DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0216
134 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. i
of the Castello, saw the sacking of his own humble home
and the torturing of his wife and children: and in such
a position was he that, for fear of injuring his own family,
he dared not employ his artillery: therefore throwing
his blazing fuse upon the ground he tore his cheeks
with bitterest wailing U and likewise also did certain of
the other gunners. For which cause I laid hold of one of
those fuses, directing certain other men who were there,
who were not so afflicted, to assist me. I turned certain
field-pieces and falconets ^ in such directions as I saw
that it was needful, and I slew with them many of the
enemy's forces. Had I not done so, that body of them,
who had entered Rome that morning would have come
straight upon the Castello; and it was possible for them
to have easily effected an entrance, because the artillery
was doing them no injury. I continued to hre: where-
fore some of the Cardinals and lords blessed me
and bestowed upon me the greatest encouragement.
Wherefore I, emboldened, endeavoured to achieve im-
possible tasks. It is sufficient that I was the means of
protecting ^ the Castello that morning, and that those
other gunners returned to carry on their own duties. I
continued at this all that day: when evening came, whilst
over, frequency employed as military engineer: amongst other
works confided to him being the restoration of the Ponte Molle.
also PLON, <rz7., pp. 17-19.
* This part of CELLINI'S narrative is confirmed by the auto-
biography of Rahaello de Montelupo, who was also employed as a
gunner and had charge of two pieces.
" Jugrrf or and were names applied to different
types of artillery at this period.
^ The word employed here in the sense of .M/?v<27v is a by
no means uncommon usage amongst the best writers of this period.
of the Castello, saw the sacking of his own humble home
and the torturing of his wife and children: and in such
a position was he that, for fear of injuring his own family,
he dared not employ his artillery: therefore throwing
his blazing fuse upon the ground he tore his cheeks
with bitterest wailing U and likewise also did certain of
the other gunners. For which cause I laid hold of one of
those fuses, directing certain other men who were there,
who were not so afflicted, to assist me. I turned certain
field-pieces and falconets ^ in such directions as I saw
that it was needful, and I slew with them many of the
enemy's forces. Had I not done so, that body of them,
who had entered Rome that morning would have come
straight upon the Castello; and it was possible for them
to have easily effected an entrance, because the artillery
was doing them no injury. I continued to hre: where-
fore some of the Cardinals and lords blessed me
and bestowed upon me the greatest encouragement.
Wherefore I, emboldened, endeavoured to achieve im-
possible tasks. It is sufficient that I was the means of
protecting ^ the Castello that morning, and that those
other gunners returned to carry on their own duties. I
continued at this all that day: when evening came, whilst
over, frequency employed as military engineer: amongst other
works confided to him being the restoration of the Ponte Molle.
also PLON, <rz7., pp. 17-19.
* This part of CELLINI'S narrative is confirmed by the auto-
biography of Rahaello de Montelupo, who was also employed as a
gunner and had charge of two pieces.
" Jugrrf or and were names applied to different
types of artillery at this period.
^ The word employed here in the sense of .M/?v<27v is a by
no means uncommon usage amongst the best writers of this period.