the Pope all that his son had related. The Pontiif swelled with indignation, but said nothing. I should be sorry to omit giving a true and impartial account of the affair thus alluded to. This gentleman be- longing to Cardinal Santa Flora one day came to me, and put into my hands a little gold ring, which was all over sullied with quicksilver, saying, " Clean me that ring, and make haste about it." As I had then upon my hands seve- ral works of the utmost importance, both in gold and jewels, and was irritated at being commanded in that per- emptory manner by one whom I had never seen or spoken to before, I told him I had no time to do it, and advised him to go to somebody else. Upon this, without further ceremony, he called me an ass. I told him that he was mistaken, for I was in every respect a better man than himself, and that if he provoked me too far, he should find I could kick worse than any ass. He immediately told tlie cardinal the aifair in his own way, describing my beha- viour as most outrageous. Two days after, I shot behind the palace at a wild pigeon, that was hatching its eggs in a hole at a great height. I had several times before seen one Giovanni Francesco della Taeca, a Milanese goldsmith, shoot at the same pigeon without killing it. The day that I shot at it, the pigeon happened j ust to show its head, being suspicious and in fear from having so often been fired at before. As Giovanni Francesco and I were rival marks- men, some gentlemen and friends of mine, who were in my shop, showed me the pigeon, and said, "Yonder is the bird which Giovanni Francesco lias so often shot at, and always missed ; do but observe, the poor creature is so timorou-s and suspicious, that it scarce ventures to show its head." Looking up at it, I said, "That head is mark enough for me to level at and kill the pigeon ; if 1 had but just t\r.\a 6 258 MEJIOmS OK BENV^ENUTO CELLINI. [cH. XXIV. to take aim cleverly, I should be sure of bringing it tlowii. The gentlemen then said, "that the very inventor of fowling- pieces would not hit such a mark." I answered, " Go for a pitcher of our good host Palombo's Greek wine, and just stay till I charge my broccardo (so I called my fowling- piece), and I w^ill engage to hit that little bit of a head which peeps out of yonder hole." I that instant took aim, and performed my promise, without thinking of the cardinal or any body else ; on the contrary, I took it for granted that the cardinal was my patron and friend. It appears from hence, what a variety of means fortune has recourse to, when she is bent on a man's destruction. The Pope, who was provoked and angry at what he had heard from his son, revolved it seriously in his mind. Two days after, Cardinal Cornaro went to ask his Holiness for a bisJiopric for one of his gentlemen, named Signor Andrea Centano. It is true the Pope had promised him the first oishopric that shodld become vacant : he did not therefore )ffer to retract, but, acknowledging that he had made such I promise, told the cardinal he would let him have the Mshopric on condition of his doing him one favour, which ^as, that he would again deliver Benvenuto into his hands. The cardinal cried out, " What will the world say of it, since your Holiness has pardoned him ? And as you have consigned him over to my care, what will the people of Rome say of your Holiness and of me ? " The Pope re- plied, " I must insist upon having Benvenuto, if you have a mind to the bishopric ; and let people talk as they will." The good cardinal desired that his Holiness would give him the bishopric, and rely upon his doing afterwards as his Holiness should think proper. The Pope, appearing to be almost ashamed of the violation of his faith, said, " I will send to you for Benvenuto, and, for my own satisfac- tion, put him into certain apartments of the privy gardens, whei-e he may recover at leisure, take proper care of his health, and his friends shall be at liberty to visit him. I will myself bear all his expenses till he is thoroughly recovered from this little affair." The cardinal came home, and sent me word by the person in whose behalf he had applied for the bishopric, tliat the Pope would fain have me again in his hands ; and that be intended to keep me in one of the ground-llooi CH. XXIV.J DELIVERED UP TO THE POPE. 259 apartments belonging to the privy garden, where I might receive the visits of the nobility and gentry, and of all my friends, in the same manner I had done at his house. I then requested Signor Andrea to desire the cardinal not to surrender me to the Pope, but to leave the matter to me ; adding, that I intended to get myself wrapt up in a mattress, and carried to a place of safety at a distance from Rome ; for in delivering me up to the Pope he would consign me to certain destruction. The cardinal, when he heard this, was upon the point of complying with my desire ; but Signor Andrea, who was to have the bishopric, discovered the whole affair. In the mean time the Pope suddenly sent for me, and caused me to be put into one of the ground-floor apartments belonging to his privy garden, as he had said he would. The cardinal sent me word not to eat any thing dressed in the Pope's kitchen, for he would supply me from his own table : at the same time he assured me that he could not possibly avoid acting as he had done, begged I would make myself entirely easy, and promised that he would contrive to procure me my liberty by some means or other. AVliilst I was in this situation, I was every day visited by many persons of distinction, and received from them several valuable presents and offers of service. Victuals were sent me by the Pope, but these I would never touch, instead of which I ate of those sent me by the Cardinal Cornaro : this rule I constantly observed. Amongst my other friends, there was a young Greek, about five-and- twenty years of age : he was an active, gay youth, and the best swordsman at that time in Rome. He was somewhat deficient in point of courage, but faithful, honest, and very credulous. He had heard what the Pope had said at first in my favour, about repaying me for my past sufferings, but perhaps did not know that he had afterwards spoken in a very different style. I therefore resolved to trust this young Greek, and spoke to him in the following manner : " My dear friend, these people are resolved to take away my life, so that now is the time to assist me. What I do they think I cannot perceive that whilst they show me such external acts of civility, it is all with an intention to bttray me ? " The good youth answered ; " My friend Benvenuto, a report prevails all over Rome, that the Pope s 2 260 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELrfNi. ^CH. XXIV has given you a place worth five hundred crowns a year : 1 therefore entreat you not to let your groundless suspicions deprive you of so great an emolument." But all this made no impression on me : still I most earnestly besought him to take me out of that place, being thoroughly convinced that, though the P©pe had it in his power to do me great favours, he secretly intended to injure me as much as he could, consistently with his reputation. I therefore urged him to be as expeditious as possible in rescuing me from such a formidable enemy ; adding, that if he would release me from my confinement in the manner I should point out, I should always consider myself as indebted to him for the preservation of my life ; and would, when occasion offered, gladly venture it in his service. The poor young fellow replied, with tear-s in his eyes, " My dear friend, you are bent on your own destruction, but I cannot refuse com- plying with your desire ; so tell me how you would have me proceed, and I will do whatever you require, though much against my inclination." Thus we at last agreed, and [ told him in what method to proceed, and what measures to adopt ; so that we should have found it a very easy matter to carry our design ilito execution. When I thought he was upon the point of performing all that he had pro- mised, he came to tell me, that for my own sake he must disobey me ; adding, that he had been informed by those who were near the Pope's person of the real state of my case. Having no other means of effecting my purpose, I now remained forlorn and in despair. This happened on Jorpus Christi Day, in the year 1539. Oui- dispute being over, and night approaching, a great quantity of provisions was brought me from the Pope's kitchen, and at the same time I received an ample supply from Cardinal Cornaro. Several of my friends happening to be with me, I invited them to stay to supper : they con- sented, and I spent the evening cheerfully, keeping my leg wrapped up in the bed-clothes. About an hour after sun- set, they took their leave of me ; and two of my servants having put me to bed, retired to the antechamber. I had a shock dog, as black as a mulberry, who had been of great use to me when I went a-fowling, and now would never quit me a moment : as he happened at night to be under my bed, I called to the servants to take him away, CH. XXIV.] CONFINED IN THE TOWER OF NONA. 261 because he kept howling most hideously. When the ser- vants came, the dog flew at them like a tiger : they were frishtened out of their wits at this, and under terrible apprehensions that the creature was mad, from its incessant howling. This lasted till one in the morning. As soon as the clock struck the hour, the captain of the city-guards entered my apartment with a consideraVjle number of his followers : the dog then came from under the bed, flew at them with great fury, tore their cloaks and their hose, and so terrified them, that they thought he was mad. But the captain, being a man of experience, said, " Such is the nature of faithful dogs, that they, by a sort of instinct, foreknow and proclaim any misfortune that is to befal their masters. Two of you take sticks, and defend yourselves from the dog : let the rest seize Benvenuto, bind him fast to that seat, and carry him you know Avhere." As I have said, it was the last day of Corpus Christi, at one in the morning. The guards obeyed their order : I was covered and wrapped up, while four of them walked on before the rest, to disperse the few people who might happen to be still walking in the streets. In this manner they conveyed me to a prison called the tower of Nona, and putting me into that part of it assigned to condemned criminals, laid me upon a piece of a mat, and left one of the guards to watch me. This man all the night lamented my hard fate, saying, " Alas ! poor Benve- nuto, what have you done to offend these people ? " Hence I quickly conjectured what was to be my lot, as well from the circumstance of my being confined in such a place, as because my guard had apprised me of it. I continued part of that night in the utmost anxiety of mind, vainly en- deavouring to guess for what cause it had pleased God so to afilict me ; and not being able to discover it, I beat my breast with my despair. The guard did the best he could to comfort me : but I begged of him, for the love of God, to leave me to myself, and say no more ; as I should sooner and more easily compose myself by my own endeavours : he promised he w-ould do as I desired. I then turned my whole heart to God, and devoutly prayed, that it would please him to affcrd me his divine aid ; though I could not help lamenting n\y hard fate, con- sidering my escape iustifiable according to all kwc», both s 3 262 MEMOIRS OP BENVENTJTO CELLINI. [CH. XXIV. divine and human ; and though I had sometimes been guilty of manslaughter, yet as God's Vicar upon earth had recalled me from my own country, and confirmed my pardon by his authority, and all that I had done was in defence of the body which heaven had given me, I did not gee how I could in any sense be thought to deserve death- My case, indeed, appeared to be much the same with that of those unfortunate persons, who, whilst they are walking the streets, are killed by the falling of a stone upon their heads ; in the same manner as is often owing to the in- fluence of the stars, not that they conspire to do us either good or mischief, but it proceeds from their conjunctions, to which we are all said to be subject. Although I know 1 have free-will, and that if my faith were as strong and lively as it should be, angels would be sent from heaven to deliver me out of this prison, and to relieve me from all the distresses I groan under : yet as I am unworthy of being so highly favoured by the divine power, the stars are per- mitted to shed all their baleful influence on my devoted head. Having continued in this agitation of mind some time, I at last composed myself and fell asleep. As soon as it was morning my guard awaked me, and said, " O unfortunate, though virtuous man ! this is no time for you to sleep, for here comes the messenger of dismal tidings." To this I answered, " The sooner I am delivered from the prison of this world the better, espe- cially as I am sure of salvation, being unjustly put to death. The glorified and divine Jesus makes me a com- panion to his disciples and friends, who suflered death without cause ; and I return thanks to the Almighty for the favour. Why does not the person come who is to pro- nounce my sentence ?" The guard replied, " He is grieved on your account, and even now weeps your approaching fate." I then called to him by his name, which was Bene- detto da Cagli : " Draw near, my good Benedetto, now that I am ready and prepared for my fate : it is much more for my glory that I should die innocent, than if I were to suflfer for my crimes. Come hither, and let me nave a priest to talk with for a while before my departure, though I have indeed but little occasion for such assistance, as 1 have already made my confession to the Almighty. I de- sire it merely in compliance with the will of our Hol^ OH. XXIV. j CNTERCEDED FOR BY A LADY. 263 Mother, the Church ; for though she has cruelly wronged rae, I freely forgive her. Therefore approach nie, my dear Benedetto, and despatch me wliilst I am resigned and will- ing to receive my sentence." When I had uttered these words, honest Benedetto bade the guard lock the door, which, without his authority, could not be done. He went directly to Pier Luigi's lady, who was in com- pany with the duchess above mentioned, and as soon as he was come into their presence, he addressed her thus : '• I implore you, most illustrious patroness, for the love of God, to send to the Pope, to desire him to appoint another per- son to pronounce Benvenuto's sentence, and do the office that I was to have done ; for I renounce it, and nothing shall ever prevail on me to comply with such orders." Having thus delivered his sentiments, he departed with the greatest demonstrations of sorrow and concern. The duchess exclaimed, with an air of indignation, " Is this the justice administered in Rome by God's Vicar upon earth? The duke, my first husband, greatly patronised this man, on account of his abilities and his virtues, and would not let him return to Rome, because he took great delight in his company." Having spoken thus, she left the place murmuring, and expressing the highest disapprobation of the Pope's proceedings. Pier Luigi's lady, who was called Signora Jeronima, then repaired to his Holiness, and falling upon her kness in the presence of several cardinals, pleaded my cause with such eloquence, that the Pope was covered with confusion, and said, " For your sake, madam, we will proceed no farther against him, — not that we were ever bent on his destruction." The Pope expressed himself thuG, because the cardinals, who were present, had heard the words of that noble-spirited lady. I continued in prison in the most dreadful agitation, my heart beating violently with terror ; and even the men, who were to perform the cruel office of executioners, were in some disorder. At last dinner-time approached, when all present departed, and I had my victuals brought me : at this sight I said with surprise, " Now, indeed, truth has been too powerful for the malignant influence of the stars! I therefore entreat the Almighty to deliver rae from this danger, if it be his divine pleasure." I then began to cat ; and as Iliad at first resolutely made up my mind to my s 4 264 MKMQntS OF BENVENDTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV expected deatli, I now cordially entertained the animating hope of my deliverance. Having; dined heartily, I remained without seeing or hearing any thing farther till an hour after sunset, when the captain of the city-guards came with a con siderahle number of his followers, who put me again upon the same seat on which I had been conveyed the evening before to that prison. He spoke to me in the most kind and obliging manner, and bidding me banish all fear, com manded his followers to take care of me, and in particular to avoid touching my broken leg. Thus they carried me to the castle from whence I had made my escape ; and when we had ascended pretty high, to a little court, there for a short time they set me down. CHAPTER XXV. Account of the barbarities which the Author undergoes during his con- finement. — His great resignation under his afflictions. — Wonderful vision denoting his speedy deliverance. — He writes a sonnet upon his distress, which softens the heart of the Constable of the Castle towards his prisoner. — Death of the Constable. — Signor Durante attempts to poison Cellini, who escapes death in an extraordinary manner, through the avarice of an indigent jeweller. Soon after the constable of the castle, though diseased and afflicted, caused himself to be carried to the place where I was confined, and said to me, " So, have I caught you again?" — " 'Tis true, you have," answered I; " but you see I escaped, as I told you I would ; and if I had not been sold, under the papal faith for a bishopric, by a Venetian cardinal to a Roman of the Farnese family, both of whom, in so doing, violated the most sacred laws, you never would have had this opportunity of retaking me ; but since they have thus mis-used me, you also may do your worst, for I now care for nothing more in this world." The poor gen- tleman then began to make terrible exclamations, crying out, " So, so ! Ufe and death are equally indifferent to this man, who is more daring and presumptuous in his present condition than when he was well. Put him there under the garden, and mention not his name any more to me, fof CTI. XXV.] ENCOUNTERS GREAT BARBARITIES. 265 he is the cause of my death." I was accordingly carried to a very dark room under the garden, where there was a great quantity of water, full of tarantulas and other poi- sonous insects. A mattress was thrown me covered with a blanket, and that evening I had no supper, but was fast locked in, and so I continued till the next day. At three in the afternoon my dinner was brought, and I desired those who came with it to let me have some of my books, that I might amuse myself with reading. They made me no answer, but mentioned my request to the poor constable, who was desirous to know every thing I said. The next morning they brought me a Bible of mine in the vulgar tongue, with another book, containing the Chro- nicles of Villani. Upon my asking for some other books, I was told that I should have no more, and that I had too many already. Thus wretchedly did I drag on my time, lying upon the rotten mattress above mentioned. In three days every thing in the room was under water, so that 1 could hardly stir an inch, as my leg was broken ; and when I wanted to get out of bed, I was obliged to crawl along with great difficulty. For about an hour and a half of the day I enjoyed a little of the reflected light of the sun, which entered my wretched cell by a very small aperture ; and that was all the time I had to read. I passed the remainder both of the day and night patiently in the dark, revolving in my mind the most serious thoughts on God, and on the frail condition of human nature. I had scarce any doubt but I should there in a few days end my miserable life. Howevei', I made myself as easy as I could, and was com- forted with the reflection, that it would have been much worse to feel the excruciating pangs of being flayed alive*: whereas, in my circumstances, at that time I passed away my life in a sort of dose, which was much more agreeable than my former situation. Thus by degrees I found my spirits 80 far broken that my happy temperament became habituated to this purgatory. When I found myself thus reconciled to my condition, 1 formed a resolution to bear up under my unhappy lot as well as I could. I commenced the Bible from the begin- ning, and perused it every day with so much attention, • It appears that when in the tower of Nona he was \mder appro • hcnsions of being flayed alive. 266 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV. and took such delight in it, that if it had been in my power I should have done nothing else but read ; but as soon as the light failed me, I felt all the misery of my confinement, and grew so impatient that I several times was going to lay violent hands upon myself. However, as I was not allowed a knife, I had not the means of carrying my design into execution. I once, notwithstanding, contrived to place a thick plank of wood over my head, and propped it in the manner of a trap, so that if it had fallen upon me, it would instantly have crushed me to death ; but when I had put the whole pile in readiness, and was just going to loosen the pliank, and let it fall upon my head, I was seized by some- thing invisible, pushed four cubits from the place, and ter- rified to such a degree that I became quite insensible. In this condition I remained from break of day till three in the afternoon, when my dinner was brought me. The persons that attended me must have been with me several times before I heard them ; for when I recovered my senses, I heard Captain Sandrino Monaldi enter the cell, exclaiming, " Unfortunate man, what a pity it is that such merit should have such an end." Upon hearing these words, I opened my eyes, and saw several priests in their sacerdotal robes, who cried out aloud, " How came you to tell us that he was dead?" Bossa made answer, — "I said so, because I found him lifeless." They immediately removed me from the place where I lay, and threw the mattress, which was quite rotten, out of the cell. Upon telling the constable what they had seen, he ordered me another mattress. Having afterwards reflected within myself, what it could be that prevented me from carrying my design into execution, I took it for granted that it was some divine power, or, in other words, my guardian angel. Afterwards at night there appeared to me in a dream a wonderful being, in form resembling a beautiful youth, who said to me in a reprimanding tone, " Do you know who gave you that body, which you would have destroyed before the time of its dissolution ? " My imagination was impressed as if I had answered, that I acknowledged to have received it from the great God of nature. " Do you then," replied he, " despise his gifts, that you attempt to deface and destroy them ? Trust in his providence, and never give way to despair whilst his divine assistance is at en. XXV.] WRITES A SONNET ON UIS DISTRESS. 26 i hand :" with many more admirable exhortations, of which I cannot now recollect the thousandth part. I began to reflect within myself that this angelical apparition had spoken the truth : so having cast my eyes round the prison, I perceived a few rotten bricks, which I rubbed together, and made of them a sort of mash. I then crawled along as well as I could to the door of the prison, and gnawed with ray teeth till I had unloosed a splinter : this done I waited lor the time that the light shone into my cell, which was from half an hour past four till half an 'hour past five, and then I began to write as well as I could with the compo- sition above mentioned upon one of the blank leaves of my Bible ; and reproved my soul, which scorned to continue any longer in this world, and it answered my body, ex- cusing itself ; the body then suggested hopes that all would be well. Thus did I write a soi-t of dialogue between my soul and body, the purport of which was as follows : — BODY. Say, plaintive and desponding soul. Why thus so loth on earth to stay ? SOUL. In vain we strive 'gainst Heaven's control; Since life *s a pain, let 's haste away. BOOT. Ah, wing not hence thy rapid flight, Content thyself, nor fate deplore: New scenes of joy and pure delight Heaven still for thee may have in store. SOUL. I then consent to stay a while. Freedom once more in hopes to gain ; The rest of life with ease beguile, And dread no more the rattling chain. Having at length recovered my strength and vigour, after I had composed myself and resumed my cheerfulness of mind, I continued to read my Bible, and so used ray eyas to that darkness, that though I was at first able to read only an hour and a half, I could at length read three hours. I then reflected on the wonderful power of the Almighty upon the hearts of simple men, who had carried their enthusiasm so far as to believe firmly that God would indulge them in all they wished for ; and I promised myself 268 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV. the assistance of the Most High, as well through his mercy, as on account of my innocence. Thus turning constantly to the Supreme Being, sometimes in prayer, sometimes in silent meditations on the divine goodness, I was totally en- grossed by these heavenly reflections, and came to take such delight in pious meditations, that I no longer thought of past misfortunes ; on the contrary, I was all day long singing psalms and many other compositions of mine, in which I celebrated and praised the Deity. At this time nothing gave me so much pain and torment as my nails, which grew to a most immoderate length, I could not touch myself without being cut by them ; neither was I able to put on my clothes, because they pricked and gave me the most exquisite pain. My teeth likewise rotted in my mouth, and this I perceived, because the foul teeth being pushed forward by the sound ones, and at last ob- structing the gums, the stumps came beyond their sockets : when I saw this, I pulled them as it were out of a scab- bard, without any pain or effusion of blood : in this manner I got them out pretty easily. Then being reconciled to my other sufferings, one time I sang, another time I played, and sometimes wrote with the compound of brick-dust. I began a few stanzas in praise of the prison, in which I re- lated all the accidents that had befallen me : these stanzas shall be inserted in their proper place. The constable of the castle sent several times privately to inquire how I went on. On the last of July I expressed great joy, recollecting the festival which is generally cele- brated at Rome on the first of August ; and I said within myself, " Hitherto have I kept this delightful holiday in worldly vanity, this year I will keep it with the Almighty." at the same time I reflected, how much happier I was at this festival than at any of the former. The spies who heard me express these sentiments, repeated them to the constable, who said, with surprise and indignation, " Good God ! this man triumphs, and lives happily in all his dis- tress, while I am miserable in the midst of affluence, and Buffer death on his account ! Go directly and put him into the deepest subterranean cell of the castle, in which the preacher Fojano* was starved to death ; perhaps when he * Benedetto da Fojano, a popular preacher, was imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo, by order of Clement VII., in 1530. His offa vi CH. XX1\J REMOVED TO A. DREADFUL CKLL. 269 sees himself in so wretched, a situation, he may at la?t come to himself." Captain Sandrino IMonalui accordingly entered my cell, attended by about twenty of the constable s servants, who found me upon my knees praying. 1 never once turned about, nor took any notice of them ; on the contrary, I worshipped God the Father, surrounded with a host of angels, and Christ rising victorious over death, which I had drawn upon the wall with a piece of charcoal that I had picked off the ground. After four months that I had been obliged to keep my bed with my broken leg, and sc often dreamed that angels came to cui-e it, it had at length become quite sound, as if it had never been broken at all. Hence it was that a band of armed men rushed in upon me at once, seeming nevertheless to dread me as a poisonous dragon. The captain said to me, " You see there is a strong body of us, and we have made noise enough upon en- tering the cell; why then did you not turn about?" At these words I guessed the worst that could befal me, and being long inured to sufferings, I made this answer ; " To God, the King of heaven, have I turned my soul, my con- templation, and all my vital spirits ; and to you I have turned exactly what suits you ; for what is good in me you are neither able to see nor touch : so do whatever you please to that part of me which is in your power." The captain then, quite frightened, and not knowing what I intended to do, said to four of the boldest of his followers, " Throw your arms on one side." As soon as they had done so, he cried out to them, " Fall on him quickly, and seize him ; is he the devil himself, that we should be so much afraid of liim ? liold him fast, and do not suffer him to escape." I being thus roughly handled and ill-treated, expected much worse than what afterwards befel me : I therefore lifted up my heart to Chi-ist, and said, "O just God ! thou who ui)on that high tree didst expiate all our consisted in beinij too popular a preacher at Florence, in the struggle against the power of tlie Wedici, in 1528, exciting tlie citizens to arms in defence of the republic from the pulpit. The a ascription that Varuhi gives of his sufferings and lingering death is truly appalling. He, in vain, appealed to the mercy of the Pope, offering to dedicate his future life to a confutation of Luther'i heresies. He was esteemed one of the most learned and eloquent ec* elcsiasticG of his times. 270 MEMOIRS OF BENVENCJTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV. Sins, why is my innocence to suffer for offences that I am if;norant of ? Nevertheless thy will be done." Whilst they were carrying me off' with a lighted torch, I thought they intended to throw me into the sink of" Sammalo : that is the name of a frightful place, where many have been swallowed up alive, by falling from thence into a well under the foundations of the castle. As this happened not to be my lot, I thought myself very fortunate : they how- ever put me into the dismal cell in which Fojano was starved to death, and there they left me without doing me any farther harm. As soon as I found myself alone, I began to sing the following psalms : " Out of the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord," &c. " Have mercy upon me, God, according to thy loving kindness," &c. " Truly my soul waiteth upon God," &c. That whole day, which was the first of August, I solem- nised with God; and my heart continually exulted with faith and hope. In two days they took me out of that dungeon, and carried me again to the cell where I had drawn the figures above mentioned : when I came there, the sight of the images on the wall made me weep with joy and gladness of heart. The constable, after that, wanted every day to know what I did, and what I said. The Pope having heard all that had passed, and that the physicians had already despaired of the constable'^ reco- very, said, " Before my constable departs this life, as Ben- venuto is the cause of his untimely fate, I shall be pleased to hear of his putting that fellow to death in what man- ner he thinks proper, in order that he may not die unre- venged." The constable, having been informed of this speech by Pier Luigi, said to him, " Is the Pope then willing that I should wreak my revenge on Benvenuto ; and does he put him into my power ? If he does, leave me to manage him, I shall know how to wreak a proper revenge." As the Pope had borne me the utmost malice and ill-will, so the anerer and resentment of the constable were now turned with equal fury against me. Just at this juncture, the invisible being that had prevented my laying violent hands upon myself, came to me, still invisible, but spoke with an audible voice, shook me, made me rise up, and s iiid, " Ben- CH. XXV ."I THE GOVERNOR NOW TREATS HI3I KINDLY, 271 venuto ! Be^venuto ! lose no time, raise youi- heart to God in fervent devotion, and cry to him with the utmost vehe- mence ! " Being seized with a sudden consternation, I fell upon my knees, and said several prayers, together with the whole psalm, " He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High," &c. I then, as it were, spoke with God for awhile, and in an instant the same voice, altogether clear and audible, said to me, " Take your repose, and now fear nothing." The reason of this was, that the constable had given cruel and bloody orders to have me put to death, but all on a sudden revoked them, saying to himself, " Is not this Benvenuto whose cause I have so often espoused, whom I know with certainty to be innocent, and to have suffered all that has been inflicted on him unjustly? How can I expect that God should have mercy upon me, and forgive me my sins, if I do not sliow mercy to those that have of- fended me ? And why should I hurt a man of worth, who has served me and done me honour ? Go, tell him that, instead of putting him to death, I grant him his life and liberty ; and shall direct in my will, that no one shall sue him for the expenses he has been at in this place." When the Pope heard this, he was highly offended. I continued to put up my usual prayers, kept writing my stanzas, and began to have every night the most joyful and encouraging dreams imaginable. I likewise constantly thought myself visibly in the company of this divine person, whom I had often heard whilst invisible. I asked but one favour of him, that he would carry me where I could see the sun, telling him that was of all things what I desired most, and that if I could see it but once I should die con- tented, and without repining at any of the miseries and tortures I had gone through ; for I was now inured to every hardsliip, all were become my friends, and nothing gave me any farther uneasiness. Some of the constable's over-zealous servants had been in expectation that he would have hanged me, as he himself had threatened, from the very same battlement which I had descended ; but when they saw that he had entirely altered his mind they were highly mortified, and were continually trying, by one artirice or another, to put me in fear of my lite. But, as J ha^« 272 MEMOIRS OF BENTENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV. already observed, I was now so familiarised to these things that none of them terrified me in the least, or had any effect upon my mind : the strongest and almost the only desire which animated my breast was an earnest longing to see the sphere of the sun, the golden orb of day ! So continuing to pray with the same earnestness and fervour of devotion to Jesus Christ, I thus expressed myself: " O thou true son of God ! I beseech thee by thy birth, by thy death upon the cross, and by thy glorious resurrection, that thou wouldst deem me worthy to see the sun in my dreams at least, if it cannot be otherwise! but if thou thinkest me worthy of seeing it with these mortal eyes, I promise to visit thee at thy holy sepulchre !" These vows did I make, and these prayers did I put up to God on the second of October, 1539. When the next morning came, I awoke at daybreak, almost an hour before sunrise ; and having quitted my wretched couch, I put on a waistcoat, as it began to be cool, and prayed with greater devotion than ever I had done before. I earnestly entreated Christ that he would be graciously pleased to favour me with a divine inspiration, to let me know for what offence I was so severely punished ; and since his divine majesty did not think me fit to behold the sun even in a dream, 1 besought him by his power and his goodness that he would at least deem me worthy of knowinsf the cause of such rigorous chastisement. When I had uttered these words, some invisible being hurried me away like a whirlwind to a place where he unveiled himself to me in a human form, having the figure of a youth with the first down upon his cheeks, and of a most beautiful countenance, on which a particular gravity was conspicuous. He remained with me, and showed me what was in that place, saying, " Those numerous men whom you see are all who have hitherto been born and died." I then asked him why he brought me thither? To this he answered, "Come forward, and you will soon know the reason." I had in my hand a dagger, and on my back a coat of mail : he led me through that spacious place, and showing me those who travelled several ways to the distance of an infinite number of miles, he conducted me forward, went out at a little door into a place which appeared like a narrow street, and pulled me after him. Upon coming out of the «pacious apartment CH. XXV. j EXTRAORDINARY DREASI. 273 into this street, I found myself unarmed, and in a white ahirt, with my head uncovered, standing at the right of my companion. When I saw myself in this situation I was in great astonishment, because I did not know what street I was in : so lifting up my eyes, I saw a high wall in the front of a house, on which the sun darted his refulgent rays. I then said, " O my friend, how shall I contrive to raise myself so as to be able to see the sphere of the sun ?" He thereupon showed me several steps which were upon my right hand, and bade me ascend them. Having gone to a little distance from him, I mounted several of those steps backwards, and began by little and little to see the approaching sun. I ascended as fast as I could in the manner above mentioned, so that I at last discovered the whole solar orb : and because its powerful rays dazzled me, I, upon perceiving the cause of it, opened my eyes, and looking steadfastly on the great luminary, exclaimed, " O brilliant sun ! whom I have so long wished to behold ; henceforward I desire to view no other object, though the fierce lustre of thy beams quite overpowers and blinds me." In this manner I stood with my eyes fixed on the sun, and after I had continued thus gazing for some time, I saw the whole force of his united rays fall on the left side of his orb ; and the rays being removed, I with great delight and equal astonishment contemplated the body of the glorious luminary, and could not but consider the concentring of its beams upon its left as a most extraordinary phenomenon. I meditated profoundly on the divine grace which had manifested itself to me this morning, and thus raised my voice : " O wonderful power ! glorious influence divine ! How much more bounteous art thou to me than I ex- pected ! " The sun divested of his rays appeared a bath of purest melted gold. Whilst I gazed on this noble phe- nomenon, I saw the centre of the sun swell and bulge out, and in a moment there appeared a Christ upon the cross formed of the self-same matter as the sun ; and so gracious and pleasing was his aspect, that no human imagination could ever form so much as a faint idea of such beauty. As I was contemplating this glorious apparition, I cried out aloud, " A miracle ! a miracle ! O God ! O clemency divine ! O goodness infinite ! what mercies dost thou lavish on me this morning !" At the very lime that I thus medi- T 274 MEMOIKS V.F BENVE^UTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV. tated and uttered these words, the figure of Clirist began to move towards the side where the rays were concentred ; and the middle of the sun swelled and bulged out as at first. The protuberance having increased considerably was at last converted into the figure of a beautiful Virgin Mary, who appeared to sit with her son in her arms in a graceful attitude, and even to smile ; she was between two angels of so divine a beauty, that imagination could not even form an idea of such perfection. I likewise saw in the same sun a figure dressed in sacerdotal robes : this figure turned its back to me, and looked towards the blessed Virgin, holding Christ in her arms. All these things I clearly and plainly saw, and with a loud voice continued to return thanks to the Almighty. This wonderful pheno- menon having appeared before me about eight minutes, vanished from my sight, and I was instantly conveyed back to my couch. I then began to make loud exclama- tions, crying out thus : " It has pleased the Almighty to reveal to me all his glory in a splendour which perhaps no mortal eye ever before beheld : hence I know that I am free, happy, and in favour with God. As for you, unhappy wretches, you will continue in disgrace with him. Know that I am certain that on All Saints' Day (on which I was born in 1500, the night of the first of November, exactly at twelve o'clock), know, I say, that on the anniversary of that day you will be obliged to take me out of this dismal cell ; for I have seen it with my eyes, and it was prefigured on the throne of God. The priest who looked towards Christ, and had his back turned to me, was St. Peter, who pleaded my cause, and appeared to be quite ashamed that such cruel insults should be offered to Christians in his house. So proclaim it every where, that no one has any farther power to hurt me ; and tell the Pope that if he will supply me with wax or paper to represent the glorious vision sent to me from Heaven, I will certainly convince him of some things of which he now appears to doubt." The constable, though his physicians had entirely given him over, had recovered a sound mind, and got the better of ail those whims and vapours which used to torment him yearly ; so he gave his whole attention to the salvation of his soul : and as he felt great remorse of conscience on my account, and was of opinion that I had been from the be- CH. XXV-I ADDKESSES A SONNET TO THE GOVERNOK. 276 ginning, and still continued to be, most cruelly injured, he informed the Pope of the extraordinary things which I de- clared I had seen. The pontiff (who neither believed in God, nor in any other article of religion) sent him word that I was mad, and advised him to think no more about me, but mind his own soul. The constable, having received this answer, sent some of his people to comfort me, and likewise ordered me pen, ink, paper, and wax, with the proper implements to work in wax, as well as his best respects and most courteous expressions of kindness, re- peated to me by some of his servants who were my well- wishers. These people were, indeed, in every respect the very reverse of his wicked domestics and others who were for having me put to death. I took the paper and the wax, fell to work, and at my leisure wrote the following sonnet, inscribed to the worthy constable. SONNET TO THE CONSTABLE OF THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO. Could I, my lord, convey in labour'd strain Some emanation of that light divine Which late illum'd my soul, I more should gain. Approved by thee, than were an empire mine. Would heaven it were but to our Pontiff told, How to my eyes his glory Christ reveal'd, Glory which human tongue can ne'er unfold ! Glory from mortal view by clouds conceal'd ! Soon Justice would unbar her iron gate. Soon thou would'st see vile impious Fury bound, Would'st hear her rave at Heaven and cruel fate, And with her cries make all th' expanse resound. Did I alas ! enjoy the light of day, Or were my limbs but free and unconfined : I then could Heaven's unbounded love display, Smile at my pain, to death and fate resign'd: The cross I bear would then appear more light. And freedom's rays dispel the gloom of night. The day following, when that servant of the constable's who was my well-wisher came with my breakfast, I gave him the sonnet : the good man, unknown to his maHcious ftdlow-servants, my enemies, showed it to the constable, who would gladly have released me, being of opinion that the injury done me was in a great measure the cause of liis death. He took the sonnet, and having r^ead it several T 2 276 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLmi. [CH. XXV. times over, said, " These are not the expressions or thoughts of a madman, but of a worthy and virtuous person." He then ordered his secretary to carry it to the Pope, and put it into his own hand, at the same time requesting him to set me at liberty. Whilst the secretary was carrying this sonnet to the Pope, the constable sent me candles, both for day and night, Avith all the conveniences that could be wished for in such a place : I thereupon began to recover of my indisposition, which had increased to a very high pitch. The Pope read the sonnet, and sent word to the constable that he would soon do something that would please him ; and I make no doubt but he would have been willing to release me, had it not been for his son Pier Luigi, who caused me to be detained against his father's inclina- tion. Whilst I was drawing a design of the late wonderful miracle, the constable, sensible of the approach of death, on the morning of All- Saints' Day, sent his nephew Piero Ugolino to me, in order to show me some jewels. As soon as I saw them, I said within myself, " this is a proof that I shall shortly be at liberty." When I expressed myself to that effect, the young man, who was a person of few words, said to me, " Think no more of that, Benvenuto." — " Take away your jewels," replied I, "for I am under so strict a confinement, that I see no light but what glimmers in this gloomy cell, so that I cannot distinguish the quality of precious stones ; but with regard to my release from this prison, before this day expires you will come to deliver me from it. This will positively happen as I tell you, and cannot be otherwise." The young man left the cell, having first ordered me to be locked up ; he stayed away above two hours, and then returned, without any armed men, attended only by two boys to support me ; and in that manner he conducted me to the large apartments* which I occupied at first (I mean in 1538), at the same time allowing me all the conveniences and accommodation I could desire. A few days after, the constable, who thought I was re- leased, being quite overpowered by the violence of his dis- oi'der, departed this life : he was succeeded by Signor Antonio Ugolini, his brother, who had made the deceased constable believe that he had discharged me from my con- ♦ Where he had been before confined, In 1538, CH. XXV.] AN ATTEMPT TO POISON HIM. 277 finement. This Signer Antonio, as far as I could under- stand, was ordered by the Pope to keep me a sort of a prisoner at large, till he should let him know how I was to be disposed of. Signer Durante of Brescia, who has already been spoken of, had entered into a conspiracy with that soldier, now a villain of an apothecary of Prato, to mix some poisonous infusion amongst my food, which was not to operate suddenly, but to produce its effect in about four or five months. They at first thought of mixing with my meat the powder of a pounded diamond : this is not a poison of itself, but is 80 excessively hard, that it retains its acute angles^ differ- ing from other stones, which, when they are pounded, en- tirely lose the sharpness of their particles, and become round. The diamond alone preserves the acuteness of its angles : hence it follows, that when it enters the stomach with the meat, and the operation of digestion is to be per- formed, the particles of the diamond stick to the cartilages of the stomach and the bowels ; and as the newly received food is impelled forward, the minute parts of the diamond which adhere to those cartilages, in process of time perforate them ; and this causes death : whereas, every other sort of stone or glass, when mixed with meat, is incapable of stick- ing to the coat of the stomach, and of consequence is voided with the food. The rascal Durante gave for this purpose a diamond of little value to one of the guards belonging to the castle. I was informed that one Lione of Arezzo, a goldsmith, and my inveterate enemy, was employed to pound the diamond ; but, as this fellow was very indigent, and the diamond was worth several scores of crowns, he made the guard believe that a certain dust, with which he supplied him, was the pounded diamond designed for my destruction. On the day that it was administered to me, being Good Friday, they put it into all my victuals, into the salad, the sauce, and the soup. I ate very heartily, as I had had no supper the night before, and it happened to be a holiday I indeed felt the meat crash under my teeth, but never once dreamt of the villanous designs of my enemies. When I had done dinner, as there remained a little of the salad on the dish, I happened to fix my eyes on some of the smallest particles remaining. I immediately took them, and advan- cing to the window, upon examining them by the light, recol- T 3 278 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXV. lected the unusual crashing above mentioned ; then viewing the particles with attention, I was inclined to tliink, as far as my eye could judge, that a pounded diamond had been mixed with my victuals. Immediately upon this discovery, I concluded myself to be a dead man, and with the most heartfelt sorrow had recourse to my devotion. As I thought my deatli inevitable, I made a long and fervent prayer to the Almighty, thanking his divine Majesty for so easy a deatli : and, as my stars had so ordered it, I thought it a great happiness that my life was to terminate in that man- ner. I therefore composed myself witli the most perfect resignation, and blessed the world and the time tliat I had lived in it ; for I hoped that I was then departing to a bet- ter place by the grace of God, which I thought I had per- fectly secured. Whilst I revolved these thoughts in my mind, I had in my hand some of the little grains of the supposed diamond. But as hope is never totally extinct in the human breast, I had still some glimmering of it left ; I therefore laid hold of a little knife, and taking some of the small particles above mentioned, put them upon one of the irons of the prison, then pressing upon them with the point of the knife as hard as I could, I heard the little grains crack : upon tliis I examined them attentively with my eye, and found that it was really so. Hence I conceived new hopes, and said within myself, " This is not the stone which was in- tended for me by the villain Durante : it is a small brittle stone, which is not likely to do me any manner of injury :" so though I had at first formed a resolution not to have re- course to any remedy, but to die in peace, I now altered my mind. But I first returned thanks to God, and blessed poverty, which, though it often causes death, was on this occasion the preserver of my life ; for Durante, my mortal enemy, having given a diamond, worth above a hundred crowns, to Lione * to pound, his poverty made him keep it * Leon Lloni, a very distinguished artist in Cellini's own line, and like him afterwards a distinguished sculptor. He resided in Rome, where in 1540 he was imprisoned and condemned to lose a hand, for having made an assault and hattery upon the Pope's jeweller, one Pel- legrino di Leuti. By the intercession of Cardinal Archinto, and Monsig. Durante, he got his sentence commuted for the galleys ; but srfter some labour, he was also enabled wher at Genoa to obtain his li- en. XXV."} SAVED BY A JEWELLER'S AVARICE. 