 CHAPTER 30 The more I sought for rest the more I was annoyed with all sorts of embarrassments, being thus daily exposed to diverse persecutions. I pondered which of two courses I ought to take, whether to decamp and leave France to the devil, or else to fight this battle, though I had done the rest, and see to what end God had made me. For a long while I kept anxiously revolving the matter, at last I resolved to make off, dreading my tempt, my evil fortune, lest this should bring me to the gallows. My dispositions were all fixed, and I had made arrangements for putting away the property I could not carry, and for changing the lighter articles to the best my ability upon myself and servants, yet it was with great and heavy reluctance that I looked forward to such a departure. I had shut myself up alone in a little study. My young men were advising me to fly, but I told them that it would be well for me to meditate this step in solitude, although I very much inclined to their opinion. Indeed I reasoned that if I could escape imprisonment and let the storm pass over, I should be able to explain matters to the king by letter, setting forth the trap which had been laid to ruin me by the malice of my enemies. And as I have said above, my mind was made up to this point, when just as I rose to act on the decision, some power took me by this shoulder and turned me round, and I heard a voice which cried with vehemence, Benvenuto, do as thou art wont, and fear not. Then on the instant I changed the whole course of my plans, and said to my Italians, Take your good arms and come with me, obey me to the letter. Have no other thought, for I am now determined to put in my appearance. If I were to leave Paris, you would vanish the next day in smoke. Do so as I command, and follow me. They all began together with one heart and voice to say, Since we are here and draw our livelihood from him, it is our duty to go with him, and bear him out so long as we have life to execute what he proposes. He has hit the mark better than we did, in this matter. For on the instant when he leaves the place, his enemies will send us to the devil. Let us keep well in mind what great works we have begun here, and what vast importance they possess. We should not know how to finish them without him, and his enemies would say that he had taken flight because he shrank before such undertakings. Many other things bearing weightly upon the subject were set among them, but it was the young Roman, macaroni, who first put heart into the company, and he also raised recruits from the Germans and the Frenchmen, who felt well disposed toward me. We were ten men all counted. I set out firmly resolved not to let myself be taken, and imprisoned alive. When we appeared before the judges for criminal affairs, I found Catarina and her mother waiting, and on the moment of my arrival the two women were laughing. With their advocate I pushed my way in and called Bolli for the judge, who was seated, blown out big and fat upon a tribunal high above the rest. Catching sight of me, he threatened, with his head, and spoke in a subdued voice. Although your name is Benvenutu, this time you are an ill-comer. I understood his speech and called out the second time. Dispatch my business quickly. Tell me what I have come to do here. Then the judge turned to Catarina and said, Catarina, relate all that happened between you and Benvenutu. She answered that I had used her after the Italian fashion. The judge turned to me and said, You hear what Catarina disposes Benvenutu. I replied, If I have consorted with her after the Italian fashion, I have only done the same as you folk of her other nations do. He demurred. She means that you improperly abused her. I retorted that so far from being the Italian fashion. It must be some French habit, seeing she knew all about it, while I was ignorant, and I commanded her to explain precisely how I had consorted with her. Then the impundant baggage entered into plain and circumstantial details regarding all the filth she lyingly accused me of. I made her repeat her disposition three times in succession. When she had finished, I cried out with a loud voice, Lord Judge Lieutenant of the most Christian king I call on you for justice. While I know that, by the loss of his most Christian majesty, both agent and patient in this kind of crime are punished with the stake, the woman confesses her guilt. I admit nothing whatsoever of the sort with regard to her. Her go-between of a mother is here, who deserves to be burned for either one or the other offense, therefore I appeal to you for justice. These words are repeated over and over again at the top of my voice, continually calling out. To the stake with her and her mother, I also threaten the Judge that, if he did not send her to prison there before me, I would go to the king at once and tell him how his Lieutenant in criminal affairs of justice had wronged me. When they heard what a tumult I was making, my adversaries lowered their voices, but I lifted mine the more. The little hussey and her mother fell to weeping while I shouted to the Judge, Fire, fire, to the stake with them. The coward on the bench, finding that the matter was not going as he intended, began to use soft words and excuse the weakness of the female sex. Thereupon I felt that I had won the victory in a nasty encounter, and, muttering threats between my teeth, I took myself off, not without great inward satisfaction. Indeed I would gladly have paid five hundred crowns down to have avoided that appearance in court. However after escaping from the tempest, I thanked God with all my heart, and returned in gladness with my young men to the castle. CHAPTER XXXI When adverse fortune, or if we prefer to call it, our malignant planet, undertakes to persecute a man. It never lacks new ways of inquiring them, of injuring them. So now when I thought I had emerged from this tempestuous sea of troubles and hoped my civil star would leave me quiet for a moment, it began to set two schemes in motion against me, before I had recovered my breath from that great struggle. Within three days two things have happened, each of which brought my life into extreme hazard. One of these occurred in this way. I went to Fontainebleau to consult with the King, for he had written me a letter saying he wanted me to stamp the coins of his whole realm, and in closing some little drawings to explain his wishes in the manner. At the same time he left me to free the execute them as I liked, upon which I made new designs according to my own conception, and according to the ideal of art, when I reached Fontainebleau, one of the treasures commissioned by the King to defray my expenses, he was called Monsignor de la Fa, addressed me in these words, Benvenutu, the painter Bologna has obtained commission from the King, to execute your great Colossus, and all the orders previously given as on your behalf have been transferred to him. We are all like Dignan, and it seems to us that countrymen of yours has acted towards you in a most unwarrantable manner. The work has assigned you on the strength of your models and studies. He is robbing you of it, only though the favor of Madame Eastambis, Madame de attempts, and though several months have passed since he received the order, he has not yet made any sign of commencing it. I answered in surprise, how is it possible that I should have heard nothing at all about this? He then informed me that the man had kept it very dark, and had obtained the King's commission with great difficulty, since his Majesty at first would not concede it. The importunity of Madame de Intempis secured this favor for him, when I felt how gratefully and how wrongfully I had been betrayed and saw a work which I had gained with my great toil, thus stolen from me. I made my mind up for a serious stroke of business, and marched off with my good sword at my side to find Bologna. He was asked in his room, engaged in studies after telling the servant to introduce me, he greeted me with some of his lombard compliments, and asked what good business had brought me hither. I replied, a most excellent business, and what of great importance. He then sent for wine, and said, Before we begin to talk, we must drink together, for such is the French custom. I answered, Messer Francesco, you must know that the conversation we have to engage in does not call for drinking at the commencement. After it is over, perhaps we shall be glad to take a glass. Then I opened the matter this way. All men who wish to pass for persons of worth allow it to be seen that they are sold by their actions. If they do the contrary, they lose the name of honest men. I am aware that you knew the king had commissioned me with the great Colossus. It had been talked of these eighteen months past. Yet neither you nor anybody else came forward to speak a word about it. By my great labors I made myself down to his majesty, who approved my models and gave the work into my hands. During many months I have heard nothing to the contrary. Only this morning I was informed that you have got hold of it, and have filched it from me. I earned it by the talents I displayed, and you are robbing me of it merely by your idle talking. CHAPTER XXXII Through this speech Baloney answered, O Benvenuto, all men try to push their fares in every way they can. If this is the king's will, what have you to say against it? You would only throw away your time, because I have it now, and it is mine. Now tell me what you choose, and I will listen to you. I replied, I should like you to know, Messer Francesco, that I could say much which would prove irrefragibly, and make you admit that such ways of acting as you have described and used are not in vogue among rational animals. I will, however, come quickly to the point at issue, give close attention to my meaning, because the affair is serious. He made as though he would rise form the chair on which he was sitting. Since he saw my collar heightened and my features greatly decomposed, I told him that the time had not yet come for moving. He had better sit and listen to me, than I recommended Messer Francesco. You know that I first received the work, and that the time has long gone by during which, by right, could be reasonably disputed by anyone. Now I tell you that I shall be satisfied if you will make a model while I make another in addition to the one I have already shown, than we will make them without any climber to our great king, and whatsoever in this way I shall have gained the credit of the best design I will justly have deserved, the commission, if it falls for you. I will dismiss from my mind the memory of the great injury you have done me, and will bless your hands as being worthier than mine. If so glorious a performance, let us abide by this arrangement, and we shall be friends, otherwise we must be enemies, for God, who always helps the right, and I, who know how to assert it, will show you to what extent you have done wrong. Messer Francesco answered, The work is mine, and since it has been given to me, I do not choose to put what is my own to hazard. To this I retorted. Messer Francesco, If you will