DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0287
CH. x] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 195
the point of death." Turning round therefore we went to
my brother, whom I caused to be carried into a house.
A consultation of doctors being immediately held, they
dressed (his wound) without agreeing to take off his leg
entirely, which would perhaps have saved him. Immedi-
ately that he had been bound up there came thither
Duke Lessandro, who was tending him kindly, when my
brother who was still conscious, said to Duke Lessandro:
"My lord! Naught grieves me more than that Your
Excellency is losing a servant, than whom you may per-
haps be able to find others more valiant in this pro-
fession, but none who will serve you with as much affec-
tion and fidelity as I have done." The Duke said that he
must endeavour to live; for the rest he knew him very
well for a worthy and brave man. Then he turned to
some of his attendants, telling them that this brave
young man must want for nothing. When the Duke
had departed a rush of blood, which could not be
staunched, was the cause of his brain giving way to
such an extent that he was raving all the following
night, except that when they wished to give him the
communion he said: "You would have done well to
have confessed me before this; now it is impossible
that I can receive this Divine Sacrament in this already
broken frame. Be content only that I taste of it through
the divine gift of my eyes, by means of which it
shall be received by my immortal soul: and that alone
implores of Him Mercy and Pardon." When he had
finished these words, and the Sacrament had been carried
away, he immediately relapsed into the same ravings as
before, which were composed of the greatest frenzies and
the most horrible words that men could ever imagine: nor
the point of death." Turning round therefore we went to
my brother, whom I caused to be carried into a house.
A consultation of doctors being immediately held, they
dressed (his wound) without agreeing to take off his leg
entirely, which would perhaps have saved him. Immedi-
ately that he had been bound up there came thither
Duke Lessandro, who was tending him kindly, when my
brother who was still conscious, said to Duke Lessandro:
"My lord! Naught grieves me more than that Your
Excellency is losing a servant, than whom you may per-
haps be able to find others more valiant in this pro-
fession, but none who will serve you with as much affec-
tion and fidelity as I have done." The Duke said that he
must endeavour to live; for the rest he knew him very
well for a worthy and brave man. Then he turned to
some of his attendants, telling them that this brave
young man must want for nothing. When the Duke
had departed a rush of blood, which could not be
staunched, was the cause of his brain giving way to
such an extent that he was raving all the following
night, except that when they wished to give him the
communion he said: "You would have done well to
have confessed me before this; now it is impossible
that I can receive this Divine Sacrament in this already
broken frame. Be content only that I taste of it through
the divine gift of my eyes, by means of which it
shall be received by my immortal soul: and that alone
implores of Him Mercy and Pardon." When he had
finished these words, and the Sacrament had been carried
away, he immediately relapsed into the same ravings as
before, which were composed of the greatest frenzies and
the most horrible words that men could ever imagine: nor