279 'or himself, and in lieu of it he pounded for me a counter- feit diamond, not worth above twenty pence, thinking, as that was a stone as well as the other, it was equally likely to do the business. At this very time the bishop of Pavia, brother to the count of St. Secondo, called Monsignor Rossi, of Parma, was prisoner in the castle. I called to him with a loud voice, telling him that a parcel of villains had given me a pounded diamond with a murderous intention. I then got one of his servants to show him part of the dust which was left on my plate ; yet I did not let him know that what they gave me was no diamond, but maintained that they had certainly poisoned me, knowing that my good friend the constable was dead. I moreover requested him that for the short time I had to live, he would supply me with bread from his table, being determined to eat nothing that came from them for the future. He thereupon promised to furnish me every day with provisions. This bishop was prisoner in the castle on account of certain plots and in- trigues which he had been concerned in at Pavia ; and, as he was my friend, I used to call to him through the grate of my prison. Signor Antonio, the new constable, who certainly was not an accomplice in the design upon my life, made a great stir on the occasion, and desired to see the pounded diamond himself, in a persuasion that it was a real diamond ; but thinking that the Pope was at the bottom of berty, on the recommendation of Pietro Aretino to the famous Andrea Dorca. Thus, though poor, it appears he had already met with friends and acquired some reputation. Entering into the service of Charles V. he cast several noble statues in bronze, as well as many beautiful medals, and was very liberally rewarded by that monarch, who gave him the title of Chevalier, and a house in Milan. lie pre- sented this city with those grand models, which he obtained by collect- ing many statues of rare value, and casts of the masterpieces of anti- quity, forming an excellent school, at his own house, for the future ar- tists of the Duomo of Milan. The bronze figures on the mausoleum of Gian Giacopo de' IMedlci, designed by Michel Angelo for the said Duomo, are also tlie work of Leoni. The house of Leoni still remains with the noble ornaments in the front, and with those fine colossal sta- tues which gave a name to the great road Deyli Omeiioni. He died in the heifht of his reputation, in 158G. Pompco Lioni, his son, inherited h's father's extraordinary genius for medals and casts, witli which he enriched the court cf Spain. See Lettere Pittoriche and Vasari. T 4 280 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLIKI. [cil. XXV the affair, he chose to take no farther notice of it. I was now so circumspect as to eat only of the victuals which were sent me by the bishop, and I continued my stanzas on the prison, setting down every day such new events as befel me. Signer Antonio always sent me my victuals by one Giovanni, of whom mention has already been made, who had been a journeyman apothecary at Prato, and was then a soldier upon duty at the castle. This man was my inve- terate enemy, and it was he that had brought me the pounded diamond. I told him that I would eat nothing that came through his hands, unless he first performed the cere- mony of tasting it : but he answered me with an air, that this ceremony was only for Popes. To this I replied, that as gentlemen are obliged to perform the office of tasting for the Pope, so he who was a soldier, a journeyman apo- thecary, and a low fellow from Prato, was in duty bound to taste for a Florentine of my character. High words thereupon ensued between us. After this, Signer Antonio, in some confusion for his past conduct, but intending to make me pay the fees, and other expenses, which his brother had forgiven me, chose another of his servants, who was my friend, to carry me victuals ; and the man readily tasted them for me, without any dispute. This servant told me every day, that the Pope was constantly solicited by Mons. de Monluc, in the name of the king his master, and that his Holiness seemed to be very unwilling to part with me : he added, that Car- dinal Farnese, who had formerly been so much my friend and patron, had declared that I must not think of being re- leased from my confinement in haste. Upon hearing this I affirmed, that I should recover my liberty in spite of them all. The worthy youth advised me to be quiet *, and at- * Cellini's best friends were also of the same opinion, as we gather from a letter of Caro to Luca Martini, dated the 22d of November, 1539, in which he says, " Benvenuto still remains prisoner in the castle ; and although we make use of earnest and constant solicita- tion, and indulge some hope, yet there is no knowing how far the harshness and rage of this old fellow (Paul III.) will proceed. We are to consider, that the interest made for him is great, and his offence no more than what he has amply expiated by his sutferings. If his own perverse nature, therefore, certainly very obstinate, does not stsnd in his way, I entertain good hopes. Even since his imprisonment, he has not been able to restrain himself from u\..'ering some things, vthicb CU. XXVI.] THE CARDINAL OF FERRARA RETURNS. 281 tempt nothing ; but above all, to avoid speaking in that style, as it might prove highly prejudicial to my interest, if it came to be known : he at the same time exhorted me to trust in God, and to depend on his divine Majesty fcr my deliverance. I made answer, " That the goodness of God secured me from all fear of my prosecutors." CHAPTER XXVI. The Cardinal of Ferrara returns to Rome from the Court of France. At a banquet where he is entertained by the Pope, he prevails on his Holiness to set the Author at liberty. — Verses called the Capitolo, which Cellini wrote in his confinement. After I had led this melancholy life a few days longer, the Cardinal of Ferrara made his appearance at Rome. Upon going to pay his respects to his Holiness, he was detained to supper ; and the Pope, being a person of great taste and genius, chose to converse with him concerning all that he had seen curiou.s and worthy of observation in France. The cardinal in the heat of conversation discovered several things which he would otherwise have concealed ; and as he knew how to conform himself to the French king's taste, and was equally possessed of the art of pleasing his Holiness, the latter took a much greater liking to him than he was aware of himself, and seemed to be in high spirits, as well on account of this engaging conversation, as of the debauch he committed on the occasion, which he repeated every week, and vomited after it. When the cardinal saw the Pope in a good humour, and likely to grant favours, he ap- plied in my behalf, in the name of the king his master. in the most urgent manner imaginable, and expressed him- self in such terms as demonstrated that the French monarch was very solicitous to obtain his request. The holy father thereupon perceiving that his time of vomiting was at hand, and that the great quantity of wine he had poured down in my opinion must injure him in the mind of the prince, perhaps more from suspicion of what he may dare to say or do for the future, than from any faults cither of word or deed committed before. Let us take some means of convincing him of this ; the results of which, if there be any, you shall farther know." ^82 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. fCH. XXVI. his throat was upon the point of operating, said to the cardinal laughing, " Take Benvenuto home with you di- rectly, without a moment's delay." Thus having given projier orders in the afi'air, he rose from the table, and the cardinal sent for me that very moment, before the affair could come to the knowledge of Signor Pier Luigi, who would never have consented to my release. The Pope's order was brought to the prison by two of the Cardinal of Ferrara's gentlemen, in the dead of night : they took me out of the castle, and conducted me to the cardinal, who gave me the kindest reception imaginable. I was well lodged at his house, and enjoyed all the happi- ness which recovered liberty can bestow.* Signor An- tonio, brother to the governor, and who was then possessed of his place, insisted upon my paying all my expenses, as well as the fees and gratifications required by the officers of justice, and others of that stamp : in short, he was re- solved to act in every respect contrary to the will of the deceased governor. This affair cost me many a score of crowns. The cardinal encouraged me, bidding me take care of myself, if I valued my life ; adding, that if he had not that evening got me out of prison, I should, in all pro- bability, have ended my days in confinement ; as he was informed that the Pope had already repented his having set me at liberty. I must, therefore, look back a little, to recollect some circumstances that occur in the verses which I composed when a prisoner. During the time that I passed in the apartment of the cardinal, and afterwards in the Pope's privy garden, amongst other friends that visited me, there came a cashier of Signor Bindo Altoviti, whose name was Bernardo Galluzzi, whom 1 had entrusted * Caro wrote word of Cellini's liberation to his friend Varchi, the 5th December, 1 539, in the following terms : " You will, perhaps, have heard the news respecting Benvenuto, who is out of prison, and once more in the house of the Cardinal of Ferrara. In a little time, I doubt not, his affairs will do well, if he would let tliera, with that un- manageable head of' his, which would make one doubt whether there be any thing fixed and certain in the world. We are continually holding up his own interest before his eyes, but he will not see it: the more we say, the less he is inclined to hear." Luigi Alamanni also wrote to Varchi, in an inedlted letter given by Mazzuchelli ; — "I have got Benvenuto safe and sound in my room. He owes his life to Cardinal Ferrara and his friends." CH. XX^^.] STKANGE PUENOMEWON. 283 with the value of several hundred crowns. This young znan came to the privy garden with an intention to settle accounts, and restore to me all that I had deposited with him. I told him, that I could not put my property into the hands of a dearer friend, nor into any place where it could be more secure. My friend, upon this, seemed to decline keeping it, and I, by a sort of violence, obliged him to con- tinue his trust. When I was liberated from the castle this last time, I understood that poor Bernardo Galluzzi was a bankrupt, and that I had consequently lost all my money. During my confinement I had, moreover, a terrible dream, in which a person appeared to write certain words of great importance upon my forehead with a reed, at the same time strictly charging me not to divulge what he had been doing ; and when I awoke in the morning I perceived that my forehead was actually marked. In the verses com- posed during my confinement there are several events of a similar nature. I likewise received a circumstantial ac- count, without knowing to whom I owed my inteUigence, of all that afterwards happened to Signor Pier Luigi ; and it was so clear and express in every article, that I have often thought I received it from a heavenly angel. Another circumstance I must not omit, which is one of the most extraordinary things that ever happened to any man, and I mention it injustice to God and the wondrous ways of his providence towards me. From the very mo- ment that I beheld the phenomenon, there appeared (strange to relate !) a resplendent light over my head, which has displayed itself conspicuously to all that I have thought proper to show it to, but those were very few. This shining light is to be seen in the morning over my shadow till two o'clock in the afternoon, and it appears to the greatest advantage when the grass is moist with dew : it is likewise visible in the evening at sunset. This phe- nomenon I took notice of when I was at Paris, because the air is exceedingly clear in that climate, so that I could distinguish it there much plainer than in Italy, where mists are much more frequent ; but I can still see it even here, and show it to others, though not to the same advan- tage as in France. I shall now lay before the reader the verses which I composed during my confinement and in praise of the prison. I shall then relate all tlie good and ■1 I 284 MEMOIKS OP BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXVL evil wliicli befel me upon a variety of different occasions, ! as likewise the various events of the subsequent course ol ] my life. j These verses I inscribe to Luca Martini. ; i THE CAPITOLO: WRITTEN DURING THE AUTHOIl's IMPRISONMENT IN THE CASTlfi OF 1 ST. ANGELO. He who would sound the depths of power divine, i Should for a time in gloomy dungeon dwell, i Where grief corrodes and harrows up the soul. | Domestic care should prey upon his mind, ! To sorrow and to crosses long inured, j By various troubles and by tempests toss'd. i Would you improve in virtue's rigid lore i By sad imprisonment ? Your lot should be ^ Unjust confinement, long in grief your chain You comfortless should drag, and no relief, No kind assistance from a friend receive. You should, by gaolers, of your property : Be cruelly deprived, and roughly used, i Nor ever hope for liberty again. Frantic with rage you should your prison break, 1 Urged by some fell oppressor's cruel wrongs, \ And then in deeper dungeon be confin'd. Dear Luca, listen with attentive ear, i Whilst I my dire calamities relate : ; What sufferings could be worse? To break a leg, In moist, damp, noisome cell to be confined. Without a cloak to shelter me from cold ! Think what I sutFer'd in these cells immured Lonely, from human converse quite debarr'd, My daily pittance brought me by a slave, A surly monster silent and severe. Think to what ills ambition does expose, What dangers threaten an aspiring soul. Think what it was to have no place to sit. Or rest my head on, but a corner foul ; At every hour of tedious night and day By cares unceasing to be kept awake. O think how dismal that, to this sad cell, None should approach but mutes in silence wrapp'-J, Who sternly frown'd, nor e'er an answer deign'd. How sad it was that v\ such horrid cave The poet's fancy won* to soar, to rove In sprightly sallies, now should be confined To pine the solitary hours away ! How sad to be restrain'd from pen and ink. CH. XXVI. I VERSES DURING HIS CONFINEMENr 285 ; Nor e'en allow'd, the poet's sad relief, j To scrawl with charcoal on my prison walls I But hold, my sorrows make me de\iate far From the first purpose of my moral song. I mean a prison's praises to proclaim. To show what useful lessons may be learn'd In deep distress and sharp affliction's school: li Few inmates of such dreary solitudes Were ever equal to this arduous task. " i In those receptacles of f^uilt and vice | The man of virtue seldom is immured, ' Except when fallen a victim to the hate Of ministers and servile tools of power : i Except through envy, anger, or despite. ] Confined in dungeon deep, in gloomy cell i The prisoner oft invokes God's awful name, Yet feels within the torments of the damn'd. ^ Howe'er traduced and blacken'd by the tongue Of calumny, to reputation lost, Pass two unhappy years in prison pent, ' You'll then come out reform'd ; with manners pure, The world will love you, will forget the past, I Imprisonment will all your faults atone. Within the darksome round of prison walls — | Relentless walls where comfort never dwells! -i The mental powers, the faculties decline, ; The body like its covering decays ; ' Yet here, too, grossest wits by constant woe ■ Are sharpen'd, sublimated, and refined. Genius 'midst sufferings imps her wings and soars, And from these gloomy cells, in prospect bright. Though distant, heaven's blest regions are descried. i Here how invention's aid our wants supplies, j And greatest difficulties can surmount. ' Staring aghast I stalk about the room, j My hair with horror bristling on my head, I Like quills upon the fretful porcupine ; '^ Next from a panel of the door I tear A splinter with my teeth, expedient strange ! Cruel necessity such means suggests. A brick reduced to powder than I mix , With water, kneading both into a mash. Poetic genius fill'd my labouring breast. And all my soul was by the muse inspired. ' But to resume the subject of these lays : ', He who desires to know and to enjoy -i The good that Heaven bestows upon our kindi I Should first be practis'd in the train of ills, ' Which in his wisdom God inflicts on man, A prison prompts and teaches every art ; 286 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. j OH. XXVI. If medical assistance you require, Through ev'ry open'd pore it makes you sweat. With some strange virtue are its walls endued To make you learned, elocjuent, and brave. And by enchantment wonderful its power Your raptured fancy ever can delight With florid, gay ideas, fairy scenes. Though wisdom is in prison dearly bought, Happy the man who there is taught her lore ; The genius is not by confinement cramp'd, But spreads untutor'd its advent'rous wings To treat of gravest subjects, war or peace : His efforts always with success are crown'd, What steadiness the mind in durance learns ! No mo-re elate by fortune's wanton smiles, Nor sunk dejected and depress'd v/ith woe. Perhaps you'll tell me all these years are lost, That wisdom never was in prison learn'd. I speak but what I feel : experience shows. That e'en a dungeon may be wisdom's school. But would to heaven our laws were so contrived That guilty men no longer had the power To 'scape that prison which their crimes deserve. The man of low degree, by fortune doom'd To drudge for a subsistence, there should gain Experience, there should learn to act his part. He thus would be less liable to err, Less prone to stray from reason's equal path ; The world would then no longer be a stage Of dire confusion, and a chaos wild. Whilst in a gloomy dungeon's dark recess Monks, priests, and men of rank I saw confined. But fewest still of those who for their deeds Seem'd most deserving of that rigid lot. What poignant grief pervades a prisoner's breast, When some sad partner of his dire distress, Loose from his chain, first sees the prison door Op'd to admit him to bless'd liberty ! What a uel anguish wrings his tortured breast ! He wishes that he never had been born. Though long corroding grief upon ray heart Relentless prey'd, though oft my labouring brain Has almost grown distracted with my woes, 'Midst all my ills some comfort strange I found. Unknowii to those who slumber life away Upon the down of ease, whose happy lids Were never sullied with a gushing tear. What raptures would transport my ravish'd bre»% Should some one say to me with friendly voiw. Hence, Benvenuto, go, depart in peace ; OE XX\a.7 VERSES DURLVG HIS CONFIXEMENT. 287 How often has a deadly pale o'erspread My livid cheeks, whilst in a dungeon deep I pined and sij^h'd ray hapless hours away! Deprived of liberty I now no more To France or Florence can at will repair ! Though were I even in France, I might not thero Meet tender treatment to relieve my woe. I say not this against that noble soil, Whose lilies have illumined heaven and earth ; But amidst roses thistles often grow. I saw an emblem from the heavens descend Swiftly amongst the vain deluded crowd. And a new light was kindled on the rock : He who on earth and in high heaven explains The truth, and told me that the Castle bell Should, ere I thence could make escape, be brolie. Then in a vision mystic I beheld A long black bier on every side adorn'd With broken lilies, crosses, and with plants ; And many persons I on couches saw Diseased and rack'd with anguish and with pain. I saw the demon, the tormenting fiend That persecutes the souls of mortal men, Now with his horrors these, now those appal : To me he turn'd, and said, I'll pierce the heart Of whosoever hurts or injures thee. Herev;-ith upon my forehead words he wrote Obscure, profound, with Peter's mystic reed. And silence solemnly enjoin'd me thrice. I saw the power divine, who leads the sun His great career, and checks him in his course. Amidst his court celestial brightly shine. The dazzled eyes of mortals seldom see A vision with such various glories fraught. I heard a solitary bird of night Sing on a rock a dismal fun'ral dirge; I thence inferr'd with certainty, this note To me announces life, but death to you. My just complaint I then both sang and wrotjj, Implored God's pardon and his friendly aid ; For sight began to fail me, and I felt The iron hand of death upon my eyes. Never was lion, tiger, woU" or bear Of human blood more thirsty, tlian the foe That now with furious rage attack'd my life J More poisonous never was the viper's bite : The foe, I mean a cruel ca])tain, came Attended with a band of ruffians vile. Just as rapacious bailiffs haste to seize A trembling d.htor wiih relentless hands. 288 MEMOIRS OF BENVENDTO CELLINL | CH. XXVH. So rusb'd tliose sons of brutal force upon me. 'Twas on the Srst of August that they came To drag me to a dismal dungeon, worse By far than that in which so long I'd groan'd : A cell in which the most abandon'd crew, The refuse of the prison are conftned. Yet in this sad distress I soon received, Though unexpected, succour and relief. My foes, when thus their hellish spite they saw Defeated, to fell poison had recourse ; But here again th' Almighty interposed, For first I ever turned my thoughts to God, And loud his grace and aid divine implored. My poignant anguish being thus assuaged, Whilst I prepared to render up my soul, Resign'd to pass unto a better state, I saw an angel from the heav'ns descend Holding a glorious palm-branch in his band With looks then joyous, placid, and serene, He promised to my life a longer date. The angel spoke to me in terms like these ; " Thy foes shall all be humbled to the dust, ' And thou shalt lead a life of lasting bliss, Favour'd by heaven and earth's eternal sire." CHAPTER XXVn. The Author being set at liberty pi-ys a visit to Ascanio, at TagH»- cozzo. — He returns to Rome, and finishes a fine cup for the Car- dinal of Ferrara. — Account of his Venus and Cupid, his Amphi- trite and Tritons, with other performances — He ente;:s into the ser- vice of the French King Francis I. and sets out with the Cardinal of Ferrara for Paris. — Affray with the postmaster of Camellia. — He arrives at Florence, where he stays four days with bis sister. Whilst I lodged in the palace of the Cardinal of Ferrara I was universally respected, and received more visits than even at first ; every body expressing the highest surprise at my having emerged out of such distress, and struggled through such a variety of hardships and miseries. As 1 was recovering by degrees, I exerted ray utmost eiforts to become again expert in my profession, and took great de- light in copying out the above verses. The better to re- establish my health, I rode out to take the air, having first OH. XX\^I.] VISITS ASCANIO. 289 asked the good cardinal's leave, and borrowed his horses. Upon these occasions I was generally accompanied by two young Roman citizens, one of whom was bred to my own business, the other not. When I was out of Rome, I steered my course towards Tagliacozzo, thinking to meet with my pupil Ascanio, of whom mention has so frequently been made. Upon my arrival, I found Ascanio there, with his father, his brothers, his sisters, and his mother-in-law. I met with so kind a reception, and was so greatly caressed during a stay of two days, that I am unable to give the reader an adequate idea of their civilities. I then set out for Rome, and carried Ascanio with me. By the way w^e talked of business ; and such an effect had this conversation upon me, that I grew quite impatient to be again at Rome, in order to resume my trade. Upon our return to that capital I fell to work with the utmost assiduity ; and happening accidentally to find a silver basin, which I had undertaken for the cardinal just before my imprisonment, (at the time that I set about this basin, I likewise began a fine cup, of which I was robbed, with several other things of great value,) I set Paolo, who has been spoken of above, to work on the basin ; and I my- self took in hand the cup, which consisted of round figures in basso rilievo. In like manner the basin contained little round figures and fishes in basso rilievo ; and it was so rich, and the workmanship so exquisite, that all who saw it were in the utmost surprise, as well on account of the force of genius and invention in the design, as of the admir- able polish, which the young artists had displayed in the ex- ecution of the work. The cardinal came at least twice every day to see me, accompanied by Signor Luigi Alamanni and Signor GabbrieUo Cesano : upon these occasions we passed an hour or two merrily, though I had a great deal of business, which required despatch. lie at the same time put several other works into my hands, and employed me to make his pontifical seal, which was about the size of the hand of a child twelve years old. Upon this seal I carved two little pieces of history, one was John preaching in the "Wilderness, the other was St. Ambrosio routing the Arians, represented on horseback, and with a whip in his hand. The design of this seal was so bold and admirable, the workmaDship so exquisite, and the polish so fine, that every u 290 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXVIl. body said I had surpassed the great Lautizio, whose talents were confined to this branch alone ; and the cardinal, in the joy of his heart, ostentatiously compared it to the other seals of the Roman cardinals, which were almost all by the above-mentioned artist. At the same time that the cardinal gave me the other two works, he employed me to make a model of a salt-cellar, but desired it should be in a different taste from the com- mon ones. Signor Luigi said many excellent things con- cerning this salt-cellar ; Signor Gabbriello Cesano likewise spoke admirably upon the subject ; but the cardinal, who had listened with the utmost attention, and seemed highly pleased with the designs which these two ingenious gentle- men proposed, said to me, " Benvenuto, the plans of Signor Luigi and Signor Gabbriello please me so highly, that I am in doubt which to give the preference to : I therefore leave it to you to make a choice, as you are charged with executing the work." I then said, " Gentlemen, do but consider of what importance the sons of kings and empe- rors are, and what a wonderful splendour and emanation of the Godhead is conspicuous in them ; yet ask but a poor humble shepherd, which he has the greatest love and affec- tion for, these children of emperors and kings, or his own ; he will, doubtless, answer you that he loves his own off- spring best. In like manner, I have a strong paternal affection for my own child ; so that the first model I intend to show you, most reverend patron, shall be my own work and invention : for many plans appear very plausible when delivered in words, which have but an indifferent effect when carried into execution." I then turned about to the two virtuosi, and said, " O gentlemen, you have given us your plans in words, but I will show you mine in practice." Thereupon Signor Luigi Alamanni, with a smiling counte- nance, spoke a long time in my favour, and that in the most complaisant manner imaginable : in doing this he ac- quitted himself with extraordinary grace, for he had a pleasing aspect, an elegant figure, and an harmonious voice. Signor Gabbriello Cesano was quite the reverse of him, — as ill-shaped in his person as ungracious in his manner, — and when he spoke he acquitted himself awkwardly. The plan proposed by Signor Luigi was, that I should represent a Venus with a Cupid, and several fine devices rcund them CH. XXVn." DESIGNS A SALT- CELLAR. 291 suited to the subject. Signer Gabbriello was for having me represent Amphitrite, the spouse of Neptune, and the Tritons, Neptune's attendants, with other ornaments, very fine in idea, but extremely difficult to be carried into execution. I designed an oval, almost two-thirds of a cubit in size ; and upon this oval, as the sea appears to embrace the earth, I made two figures about a hand high, in a sitting posture, with the legs of one within those of the other, as some long branches of the sea are seen to enter the land ; and in the hand of a male figure, representing the ocean, I put a ship, contrived with great art, in which was depo- sited a large quantity of salt ; under this, I represented four sea-horses, and in the right hand of the ocean I put his trident. The earth I represented by a female figure, the most elegant and beautiful I could form an idea of, leaning with one hand against a grand and magnificent temple ; this was to hold the pepper. In the other hand I put a cor- nucopia, adorned with all the embellishments I could think of. To complete this idea, in that part which appeared to be earth, I rapreaented all the most beautiful animals which that element produces. In the part which stood for the sea I designed the finest sort of fish and shells which so small a space was capable of containing ; in the remainder of the Dval I placed several grand and noble ornaments. Having then waited till the cardinal came with the two virtuosi above mentioned, I in their presence produced my model in wax. The first who spoke was Signer Gabbriello Cesano, who made a great stir upon the occasion, and said, " This is a work that the lives of ten men would be hardly sufficient to execute ; and you, most reverend cardinal, who desire to have it finished in your life-time, are never likely to see it. Benvenuto has, indeed, thought proper to show you some of his offspring ; but he has not done like ua, who proposed only such things as were feasible ; he has brought you a plan which it is impossible to finish." Upon this Signer Luigi Alamanni took my part. The cardinal, however, said, that he did not choose to be concerned in so great an undertaking. I thereupon turned to them, and replied : " Most reverend cardinal, I must beg leave to tell you, that I expect to complete this work at all events, and you will see it, when finished, a hundred times more u 2 292 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [OH. XXVII. luxuriant in ornamtnts than its model. I even hope to have more than suflicient time to bring works of much greater consequence to perfection." The cardinal said, in a passion, " If you do not make it for the King of France, to whom I intend to introduce you, there is no likelihood of your finishing it for any other person." He then showed me the letters, in which the king wrote to him to return directly, and bring Benvenuto with him. Seeing this, I lifted up my hands to heaven, and exclaimed, " When will that directly come?" He bid me lose no time, but settle my affairs at Rome in ten days. The time for our departure being arrived, the cardinal made me a present of a fine horse, to which he gave the name of Tournon, because it was a present from a cardinal of that name.* Paolo and Ascanio, my apprentices, were likewise provided with horses. The cardinal divided his retinue, which was very considerable : the chief part of it he took with him, following the road to Romagna, in order to visit our Lady of Loretto, and then to proceed to his own house at Ferrara ; the other part he sent towards Florence, — this was superior in number to the former, and made a grand appearance, on account of the beauty of the horses. He desired me to keep him company, if I had a mind to travel in security, telling me that if I did otherwise, my life would be in danger. I gave him to understand that I proposed to follow his direction ; but, as what is decreed by Heaven, must necessarily come to pass, it pleased God to recall to my memory my poor sister, who was so much concerned for the great misfortunes I had undergone. I, at the same time, thought of my cousins, who were nuns at Viterbo, one of them abbess, and the other treasurer, inso- much that between them they governed that rich monas- tery. As they had suffered so much on my account, and prayed for me so fervently, I took it for granted that I had obtained the grace of God by virtue of the prayers of these good women. These things occurring at once to my me- * Francesco di Tournon, who was related by affinity to the king of France, and had been created cardinal in 1530, was one of the greatest ministers of state in that age. Francis I., in acknowledgment of his having been in a great measure indebted to this prelate for his enlarge- ment from captivity, intrusted him with the most incrortant affairs o/ bis kingdom. CH. XXVII.] JOINS THE RETINUE OF THE CARDINAL. 293 inory, I took the road to Florence. Thus, thougli I might have had all mj charges borne by travelling witii tlie car- dinal and his retinue, I chose to perform the journey at my own expense, taking with me as a companion an excellem clockmaker named Cherubino, who was my intimate friend. As we ha[)pened to meet accidentally upon the road, we chose to perform this agreeable journey together. AVhen I set out for Rome, on Monday in Passion Week, I was attended only by my two apprentices : at Monterosi I came up with the company above mentioned ; and as I had signified my intention of travelling with the cardinal, I did not imagine that any of my enemies would have thought of waylaying me. But I met with an unlucky disaster at Monterosi ; for a body of men well armed had gone before us to that town, with a design to attack me ; and so it happened that, whilst we were at dinner, these men, who had discovered that I had quitted the cardinal's retinue, lay in ambush for me, and were preparing to perpetrate their villanous designs. Just at this juncture the retinue of the cardinal came up, and with it I travelled joyfully to Viterbo, with- out any sort of danger. I went on several miles before, and the bravest men in the cardinal's retinue had a high esteem for me. Being, by God's providence, arrived safe and in good health at Viterbo, I was received with the utmost kindness by my sisters and the whole monastery. After leaving that city with the company above mentioned, we rode on sometimes before and sometimes behind the retinue of the cardinal, so that by six o'clock on Holy Thursday evening we were come within a stage of Siena. Perceiving that there were some returned horses at the inn, and that the postmaster waited an opportunity to give them to travellers to ride back to Siena, I instantly dismounted from my horse Tour- non, and putting my saddle and stirrups upon him, gave a piece of money to one of the postboys ; then leaving my horse to the care of my apprentices, I spurred on, in ordei to get to Siena half an hour before the rest, that I might have time to visit my friends and transact some business in the town. Though this horse carried me with tolerable speed, I did not, however, ride it too hard. As soon as we arrived, 1 took rooms at a good inn for five persons : the horse I sent back by the ostler to the posthouse, whicb u 3 294 MEMOIRS OF BKWENUTO CELLINI. [cH. XXVTI. was without the gate that leads tc Camollia ; and upon it I had, through forget fuhi ess, left my stirrups and saddle. We passed the night very nnerrily on Holy Thursday. The next day, ■which was Good Friday, I recollected my stirrups and saddle. Upon my sending for them, the post- master made answer that he would not return them, be- cause I had overworked his horse. Several messages passed between us, but he persisted in refusing to return them, and that with much opprobrious and abusive lan- guage. The innkeeper at whose house I lay, said to me at the same time, " It is well for you if he does not do some- thing worse than keep your saddle and your stirrups : he is one of the most insolent men that has ever had the place of postmaster in this <^ty ; and he has two sons, who are soldiers, desperate fellows, and more insolent than their father himself.''' He, therefore, advised me to make all the haste I could in buying whatever I might stand in need of, and leave the place directly, without entering into any contest with him. I thereupon bought a pair of stirrups, thinking to recover my saddle by fair means ; and as I was extremely well mounted, armed with a coat of mail, and had an excellent piece at the pommel of the saddle, I was not in the least intimidated by this report of the insolence and brutality of the postmaster. I had likewise used my apprentices to wear coats of mail under their clothes ; and I had great confidence in my young Roman, who seemed never to have neglected this defence whilst we were at Rome. Even Ascanio, though in his tender years, wore a coat of mail ; and, as it was Good Friday, I imagined that the folly of these wretches would for that day subside. "We soon arrived at the posthouse at Camollia ; and I immediately saw and knew the post master, by tokens that had been given me, particularly by his being blind of an eye. I went up to him, and leaving my two young fellows and the rest of the company at a little distance, said mildly, *' Mr. Postmaster, when I assure you that I have not rid- den your horse very hard, why do you make a difficulty of restoring me my saddle and stirrups?" He answered with all the violence and brutality I had been prepared for. I thereupon said to him, " What ! are you not a Christian, and do you intend to bring a scandal both upon yourself and me this Good Friday ? '* He answered, that he cared en XXVn.3 KILLS A POSTMASTER. 295 neither for Good Friday nor the devil's Friday, and tliat if I did not get about my business, he would soon, with his long pike, lay me sprawling upon the ground, musket and all. Upon his speaking to me thus roughly, there came up an old gentleman of Siena, a very polite, worthy man, who was just come from performing the devotions usual on that day. Having, though at a distance, heard what I had to say for myself, and perceiving that I was in the right, he boldly reproved the postmaster, took my part, and repri- manded the two sons for behaving rudely to strangers, by swearing and blaspheming, and thereby bringing a scandai upon the city of Siena. The two young fellows, sons to the postmaster, shook their heads, and without returning any answer retired. The incensed father, exasperated by what was said by the worthy gentleman that interposed in my behalf, ran at me with his long pike, cursing and blas- pheming, and swore he would instantly be the death of me. When I saw him thus determined, I, to keep him off for a while, presented the muzzle of my piece at him. He, not- withstanding, flew at me with redoubled fury ; and the gun which I held in my hand, though in a proi)er position for my own defence, was not rightly levelled at him, but, the muzzle being raised aloft, it went off" of itself. The ball hit against the arch over the street-door, and having rebounded, entered the postmaster's windpipe, who in- stantly fell dead upon the ground. His sons thereupon rushed out of the house, and one having taken down arms from a rack, whilst the other seized his father's pike, they both fell upon the young men in my company : the son who had the pike wounded Paolo, the Roman, in the left breast ; and the other fell upon a Milanese in our company, a foolish fellow, who would not ask quarter or declare that he had no connection with me, but defending himgelf against a partisan with a short stick which he had in his hand, he found himself unable to parry his adversary's weapon, so as to prevent his being slightly wounded in the mouth. Signor Clierubino was in the habit of a priest, and though he was an excellent clockmaker, as I observed before, he had several benefices conferred on him by the Pope, which produced him a considerable income. Ascanio was well armed and stood b 3 ground bravely, instead of D 4 296 MEMOIRS CF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXVIL offering to fly like the Milanese, so that these two received no manner of hurt. I spurred my horse, and whilst it was in full gallop, quickly charged my piece again : tlien I returned back in II passion, thinking that what I had done was but a trifle ; for, as I thought my two young men were killed, I advanced with a firm resolution to die myself. My horse had not gone many paces back, when I met them both coming to- wards me. I asked them whether they were hurt, and Ascanio made answer that Paolo had received a mortal wound with a pike. I thereupon said to the latter, " My dear Paolo, how comes this ? Could a pike force its way through a coat of mail ? " He then told me that he had put his coat of mail into his cloak-bag. I replied, " What, this morning? It seems then that coats of mail are worn at Rome to make a show before the ladies ; but in times of danger, when they might be of use, they are put into the cloak-bag ! You deserved all you have suffered, and what you have done is the cause of my destruction also." Whilst I uttered these words, I continued to ride back resolutely. Ascanio and the other earnestly entreated me that I would for the love of God endeavour to save my life, as well as theirs, for that I was hurrying on to death. Just then I met Signor Cherubino and the Milanese, the former of whom reproved me for my vain fears, telling me that none of my people had been hurt, that Paolo's wound had only grazed the skin, and had not gone deep, and that the old postmaster lay dead upon the ground. He added, that the sons had got themselves in readiness, and being assisted by several other persons, would certainly cut us all to pieces : " therefore, Benvenuto," continued he, " since for- tune has saved us from their first fury, let us tempt her no more, for she will not save us twice." I then said, " Since you are satisfied, I am content ; " so turning to Paolo and Ascanio, I bid them spur their horses hard, and gallop on to Staggia* without ever once stopping, observing that when we were there we should be in safety. The wounded Milanese then said, " A plague of this unlucky adventure ; this mischief was owing to a little soup which I ate yester- day, when I had nothing else for my dinner." Notwith- standing our great distress, we could not help laughing at * Staggio, or Staggia, is ten miles from Siena. CH. XXVTI.] A SINGULAR CHARACTER DESCRIBED. 297 the fool, and at his silly expressions. We clapped spurs to our horses and left Signor Cherubino and the Milanese, who were for riding on gently, to follow us at their leisure. In the mean time the sons of the deceased repaired to the Duke of Amalfi *, and requested him to grant them a troop of light horse to pursue and take us. The duke, being informed that we belonged to the retinue of the Cardinal of Ferrara, would not grant their request. In the mean time we arrived at Staggia, where we were in perfect security : upon our arrival we sent for the best surgeon that could be found in the place, who, examining Paolo's wound, declared that it did not pass the skin, and there was no danger : we then ordered dinner to be got ready. Soon after, Signor Cherubino made his appearance with the fool of a Milanese, who was constantly exclaiming, " A plague of all quarrels and disputes!" adding that he had incurred excommunication, because he had not had time to say his paternoster that blessed morning. This man was hard-favoured, and had naturally an ugly wide mouth, but by the wound he had received it was enlarged above three inches. These circumstances, with his ludi- crous Milanese jargon, and his foolisli sayings, made us so merry, that instead of lamenting our ill-fortune, we could not help laughing at every word he uttered. As the sur- geon wanted to sew the wound in his mouth, and hac already made three stitches in it, he desired him to stop, telling him he would not upon any account have him sew it up entirely. He then took up a spoon, and desired it * The republic of Siena, whicli was under tlie protection of Charles v., was tlien governed by Alfonso Piccolomini. Duke of Amalfi, who had been creatfd captain-general of tiie Sienese in 1529. He was de- scended from Nanni Tedeschini da Sarteano, who, in consequence of hw having jnarried a sister of Pius II., had been, together with his de- scendants, reckoned amongst the family of Piccolomini. Having dis- tinguished himself in arms under the emperor, and being under the protection of the Spanish Court, as well as in favour with a powerful popular party, he might with ease have made himself sovereign of Siena. But Alfonso, abandoning himself to pleasures, and the love of popularity, did not profit by these favourable circumstances ; carried away by the love he bore .\gnes Salvi, he was induced to leave unpu- nished the misconduct of her family, and thus gave occasion to irany disorders and repeated accusations against his government, the result of which was, that he was, in 1541, banished from Siena by order of thf Emperor Charles V, 298 MEMOIRS OF BENVEVUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXVIH. might be left so far open as to leave room for such a spoon to enter, that he might return alive to his companions. These words, which he uttered with many nods and ludi- crous gestures, made us so merry, that instead of bewailing our ill fortune, we never ceased laughing, and in this man- ner continued our journey to Florence. We dismounted at the house of my poor sister, where we were most kindly received, and very much caressed by her and my cousin. Signor Cherubino and the Milanese went where their respective aflfairs called them : we stayed four days at Florence, during which Paolo was cured. The most diverting circumstance was, that whenever the fool of a Milanese became the subject of discourse, we all laughed as heartily as we lamented our other misfortunes, insomuch that we were constantly laughing and crying in the same breath. CHAPTER XXVIII. The Author arrives at Ferrara, where he is caressed by the sovereign of that duchy, and employed to make his statue in marble. — The climate disagrees with him, and he is taken ill ; but recovers by eating wild peacocks. Misunderstanding between him and tha duke's servants, attended with several unpleasant circumstances. — After many difficulties and delays, he resumes his journey, and ar- rives safe at Lyons, from whence he proceeds to Fontainebleau, ■where the Court at that time resided. After we had stayed four days at Florence, we took the road to Ferrara, and there found the cardinal, who having heard all the accidents that had befallen us, said with con- cern, " God grant that I may carry you alive to the king, according to my promise to his majesty!" The cardinal assigned me an apartment in a palace of his at Ferrara, a magnificent building, called Belfiore, contiguous to the walls of the city ; and there he caused tools and all things necessary to be provided for me, that I might work at my business. He then ordered his retinue to set out for France without me, and seeing me very melancholy at being left behind, he said to me, " Benvenuto, all I do is for your good ; for before you leave Italy I should be glad you were CH. XXAHII.] THE CLIMATE DISAGREES WITH HIM. 299 upon a certainty with regard to your employment in France. In the mean time proceed as fast as you can with the basin and the little cup ; and I will leave orders with my steward to supply you with whatever money you may want." Upon his departure I remained highly dissatisfied, and often thought of leaving the place: the only consideration that prevented me was my being then out of the power of Pope Paul ; for in all other respects I was highly discon- tented, and very much a sufferer. I however assumed those sentiments of gratitude which the favour seemed to deserve, endeavouring to wait with patience and see how this adventure would end. I fell therefore hard to work with my two apprentices, and went surprisingly forward with my basin and cup. In the part of the city where we lodged the air was rather unwholesome, and on the arrival of summer we were all somewhat indisposed. During this our indisposition we made a discovery of a great waste, about a mile in extent, that belonged to the palace in which we lived, and where several pea-hens came like wild fowl to hatch their eggs. When I perceived this I charged my piece with powder, and lying in wait for the young pea- cocks, I every day killed one of them, which served us plentifully to live upon ; and such was the effect of this food that it entirely cured our disorder. Thus we con- tinued our work with alacrity for several months that we had to stay, and went forward with the basin and the cup — works that required considerable application. About this time the Duke of Ferrara accommodated his differences with Pope Paul, relative to Modena and some other cities ; and as the claims of the Church were just, the duke made this peace by dint of money : the sum given upon the occasion was considerable, and I think it exceeded three hundred thousand ducats. The duke had at tkat time an old treasurer, who had been brought up at the court of the duke his father, and whose name was Signor Girolamo Gigliolo : this old man could not bear that so great a sum should be given to the Pope, so that he ran about the streets crying out aloud, " Duke Alphonso, our present duke's father, would rather have taken Rome with his money than have given it to the Pope;" and he would obey no order for paying it. The duke having, however, at last forced him to pay the money, the old man wa« 300 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI, [CII. XXVIII attacked with a flux so violent that it brought him almost to the brink of the grave. Whilst he lay ill, the duke sent for me and desired me to take his likeness ; I accordingly drew his jjortrait upon a round black stone, about the size of a little dish. The duke was greatly pleased with ray performance, and with some agreeable conversations which passed between us : the consequence was. that he generally stayed at least four or five hours a day to have his likeness taken, and sometimes he made me su]) with him at his own table. In a week's time I finished tliis portrait : he then ordered me to make a reverse ; the design of it was a female figure that represented peace holding in her hand a small torch, with which she set fire to a trophy of arms. This female figure I represented in a joyous attitude, with gar- ments of the thinnest sort, which flowed with the utmost grace ; under her I designed a fury in despair, and bound with heavy chains. In this work I exerted the utmost efibrts of my art, and it gained me great honour : the duke repeatedly expressed the highest satisfaction at my per- formance, and gave me the inscription for the head of his excellency as well as for the reverse. The words intended for the reverse were " Pretiosa in conspectu Domini:" this intimated that the peace had been dearly purchased for a large sum of money. Whilst I was busy about this reverse, the cardinal wrote to me to get ready, for the king insisted upon my coming directly, and that the next time I heard from him I should receive an order for all he had promised me. I caused my basin and cup to be packed up, having before shown them to tlie duke. A gentleman of Ferrara, Signor Alberto Bendidio, was agent to the cardinal: this person had re- mained twelve years without ever stirring out of his house, on account of a lingering disorder. He one day sent for me in a great hurry, and said that I must that instant take post, and use the utmost expedition to wait upon the king, who had inquired for me with the greatest eagerness and solicitude, thinking I was in France. The cardinal, to ex- cuse himself, had told the monarch that I had stopped at an abbey of his at Lyons, being somewhat indisposed, but that he would take care I should be shortly with his ma- jesty : "therefore I must take post and repair to the court of Frar.ce with all speed. This Signor Alberto was a very CH. XXVm.] DISPUTE WITH THE CAUDINAL's AGENT, 301 worthy man, but haughty, and his disorder rendered his pride and humour insupportable : he told me that I must without delay prepare to ride post, I made answer that it was not customary with men of my calling to ride post ; but that if I were to proceed to the court of France I should choose to go by easy stages, and to carry with me Ascanio and Paolo, my companions and artificers, whom I had brought from Rome ; adding that there must likewise be a servant with us on horseback to attend us, and that I expected to be supplied with a sum sufficient to defray the charges of the journey. The infirm old man then proudly made answer, that " the duke's sons travelled in the very manner I had described." I instantly replied, " that the sons of the art which I professed travelled in the manner I had mentioned ; and that as I had never been the son of a duke I did not know how such gentry appeared on their journeys ; therefore I would not go to France at all, as Avell because the cardinal had broken the promise he had made me as that I had now received such insulting lan- guage." I then formed a resolution to have no more deal- ngs with the people of Ferrara, and turning my back on nim, I departed, murmuring my discontent, whilst he con- tinued to bully and insult me. After this, I waited on the duke with his medal finished: his reception of me was the kindest imaginable, and no man was ever more caressed by a prince. He had given orders to Signor Girolamo Gigliolo, who was then recovered, to look out for a diamond i-ing worth above two hundred crowns as the reward of my labour, and put it into the hands of Fraschino one of the gentlemen of his bed- chamber, who was to give it to me : these orders were obeyed. Fraschino, on the same evening that I had given him the medal, put a ring into my hands, with a diamond set in it, which made a great show, and told me from the duke, that my masterly hand, which had acquitted itself so admirably in consecrating tlie memory of his excellency, well deserved to be adorned with such a diamond. The day following I examined the ring, the diamond of which was an inconsiderable one, not worth above ten crowns ; and as I could not conceive that the duke could use such grand expressions in giving so trifling a reward, or that he imagiuftd he had properly recompensed mej I took it for 302 MEMOIRS OF benvi:nuto CELLINI, [cii. xxvm» granted that the rogue of a treasurer had played me a trick. I therefore gave the ring to a friend, desiring him to contrive some way or other to return it to Fraschino, the gentleman of the bedchamber. This friend was Ber- nardo Saliti, who performed the commission admirably. Fraschino immediately came to me, and made a ten-ible Btir, telling me that if the duke should discover that I had been so rude as to return a present, which he had made me in 60 kind and gracious a manner, he would certainly resent it, and I might very possibly repent my having taken so indiscreet a step. To this I answered, that the ring which his excellency had sent me, was not worth above ten crowns, and the work which I had done for him came to above two hundred ; but to show his excellency that it was his favour alone I set a value upon, he might send me one of tliose English crab-rings*, which are worth only ten- pence, and I would keep it in remembrance of him as long as I lived ; at the same time retaining in mind those honourable expressions of his excellency concerning my genius and abilities : for I considered my labour as abun- dantly rewarded by the honour of having served so great a prince, whereas a jewel of so little value disgraced me. These words occasioned the duke so much displeasure, that he sent for his treasurer, and reproved him most severely : he at the same time sent me orders not to leave Ferrara, without apprising him of my departure, and commanded his treasurer to give me a diamond worth three hundred crowns. The avaricious treasurer found one, the value of which was not above sixty crowns, and maintained that it was worth considerably more than two hundred. In the mean time Signer Alberto had taken the right method of proceeding, and furnished me with all I had desired for my journey. I had resolved by all means to quit Ferrara directly, but the duke's careful chamberlain had so concerted matters with Signer Benedetto, that I could not that day provide myself with horses. I had loaded a mule with my baggage, and with it I packed up the basin and the cup which I had made for the cardinal. Just at this juncture came in a gentleman of Ferrara, whose name was Signer Alfonso de' Trotti : he was ad- » One of those metallic rings which are considered useful for that muscular contraction called the cramp. CH. XXVOI.I INTER^^EW WITH ALFONSO De' TROTTI. 