not take the right course, which is just and reasonable, I will show you another which shall be like your own. That is to say, ugly and disagreeable. I tell you plainly, that if I ever hear that you have spoken one single word about this work of mine, I will kill you like a dog. We are neither in Rome nor in Bologna nor in Florence. Here one lives in quite a different fashion. If then it comes to my ears that you talk about this to the king or anybody else, I vow that I will kill you. Act upon the way you mean to take, whether that for good, which I formally described, or this later bad one, I have just now set before you. The man did not know what to say or do, as I was inclined to cut the matter short upon the spot. Rather than to postpone action, Bologna found no other words, then used to utter, If I act like a man of honesty, I shall stand in no fear. I replied, You have spoken well, but if you act otherwise, you will have to fear, because the affair is serious. Upon this I left him and betook myself to the king. With His Majesty I disputed some time about the fashion of his coinage, a point upon which we were not of the same opinion. His counsel, who were present, kept persuading him that the manes ought to be struck in the French style. As they had hitherto always been done, I urged and replied that his Majesty had sent for me from Italy in order that I might execute good work. If he now wanted me to do the contrary, I could not bring myself to submit, so the matter was postponed till another occasion, and I set off again at once for Paris. Chapter 33 I had but just dismounted from my horse. When one of those excellent people who were joyous in mischief making came to tell me that Pagolo Messiri had taken a house for the little Hussie Catarina and her mother, and that he was always going there, and whenever he mentioned me, used words of scorn to this effect. Ben Venuto set the fox to watch the grapes, and thought I would not eat them. Now he is satisfied with going about and talking big, and thinks I am afraid of him. But I have girt this sword and dagger from to my side in order to show him that my steel can cut as well as his, and that I too am a florentine of the Messiri. A far better family than his Salini, the scoundrel who reported this poisonous gossip, stroke it with such a good effect that I felt a fever in the instant soup upon me, and when I say fever, I mean fever, and no mere metaphor. The insane passion which took possession of me might have been my death. Had I not resolved to give it vent as the occasion offered, I ordered the fair East Workman, Chiosia, to come with me, and made a servant follow with my house. When we reached the house where that worthless villain was, I found the door ajar, and entered. I noticed that he carried sword and dagger, and was sitting on a big chest with his arm round Catarina's neck. At the moment of my arrival I could hear that he and her mother were talking about me. Pushing the door open, I drew my sword, and set the point of it at his throat, not giving him the time to think whether he too carried steel. At the same instant I cried out, Vile Coward, recommend your soul to God, for you are a dead man. Without budging from his seat he called three times, Mother, help me. Though I had come there fully determined to take his life, half my fury ebbed away when I heard this idiotic exclamation. I ought to add that I had told Chiosia not to let the girl over her mother leave the house since I meant to deal with those trollops after I had disposed of their bully. So I went on holding my sword at his throat, and now and then just pricked him, with the point, pouring out a torrent of terrific threats at the same time, but when I found he did not stir a finger in his own defense, I began to wonder what I should do next. My menacing attitude could not be kept up forever, so at last it came into my head to make them marry, and complete my vengeance at a later period. Accordingly I formed my resolution, and began, take that ring and cowered from your finger and marry her, that I may get satisfaction from you afterwards, according to your deserts. He replied at once, if only you do not kill me, I will do whatever you command. Then said I, put that ring upon her hand, when the sword's point was withdrawn a few inches from his throat, he wedded her with the ring, but I added, this is not enough, I shall send for two notaries, in order that the marriage may be ratified by contract. Bidding Geosia, go for the lawyers, I turn to the girl and her mother, and using the French language, spoke as follows. Notaries and witnesses are coming, the first of you who blabs about this affair, will be killed upon the spot. Nay, I will murder you all three, so beware and keep a quiet tongue in your hands. To him I said an Italian, if you offer any resistance to what I shall propose, upon the slightest word you utter, I will stab you till your guts run out upon this floor. He answered, only promise, not to kill me, and I will do whatever you command. The notaries and witnesses arrived, a contract valid and in due form was drawn up, then my heat and forever left me, I paid the lawyers and took my departure. On the following day Bologna came to Paris on purpose, and sent for me through Matteo del Nissaro. I went to see him, and he met me with a glad face, and treating me to regard him as a brother, and saying that he would never speak about that work again, since he recognized quite well that I was right. CHAPTER 34 If I did not confess that in some of these episodes I acted wrongly, the world might think I was not telling the truth about those in which I say I acted rightly. Therefore I admit that it was a mistake to inflict so singular vengeance upon Pegolo Machiri, and truth I had believed him to be so utterly feeble I should not have conceived the notion of branding him with such infamy as I am going to relate. Not satisfied with having made him take a vicious drab to wife, I completed my revenge by inviting her to sit to me as a model, and dealing with her thus I gave her thirty sews a day, paid in advance, and a good meal, and had bludged to her to pose before me naked. Then I made her serve my pleasure, out of spite against her husband, during at them both the while. Furthermore I kept her for hours together in position, greatly to her discomfort. This gave her as much annoyance as it gave me pleasure, for she was beautifully made, and brought to me much credit as a model. At last noticing that I did not treat her with the same consideration as before her marriage, she began to grumble and talk big in her French way about her husband, who is now serving the prior of Capua, a brother of Piero Strozzi. On the first occasion when she did this the mere mention of the fellow aroused me to intolerable fury. Still I bore it, greatly against the grain, as well as I was able, reflecting that I could hardly find so suitable a subject for my art as she was. So I reasoned thus in my own mind. I am now taking two different kinds of revenge. In the first place she is married, and what I am doing to her husband is something far more serious than what he did to me, when she was only a girl of loose life. If then I wreak my spite so folly upon him, while upon her I inflict the discomfort opposing in such strange attitudes, for such a length of time, which, beside the pleasure I derive, brings me both profit and credit through my art. What more can I desire? While I was turning over these calculations the wretch redoubled her insulting speeches, always prattling big about her husband till she goaded me beyond the bounds of reason. Yielding myself up to blind rage, I seized her by the hair, and dragging her up and down my room, beating and kicking her till I was tired. There was no one who could come to her assistance. When I had well pounded her she swore that she would never visit me again. Even for the first time I perceived that I had acted very wrongly, for I was losing a grand model who brought me honour through my art. Moreover, I saw her body all torn and bruised and swollen. I reflected that even if I persuaded her to return I should have to put her under medical treatment for at least a fortnight before I could make use of her. CHAPTER 35 Well to return to Caterina I sent my old serving woman named Roberta, who had a most kindly disposition to help her dress. She brought food and drink to the miserable baggage, and after rubbing a little bacon-fat into her worst wounds they ate what was left of the meat together. When she had finished dressing she went off blaspheming and cursing all Italians in the king's service, and so returned with tears and murmurs to her home. Assuredly upon that first occasion I felt I had done very wrong, and Roberta rebuked me after this fashion. You are a cruel monster to maltreat such a handsome girl so brutally. When I excused my conduct by narrating all the tricks which she and her mother had played off upon me under my own roof, Roberta scoldingly replied that that was nothing. That was only French manners, and she was sure there was not a husband in France without his horns. When I heard this argument I laughed aloud and I told Roberta to go and see how Caterina was, since I should like to employ her again while finishing the work I had on hand. The old woman took me sharply up saying that I had no Savoie Viva. Only wait till daybreak. She will come of herself, whereas if you send to ask after her or visit her she will give herself airs and keep away. On the following morning Caterina came to our door and knocked so violently that, being below, I ran to see whether it was a madman or some member of the household. When I opened the creature laughed and fell upon my neck, embracing and kissing me, and asked me if I was still angry with her. I said no, and she added, Let me have something good to break my fast on, so I supplied her well with food and partook of it at the same table in a sign of reconciliation. Afterwards I began to model from her, during which occurred some amorous diversions. And at last, just at the same hour as on the previous day, she irritated me to such a pitch that I gave her the same drubbing, so he went on several days repeating the old round like clockwork. There was little or no variation in the incidents. Meanwhile I completed my work in a style which did me the greatest credit. Next I said about it cast in bronze. This entailed some difficulties, to relate which would be interesting from the point of view of art, but since the whole history would occupy too much space I must omit it. Suffice it to say that the figure came out splendidly, and was as fine a specimen of foundry as had ever been seen. CHAPTER XXXVI While this work was going forward I set aside certain hours of the day for the salt-seller, and certain others for the Jupiter. There were more men engaged upon the former than I had at my disposal for the latter, so the salt-seller was by this time completely finished. The king had now returned to Paris, and when I paid him my respects I took the piece with me. As I have already related, it was oval in form, standing about two-thirds of a cubit, wrought of