DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0175
CH. v] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI
99
of them, at which I laughed; and since I said nothing
further, Misser Alberto Ben de dio, who was a proud
man, angrily said to me: "You are laughing at them,
are you? and I tell you that for the last thousand years
there has not been born a man who could merely copy
them." And so, in order not to rob them of their reputa-
tion, remaining silent I admired them with stupefaction.
I was told in Rome by many nobles about these works,
which appeared to them marvellous and of antique
origin ; some of these were my personal friends, and
emboldened by such a circumstance I confessed that I
had made them. They did not w^ant to believe me;
whereupon I wishing to be truthful in the matter of such
things, had to give proof and make new drawings; for
what I said did not suffice, since it chanced that the said
master Jacomo cunningly managed to carry oE the original
drawings with him. Out of this little job I acquired a
great deal. The plague having continued many months,
I had fought it ohj for although many of my comrades
were dead, I remained hale and free from illness. It
chanced that upon a certain evening among others, that
one of my comrades who lodged with me brought home
to supper a Bolognese courtesan who was called Faustina.
This woman was very beautiful, but was about thirty
years of age, and she had with her a little servant maid
of between thirteen and fourteen. Since the said Faustina
was the property of my friend, for all the gold in the
world I would not have touched her. Although she said
that she was wildly enamoured of me, I preserved con-
stantly my faith to my friend. But when they were in
bed I stole that little serving-maid, who was an absolute
virgin, though woe had it been for her had her mistress
99
of them, at which I laughed; and since I said nothing
further, Misser Alberto Ben de dio, who was a proud
man, angrily said to me: "You are laughing at them,
are you? and I tell you that for the last thousand years
there has not been born a man who could merely copy
them." And so, in order not to rob them of their reputa-
tion, remaining silent I admired them with stupefaction.
I was told in Rome by many nobles about these works,
which appeared to them marvellous and of antique
origin ; some of these were my personal friends, and
emboldened by such a circumstance I confessed that I
had made them. They did not w^ant to believe me;
whereupon I wishing to be truthful in the matter of such
things, had to give proof and make new drawings; for
what I said did not suffice, since it chanced that the said
master Jacomo cunningly managed to carry oE the original
drawings with him. Out of this little job I acquired a
great deal. The plague having continued many months,
I had fought it ohj for although many of my comrades
were dead, I remained hale and free from illness. It
chanced that upon a certain evening among others, that
one of my comrades who lodged with me brought home
to supper a Bolognese courtesan who was called Faustina.
This woman was very beautiful, but was about thirty
years of age, and she had with her a little servant maid
of between thirteen and fourteen. Since the said Faustina
was the property of my friend, for all the gold in the
world I would not have touched her. Although she said
that she was wildly enamoured of me, I preserved con-
stantly my faith to my friend. But when they were in
bed I stole that little serving-maid, who was an absolute
virgin, though woe had it been for her had her mistress