303 vanced in years, exceedingly affable, and delighted greatly in talents and genius ; but at the same time he was one of those that are very hard to be pleased, and who, if they happen to see any thing which strikes them, represent it to their imaginations as so admirable, so divine, that they never expect again to see any thing equal to it. Signer Alfonso, as I before observed, happening to enter the room just at this time, Alberto said to him, " It happens un- luckily that you are come too late, for the cup and basin that we are sending to France to the cardinal are now packed up." Alfonso hearing this, said, he did not care ; and upon beckoning to his servant, the latter Avent to his house, and brought from thence a white bowl, made of clay, from Faenza, the workmanship of which was admirable. Whilst the servant was going on his errand, Alfonso said to Alberto, " I will tell you why I have no longer any curiosity to see cups or vessels of any other sort. I once beheld an antique silver cup of such extraordinary beauty, that human imagination is incapable of forming an ade- quate idea of its excellence. Since that time, I am indif- ferent about seeing any thing else of the same kind, lest it should destroy the idea that 1 had formed in my imagina- tion. It was in the possession of a person of condition, of great taste, who happening to go to Rome about some busi- ness, this antique cup was shown him secretly, and he by dint of money having corrupted the person who had the custody of it, brought it away with him ; but he takes care to keep it from the knowledge of the duke, for he is afraid he should be deprived of it, if his excellency should once come to know of his being possessed of so valuable a trea- sure." Whilst Alfonso was telling this long stoiy, he never once took notice of me, though I was present all the time. In the meanwhile, this fine earthen model made its appearance, and was displayed with such pomp and osten- tation, that I no sooner set my eyes upon it, than I turned to Alberto, and said : " I am happy in having seen this great curiosity." Alfonso then answered me with great contempt : " Who are you ? You seem not to know what you are saying." To this I replied, " Listen to me, and you will see which of us knows best what he is saying." Then turning to Signer Alberto, who was a man of great gravity and uncommon genius, I spoke thus : " This is copied from a little silver cup of such a weight, which I 304 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXVIU made at such a time for that mountebank Jacopo, a surgeon of Carpi, who came to Rome, stayed there six months, and by means of a quack medicine took in several noblemen and poor gentlemen, whom he defrauded of many thousands of ducats : at that time I made this cup for him, and an- other of a different sort, and he paid me very ill both for the one and the other. At present all the unfortunate gentlemen who used his nostrum are at Rome, crippled, and in a most wretched condition. It is a great honour to me that my works have acquired so high a degree of re- putation amongst men of fortune like you ; but I must tell you, that for many years past I have laboured with the utmost assiduity to learn and improve ; so that I cannot but be of opinion that the cup which I am carrying to France will prove much more worthy of the cardinal and the king, than the other did of the quack doctor." As soon as 1 had delivered myself to this effect, Alfonso appeared to be in the utmost impatience to see the basin and cup, and I persisted in refusing to gratify his curiosity. This contest having lasted for some time between us, he de- clared that he would go to his excellency, and by his means contrive to get a sight of it. Thereupon Alberto Beudidio, who, as I have already observed, was a very proud haughty ^an, said, " Before you Jeave this place, Signor Alfonso, you shall see it without being under the necessity of making any application to the duke." I quitted the room, and left Ascanio and Paolo to show it to them : they afterwards told me that the gentlemen had paid me a great many compliments, and spoke highly in my favour. Signor Alfonso then expressed a desire of contracting an intimacy with me, so that I began to grow quite impatient to leave Ferrara. The only valuable or useful acquaintance I made there, were Cardinal Salviati and the Cardinal of Ravenna, with some of the eminent musicians*: for the gentry of Fer- * It will not appear strange, that Cellini should here mention the musicians of Ferrara, in company with two eminent cardinals, Accolti and Salviati, when it is considered that music then flourished, and was held in high estimation in this city. Tliis art, which was revived in the do- minions of the house of Este about the year 1050, by the labour? of the famous Guido Aretino, monk of Pomposa, always found great supporters amongst the Ferrarese. Not to mention the particular protection granted by that court to the celebrated Flemish musicians, Josquin de PreS; Adrian Willaert, and Ciprian de llore, who were the ijreatest masters CH. XXVin. I ARRIVES IN SAFETY AT PARIS. 303 rata are not only exceedingly avaricious, but rapacious after the property of others, and endeavour to get posses- sion of it by every expedient they can think of : this is the general character of them all. About ten o'clock Fraschino came and delivered me the diamond, which was worth above sixty crowns ; desiring me with a melancholy countenance, and in few words, to wear it for his excel- lency's sake. I answered that I should do so. I then mounted my horse, and set out upon my journey, trusting myself to Providence. The treasurer took notice of all my gestures and words, and gave information thereof to the duke, who seemed to be incensed with what he heard to the highest degree, and was very near -ordering me to be brought back. Before night I had travelled above ten miles, trotting all the way, and upon finding myself the day following out of the district of Ferrara I was highly rejoiced ; for I had never met with any thing good in that country, except the peacocks, by which I had recovered my health. We steered our course by mount Cenis, taking particular care to keep clear of Milan on account of the suspicion above men- tioned, and soon after I arrived safe and in health at Lyons with Paolo, Ascanio, and a servant : we were four in all, pretty well mounted. Upon our arrival at Lyons we stopped for several days to wait the coming of the muleteer, who was charged with the silver basin and the cup, as likewise with part of my baggage : we were lodged in an abbey belonging to the cardinal. The muleteer being arrived, we packed up every thing belonging to us very safe in a chest, and in this manner continued our journey to Paris ; by the way we met with some little im- pediments, which were not of much consequence. of the sixteenth century: it will be sufficient here to notice, that in that very year ( 1540) there lived in Ferrara many professors so eminent as to leave their names famous in the annals of music. Such were Ludovico Fogliani, and Don Nicolo Vicentino, a priest, both writers on new musical theories; the Canon Afranio de' Conti, Albonesi di Pavia, the reputed inventor of the Fagotto ; and Giacopo Fogliano, an excellent organist. Anna and Lucrezia, the two daughters of Duke Ercole II., who made great progress in the most profound studies, cultivated music also with such success as to merit the particular praise of Ricci, Giraldi, Calcagnini, and Patrizi, concerning wlwm see the deidcalio* cf the Deca Istoriale. 306 CHAPTER XXIX. The Author meets with a most gracious reception from the Fiench King, and attends him in his tour to Dauphiny. — Grand retinue of that prince. — The Cardinal proposes to Cellini to work for an in- considerable salary. — He is highly disgusted at this, and goes off abruptly upon a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. — He is pursued and brought back to the King, who settles a handsome salary on him, and assigns him a house to work in at Paris. — He sets out for that capital, but meets witli great opposition in taking possession of the house, which however he at last completely overcomes. "We found the court of the French monarch at Fontaine- bleau, where we directly waited on the cardinal, who caused apartments to be assigned us : we spent the night very agreeably, and were well accommodated. The next day the waggon came up, so we took out what belonged to us, and the cardinal having informed the king of our arrival, he expressed a desire to see me directly. I waited on his majesty accordingly, with the cup and basin so often mentioned : being come into his presence I kissed his knee, and he received me in the most gracious manner imaginable. I then returned his majesty thanks for having procured me my liberty, observing that every good and just prince like his majesty was bound to protect all men eminent for any talent, especially such as were innocent like myself; and that such meritorious actions were set down in the books of the Almighty before any other vir- tuous deeds whatever. The good king listened to me till I had made an end of my speech, and expressed my gratitude in terms worthy of so great a monarch. When I had done, he took the cup and the basin, and said : " It is my real opinion that the ancients were never capable of work ing in so exquisite a taste. I have seen all the masterpieces of the greatest artists of Italy, but never before beheld any thing that gave me such high satisfaction." This the king said in French to the Cardinal of Ferrara, at the same time paying me several other compliments greater even than this. He then turned about and said to me in Italian : " Benvenuto, indulge yourself and take your pleasure for a few days ; in the mean time I shall think of putting you into a way of makinir some curious piece of wofk for me." en. xxix.] THE author's gracious reception. 307 The Cardinal of Ferrara soon perceived that his majesty was higlily pleased with my arrival, and that the specimens he had seen of my abilities had excited in him an inclina- tion to employ me in other works of greater importance. Whilst we followed the court, we may justly be said to have been in great straits, and the reason is that the king travels with upwards of twelve thousand horses, his retinue in time of peace being eighteen thousand. We sometimes danced attendance in places where there were hardly two houses, were often under the necessity of pitching very in- convenient tents, and lived like gypsies. I frequently solicited the cardinal to put the king in mind of employ- ing me : he made answer, that it was best his majesty should think of it himself, advising me to appear sometimes in his presence, when he was at table. This advice I fol- lowed, and the king one day called me to him whilst he was at dinner. He told me in Italian, that he proposed I should undertake some pieces of great importance ; that he would soon let me know where I was to work, and provide me with tools and all things necessary ; at the same time he conversed with me in a free easy manner, on a variety of different subjects. The Cardinal of Ferrara was present, for he almost always dined with the king : the conversation being over, his majesty rose from table, and the cardinal said in my favour, as I was informed afterwards ; '• May it please your Majesty, this Benvenuto has a great desire to be at work, and it would be a pity to let such a genius lose his time." The king answered, that he was very right, and desired him to settle with me all that concerned my subsistence. The cardinal, who had received the commission in the morning, sent for me that night after supper, and told me from the king that his majesty had resolved I should im- mediately begin to work ; but that he desired first to know my terms. To this the cardinal added, " It is my opinion that if his majesty allows you a salary of three hundred crowns a year, it will be abundantly sufficient. Next I must request it of you, that you would leave the whole management of the affair to me, for every day I have op- portunities of doing good in this great kingdom, and I eliall be always ready to assist you to the best of my power." I answered, "Without my ever soliciting yout X 2 308 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLIWI. [CH. XXIX. reverence, you promised upon leaving me behind you in Ferrara, never to let me quit Italy, or bring me into France, without first apprising me upon what terms I was to be with his majesty. But instead of acquainting me with the terms, you sent me express orders to ride post, as if riding post was my business. If you had then mentioned three hundred crowns as a salary, I should not have thought it worth my while to stir for double the sum. I notwith- standing return thanks to Heaven and to your reverence, since God has made you the instrument of so great a bless- ing as my deliverance from a long imprisonment. I there- fore declare that all the hurt you can do me, is not equal to a thousandth part of the great blessing for which I am indebted to you. I thank you with all my heart, and take my leave of you ; and in whatever part of the world I shall abide, I shall always pray for your reverence." The Car- dinal then said in a passion, " Go wherever you think proper, for it is impossible to serve any man against his will." Some of his niggardly followers then said : " This man must have high opinion of his merit, since he refuses three hundred crowns :" others amongst the connoisseurs replied ; " The king will never find another artist equal to this man, and yet the cardinal is for abating his demands as he would bargain for a faggot of wood." It was Signor Luigi Alamanni that said this, the same who at Rome gave the model of the salt-cellar, a person of great accomplish- ments, and a favourer of men of genius. I was afterwards informed, that he had expressed himself in this manner before several of the noblemen and courtiers. This hap- pened at a castle in Dauphiny, the name of which I cannot recollect ; but there we lodged that evening. Having left the cardinal, I repaired to my lodging, for we always took up our quarters at some place not far from the court, but this was three miles distant. I was accom- panied by a secretary of the Cardinal of Ferrara, who hap- pened to be quartered in the same place. By the way, this secretary, with a troublesome and impertinent curiosity, was continually asking me what I intended to do with my- self when I got home, and what salary I had expected. I, who was half angry, half grieved, and highly provoked at having taken a journey to Frmce, and being afterwards offered no more than three hundred crowns a year, never CH. XXtX.] DETERinNES ON ANOTHER PILGRIMAGE. 309 once returned him any answer: I said nothing more to him, than tliat I knew all. Upon my arrival at our quar- ters, I found Paolo and Ascanio, who were waiting for me. I appeared to be in great disorder, and they knowing my temper, forced me to tell them what had happened. Seeing the poor young men terribly frightened, I said to them, " To-morrow morning I will give you money enough to bear your charges home, for I propose going by myself about some business of importance : it is an aflfiiir that I have long revolved in my mind, and there is no occasion for your knowing it." Our apartment was next to that of the secretary, and it seems very probable that he acquainted the cardinal with all that I intended, and was firmly resolved to do ; though I could never discover whether he did or not. I lay rest- less the whole night, and was in the utmost impatience for the approach of day, in order to put my design in execution. As soon as morning dawned, I ordered my horses should be in readiness, and having got myself ready likewise, I gave the young men all that I had brought with me, with fifty gold ducats over, and kept as many for myself, toge- ther with the diamond, which the duke had made me a present of; taking with me only two shirts, and some very indifferent clothes to travel in, which I had upon my back. But I could not get rid of the two young men, who were bent upon going with me by all means. I did my utmost to dissuade them, and said, " One of you has only the first down upon his cheeks, and the other has not even that ; I have instructed you to the utmost of my poor abilities, in- somuch that you are become the two most expert young men in your way in Italy. Are you not then ashamed that you cannot contrive to help yourselves, but must be always in leading-strings ? This is a sad affair, and if I were to dismiss you without money, what would you say? Be gone directly, and may God give you a thousand blessings ! so farewell." I thereupon turned my horse about, and left them both bathed in tears. 1 took a delightful path through a wood, intending to ride at least forty miles that same day, to the most remote corner I could possibly reach. I had already ridden about two miles, and in the little way I had gone formed a resolution to work at no place where I was known, X s 310 MEMOIRS OF BENVENCTO CELLINI. [CH. XXIX. nor did I ever intend to work upon any other figure but a Christ, about three cubits high, willing to make as near an approach as possible to that extraordinary beauty which he had so often displayed to me in visions. Having now settled every thing in my own mind, I bent my course towards the Holy Sepulchre, thinking I was now got to ouch a distance, that nobody could overtake me. Just at this time I found myself pursued by some horse- men, which occasioned me some apprehensions, for I had been informed that these parts were infested by numbers of freebooters, called Venturieri, who rob and murder passen- gers, and who, though many of them are hanged almost every day, do not seem to be in the least intimidated. Upon the near approach of the horsemen, I perceived them to be one of the king's messengers accompanied by Ascanio. The former upon coming up to me said, " I command you, in the king's name, to repair to him directly." I answered, " You come from the Cardinal of Ferrara, for which reason I am resolved not to go with you." The man replied, that, since I would not go by fair means, he had authority to command the people to bind me hand and foot like a pri- soner. Ascanio at the same time did his utmost to persuade me to comply, reminding me that whenever the king of France caused a man to be imprisoned, it was generally five years before he consented to his release. The very name of a prison revived the idea of my confinement at Rome, and so terrified me, that I instantly turned my horse the way the messenger directed, who never once ceased chattering in French, till he had conducted me to court : sometimes he threatened me, sometimes he said one thing and sometimes another, by which I was almost vexed to death. In our way to the king's quarters, we passed before those of the Cardinal of Ferrara, who being at his door called me to him and said, " Our most Christian King has of his own accord assigned you the same salary that he allowed Liornardo da Vinci the painter, namely seven hundred crowns a-year. He will pay you over and above for whatever you do for him : he likewise makes you a present of five hundred crowns for your journey ; and it is hi^ pleasure that they should be paid you before you stir from hence." When the cardinal ceased speaking, I an* CH. XXIX.] AN ORDER TO MAKE TWELVE STATUES. 311 swered that these indeed were offers worthy of so great a monarch. The messenger who did not know who I wao, seeing such great offers made me in the king's name, asked me a thousand pardons. Paolo and Ascanio said, " It is to God we owe this great good fortune." The day following, I went to return his majesty thanks, who ordered me to make him models of twelve silver statues, which he intended should serve as candlesticks round his table. He desired they should be the figures ot six gods and six goddesses, made exactly of his own height which was very little less than three cubits. When he had given me this order, he turned to his treasurer and asked him whether he had paid me five hundred crowns : the treasurer answered that he had heard nothing at all of the matter : at this the king was highly offended, as he had commanded the cardinal to speak to him about it. He at the same time desired me to go to Paris, and look out for a proper house to work at my business, telling me I should have it directly. I received the five hundred gold crowns and repaired to Paris, to a house of the Cardinal of Fer- rara's, where I began to work zealously, and made four little models two thirds of a cubit high, in wax, of Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, and Vulcan. At this juncture the king coming to Paris, I waited on his majesty, and carried my models with me, as likewise the two young men, Ascanio and Paolo. "When I perceived that the king was pleased with my performance, and had ordered me to make the silver Jupiter of the height above mentioned with all possible expedition, I informed his majesty that I had brought those two young men with me from Italy for his service, and as they were my pupils, they were likely to be of much greater use to me, who had in- structed them in the principles of my art, than any of the workino; artists of Paris. The kinir, in answer to this, de- sired me to settle on the two young men such a salary as should appear to me handsome and sufficient to support thera. I then told him, that a hundred gold crowns a-piece would do, and I would take care that they earned their salary. So it was agreed. I then told the king that I had found a place very proper for carrying oi my business. The place I meant belonged to his majesty, and was called the Petit Nesle : it was then in the hands of the provost X 4 312 MEMOIRS OF BENV'ENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXIX. of Paris, to whom his majesty had granted it ; but as the provost made no use of it, his majesty might give me leave to work in it for his service. The king answered directly ; " The place you mention is a house of mine ; the person to whom I have granted it does not inhabit or make any sort of use of it : you may therefore take it for the purpose you mentioned." He thereupon ordered one of his officers to put me in immediate possession of the Nesle. The officer declined this at first, telling the king that it was not in his power to obey him. The king replied in a passion, that he would give things to whomsoever he thought proper, and to such men as were of use to him and served him ; for with regard to the provost, he was of no use to him at all : he therefore desired to hear no more objections or demurs. The officer rejoined, that it would be necessary to have recourse to violence. The King then said, " Go thither directly, and if a little force be not sufficient, you must exert yourself." The officer immediately conducted me to the place, and I was obliged to proceed to violence, before I could take possession of it : he then bade me take care of myself, assuring me that my life was in imminent danger. I entered my new habitation, and immediately hired ser- vants and purchased different weapons. My situation there was very uneasy during several days ; for my adversary was a gentleman of Paris, and many other gentlemen were likewise my enemies, insomuch that I constantly received fresh insults. I must not omit that his majesty took me into his service in the year of our Lord 1540, and I was then exactly forty years old. When I found myself liable to these daily affronts, I again waited upon the king and requested him to place me somewhere else. The answer he made me was : " Who are you, and what is your name ? " At so strange a re- ception, I was quite disheartened, and could not possibly guess his majesty's meaning : as I remained in silent aston- ishment, he repeated his question a second time. I then answered, that my name was Benvenuto. The king said thereupon ; " If you are that same Benvenuto that has been described to me, act like yourself : I give you free permission." I told his majesty that it was sufficient for me to continue in his good graces, and then it was im- possible for any thing to hurt me. The king replied with «H. XXIX.] BETTER ACCOMMODATED 313 a smile : " Go your ways, and depend upon it that my favour shall never be wanting." Immediately upon this he ordered one of his secretaries, whose name was Mons. de Villeroy, to see me properly accommodated, and provided with every thing necessary. This Villeroy was an intimate friend of the provost of Paris, in whose possession the place called Nesle had been for some time. It was a large old castle of a triangular form, contiguous to the walls of the city, but had no gar- rison. Mons. de Villeroy advised me to look out for some other building, and at all events to leave that, for as the person to whom Nesle had belonged was a man of great power, he would certainly get me assassinated. To this I made answer, that " I was come from Italy to France from no other motive but to serve their great monarch : with re- gard to dying, I was sensible that death is the common fate of all men, and whether it happened a little sooner or a little later, was a matter of perfect indifference to me." This Villeroy was a man of excellent understanding, of most extraordinary qualifications and endowments, and ex- ceedingly rich ; he would have done any thing to hurt me ; but artfully concealed his malice : he had a grave deport- ment, a good aspect, and spoke deliberately. On this occa- sion he employed another gentleman, named Mons. de Marmande, who was treasurer of Languedoc. The first thing that this person did was to look out for the best apartments in the building, and get them fitted up for him- self. I told him that the king had given me the place to work in for his majesty, and that I was resolved it should be inhabited only by myself and my servants. Whereupon this man, who was proud and audacious, declared tliat he would do as he thought proper ; that contending with him would be the same thing as running my head against a wall ; and that he had Villeroy's authority for all he did. I tlien replied, that I claimed the place by the king's authority and that neither he nor Villeroy had any right to act in that manner. When I had expressed myself to this effect the haughty treasurer grossly abused me in French : where- upon I told him in my own language that he was a liar At this he was incensed witii rage, and by his gestures Beemed just going to draw his hanger. I instantly clapped my hand to a large cutlass, which I constantly wore by my 314 MEMOlllS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. fCH. XXX. side for my defence, and said to him : " If you offer to draw that hanger, I will instantly kill you." He had with him two servants, and I had my two apprentices. Whilst Mons. de Marraande remained thus in suspense, without determining upon any thing and rather inclined to mischief than otherwise, he muttered to himself: "I will never put up with this treatment." As I saw that he had bad intentions, I determined directly what conduct to pursue, and said to Paolo and Ascanio : " As soon as you see me draw my cutlass fall upon those fellows and kill them if you can ; for I will begin with destroying that villain, and then we shall make our escape with the assist- ance of God." When Mons. de Marmande perceived that I had formed this resolution, he thought himself happy in getting out of the place alive. I wrote an account of all that had happened, in the most modest terms 1 could think of, to the Cardinal of Ferrara, who immediately acquainted the king with the whole trans- action : his majesty, highly provoked at this affair, put me under the care of another of his worthless courtiers, who was called Mons. d'Orbech. This gentleman provided me with every thing necessary for my business, and that with the most complaisant officiousness. CHAPTEE XXX. The King employs our Author to make large silver statues of Jupiter, Vulcan, and Mars. — He presents his Majesty with a fine basin and cup of silver, together with a salt-cellar of the same metal of ad- mirable workmanship. — The King's generosity defeated by the avarice of the Cardinal of Ferrara. — His Majesty, accompanied by Madame d'Estampes and the whole Court, pays the Author a visit. — The King orders a considerable sum of money to be given him. — As he is going home, he is attacked by four armed ruffians, whom he repulses. — Dispute between him and the French artists, whom he makes sensible of their error. As soon as I had made all the necessary preparations in my house and shop, in the most convenient and most creditable manner, I began to make three models exactly of the size that they were to be executed in silver : these were J uj itei; CH. XXX.] AVARICE OF THE CARDINAL OF FERRARA- 315 Vulcan, and Mars. I made them of earth well supported with iron, and then repaired to the king, who, as nearly as I can recollect, ordered I should have three hundred pounds of silver to enable me to begin my work. Whilst I was making these preparations, the cup and the golden basin, which had been several months in hai;d, were finished : as soon as this was done, I got them well gilt. This appeared to be the finest piece of work that had ever been seen in France. I carried it directly to the Cardinal of Ferrara, who thanked me, and waited on the king to make him a present of it. His majesty was highly pleased, and lavished greater praises upon me than had ever been before bestowed upon any artist. In return for this present, he gave the Cardinal of Ferrara an abbey worth seven thousand crowns a year ; at the same time he was for making me a present, but the cardinal prevented him, telling his majesty it was too soon, as I had not yet finished any work for him. This confirmed the king, who was one of the most generous of men, in his resolution ; and he said, " For that very reason I will encourage him to exert himself, and make something masterly for me." The cardinal in the utmost confusion replied, " Sire, I beg you would leave it to me, for I propose settling a pension of at least three hundred crowns a year upon him, as soon as I have taken possession of my abbey." These I never received ; but I should tire the reader's patience if I were to relate all the diabolical tricks of that cardinal : I shall therefore proceed to subjects of greater consequence. I returned to Paris, and being thus become a favourite of the king, I was universally admired. As soon as I received the silver which had been promised me, I began to work at the above-mentioned statue of Jupiter ; and took into my service several journeymen. We worked day and night with the utmost assiduity, insomuch, that having finished Jupiter, Vulcan, and Mars, in earth, and Jupiter being pretty forward in silver, my shop began to make a grand show. Just about this time the king made his appearance at Paris ; and I went to pay my respects to him. When his majesty saw me, he called to me in high spirits, and asked me whether I had any thing curious to show him at my shop, for he intended to call there. I told him of all I had done, and he expressed an earnest desire to see my performances. 516 MEMOIRS OF BENVENCTC CELLIOT. [CU. XXX. After dinner he made a party, consisting of Madame d'Estampes*, the Curdinal of Lorraine, and some other great men, (as tlie King of Navarre, cousin to King Francis,) and the queen his sister f ; the dauphin and dauphiness^ came likewise ; in a word, that day aU the nobility belong- ing to the court of France repaired to my shop. I had just got home, and was beginning to work, when the king made his appearance at my castle gate : upon hear- ing the sound of so many hammers, he commanded his retinue to be silent. All my people were at work, so that * Francis I., previous to his imprisonment, was the admirer of the Countess de Chateaubriant, who had the temerity to contend in mag- nificence and power with the queen-mother herself, Louise of Savoy. This princess, unwilling to endure such conduct, on the return of her son from Spain, contrived to draw his attention to Anne de Piseleu, one of her maids of honour, who, by means of her beauty, her grace- fulness, and her highly cultivated talents, succeeded in making a great impression on the mind of that monarch. Anne, thus became the favourite of the king, and the arbitress of France, was not ungrateful to the Queen Louise, to whom she always continued submissive : and she also acquired the friendship of the Queen of Navarre, sister of Francis. la 1536, she married Jean de Brosse, to whom, in consideration of the marriage, were restored the confiscated estates of his father, and who was also created Duke d'Estampes. Tliis favourite, who was called the most beautiful amongst learned ladies, and the most learned amongst the beautiful, was a great patroness of literature and the arts. t Margaret de Valois, sister of Francis L and widow of the duke d'Alen^on, was married to the King of Navarre in 1526. She re- ceived the appellation of the Fourth Grace and the Tenth Muse — uniting to gracefulness of form and sweetness of character, a cultivated genius, and a decided inclination for every species of literature. ^ Catharine de' Medici, called by the French historians the orna- ment and the scourge of France, was born in Florence, in 1519. She was the daughter of Lorenzo, son of Piero de' Medici and of Made- leine de la Tour, a relation of Francis I. She was the only legitimate descendant of Lorenzo the Magnificent, and would have inherited the Florentine dominions, if Leo X. and afterwards Clement VIL had not given the preference to the illegitimate male children of that family. This princess, who was reputed one of the most beautiful women of the age, and was three times regent of France, carried the ambition and political sagacity of her race to the highest pitch. Placed in the midst of civil and religious factions, it was her sole aim to rule them, and to render them subservient to her own purposes. Without being zealous for the Catholic religion, she was the principal contriver of the cele- brated massacre of 1572, which commenced on St. Bartholomew's Day, and continued for seven days throughout France, and in which perished more than forty thousand Huguenots. She died at the age of seventy years, in 1589 CH. XXX.] THE KING PAYS HIM A VISIT. 317 the king came upon us quite unexpectedly. As he entered the saloon, the first object he perceived was myself, with a large piece of plate in my hand, which I had not yet placed, and which was to make the body of Jupiter; another was employed on the head, another again on the legs, so that the shop resounded with the beating of hammers. Whilst I was at work, as I had a little French boy in the shop, who had some way or other offended me, I gave him a kick which drove him above four cubits forward towards the door, so that when the king entered, the boy fell against him ; the good monarch laughed heartily, and I was in the utmost confusion. His majesty began to ask me what I .vas about, and expressed a desire that I should proceed with my work, telling me that he should be much better pleased if I would never harass myself with my business, but take as many men as I thought proper into my service, for it was his desire I should take care of my health, that I might be the longer able to serve him. I answered his majesty, that if I w-ere to discontinue working I should not enjoy my health, and that my performances would then no longer be worthy of so great a prince. The king, thinking that I said this through vanity, and did not speak my real sentiments, ordered the Cardinal of Lorraine to repeat to me what he had himself proposed ; but I explained myself so fully to the cardinal, that he acquiesced in my reasons, and advised his majesty to let me act as I thought proper. The king, when he had taken a sufficient view of my work, returned to his palace, after having conferred so many favours on me, that it would be tedious to enumerate them. The day following he sent for me immediately after dinner : the Cardinal of Ferrara was present, and dined with him. I came just when they were at the second course : his majesty immediately began to talk to me, saying, that since he had so beautiful a cup and basin of my making, he must have a handsome salt-cellar to accompany such fine things ; that he wanted me to draw a design of one, and the sooner the better. I answered that his majesty should see such a design much sooner than he expected ; for that whilst I was employed about the basin and the cup, I thought a salt-cellar would be a necessary companion to them, and therefore had already mads one, which I should show to his majesty in a few moments. The monarch turned about v.ith great viva- S18 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CII. XXX city to the noblemen present, to the King of Navarre, the Cardinal of Lorraine, and the Cardinal of Ferrara, and said to them : " This is so obliging a man, that whoever has heard his character, would be desirous to know him : " he then told me he would be glad to see my design. I went for it, and soon returned, for I had nothing to do but to cross the Seine: I brought with me a model of wax, which I had made at Rome at the request of the Cardinal of Ferrara. Upon showing it to the king, he ex- pressed great surprise, and said, " This is a much finer design than I expected ; it is a most noble production ; such a genius should never be unemployed." He then turned to me, and said with great cheerfulness, that he was highly pleased with my model, and should be glad to have a salt-cellar made according to it in gold. The Cardinal of Ferrara winked at me, giving me to understand that he knew this to be the same model I had made for him in Rome. I thereupon repeated what I had before told him, that I had made it for one who would pay for it. The Car- dinal recollecting these words was nettled, and had a mind to take his revenge: he therefore thus addressed the king; "Sire, this is certainly a great undertaking: I have only one objection to make, namely, that I never expect to see it finished ; for men of genius, who have noble and sublime ideas in their own art, are very ready to engage in grand enterprises, without duly considering when they can bring them to a conclusion ; therefore, if I were to order works of such importance, I should be glad to know how soon they could be executed." The king made answer, tliat he who was so anxiously solicitous about the finishing of works, would never begin any ; and this he said in such a manner, as intimated that he did not consider such under- takings as suitable to men of narrow minds. I then said, '■ When princes give their servants such noble encourage- ment, as your Majesty does both by word^ and deeds, they are sure of succeeding in all great undertakings ; and since God has blessed me with so munificent a patron, I flatter myself that I shall be able to execute many great and admirable works for your Majesty." "I do notdo ubt but you will," answered the king, rising from table. He sent for me to his apartment, and asked me how much gold the making of the salt-cellar would require. I immediately on. XXX. 3 A TLAX LAID TO ROB HIM. 319 answered liim, a thousand crowns. The kaig called for his treasurer, Mons. d'Orbecli, and commandeJ him to give me directly a thousand old gold crowns, good weight. I quitted his majesty and sent for the two clerks, who had caused the money to be given me for the statue of Jupiter and many other things ; and having crossed the Seine, I took with me a little basket, which I had from a nun, a cousin-german of mine, in a convent at Florence; by good luck I took this basket, and not a wallet. I thought to do the business by day, as it was then early, and did not care to disturb my journeymen, nor did I even mind to take a servant with me. I came to the treasurer's house, who had the money ready before him, and had chosen the pieces according to the directions of the monarch. It appeared to me that the villain had recourse to all the little artifices and stratagems he could think of, to delay paying me the money till late at night. I was by no means wanting in diligence, but sent for some of my journeymen to come to me about business of the utmost consequence. When I found that they did not appear, I asked the messenger whether he had obeyed my orders : the scoundrel told me that he had, and that they answered him they could not come ; but he would carry the money for me with pleasure : I replied that I chose to carry it myself. In the mean time the writing was drawn up, and the money being brought, I put it all into the basket, then thrust my arm through the two handles ; as it entered with great difficulty, the money was well secured, and I carried it with much greater ease than if I had made use of a bag. I was armed with a coat of mail, and having my sword and dagger by my side, I set out directly for my own house. Just then I took notice of some of the servants who were whispering to one another : but they soon ouitted the house, and seemed to turn down quite a different street from that which I had entered. I, being in great haste, passed the bridge of the Change, and went up by a little wall in the marshes, which carried me to my own house at Nesle. "When I was just at the Augustins, a very dangerous place, though within five hundred paces of my own house, where, if I had attempted to call out, my voice would not have been heard by any body, I suddenly found four swords drawn against me. I quickly formed ray resolution, and 320 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXX. covering my basket with my cloak, I clapped my hand to my sword, and perceiving that they were eager to surround me, I told them there was nothing to be won from a soldier but his cloak and sword : these I was resolved not to re' sign tamely, but to defend them at the risk of my life. "Whilst I bravely opposed the villains, I several times opened my arras wide, that in case they had been set on by the servants who saw me receive the money, they might have some reason to think I could not have any such sum about me. The combat did not last long, for they began gradually to retire. Some of them said in French, " Thio Italian is a brave fellow ; he certainly cannot be the person wo wanted, and even if he be the man, he has no money about him." I spoke Italian, and dealt my blows with such dexterity that I was near killing some of them. As I ai^peared to be an excellent swordsman, they thought it most likely that I was a soldier ; so they crowded close together, and gradually drew off from me, muttering all the while in their own language. I at the same time continued to say coolly, and without any soi't of rhodomontade, that he who wanted to possess himself of my arms and cloak, must purchase them dearly. I began to mend my pace,, and they followed me slowly ; my fear thereupon increased, and I was filled with apprehensions of falling into an ambush of other villains who might surround me. But when I got within a hundi-ed paces of my own house, I mended my pace as fast as I could, and cried out with a loud voice, " Help, help, or I am assassinated ! " Immediately four of my young men sallied out with long pixes, and offered to pursue the fellows that had attacked me and Avere still in sight ; but I stopped them, saying aloud, " Those four cowardly dogs have not been able to take from a single man a booty of a thousand gold crowns, the weight of which has almost broken his arm : let us therefore first go and lay them up, and then I will attend you with my great two- handed sword wherever you will." While we were putting up the money, the young men expressed great concern for the danger I had been exposed to, and said to me in a repri- manding tone, " You have too much confidence in your own courage, which will bring you one day into some scrape, and make us all lament your unhappy fate." I had a long chat with them, and they told me that my adversaries were CH. XXX.] BEGINS THK GREAT SALT-CELLAR. 321 gone off; SO we all supped cheerfully, and were very merry, making a jest of the various turns and changes of fortune, which, whether prosperous or adverse, can alFect us but for a time. I own it is a common saying, that every reverse of fortune teaches us how to behave on another occasion ; but that is not true, as the circumstances which attend each event are different, and such as could not be foreseen. The next morning I began the great salt-cellar, and caused that and other works to be forwarded with the utmost expedition. I had by this time provided myself with several journeymen, as well for sculpture as for the gold- smith's business : these journeymen were Italians, French, and Germans, and sometimes I had a considerable number of them. When I happened to meet with able artificers, (for I almost every day changed them, taking into my shop such as were most expert and skilful,) I hurried them in such a manner, that, unable to bear the constant labour as I did, who had received a happy constitution from nature, they endeavoured to restore and keep up their spirits by eating and drinking. Some of the Germans, who were more skilful and experienced than the rest, strove to keep pace with me, but could not bear the fatigue ; so that the attempt cost them their lives. Whilst I went on with the silver statue of Jupiter, seeing that I had plenty of that metal, over and above what the statue required, I, without the king's knowledge, set about making a large silver vessel with two handles, about a cubit and a half high. I had likewise a fancy to cast in bronze the grand model which I had made for the silver Jupiter. I immediately began this arduous undertaking, which was of a nature that I had never attempted before ; and havino' entered into a conversation upon the subject with some of the old experienced artists of Paris, I mentioned to them all the methods used in Italy to bring such a work to bear. They told me that they had never made use of that pro- cess, but that if I would let them take their own way, tliey would cast me the model of bronze as fine and as exact as the earthen one. I chose to make a bargain upon employ- ing them ; and thinking their demand moderate, promised them sevei-al crowns more than they asked. They set about the work, but I soon perceived that they T 322 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXT. did not take the right method : I therefore began a head of Julius Ca3sar, the breast covered with armour, much bigger than the life, which I took from a little model I had brought with me from Rome, representing an antique head of admirable workmanship. I likewise began another head of the same size, which was the likeness of a fine girl of my acquaintance. I gave her the name of Fontainebleau, from the seat which the king had chosen for his favourite residence. Having made a proper furnace to melt the bronze, and arranged and baked our figures, they their Jupiter, and I my two heads, I said to them, " It is my opinion that your Jupiter will not come out, as you have not blown enough under it for the wind to play, so that you labour in vain." To this they answered, that in case their work did not succeed, they w^ould return me the money and make good all my ex- penses ; but they at the same time maintained that the fine heads, which I wanted to cast in the Italian manner, would never succeed according to my expectation. There were present at this dispute the treasurers and other gentlemen who came to me from the king, and who related to his majesty all that was said and done upon the occasion. The two old artists, who proposed casting the model of Jupiter, occasioned some delay in the preparations for that purpose : they said they would gladly adjust the two moulds of my heads, it being impossible that they could succeed according to my process, and it would be a thousand pities that two such fine pieces should be spoiled. As they had informed his majesty of this, he desired they w^ould endeavour to learn, and not take upon them to teach a person who was a master of the business. They with great laughter and merriment put their work into the mould ; and I, without any sort of emotion, with- out either laughing or discovering any uneasiness, put my two heads on each side of the figure of Jupiter. When our metal was thoroughly melted, we poured it out with great satisfaction : the mould of Jupiter was thereupon cleverly filled, as were likewise those of my two heads at the same time. The two old artists were highly rejoiced, while I was very well pleased with my success ; in short, it was an equal triumph to us both that we had been mistaken CH. XXX.] THE PARISIAN ARTISTS IN ERROR. 323 with regard to our opinion of each other's performance. They then were in high spirits, and desired to drink, accord- ing to the French custom ; which I granted, and readily entertained them with a collation. The next thing they asked me for was the money I had agreed to give them, and what I had promised them over and above. I answered, *' You have been very merry, whereas I suspect you should have been sad ; for I have taken it into consideration that there has been a greater consumption of metal upon this work than should have been, so that I am determined not to let you have any more money till to-morrow morning." The poor men began to reflect seriously on this speech of mine, and without making any answer returned home. When they came again in the morning, they without any stir began to take the figures out of the moulds ; and because they could not get at their own great figure, without first taking out my two heads, they did so accordingly, and placed them in such a manner that they appeared to the utmost advantage. Soon after they set up so loud a cry, that I thought it was a shout of joy, and immediately ran to the workshop from my own chamber, which was at a con- siderable distance. I found them exactly in the attitude of those who guarded Christ's sepulchre, in sorrow and aston- ishment. I cast my eyes upon the two heads, and seeing that they made a very good appearance, I was partly pleased and partly vexed, while they excused themselves by saying, " We have been unfortunate." I answered, " You have been very fortunate, but you have shown little skill ; if I had but instructed you with a single word, the figure would have come out admirably, which would have been greatly to my honour and your advantage ; but as to my honour, I can easily find an excuse, you for your parts will gain neither nonour nor profit : therefore another time learn to work, and not to banter and make sport of others." They begged I would take compassion upon them, acknowledging that I was in the right, and that if I did not sliow them indulgence, in not obliging them to make good all that great expense, they must be reduced to beggary as well as their families. My answer w^as, that should the king's treasurers compel them to pay what they had aereed, I would pay it for them for I saw that they 324 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [CH. XXXIi had done their best. By acting in this manner I greatly conciliated the good graces of the king's treasurers and ministers. A full account of the whole affair was given to his majesty, who was so generous as to order that I should be satisfied in aL my demands. CHAPTER XXXI. Ihe Author obtains a grant of naturalisation, motu propria, from tha King, and is made lord of the house he resides at, called Petit Nesle. — The King pays him another visit, accompanied by Madame d'Estampes, and orders him to commence superb ornaments for the fountain of Fontainebleau. — In obedience to the King's commands he makes two beautiful models of the ornaments for the fountain, and shows them to his INIajesty. — Description of those ornaments. — Remarkable conversation between him and the King upon this occasion. — Madame d'Estampes is offended with the Author for not taking notice of her in any of his designs To recover her favour he waits upon her, intending to make her a present of a fine vase of silver, but is refused admittance He presents it to the Cardinal of Lorraine, who behaves most generously to him. — He involves him- self in a scrape by turning out of his house a favourite servant of Madame d'Estampes, who had taken up his quarters there for some time Madame d'Estampes endeavours to alienate the King from him, but the Dauphin interposes in his favour. Just at this time arrived at court the great Piero Strozzi *, who having put the king in mind of his letters of natural- * Piero Strozzi, son of Filippo, of whom mention has already been made, had at first entered into the ecclesiastical career, and had been many times flattered by Clement VII. with the expectation of a car- dinal's hat, the only dignity wanting to his powerful family ; but find- ing his hopes of attaining this object defeated by the jealousy which had already begun to display itself between the Medici and the Strozzi, he betook himself to the profession of arms, and being cousin-germaii of Catharine de' Medici, entered into the service of the French in Piedmont, where he distinguished himself in 1536, in battle, as a colonel under the Count Guido Rangoni. In the following year, tlie Duke Cosmo having been just raised to the government of Florence, Piero Strozzi placed himself at the head of the banished Florentines, who were desirous of making a last attempt to re-establish the ancient form of government in their country ; but having advanced with too much temerity, and being obliged to engage with a smaller force than CH. XXXI.3 CREATED I.OUU OF THE CASTLE OF NESLE. 