solid gold, and worked entirely with a chisel. While speaking of the model, I said before how I had represented sea and earth, seated with their legs interlaced as we observe in the case of furths and promontories. This attitude was therefore metaphorically appropriate. The sea carried a trident in his right hand, and his left I put a ship of delicate workmanship to hold the salt. Below him were his four seahorses, fashioned like our horses from the head to the front hoofs, all the rest of their body from the middle backwards resembled a fish, and the tails of these creatures were agreeably interwoven. Above this group the sea sat thrown in an attitude of pride and dignity. Around him were many kinds of fishes and other creatures of the ocean. The water was represented with its waves and enameled in the appropriate color. I had portrayed earth under the form of a very handsome woman, holding her horn of plenty entirely nude like the male figure. On her left hand I placed a little temple of Ionic architecture, most delicately wrought, which was meant to contain the pepper. Beneath her were the handsomest living creatures which the earth produces, and the rocks were partly enameled, partly left in gold. The whole piece reposed upon a base of ebony, properly proportioned, but with a projecting cornice upon which I introduced four golden figures in rather more than half relief. They represented night, day, twilight, and dawn. I put moreover into the same frieze four other figures, similar in size and intended for the four chief winds. These were executed and in part enameled with the most exquisite refinement. When I exhibited this piece to His Majesty he uttered a loud outcry of astonishment, and could not satiate his eyes with gazing at it. Then he bade me take it back to my house, saying he would tell me at the proper time what I should have to do with it. Then I went home, and sent it once to invite several of my best friends. We dined gaily together, placing the salt-teller in the middle of the table, and thus we were the first to use it. After this I went on working at my Jupiter in silver, and also at the great vase I have already described, which was richly decorated with a variety of ornaments and figures. CHAPTER 37 At that time Bologna, the painter, suggested to the King that it would be well if His Majesty sent him to Rome, with letters of recommendation, to the end that he might cast the foremost masterpieces of antiquity, namely the Loacoan, the Cleopatra, the Venus, the Commodus, the Zingara, and the Apollo. These of a truth are by far the finest things in Rome. He told the King that when His Majesty had once set eyes upon these marvellous works he would then and not till then be able to criticize the arts of designs, since everything which he had seen by us moderns was far removed from the perfection of the ancients. The King accepted his proposal and gave him the introductions he required. Accordingly the beast went off and took his bad luck with him. Not having the force encouraged to contend with his own hands against me, he adopted the truly lumbard device of depreciating my performances by becoming a copyist of antiques. In its own proper place I shall relate how, though he had these statues excellently cast, he obtained a result quite contrary to his imagination. I had now done forever with that disreputable cattorina and the unfortunate young man her husband had to camp from Paris, wanting then to finish off my fountain-blue, which was already cast in bronze, as well as to execute the two victories, which were going to fill the angles above the lunette of the door, I engaged a poor girl of the age of about fifteen. She was beautifully made, and of a brunette complexion being somewhat savage in her ways in spare speech, quick in movement, with the look of solidness about her eyes, I nicknamed her Scorzone. Her real name was Jean. With her formal, I gave perfect finish to the bronze fountain-blue, and also to the two victories. Now this girl was a clean maid, and I got her with child. She gave birth to a daughter on the 7th of June, at thirteen hours of the day, in fifteen forty-four, when I had exactly reached the age of forty-four. I named the infant Costanza, and Mr. Guido Guidi, the king's physician and my most intimate friend, as I have previously related, held her at the font. He was the only godfather, for it is customary in France to have but one godfather and two godmothers. One of the latter was Madame Medellina, wife to Mishur Luigi Elimini, a gentleman of Florence and an accomplished poet. The other was the wife of Mishur Ricardo Delbini, our Florentine burger, and a great merchant in Paris. She was herself a French lady of distinguished family. This was the first child I ever had, so far as I remember. I settled muddy enough upon the girl for dowry to satisfy an aunt of hers, under whose tutelage I placed her, and from that time forwards I had nothing more to do with her. By laboring incessantly, I had now got my various works well forward. The Jupiter was nearly finished, and the vase also. The door began to reveal its beauties. At that time the king came to Paris, and though I gave the right date of the year, fifteen forty-four, for my daughter's birth, we were still in fifteen forty-three. But an opportunity of mentioning my daughter having arisen, I availed myself of it, so as not to interrupt the narrative of more important things. Well, the king, as I have said, came to Paris, and paid me a visit soon after his arrival. The magnificent show of works brought well my to completion was enough to satisfy anybody's eye, and indeed it gave that glorious monarch no less contentment than the artist who had worked so hard upon him desired. While inspecting these things it came into his head that the cardinal of Ferrara had fulfilled none of his promises to me, whether as regarded a pension or anything else. Whispering with his admiral he said that the cardinal of Ferrara had behaved very badly in the matter, and that he intended to make it up to me himself, because he saw I was a man of few words, who, in the twinkling of an eye, might decamp without complaining or asking leave. On returning home his majesty, after dinner, told the cardinal to give orders to his treasurer of the Exchequer, that he should pay me at an early date seven thousand crowns of gold, and three or four installments, according to his own convenience, provided only that he executed the commission faithfully. At the same time he repeated words to this effect. I gave Benvenuto into your charge, and you have forgotten all about him. The cardinal said that he would punctually perform his majesty's commands, but his own bad nature made him wait till the king's fit of generosity was over. Meanwhile, wars and rumors of wars were on the increase. It was the moment when the emperor, with a huge army, was marching upon Paris. Seeing the realm of France to be in a great need of money, the cardinal one day began to talk of me, and said, Sacred Majesty, acting for the best, I have not had the money given to Benvenuto. First it is sorely wanted now for public uses. Secondly, so great a donation would have exposed you to the risk of losing Benvenuto altogether, for if he found himself a rich man, he might have invested his money in Italy, and the moment some caprice took of him he would have to camp without hesitation. I therefore consider that your majesty's best course will be to present him with something in your kingdom, if you want to keep him in your service for any length of time. The king, being really in want of money, approved of these arguments. Nevertheless, like the noble soul he was, and truly worthy of his royal station, he judged rightly that the cardinal had acted thus in order to curry favor, rather than from any clear provisions of distressed finances in so vast a realm. As I have just said, his majesty affected to conquer with the cardinal, but his own private mind was otherwise made up. Accordingly upon the day after his arrival, without solicitation upon my part, he came of his own accord to my house. I went to meet him, and conducted him through several rooms where diverse works of art were on view. Beginning with the less important, I pointed out a quantity of things in bronze, and it was long since he had seen so many at once. Then I took him to see the Jupiter in silver, now nearly complete with all its splendid decorations. It so happened that a grievous disappointment, which he had suffered a few years earlier, made him think this piece more admirable than it might perhaps have appeared to any other man. The occasion to which I refer was this. After the capture of Tunis the emperor passed through Paris with the consent of his brother-in-law, King Francis, who wanted to present him with something worthy of so great a potentate. Being thus in view, he ordered a Hercules to be executed in silver, exactly of the same size as my Jupiter. The king declared this Hercules to be the ugliest work of art that he had ever seen, and spoke his opinion plainly to the craftsmen of Paris. They vaunted themselves to be the ablest craftsmen in the world for works of this kind, and informed the king that nothing more perfect could possibly have been produced in silver, insisting at the same time upon being paid two thousand dukets for the filthy piece of work. This made the king, when he beheld mine, affirm that the finish of its workmanship exceeded his highest expectations. Accordingly, he made an equitable judgment, and had my statue valued almost at two thousand dukets, saying, I gave those other men no salary, Gelini, who gets about a thousand crowns a year from me, can surely let me have this masterpiece for two thousand crowns of gold, since he has his salary into the bargain. Then I exhibited other things in gold and silver, and a variety of models for new undertakings, and at the last, just when he was taking leave, I pointed out upon the lawn of the castle that great giant, which shrouded him to a higher astonishment than any of the other things he had inspected. Turning to his admiral, who was called Monsignor Ennebelli, he said, since the cardinal had made him no provision, we must do so, and all the more because the man himself is slow at asking favors. To cut it short, I mean to have him well provided for, yes, these men who ask for nothing feel that their masterpiece is call allowed for recompense, therefore, see that he gets the first abbey that falls vacant worth two thousand crowns a year. If this cannot be had in one benefit, let him have two, or three to that amount, for in his case it will come to the same thing. As I was standing by, I could hear what the king said, and thanked his majesty at once for the donation, as though I were already in possession. I told him that as soon as his orders were carried into effect, I would work for his majesty without other salary or recompense of any kind until old age deprived me of the power to labor, when I hoped to rest my tired body in peace, maintaining myself with honor on that income, and always bearing in mind that I had served so great a monarch as his majesty. At the end of the