DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0163
CH. v] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 89
still continuing this ridicule of us. Coming up to him I
asked ifhewas that bold man who was speaking evil of the
Florentines. He immediately replied: " I am that man."
At which words I raised my hand and striking him in
the face said: "And I am this man." Instantly we both
furiously laid hands on our weapons; but no sooner had
we commenced that affair, than many persons came be-
tween us, more readily taking my part than the other
side, having realized and seen that I was in the right.
The day after there was brought to me a written chal-
lenge to fight him, which I accepted very gladly, saying
that it seemed to me this undertaking proceeded much
more rapidly than those pertaining to that other trade
of mine; and I immediately went to consult an old man
named Bevilacqua,* who had the reputation of having been
the first swordsman in Italy, because he had found himself
drawn more than twenty times into the held of honour
(0377^0 /Amrv) and had always come out thence with
credit. This worthy man was a great friend of mine,
and knew me through my profession, and had also been
concerned in certain ugly quarrels between me and
others. For the which reason he immediately said cheer-
fully to me: "Benvenuto, if you had to do with Mars
himself, I am sure that you would come out of it with
honour, because during the many years that I have
known you, I have never seen you take up any quarrel
* According to CARPANi, who produces a reference from Book I
of the A^zkAzy of PAOLO Giovio (P. lovn NovocoMENSiS, AAA/,
^zzz Az/z^nz-A, T. 1., Venezia, Comino, 1553, p. 28), this is probably
the same Bevilacqua, a native of Milan, who was one of the 400
AzvAz'zhzzz, all splendid fighters (^/zzAAArz' ^jzzzzz) and celebrated
duellists who, fighting on behalf of the Republic of Genoa, defeated
the Aragonese at the Battle of Rapallo in 1494.
still continuing this ridicule of us. Coming up to him I
asked ifhewas that bold man who was speaking evil of the
Florentines. He immediately replied: " I am that man."
At which words I raised my hand and striking him in
the face said: "And I am this man." Instantly we both
furiously laid hands on our weapons; but no sooner had
we commenced that affair, than many persons came be-
tween us, more readily taking my part than the other
side, having realized and seen that I was in the right.
The day after there was brought to me a written chal-
lenge to fight him, which I accepted very gladly, saying
that it seemed to me this undertaking proceeded much
more rapidly than those pertaining to that other trade
of mine; and I immediately went to consult an old man
named Bevilacqua,* who had the reputation of having been
the first swordsman in Italy, because he had found himself
drawn more than twenty times into the held of honour
(0377^0 /Amrv) and had always come out thence with
credit. This worthy man was a great friend of mine,
and knew me through my profession, and had also been
concerned in certain ugly quarrels between me and
others. For the which reason he immediately said cheer-
fully to me: "Benvenuto, if you had to do with Mars
himself, I am sure that you would come out of it with
honour, because during the many years that I have
known you, I have never seen you take up any quarrel
* According to CARPANi, who produces a reference from Book I
of the A^zkAzy of PAOLO Giovio (P. lovn NovocoMENSiS, AAA/,
^zzz Az/z^nz-A, T. 1., Venezia, Comino, 1553, p. 28), this is probably
the same Bevilacqua, a native of Milan, who was one of the 400
AzvAz'zhzzz, all splendid fighters (^/zzAAArz' ^jzzzzz) and celebrated
duellists who, fighting on behalf of the Republic of Genoa, defeated
the Aragonese at the Battle of Rapallo in 1494.