326 sation, his majesty gave orders that they should be made out directly. He at the same time said, " Prepare letters of naturalisatiou fur Benveuuto likewise^ mon ami, carry them to his house, and let him pay no fee whatever." Those of the great Piero cost him several hundred ducats; mine were brought me by one of the king's first secretaries, whose name was M. Anthony Masson.* This gentleman put the letters into my hands with many expressions of kindness from the king, and said, "His majesty makes you a present of these to encourage you to serve him with a greater zeal ; they are letters of naturalisation." He at the same time told me that letters of the like nature had been granted on much solicitation, and as a great favour, to Piero Strozzi ; but that the king gave me these of his own accord — a mark of distinction which had never been shown before to any foreigner in that kingdom. I returned my royal benefactor thanks with all possible demonstrations of gratitude, and requested the secretary to inform me, what those letters of naturalisation meant. The secretary was a very polite, well-bred man, who spoke Italian incom- parably well : he first laughed heartily, and then resuming his gravity, told me in my own language the meaning of letters of naturalisation ; that it was the highest honour that could be conferred on a foreigner, and something of much greater consequence than being made a Venetian gentleman. Having quitted me and returned to the king, he related to his majesty all that had passed between us : the monarch laughed a good while, and said, " He shall know presently why I sent him the letters of naturalisation. Go and make out his patent of lord of the castle of Nesle, which is a part of my demesne : he will understand this much more easily than he did the letters of naturalisation." a messenger came to me from the king with the above that of his adversary, he was completely defeated at Montemurlo, where his father remained a prisoner. In spite of so many misfortunes Piero does not appear to have abandoned Italy immediately, but to have lived for some years in retirement at Rome and Venice. • Antonio le Mn^on was the private secretary of the Queen of N.a» varre. He was the author of a romance entitled "G('! Amori di Fidin e di Gelasina,"' and was the first i>\;rsun who translated into the French language the Decamcvon of Boccacio, which he did at the instance oi his patroness. 326 MEMOraS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXXI, patent, and I was for giving him a gratification, but he refused it, t'jUing me that he had his majesty's express orders to the contrary. The above-mentioned letters of naturaUsation, together with those of the grant of the castle, I took with me, when I returned to Italy ; and wherever I reside, or wherever I am to finish my days, I shall always endeavour to have them with me. I now resume the thread of my narrative. Having upon my hands the works of which I have already spoken, [ mean the silver Jupiter, which was begun, the golden salt-cellar, the great silver vase, and the two heads of bronze, proceeded with expedition, and gave orders to have a base cast for the statue of Jupiter. This I caused to be made very magnificently of bronze, enriched with a variety of ornaments, amongst which I carved in basso rilievo, the Rape of Ganymede, and on the other side, Leda with her Swan ; the latter I cast in bronze, and it had surprising success. I made another of the same sort, intending to place upon it the statue of Juno, expecting soon to begin that likewise, if the king furnished me with silver for such an undertaking. Continuing to work with the utmost assiduity, I had already completed the silver Jupiter, and had also cast the golden salt-cellar ; the cup was very for- ward, and the two heads of bronze were finished. I had likewise executed several little pieces for the Cardinal of Ferrara, and moreover, a small silver vase of very rich workmanship, which I designed as a present to Madame d'Estampes. At the same time, I had done some works for several Italian noblemen, as for Signor Piero Strozzi, the Count d'Anguillara, the Count of Pitigliano, the Count of IMirandola*, and many others. * The city of Mirandola, about the beginning of the 14th century, passed from the government of the Modenese to that of the family of Pico, which had for two centuries been the masters of the neighbouring territory of Quarantoli, and after many vicissitudes, in the year 1499 fell into the possession of Glo. Francesco Pico, nephew of the cele- brated Giovanni Pico. This prince, whose great piety and learning Hre sufficiently testified by his numerous works, as well as by the eulogy pronounced upon him by Tirabosclii, not having been able to satisfy his younger brotliers in the division of their paternal inheritance, be- came exposed to the most terrible reverses. In 1502, he was expelled by his brother Luigi, who had obtained assistance from Gian Giacomc OH. XXXI.] THE king's SECOND VISIT. 327 When I was pretty forward with these works for my gracious monarch, he returned to Paris, and three days after came to my house, with a number of the chief nobi- lity of his court. They all expressed great surprise at my being so forward with so many performances ; and as Ma- dame d'Estampes was with him, they began to talk of Fon- tainebleau. The lady advised his majesty to order me to make some fine ornament for his favourite residence. The king instantly answered, " What you say is very just ; I will presently determine upon something handsome for him to execute:" then turning to me, he asked me what I thought would be a proper ornament for that charming fountain. I proposed some of my fancies; his majesty likewise told his opinion : he mentioned at the same time, that he intended going to take his pleasure, for fifteen or twenty days, at St. Germain-en-Laye, which was twelve leagues distant from Paris, desiring that I would in the mean while make a model for his seat at Fontainebleau, with the finest inventions I could think of, that being the most delightful place of recreation in his whole kingdom. He concluded with ordering me to exert my utmost efforts to produce something masterly : I promised to do my best. The king, seeing such a number of works so far advanced, said to Madame d'Estampes, " I never knew a man in his way that pleased me more, or that deserved to Trivulzi, his father-in-law, at that time general of all the French troops in Italy; and although he recovered possession of Mirandola in 1511, by means of Julius II., who took it by assault in person, and himself entered at the breach, yet he was compelled in the following year to abandon it anew to the French, in consequence of the celebrated victory obtained by them at Ravenna. Two years afterwards, the French power having declined in Italy, Gio. Francesco, for the third time, regained possession of Mirandola, and his brothers being dead, retained it, and passed his time in the midst of his studies, wlien Galeotto Pico, the son of Luigi, having at- tained the age of '25 years, in the nigiit of the lotli October, 1533, entered into IVIiraiidula with 40 assassins, killed his uncle, then at the age of C3 years, together with his eldest son, imprisoned the rest of the family, and declared himself lord of the fief Charles V. deeply resented tiiis act, and Galeotto, finding himself in danger of losing his sovereignty and his life, in 1536 threw himself under the protection of Francis 1., delivered his sons to him as hostages, and became reduced to a situation little more than that of a French general in Italy. 1 4 328 MEMOIKS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI, [cil. XXXL be more encouraged : we must endeavour to keep him here : he spends a great deal of money ; is a good com- panion, and works hard. I am, indeed, under a necessity of thinking of him myself, for in all the times that he has been with me, or that I have been here, he has never asked for any thing ; his mind seems to be entirely taken up with his business. I must confer some favour on the man, for fear of losing him." Madame d'Estampes replied, " I will take care to put you in mind." They went away, and I proceeded with the utmost expedition in the works I had begun ; at the same time I set about the model of the fountain, and used all despatch in bringing it to perfection. In about six weeks the king returned to Paris, and I, who had worked night and day, waited on his majesty with my model : the figures were so elegantly executed, that it was a very easy matter to understand the design. The fatal disputes between the King of France and the em- peror being already renewed, I found him very pensive ; and therefore addressed myself to the Cardinal of Ferrara, telling him, that I had brought some models which the king had employed me to make ; and I requested him to take the first opportunity of mentioning them to his ma- jesty, as I was inclined to think they would afford him pleasure. The cardinal complied with my request, and spoke of the models to the king, who quickly repaired to the place where I kept them. First of all I had designed the palace gate of Fontaine- bleau; and made as little alteration as possible in the form of it, which, according to the whimsical taste of the French, seemed to be an odd mixture of greatness and littleness ; for its form was almost square, with a semicircle over it bent like the handle of a basket, in which the king was desirous of having a figure to represent Fontainebleau. I gave a beautiful proportion to the gate, and over it I put an exact semicircle, with some agreeable projections on each side : instead of two pillars, which the order of archi- tecture seemed to require for their support, I placed two satyrs : one of these, something above half-relief, appeared to sustain with one arm that part of the pile which touched the columns ; in the other it held a large massive club ; the countenance was so stern and fierce as to strike terror into CH. XXXI.] DESIGN FOR A Gi^TE AT FONTAINE BLEAU. 329 the beholders : the other satyr had the same attitude, but differed from the former in the head, and some other parts; it held in its hand a whip, with three balls fastened to cer- tain chains. Though I call these figures satyrs, they had nothing in common with those sylvan gods but certain lit- tle horns and heads resembling that of a goat : in all other respects they were of the human form. In the same circle I represented a female figure in a reclining attitude, with her left arm upon the neck of a hart, which was a device of the king's : on one side of her I designed, in half-relief, little goats, boars, and other wild beasts ; and on the other, in stronger relief, greyhounds, and other dogs of dilFerent sorts, such as are to be seen in the delightful wood where the fountain rises. I drew the whole plan in an oblong form, and at each corner I designed a victory in basso- rilievo, holding little torches in their hands, as they are represented by the ancients. On the top I placed the figure of a salamander, the king's own emblem, with several other ornaments pleasing to the eye, and adapted to the nature of the work, which was of the Ionic order. The sight of this model raised the king's spirits, and diverted him from that disagreeable conversation in which he had been engaged above two hours. Finding him in this good humour, I showed him another model, which he little expected, for he imagined he had seen ingenuity enough in the first. This model was above two cubits in size : it represented a fountain in the form of a complete square, with fine steps round it, which intersected each other — a thing almost unexampled in any country whatever. In the midst of this fountain I placed a solid mass, which rose a little above its brim : upon this mass stood a naked figure of a most graceful shape. It had a broken lance in its right hand, raised aloft in the air, and the left it kept upon the handle of a cimetar, the form of which was exceed- ingly beautiful. It rested upon the left foot and held the right upon the crest of a helmet, the workmanship of which was the richest and most elegant that could be conceived. At the four sides of the fountain, I had designed a high raised figure, seated, with many ingenious devices and ornaments to each. The king began to interrogate me about the fancy of this elegant work, telling me, that he had himseli 330 MEMOIUS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CE XXXI. underst.iod my wliole plan of the gate, without asking a single q ^ostion ; but as for my present design, though it appeared to him exceedingly beautiful, he could not so much as form a conjecture concerning its meaning. He added, that he was very sure I had not acted like some foolish artists, who produced works which had some beauty and elegance in them, but which were notwithstanding void of signification. As I had had the good fortune to please his majesty by my performance, I prepared to give him a second pleasure by my explanation of it, which was couched in the follow- ing words: " May it please your majesty, this little work was designed on a small scale, but when it is carried into execution there will be the same symmetry and exactness in great as in miniature. That figure in the middle is of fifty-four feet." At this the king appeared to be greatly surprised ' Next," continued I, " is represented the god Mars : those other four figures are made for the Virtues, in which your Majesty so highly delights, and which you so much favour. The figure upon the right hand is the emblem of Science : observe its symbol, that denotes phi- losophy with all its train of attendant virtues. That other signifies the art of designing, which comprises sculpture, painting, and architecture. That next figure represents Music, a proper companion for all the other sciences. This, which appears so kind and courteous, is intended for Liber- ality, since without her aid none of those virtues or talents given us by the Almighty can ever become conspicuous. The great statue in the middle represents your Majesty, who are the Mars of this age, the only valiant prince in the world, a prince who exerts that valour in supporting and asserting the glory of his crown." Scarce had he the patience to hear me out, when he ex- claimed aloud, " I have at last found a man after my own heart." He immediately sent for his treasurer, and ordered him to supply me with all I required, however great the expense. He then clapped me on the shoulder, and said to me in French, " 3Ion ami, I do not know which pleasure is the greatest, that of a prince who meets with a man after his own heart, or that of the artist who finds a prince tha^ gives him all the encouragement necessary to carry his great CH. XXXI.] OFFENDS THE KING's MISTRESS. 331 and sublime ideas into execution." I made answer, that if I was the artl.>t meant by his majesty the liappiness was entirely on my side. lie answered laughing, "Let us then reckon it equal on both sides."* I lel't the monarch in high spirits, and returned to my work. It happened unluckily for me that I had not been apprised to act the same farce with Madame d'Estampes, who having in the evening heard all that passed from the king himself, conceived so deep a resentment at the neglect, that slie said with the utmost indignation, " If Benvenuto had shown me his fine works I should have had reason to remember him at the proper time." Tlie king endeavoured to excuse me, but without success. Having received this information about a fortnight after, when the court, after making a tour through Normandy to Rouen and Dieppe, was returned to St. Germain-en-Laye, I took with me the fine piece of plate which I had wrought at the desire of Madame d'Estampes herself, in hopes that, by making her a present of it, I might recover lier good graces. Accord- ingly I carried it to her, and having mentioned my inten- tion to her waiting-woman, showed her the cup which I proposed presenting to her lady. She received me in the kindest manner imaginable, and said she would just speak a word to Madame d'Estampes, who was not yet dressed, but that as soon as ever she had apprised her of my coming she would introduce me. Upon acquainting her lady with my arrival, and the present 1 had brought, the latter an- swered disdainfully, " Tell him to wait." Having heard this, I armed myself with patience, and continued in sus- pense till she was going to dinner. Perceiving that it grew late, hunger provoked me to such a degree, that unable to resist its cravings any longer, I gave the lady a hearty curse, and going directly to the Cardinal of Lorraine, made him a present of the cup, begging he would stand my friend with the king, and prevent me from being deprived of his good graces. He made answer, that I did not want a friend at court, and in case I had, he would have espoused my • It is said in " The.'^rt of Verifying Dates," in speaking of Francis I.. " This prince had an extraordinary inanner of evincing a coolness, When he called any one father, son, ot friend, the appellation was tha precursor of disgrace." 332 MEMOIRS Oh- BEXVENUTO CELHi^I. JJCS. XXXI. cause without being solicited ; then calling to his steward, he whispered something in his ear. ^ The steward, having waited till I had quitted the car- dinal's presence, said to me, " Benvenuto, come this way, and I will treat you with a bottle of good wine." As I was not well aware of his meaning, I made answer, " For God's sake, good Mr. steward, do but give me a single glass o wine, and a bit of bread, for I am ready to sink for want of sustenance. I have waited fasting since the morning early at Madame d'Estampes' door, with an intention to make her a present of that fine gilt cup ; and when I sent her word that I was there, she, to drive me to distraction, ordered me to be told to wait. At present hunger attacks me, and I find my powers begin to fail ; so, as it was God's will, I have bestowed my property and my work on one that deserved it much better, and all I desire of you is to give me something to drink ; as I am of a temper rather impatient, and hunger also pinches me to such a degree that I am almost ready to faint." Whilst I uttered these words with great difficulty, a servant brought in some ex- cellent wine and other delicacies for a collation. I refreshed myself very well, and having recruited my spirits tho- roughly, my peevishness and impatience subsided. The worthy steward having put into my hands a hundred gold crowns, I declined accepting them on any account. Upon this he went and told the cardinal, who reprimanded him very severely, and commanded him to force them upon me, or not appear again in his presence. The steward came back highly offended, declaring that the cardinal had never rated him so before : he then endeavoured to persuade me to accept of his master's bounty: and upon my making some resistance, he said in a passion, that he would compel me to take the money. I at length accepted it, and pro- posed going to return the cardinal thanks ; but he gave me to understand by one of his secretaries that whenever he had it in his power to befriend me he should do it with pleasure. I returned to Paris the same evening: the king was informed of all that had passed, and Madame d'Estampes was very much rallied upon th(! occasion ; but this only increased her resentment against me, whence my life was en. XXXI.] FRIENDSHIP OE GUIDO GUIDI. 333 afterwards in danger, as the reader shall be informed in due time. I should, however, first take notice of my having acquired the friendship of one of the most learned and most amiable acquaintances that I ever had in my life. This was Signor Guido Guidi, an excellent physici-an, and eminent citizen of Florence. On account of the calamities in which adverse fortune had involved me, I deferi-ed speaking of him before, but I thougiit that neglect excusable, as he was always next my heart. Having afterwards taken it into consideration that my life was never agreeable without him, I have in- S"rted an account of him amidst that of my greatest crosses, that as he constantly comforted and assisted me, I may in this narrative dwell upon the remembrance of the happiness I enjoyed in his friendship. Signor Guido Guidi* came to Paris while I resided in that capital. Upon our first acquaintance I conducted him to my castle, and assigned him an apartment in it, so that we enjoyed each other's company several years. Thither also came the Bishop of Pavia, Monsignor de Rossi, brother to the Count of St. Secondo. I made this prelate leave his inn, and took him with me to my castle, where I gave him an apartment, in which he was handsomely accommodated, with all his re- tinue, during several months. Upon another occasion I accommodated Signor Luigi Alamanni and his sons for t>ome months ; and the Almighty was so favourable to me as to put it into my power to serve some other persons of distinction, and men of genius. I enjoyed the friendship of Signor Guido as many years as I resided at the castle, and we often boasted to each other that we had acquired some improvement in our respec- tive professions at the expense of the great and munificent king who had invited us to his capital. I can say with truth, that if I have any reputation, or have ever produced works deserving of notice, it was owing to the encourage- ment of that generous monarch. I therefore resume the thread of my narrative concerning him, and the great works • Guido Guidi went to France a short time previous to the year 1542. He was in tliat year created first professor of medicine in th< Royal College, and tutor to Francis I. 334 MEMOIRb OF BENVENUTO CEIXINI. [CH. XXXI. in which I was employed by his majesty. My castle had a tennis-court, from which I derived great benefit ; at the same time tliat I used it for exercise there were many habitations in it, occupied by several men of different trades, amongst whom there was an excellent printer. Almost his whole shop was within the precincts of my castle, and it was he that first printed the excellent medical treatise published by Signor Guido. As I had occasion for the shop, I made him quit it, but not without some difficulty. There was likewise in the same place a person who made gunpowder : I wanted the habitation he occupied for some of my German artists, but the powder-maker would upon no account dislodge, though I several times civilly desired him to let me have the apartment, which was really neces- sary for some of my men employed in the king's service. The more humble my remonstrances, the more insolently the brute answered me. At last I allowed him three days to remove ; but he laughed and told me that he would begin to think of it in about three years. I did not know at first that this fellow was a do':'nestic of Madame d'Estampes : and if it had not been that the above affair between that lady and myself had made me particu- larly cautious, I should instantly have dislodged him ; but I thought it advisable to have patience for the three days : these being expired, I took with me several ai-med men, Germans, Italians, and French, as likewise some menial servants, who in a short time cleared the house, and threw all he had in it into the streets. I treated him with this particular rigour, because he had told me that he did not think any Italian had the courage to move the least thing belonging to him out of its place. In consequence of his having made such a boast I behaved to him in that manner; and then said to him, " I am the least of all the Italians, but I have done nothing to you yet, in comparison of what I find myself disposed to do, and what I certainly shall perform, if you speak another word," with many more angry and menacing expressions. The man, in the utmost terror and astonishment, gathered up his effects as well as he could, and ran to Madame d'Estampes, to whom he gave a most terrible account of the whole transaction. That grand enemy of mine, an enemy the nacre dangerous io CH. XXXII.] ANGER OF MADAME d'eSTAMPES. 335 proportion to her greater iniluence and credit, represented the atfair in the worst light to his majesty. The monarch, as I have been informed, flew into a violent passion, and was upon the point of giving very severe orders against me ; but as his son Henry the dauphin, now King of France, had received many affronts from that presumptuous lady, which had been also the case of the Queen of Navarre, sister to King Francis, they both espoused my cause so warmly, that the king turned the v/hole aflfair into ridicule ; so that with the assistance of the Almighty I had a fair escape at this critical juncture. CHAPTER XXXn. Madame d'Estampes encourages Primaticcio, otherwise called Bologna the painter, to torment and rival the Author. — He is entangled in a troublesome law-suit by a person whom he had turned out of his apartments at Petit Nesle. — Description of the French courts of justice. — The Author, finding himself very much persecuted and distressed by the chicanery and delays of the law, puts an end to the suit by the sword, which greatly intimidates his adversaries. — His domestic troubles. After I had thus got rid of my Frenchman, I found my- self obliged to proceed in the same manner with another tradesman, but did not demolish the house ; I only caused thi goods to be thrown out of the window. This pro- voked Madame d'Estampes so highly, that she said to the king, " I believe this outrageous fellow will one day ran- sack the city of Paris." The king answered, in a passion, that I did very right in ridding myself of a rabble which would have prevented me from executing his orders. The fury of this cruel woman risingevery day to a higher pitch, she sent for a certain painter, who lived occasionally at Fontainebleau, the king's place of residence. This painter was an Italian and a native of Bologna, by which name he was universally knoAvn ; but his real name was Fj-ancesco Primaticcio. Madame d'Estampes bade him apply to the king for the work wliicii he liad rc'^olved to put into my hands, and said she would second him to the utmos* of 836 5IEM0IRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXXU. her power : this was agreed upon between them. Bologna was highly rejoiced, looking upon himself as sure of success, though the business was quite out of the sphere of his pro- fession. But as he was master of the art of designing, and had agreed with certain workmen who had learned their business under Rosso, our celebrated painter of Florence, who must be acknowledged to have been a man of great genius ; and as Primaticcio himself, in whatever he had produced of anj degree of merit, had followed the excellent manner of that Rosso, who was at this time no more ; these very plausible reasons had such weight, being backed by Madame d'Estampes, and conspiring with the continual dinning in the king's ears day and night, either by Prima- ticcio or the lady, that this great prince at last began to listen to their suggestions. They said to him, " How is it possible that your sacred Majesty, while employing Benvenuto to make you twelve statues of silver, of which he has not yet finished one, can think of engaging him in so great an undertaking ? You must resolve to give up the other plans which you are so much bent upon, because a hundred men of first-rate talents would be unable to finish all the great w-orks which this one enterprising genius has taken in hand. It is obvious, at the same time, that he exerts himself too much, and is indefatigable in the business, which may very probably be the cause of your losing both him and the works he is em- ployed in." These and many other arguments of the like sort, by being urged at a proper time, produced their effect upon the mind of the king, so that he complied with their desires ; and yet he had not hitherto seen any designs or models by Primaticcio. Just at this very juncture, the second person whom I had driven out of the precincts of my castle, had com- menced a law-suit against me at Paris, affirming that I had robbed him of several of his effects at the time that I dis- lodged him. This suit occasioned me a great deal of troi.- ble, and took up so much of my time, that I was frequently upon the point of forming a desperate resolution to quit tlie kingdom. It is customary in France to make the most />f a suit which they commence with a foreigner or with any other person who is not used to law-transactions ; aa en. XXXII.] A FRENCH LAW COURT. 337 aoon as riiey have any advantage in the process, they lind means to sell it to certain persons who make a trade of buying lawsuits. There is another villanous practice which is general with the Normans, I mean that of bearing false witness; so that those who purchase the suit imme- diately instruct five or six of these witnesses, as there hap- pens to be occasion : by such means, if their adversary cannot produce an equal number to contradict and destroy their evidence," and happens to be ignorant of the custom of the country, he is sure to have a decree given against him. Roth these accidents having happened to me, I thought the proceeding highly dishonourable. I therefore made my appearance in the gi eat hall of the Palais at Paris in order to plead my own cause ; where I saw the king's lieutenant for civil affairs, seated upon a grand tribunal. This man was tall, corpulent, and had a most austere coun- tenance : on one side he was surrounded by a multitude of people ; and on the other with numbers of attorneys and counsellors, all ranged in order upon the right and left ; others came one by one, and severally opened their causes before the judge. I observed that the counsellors, who stood on one side, sometimes spoke all together. To my great surprise, this extraordinary magistrate, with the true coun- tenance of a Plato, seemed by liis attitude to listen now to one, now to another, and constantly answered with the ut- most propriety. As I always took great pleasure in seeing and contemplating the efforts of genius, of what nature so- ever, this appeared to me so wonderful, that I would not liave missed seeing it for any consideration. As the hall was of a prodigious extent, and filled with a great multi- tude of persons, particular care Avas taken that none should enter but such as came about business ; so the door was kept locked, and the avenues were guarded by door-keepers ; tl;(;se men, in opposing those who were for forcing in. some- times made such a noise, that the judge reprimanded them very severely. 1 stooped down several times to observe what passed : the words which I heard the judge utter, upon seeing two gentlemen who wanted to hear the trial, and whom the porter was endeavouring to keep out, were these, " Be quiet, be quiet, Satan, get hence, and leave off disturbing us." The terms in French were, Paix, pair, z 338 MEJioms OF benvenuto cellini. [en. xxxii Satan, allez, paix. As I had by this time thoroughly learnt the French language, upon hearing these words, I recollected what Dante said, when he with his master, Virgil, entered the gates of hell ; for Dante and Giotto, the painter, were together in France, and visited Paris with particular attention, where the court of justice may be con- sidered as hell. Hence it is that Dante, who was likewise perfect master of the French, made use of that expression ; and I have often been surprised, that it was never under- stood in that sense ; so that I cannot help thinking, that the commentators on this author have often made him say things which he never so much as dreamed of. To return to my suit : I found that when verdicts were given against me, and there was no redress to be expected from the law, I must have recourse to a long sword, which I had by me, for I was always particularly careful to be provided with good arms. The first that I attacked was the person who commenced that unjust and vexatious suit ; and one evening I gave him so many wounds upon the legs and arms, taking care, however, not to kill him, that I de- prived him of the use of both his legs, I then fell upon the other, who had bought the cause, and treated him in such a manner, as quickly caused a stop to be put to the pro- ceedings : for this and every otiier success, I returned thanks to the Supreme Being, and began to conceive hopes that I should be for some time unmolested. I earnestly entreated my young journeymen, especially the Italians, to be attentive to their business, and to work hard for a time, till I could finish the works I had imdertaken ; for I pro- posed to return to Italy as soon as ever they were com- pleted, not being able any longer to bear the villany of tlie French ; at the same time seriously considering, that if the monarch should once happen to be angry with me, I might probably meet with severe treatment for having revenged myself in the manner I had done. These Italian journeymen were as follow : — The first and highest in my favour was Ascanio, born in the kingdom of Naples at a place called Tagliacozzo : the second was Paolo, a Roman, a person of mean birth, who did not so much as know his own father : these two I had brought from Rome, where they had lived with me. The third wa« OH. XXSn.] ACCOUNT OF HIS JOURNEYMEN. 339 likewise a Roman, who came from Italy, on purpose to enter into ny service : his name was also Paolo, and he was son to a poor Roman gentleman of the Maecherani family. Tl.is young man had made but little proficiency in the busiivess ; but he was brave, and an excellent swords- m iM. The fourth journeyman was a native of Ferrara, whose name was Bartolomeo Chioccia. The fifth was a Florentine, named Paolo Micceri, who had a brother, sur- nanied Gatta, a very able clerk, but guilty of extravagance wiiHii he managed the business for Tommasso Guadagni, a rich merchant ; he afterwards kept my books, which con- tained my accounts with his most Christian Majesty, and others by wiiom I was employed. Paolo Micceri, having learnt his brother's method of book-keeping, continued to follow it, and I allowed him a good salary : he appeared to me to be a very pious youth, and discovered a great turn to devotion, sometimes singing psalms, sometimes telling ^is beads, so that I conceived great hopes from such an appearance of virtue. I therefore called him aside, and opoke to hira thus : " My dear friend Paolo, you see how happily you are settled with me, and may remember you were before out of business : you are a Florentine, which makes me confide in you ; and what gives me high satis- faction is to see you so devout, and so regular in all acts of religion. I therefore, putting more trust in you than in the others, make it my request to you, that you would give your attention to two things, in which I am in a particular manner concerned : one is, that you would carefully watch over my property, and be always upon your guard to pre- vent any body from meddling with it, as likewise that you avoid touching it yourself. At the same time you see the poor girl Caterina, whom I keep in the house chiefiy on account of my business, and without whom it would be im- possible for me to conduct it. Now I have particular reasons for wishing that she should be extremely circum- spect in her conduct ; therefore I desire you to watch her attentively, and inform me of any improprieties you may observe. I have no desire to provide for other people's children, nor would I tamely put up with such a thing. Were I to detect so scandalous an outrage, I would sacri- fice both to my insulted honour. Therefore be prudent, I 2 340 MKMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXXIl. and obey my injunctions ; let me know if you observe any thing wrong, and I will dismiss both her and her mother with dissrrace." This traitor crossed himself from head to foot ; and made the most solemn asseverations, that such an idea as that of injuring so great a benefactor in the smallest particular could never enter his mind. His appeals to all that was sacred and apparent devotion to me, com- pletely imposed upon me. Two days afterwards my countryman Maltio de Nasaro invited me and all my establishment to partake of his hospitality at his country- house. "When I proposed to take Paolo with me to enjoy himself, he observed how dangerous it would be to leave the house unprotected, and such gold, silver, and jewels lying all about ; and that there were thieves on the look-out day and night. " Go then, and enjoy yourself, dear master,'' he added, and " I will keep watch." So taking Ascanio and Chioccia with me, I set out and spent the greater part of the day with infinit*e satisfaction. But towards evening I began to feel uncomfortable and out of humour ; the ■words used by Paolo kept recurring to my mind ; I could not master my uneasiness, and at last I took horse, and with two of my attendants returned to my castle, I had very nearly taken the villain by surprise ; for as I entered the court I heard the wretch of a mother crying, " Pagolo, Caterina ; here is the master." Sh happened in Marcii, 1541, was entrusted with the admini5tra« A A 354 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XXXTV supplied this man with money, and the latter is so back* ward to ask it, I must without more delay take care to provide for him myself ; for when artists are too modest to ask any recompense, their works seem sufficiently to claim it. Therefore give him the first abbey that becomes va*- cant, the revenue of which amounts to two thousand crowns a year, and in case you cannot let him have it in one bene- fice, give it him in two or three : it will be the same thing to him." I was present, heard all that was said, and im- mediately returned thanks to his majesty, as if I had the abbey already in my possession ; telling him, that I in- tended when that work was finished to serve his majesty without any other reward, salary, or recompense for my labour, till old age should render me incapable of working, when I might be allowed to retire to necessary repose, happy in the remembrance of having served so great a monarch. To this the king with great alacrity answered, " So be it ;" and left me in high spirits. CHAPTER XXXIV. Madame d'Estampes, with a view of farther persecuting the Author, obtains leave from the King for a perfumer to take possession of a tennis-court within his premises. — The perfumer is opposed by Cellini, notwithstanding the King's grant, and obliged at length to quit the tennis-court. — The Author triumphs on meeting with the King's approbation. — He sets out for Fontainebleau with the silver statue of Jupiter. — Primaticcio the painter, upon his return from Rome, endeavours to traduce the Author. — Madame d'Estampes' partial behaviour to the Bolognese painter. — Cellini's spirited re- sentment. — The King's gracious and generous behaviour to the Author. — Adventure of Ascanio. Madame d'Estampes, having heard of my encouragement, was more provoked against me than ever, and said, " I govern the whole kingdom, and yet this insignificant fellow sets my power at defiance." In a word, she left no stone unturned to effect my destruction. A great distiller hap- tion of the finance; and finally, on the 5th February, 1543, was created admiral of France CH. XXXIV,] INTRUSION OF A PERFUMER. 3^0 pening to fall in her way, gave her certain odoriferous waters of an extraordinary virtue for the skin, which had never been used in France before that time : this man she ''ntroduced to the king, to whom he showed certain oper- ations in distilling, with which his majesty was highly delighted. During these amusements she made the distiller apply to the king for a tennis-court at my castle, with cer- tain little apartments belonging to it, of which he said I made no use. The king, who knew with whom this ap- plication originated, returned no answer whatever. Madame d'Estampes, thereupon, began to solicit him, and made use of all those insinuating arts with which women know how to work upon men ; and so successful did she prove, that happening to find the king in an amorous mood, to which he was very subject, he granted the lady all she desired. Thereupon the distiller came, accompanied by the trea- surer Glorier*, one of the first nobility of France, who understood Italian incomparably well. In this language he talked to me at first in a jocular manner, and then coming to the point, told me, that in the king's name he put the other man in possession of that tennis-court, and the little apartments adjoining to it. To this I answered, " His sacred Majesty is master of this house, and of every thing in it : you might therefore enter with the utmost freedom. But this manner of taking possession in the manner of no- taries and courts appears to be rather a trick than the order of so great a monarch : I therefore protest to you that in- • Jean Grolier, of Lyons, was regarded as the Mwcenas of his time. He was sent to Milan in 1515 by Francis I. as his principal treasurer, where he gained the esteem and affection of all the Italians by his integrity, and the generous protection he afforded to men of letters, towards whom he was so liberal, that having one day invited a considerable number to dinner with him, at the conclusion of the re- past he presented to each of his guests a pair of gloves, which was found to be filled with gold. Celio Rodigino, liattista Egnazio, and the Aldi, on many occasions avowed their gratitude to Grolier, who on his return to France being created Intendant of the Finance, enjoyed a high reputation until 1565, when he died at the age of eighty-six years, lcavli>g behind him the richest collection of books and medals which had till then existed in France. Caesar Grolier, natural son o/ Jean, who published a history of the sacking of Rome in 15'JS, in the Latin language, latinised his name into Giurierius, as Cellini has here lone. A A 2 356 MKMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI, f CH. XXXIT Stead of going to complain to his majesty, I -will defend myself in the mannei" that he commanded me the other day ; that is, I will throw this man whom you have placed here out of the window, if I do not see a commission signed with his majesty's own hand." Upon my expressing myself thus, the treasurer went away menacing and muttering to himself, and I remained in equal ill humour, but made no farther stir in his pre- sence. Soon after he was gone, I went in quest of the notaries, who had put the man in possession. These, being my intimate acquaintances, gave me to understand that it was a ceremony performed by the king's authority, but not of much consequence ; and if I had made ever so little resistance, the man would not have taken possession as he did ; adding that these were acts and customs of the court, which did not concern the obedience due to the king, inso- much that, if I thought proper to dispossess him in the same manner as he had taken possession, I should do very well, and need not be under any apprehensions with regard to the consequences. Being thus sufficiently instructed, I the next day had recourse to open violence. Though there were some difficulties in the way, I took pleasure in con- tending with them, and every day made some assault with stones, pikes, or musquets : I however fired without ball ; but even so, struck such terror into my adversary's adhe- rents, that nobody chose afterwards to stir to his assistance. One day, therefore, finding his resistance feeble, I entered the house by force, and drove him out, throwing all his goods and furniture after him. I then repaired to the king, and told him that I had done what he had com- manded me, and defended myself against all those that offered to impede me in his majesty's service. The king laughed, and caused new letters to be issued, to secure me from being molested for the future. In the mean time having with the utmost diligence finished the beautiful statue of Jupiter, with its gilt pedes- tal, I placed it upon a wooden socle, which scarce made any appearance, and within that socle I fixed four little globes of wood, which were more than half hidden in their sockets, and so admirably contrived, that a little child could with the utmost ease move this statue of Jupiter backwards CH. XXXIV.] EXHIBITS HIS JUPITER TO THE COURT. 357 and forwards, and turn it about. Having adjusted it pro perly, I took it with me to Fontainebleau, where tlie king then resided. Just about this time Primaticcio had brouirht the figures already mentioned from Rome, and caused them to be cast in bronze with the utmost care. I knew nothing at all of the mattei", for he had transacted the business with great secrecy, and Fontainebleau is above forty miles from Paris. Upon my inquiring of the king, in the presence of Madame dTEstampes, where I was to place the statue of Jupiter, the latter told his majesty that there was not a uiore proper place than his beautiful gallery. This is what t\'e might call a portico, or rather a corridor : it might in- deed be most properly distinguished by the latter name, because we give the appellation of portico to those walks which are open on one side. This place was about two hundred paces long, adorned and enriched with pictures by the admirable Rosso of Florence, intermixed with several pieces of sculpture, some detached and others in basso rilievo : the breadth about twelve paces. Here it was that Primaticcio had assembled all his bronze figures, and placed them in the most regular order upon their pedestals. As ] have observed above, there were amongst them some of the finest imitations of the antique statues of Rome. Here also I introduced my Jupiter ; and when I saw this great display of the wonders of art, I said to myself, " This is like passing between the pikes of the enemy ; Heaven protect me from all danger I" Having put the statue into its place, and fixed it in the most advantageous situation I could, I awaited the coming of the great monarch. This figure of Jupiter had a thunderlxdt in his right hand, and by his attitude seemed to be just going to throw it : in his left I had placed a globe, and amongst the flames I had with great dexterity put a piece of white torch. Madame d'Estampes had detained the king till night, with a design to make mischief, either by preventing his coming or contriving to make my work appear unfavourably in the night. As God, however, has promised to befriend such of his creatures as put their trust in him, it happened quite contrary to her expectations ; for, on the approacii of niglit, I lighted the torch in the hand of Jupiter, and as it was raised somewhat above his head, the light fell upon the t^tal u; and A A 3 S58 MEMOIRS OF BENVEXUTC CELLINI. [CH. XXXIT. caused it to appear to much greater advfvntage than it wouUl otherwise have done. The king came, accompanied by Madame d'Estampes, the Dauphin his son, now King of France, and the Dauphiness, the King of Navarre his cousin, tlie Princess Margaret his daughter, and several great lords and noblemen, who had all been instructed by Madame d'Estampes to speak against me. When I saw his majesty enter, I ordered my boy Ascanio to push the statue of Jupiter before him, and this motion being made with admirable contrivance, caused it to appear alive : thus the above-mentioned bronze figures were left somewhat beliind, and the eyes of all the beholders were first struck with my performance. The king immediately cried out, " This is one of the finest productions of art that ever was beheld : I who take pleasure in such things and under- stand them, could never have conceived a piece of work the hundredth part so beautiful." The noblemen who liad been directed to rail at my performance, seemed now to vie with each other in praising it ; but Madame d'Estampes said, with the utmost confidence, " It appears to me tliat you are very much at a loss for something to commend, when you lavish encomiums upon that statue. Don't you see those beautiful antique figures which stand a little beyond it ? In these the utmost perfection of art is displayed, and not in those modern pageants." The king then advanced, as did the rest likewise, and cast an eye upon the other figures, which appeared to a great disadvantage, the light being placed below them. His majesty observing this, said, — " Those who have endeavoured to hurt this man, have done him the greatest service imaginable ; for, from a compa- rison with these admirable figures, it is evident this statue is in every respect vastly superior to them. Benvenuto is, therefore, worthy of the highest esteem, since his perfor- mances, instead of being barely upon a par with those of the ancients, greatly surpass them." In answer to this, Madame d'Estampes observed that my statue would not at another time appear a thousandth part so well as it did by night ; and that it should be farther taken into considera- tion that I had thrown a veil over the figure to conceal its blemishes. This was an exceedingly thin drapery, which I had placed so gracefully, that it gave additional CH. XXXIV."] RECEIVES A THOUSAND GOLD CROWNS. 359 majestj to the figure. Upon hearing the above words, I took hold of the veil, and pullinj it away discovered the parts it was intended to conceal. The lady thought I had done thia out of contempt. The king perceived her resentment ; and I, being overcome with passion, was just going to speak, when the wise monarch uttered these words deliberately, in his own language : " Benvenuto, I must interrupt you — therefore be silent, — and you shall have a thousand times more treasure than you could wish." Not being allowed to speak, I discovered my emotion by my contor- tions : this caused the lady to be more higly incensed than ever, and made her mutter her indignation to herself. The king left the place much sooner than he othem'ise would have done, declaring aloud, for my encouragement, that he had brought over from Italy one of the ablest men that the world had ever produced, and one who was endowed with the greatest variety of talents. I left my statue there, and as I chose to quit the place that morning, the king ordered me a thousand crowns, partly as a recompense for my labour, and partly in pay- ment of sums, which appeared from my accounts to have been disbursed by myself. Having received the money, I returned to Paris, and immediately upon my arrival made merry at my own house. After dinner I caused all my clothes to be brought me, which were of the finest furs, or the very best cloth : out of these I made presents to all my workmen, distributing them according to their deserts, and even giving some to the maids and the stable-boys ; thereby encouraging them to assist me with alacrity. I set about finishing my statue of Mars, which I had made of pieces of wood well fastened together, over which the flesh was represented by a covering, in thickness about equal to the eighth part of a cubit, made of plaster, and of the most elegant workmanship. I afterwards formed a resolution to make up the figure of several difFerent j)ieces, anK to put them together according to the rules of art ; and this I with great ease eflfiCted, I must not omit to mention one circumstance that at- tended this great work, a thing, indeed, higlily laughable. I had given strict orders to all those who lived witlx me mot to bring any women into my castle, and was particu- AA 4 360 MEMOIRS OF BENVENDTO CELLINI. [CH. XXXIV. larly 'Careful to see my orders obeyed. My boy Ascanio was in love with a girl of extraordinary beauty, who an- swered his passion with equal ardour. The girl, having on that account fled from her mother, came one niglit to Ascanio, and not caring afterwards to return home, he was at a loss where to conceal her ; but necessity sharpening liis wit, he bethouglit himself of the odd expedient of hiding her in my Mars, and let her sleep in the head of the statue. There he stayed to watch her, and in the night he took her out sometimes, without making any noise. I had almost finished that head, and vanity prompted me to leave it uncovered, so that it was every day exposed to the view of the inhabitants of Paris. The neighbours began to cHmb upon the roofs of their houses to see it, and great numbers of people went thither on purpose to indulge their curiosity. At the same time a report became current at Paris, that my old castle was haunted by a ghost ; but, for my part, I could never perceive any thing to induce me to think it was well founded. This ghost was universally called Zem- monio Boreo through the city of Paris. Now, as the girl who was concealed in the head could not but be sometimes seen to move, while her eyes were more or less apj^arent, some of the foolish and credulous populace affirmed that the ghost had entered the body of the great statue, and that it made the eyes and mouth move as if it was just going to speak. Accordingly many went away frightened out of their wits ; and some persons of penetration and sagacity, who came to see the figure, could not doubt the truth of what they had heard, when they contemplated the fire and brightness of the eyes of the said figure. So they declared in their turn that there was a spirit within it ; not being aware that there was not only spirit in it, but likewise good flesh and blood. In the mean time I waa busy in putting together my fine gate, with all the orna- ments described above. 