speech the king turned towards me with a lively gesture and a joyous countenance saying, So let it then be done. After that, he departed, highly satisfied with what he had seen there. It is I who rule the world today, and a little fellow like that snaps his fingers at me. She put every iron into the fire which she could think of in order to stir up mischief against me. Now a certain man fell in her way who enjoyed a great fame as a distiller. He supplied her with perfumed waters, which were excellent for the complexion and hitherto unknown in France. This fellow she introduced to the king, who was much delighted by the process for distilling which he exhibited. While engaged in these experiments the man begged his majesty to give him a tennis court I had in my castle, together with some little apartments which he said I did not use. The good king, guessing who was at the bottom of the business, made no answer. But Madame de Toms used those wiles with which women know so well to work on men, and very easily succeeded in her enterprise. For having taken the king at a moment of amorous weakness, to which he was much subject, she weedled him into conceding what she wanted. The distiller came, accompanied by treasurer Grolier, a very great nobleman of France, who spoke Italian excellently, and when he entered my castle began to jest with me in that language. Watching his opportunity he said, In the king's name I put this man here in a possession of that tennis court, together with the lodgings that pertain to it. To this I answered, The sacred king is Lord of all things here, so then you might have effected an entrance with more freedom. Coming thus with notaries and people of the court looks more like a fraud than the mandate of a powerful monarch. I assure you that, before I carry my complaints before the king, I shall defend my right in the way his majesty gave me orders two days since to do. I shall fling the man whom you have put upon me out of windows if I do not see a warrant under the king's own hand and seal. After the speech the treasurer went off threatening and grumbling and I remained doing the same, without however beginning the attack at once. Then I went to the notaries who had put the fellow in possession. I was well acquainted with them and they gave me to understand that this was a formal proceeding, done indeed to the king's orders, but which had not any great significance. If I had offered some trifling opposition the fellow would not have installed himself as he had done. The formalities were acts and customs of the court, which did not concern obedience to the king. Finally if I succeeded in ousting him I should have acted rightly and I should not incur any risk. This hint was enough for me, and next morning I had recourse to arms, and though the job cost me some trouble I enjoyed it. Each day that followed I made an attack with stones, pikes, and air cabooses, firing however without ball. Nevertheless I inspired such terror that no one dared to help my antagonist. Finally when I noticed one day that his defense was feeble I entered the house by force and expelled the fellow, turning all his goods and chattels into the street. Then I betook me to the king and told him that I had done precisely as his majesty had ordered by defending myself against everyone who sought to hinder me in his service. The king laughed at the matter and made me out new letters patent to secure me from further molestation. CHAPTER 41 In the meantime I brought my silver Jupiter to completion, together with its gilded pedestal, which I placed upon a wooden plinth that only showed a very little. Upon the plinth I introduced four little round balls of hard wood, more than half hidden in their sockets, like the nut of a cross-bow. They were so nicely arranged that a child could push the statue forward and backwards, or turn it round with ease. Having arranged it thus to my mind I went with it to fountain-blue where the king was then residing. At that time Bologna, of whom I have already said so much, had brought from Rome his statues, and had cast them very carefully in bronze. I knew nothing about this, partly because he kept his doings very dark, and also because fountain-blue is forty miles distant from Paris. On asking the king where he wanted me to set up my Jupiter, Madame de Tamps, who happened to be present, told him there was no place more appropriate than his own handsome gallery. This was, as we should say in Tuscany, a loziah, or more exactly a large lobby. It ought indeed to be called a lobby because what we mean by loziah is open at one side. The hall was considerably longer than one hundred paces, decorated and very rich with pictures from the hand of that admiral Rosso, our Florentine master. Among the pictures were arranged a great variety of sculptured works, partly in the round and partly in bar relief. The breadth was about twelve paces. While Bologna had brought all his antiques into this gallery, wrought with great beauty in bronze, he had placed them in a handsome row upon their pedestals, and they were, as I have said, the choicest of the Roman antiquities. Into this same gallery I took my Jupiter, and when I saw that grand parade so artfully planned, I said to myself, This is like running the gauntlet. Now may God assist me. I placed the statue, and having arranged it as well as I was able, waited for the coming of the king. The Jupiter was raising his thunderbolt with the right hand in the act of hurl it. His left hand held the globe of the world. Among the flames of the thunderbolt I had very cleverly introduced a torch of white wax. Now Badam the toms detained the king till nightfall, wishing to do one of two mischiefs, either to prevent his coming, or else to spoil the effect of my work by its being shown off after dark. But as God has promised to those who trust in him, it turned out exactly opposite to her calculations. For one night came I set fire to the torch, which standing higher than the head of Jupiter shed light from above and showed the statue far better than by daytime. At length the king arrived. He was attended by his Madame de Tombes, his son the Dauphin and the Dauphiness, together with the king of Navaire, his brother-in-law, Madame Magarite, his daughter, and several other great lords who had been instructed by Madame de Tombes to speak against me. When the king appeared, I made my apprentice Ascanio push the Jupiter towards his majesty. As it moved smoothly forwards, my cunning in its turn was amply rewarded, for this gentle motion made the figure seem alive. The antiques were left in the background, and my work was the first to take the eye with pleasure. The king exclaimed at once, This is by far the finest thing that has ever been seen, and I, although I am an amateur and judge of art, could never have conceived the hundredth part of its beauty. The lords, whose cue it was to speak against me, now seemed as though they could not praise my masterpiece enough. Madame de Tombes said boldly, One would think you had no eyes, don't you see all those fine bronzes from the antique behind there? And those consist the real distinction of this art, and not in that modern trumpery. Then the king advanced, and the others with him, after casting a glance at the bronzes which were not shown to advantage from the lights being below them. He exclaimed, Whoever wanted to injure this man has done him a great service, for the comparison of these admirable statues demonstrates the immeasurable superiority of his work in beauty and in art. Benvenuto deserves to be made much of, for his performances do not merely rival, but surpass the antique. In reply to this, Madame de Tombes observed that my Jupiter would not make anything like so fine a show by daylight. As one had to consider that I had put a veil upon my statue to conceal its faults, I had indeed flung a God's veil with elegance and delicacy over a portion of my statue, with the view of augmenting its majesty. This when she had finished speaking I lifted from beneath, uncovering the handsome genital members of the God, then tore the veil to pieces with vexation. She imagined I had disclosed those parts of the statue to insult her. The king noticed how angry she was, while I was trying to force some words out in my fury, so he wisely spoke in his own language precisely as follows. Benvenuto, I forbid you to speak, hold your tongue, and you shall have a thousand times more wealth than you desire. Not being allowed to speak, I writhed my body in a rage. This made her grumble with her doubled spite, and the king departed sooner than he would otherwise have done, calling aloud however to encourage me. I have brought from Italy the greatest man who ever lived, endowed with all the talents. Chapter 42 I left the Jupiter there, meaning to depart the next morning. Before I took course, one thousand crowns were paid me, partly for my salary and partly on account of monies I had disbursed. Having received this sum, I returned with a light heart and satisfied to Paris. No sooner had I reached home and dined with married cheer, and I called for all my wardrobe, which included a great many suits of silk, choice furs, and also very fine cloth-stuffs. From these I selected presents for my work-people, giving each something according to his own dessert, down to the servant-girls and stable-boys, in order to encourage them to aid me heartily. Being then refreshed in strength and spirit, I attacked the great statue of Mars, which I had set up solidly upon a frame of well- connected woodwork. Over this there lay a crust of plaster, about the eighth of a cubit in thickness, carefully modeled for the flesh of the Colossus. Lastly, I prepared a great number of molds and separate pieces to compose the figure, intending to dovetail them together in accordance with the rules of art, and this task involved no difficulty. I will not here omit to relate something which may serve to give a notion of the size of this great work, and, as at the same time, is highly comic. It must first be mentioned that I had forbidden all the men who lived at my cost to bring light woman into my house, or anywhere within the castle precincts. Upon this point of discipline I was extremely strict. Now my lad Ascanio loved a very handsome girl, who returned his passion. One day she gave her mother the slip, and came to see Ascanio at night, finding that she would not take her leave, and being driven to his wit's ends to conceal her, like a person of resources he hid at last upon the plan of installing her inside the statue. There, in the head itself, he made her up a place to sleep in. This lodging she occupied some time, and he used to bring her forth at wiles with secrecy at night. I meanwhile, having brought this part of the Colossus almost to completion, left it alone, and indulged my vanity a bit by exposing it to sight. It could indeed be seen by more than half Paris. The neighbors, therefore, took to climbing their house-roofs, and crowds came on purpose to enjoy the spectacle. Now there was a legend in the city that my castle had, from olden times, been haunted by a spirit, though I never noticed anything to