DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0218
136 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. i
greater inclination for this profession than for that which
I regarded as my own, pursued it so gladly that I suc-
ceeded better in it than in my said (true business). When
night came, and the foe had entered Rome, we that were
in the Castello (especially myself, who am always over-
joyed at seeing new sights), stood watching this unutter-
able portent (72<9zFA?) and the conflagration: events which
those who were in any other place but the Castello could
neither see nor imagine. Nevertheless I do not wish to set
myself to describe such a thing: I will only continue to
deal with this my own autobiography which I have begun,
and the matters which specially appertain thereto. Con-
tinuing unceasingly to employ my guns, by means of
them, in the one whole month ^ during which we were
besieged in the Castello, there happened to me many
very important events, all worthy of being related: but
because I do not want to be too prolix, nor do I desire
to picture myself too far removed from my rightful pro-
fession, I will omit the greater part, recounting only
those of which I am compelled to speak, which will be
but a few and those the most noteworthy. And here is
the first: the said Misser Antonio Santa Crocie having
directed me to come down from the " Angel," in order
that I might train my guns upon certain houses near
the Castello, into which some of our enemies from out-
side were seen to enter, whilst I was taking aim, a
cannon-shot came in my direction, which struck a corner
of a battlement, and carried away so much of it, that it
escaped injuring me, although the greater quantity struck
me all at once on the chest: and since it stopped my
^ The siege of the Castel Sant' Angefo and the Sack of the City
lasted precisely one month; z.^. from May 6th to June 5th.
greater inclination for this profession than for that which
I regarded as my own, pursued it so gladly that I suc-
ceeded better in it than in my said (true business). When
night came, and the foe had entered Rome, we that were
in the Castello (especially myself, who am always over-
joyed at seeing new sights), stood watching this unutter-
able portent (72<9zFA?) and the conflagration: events which
those who were in any other place but the Castello could
neither see nor imagine. Nevertheless I do not wish to set
myself to describe such a thing: I will only continue to
deal with this my own autobiography which I have begun,
and the matters which specially appertain thereto. Con-
tinuing unceasingly to employ my guns, by means of
them, in the one whole month ^ during which we were
besieged in the Castello, there happened to me many
very important events, all worthy of being related: but
because I do not want to be too prolix, nor do I desire
to picture myself too far removed from my rightful pro-
fession, I will omit the greater part, recounting only
those of which I am compelled to speak, which will be
but a few and those the most noteworthy. And here is
the first: the said Misser Antonio Santa Crocie having
directed me to come down from the " Angel," in order
that I might train my guns upon certain houses near
the Castello, into which some of our enemies from out-
side were seen to enter, whilst I was taking aim, a
cannon-shot came in my direction, which struck a corner
of a battlement, and carried away so much of it, that it
escaped injuring me, although the greater quantity struck
me all at once on the chest: and since it stopped my
^ The siege of the Castel Sant' Angefo and the Sack of the City
lasted precisely one month; z.^. from May 6th to June 5th.