361 CHAPTER XXXV. A irar breakin 402 CHAPTER XL. The Author goes to Fiesole, to see his natural son, and meets with Bandinello on his return. — At first he resolves to kill him, but oa seeing his cowardly behaviour alters his mind. — Conversation bo tween him and the duke concerning an antique Greek statue of Gany- mede. — Account of some marble statues of Cellini's, viz. Apollo, Hyacinthus, and Narcissus. — He meets with an accident by which he had nearly lost one of his eyes. — Manner of his recovery. I NOW stayed almost constantly at home, and hardly ever went to the ducal palace, but worked with the utmost assi- duity to finish my statue. I was obliged to pay my work- men out of my own pocket ; for the duke, having caused them to be paid for me by Lattanzio Gorini about eighteen months, at last grew tired of it, and ordered payment to be stopped. I thereupon asked Lattanzio why he did not pay my men as usual ? He answered with the shrill voice of a gnat, and using some odd, fantastic gestures with his spider's hands, " Why don't you get your work finished ? It is the general opinion that you will never finish it." I answered him passionately, uttering horrid imprecations against him, and all those that thought I should not complete it. Thus in deep despair I returned home to my unfortunate statue of Perseus, not without shedding tears ; for I could not help recollecting the flourishing state in which I had lived in Paris, when in the service of the munificent King Francis, by whom I was abundantly supplied with every thing ; whereas here I was hardly supplied at all. This consider- ation had such an effect upon me that I was several times upon the point of forming a desperate resolution to leave the place abruptly. Once, in particular, I mounted a little nag, and taking a hundred crowns with me, set out for Fiesole, to see a natu- ral son whom I had at nurse witli a gossip of mine, wife to one of my journeymen. I found the child in good health ; and though I was greatly dejected, and uneasy in my mind, I embraced him. When I was for departing, he would not let me go, but held me fast with his little hands, at the «ame time crying and screaming so loud that it was some- CH, XI.] MEETS WITH BANDIXELLO. 403 thing surprising in an infant not above two years old. However, as 1 liad formed a resolution in case I could meet with Bandinello, who went every evening to visit his farni above St. Domenico, to attack him, and punish his inso- lence, I disengaged myself from my child, regardless of his cries and sobs, and bent my course towards Florence. Just as I ari-ived at the square of St. Domenico, Bandinello en- tering it on the other side, I came up to him with a full resolution to take a sanguinary vengeance upon the spot. I looked up, and saw him upon a little mule, which appeared no bigger than an ass, quite unarmed ; and he had with him a boy about ten years of age. As soon as he perceived me he turned as pale as death, and trembled all over. I, who knew what a cowardly wretch he was, cried out to liim, " Fear nothing, vile poltroon, I do not think you woi-th striking." He gave me a look of the most abject pusillanimity, and returned no answer. I thereupon re- sumed just and virtuous sentiments, and returned thanks to the Almighty for preventing me from perpetrating the rash action I intended. Being in this manner delivered from the diabolical phrenzy by which I had been agitated, I recovered my spirits, and said vv^ithin myself, " If God should be so favourable to me as to enable me to finish my work, I hope thereby to kill all my enemies, and wreak a much greater and more glorious vengeance than if I had satiated my fury upon one alone." So with this good resolution I returned home, somewhat easier in my mind. In three days' time I received information that the nurse had accidentally smothered my only son, which occasioned me as poignant a grief as ever 1 had felt. Hearing the news, I fell upon my knees, and returned thanks to God with a profusion of tears, according to my custom, saying, " Lord, thou gavest that infant to me, and now thou hast deprived me of him : for all thou hast done I return thanks to thy divine majesty." Thus, though the excess of my grief had quite disconcerted and confounded me, I made a virtue of necessity, and comforted myself as well as I could. About this time a young man had quitted Bandinello's service, whose name was Francesco, son to Matteo Fabbro : this young man applied to me for work, and I readily em- ployed him tr clean the statue of Medusa, which was ah-eady D D 2 404 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [_CH. XI. cast. The same person, about a fortnight after, told me that his master, meaning Bandinello, had desired him to tell me that if I were willing to make a marble statue he would furnish me with a fine block. I instantly answered, " Tell him I accept his offer, and it may prove an unlucky piece of marble for him, for he is always provoking me, and does not remember what passed between us upon the square of St. Doraenico. Let him know I insist upon having the marble by all means. I never speak ill of him, while he is always backbiting and traducing me ; nay, I verily believe that your coming to work with me was a mere pretext, and that in fact you were sent by him to be a spy upon my conduct. So go and tell him I will have the marble in spite of him, and you may return again to his service." As I had not for several days made my appearance at the ducal palace, I went thither one morning through a sudden caprice, and the duke had just done dinner when I entered. I was afterwards given to understand the duke had that morning spoken much of me, and in terms highly advantageous to my character ; in particular, he had ex- tolled me highly for my masterly manner of setting jewels. When the duchess saw me, she sent Signor Sforza to call me, and upon my presenting myself before her excellency, she requested me to set a little rose diamond for her in a ring ; adding, that she intended to wear it constantly. She gave me the measure of her finger, together with the dia- mond, which was worth about a hundi-ed crowns, and begged I would be as expeditious as possible. The duke thereupon said to the duchess, " It must be acknowledged that Benvenuto was formerly unrivalled in this branch ; but now that he has dropped it, I apprehend it would be too much trouble for him to make such a ring as you re- quire. Therefore I beg you would not break in upon his time with this trifling affair, which is now so much out of his way." I returned the duke thanks for his obliging speech, and requested him to let me do the duchess this little piece of service ; so I undertook the work, and finished it in a few days. The ring was intended for the little finger. I therefore made four small figures of boys, with four little grotesques, which completed the ring, and I added CH. XL." PAYS A VISIT TO THE DUKE. 405 •J to it a few fruits and ligatures in enamel, so that the jewel and the ring appeared admirably suited to each other. 1 carried it directly to the duchess, who told me in the most obliging manner that I had acquitted myself extremely well, and that she would not forget me. This ring she sent as a present to King Philip ; and afterwards was con- stantly employing me in one work or other ; but in so com- plaisant and obliging a manner, that I always exerted my- self to the utmost to serve her, though I saw but very little of her money. And yet. Heaven knows I wanted money very much ; for I earnestly desired to finish my Perseus, and I had found some young men to assist me, whom I paid out of my own pocket. I then began to make my ap- pearance at court more frequently than I had done for some time past. One holiday I went to the palace immediately after dinner, and entering the hall in which the great clock stands, I saw the door of the wardrobe open. As I pre- sented myself, the duke beckoned to me, and with great complaisance addressed me thus : " You are welcome to court (alluding to my name of Benvenuto) ; take this little chest, which was sent me as a present by Signor Stefano, of Palestrina ; open it, and let us see what it contains." I instantly opened it, and answered the duke, " This, my lord, is the figure of a little boy, in Greek marble, and is indeed a very extraordinary piece. I don't remember ever having seen amongst the antiques so beautiful a perform- ance, or one of so exquisite a taste; I therefore ofi"er your excellency to restore its head, arms, and feet, and make an eagle for it, that it may be called a Ganymede ; and though it is by no means proper for me to patch up old statues, as that is generally done by a sort of bunglers in the business, who acquit themselves very indifferently, the excellence of this great master is such, that it powerfully excites me to do him this piece of service." The duke was highly pleased to find the figure had such merit, and asked me several questions about it. " Tell me," said he, " Benvenuto, in what precisely consists the extraordinary excellence of this great master, which excites in you sucli wonder and surprise." I endeavoured as well as I could to give him an idea of the extraordinary beauty of the statue ; of the great genius, D D 3 406 MEMOraS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cH. XT* Bkill, and admirable manner of the artist, conspicuous in his work ; topics on which I enlarged a long time, and that with the greater earnestness, as I perceived that his excel- lency took pleasure in listening to me. Whilst I amused him so agreeably with my conversation, a page happened to open the door of the wardrobe ; and just as he came out Bandinello entered. The duke, seeing him, appeared to be in some disorder, and asked him, with a stern look, what he was about? Bandinello, without making any answer, immediately fixed his eye on the little jhest, in which the above-mentioned statue was very plainly to be seen ; then shakirg his head, he turned to the duke, and said with a scornful sneer, " My lord, this is one of those things I have so often spoke to your excel- lency about. Depend upon it, the ancients knew nothing of the anatomy of the parts, and for that reason their work's abound with errors." I stood silent, and gave no attention to what he had advanced, but on the contrary turned my back to him. When the fool had made an end of his non- sensical harangue, the duke, addressing himself to me, said, "Benvenuto, this is quite the reverse of what you awhile ago so much boasted, and seemed to prove by so many specious arguments : so endeavour to defend your own cause." To these words of the duke, which were spoken with great mildness, I answered : " My lord, your excel- lency is to understand that Baccio Bandinello is a com- pound of every thing that is bad, and so he has always been ; insomuch that whatever he looks at, however super- hitively good in itself, is, l)y his iascinating eyes, imme- diately converted into something supremely evil : but I who am inclined to good alone, see the truth through a hapi)ier medium : so that all I mentioned awhile ago to your excellency concerning that beautiful figure is strictly and literally true, and what Bandinello has said of it is purely the result of his own innate malevolence." The duke seemed to hear me Avith pleasure ; and whilst I ex- pressed myself thus, Bandinello writhed himself into a variety of contortions, and made his fixce, which was by nature very ugly, quite hideous by his frightful grimaces. Immeliately the duke, quitting the hall, went down to the ground-floor apartments, and Bandinello after him: the CH. XL.] RAGE OF BANDINELLO. 407 gentlemen of the bedchamber, pulling me by the cloak, encourasred me to follow him ; so we followed the duke till he sat himself down in one of the rooms, and Bandinello and I placed ourselves one on his right, the other on the left. I remained silent, and many of the duke's servants who stood round kept their eyes fixed on Bandinello, tittering when they recollected what I had said to him in the hall above. Bandinello again began to chatter, and said, that when he exhibited his Hercules and Cacus to the public, he really believed there were above a hundred lampoons publislied against him, which contained all the vilest ribaldry that could enter into the imagination of the rabble.* To this, I answered, " My lord, when your great artist, Michel Angelo Buonarroti, exhibited his Sacristy, in which so many beautiful figures are to be seen, the mem- bers of the admirable school of Florence, which loves and encourages genius w^herever it displays itself, published above a hundred sonnets, wherein they vied with each other which should praise him mostf : and as Bandinello deserved all the censure that was passed on his work, so Michel An orelo merited the highest encomiums that were bestowed ?n his pei"formance." Upon my expressing myself thus, Bandinello was in- censed to such a degree, that he was ready to burst with fury, and turning to me, said, " What faults have you to find with my statues ?" I answered, "I will soon tell them, if you have but the patience to hear me." He replied, " Tell them then." Tiie duke and all present listened with the utmost attention. I began by premising that I was * We find from Vasari, that tliis work, of Bandinello, which is still in the square of the Palazzo Vetchio op])osite the David of Huoiiat- rotti, did not justify the boast of its sculptor, nor answer the public ex- pectations ; and that, when it was tirst exposed to the public in 1534, so many satires were pasted upon it, that the Duke Alessandro was obliged to put a stop to them by imprisoning their authors. The Flo- rentines were particularly indi^^nant against Bandinello, because he had himself procured the execution of this performance from C'leiiieiit VII. after it had been assigned by Leo X. to Buonarroti, who hud even begun a design for it. f This is the new sacristy, or the chapel, in which the remains of the Medici were deposited in the church of St. Lorenzo at Florence. L was executed by Buonarroti between the years 1525 and 1529, by order of Clement VIL D D 4 408 Mr.MOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XI» porry to be obliged to lay before him all the blemishes of his work, and that I was not so propei'ly delivering my own sentiments, as declaring what was said of it by the in- genious school of Florence. However, as the fellow at one time said something disobliging, at another made some otfensive gesture with his hands or his feet, he put me into such a passion that I behaved with a rudeness which I should otherwise have avoided. '■ The ingenious school of Florence," said I, " declares what follows : if the hair of your Hercules were shaved off, there would not remain skull enough to hold his brains. With regard to his face, it is hard to distinguish whether it be the face of a man, or that of a creature something between a lion and an ox ; it discovers no attention to what it is about ; and it is so ill set upon the neck, with so little art and in so ungraceful a manner, that a more shocking piece of work was never seen. His great brawny shoulders resemble the two pommels of an ass's pack-saddle ; his breasts and their muscles bear no similitude to those of a man, but seem to have been drawn from a sack of melons. As he leans directly against the wall, the small of the back has the appearance of a bag filled with long cucumbers ; it is impossible to conceive in what manner the two legs are fastened to this distorted figure, for it is hard to distinguish upon which leg he stands, or upon which he exerts any effort of his strength ; nor does he appear to stand upon both, as he is sometimes represented by those masters of the art of statuary who know something of their business. It is plain too that the statue inclines more than one third of a cubit forward ; and this is the greatest and the most insupportable blunder which pretenders to sculpture can be guilty of. As for the arms, they both hang down in the most awkward and ungraceful manner imaginable ; and so little art is displayed in them, that people would be almost tempted to think that you had never seen a naked man in your life. The right leg of Hercules and that of Cacua touch at the middle of their calves, and if they were to be separated, not one of them only, but both, would remain without a calf in the place where they touch : besides, one of the feet of the Hercules is quite buried, and the other looks as if it stood upon hot coals." en. XL.] BANDINELLO INSULTS HIM. 409 Thus I went on, but the man could no longer stay with patience to hear tlie defects of his figure of Caeus enumer- ated. One reason was, that what I said was true ; the other, that I made the duke perfectly acquainted with his real character, as well as the rest of those present, who discovered the greatest symptoms of surprise imaginable, and began to be sensible that all I said was true. The brutish fellow tlien said, " O thou slanderer, dost thou say nothing of my design ?" I answered, " That he who drew a good one could never work ill, and that 1 was convinced his design was of a piece with his works." Seeing that the duke and all present showed by their sarcastic looks and gestures, that they thought the censure of his pei-form- ance to be just, he let his insolence entirely get the better of him, and turning to me with a most brutish physiog- nomy, called me by the basest and most infamous epithets. The duke endeavoured to restrain him by one of his severest frowns ; all present appeared shocked, and fixing their eyes upon him said not a word. There was a pause ; for hearing myself thus scandalously vilified in presence of these distinguished personages, I was seized with one of my transports of rage, and at first deprived of speech. Still I was equal to the occasion ; and recovering myself, " IMadman ! " I exclaimed, " you exceed all bounds of reason and truth. Would to God I was so happy as to belong to that fraternity of illustrious delinquents who boast a title even from Jove to commit the greatest crimes with impunity, and perpetrate their enormities and op- pressions under sucli a plea. But I am only a man, a poor humble creature who can lay claim to no such special order of merit and hereditary gift of oppressing others, and sinning with impunity. It is too wonderful and inex- plicable for me ; quite beyond the range of my humble art." At these words the duke, and all who were present, could not conceal their approbation ; which expressed itself in a loud burst of merriment directed against my adver- sary, who stood quite aghast. Yet, though capable of ex- pressing myself, when strongly goaded, in this strain of sar» castic pleasantry, you may believe me, gentle readers, my lieart was almost bursting with grief and indignation. Hera was one of the most worthless wretches upon the face of the 410 MKJrOIKS OF BENVENUTO CELTJNI. [CH. XI. earth, who had the impudence to affront me in so gross a manner, in the presence of a great prince : but the reader should at the same time take it into consideration, that on this occasion the duke was affronted and not I ; for had 1 not been in his august presence, I should have killed the villain upon the spot. Perceiving that the noble person- ages present never once ceased laughing, this Avretch. to divert them from deriding him, began to change the sub- ject, and said, " This Benvenuto goes about making it his boast, that I promised him a block of marble." " How !'' said I, interrupting him, " did you not send word by your journeyman, Francesco Matteo Fabbro, that if I chose to work in marble, you would make me a present of a piece ? Did I not accept the offer, and don't I still require of you the performance of your promise ? " He replied, " Then depend upon it, you shall never have it." Thereupon I, who was incensed to the highest pitch by his former abuse, being suddenly deprived of my reason, as it were, forgot for a moment that 1 was in the presence of the duke, and cried out to him in a passion : " In plain terms, either send the marble to my house, or think of another world ; for I will infallibly send you out of this." But, recollecting imme- diately that I was in the presence of so great a prince, I turned with an air of humility to his excellency, and said, *' My lord, one fool makes a hundred : the folly of this man had made me forget your excellency's glory, and my- eelf, for which I humbly beg your pardon." The duke, addressing himself to Bandinello, asked him whether it was true that he had promised me the marble?" Bandinello answered, it was- The duke thereupon said to vae : *' Return to your work, and take a piece of marble to your liking." I replied, " That he had promised to send me one to my own house." Terrible words passed upon the occasion, and I insisted upon receiving it in that man- ner and no other. The next morning a piece of marble was brought to my house, and I asked the porters from whom it came : they told me that it was sent by Bandinello, being the piece of marble which he had promised me. I ordered it to be carried into my shop, and took it in hand that moment ; and whilst I was working upon it, I made my model; s« CH Xt,] ACCOUNT OF SOME MARBLIC STATUES. 411 eager was I to be employed in marble, that I could not have the patience to take the necessary time for making a model, with all the care and judgment that our art requires. Perceiving the marble crack, I several times began to repent that I had undertaken the work ; however I made what I could out of it, I mean the Apollo and Hyacinthus, which, though imperfect, are still to be seen at my shop. "Whilst I was employed in this manner, the duke came to my house, and said to me several times, " Let the bronze alone for a while, and work a little in marble that I may see how you do it." I immediately took the tools, which are used in working upon marble, and began to apply them to the purpose. The duke inquiring about the model I had made for this work, I told him that the marble was quite broken, but I would warrant to make something of it not- withstanding ; for though I could not resolve upon a model, I would still work on, and do the best I could. The duke, hearing this, caused a piece of Greek marble to be conveyed with tlie utmost expedition from Rome, to enable me to restore the antique Ganymede, which had given rise to the dispute between me and Bandinello. AVhen the Greek marble arrived, I considered that it was a sin to break it into pieces, for the sake of making and repairing the head, arms, and other parts of the Ganymede. I therefore pro- vided myself with another block, and for this piece of Greek marble I made a little waxen model, to which I gave the name of Narcissus : and as this marble had tw^o holes, which were above a quarter of a cubit in depth and full two inches broad, I had recourse to the attitude which is seen in that part, to prevent the ill eifect of those holes, so that I struck them out of my figure. But for many years past, that it rained constantly upon the marble, and these holes were always left full of water, the moisture had penetrated to such a degree, that the marble became quite weak and almost rotten in the upper hole, and so it ap- peared when tiie water rose above a cubit and a half in my shop at the great inundation of the Arno ; for as this piece of marble was ])lace(l upon a square piece of wood, the water above-mentioned made it turn about, by which acci- dent the breasts were broken, so that I was obliged tc mend them ; and that the cleft might not appear where 412 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLI. they were fastened on, I placed there a garland of flowers, which is still seen upon the breast of the figure. Thia work I executed at certain hours before day, or else upon holidays only, that I might not delay my great work of the statue of Perseus. As I was one morning amongst others preparing some tools to work at it, a little bit of steel flew into my i-ight eye, and entered so far into the pupil that it was impossible to get it out, so that I was in very great danger of losing that eye. Several days after I sent for Maestro Raffaello de Pilli, a surgeon, who took two live pigeons, and making me lie upon my back, with a little knife opened a vein in each of their wings, so that the blood ran into my eye, and I was hereby greatly relieved. In the space of two days the bit of steel issued from my eye, and I found that I had received considerable ease and in a great measure recovered my sight. The feast of St. Lucia approaching, 1 made a golden eye of a French crov/n, and got it oflFered to that saint by one of the daughters of my sister Liperata, a girl about ten years of age : in this manner did I testify my gratitude to God and to St. Lucia. For some time after I discontinued working upon the Narcissus, but went on with my Perseus, notwithstanding all the difficulties already enumerated, for I had formed a resolution to finish it and then to leave Florence. CHAPTER XLL The Duke, having some doubt of Cellini's skill and abilhies in casting figures of bronze, enters into a conversation with him upon the sub- ject. — Cellini gives a sufficient proof of his extraordinary skill, by casting a beautiful bronze statue of Perseus. 'o As I had been particulai-ly successful in casting my Medusa, I made a model of my Perseus in wax, and flattered myself that I should have the same success in casting the latter in bronze, as I had had with the former. Upon its appearing to such advantage, and looking so beautiful in wax, the CH. XLI.J HIS REPLY TO THE DUKE. 413 duke, whether somebody else put it into his Lead, or whe- ther it was a notion of his own, as he came to my house oftener than usual, once took occasion to say to me, " Ben- venuto, this statue cannot be cast in bronze ; it is not in the power of your art to compass it." Hearing him ex- press himself in that manner, I discovered great vexation, and said, " My lord, I know that your excellency places very little confidence in me, and that you have but too good an opinion of those who speak ill of me ; or else you do not understand things of this nature." Scarce did he suffer me to utter these words, when he answered, " I pro- fess to understand them, and I do understand them per- fectly." I replied, " You may understand them as a prince, but not as an artist ; for if you had that skill in these mat- ters, which you think you have, you would believe me upon account of the fine bronze head which I cast for your excellency, and which was sent to the Elbe ; as also for having restored the beautiful figure of Ganymede, a work that gave me infinite trouble, insomuch that it would have been easier for me to have made a new one ; likewise for having cast the Medusa, which stands here before your ex- cellency, a performance of immense difficulty, in which I have done wiiat no other man has done before me in this most laborious art. Consider, my lord, I have constructed a new sort of a furnace, in a manner unknown to other artists ; for besides many other particulars and curious in- ventions to be seen in it, I have made two issues for the bronze ; for otherwise that difficult and distorted figure could never come out, and it was only by means of my skill and invention that it came out as well as it did : and do not imagine that every common artist could have done aa much. Know likewise, my lord, that all tlie great and difficult undertakings that I have been employed in by the renowned King Francis, were attended with admirable success, purely on account of that king's generous encou- ragement of my labours, in providing me with every thing I wanted, and allowing me as many hands as I required. At certain times I had under me above forty journey- men, all of my own choosing ; and this was the reason that I finished so many undertakings in so short a time. There- fore, my lord, take my advice, and afford me the assistance 414 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CEI.LINI. [CII. XLI. I want, for I have great hopes of producing a work that will please you ; whereas, if your excellency discourages me, and does not supply me with the necessary helps, it is impossible that either I or any man living can produce any thing worth notice." The duke scarcely had patience to hear me out, but sometimes turned one way, sometimes another ; and I was quite in despair when I recollected the circumstances in which I had lived in France. At last he all on a sudden said, " Tell me, Benvenuto, how is it possible that this fine head of Medusa, which Perseus holds aloft in his hand; should ever come out cleverly ? " I immediately answered, " It is clear, my lord, that you are no connoisseur in sta- tuary, as your excellency boasts yourself ; for if you had any skill in the art, you would not be afraid of that fine head not coming out, but would express your apprehensions concerning that right foot, which is at such a distance below." The duke, half angry, addressing himself to some noblemen who were with him, said, " I really believe it is a practice of Benvenuto's to contradict and oppose every thing he hears advanced ; " then turning to me, as it were in derision, in which he was imitated by all present, he ex- pressed himself thus : " I am willing to have patience to hear what reason you can allege, that can possibly induce me to believe what you affirm." I answered, " I will give your excellency a reason so satisfactory, that you will be able to conceive the full force of it." I thereupon began in these terms : " You know, my lord, that the nature of fire is to fly upwards ; I therefore assure you that the head of Medusa will come out perfectly well. But as it is not the property of fire to descend, and it is necessary to force it down six cubits by art, hence, I affirm that it is impossible that yon foot should ever come out ; but it will be an easy matter for me to make a new one.* The duke thereupon • In order the better to understand what is here said, we shall shortly state from the " Trattato sopra la Scultura " of Benvenuto, the manner in which he proceeded in the execution of his Perseus.' "This statue was intended to be of bronze, five ells in height, of one piece, and hollow. Cellini first formed his model of clay more slender than the statue was intended to be. He then baked it, and covered it with wax of the thickness of a finger, which he modelled into the per- CH. XU.] PREPARES THE iJOULD FOR HIS PE.iSEtS. -H.) Baid, " Why did you not think of contriving to make that foot come out as well as the head ? " " I must tlien," an- swered I, " have made the furnace much bigger, to be able to cast a piece of brass as thick as my leg, and with that weight of hot metal I should have made it come out by force ; whereas, my brass, which goes down to the feet six cubits, as I mentioned befoi-e, is not above two inches thick. Therefore, it was not worth your notice, for it can soon be rectified ; but when my mould is something more tlian half full, I have good hopes that from that half up- wards, the fire mounting, by its natural property, the heads of Perseus and Medusa will come out admirably ; and this you may depend upon." When I had laid before the duke all these reasons, with many more, which I for the sake of brevity omit, he shook his head, and departed. I now took courage, resolving to depend on myself, and banished all those thoughts which from time to time occa- sioned me great inquietude, and made me sorely repent my ever having quitted France, with a view of assisting six poor nieces at Florence ; which good intention proved the source and origin of all the misfortunes that afterwards befel me. However, I still flattered myself that if I could but finish my statue of Perseus, all my labours would be converted to delight, and meet with a glorious and happy reward. Thus, having recovered my vigour of mind, I exerted all my strength of body and of purse, though indeed I had but little money left, and began to purchase several loads of pine-wood from the pine-grove of the Serristori, hard by Monte Lupo ; and whilst I was waiting for it, I covered my Perseus with the earth which I had prepared feet form of the statue. In order to effect in concave what the wax represented in convex, he covered the wax with clay, and baked this second covering. Thus the wax dissolving, and escaping by fissures left open for the purpose, he obtained between the first model and the second covering a space for the introduction of the metal. In order to introduce the bronze without moving the first model, he gently placed the model in a pit dug under the furnace, and by means of pipes and apertures in the model itself he introduced the liquid metal. It is evident from this, that into the right foot of the statue, which was more than six ells under the bottom of the furnace, the metal must descend through its appropriate duct in a much cooler state than int« the higher parts. 416 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. |^Cn. XLI several months beforehand, that it might hate its proper seasoning. After I had made its coat of earth, covered it vi'ell, and bound it properly with irons, I began by nieana M' a slow fa-e to draw off the wax, which melted away by many vent-holes ; for the more of these are made, the better the moulds are filled : and when I had entirely stripped off the wax, I made a sort of fence round my Perseus, that is, round the mould above-mentioned, of bricks, piling them one upon another, and leaving several vacuities for the fire to exhale at. I next began gradually to put on the Avood, and kept a constant fire for two days and two nights, till, the wax being quite off, and the mould well baked, I began to dig a hole to bury my mould in, and observed all those fine methods of proceeding that are pre- scribed by our art. When I had completely dug my hole, I took my mould, and by means of levers and strong cables directed it with care, and suspended it a cubit above the level of the furnace, so that it hung exactly in the middle of the hole. I then let it gently down to the very bottom of the furnace, and placed it with all the care and exactness I possibly could. After I had finished this part of my task, I began to make a covering of the very earth I had taken off, and in proportion as I raised the earth, I made vents for it, which are a sort of tubes of baked earth, gene- rally used for conduits, and other things of a similar nature. As soon as I saw that I had placed it properly, and that this manner of covering it, by putting on these small tubes in their proper places, was likely to answer, as also that my journeymen thoroughly understood my plan, which was very different from that of all other masters, and I was sure that I could depend upon them, I turned my thoughts to my furnace. I had caused it to be filled with several pieces of brass and bronze, and heaped them upon one another in the manner taught us by our art, taking particular care to leave a passage for the flames, that the metal might the sooner assume its colour and dissolve into a fluid. Thus, I with great alacrity, excited my men to lay on the pme wood, which, because of the oiliness of the resinous matter that oozes from the pine-tree, and that my furnace was ad- mirably well made, burned at such a rate, that I was con- tinually obliged to run to and fro, which greatly fatiguec CH. XL!.] ATTACKED WITH A FEVER. 417 me. I, however, bore the hardship ; but to add to my mis- fortune, the shop took fire, and we were all very much afraid that the roof would fall in and crush us. From ano- ther quarter, that is, from the garden, the sky poured in so much rain and wind, that it cooled my furnace. Thus did I continue to struggle with these cross accidents for several hours, and exerted myself to such a degree that my constitution, though robust, could no longer bear such severe hardship, and I was suddenly attacked by a most violent intermitting fever : in short, I was so ill that I found myself under a necessity of lying down upon my bed. This gave me great concern, but it was unavoidable. I thereupon addressed myself to my assistants, who were about ten in number, consisting of masters who melted bronze, helpers, men from the country, and the journeymen that worked in the shop, amongst whom w^as Bernardino Manellini di Mugello, who had lived with me several years. After having recommended it to them all to take proper care of my business, I said to Bernardino, " My friend, be careful to observe the method which I have shown you, and use all possible expedition, for the metal will soon be ready. You cannot mistake : these two worthy men here will quickly make the tubes ; with two such directors you can certainly contrive to pour out the hot metal by means of the mandriani or iron crooks ; and I have no doubt but my mould will be filled completely. I find myself extremely ill, and really believe that in a few hours this severe dis- order will put an end to my life." Thus I left them in great sorrow, and went to bed. I then ordered the maids to carry victuals and drink into the shop for all the men^ and told them I did not expect to live till the next morning They encouraged me notwithstanding, assuring me that my disorder would not last, as it was only the effect of over fatigue. In this manner did I continue for two hours in a violent fever, which I every moment perceived to increase ; and I was incessantly crying out, " I am dying, I am dying." My housekeeper, whose name was Mona Fiore da Castel del liio, was one of the most sensible and affectionate women in the world : she rebuked me for giving way to vain fears, and at the same time attended me with the greatest kind- ness and care imaginable: however, seeing me so very ill, E E 418 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH, XLI. and terrified to such a degree, she could not contain herself, but shed a flood of tears, which she endeavoured to conceal from me. Whilst we were both in this deep afiiiction, I perceived a man enter the room, who in his person appeared to be as crooked and distorted as great S, and began to express himself in these terms, with a tone of voice as dismal and melancholy as those who exhort and pray with persons who are going to be executed : " Alas ! poor Ben- venuto, your work is spoiled, and the misfortune admits of no remedy." No sooner had I heard the words uttered by this mes- senger of evil, but I cried out so loud that my voice might be heard to the skies, and got out of bed. I began imme- diately to dress, and giving plenty of kicks and cuffs to the maidservants and the boy as they offered to help me on with my clothes, I complained bitterly in these terms : " O you envious and treacherous wretches, this is a piece of villany contrived on purpose ; but I swear by the living God that I will sift it to the bottom, and before I die, give such proofs who I am as shall not fail to astonish the whole world." Having huddled on my clothes, I went with a mind boding evil to the shop, where I found all those whom I had left so alert, and in such high spirits, standing in the utmost confusion and astonishment. I thereupon addressed them thus : " Listen all of you to what I am going to say ; and since you either would not or could not follow the me- thod I pointed out, obey me now that I am present : my work is before us, and let none of you offer to oppose or contradict me, for such cases as this require activity and not counsel." Hereupon one Alessandro Lastricati had the assurance to say to me, " Look you, Benvenuto, you have undertaken a work which our art cannot compass, and which is not to be effected by human power." Hearing these words I turned round in such a passion, and seemed so bent upon mischief, that both he and all the rest unanimously cried out to me, " Give your orders, and we will all second you in whatever you command : we will assist you as long as we have breath in our bodies." These kind and affectionate words they uttered, as I firmly believe, in a persuasion that I was upon the point of expiring. I went directly to examine the furnace, and saw all the metal CH. xll] renovates the furnace. 419 in it concreted. I thereupon ordered two of the helpers to step over the way to Capretta, a butcher, for a load of young oak, which had been abcve a year drying, and been offered me by Maria Ginevera, wife to the said Capretta. Upon his bringing me the first bundles of it, I began to fill the grate. This sort of oak makes a brisker fire than any other wood whatever ; but the wood of elder-trees and pine-trees is used in casting artillery, because it makes a mild and gentle fire. As soon as the concreted metal felt the power of this violent fire, it began to brighten and glitter. In another quarter I made them hurry the tubes with all possible expedition, and sent some of them to the roof of the house to take care of the fire, which through the great violence of the wind had acquired new force ; and towards the garden I had caused some tables with pieces of tapestry and old clothes to be placed, in order to shelter me from the rain. As soon as I had applied the proper remedy to each evil, I with a loud voice cried out to my men to bestir themselves and lend a helping hand ; 80 that when they saw that the concreted metal began to melt again, the whole body obeyed me with such zeal and alacrity, that every man did the work of three. Then I caused a mass of pewter weighing about sixty pounds to be thrown upon the metal in the furnace, which with the other helps, as the brisk wood fire, and stirring it some- times with iron, and sometimes with long poles, soon be- came completely dissolved. Finding that, contrary to the opinion of my ignorant assistants, I had effected what seemed as difficult as to raise the dead, I recovered my vigour to such a degree, that I no longer perceived whether I had any fever, nor had I the least apprehension of death. Suddenly a loud noise was heard, and a glittering of fire flashed before our eyes, as if it had been the darting of a thunderbolt. Upon the appearance of this extraordinary phenomenon, terror seized on all present, and on none more than myself. This tremendous noise being over, we began to stare at each other, and perceived that the cover of the furnace had burst and flown off, so that the bronze began to run. I immediately caused the mouths of my mould to be opened ; but finding that the metal did not run with its E B 2 420 MEMOIRS OF BENTENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLI. usual velocity, and apprehending that the cause of it waa that the fusibility of the metal was injured by the violence of the fire, I ordered all my dishes and porringers, which were in number about two hundred, to be placed one by one before my tubes, and part of them to be thrown into the furnace ; upon which all present perceived that my bronze was completely dissolved, and that my mould was filling ; they now with joy and alacrity assisted and obeyed me. I for my part was sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, giving my directions and assisting my men, before whom I offered up this prayer : " God, I address myself to thee, who, of thy divine power, didst rise fron» the dead, and ascend in glory to heaven. I acknowledge in gratitude this mercy that my mould has been filled : I fall prostrate before thee, and with my whole heart return! thanks to thy divine majesty." My prayer being over, I took a plate of meat which stood upon a little bench, and ate with a great appetite. I then di'ank with all my journeymen and assistants, and went joyful and in good health to bed ; for there were still two hours of night ; and I rested as well as if I had been troubled with no manner of disorder. My good housekeeper, without my having given any orders, had provided a young capon for my dinner. When I arose, which was not till about noon, she accosted me in high spirits, and said merrily, " Is this the man that thought himself dying ? It is my firm belief that the cuffs and kicks which you gave us last night, when you were quite frantic and possessed, frightened away your fever, which, apprehending lest you should fall upon it in the same manner, took to flight." So my whole poor family, having got over such panics and hardships, without delay procured earthen vessels to supply the place of the pewter dishes and porringers, and we all dined together very cheerfully ; indeed, I do not remember having ever in my life eaten a meal with greater satisfaction, or with a better appetite. After dinner, all those who had assisted me in my work came and congratulated me upon what had hap- pened, returned thanks to the Divine Being, for having in- terposed so mercifully in our behalf, and declared that they liad in theory and practice learnt such things as wer» CH. XLI.] CASTS HIS PERSEUS SUCCESSFULLY. 421 judged impossible by other masters. I thereupon thought it allowable to boast a little of my knowledge and skill in this fine art, and, pulling out my purse, satisfied all my workmen for their labour. My mortal enemy, Pier Francesco Ricci, the duke'd steward, was very eager to know how the affair had turned out ; so that the two whom I suspected of being the cause of my metal's concreting in the manner above related, told him that I was not a man, but rather a downright devil, for I had compassed that which was not in the power of art to effect ; with many other surpi-ising things which would have been too much even for the infernal poweri-^. As they greatly exaggerated what had passed, perhaps with a view of excusing themselves, the steward wrote to the duke, who was then at Pisa, an account still more pom- pous, and more replete with the marvellous than that whicli the workmen had given him. Having left my work to cool during two days after it was cast, I began gradually to uncover it. I first of all found the Medusa's head, which had come out admirably by the assistance of the vents, as I had observed to the duke that the property of fire was to fly upwards. I pro- ceeded to uncover the rest, and found that the other head, I mean that of Perseus, was likewise come out perfectly well. This occasioned me still greater surprise, because, as it is seen in the statue, it is much lower than that of Medusa, the mouth of that figure being placed over the head and shoulders of Perseus. I found that where the head of Perseus ends, all the bronze was exhausted which I had in my furnace. This surprised me very much, that there should not be any thing over and above what is ne- cessary in casting. My astonishment, indeed, was raised to such a degree, that I looked upon it as a miracle imme- diately wrought by the Almighty. I went on uncovering it with great success, and found every part turn out to admiration, till I reached the foot of the right leg, which supports the figure, where I found the heel come out : so proceeding to examine it, and thinking that the whole was filled up, in one respect I was glad, in another sorry, be- cause I had told the duke it would not have that effect Continuing, however, to uncover it, I found that not only E E 3 422 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [^CH. XLI. the toes were wanting, but part of the foot itself, so that there was almost one half deficient. This occasioned me some new trouble ; but I was not displeased at it, because I could thereby convince the duke that I understood my business thoroughly; and though there had come out a great deal more of that foot than I thought there would, the reason was, that in consequence of the several accidents that had happened, it was heated much more than it could have been in the regular course of business ; especially as the pewter plates had been thrown into the furnace, a thing never done before. I was highly pleased that my work had succeeded so well, and went to Pisa to pay my respects to the duke, who received me in the most gracious manner imaginable. The duchess vied with him in kindness to me ; and though the steward had written them an account of the affair, it appeared to them much more wonderful and extraordinary when I related it myself. Upon my speaking to him of the foot of Perseus, which had not come out (a circumstance of which I had apprised his excellency), I perceived that he was filled with the utmost astonishment, and told the affair to the duchess in the same terms that I had before related to him. Finding that these great personages were become so favourable to me, I availed myself of the oppor- tunity to request the duke's permission to go to Rome : he granted it in the most obliging terms, and desired me to return speedily, in order to finish my statue of Perseus. He at the same time gave me letters of recommendation to his ambassador Averardo Serristori. This happened in the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Julio de Monti. 423 CHAPTER XLH. Cellini receives a letter from Michel Angelo concerning a bronze head of Bindo Altoviti. — He sets out for Rome. — Having paid his respects to the Pope, he waits upon Michel Angelo, and endeavours to persuade him to enter into the Duke's service. — Cellini returns to Florence, and meets with a cold reception from the Duke, occa- sioned by ill offices done him by the steward. — Matters are accom- modated between him and his Excellency, but he soon falls into a like disgrace with the Duchess by disclosing a secret concerning the purchase of a pearl necklace. — Bernardone succeeds in prevailing upon the Duke to buy it for the Duchess, contrary to Celluii'.? opinion, — The Duchess becomes Cellini's implacable enemy. Before my departure from Florence, I directed my men to proceed with the work according to the method I had taught them. The cause of my journey Avas this: — having made a bust of Bindo Antonio Altoviti as large as the life, I sent it to him to Rome ; and he put it into a cabinet richly furnished wnth antiques and other things of value ; but an unfit repository for pieces of sculpture or even for pictures, because the windows were under those fine works ; so that being placed in a wrong light, they did not appear to that advantage which they would have done, if they had been in a pi'oper situation. One day Bindo happened to be standing at his door, when Michel Angelo Buonarroti the sculptor was passing by ; the former de- sired the latter to come in and take a view of his cabinet of curiosities. Michel Angelo, having complied with his re- quest, asked Bindo who the artist was that had taken his likness in so masterly a manner ? " You must know," added he, " that I am highly pleased with this head, though there are very fine antiques near it ; but if those windows were above, instead of being underneath, they would appear more conspicuous, and your bust would, even amongst so many noble pieces of antiquity, claim a high degree of admiration." Micliel Angelo, after leaving his friend Bindo, tlien wrote me a very polite letter to this purport : " My deal K K 4 424 ME:\roms of benvenuto cellini. [ch, xxn. friend Benvenuto, I have many years known you for one of the ablest jewellers in the world, and I now find that you have equal abilities as a sculptor. You must know that Signer Bindo Altoviti showed me his bust in bronze, and told me that it was done by you. I was highly pleased with the execution, but it gave me great uneasiness to see it placed in a disadvantageous light : had it but been pro- perly situated, it would have appeared to have been the master-piece it is." This letter abounded with the most affectionate and the most favourable expressions con- cerning myself ; so, before I set out for Rome, I showed it to the duke, who perused it with great pleasure, and said to me, " Benvenuto, I would have you write to him, and if you can prevail on him to come to Florence, I will make him one of the eight-and-forty.