confirm this belief, and folk in Paris called it popularly by the name of Limonio Boreo. The girl, while she sojourned in the statue's head, could not prevent some of her movements to and fro from being perceptible through its eye-holes. This made stupid people say that the ghost had got into the body of the figure, and was setting its eyes in motion, and its mouth, as though it were able to talk. Many of them went away in terror. Others more incredulous came to observe the phenomenon, and when they were unable to deny the flashing of the statue's eyes, they too declared their credence in a spirit, not guessing that there was a spirit in there, and sound young flesh to boot. CHAPTER 43 All this while I was engaged in putting my door together, with its several appurtenances. As it is no part of my purpose to include in this autobiography such things as Analyst's Record, I have admitted the coming of the Emperor with his great host, and the king's mustering of his whole army. At the time when these events took place, his Majesty sought my advice with regard to the instantaneous fortification of Paris. He came on purpose to my house, and took me all around the city, and when he found that I was prepared to fortify the town with expedition on a sound plan, he gave express orders that all my suggestions should be carried out. His admiral was directed to command the citizens to obey me under pain of his displeasure. Now the admiral had been appointed through Madame de Tompe's influence, rather than from any proof of his ability, for he was a man of little talent. He bore the name of Monsieur de Annabelle, which in our tongue is Monsignor de Annabelle. But the French pronounce it so that they usually made it sound like Monsignor Assino-Bue. This animal then referred to Madame de Tompe's advice upon the matter. She ordered him to summon Girolamo Bellarmoto without loss of time. He was an engineer from Siena at that time in Dieppe, which was rather more than a day's journey distant from the capital. He came at once and set the work of fortification going on a very tedious method which made me throw the job up. If the emperor had pushed forward at this time he might easily have taken Paris. People indeed said that when a treaty of peace was afterwards concluded Madame de Tompe's, who took more part in it than anybody else, betrayed the king. I shall pass this matter over without further words, since it has nothing to do with the plan of my memoirs. Meanwhile I worked diligently at the door and finished the vase together with two other of middling size which I made of my own silver. At the end of those great troubles the king came to take his ease a while in Paris. That accursed woman seemed born to be the ruin of the world. I ought therefore to thank myself of some account, seeing she held me for her mortal enemy. Happening to speak one day with the good king about my matters, she abused me to such an extent that he swore, in order to appease her, he would take no more heed of me thenceforward than if he had never set eyes upon my face. These words were immediately brought me by a page of cardinal Ferrara called Il Ville, who said he had heard the king utter them. I was infuriated to such a pitch that I dashed my tools across the room and all the things I was at work on, made my arrangements to quit France, and went upon the spot to find the king. When he had dined I was shown into a room where I found his majesty in the company of a very few persons. After I had paid him the respects due to kings, he bowed his head with a gracious smile. This revived hope in me, so I drew nearer to his majesty, for they were showing him some things in my own line of art, and after we had talked a while about such matters, he asked if I had anything worth seeing at my house, and next inquired when I should like him to come. I replied that I had some pieces ready to show his majesty if he pleased at once. He told me to go home, and he would come immediately. CHAPTER 44 I went accordingly, and waited for the good king's visit, who it seems had gone meanwhile to take leave of Madame de Toms. She asked whether he was bound, adding that she would accompany him, but when he informed her she told him that she would not go, and begged him as a special favour not to go himself that day. She had to return to the charge more than twice before she shook the king's determination. However he did not come to visit me that day. Next morning I went to his majesty at the same hour, and no sooner had he caught sight of me than he swore it was his intention to come to me upon the spot. Going then, according to his want, to take leave of his dear Madame de Toms, this lady saw that all her influence had not been able to divert him from his purpose. So she began with that biting tongue of hers to say the worst of me that could be insinuated against the deadly enemy of this most worthy crown of France. The good king appeased her by replying that the sole object of his visit was to administer such a scolding as should make me tremble in my shoes. This he swore to do upon his honour. Then he came to my house, and I conducted him through the certain rooms upon the basement where I had put the whole of my great door together. Upon beholding it the king was struck with stupefaction, and quite lost his cue for reprimanding me, as he had promised Madame de Toms. Still he did not choose to go away without finding some opportunity for scolding. So he began in this wise. There is one most important matter, Benvenudo, which men of your sort, though full of talent, ought always to bear in mind. It is that you cannot bring your great gifts to light by your own strength alone. You show your greatness only through the opportunities we give you. Now you want to be a little more submissive. Not so arrogant and headstrong. I remember that I gave you express orders to make me twelve silver statues, and this was all I wanted. You have chosen to execute a salt-sillar, and vases, and busts, and doors, and a heap of other things which quite confound me when I consider how you have neglected my wishes and worked for the fulfilment of your own. If you mean to go on in this way I shall presently let you understand what is my own method of procedure when I choose to have things done in my own way. I tell you therefore plainly do your utmost to obey my commands, for if you stick to your own fancies you will run your head against a wall. While he was uttering these words, his lords and waiting hung upon the king's lips, seeing him shake his head, frown, and gesticulate, now with one hand and now with the other, the whole company of attendants therefore quaked with fear for me. But I stood firm, and let no breath of fear pass over me. End of Section 9. Section 10 of Autobiography of Benvenuto Salini, Part 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jay Martin. Autobiography of Benvenuto Salini, Part 2, Section 10, Chapters Chapter 45 When he had wound up the sermon, agreed upon beforehand with his darling madame de Tompe, I bent one leg upon the ground and kissed his coat above the knee. Then I began my speech as follows. Sacred Majesty, I admit that all you have said is true. Only in reply I protest that my heart has ever been, by day and night, with all my vital forces, bent on serving you and executing your commands. If it appears to your Majesty that my actions contradict these words, let your Majesty be sure that Benvenuto was not at fault, but rather possibly my evil fate or adverse fortune, which has made me unworthy to serve the most admirable prince who ever blessed this earth. Therefore I crave your pardon. I was under the impression, however, that your Majesty had given me silver for one statue only, having no more at my disposal I could not execute others. So with the surplus which remained for use, I made this vase to show your Majesty the grand style of the ancients. Perhaps you never had seen anything of the sort before. As for the salt-seller, I thought, if my memory does not betray me, that your Majesty, on one occasion, ordered me to make it of your own accord. The conversation falling upon something of the kind which had been brought for your inspection, I showed you a model made by me in Italy. You, following the impulse of your own mind, only had a thousand golden dukets cut out for me to execute the peace with all, thanking me in addition for my hint, and what is more, I seem to remember that you commended me highly when it was completed. As regards the door, it was my impression that after we had chance to speak about it at some time or other, your Majesty gave orders to your Chief Secretary, Monsieur Villarraus, from whom the order passed to Monsieur de Mamanche and Monsieur de La Fah, to this effect, that all these gentlemen should keep me going at the work, and see that I obtained the necessary funds. Without such commission I should certainly not have been able to advance so great an undertaking on my own resource. As for the bronze heads, the pedestal of Jupiter and other such-like things, I will begin by saying that I cast those heads upon my own account in order to become acquainted with French clays, of which as a foreigner I had no previous knowledge whatsoever, unless I had made the experiment I could not have said about casting larger works. Now, touching the pedestals, I have to say that I made them because I judged them necessary to the statues. Consequently, in all I have done, I have meant to act for the best and at no point to swerve from your Majesty's expressed wishes. It is indeed true that I set that huge colossus up to satisfy my own desire, paying for it from my own purse even to the point which it has reached, because I thought that you being the great king that you are, and I the trifling artist that I am, it was my duty to erect for your glory and my own a statue, the like of which the ancients never saw. Now at the last, having been taught that God is not inclined to make me worthy of so glorious a service, I beseech your Majesty, instead of the noble recompense you had in mind to give me for my labours, bestow upon me only one small trifle of your favour, and therewith the leave to quit your kingdom. At this instant, if you condescend to my request, I shall return to Italy, always thanking God and your Majesty for the happy hours which I have passed in serving you. CHAPTER 46 The king stretched forth his own hands and raised me very graciously, then he told me that I ought to continue in his service and that all I had done was right and pleasing to him. Turning to the lords and his company, he spoke these words precisely. I verily believe that a finer door could not be made for paradise itself. When he had ceased speaking, although his speech had been entirely in my favour, I again thanked him respectfully, for the heat of my indignation had not yet cooled down. His Majesty, feeling that I sat too little store upon his unwanted and extraordinary condensation, commanded me with a great and terrible voice to hold my tongue unless I wanted to incur his wrath. Afterwards he added that he would drown me in gold, and that he gave me the leave, I asked, and over and above