Note 3. 'Un nostro parente.' He says above that he wrote the Capitolo on the leaves of his Bible.
Note 4. 'Un nostro parente.' He says above that he wrote the Capitolo on the leaves of his Bible.
Note 5. Gabriel holds the lily in Italian paintings when he salutes the Virgin Mary with 'Ave Virgo!'
Note 6. That is, he finds everywhere in Italy the arms of the Farnesi.
Note 7. Allusion to his prevision of the castellans death.
Note 8. Allusion to his prevision of Pier Luigi Farneses murder.
Note 9. Allusion to the angel who visited him in prison.
Note 10. Allusion to his vision of the sun in the dungeon.
Note 11. An invective against Pier Luigi Farnese.
Note 12. Allusion to the prophetic words he flung at the officers who took him to Foianos dungeon.
Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Part II
I REMAINED for some time in the Cardinal of Ferraras palace, very well regarded in general by everybody, and much more visited even than I had previously been. Everybody was astonished that I should have come out of prison and have been able to live through such indescribable afflictions; [1] and while I was recovering my breath and endeavouring to resume the habit of my art, I had great pleasure in re-writing the Capitolo. Afterwards, with a view to re-establishing my strength, I determined to take a journey of a few days for change of air. My good friend the Cardinal gave me permission and lent me horses; and I had two young Romans for my companions, one of them a craftsman in my trade, the other only a comrade in our journey. We left Rome, and took the road to Tagliacozzo, intending to visit my pupil Ascanio, who lived there. On our arrival, I found the lad, together with his father, brothers, sisters, and stepmother. I was entertained by them two days with indescribable kindness; then I turned my face towards Rome, taking Ascanio with me. On the road we fell to conversing about our art, which made me die of impatience to get back and recommence my labours.
Having reached Rome, I got myself at once in readiness to work, and was fortunate enough to find again a silver basin which I had begun for the Cardinal before I was imprisoned. Together with this basin I had begun a very beautiful little jug; but this had been stolen, with a great quantity of other valuable articles. I set Pagolo, whom I have previously mentioned, to work upon the basin. At the same time I recommenced the jug, which was designed with round figures and bas-reliefs. The basin was executed in a similar style, with round figures and fishes in bas-relief. The whole had such richness and good keeping, that every one who beheld it expressed astonishment at the force of the design and beauty of invention, and also at the delicacy [2] with which these young men worked.