* Accordingly I wrote him a most affectionate epistle, expressing the duke's sentiments as above, and saying a hundred times more than I had been commissioned to say : however, to avoid committing any error, I showed it to his excellency before I sealed it, and told him that perhaps I had promised him too much. He answered that I had done very right : that Michel Angelo deserved still more than I had promised him, and that he proposed conferring on him more considerable favours. This letter of mine Michel Angelo never answered, at which neglect the duke was highly offended. Upon my arrival at Rome I went to lodge at the house of Bindo Altoviti. He immediately told me that he had shown his bust in bronze to Michel Angelo, who had be- stowed upon it the highest praises imaginable ; so we talked togrether of this affiiir for a considerable time. This man had in his hands one thousand two hundred crowns of mine, * In the celebrated revolution at Florence, in 1532, by which Clement VII. converted that republic into a duchy in favour of Ales- sandro de' Medici, were created three councils, one of two hundred, which in some measure represented the people ; the other of forty- eight, called the Senate, in which the sovereignty was considered to reside, and which propounded the laws ; and the third of four, chosen every three months from the forty-eight ; to which, together with the duke, was intrusted the execution of the laws, and which along with him performed the functions of the ancient Signoria, publishing th« enactments of the government with the title. — Dux et consiliarii Reip, Fbr. CH. XLU.] PATS HIS RESBECTS TO THE POPE. 425 which he borrowred of me to make up the sum of five thousand two hundred that he had lent to the duke : thu9 four thousand were his own, and mine w§re in his name. He regularly paid me the just interest for my share, which was the reason that I undertook to make his bust. When he first saw it in wax, he sent me fifty crowns by Giuliano Paccalli, his clerk. I did not choose to take the money, but sent it back by the messenger, and afterwards told Bindo himself that it was suflicient for me if he would keep that money with the rest of mine in his hands, and let me receive the interest of it. But now I perceived that he had bad intentions, and instead of caressing me accord- ing to custom, he behaved quite rudely : thougli he enter- tained me in his house, he was never in a good humour, but quite the reverse. However, we settled the affair in a few words. I gave up my payment for making the bust, and even what the bronze had stood me in ; and agreed that Bindo should keep my money in his hands, and pay me fifteen per cent, upon it during my natural life. One of the first things I did at Rome was to go to kiss the Pope's foot. At that moment arrived Averardo Serristori, ambassador from our duke. I talked for some time with his holiness, and found him much disposed to favour me ; nay I verily believe, that disgusted with the difiiculties I had to encounter at Florence, I should have settled again with his holiness's consent at Rome, but I found that the Florentine ambassador counteracted me. I went to JMichel Angelo Buonarroti, and repeated to him the contents of the letter I had sent him from Florence by the duke's orders. He told me he was employed in building St. Peter's church, and for that reason could not quit Rome. I then said to him, that since he had determined upon the model of the structure, he might leave his pupil Urbino in liis place, who would punctually follow his di- rections, and at the same time I made him several new promises in the duke's name. He thereupon looked at me attentively, and asked, with a smile, whether I myself was pleased with my situation at the court of Florence ? Though I assured him I was perfectly well satisfied, and that I met with the kindest treatment imaginable, he Biemed to be thoroughly acquainted with all my griev- 426 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLIl, ances ; and his final answer Avas, that he could not think of leaving Rome. I represented to him that he would act most laudably in returning to his own country, which was governed by a most just prince, and one who loved men of genius and abilities the most of any potentate the world had ever produced. I have mentioned that he had an apprentice from Urbino, who had lived with him several years, rather as a servant boy, than in any other capacity : this was evident enough, for the lad had learned nothing at all of the business. Upon my pressing Michel Angelo so hard that he had not a word to say in his defence, he tui'ned suddenly to his apprentice, as it were to ask his opinion of the matter. The apprentice, with rustic gestures, and a rough voice said, " I will never quit IVIichel Angelo till I have laid him out, or he me." I could not help laugh- ing at the simplicity of these words, so departed without ceremony. After I had transacted my business with Bindo Altoviti so imsuccessfully as to lose my bust of bronze, and to intrust my money in his hands during life, I saw clearly what the principles of merchants are, and returned to Flo- rence very much dissatisfied with my expedition. I waited on his excellency, who was then at the castle, upon the bridge of Rifredi. By the way I met with Signer Pier Francesco Ricci, the steward, and on making an offer to accost him with the civilities which custom prescribes, he exclaimed with the utmost surprise, " So, you are returned ! " His amazement still continuing, he clapped his hands, told me that the duke was at the castle ; then turned his back to me and marched oflF. I could not possibly conceive why the fool behaved so oddly. I repaired, however, to the castle, and entering the garden where the duke happened to be walking, I saw his excellency at a distance. At the sight of me he discovered symptoms of great surprise, and signified to me by a nod that I might go about my business. I, who had flattered myself that he would caress me rather more than at my departure, seeing him behave thus extravagantly returned very much disgusted to Florence, and resuming my business, endeavoured to bring my works to a conclu- eion with all possible expedition. Not being able to con- jtscture the cause of the cold reception I had met with, J CH. XLU.J COLDLY RECEIVED BY THE DUKE, 427 carefully observed in what manner I was looked upon by Signor Sforza, and others of the duke's intimates ; and took it into my head to ask Sforza what was the meaning of this indiiference : the latter answered laughing, " Beu- venuto, endeavour to act the part of a man of honour, and fear nothing." Several days after, he procured an inter- view for me with the duke, who received me with a great many odd civilities, and asked me what was doing at Rome. I entered into conversation with him, and gave him an account of the bust of bronze that I had made for Bindo Altoviti, with what happened upon the occasion. I per- ceived that he listened to me with the greatest attention imaginable ; so I told him all that had passed between ]VIichel Angelo Buonarroti and me, at which he discovered some resentmer.t, but at the same time could not help laughing at the simplicity of the apprentice. He said that the loss would be Michel Angelo's, and not his : I made ray bow and retired. Doubtless Pier Francesco, the steward, had done me some ill office with the duke, which proved unsuccessful, for God is always a friend to truth, and as he has hitherto extricated and preserved me from the greatest dangers, I hope he will continue his protec- tion to the end of my life, in the course of which I have gone through such a sea of trouble and distress ; yet I proceed forward undaunted in my career, with his assist- ance, nor am I terrified by the frowns of fortune or the in- fluence of inauspicious stars, so long as God favours me with his all-sufficient grace. Now, gentle reader, thou art to hear a most dreadful ac- cident. 1 made all the haste I could to finish my work, and in the evening went to the duke's wardrobe, where I used to assist the goldsmiths employed by his excellency, most of whose works were after my designs. The duke took great dehght in seeing them busy, and in conversing with me, which induced me sometimes to go there in the day- time. One day as I happened to be in his wardrobe, his excellency came thither, as he often did, particularly when he knew that I was there. He began to chat with me, and I made myself so agreeable to him, that he appeared to be in a better humour tlian usual. All on a sudden one o( ids secretaries entered the room, and whispered him in the 438 BIEArOIRS OF BENVEmjTO CELLINI. [CH. XLHt ear, as if about some business of great importance : ths duke rose, and they went together into another apartment. As the duchess had sent to see what the duke was doing, the page told her that he was talking and laughing with Benvenuto, and we were very merry : her excellency there- upon entered the wardrobe, and not finding the duke, sat down by us. Perceiving that it would be some time before we had done work, she turned to me with great good hu- mour, and showing me a fine string of large pearls, asked me what I thought of it. I praised it highly. Her excel- lency then said, " I want the duke to buy it for me ; so, Benvenuto, praise it in his presence as much as possible." Hearing the duchess express herself in this manner, I dis- covered my sentiments to her with the most profound respect in these terms : " I thought that string of pearls belonged to your excellency, and it was proper that I should say no ill of any thing that was yours ; but at present I am under a necessity of speaking my mind. You must then understand, that by my knowledge in these matters I can discover many defects in these pearls, and would, by no means, advise you to buy them." She answered, " The merchant offers them to me for six thousand crowns ; and if they had not some defects, they would be worth twelve thousand." "If the string of pearls," replied I, "were ever so fine, I would not advise any one to give above five thousand crowns for it ; because pearls, produced from fish, are not like jewels — in process of time they lose their value ; but diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, are jewels which lose nothing by growing old, and therefore ai-e a proper purchase." The duchess, somewhat piqued, said she had a fancy for these pearls, therefore begged I would praise them to the duke, and even make no scruple of telling an untruth to serve her, and I should find my account in it. I, who was always a lover of truth and an enemy to falsehood, being then under a necessity of telling lies, lest I should forfeit the favour of so great a princess, repaired with these unlucky pearls to the apartment to which the duke was then retired. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Benvenuto, what are you about?" I pulled out the string of pearls, and answered* " My lord, I am come to CH. XLn.l AFFAIR OP THE PEAHLS. 429 show you a fine string of the choicest pearls : " then bestow- ing the highest praises on them, I added, " Buy them, my lord, buy them, by all means." The duke told me he did not choose to buy them, as they were not perfect. To this I answered : " Excuse me, my lord, these surpass all other pearls in beauty, and I do not believe there were ever 80 many such on one bunch." The duchess was standing behind a door not far off, and could overhear what I said : so I praised the pearls up to the skies. When the duke first looked at them, he said he would not have them, as they were not nearly so good as I said : but I maintaining they were beautiful, he said, " Benvenuto, I know you are an excellent judge of these things, and if the pearls are so very fine, I should not much mind purchasing them, as well to please the duchess, as to have them in my possession for our children." As I had begun to tell lies, I plunged deeper and deeper into the mire, depending upon the duchess, who, I hoped, would from time to time assist me. I was to receive two hundred crowns for making the bar- gain, for the duchess had hinted to me as much ; but I re- solved not to touch a farthing of the money, lest the duke should think I was acting in this manner with an interested view. He repeated to me again, that he looked upon me as a perfect judge of such things, and begged that if I were the man of principle he took me to be, I would speak the truth. Thereupon the tears came into my eyes, and I said to him, " My lord, if I tell you the truth, I make the duchess my mortal enemy : I shall in consequence be under a neces- sity of leaving this city ; and my statue of Perseus, which I promised the illustrious school of Florence, will become the scoff of my enemies : I therefore beg your excellency would consider my case." The duke, perceiving that I had spoken before by compulsion, desired me to put my confi- dence in him and fear nothing, '-T asked him how it was possible to conceal the affair from the duchess ? He bade me tell her that the pearls were quite eclipsed by a casket of diamonds. Upon his expressing himself in that manner, I told him my real opinion of the pearls, and declared that they were not worth above two thousand crowns. The duchess, perceiving that we were quiet, for wa lowered our voices as much as we possibly could, came for* 430 MEMOIRS OF BENVTENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XltL ward, and said to the duke, " My dear lord, I beg yoa would buy me that string of pearls, because I have taken a particular fancy to it ; and your great artist, Benvenuto, says, he never saw a finer." The duke told her he would not buy it upon any account, " Why, my dear lord," re- plied the duchess, " will not your excellency buy that string of pearls to oblige me ? " — " Because," answered the duke, " I do not choose to throw away my money." — " How is it throwing away your money," replied the duchess, " if Benvenuto here, in whom you have so much confidence, has assured me it would be cheap at upwards of three thou- sand crowns ? " The duke then said, " Madam, Benve- nuto has told me, that if I buy it I shall throw away my money, because these pearls are neither round nor equal, and there are many old ones among them. To convince yourself that what I say is true, do but observe that pearl there, and that other ; look there, and there again : in a word, they are by no means for my purpose." Upon his expressing himself in that manner, the duchess gave me a very severe look, and, shaking her head with a menacing air, left the apartment. I was now strongly tempted to hurry away to some other part of the world ; but as my Perseus was in a manner finished, I could not think of neglecting to take it out of the mould. Let every one but consider my case, and seri- ously reflect on the cruel dilemma to which I was reduced. The duke had given orders to his servants to suffer me constantly to pass through the apartments, and to have ac- cess to his excellency wherever he happened to be ; and the duchess now laid her injunctions upon the very same servants to turn me out whenever I came to the palace. These fellows, as soon as they saw me coming, would quit their posts, and order me to turn back ; but they took care to act thus unperceived by the duke, for if his excellency saw me first, he either called to me, or made me a sign to enter. The duchess sent for that Bernardone, of whose knavery she had so bitterly complained, and recommended the affair of the pearls to him in the same manner she had done to me. Bernardone thereupon told her that her ex- cellency might depend upon him. The rogue went into the duke's presence with the above-mentioned string of en. XLn.] THE DUCHESS BECOMES HIS ENEMY. 431 pearls in his hand. The duke no sooner saw him than he ordered him to quit his presence. The knave, with his odd, affected tone of voice, with which he drawled through his nose in a ridiculous manner, said, " Ah, my dear lord, buy that string of pearls for the poor lady, who cannot live without it." He added many more foolish expressions ; and at last quite disgusted the duke, who ordered him to begone instantly, or he would give him a slap in the face. The fellow knew very well what he was about ; for if by means of flattery, or any other artifice whatever, he could prevail on the duke to make that purchase, he was sure of gaining the duchess's good graces, and of receiving several hundred crowns for the bargain. He continued therefore to fawn and flatter, and the duke gave him several good sound boxes on the ear to make him quit the place. So smartly were the blows given that not only his cheeks be- came red, but the tears burst into his eyes ; the fellow notwithstanding persisted in his importunities, and cried, " Ah, my lord, your faithful servant would fain discharge his duty, and willingly submit to bear any severe treatment, provided the poor lady might be indulged in her desire." The duke at last, quite tired of the man, being also wearied out with cuffing him about, and no longer able to resist his love for the duchess, whom he delighted to humour in every thing, said to Bernardone, " Get you gone, and make a bargain for the pearls ; for I am willing to do any thing to please the duchess." From this whole transaction, the reader may form a judgment of the fury of adverse fortune in persecuting a poor man, and the infamous manner in which she favours the base and worthless. I totally forfeited the good graces of the duchess, which was in a great measure the cause of my being deprived of her husband's favour ; and the scoun- drel Bernardone was not only well paid for treating about the pearls, but became a favourite both of the duke and his consort. Hence it is evident, that when fortune t«ar8 us a grudge, it avails nothing to act agreeably to the Uc- tates of virtue and honour. 432 CHAPTER XLin. The Duke makes war against Siena. — Cellini is employed jn re- pairing the fortifications of Florence. — Quarrel between him and a Lombard captain. — Discovery of some curious antiques in the country of Arezzo The mutilated figures are repaired by CellinL — Extraordinary scene between him and the Duchess. — He refuses to gratify her in placing some bronze figures in her apartment, which widens the breach between them. — Quarrel between him and Bernardone the goldsmith. — He finishes his famous statue of Perseus and Medusa, which is exposed to public view in the great square, and meets with universal approbation. — Cellini is invited over to Sicily by the Viceroy, but refuses to quit the Duke's service. — He undertakes a pilgrimage of a few days to Vallombrosa and Camaldoli. About this time the war of Siena broke out, and the duke choosing to fortify Florence, consigned the gates of the city to the care of the most skilful engineers and architects. Upon this occasion, the gate leading to Prato, with the little gate of Arno, leading to the mills, fell to my share ; to the Cavalier Bandinello was given the gate of St. Friano ; to Pasqualino of Ancona, the gate of S. Pier Gattolini ; to Giuliano di Baccio d'Agnolo, a carpenter, the gate of St. George ; to Particino, a carpenter, the gate leading to S. Nicholas ; to Francesco da St. Gallo, the sculptor, sur- named Margolla, was consigned that which leads to Croce ; and to Giambattista, commonly called Tasso, was given the Pinti gate : in like manner other bastions and gates were distributed amongst other engineers, whose names I cannot now recollect ; nor is it very material. The duke, who was a man of abilities, and of a respect- able character, when uninfluenced by others, went his rounds about the city ; and after his excellency had well surveyed it, and determined upon his measures, he sent for Lattanzio Gorini, liis paymaster — an ofiice in which Lattanzio particularly delighted : his excellency then ordered him to draw plans of the several methods he had determined on to repair the fortifications of his capital. Accordingly Lattanzio sent each of us a plan CH. XLin.] FLORENCE FORTIFIED. 433 of the gate he was to fortify. When I received mine, per- ceiving that the method was altogether defective, I went with it in my hand to his excellency, in order to show him my ohjections; but I no sooner began to speak, than he turned about to me in a violent passion, and told me, he would readily allow me the superiority in statuary, but in this business of fortification I must in my turn yield to him ; therefore I was to follow the plan which he had sent me. To this short admonition I answered in the gentlest terms possible, and said, " My lord, even with regard to the method of making beautiful statues, I have learned some- thing from your excellency, for we have always had dis- putes on the subject ; in like manner, with regard to this article of fortifying your city, which is a matter of much greater consequence than casting statues, I beg your excel- lency would vouchsafe to hear me, that by conversing with you upon the subject, you may instruct me in what manner I am to serve you." By these conciliatory expressions the duke was prevailed to enter into a conversation witli me. I made it appear by clear and convincing reasons, that his method of fortifying would never answer : upon which he desired me to go and draw a plan myself, and he would see how he liked it. I drew two plans, according to the right method of fortification, and carried them to his excellency, who then, distinguishing the true from the false method, said to me with great good humour, " Go and fortify the two gates in your own way: I have no farther objection." I thereupon began the work with all possible expedition. There was upon guard at the gate of Prato, a Lombard captain, a robust, gigantic man, who spoke in a very rough, brutal manner, and was exceedingly ignorant and presump- tuous. This man questioning me concerning what I was about, I, with great mildness, showed him my plans, and found it a very difficult matter to make him conceive the method I intended to observe in my operations. The stupid mortal now shook his head, now turned himself one way and now another, often changed the position of his legs, twisted his mustachios, which were very long, frequently pulled the vizor of his cap over his eyes, and uttered oaths and imprecations, telling me he did not understand this puzzling affair of mine. Being at last quite tired of the F F 434 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINT. [CH. XLHI. fool, I desired him to leave it to me, who did understand it : so I turned my back on him, at which being somewhat pro- voked, he cried out, " I say, Sir, you and I must have a tilt together." I immediately answered him in a violent passion (for he had quite exasperated me) : " It will be less trouble to me to run you through the body, than to make the bastion for this gate." So we both at the same instant clapped our hands to our swords ; but scarce had we drawn, when a considerable number of gentlemen, as well Floren- tines as courtiers from other parts of the country, came and interposed. Most of them blamed my adversary, telling him that he was in the wrong, that I was a man capable of making him pay dear for what he did, and that if the duke came to know what had passed between us, the captain would have reason to repent it. He then went about his business, and I began to work at my bastion. When I had settled in what manner it was to be erected, I repaired to the other little gate of Arno, where I met with a captain from Cesena, one of the politest men I ever knew of his profession. In his behaviour he had all the gentleness of a lady, and yet upon occasion he showed himself to be one of the bravest and most formidable men living. This gentleman observed my manner of pro- ceeding so attentively, that I could not help taking notice of it : he" desired to know what I was about, and 1 with great complaisance explained my plan to him. In a word, we vied with each other in politeness and civilities, and I acquitted myself much better in making this bastion than the other. When I had almost finished my bastions, Piero Strozzi's men made an irruption into the district of Prato, which threw the inhabitants into such a panic, that they all instantly quitted it : on which account all the carriages of that country were loaded, every man removing with hia effects to the city. As the number of carts occasioned their obstructing each other, upon observing the great con- fusion, I bade the guards at the gate take care there happened no disturbance there, as had been the case at the gates of Turin*, for if they should have occasion to let * In the month of February 1543, the city of Turin being then in the possession of the French, Cesare Majo of Naples, general of the Imperialists, in concert with a French sergeant of, the garrison, sent CH. XLm.J CURIOUS ANTIQUITIES DISCOVERED. 435 down the portcullis, it might very possibly be unable to do its office, and remain suspended upon one of those carts. The fool of a captain, of whom mention has been made above, hearing these words, began to give me abusive language. I answered him in the same style, so that we had a worse quarrel than before : we were, however, parted. Having completed my bastions, I received a good round sum of crowns that I little expected, which proved of great service to me, and I returned with alacrity to finish my Perseus. About this time some curious antiquities were discovered in the district of Arezzo, amongst which was the chimaera, that lion of bronze, to be seen in the apartments next to the great hall of the palace. With it was likewise found a considerable quantity of small statues of bronze, covered either with earth or rust, and each of them wanting the head, hands, or feet ; the duke took pleasure in cleaning these statues himself, with goldsmiths' chisels. I happened one day to have occasion to speak to his excellency, when he put into my hand a small hammer, with which I struck the little chisels which the duke held in his hand, and in that manner the figures were separated from the earth and rust that covered them. Whilst we thus passed several evenings together, the duke employed me to supply the limbs that were wanting to the little statues ; and he took such delight in these small labours of the chisel, as to make me work even by day, and if I were tardy in going to him, he would send for me. I several times gave his excellency to understand that this made me neglect my Perseus, and would be attended with several bad consequences : the first of these, and which gave me the greatest uneasiness, was that the length of time which my work required would tire his excellency, as it did in fact ; the next was that I had several workmen, and my not being in the way gave rise to a gate of the city six waggons loaded with hay, but in which a picked body of men was concealed, who were to keep the portculhs suspended in order to protect the entrance of their companions, and occupy the place. This project failed in consequence of the sergeant having mentioned it; and the governor being thus on his guard, caused the portcullis to be dropped at the moment of the entrance of the waggons, and assaulted and defeated his guests. Tt 2 436 MEMOmS OF BENYENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLID. to many inconveniences, for they not only spoiled my work, but grew quite idle and negligent. The duke therefore contented himself with my going to him after sunset, and I had so conciliated his affection, that when I visited him in the evening, he caressed me more than ever. About this time the new apartments were built towards the menagerie, so that his excellency desiring to retire to a private room, got a little chamber made up for him in these new buildings ; and hither he ordered me to come to him through his wardrobe, which I did with the greatest privacy, by means of certain little secret passages on the other side of the great Hall. But in a few days the duchess deprived me of this accommodation, by causing all these passages to be shut up, so that every evening that I came to the palace, I was obliged to wait a considerable time, and, as she was ill, I never came without occasioning some inconvenience to her. Both for this and another cause she had taken such a dislike to me, that she could not so much as bear the sight of my person. Though I had so much trouble, and received so many insults, I patiently continued my visits, and the duke had given express orders that as soon as ever I knocked at those doors they should be opened to me ; so that without being questioned, I was suffered to go Avherever I would. It sometimes happened that as I unexpectedly entered those apartments, I found the duchess engaged, when she would fly into such a passion with me, that I used to be quite frightened, and she would con- stantly say, "Will you never have done mending those little statues ? Your coming at present is quite disagree- able to me." My answer was always couched in the gentlest terms : " My illustrious and only patroness, there is nothing I desire more than to serve you with fidelity and the most perfect obedience ; and as these works which the duke has employed me in, will last several months, let me know, madam, whether it is your pleasure that I should come here no more : if it be, I will come no more upon any accoimt, let who will send for me : and even should the duke himself send, I will say I am indisposed, and will not obey his order." Her reply was, — " I do not desire you to come no more, neither do I say you should not obey the duke but I really thiiik these works of yours will never CH. XLm.] PLAIf ITLNESS OF THE DUKE's CHILDREN. 437 have an end." Whether the duke guessed something of this, or whatever else might be the cause, his excellency again began to send for me as soon as ever it v?as sunset, and the messenger desired me to come without fail, for the duke waited for me. I continued to struorgle with these difficulties several weeks, and, one evening, as I was en- tering according to custom, the duke, who seemed to be engaged in some secret conversation with the duchess, turned to me in the most violent passion imaginable, and I being somewhat terrified, was for retiring directly, when he said to me all on a sudden : " Come in, my friend Benvenuto ; go to your business, and I will soon follow you." As I was passing by, Signer D. Garzia, the duke's son, then quite an infant, took me by the cloak, and played the prettiest tricks with me that were possible for such a child : the duke expressing some surprise at this, said to me, " How pleasant it is to see my very children so fond of you." Whilst my time was taken up in these little trifling jobs, the princes Don Giovanni, Don Arnando, and Don Garzia, every evening came into the room where I was at work, and, unknown to the duke, began to play their tricks upon me. When I begged they would leave off, they made answer they could not ; and I said to them, " You cannot, because you will not : go your ways and leave me :" at the same time the duke and duchess began to laugh. Another evening having finished the four little figures of bronze, which are joined at the base, I mean Jupiter, Mercury, Minerva, and Danae, the mother of Perseus, with her little son Perseus sitting at her feet, I removed these small figures to the apartment where I worked in the evening, and placed them in proper order, raising them somewhat above the eye, so that they made a very pretty sight. The duke being apprised of this, came somewhat sooner than usual ; and because the person who had brought him the intelligence, had represented them as something far beyond what 'they they really were, afiirming that they surpassed the works of the ancients, -with other exaggerations of the like nature, the duke came with the duchess, and talked to her in raptures of my works. I immediately rose and ad- vanced to meet him : the duke with a noble and striking r F 3 438 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLItL gesture lifted up his riglit hand, in which he held a fine large slip of a pear tree, and said to me, " My friend Ben- venuto, put this pear tree into your garden." I answered, " My lord, are you in earnest, when you desire me to put it into my garden?" The duke repeated his words, and said, " Into your garden, which is now your own, house and all, do you understand me?" I thereupon thanked both the duke p^d duchess, in the most respectful manner. They then both sat down before the little statues ; for above two hours they talked of nothing else, and the duchess took such a liking to them, that she said, " I will by no means suiFer those figures to be lost by being placed upon that base down in the great square, where they will be in danger of being spoiled ; on the contrary, I must get you to set them up in an apartment of mine, where they shall be taken particular care of, and kept in a manner suitable to their excellence." I opposed what she said by a variety of arguments ; and perceiving that she was de- termined that I should not place them upon the base where they now stand, I waited till the day following. I then repaired to the palace about ten o'clock, and finding that both the duke and the duchess w^ere gone to take an airing, as I had already properly prepared the base, I caused tke statues to be brought down, and fixed them with lead in the positioE in which they were to stand. When the duchess saw this, she was so highly provoked, that had it not been for the duke, who took my part to his utmost, I should have come off worse than I did. However, in con- sequence of her resentment about the string of pearls, and for this affair, she did me so many ill offices, that the duke at last left off amusing his leisure hours with me : hence it was that I ceased going to the palace, and soon had the same difiiculty of access as before. I returned to lodge at the house to which I had removed my Perseus, and went on with it under all the difficulties that have been already enumerated ; that is to say, without money, and with so many other cross accidents, that one half of them would have discouraged a man of the most determined resolution. I, however, proceeded. Upon my happening one day to hear mass at S. Pie'o Scheraggio, I saw Bernardone the goldsmith and broker whom the dukd CH. XLin.J QTJAKRELS WITH BEF.WARDONE. 439 had Yjromoted to the place of purveyor to the mint, as he was coming out of the church. Scarcely had the wretch passed the doors when he committed a gross breach of good manners, which so provoked me that I accosted him with many opprobrious words, and then ran home for a cudgel ; but Bernardone fled directly to the mint. I stood some time, however, at my door, and ordered my boys to wait in the street, and make me a sign as soon as they saw the brute. After I had waited a considerable time, I began to grow tired, and as my passion had subsided a little, I took it into consideration that blows are never under con- trol, and that the consequences of such an afiair might prove dangerous. I therefore resolved to take a different sort of revenge, and as this had happened within a day or two of the festival of our tutelary saint St. John, I wrote some verses and pasted them up on the church of S. Piero Scheraggio. The purport of them was as follows : — " Here lies Bernardone of the long ear d tribe, A spy, a thief, and a broker to boot, If Pandora's box you'd wish to describe, Say it let out that bore, a most senseless brute." * These verses soon became known at the palace : the duke and duchess laughed heartily, and crowds of people gathered about the church, who were greatly diverted with the adventure. As they looked towards the mint, and fixed their eyes upon Bernardone, his son Baccio perceiving it, in a violent passion ran and tore the paper, and biting his finger, threatened the people with his shrill voice, which sounded through his nose, making a great clamour. The duke, being informed that my statue of Perseus would bear inspection as a finished piece, came one day to see it, and showed by many evident signs that it gave him the highest satisfaction imaginable ; so, turning to some noblemen in his retinue, he expressed himself as follows : — " This work appears to me exceedingly beautiful : it ouglit likewise to be approved of by the people ; therefore, mj^ * The original four lines are not entire ; but the above is about as near the implied meaning as could well be ascertained from the very illegible state in which they are seen in the MS. of Cellinis' work. They are also scored over, most probably by himself, or by his fVieiw^ Varchi, to whom the MS. appears to have been submitted, r F 4 440 MEMOIKS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. SHU. friend Benvenuto, before you have quite done with it, I should be obliged to you if you would for half a day throw open the gate before the large square, that we may see what the populace think of it ; for there can be no doubt but that, when it is viewed in an open place, it must make a very different appearance from what it does when seen in this confined manner." I answered to this, very humbly, " Depend upon it, my lord, it will appear half as well again. Does not your excellency remember having seen it in the garden to my house, in which spacious place it appeared to as great advantage as it could in the garden of the Inno- cents ? Bandinello came to see it ; and notwithstanding his natural malevolence, put some constraint upon himself to praise my performance, though he never spoke well of any body in his life before. I perceive that your excel- lency listens too much to his insinuations." When I ex- pressed myself thus, he smiled somewhat scornfully ; and, still in the mildest terms, he begged me to oblige him. He left me, and I began to prepare to exhibit my statue ; but, as it wanted a little gilding, varnish, and other things of the same kind, which are generally left to the time of putting the last hand to a work, I muttered, grumbled, and complained, cursing the hour that I first thought of going to Florence. I was indeed by this time sensible of my great loss in leaving France, and did not see or know what I had to hope from the duke of Florence, because all I had done for him from the first to the last had been to my own loss ; so, with great discontent, I exhibited my statue the next day. But it so pleased God, that as soon as ever my work was beheld by the populace, they set up so loud a shout of ap- plause, that I began to be somewhat comforted for the mor- tifications I had undergone ; and there were sonnets in my praise every day upon the gate, the language of which was extremely elegant and poetical. The very day on which I exhibited my work there were above twenty sonnets set up, containing the most hyperbolical praises of it. Even after I had covered it again, every day a number of verses, with Latin odes and Greek poems, were published on the occa- sion; — for it was then vacation at the university of Pisa, and all the learned men and scholars belonging to that CH. XLm.] THE STATtE UNIVERSALLY APPROVED. 441 place vied with each other in writing encomiums on my performance. But what gave me the highest satisfaction, and encouraged me to hope most from the duke, was, that even those of the profession, I mean statuaries and painters, emulated each other in commending me ; and amongst others the admirable painter Giacopo da Pontormo, whom I esteemed above all the rest, and his friend, the excellent painter Bronzino, whom I valued still more. The latter, not satisfied with causing several panegyrics upon me to be pasted up, sent them to my house by his friend San- drino. In these I was so highly praised, and in so elegant a style, that it aiforded some alleviation for my past morti- fications and trouble, and I made all the haste I could to put the last hand to my statue. The duke, though he had heard of the compliments paid me by this excellent school, said he was very glad I had met with so favourable a re- ception from the public, for it would doubtless make me the more expeditious as well as more careful in putting the last hand to my work ; but that I should not flatter myself, that when it was placed in such a manner as to be seen on all sides, the people would speak as advantageously of it as at present : on the contrary, they would then discover all the blemishes which it really had, and find many others which it had not ; so tliat I must put on the armour of patience. These words Bandinello said to the duke, when he spoke of the woi-ks of Andrea Verrochio, who made the beautiful statues of Christ and San Tommaso in bronze, which are to be seen in the front of Orsanmichele, and of many other works, and even of the admirable David of the divine Michel Angelo Buonarroti, declaring that they ap- peared to advantage only when seen before ; and when he afterwards spoke of his own Hercules, and the many sa- tirical verses that were posted up against him, and all the ill that was said of him by the populace. All this made the duke, who put too much confidence in him, express himself in the above manner concerning my statue ; and he no doubt thought it would have had much the same end, because the envious Bandinello was constantly insinuating something against it. One time, when that villain Bernar- done the broker happened to be present, he, to add weight to the words of Bandinello, said to the duke, " You must 442 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. |^CH. XLIU know, my lord, that to make large figures is quite a dif- fereni thing from working small ones ; I do not say but that Benvenuto has been happy enough in the latter, but you will find his great statue Avill have difierent success." With these insinuations he mixed many more equally ma- licious, performing his odious office of a spy, in which he told many untruths. At last, however, as it pleased the Almighty, I com- pletely finished my work, and on a Thursday morning ex- hibited it fully. Just before the break of day so great a crowd gathered about it, that it is almost impossible for me to give the reader an idea of their number, and they all seemed to vie with each other wbo should praise it most. The duke stood at a lower window of the palace, just over the gate, and being half-concealed within side, heard all that was said concerning the work. After he had listened several hours, he left the window highly pleased, and turn- ing to his favourite, Signor Sforza, spoke to him thus : " Sforza, go to Benvenuto, and tell him from me, that he has given me higher satisfaction than I ever expected. Let him know, at the same time, that I shall reward him in such a manner as will excite his surprise ; so bid him be of good cheer." Signor Sforza came to me with this glorious embassy, by which I was highly rejoiced. During that whole day the people showed me to each other as a sort of prodigy. There happened to be then in Florence two gen- tlemen who were sent from the viceroy of Sicily to our duke upon business : these two worthy personages came up to me, with great eagerness and animation, in the great square, where I was shown to them, and, cap in hand, made me a long harangue, which would have been too great a panegyric even for a pope. I behaved as modestly as it was possible for me on the occasion ; but they con- tinued so long paying me compliments, that I at last begged they would leave the square, because the populace crowded about to stare at me more than at my statue of Perseus. During their ceremonies and compliments, they went so far as to propose to me to go with them to Sicily, telling me that I should have no objection to their terms ; at the same time they told me that brother Giovanangiolo, of ths order of the Servi, had made them a fountain en. XLin.] DECLINES GOING TO SICILY, 44S adorned with a variety of figures, which were vastly in- ferior to my Perseus, though they had made his fortune. Without letting them finish all they would have said on the occasion, I interrupted them in these terms : " I am very much surprised, gentlemen, that you should propose to me to quit the service of a duke, who is a greater lover and encourager of men of genius than any prince that ever lived ; especially as I have at the same time the advantage of being in my own country, the first school in the world for the polite arts, and all works of ingenuity. If the love of gain had been my ruling passion, I might have stayed in France, in the service of a great monarch who allowed me a pension of a thousand crowns a year, and paid me for every piece of work I did for him besides, insomuch that annually I had above four thousand crowns «oming in to me, and I left in Paris the works of four years." Thus I put a stop to their proposal, and returned them thanks for the praise they bestowed on me, the greatest reward that can be conferred for laudable under- takings. I added, that they had so inflamed my zeal to signalise myself, that I hoped in a few years to exhibit another work, which I flattered myself would give the school of Florence still greater satisfaction than it had re- ceived from my present performance. The two gentlemen were for renewing the conversation : but making them a low bow, I very respectfully took my leave. Having let two days pass, and perceiving that my fame increased continually, I went to pay the duke a visit, who said to me with great complaisance : " My friend Ben- venuto, you have given me the highest satisfaction imagin- able ; but I have promised to reward you in such a manner as shall excite your surprise, and, what is more, I am re- solved not to defer it so much as a day." Upon receiving these great assurances, I raised up all my mental and cor- poreal faculties to the Almighty, and returned him my sincere and hearty thanks ; at the same instant I shed tears of joy, and kissing the hem of his excellency's garment, ad- dressed him thus : " My most noble lord, liberal patron of the arts, and of those that cultivate them, I beg it as a favour of your excellency, that you would give me leave to retire for a week to return thanks to 1 he Supre me Being ; 444 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLm. for I know how hard I have worked, and am sensible that my faith has prevailed with God to grant me his assistance. On account of this, and every other miraculous succour af- forded me by the Divine power, I propose going a pilgrimage for a week, to express my acknowledgment to the Eternal Being, who ever assists those who sincerely call upon him." The duke then asked me whither I intended to go : I made answer, " That I should the next day set out, and go first to Vallambrosa, then to Camaldoli, and the wilderness, and afterwards continue my pilgrimage to the baths of Santa Maria, and perhaps as far as Sestile, for I had been in- formed that there were fine antiquities in that place. I should then return by St. Francesco della Vernia, and, never ceasing to give thanks to the Almighty, should come home joyfully to serve his excellency." The duke thereupon said to me, with great cheerfulness, " Go, and return quickly : I am pleased with your intention ; but give me a couplet in remembrance of you, and leave the rest to me." I im- mediately composed four lines, in which I returned his ex- cellency thanks for his promised favours, and gave them to Signor Sforza, who put them into the duke's hand in my name. The latter, after perusing them, gave them again to Signor Sforza, with these words, " Be sure you show them to me every day ; for if Benvenuto should, upon his return, find that I had neglected his business, he would be the death of me, beyond all doubt." His excellency then laughed, and Signor Sforza told him he would be sure to put him in mind. These very words the latter repeated to me in the evening, telling me, that the duke had ordered him to put him in mind of me, and mentioning, at the same time, all that had passed on the occasion. Signor Sforza could not help laughing all the time, while he expressed much pleasure at the high esteem in which I was held by the duke. At parting, he said to me, with great good humour, "Benvenuto, go, and return with speed; for I envy your happiness." 445 CHAPTER XLIV. The Author in his pilgrimage meets with an old alchymist of Bagno, who makes a discovery to him of some mines of gold and silver, and gives him a map, which shows a dangerous pass into the duke's country. — He returns with it to the duke, who makes him great acknowledgments for his zeal. — Difference between him and the duke about the value of his Perseus and Medusa. — It is referred to the arbitration of Girolamo degli Albizi. — Fresh dispute be- tween Cellini and the duke, in which Bandinello and the duchess iaterpose. — The Author is employed to erect two pulpits in the choir of S. Blaria del Fiore, and adorn them with basso rilievo figures in bronze. I LEFT Florence, incessantly singing psalms and saying prayers to the honour and glory of God, during the whole journey, in which I had great pleasure, as it was then summer, and the weather very fine ; so pleased was I with the country, in which I had never travelled before, that my delight proved equal to my wonder. My guide was a young man from the mountains of the Bagno, who Avorked in my shop, and whose name was Ccesar. I met with a very kind reception at the baths from his father and the whole family, amongst whom was an old man above seventy, a very agreeable companion ; he was, by profession, a physician and surgeon, and had a smattering of alchymy. This worthy man proved to me that the mountains of the Bagno contained a mine of gold and silver, and showed me several curiosities in that country ; so that I never in my life en- joyed greater pleasure than in his society. Being at last grown quite familiar with me, he told me one day, that he could not help communicating to me a thought of his, which, if his excellency would attend to us, he believed would turn highly to our advantage ; what he meant was, that near Camaldoli there was a pass so open, that Piero Strozzi could not only pass through it with ease, but might surprise the castle of Poppi without any difficulty ; and not satisfied with proving this to me in words, he took a leaf out of his pocket-book, upon which he had drawn so exact a plan of the whole country, as showed but two plainly that the danger from that pass was not at all imaginary. I took the 4.46 MEMOIRS OF BENTENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLIV plan, and immediately quitting the baths of Santa Maria, returned by the road of Prato Magno, and from San Fran- cesco della Vernia, arrived at Florence. As soon as I had pulled off my boots, I repaired to the palace, and when I reached the abbey I met the duke, who was just coming from the Podesta's palace ; he received me most graciously, but at the same time expressing some surprise, asked me how I came to return so soon, for he did not expect me that week. I answered, that I was re- turned to serve his excellency, otherwise should have gladly made a stay of several days in the delightful countries where I had been rambling. — " "What business of importance," continued the duke, "has caused your speedy return?" " My lord," I replied, " I have something of great con- sequence to show you ;" so I went with him to the palace, where he conducted me to a private apartment. I told him all I had heard, and showed him the sketch I had brought with me. He appeared to be highly pleased with my at- tention ; and upon my observing to his excellency, that it was absolutely necessary to find an immediate remedy for an affiiir of such importance, the duke seemed to muse for a while, and then told me, he had concluded an accommodation with the duke of Urbino, who would take care of that matter ; but this he desired me to keep to myself. I then returned home, after having received many demonstrations of his favour. The next day I made my appearance at the palace, and the duke, after a short conversation, said to me very pleasantly, " To-morrow I will without fail despatch your business : so be of good cheer." Thinking myself sure of being provided for, I with impatience waited for the morrow. The wished-for day being arrived, I re- paired to the palace ; but as it generally happens that bad news are sooner communicated than good, Signor Giacopo Guidi, his excellency's secretary, called me aside with his wry mouth and authoritative voice, and drawing himself up as stiff and formal as if he had been frozen, told me, " That the duke was desirous to know from myself what I asked for my Perseus." Quite disconcerted and surprised at this question, I immediately answered that it was not customary with me to set a price upon my works, and that CH XLrV.J DISAGREES WITH THE DUKE. 447 this request was not agreeable to the promise which his excellency had made me a few days before. The secretary, raising his voice, said, he expressly commanded me in the duke's name to tell what I expected for my statue, upon pain of totally forfeiting his excellency's favour. I, who not only expected some considerable recompense in con- sequence of the caresses lavished on me by the duke, but likewise flattered myself that I had entirely gained his good graces, and never desired any higher reward than his favour, upon meeting with this unexpected treatment, aggravated by the insolence of that waspish secretary, was incensed to such a degree, that I declared if the duke was to give me ten thousand crowns for my statue, it would be less that it was worth ; and if I had expected to be bar- gained with in such a mercenary way, I should never have stayed at Florence. The spiteful secretary thereupon gave me a deal of opprobrious language, which I returned in the same style. The very next day I went to pay my court to his excel- lency, who beckoned to me : upon my approaching, he told me, angrily, that cities and magnificent royal palaces might be built for ten thousand ducats. I bowed, and answered without hesitation, that his excellency might find numbers of men capable of building cities and palaces, but perhaps he might not in the whole world find another artist able to make him such a statue of Perseus as mine ; and having thus expressed myself, I departed. A few days after the duchess sent for me, and desired me to make her arbitress of the dispute between the duke and me, declaring that she would so contrive matters that I should have entire satis- faction. In return to this kind offer, I answered, that I never desired any higher reward for my labours than his excellency's good graces ; that he had promised me his favour, and it was unnecessary that I should then renew to their excellencies the declaration which I had made on the very first day that I began to serve them : I added, that even if his excellency had given me but twopence for my trouble, I should think myself happy if he did not deprive me of his good opinion. The duchess, smiling, answered me thus : " Benvenuto, your best way would b3 to follow my advice ;" and so she left me. 448 MEMOmS OF BENVENbTO CELLINI. [ciI. XLIV I thought I could not do better than express myself in the humble manner above related : I was, notwithstanding, mistaken, for, though the duchess had had some difference with me, she was possessed of a great deal of good-nature, and certainly meant well. At this time I was intimately acquainted with Girolamo degli Albizi, commissary to the militia, who one day said to me, " Benvenuto, it appears highly expedient that we should endeavour to find some method of accommodating this dispute between the duke and you ; and if you will put that confidence in me, I dare say I shall find means to set all to rights ; for as the duke is seriously offended, this may otherwise turn out to your disadvantage ; a word to the Avise is sufiicient : I can say no more at present." As I had been apprised of this, since the duchess had the above conversation with me, by one who perhaps had an ill intention in so doing, and who said he came by his information accidentally, I replied in a passion, " I could for less than twopence find in my heart to throw my Perseus away, and that would completely put an end to the dispute at once." However, on account of the suspicion I had of the person from whom I had my in- formation, I told Girolamo degli Albizi, that I left the whole affair to him, and should readily agree to any proposal of his, provided I might continue in favour with the duke. This worthy person, who was thoroughly acquainted with the profession of a soldier, especially with training and disciplining the country militia, had no kind of taste for the polite arts, nor consequently for that of sculpture : so he spoke concerning me to the duke, told him that I had left the whole affair to him, and had requested him to speak to his excellency in my favour. The duke replied, that he would also entrust the whole affair to him, and abide by whatever he should determine. Girolamo thereupon wrote a very ingenious letter, in which he spoke greatly in my behalf; and his determination was, that the duke should give me three thousand five hundred gold crowns, not as a gratification for so elegant a piece of work, but towards my present support ; that I should be satisfied with that sum ; together with many more words, which had nil the same tendency. The duke subscribed to this with pleasure ; I was, however, very far from being satisfied. CH. XXIV'.] DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING PAYMENT. 