the works he had commissioned he was very well satisfied with what I had done on my own account in the interval. I should never, henceforth, have any quarrels with him because he knew my character, and for my part I, too, ought to study the temper of his Majesty as my duty required. I answered that I thanked God and His Majesty for everything. Then I asked him to come and see how far I had advanced the great Colossus. So he came to my house, and I had the statue uncovered. He admired it extremely, and gave orders to his Secretary to pay me all the money I had spent upon it, be the sum what it might. Provided I wrote the bill out in my own hand. Then he departed, saying, I do, mon ami, which is a phrase not often used by kings. CHAPTER 47 After returning to his palace he called to mind the words I had spoken in our previous interview, some of which were so excessively humble, and others so proud and haughty, that they caused him no small irritation. He repeated a few of them in the presence of Madame de Tombe and Monsieur de Cepalo, a great baron of France. This man had always professed much friendship for me in the past, and certainly on that occasion he showed his goodwill after the French fashion, with great cleverness. It happened thus. The king, in the course of a long conversation, complained that the cardinal of Ferrara, to whose care he had entrusted me, never gave a thought to my affairs. So far as he was concerned I might have decamped from the realm. Therefore he must certainly arrange for committing me to someone who would appreciate me better, because he did not want to run a further risk of losing me. At these words, Monsieur de Saint-Paul expressed his willingness to undertake the charge, saying that if the king appointed him my guardian, he would act so that I should never have the chance to leave the kingdom. The king replied that he was very well satisfied if only Saint-Paul would explain the way in which he meant to manage me. Madame sat by with an air of soul and irritation, and Saint-Paul stood on his dignity, declining to answer the king's question. When the king repeated it, he said, to curry favor with Madame de Tombe. I would hang that then venuto of yours by the neck, and thus you would keep him forever in your kingdom. She broke into a fit of laughter protesting that I richly deserved it. The king, to keep them company, began to laugh and said he had no objection to Saint-Paul hanging me, if he could first produce my equal in the arts, and although I had not earned such a fate, he gave full liberty and license. In this way that day ended, and I came off safe and sound, for which may God be praised and thanked. CHAPTER 48 The king had now made peace with the emperor, but not with the English, and these devils were keeping us in constant agitation. His majesty had therefore other things than pleasure to attend to. He ordered Piero Strozzi to go with ships of war into the English waters, but this was a very difficult undertaking, even for that great commander, without a paragon in his time in the art of war, and also without a paragon in his misfortunes. Several months passed without my receiving money or commissions. Accordingly, I dismissed my work-people with the exception of the two Italians whom I set to making two big vases out of my own silver. For these men could not work in bronze. After they had finished these, I took them to a city which belonged to the queen of Navarre. It is called Argentana and is distant, several days' journey from Paris. On arriving at this place, I found that the king was indisposed, and the cardinal of Ferrara told his majesty that I was come. He made no answer which obliged me to stay several days kicking my heels. Of a truth, I never was more uncomfortable in my life, but at last I presented myself one evening and offered the two vases for the king's inspection. He was excessively delighted, and when I saw him in good humor, I begged his majesty to grant me the favor of permitting me to travel into Italy. I would leave the seven months of my salary which were due, and his majesty might condescend to pay me when I required money for my return journey. I entreated him to grant this petition, seeing that the times were more for fighting than for making statues. Moreover, his majesty had allowed a similar license to belong in the painter, wherefore I humbly begged him to concede the same to me. While I was uttering these words, the king kept gazing intently on the vases, and from time to time shot a terrible glance at me. Nevertheless, I went on praying to the best of my ability that he would favor my petition. All of a sudden he rose angrily from his seat and said to me in Italian, Benvenuto, you are a great fool. Take these vases back to Paris. I want to have them guilt. Without making any other answer, he then departed. I went up to the cardinal of Ferrara, who was present, and besought him, since he had already conferred upon me the great benefit of freeing me from prison in Rome, with many other besides, to do me this one favor more of procuring for me leave to travel into Italy. He answered that he should be very glad to do his best to gratify me in this matter. I might leave it without further thought to him, and even if I chose might set off at once, because he would act for the best in my interest with the king. I told the cardinal that since I was aware his majesty had put me under the protection of his most reverent lordship, if he gave me leave, I felt ready to depart and promised to return upon the smallest hint from his reverence. The cardinal then made me go back to Paris and wait their eight days during which time he would procure the king's license for me. If his majesty refused to let me go, he would without fail inform me. But if I received no letters, that would be a sign that I might set off with an easy mind. Chapter 49 I obeyed the cardinal and returned to Paris, where I made excellent cases for my three silver vases. After the lapse of twenty days I began my preparations and packed the three vases upon a mule. This animal had been lent me for the journey to Lyon by the bishop of Pavia, who was now once more installed in my castle. Then I departed in my evil hour, together with Senor Ipolito-Gangasa, at that time in the pay of the king and also in the service of the Count Goleta de Marendola. Some other gentleman of the said count went with us, as well as Leonardo Tidaldi, our fellow citizen of Florence. I made Ascanu and Pagolo guardians of my castle and all my property, including two little vases which were only just begun. Those I left behind in order that the two young men might not be idle. I had lived very handsomely in Paris, and therefore there was a large amount of costly household furniture. The whole value of these effects exceeded fifteen hundred crowns. I obeyed Ascanu and remember what great benefits I had bestowed upon him, and that up to the present he had been a mere thoughtless lad. The time was now come for him to show the prudence of a man. Therefore I thought fit to leave him in the custody of all my goods. That is also of my honour. If he had the least thing to complain of from those brutes of Frenchmen, he was to let me here at once, because I would take post and fly from any place in which I found myself, not only to discharge the great obligations under which I lay to that good king, but also to defend my honour. Ascanu replied with the tears of a thief and hypocrite, I have never known a father better than you are, and all things which a good son is bound to perform for a good father will I ever do for you. So then I took my departure, attendant by a servant and a little French lad. It was past noon when some of the king's treasurers, by no means friends of mine, made a visit to my castle. The rascally fellows began by saying that I had gone off with the king's silver and told Mr. Guido and the bishop of Pavia to send at once off after his majesty's vases. If not, they would themselves dispatch a messenger to get them back and do me some great mischief. The bishop and Mr. Guido were much more frightened than was necessary, so they sent that traitor Ascanu by the post off on the spot. He made his appearance before me at about midnight. I had not been able to sleep and kept revolving thoughts to the following effect. In whose hands have I left my property, my castle? Oh, what a fate is this of mine, which forces me to take this journey. May God grant only that the cardinal is not of one mind with Madame de Tumpe, who has nothing else so much at heart as to make me lose the grace of that good king. CHAPTER XV While I was thus dismally debating with myself, I heard Ascanu calling me. From the instant I jumped out of bed and asked if he brought good or evil tidings, the nave answered, They are good news I bring, but you must only send back those three vases, for the rascally treasurers keep shouting, Stop, thief! So the bishop and Mr. Guido say that you must absolutely send them back. For the rest you need have no anxiety, but may pursue your journey with a light heart. I handed over the vases immediately, two of them being my own property, together with the silver and much else besides. I had meant to take them to the cardinal of Farraris Abietlion, for though people accused me of wanting to carry them into Italy, everybody knows quite well that it is impossible to export money, gold, or silver from France without special license. Consider, therefore, whether I could have crossed the frontier with these three great vases, which, together with their cases, were a whole mule's burden. It is certainly true that since these articles were of great value and the highest beauty, I felt uneasiness in case the king should die and I had lately left him in a very bad state of health. Therefore I said to myself, If such an accident should happen having these things in the keeping of the cardinal I shall not lose them. Well, to cut the story short, I sent back the mule with the vases and other things of importance. Then upon the following morning I traveled forward with the company I have already mentioned, nor could I through the whole journey refrain from sighing and weeping. Sometimes however I consoled myself with God by saying, Lord God, before whose eyes the truth lies open, thou knowest that my object in this journey is only to carry alms to six poor miserable virgins and their mother my own sister. They have indeed their father, but he is very old and gains nothing by his trade. I fear, therefore, lest they might too easily take to a bad course of life. Since then I am performing a true act of piety. I look to thy majesty for aid and counsel. This was all the recreation I enjoyed upon my forward journey. We were one day distant from Leon, and it was close upon the hour of twenty-two when the heavens began to thunder with sharp rattling claps, although the sky was quite clear at the time. I was riding a crossbow shot before my comrades. After the thunder the heavens made a noise so great and horrible that I thought the last day had come, so I reigned in for a moment while a shower of hail began to fall without a drop of water. A first hail was