DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0144
74 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. i
me such an one as to understand how to bring him up,
so where my power was unable to extend He has
Himself removed him, contrary to your expectation, out
of your violent hands." And departing he wrote the
whole circumstance to me, praying me for the love of
God to practise my music sometimes, so that I might
not lose that fine accomplishment, which he had taught
me with so much pains. The letter was full of the
most affectionate paternal words that one could ever
hear; to such an extent that they moved me to tears of
piety, being wishful that ere he died I might content
him to a great extent as regards the music, since God
grants us all the lawful blessings that we ask of Him
faithfully. Whilst I was busying myself over the hne
vase for (the Bishop of) Salamanca I had for my assistant
one small boy only, who at the very special prayers
of my friends, half against my own wish, I had taken
as a shop-lad. This boy was about fourteen years of
age: he bore the name of Paulino, and was the son of a
Roman citizen, who lived on his own private means.
This Paulino was the best bred, the most honest, and
the handsomest child that I ever saw in my life; and on
account of his virtuous behaviour and habits; and for
his extraordinary beauty, and on account of the great
affection that he bore for me, it came about that, for
these reasons, I reposed in him as much affection as it
is possible for the breast of a man to contain. This
excessive love was the reason that, in order to see that
exquisite countenance lighten up more often, which, from
its natural disposition appeared modest and melan-
choly; ^ nevertheless when I took up my cornet he
' There is a violent change in grammatical construction here.
me such an one as to understand how to bring him up,
so where my power was unable to extend He has
Himself removed him, contrary to your expectation, out
of your violent hands." And departing he wrote the
whole circumstance to me, praying me for the love of
God to practise my music sometimes, so that I might
not lose that fine accomplishment, which he had taught
me with so much pains. The letter was full of the
most affectionate paternal words that one could ever
hear; to such an extent that they moved me to tears of
piety, being wishful that ere he died I might content
him to a great extent as regards the music, since God
grants us all the lawful blessings that we ask of Him
faithfully. Whilst I was busying myself over the hne
vase for (the Bishop of) Salamanca I had for my assistant
one small boy only, who at the very special prayers
of my friends, half against my own wish, I had taken
as a shop-lad. This boy was about fourteen years of
age: he bore the name of Paulino, and was the son of a
Roman citizen, who lived on his own private means.
This Paulino was the best bred, the most honest, and
the handsomest child that I ever saw in my life; and on
account of his virtuous behaviour and habits; and for
his extraordinary beauty, and on account of the great
affection that he bore for me, it came about that, for
these reasons, I reposed in him as much affection as it
is possible for the breast of a man to contain. This
excessive love was the reason that, in order to see that
exquisite countenance lighten up more often, which, from
its natural disposition appeared modest and melan-
choly; ^ nevertheless when I took up my cornet he
' There is a violent change in grammatical construction here.