449 When the duchess heard of this, she said it would have been better for me if I had left the affair to her, for she would have procured me five thousand gold crowns. And one day that I went to the palace, her excellency said the very same thing to me in the presence of Signor Alamanno Salviati, and turned me into ridicule, telling me, that I deserved all the bad success I had met with. The duke gave orders that the money should be paid me by monthly sums of a hundred gold crowns. Afterwards Signor An- tonio de Nobili, who was commissioned to pay me, began to give me only fifty, and after that again he reduced his payments to five-and-twenty, and sometimes did not pay me at all. When I perceived these delays, I mildly ex- postulated with Signor Antonio, and begged to know for what reason he discontinued my payments : he answered me civilly ; but I thought that in his answer he went a little beyond the bounds of probability ; for first of all, (I leave it to the reader to judge,) he told me that the cause of dis- continuing my payments was, that money began to be very scarce at court : but he added, that as soon as ever he was in cash he would pay me. He at the same time loudly de- clared, that if he were to neglect paying me, he should be one of the greatest villains breathing ! I was surprised to hear him use such an expression : he promised that he would pay me as soon as ever it was in his power ; but his actions proved quite contrary to his declarations. SeC' ing myself thus hardly treated, I grew very angry, and giving him a great deal of harsh and severe language, put him in mind of all he had promised. He died soon after, and there still romain due to me five hundred gold crowns, now towards the close of the year 1566.* I then ceased to receive any remains of my salary, and thought they would entirely neglect to pay it, as near three years had elapsed. But the duke was about this time attacked by a dangerous disorder, and, perceiving that remedies administered by .lis * Cellini having begun to write his life in the latter part of 1558, must have completed this work in about eight years; but be must have written great jiart of it in the first five or six months of his under- taking, fo:.- on the 2d of May, 1559, he showed to Varchi a discorsa della vita aua, which was this same work, and which he afterwards cont'nued to increase. U G 450 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLIV. physicians did him no service, he had recourse to the Almighty, and thereupon ordered that all to whom he was indebted should receive what money was due to them. I was paid amongst the rest ; but not the remainder of what was owing to me for my statue of Perseus. I had almost formed a resolution to say nothing more of my ill-fated Perseus ; but as a remarkable accident lays me under a necessity of again making mention of it, I must for a while resume my past narrative. I thought what 1 did Avas for the best, when I told the duchess that 1 could not compromise what was not in my power ; for I had assured the duke that I should be satisfied with whatever his excellency should think proper to give me. This I said with a view of ingratiating myself, and with some little appearance of humility I sought every possible method to appease him. For a few days before he had made the above-mentioned agreement with Albizi he appeared to be very angry with me ; and the reason was, that happening to complain to him of some ill usage that I had received from Signor Alfonso Quistello, and Signor Jacobo Pol- verino, who belonged to the treasury, and still more of Signor Giambattista Bandiui of Volterra, I laid my charge against them with some appearance of warmth. I then perceived that the duke was highly incensed, and threw out these angry expressions : " This puts me in mind of your statue of Perseus, for which you asked me ten thou- sand crowns : interest has too much sway over you ; I will get an estimate taken of its value, and pay you whatever it is rated at." I answered boldly with some emotion, which is by no means proper when we have to deal with person- ages of high rank. " How is it possible for a proper es- timate to be taken of my statue, when there is not a man in Florence who is an adequate judge of its merit?" The duke was still more provoked at this, and uttered a great many passionate expressions. " If there be a man in Flo- rence," said he, " able to make one like it, that man must be capable of forming a proper estimate of it." When he said this, he had Bandinello, cavalier of St. Jacopo, in his eye. " My lord," replied I, " your excellency has given me an opportunity of executing, at the greatest, school in the world, a noble and most arduous work, which has been CH. XLIV.] DISPUTE ABOUT HIS PERSEUS, 451 more highly extolled than any other statue hithcrtr ex- hibited before that divine assembly ; and what encoir'age? mc most is, that those excellent men who understand and profess the business, pass as favourable a judgment on my performance as the rest ; for example, Bronzino, the painter, has exerted himself, and written four sonnets on the occa- sion, using the most noble and sublime expressions that could possibly enter into his conception ; and it is in con- sequence of the great encomiums bestowed on my work bj' this extraordinary person, that the whole city has so greatly admired it ; and Iwill venture to affirm, that if he were tocul- tivate sculpture as he does painting, he would very probably be able to equal it. I must also inform your excellency, that my master Michel Angelo Buonarroti could likewise have made such a one when he was younger than he is at pre- sent; it would, however, have cost him as much trouble as mine has done me ; but now that he is advanced in years, he is utterly incapable of producing any thing like it, so that I do not think there is an artist living capable of equalling my work. Thus has my performance received the greatest reward that it was possible for me to wish ; and still more so as your excellency has not only declared yourself satisfied with it, but has even bestowed upon it higher praises than any body else : what greater or more honourable reward could I possibly desire? I will there- fore afl[irm, that you could not pay me in more glorious coin, nor with any sort of treasure equal to that ; so that I am amply paid, and thank your excellency with all my heart." " That is so far from being the case," answered the duke, " that you do not think I have treasure sufficient to satisfy you for your performance ; but I assure you I will pay you much more than it is worth." I replied, that I did not expect any farther recompense from his excellency, but thought myself amply rewarded by tliat which I re- ceived from the school of Florence ; and with that I should presently depart, if it pleased God, without ever returning to the house which his exceUency had given me, or ever more desiring to see Florence. We were just then at Santa Felicita, and the duke was returning to his palace. Upon my uttering thesf.'. warnj u e 2 452 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLTV and passionate expressions, lie turned to me and said •angrily, " Don't go away ; I say again, don't go away upon any account ;" so tliat I accompanied him to the palaca somewhat frightened. His excellency thereupon sent for TJartolini, the Archbishop of Pisa, and likewise for Signer Pandolfo della Stufa, and desired them to order Baccio Bandinello in his name to examine my statue of Perseus, and value it, because he proposed paying me exactly ac- cording to its worth. The two worthy persons above named immediately found Baccio Bandinello, and delivered their message to him ; who said he knew very well the value of the woi'k, but as he had had many differences with me, he did not choose to concern himself in my affairs. The two gentlemen then added, " The duke has desired us to tell you, that he commands you, upon pain of his displeasure, to set a price upon the statue, and you may take two or three days to examine it attentively, if you think proper ; after which you are to inform us what the artist deserves for his trouble." He thereupon made answer, that he had examined the statue attentively, and as he could not avoid obeying the duke's commands, was obliged to declare that the work had proved so admirable a master-piece, that, in his opinion, it was worth sixteen thousand gold crowns and up- wards. The gentlemen immediately informed the duke of this decision, who was highly displeased at it : they like- wise told me of it ; but I said, that I would by no means accept of the praises of Bandinello, as that man spoke ill of every body. These words of mine were repeated to the duke, and the duchess again wished me to leave the whole affair to her. All that I have here related is strictly true : it would therefore have been most advisable for me to submit the whole affair to the duchess, and by so doing I should probably have been speedily paid, and have received a gratification besides. The duke gave me to understand by Signor Lelio Torelli his auditor, that he wanted me to represent certain histo- rical pieces in a basso rilievo of bronze round the choir of Sta. Maria del Fiore ; but as this choir was a work of Bandinello's, I was unwilling to ennoble his petty perfor- mances by my labours ; though the plan of the choir was cot his, as he had not the least knowledge of architecture, CH. XLIV.] DECLINES THE COMMISSIOX. 453 but that of Giuliano, son of Baccio d' Agnolo*, a carpenter, firho spoiled the cupola : it is sufficient to say of it that it has no sort of beauty. For both these reasons 1 Avished to decline being concerned in the work; though I humbly told the duke that I was upon all occasions ready to obey his excellency's commands. Soon after this he ordered the overseers of Sta. Maria del Fiore to talk to me about the affair; for he proposed to allow me only my salary of two hundred crowns a-year, and that in all other re- spects the overseers were to supply me out of the fund assigned for cari'ying on the work. I therefore repaired to the overseers, who told me the orders they had received from the duke; and as I thought I might freely acquaint them with all my reasons for disapproving the work pro- posed, I began to prove that so many pieces of history represented in bronze would occasion a prodigious expense, and that it would be nothing else but squandering away money idly. I laid before them all the causes that induced me to think so, and they were very capable of conceiving the full force of wdiat I alleged : the first was that the manner in which the choir had been laid out was quite irregular, contrived without judgment, without the least appearance of art, convenience, gracefulness, or design ; the other was, that the historical pieces, by being placed so low, would be beneath the eye, and would make a kennel for dogs, and be constantly defiled with all sorts of ordure. For these reasons I declared that I did not choose upon any account to be concerned in the workj", that I might not * It was Baccio who spoiled the cupola of S. Maria del Fiore, left unfinished by the death of its celebrated author, Filippo di Ser Brunellesco Lapi, in 1546. t The choir was also the work of Filippo di Ser Brunellesco, who designed a model of it in wood, intending finally to execute it in marble with far richer ornaments. But as near a century had elapsed before the building was completed, the duke Cosmo I. engaged Giu- liano di Baccio to proceed with the architecture, while BandinelU finished the statues and marbles. These two artists, in the opinion of Vasari, spoiled the original design, prescrvhig only the octagonal form, and loaded it with a profusion of ornaments and rilievos, which produced an appearance of great labou"", but little beauty. The frieze was supported l)y columns, the basemi-nts of which were intended for baa-reliefs in bronze, for which Bandine'li subptitutcd those of marble. It b hardly probable that Cellini had only been fixed upon to take a G a 3 454 MEMOIRS OF BEN\^ENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLIV lose the remainder of my best days without serving hia excellency, whom I was so ambitious to serve and to oblige: therefore if he had a desire to employ me, he should rather order me to make the middle door of the church of Sta. Maria del Fiore, which would be a per- formance worth seeing, and would do his excellency much more honour than the other. I added, that I was wiUing to enter into a contract, that in case I did not in the execution surpass the finest door of the church of San Giovanni, I should ask no reward for my trouble; but in case I finished it according to my promise, I consented that it should be valued, and even then I should be satisfied with a thousand crowns less than it was estimated at by those of the profession. The workmen being highly pleased wdth what I proposed, went to speak of it to the duke, and amongst others Piero Salviati attended : they thought that what they were going to propose would prove highly agreeable to his excellency. It proved, however, quite the reverse; for he said that I was for doing tlie very contrary of what he would have me do : so Piero left the duke without coming to any conclusion. When I heard what had passed between them, I waited part in those labours after producing his Perseus in 1554, although he himself mentions it here for the first time; for Bandinelli, in a letter dated April, 1549, observes, that Cellini had been boasting of "having had half the work of the choir," but continues by saying, " that he was resolved to have no sort of rivalship with Bcnvenuto, as he knew him to be a dangerous and cruel man." And in another to the major- domo Ricci, dated previous to the exhibition of the Perseus, alluding to the series of bronze figures for the same choir, he says, " I answered, that Benvenuto might freely do the whole ; " adding also, with much malice and injustice, " but at the same time I must inform yoyr ex- cellency, that he is certainly much better fitted to keep such a series of liistoric pieces clean and in good order, than to produce them himself, as may be plainly seen in his figures, which, from his ignorance in de- sign, are full of faults." The pieces intended for representation ill basso rilievo were, according to Vasari, the chief historical relations of the Old Testament, to consist of twenty-one in number, several of which, though Cellini does not here mention it, he had already in hand. There were also found among others a basso rilievo of Adam and Eve in wax after his death. It is mentioned in his preface to the two Trea- tises and in his petition to the duke, beginning, " Sono costretto dalla disgrazia mia," and given by us in the Ricordi, where he says» !.c had begun the bas-relief of the Adam for the work. en. XLIV.] OFFERS TO EXECUTE IVTO PULPITS. 455 on the duke, who seemed to be somewhat offended with me. I bcgnfed he would condescend so far as to hear what 1 had to say in my defence, and he promised me he would : so I began to give him a full account of the whole aflfair, and used so many arguments to explain the nature of the ihing to his excellency, and convince him that to engage in such an undertaking would be only throwing away money, that I greatly softened him, and then took occasion to observe that if he did not choose to have the door I mentioned, it was absolutely necessary to make two pulpits to the choir, and that they would be two noble works, and do him honour : I added that I W'ould adorn them with a number of historical pieces in basso rilievo of bronze, to- gether with a variety of other embellishments. In this manner did I appease his excellency, who gave me orders to begin the models without delay. I made a variety of models, and took a great deal of pains on the occasion : amongst others, I made one w^ith eight faces more carefully than any of the rest, and thought it much better adapted to the purpose it was intended to answer than the others. I carried the models several times to the palace, and his excellency at length ordered Signer CiBsar, his wardrobe keeper, to desire me to leave them. I perceived afterwards that the duke had made choice of the very worst. One day his excellency sent for me, and in some conversation which we had concerning these models, I proved to him by many arguments, that the model with eight faces was the best calculated for the purpose, and by much the most beautiful of them all. The duke answered that he chose I should make it quadrangular, because he liked that form best : he conversed with me, however, a long time upon the subject with good humour. I did not fail to say on the occasion every thing that my knowledge of the art suggested ; and whether the duke at last became sensible that I spoke the truth, or was resolved to have the thing his own way, a considerable time passed without his men- tioning it to me again. o a 4 456 CHAPTER XLV. Contest between Cellini and Bandinello about a statue of Neptune.— The preference is given to Cellini's design, and Bandinello dies through vexation. — The duchess causes the marble to be given to Bartolommeo Ammanato, — Account of a remarkable transacticn between Cellini, and one Sbietta. — He narrowly escapes being poisoned by Sbietta's wife, who is encouraged in that design by Filippo, a profligate priest. — Cellini, during his illness, is sup- planted at court by Bartolommeo Ammanato. About this time the great block of marble for a statue cf Neptune was brought up the river Arno, and thence by the Grieve, and carried through the road which leads to Poggio a Cajano, that it might afterwards be conveyed the more easily by that level road to Florence*, where I went to see it. And though I know to a certainty that the duchess had by her interest procured it for the Cavalier Bandinello, yet not through any envy to that artist, but moved to compassion for the destiny of the unfortunate marble, I took a view of it, measured its height and thick- ness every way, and at my return to Florence made several little models for it. I must here observe by the way, that when we endeavour to preserve any great thing from evil, it often meets with a worse fate than that from which we rescued it ; as Avas the case of this marble, by falling into the hands of Bartolommeo Ammanato, of whom I shall speak in a proper place. Having made the little models above mentioned, I repaired to Poggio a Cajano, where the duke and duchess were with the prince their son : I found them all at table, and the duke dined in private with the duchess, so that I began to enter into conversation with the prince. As I talked with him a considerable time, the * It will farther appear, that the time when the marble was con- veyed to Florence, intended for the gigantic statue of Neptune placed near the fountain of the Ducal Piazza, must have been towards the beginning of the year 1559. From that period Cellini has related little or nothing of his life during 1555 and the three following years. This marble, it is asserted by Vasari, was ten and a half ells high, and five broad. On this account it could not be conveyed up the Arno, as the water was too shallow to float it all the way. In the same man- ner the marbles for the Hercules and Cacus were brought the last eight miles from Florence by land. CH. XLV.] CONTEST "WITH BANDINELLO. 457 duke, who was in an apartment hard by, overl eard us, and '"n a very polite manner sent for me. As soon as I came into the presence of their excellencies, the duchess began to converse with me with great good humour : I contrived to turn the subject of the conversation to the block of marble. I observed that their ancestors had rendered the noble school of Florence so illustrious, by exciting emulation amongst the men of genius in the several different pro- fessions : it was this that produced the admirable cupola, the beautiful doors of the church of San Giovanni, and so many other noble temples and statues, reflecting such high honour on this city, which never could boast such orna- ments since the days of the ancients.* The duchess peev- ishly replied, that she knew very well what I would be At, and desired I would never speak again of that marble in her presence, as nothing could give her greater offence. * Two of tlie noblest gates belonging to St. Giovanni, and the cupola of the Dome at Florence, were the workmanship of the com- bined talents and generous union of the ver)' first artists of the times. Respecting the first, Vasari observes that after the plague of Florence, in 1400, the senate and the merchants' company came to the resolution of forming the two great gates, still wanting to the church of San Giovanni, of solid bronze, inviting all the most distinguished masters in Italy to appear at Florence, in order to make trial of their skill. Out of innumerable candidates seven were chosen, to whom salaries were appointed, iti order that they might produce within the first vear the subject of the sacrifice of Isaac, in an historic piece of bronze, similar to those placed in the first gate of the same temple from the hand of Andrew Pisano, in 1340, in forming which the three modes of the full, half, and low relief were all employed. By the choice of thirty four persons, excellently skilled in a knowledge of the arts, I-orenzo Ghiberti, then only twenty-three, was fixed upon to conduct this great work, the cost of which was 22,000 florins, and which has since been looked upon as a master-piece of art. tor the cupola was appointed Filippo di Ser Brunelleschi, who prevailed upon the direc- tors of the Dome and the " consoli dell' arte della Lana" not to con- fine their invitations to Italian architects in contending for this great undertaking, but to request the services of those most distinguished among other nations, by giving orders to the Florentine merchants in France, England, Germany, and Spain, to spare no labour or expense to induce the princes of those countries to send tlie best artists to Flo- rence. In a short period after there were there assembled the most celebrated masters of the age, from all of whom Filippo bore away the palm, as well in design as in the works he executed. 458 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLT " I, then, offend jou," said I, " madam, by becoming an agent for your excellencies, and exerting myself to the utmost to have you well served. Consider seriously, that if your excellencies are willing to permit every artist to produce a model of Neptune, even though you are resolved to give the preference to Bandinello's, this will excite him, for his own honour, to exert himself with more ardour in making a beautiful model, than he Avould have done if he )iad had no competitor : thus will your excellencies be better served, and will avoid discouraging your excellent school ; and will likewise see who applies closest to this admirable art, — I mean in the grand style ; and you will appear both to delight in it, and be judges of its beauties." The duchess then told me, in a passion, that I tired her pa- tience ; that she was resolved the marble should be Ban- dinello's ; adding, that the duke himself was determined that Bandinello should have it. When the duchess ceased speaking, the duke, who had continued silent all the time, replied : " It is now twenty years since I caused this line piece of mai'ble to be dug up out of the quarry on purpose for Bandinello, and therefore it is my pleasure that he should have it, and it shall be his." I thereupon turned to the duke, and begged it as a favour that he would give me leave just to say four words to him for his excellency's advantage. The duke bade me say whatever I thought proper, telling me that he would listen with attention. I then said, " You are to understand, my lord, that the marble of which Bandinello made Hercules and Cacus was faken out of the quarry by the renowned Michel Angelo Buonarroti, who made for it a model of Samson with four figures, which would have been one of the first pieces in the whole world ; and your favourite Bandinello made of it only two figures, both ill executed, and put together in the most bungling manner. Therefore the admirable school of Florence still exclaims against the great injury that was done to that fine piece of marble. I really believe there were above a thousand sonnets posted up to ridicule that wretched performance, and I am sure your excellency re- members the thing very well. If, therefore, my worthy lord, the men to whose care that business w^as intrusted were so injudicious as to take so valuable a piece rf marble CH. XLV.] THE DUKE DECIDES IN HIS FAVOUR. 459 from Michel Angelo, and give it to Bandinello, who spoiled it, as it evidently apjjcars ; can you ever think of suffering the aime person to spoil tliis other much liner block, and not g.ve it tcv come other artist of abilities capable of doing it justice? Give orders, my lord, for each artist to make a model ; let them all be laid before the academy ; your ex- cellency will then hear its opinion concerning them, and with your usual judgment be able to choose the best: thus you will avoid throwing away your money, and discouraging a scliool which is now the most renowned in the world, and reflects such honour on your excellency." The duke, after having listened very attentively, rose on a sudden from table, and turning to me, said, " Go, my friend Benvenuto, make a model, and endeavour to win that fine piece of marble, for I am sensible that what you say is just." The duchess shook her head at me, and muttered something as if she were angry ; but I, bowing to their excellencies, made all the haste I could to return to Florence, being quite impatient to begin the model. The dufce was no sooner arrived at Florence, than, without giving me any previous notice, he came to my house, when I showed him two little models quite different from each other. He praised them both, but added that one of them pleased him much more than the other ; and bidding me finish that which he was pleased with, told me I should find my account in it. As his excellency had seen those made by Bandinello and the other artists, he greatly preferred mine to the rest, for so I was informed by several courtiers who had heard him. Amongst other circum- stances worthy of being related, one was, that the Cardinal di Santa Fiore being come to Florence, the duke carried him with him to Poggio a Cajano : by the way the cardinal seeing the piece of marble above mentioned, praised it higldy, and asked wlio his excellency intended should work upon it. The duke answered, " My Bei.venuto, wbg- has drawn me an excellent model." Tliis was repeated to me by persons wortliy of credit, and on that account I waited on the duchess, and carried her some pretty little trifles of my making, which her excellency liked very much. She asked me what I was at thiV time about? I answered, " Madam, I have undertaken ♦60 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [cH. XLV. one of the most laborious tasks in the world by way of amusement : the task I mean is a Christ crucified, of the whitest marble, upon a cross of the blackest, and as big as the life." Upon her asking me what I proposed to do with it, I thus replied : " I assure you, madam, I would not sell it for two thousand ducats ; for no man ever took so much pains with a piece of work ; nor could I have undertaken to make such a one for any nobleman, for fear of discovering my want of capacity, and being put to con- fusion. I bought the marble with my own money, and kept a young man about two years to assist me ; and what with purchasing marble and tools, and paying him a salary, the work has stood me in above three hundred crowns, so that I again declare I would not give it for two thousand ducats : but if your excellency will do me one favour, I will freely make you a present of it : all I desire is, that you will be neutral with respect to the models of a Neptune which the duke has ordered to be made of the great marble." The duchess answered with great indignation, " It seems then you neither value my interest nor my opposition? " I replied, " You quite mistake me, madam; I know very well the consequence of both : why else do I offer you what I value at two thousand ducats ? But I rely so much on my diligence and acquired know- ledge, that I have good hopes of winning the prize, even if it were disputed with me by the great Michel Angelo Buonarroti, from whom alone I learned all I know : and I would much rather that he who knows so much should make a model, than the others that know so little; for much honour might be won by entering the lists with my renowned master; but there can be very little in con- tending with inferior artists." When I had made an end of speaking, the duchess rose angrily; and I returned to my model, working at it with all assiduity. As soon as I had finished it, the duke came to see it, accompanied by two ambassadors, one from the Duke of Ferrara, the other from the republic of Lucca. My model gave high satisfiiction, and the duke said to the ambassadors, " Benvenuto deserves the prize." Thereupon both the noble personages complimented me highly, especially the ambassador of the republic of Lucca, CH. XLV. ] SPEECH TO THE DUKE. 461 who was a man of learning, and had taken the degree of doctor. I retired to some distance, that they might speak their sentiments freely. When I found they were favourable to me, I approached, and turning to the duke, said, " My lord, your excellency should have recourse to another expedient, which is to give orders that each artist should make a model of earth exactly of the same size as the marble statue; by which means your excellency wiU be much better able to tell who deserves the preference. And I must farther take the liberty to observe, that if you give the prize to an artist who is not deserving of it, you will not so much injure the person that has merit as yourself, for both loss and shame will result to you from such a decision : w^hereas, by a contrary conduct, that is, by giving it to him that is worthy of it, you wiU in the first place acquire great reputation ; you next will lay out your money to advantage, and men of genius will think that you delight in the polite arts, and are a judge of abilities." When I had made an end of speaking, the duke shrugged up his shoulders ; and as he was just going, the ambassador from Lucca said to him, " My lord, this Benvenuto of yours is a man of great spirit." The duke replied, " He has more spirit than you are aware of; and it would have been well for him if he had less, for he would then have obtained many gratifications which he has missed." These words were repeated to me by the ambassador, who at the same time chid me for not acting the courtier better. I answered that I wished well to my lord, was his affectionate and faithful servant, but could not stoop to the arts of flattery and adulation. Some weeks after, Bandinello died*, and it was generally thought that, besides his disorder, the grief which he felt at losing the fine piece of marble, out of which the statue of Neptune was to be made, greatly contributed to hasten his dissolution. Bandinello had heard of my making the marble • In 1559, of the Florentine year, in one of the latter months; or between February and the 25th of March, 1560, according to the Roman calendar. Respecting the last quarrel between Baccio and Cellini, and the whole story of the Fontano di Piazza, and of tlie Neptune niarhle, see the Letters of Bandinelli, i)ublished among the " Pittoriche," m, als-j Vassri, where the accounts differ from those given by Cellini. 462 MEMOIRS OF BENYENUTO CELLINI. [CU. XLV. crucifix, of which I have spoken above: he thereupon took a small piece of marble, and made that figure of Piety, vrhich is to be seen in the church of the Nunziata. As I had dedicated my crucifix to Santa Maria Novella, and had already fixed up the irons to fasten it upon, I Avanted no- thing farther but to ei'ect, on the ground under the crucifix, a little monument to be buried in after my death. The monks told me they could not grant my request, without asking leave of the overseers of the building : " Why, then," said I, " did you not consult the overseers, before you permitted me to fix the irons in this place for setting up my cruci- fix?" For this reason, I resolved not to give my work to this church of Santa Maria Novella, though the overseers afterwards came and made me an apology. I therefore re- paired to the church of the Nunziata, and told the monks that I would make them a present of my crucifix, in the same manner as I had proposed bestowing it on the church of Sta. Maria Novella ; upon Avhich the good brethren of the Nunziata bade me set up my crucifix in their church, and erect my tomb in whatever manner I thought proper. Bandinello, being informed of this, made all the haste he could to finish his figure of Piety, and requested the duchess to grant him the chapel formerly belonging to the Pazzi, which he at last with great difficulty obtained ; and, as soon as he accomplished his desire, he erected his tomb in it, which was not completely finished when he died. The duchess then said, " That she had befriended him during his life, and would continue her regard for him even after his decease ; for though he was no more, Benvenuto must never expect to have the marble in his possession." Ber-. nardone the broker, happening one day to meet me in town, told me that the duchess had given away the marble, upon which I exclaimed, " ill-fated stone ! hard, indeed, was thy lot in falling into the hands of Bandinello ! but it is a hundred times more deplorable now thou art in those of Amraanato!" I had received directions from the duke to make a model of earth, of the same size as the statue of marble was in^ tended : at the same time he ordered me to be furnished with wood and earth, and a little partition to be erected in the apartment where I had made my Perseus : he likewise CH. XLV.] ORDER FROM THE DrKE. 463 paid the wages of a workman who was to assist me. I set about my model with the utmost assiduity, made the ske- leton in wood with the greatest exactness, and brought my work happily to a conclusion. I gave myself no farther trouble about making the statue ; ibr I knew that the duchess was determined that I should not have the fine block of marble, and therefore I was in some measure in- different about it. I however took pleasure in exerting myself as I did, promising myself that as soon as I had finished it, the duchess, who did not want discernment, would, after she had seen the work, be sorry that she had done both the marble and herself so much injustice. Giovanni Fiamingo* made one model in the cloisters of St. Croce ; another was done by Vincenzio Danti f , of Perugia, in the house of Signor Ottavio de' Medici ; an- * Gio. Bologna, of Doiiay, in Flanders, devoted himself, in spite of his father's remonstrances, who wished him to embrace the law, to the cultivation of the fine arts, studying under the sculptor and engineer Beuch, his countryman. He went to Rome, where he applied his talents to modelling from tlie antifjue for several years ; and on return- ing through Florence on his way home, he became known and appre- ciated. He was invited to the house of Bernardo Vecciiietti, where he took the opportunity of making himself intimately acquainted with the works of Michel Angelo ; and, attaching himself to Florence and its society, never afterwards left it. In the competition for the Nep- tune marble, being only thirty-four years of age, his design on that occasion, according to Vasari, though the l)est among those offered to the duke, was not even noticed by him. He soon, however, became known at court, where his productions, both in marble and bronze, no Jess noble than that of the Neptune, obtained for him a high reputa- tion. His Rape of the Sabines, a fine marble group, placed at the side of Cellini's Perseus, under an arch of the Piazza at Florence, with some historical pieces in bronze at the base; his Colossus, called L' Appenino, in the Grand Ducal Villa of Pratolino ; the equestrian statue of Cosmo I., in the Piazza at Florence; and the grand Foun- tain in the Piazza of S. Petronius at Bologna, with other excellent works, both in bronze and marble, held in the highest estimation throughout most of the cities of Italy, are sufficient testimony of his admirable genius. He died in Florence, at the age of eighty-four, in the month of August, 1608. f Vincenzio Danti (w.hose grandfather, from imitating the style of the great poet, took the surname of Danti, handed down to his de- scendants) began his career as a goldsmith, and afterwards distinguished ihiiiQsclf as a sculptor and architect, and in casting in bronze. At the ftge of twenty-three, he modelled the statue o Giulio III., four ells in 464 MEMOIRS OF BEXVENUTO CELLINI. ^^CH. XLf. other was begun by the son of Moschino*, at Pisa ; and another again was made by Bartolommeo Ammanato in my working-room, which we had divided between us. When I had well bronzed it over, and was going to finish the head, the duke came from the palace, with Giorgetto the painter, to Ammanato's apartment, in order to view the .statue of Neptune, upon which Giorgetto had worked several days with his own hands, in conjunction with Am- manato and all his journeymen. I was informed, that when his excellency saw it, he appeared to be by no means satisfied ; and though Giorgetto, with his chatter, wanted to persuade him into a good opinion of the work, the duke shook his head, and turning to Signor Giorgio Stefano, bade him go ask Benvenuto whether his great model was in such forwardness that he could let him have a sight of it. Stefano thereupon, in a very kind and polite manner, delivered me this message from the duke ; adding, that if I did not think my work would yet bear inspection, I might say so without reserve, as the duke was well aware that I had not been properly seconded in an undertaking of such importance. I answered, " That I should be glad of the favour of his excellency's presence ; that even if my work were not in any great forwardness, so penetrating a genius as his excellency could easily, from the specimen, fonn a judgment of what it would prove when entirely finished." The gentleman delivered the message to the duke, who came with great cheerfulness. No sooner had he entered height, placed in the Piazza of Perugia, and considered a noble speci- men of art. By some admirable contrivances he supplied a fountain at the same place with water, which the citizens had believed to be irreparably gone. Returning to Florence, Vincenzio cast many fine pieces, and worked in marble for the duke Cosmo, Sforza Almeni, and many others, with distinguished success. Besides his excellence as an artist, he possessed considerable talent for poetry, publishing some pieces in 1567, as well as a Treatise on Perfect Proportions, which is now become extremely rare. He was selected by the duke to make designs of the Escurial for the King of Spain, which were so much approved by Philip II. that he received an immediate invitation to the Spanish court. But enjoying himself in privacy, and of a weak state of health, Vincenzio was unwilling to leave Italy ; and died shortly afterwards, at the early age of forty-six, in Perugia, May 26th, 1576. * Simone Mosca, a fanrous Florentine sculptor, whose life is given in Vasari. en. XL V.J APFAIR WITH ONE SBIETTA. 465 the room, and cast his eye upon my work, but he appeared to be highly pleased with it : he examined it on all sides, fixing particularly upon the four principal points of view, just as a complete artist might have done ; he then showed, by many gestures, that he was highly pleased with it, and said nothing fartlier but, " Benvenuto, you have the last coat to lay on still." At length he turned to his attend- ants, and spoke of my performance in the most advan- tageous terms, declaring that the little model which he saw at my house pleased him greatly, but that this work of mine had far surpassed that model.* As it pleased God, who makes all things co-operate to our advantage (I mean to the advantage of those who ac- knowledge and believe in his Divine Majesty), about this time an old rogue, from Vicchio, whose name was Pier- maria of Anterigoli, and his surname Sbietta, offered to sell rae a farm for my natural life, that is, to sell me an annuity. This man followed the business of a grazier, and, as he was related to Signor Guido Guidi the physician, who is now chief magistrate of Pescia, I readily listened to his proposal. This farm I did not choose to go to see, being impatient to finish my model of the great statue of Neptune! besides, there was no occasion for my seeing it, as he only sold me the income of it, and had given me a written ac- count of the measures of grain, wine, oil, corn, chesnuts, and other commodities, the produce of the farm ; all which, I took for granted, must, as times then were, be worth above a hundred gold crowns ; so I paid him six hundred and fifty crowns for them, including the duties. After he had given me a writing, signed with his own hand, which imported that he would, during my natural life, take care to see me paid the income of the above farm, I thought it unnecessary to go and take a view of it, but inquired whether the said Sbietta and his brother Filippo were good men, such as might be depended upon ; and was assured by several of their acquaintances that they were, and I might feel perfectly secure. We agreed to send for Pier Francesco Bertoldi the notary ; and the first thing I put • The preference here stated to have been given by the duke to the model of Cellini is expressly contradicted both by Vasari and Baldi. tucci. II H 46'^ MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [ciI. XL7. into liis hand was the written account of what Sbietta waa to make good to me, tliinking that it shouhl by all means enter into the contract ; but the notary who drew it up busied himself with two-and-twenty different articles, which were mentioned to him by Sbietta, and, as I thought, seemed to forget the main part of the contract, which waa the payment of the annuity. Whilst the notary was busied in writing, I worked on, and as he was several hours in drawing the deed, in the mean time I made a considerable part of the head of my Neptune. The instrument being at last entirely completed, Sbietta began to lavish caresses on me, as I in my turn did on him. He made me presents of kids, cheeses, capons, cakes, and a variety of different fruits, till at last I began to be quite ashamed. In return for these favours, every time he came to Florence I took him home with me from his inn, and he was frequently accompanied by some of his relations, whom I likewise in- vited to my house. One day he told me in a jocular manner, that it was a shame that after I had bought a farm, and several weeks had passed since I made the purchase, I could not dis- continue my business for a few days, and go and see it. Such an effect had his insinuations on my mind, that I at last, to my misfortune, did comply with his desire. Sbietta received me with such caresses and outward ceremony, that he could not have done more for a duke, and his wife seemed to be still fonder of me than her husband ; which continued for a time, till what he and his brother Filippo had con- certed between them had taken effect. At the same time I went on with my work, and had already sketched out the whole with an exactness unknown to any artist before me : so that, though I was su re not to get the marble, for the reasons assigned, I thought myself upon the point of finishing and exhibiting it in the public square for my own satisfaction. The weather was warm and pleasant, so that being much importuned by the two villains above mentioned, I set out from my villa on Wednesday, which was doubly a holiday, for Trespiano*, and ate a good breakfast on my arrival at " It appears in one of the Ricordi of Cellini, dated tbe 26th Octo- ber, 1558, that on the same day he purchased a country seat at Tres^ CH. XLV.] RECEIVED WITH GREAT COURTESY. 467 Vicchio. * I met Filippo the priest, at the very gate of Vicchio, who seemed to know where I was going, and to be extremely fond of my company. He conducted me to Sbietta's house, where was his shameless wife, who likewise seemed lavish of her caresses to me : I made her a present of a straw hat, and she declared that she had never seen a finer. Sbietta happened not to be then at home. Evening approaching, we all supped together very cheerfully ; and when it was time to retire, I was shown into a handsome apartment, where I slept in an exceeding good bed, and my two servants were accommodated in a manner agreeablo to their station. The same caresses were repeated when I rose in the morning. I went to take a view of my farm, with which I was highly pleased, and a certain quantity of corn and all sorts of grain were given me. I then returned to Vicchio, and Filippo said to me at our parting, " Ben- venuto, don't be under any apprehensions ; for though you have not received as much as was promised you, you must not be disheartened, for you will meet with an ample com- pensation, as you have honest people to deal with. I must, however, caution you against yon labourer, whom we have turned off, because he is a rogue." This labourer, whose name was Mariano Rosselli, often said to me, " Take caro of yourself, or you will know to your cost, who amongst us is the greatest villain." When that country-fellow spoke to me in this manner, he smiled archly and shook his head, as much as to say, " You will one day find that I speak the truth!" I was guilty of an error in judgment, but was not at all mistaken in what happened to me. Returning from my farm, which is about two miles distant from Vicchio to- wards the Alps, I met Filippo the priest, who received me with his usual caresses ; so we breakfasted together. I then went to take a walk about the town of Vicchio, and the market was already begun. I perceived that I was stared at by all the inhabitants of the place, as an object they were not at all accustomed to ; above all by a worthy piano from Cristofano Buontalenti. The villa is situated to the north-cast of Florence. • Vicchio is situated on the left bank of the Arno, about sevtn milea to the east of Florence, and six to the south of Trespiano. B u 2 468 MEMOIKS OF BENVENtJTO CELLINI. [CH. XLT. man who had lived many years in the town, and whose Tvife made bread for sale. This honest person had, at about a mile's distance, some lands of his own, though he chose lo live in that manner : he rented a house of mine iu Vicchio, which fell to me with the farm known by the name of the Fountain. As we happened to fall into con- versation, he said to me, " I live in your house, and will pay you your rent when it becomes due ; or if you choose to receive it before-hand you may, for I am resolved we shall have no disputes." Whilst we were thus talking togethei", I perceived that the man several times fixed his eyes upon me attentively ; so I could not help saying to him, " Dear Giovanni, why do you look at me with such earnestness ?" The worthy man made answer, " I will tell you with all my heart, if you promise upon your honour not to discover your author." I solemnly promised him that I would not. He thereupon continued, " You must understand then, this vile priest Signor Filippo a few days ago went about making his boasts of the great feats of his brother Sbietta, and declaring that he had sold a farm of his for life to an old man, who would never see the end of the year. You have a number of villains to deal with ; therefore take care of yourself, and be constantly upon your guard : I say no more." In my walks up and down the town, I met Giambattista Santini, and both he and I were invited to supper by the priest. It was then between five and six, and supper had been ordered at this early hour on my account, for I had declared my intention of returning in the evening to Tres- piano. Supper was, therefore, prepared in all haste, and Sbietta's wife was very active on the occasion, as was like- wise one Cecchino Buti, a servant of theirs. As soon as the salads were dressed, and the guests began to sit down to table, the villain of a priest made a sort of a wry face, and said, " I must ask pardon of you all, but I cannot pos- sibly have the pleasure of supping with you, for an afiair of great consequence has since happened, in which my brother Sbietta is concerned ; and as he is not in the way himself, I am under a necessity of supplying his place." We all pressed him to stay, but not being able to prevail ou him to alter his purpose, we sat down to supper. Aa CH. XLV.] NAR.IOWLY ESCAPES BEING POISONED. 469 soon as we had eaten the salads off certain little dishes, the boiled meat beginning to be served about, porringers were distributed to all the guests. Santino, who sat op- posite to me at a table, said, " They give you napkins quite different from the rest : did you ever see finer ? " I told him that I had nev3r once perceived it. He then bade me call to the wife of Sbietta, who, with Cecchino Buti, ran up and down in a constant hurry, and desire her to sit down at table. I used so many entreaties, that I at last prevailed on the woman to take her place. She was sorry, she said, we did not like our supper, which appeared by our eating so little. After having several times praised the entertainment, assuring her that I had never tasted any thing better, or with a better appetite, I at last told her I had eaten enough. I could not immediately guess why she pressed me so earnestly to eat. When we had done supper it was past eight o'clock, and I had a mind to return that night to Trespiano, in order to have it in my power to re- sume my business in the morning. So I took my leave of the rest of the guests, and having returned the hostess thanks, set out upon my journey. I had scarcely travelled three miles when I felt my stomach burn dreadfully, and was tormented with such pangs that I thought it an age till I arrived at my farm of Trespiano. I with great difficulty reached the place thai night, and immediately went to bed. The whole night I had no rest, my bowels being violently disordered. No sooner was it broad daylight, than I felt my brain all on fire. I soon found reason to conclude that I had eaten something of a poisonous nature, and began to revolve within myself what it could possibly be. I recollected the dishes and porringers that were given me by Sbiettas wife, which appeared so different from those set before the rest of the company. I at the same time called to mind that the designing priest, Sbietta's brother, after having taken so much pains to make me welcome, did not choose to stay to sup with us. It farther occurred to my memory, that this priest had boasted of his brother's having made a fine bargain, in selling a farm for life to an old man wlio would never see the end of the year ; for these words had been repeated to me by the worthy del Sardella : so J con- U H 3 470 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLV. eluded that they had given me in a porringer of sauce, which was very high seasoned, and extremely palatable, a dose of sublimate, as sublimate produces all the symptoms with which my illness was attended. I never, indeed, was used to eat much sauce or savoury things with my vic- tuals, but to be content with salt alone. I, however, took two spoonfuls of the sauce in question, as it was extremely relishing : and I recollected that Sbietta's wife had several times pressed me to eat of it ; as likewise, that they had recourse to a variety of artifices to make me take the de- structive sublimate. Though I found myself thus disordered, I went to work at my great modelof Neptune, but my illness in a few days so overpowered me, that I was confined to my bed. As soon as the duchess heard that I had been taken ill, she ordered the unfortunate marble to be put into the hands of Bartolom- meo Ammanato, who sent me word that I might do what I pleased with my model, for he had won the marble so much contested. I did not, upon hearing this, act like his master Bandinello, who was used to launch out into a su- perfluity of words : I contented myself with saying, that I had always guessed it would turn out so ; and desired Bartolommeo to exert his utmost efforts in showing himself worthy of the favour which fortune had conferred on him. Thus I continued very ill, confined to my bed, and was attended by that skilful physician Signor Francesco di Monte Varchi, and by a surgeon named Raffaello de' Pilli. The sublimate had so burnt up my bowels, that I could not retain my food a moment ; but as Signor Francesco found that the poison had entirely exhausted its power of hurting, for it was unable to subdue that strength of nature, which he perceived to be in my constitution, he said to me one day, " Benvenuto, return thanks to God : you have got the better of your disorder. Be under no apprehsnsion, for I am resolved to cure you in spite of the villains who en- deavoured to bereave you of life." Eaffaello de' Pilli then cried out, " This will be one of the greatest and most dif- ficult cures that was ever heard of. Do you know, Benve- nuto, that you swallowed a whole spoonful of sublimate ? " At these words Signor Francesco interrupting him, said, " Perhaps, there was some poisonous insect in it." I then CH. XLVT.] FAVOURED BT DON FRANCESCO. 