somewhat larger than pellets from a pop-gun, and when these struck me they hurt considerably. Little by little it increased in size until the stones might be compared to balls from a crossbow. My horse became restive with fright, so I wheeled round and returned at a gallop to where I found my comrades taking refuge in a firwood. The hail now grew to the size of big lemons. I began to sing a misery, and while I was devoutly uttering this psalm to God, there fell a stone so huge that it smashed the thick branches of the pine under which I had retired for safety. Another of the hail stones hit my horse upon the head and almost stunned him. One struck me also, but not directly else it would have killed me. Unlike Manor, poor old Leonardo Tadaldi, who like me was kneeling on the ground, received so shrewd a blow that he fell groveling upon all fours. When I saw that the furbow offered no protection and that I ought to act as well as to entone my miseries, I began at once to wrap my mantle round my head. At the same time I cried to Leonardo, who was shrieking for succor, Jesus, Jesus, that Jesus would help him if he helped himself. I had more trouble in looking after this man's safety than my own. The storm raged for some while, but at last it stopped and we who were pounded black and blue scrambled as well as we could upon our horses. Pursuing the way to our lodging for the night we showed our scratches and bruises to each other, but about a mile further on we came upon a scene of devastation which surpassed what we had suffered and defy's description. All the trees were stripped of their leaves and shattered. The beasts in the field lay dead, many of the herdsmen had also been killed. We observed large quantities of hail-stunks which could not have been grasped with two hands. Feeling then that we had come well out of a great peril, we acknowledged that our prayers to God and misarrays had helped us more than we could have helped ourselves. Returning thanks to God therefore we entered Leon in the course of the next day and tarried there eight days. At the end of this time being refreshed in strength and spirit, we resumed our journey and passed the mountains without mishap. On the other side I bought a little pony because the baggage which I carried had somewhat overtired my horses. End of Section 10. Section 11 of autobiography of Benvenuto Salini Part 2. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by J. Martin. Chapter 51. After we had been one day in Italy, the Count Gelletto della Merendola joined us. He was travelling by post and stopping where we were. He told me that I had done wrong to leave France. I ought not to journey forward, for if I returned at once my affairs would be more prosperous than ever. On the other hand, if I persisted in my course, I was giving the game up to my enemies and furnishing them with opportunities to do me mischief. By returning I might put a stop to their intrigues, and those in whom I placed the most confidence were just the men who played most traitorously. He would not say more than that he knew very well all about it, and indeed the cardinal of Ferrara had now conspired with the two rugs I left in charge of all my business. Having repeated over and over again that I ought absolutely to turn back, he went onward with the post, while I, being influenced by my companions, could not make my mind up to return. My heart was sorely torn asunder, at one moment by the desire to reach Florence as quickly as I could, and at another by the conviction that I ought to regain France. At last, in order to end the fever of this irresolution, I determined to take the post for Florence. I could not make arrangements with the first postmaster, but persisted in my purpose to travel forward and endure an anxious life at Florence. I parted company with Senior Ippolito Gangasa, who took the route from Mirondola, while I diverged upon the road to Parma and Pazienza. In the latter city I met Duke Pierre Luigi upon the street, who stared me in the face and recognized me. Since I knew him, to have been the sole cause of my imprisonment in the castle of St. Angelo, the sight of him made my blood boil. Yet being unable to escape from the man, I decided to pay him my respects, and arrived just after he had risen from table in the company of the landi who afterwards murdered him. On my appearance he received me with unbounded marks of a steam and affection, among which he took occasion to remark to the gentleman present that I was the first artist of the world in my own line and that I had been for a long while in prison at Rome. Then he turned to me and said, My benvenuto, I was deeply grieved by your misfortune and knew well that you were innocent but could not do anything to help you. In short, it was my father who chose to gratify some enemies of yours, from whom moreover he heard that you had spoken ill of him. I am convinced this was not true, and indeed I was heartily sorry for your troubles. These words he kept piling up and repeating until he seemed to be begging my pardon. Afterwards he inquired about the work I had been doing for his most Christian majesty, and on my furnishing him with details he listened as attentively and graciously as possible. Then he asked if I had a mind to serve him. To this I replied that my honor would not allow me to do so, but that if I had completed those extensive works begun for the king I should be disposed to quit any great prince merely to enter his excellency's service. Hereby it may be seen how the power and goodness of God never leave unpunished any sort or quality of men who act unjustly toward the innocent. This man did what was equivalent to begging my pardon in the presence of those very persons whom subsequently took revenge on him for me and many others whom he had massacred. Let then no prince, however great he be, laugh at God's justice in the way that many whom I know are doing and who have cruelly maltreated me, as I shall relate at the proper time. I do not write these things in any worldly spirit of boasting but only to return thanks to God my deliver in so many trials. In those, too, which daily assail me, I always carry my complaint to him and call on him to be my defender. On all occasions, after I have done my best to aid myself, if I lose courage and my feeble forces fail, then is the great might of God manifested which descends unexpectedly on those who wrongfully injure their neighbors or neglect the grave and honourable charge they have received from him. CHAPTER XVII When I returned to my inn, I found that the duke had sent me abundance to eat and drink of very excellent quality. I made a hearty meal, then mounted and rode toward Florence. There I found my sister with six daughters, the eldest of whom was marriageable and the youngest still at nurse. Her husband, by reason of diverse circumstances in the city, had lost employment from his trade. I had sent gems and French jewelry more than a year earlier to the amount of about two thousand dukets, and now brought with me the same wares to the value of about one thousand crowns. I discovered that, whereas I made them an allowance of four golden crowns a month, they always drew considerable sums from the current sale of these articles. My brother-in-law was such an honest fellow that, fearing to give me cause for anger, he had pawned nearly everything he possessed and was devoured by interest in his anxiety to leave my monies untouched. It seems that my allowance, made by way of charity, did not suffice for the needs of the family. When then I found him so honest in his dealing, I felt inclined to raise his pension, and it was my intention before leaving Florence to make some arrangement for all of his daughters. CHAPTER 53 The duke of Florence, at this time which was the month of August 1545, had retired to Poggio Acano ten miles distant from Florence. Thither then I went to pay him my respects, with the sole object of acting as duty required, first because I was a Florentine, and next because my forefathers had always been adherents of the Medician party, and I yielded to none of them in affection for this duke Cosimo. As I have said then, I rode to Poggio with the sole object of paying my respects, and with no intention of accepting service under him, as God, who does all things well, did then appoint for me. When I was introduced, the duke received me very kindly, then he and the duchess put questions concerning the works which I had executed for the king. I answered willingly and in detail. After listening to my story, he answered that he had heard as much, and that I spoke the truth. Then he assumed a tone of sympathy and added, How small a recompense for such great and noble masterpieces! Friend Benvenuto, if you feel inclined to execute something for me too, I am ready to pay you far better than that king of yours, has done, for whom your excellent nature prompts you to speak so gratefully. When I understood his drift, I described the deep obligations under which I lay to his majesty, who first obtained my liberation from that iniquitous prison, and afterwards applied me with the means of carrying out more admirable works than any artist of my quality had ever had the chance to do. While I was thus speaking, my lord the duke writhed in his chair and seemed as though he could not bear to hear me to the end. Then when I had concluded, he rejoined, If you are disposed to work for me, I will treat you in a way that will astonish you, provided the fruits of your labors give me satisfaction, of which I have no doubt. I, poor and happy mortal, burning with desire to show the noble school of Florence that, after leaving her in youth, I had practiced other branches of the art than she imagined. I gave answer to the duke that I would willingly erect for him in marble or in bronze, a mighty statue on his fine piazza. He replied that, for a first essay, he should like me to produce a Perseus. He had long set his heart on having such a monument, and he begged me to begin a model for the same. I very gladly set myself to the task, and in a few weeks I finished my model, which was about a cubit high in yellow wax, and very delicately finished in all its details. I had made it with the most thorough study in art. The duke returned to Florence, but several days passed before I had an opportunity of showing my model. It seemed indeed as though he had never set eyes on me or spoken to me, and this caused me to auger ill of my future dealings with his Excellency. Later on, however, one day after dinner, I took it to his wardrobe where he came to inspect it with the duchess and a few gentlemen of the court. No sooner had he seen it than he expressed much pleasure and extolled it to the skies, wherefrom I gathered some hope that he might really be a connoisseur of art. After having well considered it for some time, always with greater satisfaction, he began as follows. If you could only execute this little model, Benvenuto, with the same perfection on a large scale, it would be the finest piece in the Piazza. I replied, most excellent, my Lord, upon the Piazza are now standing works by the great Donatello and the incomparable Michelangelo, the two greatest men who have ever lived since the days of the ancients. But since your excellence encourages my model with such praise, I feel the heart to execute it, at least thrice as well in bronze. No slight dispute arose upon this declaration, the duke, protesting that he understood these matters perfectly and was quite aware what could be done. I rejoined that my achievements would resolve his debutations and debates. I was absolutely sure of being able to perform far more than I had promised for his excellency, but that he must give me means for carrying my work out. Else I could not fulfill my undertaking. In return for this, his excellently bade me formulate my demands in a petition detailing all my requirements. He would see them liberally attended to. It is certain that if I had been cunning enough to secure by contract all I wanted for my work I should not have incurred the great troubles which came upon me through my own fault. But he showed the strongest desire to have the work done and the most perfect willingness to arrange preliminaries. I, therefore not discerning that he was more emergent than a duke, dealt very frankly with his excellency just as if I had to do with a prince and not with a commercial man. I sent in my petition to which he replied in large and ample terms. The memorandum ran as follows, most rare and excellent my patron, petitions of any validity and compacts between us of any value do not rest upon words or writings. The whole point is that I should succeed in my work according to my promise, and if I so succeed I feel convicted that your most illustrious excellency will very well remember what you have engaged to do for me. This language so charmed the duke, both with my ways of acting and of speaking, that he and the duchess began to treat me with extraordinary marks of favour. CHAPTER 54 Being now inflamed with a great desire to begin working, I told his excellency that I had need of a house where I could install myself in erect furnaces in order to commence operation in clay and bronze and also according to their separate requirements in gold and silver. I knew that he was well aware how thoroughly I could serve him in those several branches, and I required some dwelling fitted for my business. In order that his excellency might perceive how earnestly I wished to work for him, I had already chosen a convenient house in a quarter much to my liking. As I did not want to trench upon his excellency for money or anything of that sort, I had brought with me from France two jewels, with which I begged him to purchase me the house and to keep them until I earned it with my labour. These jewels were excellently executed by my workmen after my own designs. When he had inspected them with my new detention, he uttered these spirited words which clothed my soul with a false hope. Take back your jewels, Benvenuto, I want you and not them. You shall have your house free of charges. After this he signed a rescript underneath the petition I had drawn up and which I have always preserved among my papers. The rescript ran as follows. Let the house be seen to, and who is the vendor, and at what price, for we wish to comply with Benvenuto's request. I naturally thought that this would secure me in possession of the house, being over and above convinced that my performances must far exceed what I promised. His excellency committed the execution of these orders to his major doma, who was named Sir Pierre Francesco Ricocchio. The man came from Prato and had been the Duke's pedagogue. I talked, then, to this donkey and described my requirements, for there was a gardener joining the house on which I wanted to erect a workshop. He handed the matter over to a paymaster, dry and meager, who bore the name of Latanzio Gorini. This flimsy little fellow, with his tiny spider's hands and small-nets voice, moved about the business at a snail's pace. Yet, in an evil hour, he sent me stones, sand, and lime enough to build, perhaps, a pigeon house with careful management. When I saw how coldly things were going forward, I began to feel dismayed. However, I said to myself, little beginnings sometimes have great endings. And I fostered hope in my heart by noticing how many thousand dukets had recently been squandered upon ugly pieces of bad sculpture. Turned out by that beast of a Boascio bandonelli, so I rallied my spirits and kept prodding in Latanzio Gorini to make him go a little faster. It was like shouting to a pack of lame donkeys with a blind door for their driver. Under these difficulties and by the use of my own money, I had soon marked out the foundations of the workshop and cleared the ground of trees and vines, laboring on, according to my want, with fire and perhaps a trifle in patience. On the other side, I was in the hands of Tasso the Carpenter, a great friend of mine who had received my instructions for making a wooden framework to set up the Perseus. This Tasso was a most excellent craftsman, the best, I believe, who ever lived in his own branch of art. Personally, he was gay and married by temperament, and whenever I went to see him, he met me laughing with some little song in falsetto on his lips. Half in despair as I then was, news coming that my affairs in France were going worse, and these in Florence, promising but ill through the lukewarmness of my patron, I could never stop listening till half the song was finished, and so in the end I used to cheer up a little with my friend, and drove away as well as I was able some of gloomy thoughts which weighed upon me. CHAPTER 55 I had got all the above-dimensioned things in order and was making vigorous preparations for my great undertaking, indeed a portion of the lime had already been used, when I received sudden notice to appear before the major domo. I found him after his excellency's dinner in the hall of the clock. On entering I paid him marked respect, and he received me with the greatest stiffness. Then he asked who had installed me in the house, and by whose authority I had begun to build there, saying he marveled much that I had been so headstrong of foolhardy. I answered that I had been installed in the house by his excellency, and that his lordship himself in the name of his excellency had given the orders to Lettanzio Grini. Lettanzio brought stone, sand, and lime, and provided me what I wanted, saying he did so at your lordship's desires. When I had thus spoken the brute turned upon me was still greater tartness, vowing that neither I nor any of those whom I had mentioned spoke the truth. This stung me to the quick, and I exclaimed, O major domo! So long as your lordship chooses to use language benefiting the high office which you hold, I shall revere you, and speak to you as respectfully as I do the duke. If you take another line with me, I shall address you as but one Sir Pierre Francisco Rococo. He flew into such a rage that I thought he meant to go mad upon the spot, anticipating the time ordered by heaven for him to do so. Pouring forth a torrent of abuse, he roared out that he was surprised at himself for having let me speak at all to a man of his quality. Thereupon my blood was up, and I cried, Mark my words then, Sir Pierre Francisco Rococo, I tell you what sort of men are my equals, and who are yours? Mere teachers are the alphabet to children. His face contracted with a spasm, while he raised his voice and repeated the same words in a still more insulting tone. I, too, assumed an air of menace, and, matching his own arrogance with something of the same sort, I told him plainly that men of my kind were worthy to converse with popes and emperors and great kings, and that perhaps they were not too such men alive upon this earth, while ten of his sort might be men at every doorway. On hearing these words he jumped upon a window seat in the hall there, and defied me to repeat what I had said. I did so with still greater heat and spirit adding. I had no further mind to serve the Duke, and that I should return to France where I was always welcome. The brute remained there stupefied and pale as clay. I went off furious, resolved on leaving Florence and would to God that I had done so. The Duke cannot, I think, have been informed at once of this diabolical scene, for I waited several days without hearing from him. Seeing up all thoughts of Florence except what concerned the settlement of my sister and niece's affairs, I made preparations to provide for them as well as I could with the small amount of money I had brought, and then to return to France and never set my foot in Italy again. This being my firm purpose I had no intention to ask leave of the Duke or anybody but to decamp as quickly as I could, when one morning the major domo of his own accord, and to open a long pedantic oration in which I could discover neither method nor elegance nor meaning nor head nor tail. I only gathered from it that he professed himself a good Christian, wished to bear no man malice, and asked me in the Duke's name what salary I should be willing to accept. Hearing this I stood a while on guard and made no answer being firmly resolved not to engage myself. When he saw that I refused to reply he had at least the cleverness to put in. Benvenuto, Duke's expect to be answered and what I am saying to you I am saying from his Excellency's lips. Then I rejoined that if the message came from his Excellency I would gladly reply and told him to report to the Duke that I could not accept a position inferior to that of anyone employed by him as an artist. The major domo answered, Bandelina receives two hundred crowns a year if then you are contented with that your salary has settled. I agreed upon these terms adding that what I might earn in addition by the merit of my performances could be given after they were seen. That point I left entirely to the good judgment of his Excellency. Thus then against my will I pieced the broken thread again and set to work, the Duke continually treating me with the highest imaginable marks of favor. CHAPTER 56 I received frequent letters from France written by my most faithful friend Messier Guido Guidi, as yet they told nothing but good news, and Escanio also bade me enjoy myself without uneasiness, since, if anything happened, he would let me know at once. Now the king was informed that I had commenced working for the Duke of Florence, and being the best man in the world he often asked, Why does not Benvenuto come back to us? He put searching questions on the subject to my two workmen, both of whom replied, that I kept writing I was well off where I was, adding they thought I did not want to re-enter the service of his majesty. Incensed by these presumptuous words which were none of my saying, the king exclaimed, Since he left us without any cause I will not recall him, let him even stay where he is. Thus the thievish brigands brought matters exactly to the past they desired, for if I had returned to France they would have become mere workmen under me once more, whereas, while I remained away, they were their own masters and in my place. Consequently they did everything in their power to prevent my coming back. End of section 11