471 told them, that I knew to a certainty what sort of poison it was, and who gave it me ; and here we were all silent. They attended me above six months, and it was above a year before I was able to resume my business. CHAPTER XL VI. Cellini upon his recovery is particularly favoured by Don Francesco the duke's son. — Injustice done him by the magistrates in a law- suit between him and Sbietta. — He appeals to the duke, but meets with no redress. — Further injustice done him in his dispute with Sbietta, by the treachery of Rafiaello Schieggia. — The duke and duchess pay him a visit, and he presents them with a marble crucifix. — They are both reconciled to him, and promise him every sort of assistance and encouragement. — A proposal is made him by Catharine de' Medici, queen dowager of France, to settle in that kingdomanderect a magnificent mausoleum to her husband Henry II. — This the duke prevents. — The Cardinal de' Medici dies, which occasions much grief at the court of Florence. — Cellini in great anguish of mind sets out for Fisa. About this time (October, 1560), the duke went to Siens to make his public entry into that city, and Ammanato had repaired thither some months before to erect the triumphal arches ; on this occasion a natural son of Ammanato's, who continued to occupy the room where he worked, re- moved a sort of veil which I had thrown over my model of Neptune to keep it from being seen. I immediately went to make a complaint of this to Don Francesco, the duke's son, who always appeared to be my friend. I represented to him that they had uncovered my figure, which was still imperfect, but that, if it had been finished, it would have given me no concern at all. To this the prince answered, shaking his head, " Benvcnuto, do not give yourself any trouble about covering the figure, for they think theirs much superior to yours ; but if you require it to be kept covered, I will instantly give orders accordingly." To these words his excellency added many more highly to my advantage, in the presence of several noblemen. I then requested him to give me an oi)portunity of finishing it, as I proposed making a present of it, as well as the little u II 4 472 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLVT. model, to his excelieiicj. He replied, that with pleasure he accepted of both,- and would order all the conveniences to be given me, that I could require in my business. So I subsisted upon this little fixvour, which in some measure restored my health ; for so many ills and calamities had befallen me, that I began to sink under them, but, upon this glimmering of princely encouragement, I began to comfort myself with some hopes of life. A year being now expired since my purchasing the farm of Fonte from Sbietta, and finding that, besides all the in- juries he had done me, both by poison and by chicane, the ftirm did not produce what he had promised : as I had, be- sides the contract, a writing signed by Sbietta's own hand, who had entered into an engagement before witnesses to pay me the yearly product of the farm ; I addressed myself to the magistrates of the city of Florence. At that time, Signor Alfonso Quistello was living : he was superintend- ent of the treasury, and sat with the other councillors, amongst whom were Averardo Serristori and Federigo de' Ricci. I cannot recollect the names of them all, but amongst them there was one of the Alessandri : let it suf- fice to observe that they were all persons of great distinc- tion. When I had laid my case before those magistrates, they were unanimously of opinion that Sbietta should re- fund the money he had received from me, except Federigo de' Ricci, who at that time had connections with Sbietta. All the rest expressed their concern that Federigo de' Ricci should prevent them from deciding in my favour : amongst others, Averardo Serristori was particularly cla- morous on the occasion, as was likewise one of the Ales- sandri. Federigo having at last so protracted the cause that the magistrates put an end to the time of their sitting, the gentlemen above mentioned came up to me one morn- ing in the square of the Nunziata, when the magistrates had all left the court, and said with a loud voice: "Fede- rigo de' Ricci has been too powerful for us all, so that you lost your cause in spite of us." I shall make no observa- tion on this subject for fear of offending those at the helm of government : let it sutfice to say, that I lost my cause on account of a rich citizen, who employed the grazier from whom I had bought my farm. CH. XLVI.] SOLICITS nis DISSnSSAL. 473 The duke being at Leghorn, I waited on his excellency to solicit him to dismiss me, perceiving that I had entirely recovered my health and strength : as I found myself quite out of employment I was displeased with a state of indo- lence ; so I formed a resolution to go directly to Leghorn, where I found the duke, and met with the most gracious reception. I made some stay in that town, and every day rode out with his excellency, so that I had a fair opportu- nity of saying whatever I thought proper to him. The duke used to ride several miles out of Leghorn by the sea- side, where he was building a little fortress * ; and that he might not be troubled with too great a number of attendants, he chose to have me witli him as a companion. One day finding myself caressed by liis excellency in a particular manner, I formed .a resolution to turn the conversation to Sbietta, that is, Pier Maria of Anterigoli, and thus ex- pressed myself: " My lord, I must lay before your excel- lency a most extraordinary case, by hearing which you will know the cause that prevented me from finishing tlie eartlien ISeptune, on which I was employed in my workshop. You are to understand that I purchased a farm of Sbietta for life:" — Let it here suffice that I gave the duke a circum- stantial account of the whole affair, never in the least devi- ating from the truth, or dashing it with the smallest mixture of falsehood. "When I came to the affair of the poison, I said that if ever my services had been acceptable to his excellency, he should, instead of punishing Sbietta and those who had administered the poison, confer some reward on them ; for they had not given me a sufficient dose to kill me, but just enough to remove a dangerous viscosity, which I had in my stomach and intestines ; and it operated in such a manner, that whereas in my former state of health I might have lived only three or four years, this extraor- • The facts here stated chiefly relate to the beginning of the year 1561. When the duke visited Siuna, to give new directions respecting the government, and to take measures of defence, by strengthening the fortress formerly erected by the Spaniards, and proceeding along the line of coast long exposed to the incursions of the infidels, he caused new fortifications to be raised, particularly at Grosetto, on the site of Castiglione and Livorno, and personally superintended the building o/ new galleys. 474 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLVL dinary sort of physic had produced such an effect, that 1 reckoned upon having gained a new lease of twenty years : in short, I found myself better than ever, and returned thanks to the Almighty, being sensible that the saying which I had so often heard was verified, namely, that God afflicts us occasionally for our good. The duke listened to me with the utmost attention while we rode above two miles together, and only once exclaimed, " O the wicked people !" I concluded with observing that I was highly obliged to them, and entered upon more agreeable topics of conversation. I one day accosted him just at the right season, and finding him in a humour that suited my purpose, requested his excellency to dismiss me, that I might no longer lose my time ; adding, that I was still able to work, and that as to what remained due to me for my Perseus, his excellency might pay me whenever he thought proper. I at the same time returned him thanks in a long speech, and with much ceremony ; yet he made me no answer, but appeared to be highly offended. The day following, Signor Bartolomraeo Concino, one of his excellency's chief secretaries, said to me in a sort of bravado, " The duke declares that if you desire to be dis- missed you may, but that if you choose to work he will employ you ; and it were to be wished you could execute as much as his excellency will please to order." I made answer, " That I desired nothing more than to be employed, especially by his excellency, whose service I preferred to that of any other great personage living, whether pope, emperor, or king ;" adding, " that I should be better pleased to serve him for a penny than another for a ducat." He replied, that if my sentiments were such as I represented them, I need say no more, for we were both perfectly agreed. " Return," said he, " to Florence, and be of good cheer : the duke wishes you well." Accordingly I returned to Florence. As soon as I arrived at this city, a person of the name of Raffaello Schieggia, who worked in gold tissue, called at my house, and told me that he wanted to make up matters between me and Pier Maria Sbietta. I answered him, that the magistrates of Florence alone could settle affairs be- tween us ; and that Sbietta must not always expect to have CH. XLVI.J CHICANiSRY OF SBIETTA. 473 upon the bench a Federigo de' Ricci, ready, for a present of two fat kids, to take his part, without fear of God, or regard for his own honour, and shamefully violate justice and right. When I had uttered these words, with many others to the same effect, this Raffaello continued to re- monstrate with me, that it was better to eat a thrush in peace than a large cajjon, if it could not be had without broils and contention. He added, that a lawsuit is often spun out to such a length that it would be more for my interest to dedicate that time to making some elegant piece of work, by which I should acquire much greater reputation as well as emolument. As I was sensible that his observa- tion was just, I began to listen to what he had to propose; so that he soon compromised matters between us in the manner following. Sbietta was to take the farm of me. and pay me for it regularly seventy gold crowns per annum during ray natural life. When we were come to have the contract drawn up, which was to be done by Signer Gio- vanni di Ser Matteo da Falgano, Sbietta said, in the manner we had settled it the farm would produce more, and could not possibly fail ; therefore it was better that we should make the lease for five years, adding, that he would adhere inviolably to his engagement, without ever giving occasion to any other suit. The same promises were made in the most solemn manner by the rogue of a priest, his brother, so the contract was drawn up for the term of five years. As it is my intention to enter upon another subject, and to have done with this mystery of iniquity, I shall only take notice of what passed during fifteen years after making out the last lease. The two villains, instead of keeping any of the promises they had made me, were for returning me my farm, and did not choose to keep the lease of it any longer. I complained very much of this usage, and they had re- course to such chicanery with regard to the contract, that I had no resource agains^t their indirect proceedings. When I perceived this, I told them that the duke and the prince his son would not suffer them to do such flagrant injustice to a citizen of Florence. This menace so terrified them, that they again sent to me the same Raffiiello Schieggia, who had made up matters between us at first, to declare that they were not willing to pay me the seventy gold 476 MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. [CH. XLVL crowns they had done for five years past. I made answer that I would take nothing less. RatFaello came to me and said, " My friend Benvenuto, you know very well that I am in your interest : they have all referred the affair to me." Thereupon he showed me a writing with their names signed to it. I, who was not aware that Raffaello was their near relation, thought myself in very good hands ; so I left the management of the affair entirely to him. This rogue came to me one evening, within half an hour of nightfall, in the month of August, and made use of many arguments and persuasions to prevail on me to sign the contract whilst I was alone, because he knew that if he deferred it till the morning the trick would be discovered. So the contract was signed, by which he engaged to pay me regularly sixty- five crowns a year in two payments, during the course of my natural life : and though I made a great stir about the affair, and would by no means submit to such terms, he showed the writing with my name to i-t, which made all that saw it declare me to be in the wrong. The fellow at the same time afiirmed, that what he had done had been for my good, and that he was entirely in my interest ; so, as neither the notary, nor any body else, knew of his being related to my adversaries, I was condemned by the general voice : I therefore gave up the contest in time, and shall endeavour to do the best I can for the future. — I likewise committed another capital error in the month of December of the following year, 1566. I purchased half the farm of Poggio from them, that is, from Sbietta and the rest, for two hundred crowns. This farm borders upon my other of Fonte, and I let it to them for three years. Herein I thought I acted wisely. I should become too prolix were I to give a full account of all the ill-usage I received from these people : I therefore leave the whole affair to the Almighty, who has always espoused my cause against those who have injured me. Having completely finished my marble crucifix, T thought that if I raised it a few cubits above the ground, it would appear to much greater advantage than if it were placed immediately upon it; so I began to show it to whomsoever had a mind to see such an exhibition. The duke and duchess, being informed of this, one day, upon their return CH. XLVT.] THE DUKE AND DUCHESS VISIT HIM. 477 from Pisa, came unexpectedly with a grand retinue to my workshop, in order to see this image of Christ upon the cross. It pleased them so highly, that their excellencies, as well as all the nobility and gentry present, bestowed the highest encomiums on me.* When I found that it gave them such satisfaction, by their extolling it to the skies, 1 said, that the reason of my producing such a work was, their having deprived me of the fine Neptune marble ; and though I had undergone infinite labour in its execution, yet with pleasure I made them a present of it, thinking none more worthy of that fine piece of work than their ex- cellencies : I only requested, that before they departed they would vouchsafe to enter my humble habitation. At these words they rose with great complaisance, and, leaving the shop, entered my house, where they perceived my little model of Neptune, and the fountain which the duchess had never seen before. So greatly was her excellency affected with the sight, that she burst into a loud exclamation of surprise, and, addressing herself to the duke, said, " I de- clare, my lord, I could never have formed a conception of any thing so beautiful." The duke answered her more than once, "Did I not tell you it would prove so?" Thus they talked a long time in praise of my abilities, and the duchess seemed, as it were, to ask pardon for her past treatment of me. She told me that it was her pleasure I should make choice of a piece of marble myself, and begin immediately to work upon it. To these kind words I made answer, that if they gave me the means, I should, for their sake, * However desirous Cellini seems to have been to reserve his work, of the Crucifixion as an ornament for his own tomb (see p. 462.), he resolved to relinquish it in favour of his patroness the duchess. He received a message from the duke, through M. Guido Guidi, saying that he should be glad to " have that figure of Christ," as appears also from one of Cellini's Ricordi, dated July 1561. It was not, however, accepted as it was meant ; as in another of the Ricordi, of the date of February, 1565, given also in the preface to Cellini's Treatises, we learn that the duchess informed him, through Concini, that she wished to pay him the full value of it; and that in fact the duke gave 1500 crowns, and ordered it to be deposited in the Palazzo Pitti, in August 1565. From thence it was sent to Spain, in 1577, intended as a pre- sent from the Grand Duke Francesco I. to King Philip II., who had it placed in the church of the Escurial as an ornament to the choir. — S^e Vasari's account of it. 478 MEMOIRS OP BENVENUrO CELLINI. [CH.XLVI cheerfully engaore in so arduous an undertaking. The duke replied, " Benvenuto, you shall have all the helps you re- quire, and I likewise shall give you some of my own con- triving which will be far more effectual than the others." Having expressed himself in these obliging terms, he with- drew, together with the duchess, and left me highly pleased. Several weeks, however, passed without my being taken any farther notice of; insomuch that, seeing no orders given for furnishing me with what I wanted, I began to be half distracted and in despair. At this very juncture the Queen-dowager of France despatched Signor Baccio del Bene to our duke, to solicit the loan of a sum of money : the duke in the kindest man- ner granted her request ; at least so it was generally re- ported.* As Signor Baccio del Bene and I were intimate friends, we were very glad to see each other ; and he gave me an account of all the favours conferred on him by his excellency. Upon this occasion he asked me what works I had in hand : I mentioned to him the affair of Neptune and the fountain, and all the duchess had done to injure me. He then told me that the queen had a strong desire to finish the sepulchral monument of her husband, king Henry; and that Daniel of Volterraf had undertaken to * In his History of Tuscany, in the year 1562, Galluzzi says, that the queen -mother despatched Baccio del Bene to the Duke Cosmo for pecuniary aid, who sent him back with the sum of 100,000 ducats. This Baccio appears to have been often employed on similar embassies, being again sent in 1567. f Daniello Ricciarelli da Volterra, an artist of considerable merit, for which however he was more indebted to a close attention and study of his art than to any superiority of genius. He studied under Gio. Antonio Razzi and Baldassar Peruzzi, in Tuscany ; and in Rome, under Pierino del Vaga : but after painting several excellent pieces, amongst which was one in fresco, a " Christ taken down from the Cross," justly admired by the first artists in Rome, and placed in the Chiesa della Trinita de' Monti, in the time of Paul IV., he relin- quished this branch of art, devoting himself wholly to casting and sculpture. Being of a slow genius, he produced few specimens, except those in stucco, held in high estimation, in addition to the horse here mentioned oy Cellini, as left unfinished. Vasari, in his life of Ricei- arelli mentions it at length, and says that after the death cf Henry II killed in a tournament on the 4th of July, 1559, his widcw, the que«B Catfcarine de' Medici, sent Ruberto Strozzi to Rome, in jrder to coo» en. XLVI.] THE DUKK AVnX NOT PART WITH IIBI. 479 make a great horse of bronze for that purpose : but he was too far advanced in years, and the monument required a variety of ornaments ; so that, if I chose to retui-n to France, and again take possession of my castle, I should be abun- dantly supplied with whatever I wanted, in case I was willing to serve her majesty. I desired Baccio to apply to the duke, telling him, that if his excellency consented, I would return to France with pleasure. Baccio then told me in high glee, that we should set out for France together, looking upon the aifair as concluded. The day following he happened to have an interview with the duke, when he took occasion to speak of me, and told his excellency that, if it were agreeable to him, the queen his mistress would take me into her service. The duke made answer : "Ben- venuto is a man of great genius, as every body knows ; but now he chooses to work no longer." Thus the conversation was changed to other topics. The next day I repaired to Baccio, who repeated to me all that had passed between him and the duke. Upon which I began to be quite out of patience : " If," said I, " when his excellency did not employ me, I of myself exe- cuted one of the most difficult pieces of work that ever was seen, which cost me upwards of two hundred crowns, what would have been the result in case his excellency had set me to work ? I must say he does me wrong : he has hurt me greatly." The gentleman repeated this answer of mine to the duke, who declared that he had been jesting, and what he meant was to keep me in his own service. This provoked me greatly, and I had several times a great mind to decamp. The Queen of France did not care to propose suit with IMiclicl Angelo on a monument in honour of the deceased king ; but Michel Angelo, declining the undertaking on account of his advanced age, advised him to apply to Ricciarelli, at the same time giving his opinion upon the subject. After much deliberation, it was determined that Ricciarelli should cast a horse in bronze, one sixth larger than that of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, which stands in the Campidoglio, with the figure of the king in bronze, armed ready for the joust. But owing to the Pope's insisting on the completion of other works llicciarelli had in hand, he was repeatedly interrupted and prevented from bringing this statue to a conclusion. Being of (Uli^ate health, and too eager to comi)lete his work, he fell into a gradual de- cline, which carried him off in the 57th year of hi^ age. 48() MEMOIRS or BENVENUTO CELLINI. [^CU, XL VI, the thing any more to the duke, for fear of offending him ; so that I was obliged to stay, much against my will. About this time the duke Avent a journey with his whole court, and his sons, excepting only the prince, who was then in Spain : they travelled along the sea-coast of Siena, and in that manner arrived at Pisa. The unwholesome air affected the cardinal before any of the rest, so that he was attacked by a malignant fever, which in a few days put an end to his life.* He was one of the duke's chief supports, and * Cosmo I. having a great inclination, as well as his sons, for the chase, he was accustomed to pass most part of the hunting season or. the downs near the sea, returning during the more inclement months to Pisa. He left Florence with all his family in 1562, and going through Siena, thence proceeded along the sea coasts to the castle of Rosignano, a situation well adapted to the chase. Instead of pleasures, hon-ever, Cosmo experienced only a series of misfortunes in this expe- dition. Between the 21st of Novemher and the 18th of December, the same year, he lost his son the cardinal, his third son Don Garzia, and his wife Donna Leonora, while his fourth son Francesco lay ex- tremely ill. He had, also, the additional mortification to find that from these very calamities arose fresh griefs, even of a more poignant nature, in reports industriously spread and believed, which cast disgraceful im- putations upon his family. Giovanni Strozzi has some allusion to it in the following letter to his master, dated December 7th : " 1 am sorry to have to inform you, that a report prevails here, founded on letters received by several prelates from Rome, relating to the death of the illustrious Cardinal Giovanni, stating that he died of a wound inflicted by the hand of his brother, while engaged in the chase. The letters arrived yesterday, thougii I since hear that secret information to the same efFect had been received many days, only now divulged from a variety of sources. The secretary and I endeavour, both by argument and ridicule, to show the falsehood of such idle and scandalous reports, at which I am sensible your excellency will be displeased, but still it is my duty to acquaint you with them. Your excellency will, thus, per- ceive what is going forward, and the quarter ( Rome) from whence it proceeds." We must observe that in this city, there were likewise many Florentine exiles, decided enemies to the Medici, who were glad to give countenance to the report. The truth is, that the cardinal with h)s two brothers, Don Garzia and Don Ferdinando, having fallen sick about the same time (as indeed the duke gave information to his eldest son. on the 21st November), the former, after three weeks' illness, died on the 6th December, at Pisa; and on the 18th his mother Donna Leonora, who had long laboured under a slow fever, followed him to the tomb. From the suddenness of this, and other circumstances, the gravest historians, such as Adriani and Ammirato, were uviable lo con. vince the world of the absurdity and falsehood of such v" acoow^t CH XLVI.] GUIEF OF THE COURT. 481 highly beloved by him, being a person of great virtues and abilities ; consequently his loss was severely I'elt. I let several days pass, till I thought their tears and grief must in some measure have subsided ; and then I repaired to Pisa. [Here ends Benvenuto Cellini's n.anuscript.] Even Meccati, in his Chronological History of Florence, relates, tl)at " The Cardinal Giovanni having gone out to hunt with Din Garziii, his younger brother, there arose a dispute as to which of them had the best title to the quarry ; when Don Garzia, in an impulse of passion, wounded his brother the cardinal, in such a manner that he died of it within four days. His father, transported with indignation, was al)out to sacrifice Garzia to his fury, when he took refuge in his mother's arms, who, having somewhat appeased her husband, led her son hack to entreat pardon at his father's feet. 15at Cosmo, giving way to lage, stabbed Don Garzia on the spot, who fell dead in his mother's presence, who stood transfixed with terror, and died of a broken heart, for the loss of her two sons within a short time." INIuratori, in his Annals, after alluding to the death of Cosmo's two sons, proceeds to state with the utmost gravity several improbable circumstances: " It was very generally believed at that time, tiiat, the brothers being at variance, Don Garzia in a transport of passion slew his brother the cardinal, while hunting together at a distance from their attendants. The Duke Cosmo ordered the body to be placed in a private apartment, where he sent for Garzia, sup])osed to be the perpetrator of the deed. The mo- ment he entered, the blood from the wounds of the deceased was ob- served to flow afresh, and Cosmo seizing the sword of Garzia, killed him with his own hand: while it was given out that they had both died suddenly of a fever. What truth there may he in such a report, it is quite iinpossible to say. It is certain, however, that their mother Donna Leonora di Toledo, overpowered with grief, shortly followed her cliildren to the tomb." In answer to this, the letters of the Duke Cosmo on the occasion are well known, and express all the grief and affection which a kind father might be suj)posed to feel, without dis- covering the least traces of design. From these the two sons seem to have been equally beloved. Don Garzia is first mentioned as beinji unwell, together with Don Ferdinando, who is repeatedly mentioned as " My poor angel of a boy." Nor do we think that the duke would have deposited the remains of his children in the same vault, the fratri- cide with his victim, had there been any truth in such a report. Al- lieri, however, has availed liimsclf of this domestic calamity, to exhibit a political romance, in liis celebrated tragedy of Don Garzia, which, tht.ugh excellent as a drama, will always, to persons at all acquaint«:d with history, seem improbable and absurd. II .SUPPLEMENT MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. From the period of the death of the Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, in 1562, at which event the narrative of Cellini breaks off, this celebrated artist, then in the 62d year of his age, does not appear to have been engaged in any work of much importance. After the execution of his grand achieve- ment of the Perseus, indeed, the account of his life seems to have been the most successful of all the labours of his remaining years. Many extracts from a note-book which lie kept, containing various memoranda (called ricordi) of liis domestic and professional transactions, have been pre- served, and even published ; but these are in general trivial and uninteresting. They have, however, furnished a few tacts, which, amongst other information, are here connected into a succinct account of our author, relating chiefly to the period subsequent to the termination of his own memoir. That intei-esting work was begun, as we have seen, towards the end of the year 1558 ; and the greater part of it seems to have been submitted to the inspection of Varchi in less than six months after, according to the following letter, which has been preserved : — " To the most excellent and learned Signor Benedetto Varchi. "I AM quite rejoiced with what you say about this plain story of my life, and that it pleases you better, in this familiar way, than if polished and revised by another; by which the truth with wliich I have described every thing might not so clearly appear. For I have taken care tf say aUPP.] SONNKT ON UIS LIFE. 483 nothing relating to such things as my memory was doubtful of; so that I might only speak the real truth, leaving out many wonderful events that any other person would have been careful to make the most of. But having had occasion to relate several astonishing actions and great affairs, and not wishing to make too bulky a volume, 1 thought it pre- ferable to leave out many of the lesser ones. I send my servant in order that you may give him my cloak-bag and my book : and, as I think that you cannot have read the whole of it, and not wishing to occupy your time with such a trifle, as well as because you obliged me in what I asked of you, and for whicL I now sincerely thank you and am truly satisfied, I beg you will not take the trouble of pro- ceeding farther with it, but send it back. As to the Sonnet, I had much rather you would keep it by you, in order that it may receive a little polish from your unrivalled pen. Henceforward I hope to come and see you, and you know 1 am always glad to be of use to you in every way that lies in my power. Take care of your health, I beg of you, and preserve me in your esteem. " Always your very humble servant, "Benvenuto Cellini. " Florence, May 2. 1 555." Of the sonnet to which Benvenuto alludes in this letter an imitation is attempted : — SONNET. As o'er my past and painful life I pause, But not unheedful of Heaven's gracious care, Shiulding the gift it gave : in mind I bear Proud deeds 1 did, yet live. In honour's cause I served, and high adventures were my laws. Till fortune bow'd to toils no cowards dare, And worth and virtue bore me onwards, where Leaving the crowd, I pass'd on with applause. One thought still irks me : that my life's best priin. ; quarrels with Rienzo da C^eri. and fights a duel with him, 50, he labours in seal making, me- dals, enamelling, 51 ; antique gems dug up in the vineyards, 54 ; Signor Jacomo da Capri, a quack surgeon, arrives at Rome, 5.5 ; Benvenuto is em- ]iloyed by him to make seve- ral small vases, ib. ; Jacomo shows the vases as antiques, 56 ; Benvenuto explains the fraud, 57 ; is invited to an entertain- ment given by Michael Angelo, 60 ; he goes to the entertain- ment accompanied by a beauti- ful boy nam. d Diego, dressed as a lady, 61 ; description of the feast, 62 ; fondness of Penthe- silea for Benvenuto, 63 ; laugh- able termination of the frolic of Diego, 64 ; Benvenuto suc- ceeds in making curious da- maskeenings of steel and silver, ib. ; his medals nrized above those of the celebrated Cara- dossa, ib. ; Penthesilea, irritated on account of the frolic of Diego, 67 ; arrival at Rome of Pulci, ib. ; Benvenuto takes him ti his house during an illness, 68 ; surprises Pulci and Penthe- silea in a garden, 70 ; attack' Pulci, 71 ; accidentally hurts Penthesilea in the face, and is challenged by Perugino, 72; is reconciled to the latter, ib. ; death of Pulci, 73 ; Benvenuto Cellini enters the service of Alexander del Bene, 75 ; de- fends the wallsof Rome, 76; kills the duke of Bourbon; retreats into thecastleolSt. Angelo,77; takes the coinmand of some guns, 78 , is appoint; d to the service of a part of th : castle ; is hurt by the falling of part of a battlement, 79 ; disagrees with the Cardioalc IXDLX, 497 of Ravenna ana Gaddi 8. ; is near destroying the Cardinal Farnese and Jacopo Salviati,82; kills a Spanish colotiel, 8.'5 ; re- ceives absolution from his holi- ness for all homicides committed in defence of the Apostolical Cliurch,84; kills a hael de Moro's shop, and aNsists in the cure of his daugli- tir's arm, for whom he feels a secret regard, lo7 ; Benvenuto's K R brother, Cecchino, is wounded in a fray, of which he dies, 1 1 1 — 114; Benvenuto erects a monu- ment to his memory, 115; lie re- venges his brother's death, 117; opens a fine shop in Rome, ib.; takes into his service a beautiful young woman, 119; his shop is broken open by a robber, who is attacked by his dog, ib. ; Benvenuto's enemies throw upon him the suspicion of coin- ing, 122 ; the thief wh > robbed his shop is discovered by the sagacity of his dog, 123 ; de- scription of the celebrated cha- lice, 1 25 ; interview with Sal- viati, 129 ; Benvenuto is at- tacked by a disorder in his eyes, 131; iscured, 132; Benvenuto is deprived of his office in the mint, ib. ; arrested by order ot the Pope, for not finishing the chalice, 137 — 142 ; commences a likeness in steel of the Po|)e, 142; Benvenuto falls in love with a Sicilian courtezan r.am.d Angelica, 143; becomes ac- quainted with a necromancer, ib. ; incantation in the Colosseo, 144 ; asecoiid incantation, much frightened, 146 ; Benvenuto has a (juarrel with Benedetto, in which the latter is wounded, 150 ; Benvenuto escapes to Na- ples, and has an interview with Angelica, 154; leaves Naples and returns to Rome, 156 ; Be- nedetto iscured, Benvenuto Cel- lini is restored to the Pope's favour, 157; he kills Pompeo the jeweller, 163; he is pro- tected by the Cardinals Cornaro and de' Medici, 164 ; Cardinal Farnese is elected Pope, as Paul III., 165; he protects Benvenuto for the death of Poinpeo, ib. ; Signor Pier Luigi, the Pope's natural sui^ 498 INDEX. is induced by Pompeo's daugh- ter to revenge the death of her father, 167; a Corsican soldier IS employed to assassinate Ben- ▼enuto, 1 67 — 1 69 ; Benvenuto leaves Home for Florence, 1 69 ; is well received by Duke Alexander, ib. ; he sets out for Venice, 171 ; fray with Ni- cole Benintendi, 172 ; adven- ture wiih the landlord, and Benvenuto's peculiar mode of revenge, 176 ; his interview with Duke Alexander of Florence, who makes him a present of a beautiful gun, 178 ; is emjiloyed by the duke, 179 ; Benvenuto receives a safe conduct from th5 Pope, that he may repair to Rome, and clear himself of the charge of murder, 180; he is attacked in his house at Rome by the city-guard, 183 ; receives his full pardon, 186; he is at- tacked by a violent fever, ib. ; fidelity of Felice, 187 ; is much relieved by drinking cold water, 1 92 ; he removes to Florence, 197; returns to Rome, 200 ; as- sassination of Duke Alexander de' Medici at Florence, 201 ; Cosmo de' Medici is created Grand Duke of Tuscany, 202 ; Benvenuto is employed by Pope Paul III. to make a gold cover /br a prayer-book to be pre- sented to Charles V., 204; dis. plays his great skill in setting diamonds, 207 ; quits Rome for France. 211; takes Ascanio into his service, ib. ; sets out for France, 215; visits Bembo (afterwards cardinal), and draws his likeness for a me- dal, 216; generosity of the cardinal, 218; Benvenuto and his party meet with great dan- ger in crossing tlie lake of Ge- neva, 219; arrives in Paris, 233; mgriiteful behaviour of Rosso the painter, 225; Ben- venuto is introduced to Fran- cis I. at Fontainebleau, 226 ; taken ill, he returns to Rome, ib. ; saves a man from being drowned, 227 ; settles at Rome, 228 ; he receives a letter from the Cardinal of Ferrara making him an offer of service from the king of France, which he accepts, 2,S0; is falsely accused of em- bezzlement, and thrown intopri- son, 232 ; escapes from the tower of St. Angelo,but breaks his leg, and is received into the palace of the Cardinal of Cornaro, 248 — 250; general surprise at Benvenuto's escape, 253, 254 ; an affair of pigeon shooting, 256 ; Cardinal Cornaro delivers Benvenuto again into the hands of the Pope, 259 ; he is con- fined in the condemned cells of the Tower of Mona, 261 ; Pier Luigi's lady intercedes for him, 263 ; he is removed to his former prison, 265 ; Benvenuto conceives a plan of suicide, 266 ; his dream, ib. ; dialogue be- tween his soul and body, 267 ; the constable of the castle, in a fit of madness, removes him to a dreadful cell, 269; Benve- nuto's extraordinary vision, 272; the constable recovers his rea- son, and treats Benvenuto with kindness, the latter addresses a sonnet to him, 275 ; death of tlie constable, 276 ; an at- tempt to poison Benvenuto, 277 ; he obtains his liberty, 282 ; he visits Ascanio atTaglia- cozzo, and takes him again into his service, 289 ; makes a cup for theCardinal of Ferrara, 289 ; his \'cnus and Cupid, Amphitrite and Tritons, 291 ; enters the ser- vice of Francis T., 292; de« IKDEX. 499 parts from Rome for France, ib. ; quarrels with the post-master of Comoliia, wlwm he kills, 295 ; visits Florence, and then Ferrara, 298; is taken ill, but cured by feeding on wild pea- cocks, 299 ; draws a portrait of the duke, with a beautiful re- verse,300; ill-paid for iiis labour while at Ferrara, 302 ; curious interview with Signor Alphonso <}e' TroKi, 303; Benvenuto leaves Ferrara, ib. ; he arrives at I'aris ib ; is introduced to i'raiicis 1. 306 ; an insufficient salary offered, which he declines, 808 ; a pilgrimage to the holy sepulchre, 309 ; detained by an order from the king, who settles a salary upon him of seven hun- dred crowns, 310; tlie king orders hira to make twelve statues of silver, 311 ; ho returns to Paris, and the king assigns to bim a residence calll.^d Little Ncllo, 312; trouble in keeping possession of his house, 313; makes large silver statues of Ju- piter, Vulcan, and Mars, 314; loses the gratuity of the king through the avarice of the cardi- nal, 315; the king and his court visit Benvenut(),3 1 6 ; he presents the model of a salt-cellar to the king, who orders him a thousand gold crowns, 317; a plan laid for robbing him of the money, but be tbrct-s tlie roblierfi to desist, 319; emulation between Ben- vcnutoand some I'arisiar. artists, 321 : the king grants him letters of naturalisation, and creates liim lord of the Castle of Nello, 325 ; description of a model for the gate intended for l'"ontainfi>ltau, S2S ; description of the model of a foimtain, 329; Madame D'F.s- tampes becomes his enemy, tJ3l : he revenges himself, 332 ; X s Pfimaticcio attempts to rival Benvenuto, 335; a lawsuit com- menced against Benvenuto, 336; descriution of the court of jus- tice, 337 ; faithlessness of Ben- venuto's mistress Caterina, 340; conspiracy formed against him, ib. ; he is ordered to appear be- fore the judges, and asserts his innocence. 341 ; rupture between Bologna and IJenvenuto, 343 ; Benvenuto forces his late Italian workman to marry Catcrina, 346 ; Benvenuto has a daughter by a French girl named Gianna, whom he christens Constantia, 351 ; meanntss of the Cardinal of Ferrara, 352 ; generosity of Francis I., ib.: intrusion ofaper- fiimer into Benveniito's hoi^e, 355 ; he dislodges him by force, 356 ; he exhibits his statue of Jupiter to the king and court at Fontainobleau, 3./9 ; Benvenuto consulted about fortifying Paris, 361 ; Madame D'Estampes ])re- judices the king against him, ^62 ; the king relMikes faiin, 363 ; Benvenuto's reply, 36 } ; he requests leave to return to Italy, which he obtains, 368; and departs from Paris, 370; he encounters a dreadful storm, 372; he meets with Count Ga- leotbo, wlio informs him of the Cardinal of Ferrara's treachery, 374 ; honesty of his brotlier-in- law, 377 ; he waits on Cosmo de' .Medici to make a Perseus, 378; ahouseifiap])<)iQtedtbr biim, 381 ; quarrels with the duke's steward, 382; is appoiiitea a sa- lary of two hundred crowns a year, 384; the King of France much displea-scd, '.iS5 ; he com- mences his ceh'l)rated statue of Perseus, ib.; Benvenuto's bro- ther-in-law dies, leaving to him the care of hi^ sister and h^r cij 5flO INDEX. daugliterR, 386 ; he takes the duke's likeness in clay, 387 ; the King of France so much dis- pleased with Benveniito, that he writes a long memorial to his ma- jesty, 388 ; Bernardone Baldini joins with Landi to defraud his excellency in the sale of a dia- mond, 389 ; infamous conduct of the mother of his apprentice Cencio, 392 ; Benveniito, dis- gusted with the duke's servants, ■.akes a trip to Venice, ib.; visits Titian, and Giacopo Sansovino, 393 ; Benvenuto retires to Flo- rence, 395 ; casts in bronze the great head of the grand duke, ib. ; casts the figure of Medusa for the statue of Perseus, 396 ; base insinuations of Bandinello, ib. ; Benvenuto explains to the d :ke the knavish transactions of \ the diamond, 399 ; his regret at ! leaving France, 402 ; his meet- i ing with Bandinello, 403; death ' of Benvenuto's infant son, ib. ; ! description of a beautiful ring he makes for the duchess, 404 ; Benvenuto's opinion of a muti- lated small Greek marble sta- tue ; he offers to repair it as a Ganymede, 405 ; Bandinello is present, and disagrees with Ben- venuto respecting the merits of the Greek marble, 406 ; Ben- venuto's satirical description of Bandinello's statue of Hercules, 407 ; the duke sends a piece of marble to Benvenuto, and re- quests him to restore the an- tique Ganymede, 41 1 ; account of the Narcissus cut in marble by Benvenuto, ib. ; the sight of one of his eyes endangered, 412 ; prejjares the mould of his Per- seus, 415; description of his cu- rious furnace, 416 ; is taken ill : during the operation of melting brass, 4 17,4 18; rusLesto his work- ! sliop, a 1(1, by an amazing effort of mind and body, renovates the fur- nace, ib.; his masterly likeness of Bindo Altoviti, 423 ; he visits Rome oil receiving a letter from Michael Angelo, 424 ; Benve- nuto invites Michael Angelo to Florence, by order of the duke, ib.; Benvenuto returns to Flo- rence, 426 ; displeases the duchess in an affair concerning a string of pearls, 429 ; war is declared against Sienna, 431 ; the gates of Piato and Arno are forti- fied by Benvenuto, 432 ; his dis- agreement with a Lombard cap- tain, 433 ; various antiques are found near Arezzo, 435; he finishes the small bronze statues of Jupiter, Mercury, Minerva, and Danae, tor the basis of the Btatue of Perseus, ib. ; the duke requests Benvenuto to exhibit his statue of Perseus in an un finished state to the populace, 440 ; Bandinello praises the performance, ib. ; upon the ex- hibition othis statue, Benvenuto receives universal applause, ib, ; he is invited into the service of the viceroy of Sicily, but declines. 443 ; he meets an old alchymist at the baths of St. Maria, who informs him of cer- tain gold and silver mines in that country, 445 ; Benvenuto returns to Florence, 446 ; the duke disagrees with him con- cerning the price of his Perseus, 447 ; the duchess is desirous of becoming arbitress, ib. ; he leaves the affair of his Perseus to Girolamo degli Albizi, with the termination of which he is much dissatisfied, 448 ; the duke orders Bandinello to value the statue of Perseus, which he does at sixteen thousand crowns, 452; ccntest between Bandiuello INDEX. 501 and Be.ivenuto about carving t! e statue of Neptune from a very fine piece of marble, 458 ; the duke decides in favour of IJenvenuto, 459 ; Bandinello dies through grief, 461 ; his tomb in the church of tlie Nun- ziata, 4C2 ; the piece of marble is given to Ammanato, ib. ; I'envenuto purcliases a form of Sbietta, a gr;izier, 465; he ac- cepts an invitation from Sbietta to visit him, 406; warned of some impending danger, 468 ; Sbietta's wife and brother poison Uenvenuto at supper, but not so as to kill him, 469 ; he is favoured by Don Francesco, the duke's eldest son, 471 , great injustice s shown in his lawsuit with Sbietta, 472 ; he represents the conduct of Sbietta to the duke, 473 ; the duke and duchess '•isit Beiivenuto, whereupon r e presents them with a beauti- ful marble crucifix, 477 ; they are reconciled to Benvenuto, 478 ; inclmed to accept of pro- posals made to him by the ambassador of Catherine de Medici, ib. ; the duke is not favourable to the proposal, 479 ; Benvenuto repairs to Pisa, 481 ; the remainder of his life he passes without vicissitude, chiefly at Florence, 482 ; he is buried with much funeral pomp in the church of the Nunzlata, 486 ; his will, 48". Cellini, Cecchino, brother to Ben- venuto, dangerously wounded, when Benvenuto and some soldiers save him, IS; returns home in the absence of Ben- venuto, and takes part of his brother's clothes, 17 ; meets his brother Benvenuto at Flo- rence, 93 ; comes to Rome in the service of Duke Alexander de Medici, 111; is wounded by the city-guard, in defence of Bertino, 112; is carried home, 113; dies of his wounds, 114; is handsoinely interred by Ben- venuto, 115 ; his epita])h, ib. Cellini, Cristofano, one of Benve« nuto's ancestors, 4. Cellini, Giovan, Benvenuto's fa- ther, 4 ; his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Granacci, 5 ; teaches his son Benvenuto to play on the flute and to sing, 7 ; is an excellent mechanic and engineer, ib. ; becomes court musician to Lo- renzo de Medici, but is re- moved, ib. ; makes a curious mirror, ib. ; his place of court musician is restored, 8 ; takes his son Benvenuto to play on the flute before Peter Soderino, the gonfalonier, 9 ; is averse to Benvenuto becoming a gold- smith, 10 ; quarrels with Pie- riiio, who had been his scholar 15 ; prophesies the destruction of Pierino and his family, which is shortly afterwards fulfilled, 16 ; pleads for his son Benve- nuto before the magistrates of Florence, 32; provides him with arms that he may escape in safety to Sienna, 33 ; his speech to a magistrate respect- ing Benvenuto, ib. ; his joy at seeing Benvenuto return to Florence, 90; advises him to leave the army, and retire from Florence to Mantua, ib. ; dies at Florence of the plague, 93. Cellini, Andrea, son of Benvenuto Cellini, 487. Cellini, Piera, wife of Benvenuto Cellini, 487. Cellini, Luca, 3. Cencio, an apprentice to Benvc nuto, 145, 183, 185, 192. 602 INDEX. Cenniiii, Bast!8'''> master of the mint, 180. Centano, Andrea, 258, 259. Ceri, Ilienzo da, 49 — 51. Cesano, Gabriello, 289-291. Cesarini, Gabriello, 48. Charles V., 204, 205, '206 ; orders a reward to be given Benvenuto, 206. Cherubino, a watchmaker, 293. Chioccia, Bartolomeo, 339, 340, 346. Cibo, Cardinal, 47. Civettino, Bernardino, 184, 193. Clement VII., 14, 34, 43, 15, 78, 80, 83, 86, 88, 96, 99—101, 106, 118, 121, 125, 133, 136, 148, 150, 160. Concino, Bartolomeo, one of Duke Cosmo's chief secretaries, 474. Constantia, a natural daughter of Benvenuto Cellini's, 351. Conversini, Benedetto, governor of Rome, 233, 234. Cornaro, Cardinal, 47, 164, 193, 253, 258, 259. Cosa (Benvenuto's eldest sister), 91, 93. Crispino, capt. city-guard, 232. Croce, Baccino della, 142. Diego, Don, 212—214. Donatello, his statues at Florence, 379, 396. Donino, a goldsmith, 123. Durante, Signor, chamberlain to Pope Paul III., 205,206,279. Estampes, Madame D,' mistress to Francis I., 316, 327, 331, 332, 334, 335, 354 — 356, 363, Fano, Luigi da, Signor, 185. Farnese, Duchess of, 251, 252, 263. Farnese, Ottavio, Duke, 252, Faye de la. Monsieur, 342. Ferrara, Cardinal of, 226, 230, 281, 288, 306 — .308, 310, 311, 315,318, 354, 371, Ferrara, Duke of, 171, 299, 300. Firenzuola, an excellent artist, 25 —27. Fontana, Doniinico, 154. Francesco, Don, 211 — 213. Francesco, Jc/hn, 49, 60. Francis I. receives Benvenuto Cel- lini in an affable manner, 225, 2.30, 238, 242, 280, 306, 307, 311, 312, 314, 315, 317, 319, 325, 327, 328, 330, 342, 352, 353, 35.5 — 357,361 — 363,369, 385, 388. Gaddi, Agnolino, 145. Gaddi, Cardinal, 81, 231. Gaddi, Giovanni, Signor, 109, 124, 151, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191. Gajo, a Milanese jeweller at Rome, 207, 208, 209. Gain, Benedetto da, 233. Gallo, Antonio da San, architect, 224, 2'25. Galluzzi, Barnardo, 282. Giacomo, Signor, 252. Giacomo Giovanni, a musician, 42. Gianna, mistress of Ben venuto, 35 1 Gianotti, a goldsmith, 1:6. Gigliolo, Girolamo, 299, .301, Ginori, Frederick, 95, 101, 102. Giovenale, Latino, lf)6, 203, 204. Giudeo, Grazia da, a goldsmith of Bologna, 14. Granacci, Stephen, 4. Greco, Giovanni, Signor, 185, Grotesque, derivation of, 6G. Guadagni, Felice, 142, 149, 150. 187, 192, 194, 196, 199, 200, 215, 229. Guidi, Guide, Signor, 33,3, 334, 351, 371, S84, 465. Guasconti, Glierardo, 29, 31. Guasconti, Salvadore and Mich. 28. Guasto, Marquis of, 208. Henry II., King of France, and son to Francis I., 316, 335. Iscatinaro, Cajsar, 236, 237. Jeronimo of Perugia, 2 1 5, 232, 244. Jesi, goldsmith, 34, 87, 38, 40, 44. Julius II., Pope, dies, 10. INDEX. o03 Lamento.ie, 171, 172. Landi, Antonio di Vittoria, 389. Landi, Piero, 3;5, 94, 98, 195. Lautizio, seal engraver, 51, 290. I-eo X., elected Pope on the death of Julius II., 10. Letters of Benvenuto Cellini, 490. Liberta, ( Benvenuto Cellini's youngest sister), 91, 93, 377, 386. Lorraine, the Cardinal, 316, 317, 333. JVIaccherani, Paolo, 339. Maccheroni, Cesar, a stamper of the mint, 1 '_'4. Magalotti, 174, 175. Manellini, Bernardino, 386,417. Marino, Antonio de St., 27. Marmande, de, Monsieur, 313. Martini Luca, 196,284. Mattio, 187, 188, 189. IMazutti, Girolamo, 94. Medici, Alexander de, (afterwards Grand Duke of Tuscany), 94; protects Benvenuto on his ar- rival at Florence, 169, 171, 177 — 179, 180, 181; is assassi- nated, 201. Medici, Cosmo de, son of Gio- vanni de Medici, 12, 171,202, 377, 384, 387, 389, 399, 404, 405, 406, 413, 427, 429, 431, 432, 437, 439, 446, 447, 452, 456, 462, 477. Medici, Francesco, Don, 471. Medici, Giovanni de, 12, 17. Medici, Ilippolito de,94, 152, 155, 164,204; dies of fever, 480. Medici, Lorenzo de, 179, 182, 199. Medici, Ottaviano de, 180, 196. Micceri, Paolo, 339, 340, 342, 350. Micheletto, 102, 103, 244. Mirandola, Count, 326, 370, 373. Monaldi, Sandrino, Captain, 269. Montluc, de, M., 238, 242, 280. Moro, Raphael del, goldsmith at Rome, 99, 107, 109, 110, 208. Nassra, jMattio del, 340. Navarr« the King of, 316,335. Nero, Francis del, 121. Norcia, Francesco da, 186, 187, 193. Orange, Prince of, killed, 87. Orbech, D', Monsieur, 314, 319. Pallavacini, 239 — 241. Paolo, Giovan, goldsmith to Cosmo de' Medici, 386. Paolo, Pietro, is taught by Benve- nuto Cellini the art of coining, 179, 182, 198, 289, 292, 295, 311, 374, 388. Paul III., Pope, 82, 165—167, 206,207, 211, 231—233, 238, 242, 270, 275, 276, 281, 282, 299. Paulino, app. to Benvenuto, 41. Pegasus, device of, 217. Penthesilea, a Roman courtesan, 60, 63, 64, 67, 71, 73. Perseus, statue of, 415, 442. Perugino, Benvegnato, 71 — 73. Pierino, a musician, 14 — 16. Pier Luigi, afterwards Duke of Castro, bastard son of Pope Paul III., 167, 169, 232, 233, 237, 256, 270, 276, 374; said to be murdered by some of the family of Landi, 374. Piloto, a goldsmith, 68, 163. Poggini, Domenico, goldsmith to Cosmo de' Medici, 386, 391. Pompeo, a Milanese jeweller, 102, 136, 150, 162, 163. Porzia, Signora, 36, 39, 48. Pucci, Roberto, Signor, 253. Puici, Lewis, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73. Rapacciiii, Raphael, a goldsmith of Florence, 28. Raffaello, 412. Ravenna, Cardinal, 81. Riccio, Pier Francesco, 381, 382, 421, 426. Romano, Giulio, 59, 91. Rosso, a Florentine painter, 49, 224, 225, 336, 357. Rossi, Archbishop of Pavia, 27ft 333, 370, 371. Rucellai, Luigi, Signor, 163. 604 INDEX. Salamanca, the Bishop of, 34, 40, 44, 46, 47. Salviati. ^acopo. Cardinal, 75, 82, 1-29, 13;?, 134. Salviati, Jacopo. 10. Sandro, Antonio ci, 11,20. San Galio, Antonio da, 224. Sansovino, Giacopo del, 170, 175. Santa Crose, Antonio, 78, 79, 88. Santa Fiore, Cardinal, 256, 459. Santiquattro, Cardinal, 242. Savonarola, Jeronimo, 240. Sbietta, Pier ftlaria, 465, 469. Sforza, Signor, nephew to Pope Paul III., 211, 427, 442. Soderini, Francesco, 198, 201. Soderino, Peter, 9. Solosmeo, a sculptor, 152, 153. Sceuazzella, a painter, 225. St. Paul, Monsieur, 367. Strozzi, P., 324—326, 368, 434. Stufa, Prinzivalle della, 29, 30. Tacca, G. Francesco della, 257. Targhetta, IMiliano, 207. Tasso, a carpenter, 38], 382. Tasso, G. Baptista, 24—26. Tedaldi, Lionardo, 370, 373. Thief, a Genoese, robs Benvenuio 119. 123, 124. Tobia, a Milanese goldsmith al Parma, 133, 134, 142, 150. Torelli Lelio, 452. Torrigiani, Pietro, 20, 21, 23. Trajano, Signor, 102, 164, 167. Tribolo, statuary, 169. 170, 175. Trotti, Alfonso de', 302 — 304. Ugolini, Antonio, 276, 277, 280, 282. Ugolini, Georgio, Signor, 238, 244, 245, 248, 249, 254, 264, 265, 268, 270, 275, 276. Ugolini, Piero, 276. Urbino, pupil of Buonarroti, 425. Valori, Bartolomeo, Signor 1 27. Varchi, Benedetto, 189, 191. 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