DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0308
214 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. i
been his brother. Then after a few days, when the raging
of the water had abated, I returned to my shop, and com-
pleted the said work with such good luck, thanks to the
Grace of God and to my own great exertions, that it
was considered the most beautiful piece of workmanship
that had ever been seen in Rome; to such an extent,
that on carrying it to the Pope, he was unable to exhaust
his praises of me; and he said: "If I were a wealthy
Emperor I would give to my Benvenuto as much landed
estate as his eye could range; but, though we nowadays
are but poor bankrupt sovereigns, in any case we will pro-
vide him with as much daily bread as shall suffice for
his small desires." Allowing the Pope to finish that
torrent of words of his, I begged for the post of
which was then vacant. To which request the Pope
replied that he wished to give me something of far
greater importance. I answered His Holiness that he
might give me this small thing in the meantime by way
of pledge. Bursting out laughing he said that he was
happy (to do so), but that he did not wish me to perform
the duties of the post, and that I must arrange with my
fellow bedels that I should not act, he in return grant-
ing them a certain favour, which they had asked of the
Pope, which was the power to recover their incomes
under his authority. And thus it came about. This
bedelship brought me in a little less than two hundred
per annum in income. Continuing afterwards to
t The or " mace-bearers " (A. " bedels ") were Apostolic
attendants or "sergeants at arms," who preceded the Pope on
State occasions bearing maces or rods like the ancient Roman
lictors (c/1 VASARI, cA, Vol. VII, p. 621). The y/zcA/yV.yVA'
conferring this office (A/wT-jcT*. (Vc7/2. IW, Lib. 15, r. 30 f.)
is dated April 14th 1331. Qt CERASOLI, czY., p. 373.
been his brother. Then after a few days, when the raging
of the water had abated, I returned to my shop, and com-
pleted the said work with such good luck, thanks to the
Grace of God and to my own great exertions, that it
was considered the most beautiful piece of workmanship
that had ever been seen in Rome; to such an extent,
that on carrying it to the Pope, he was unable to exhaust
his praises of me; and he said: "If I were a wealthy
Emperor I would give to my Benvenuto as much landed
estate as his eye could range; but, though we nowadays
are but poor bankrupt sovereigns, in any case we will pro-
vide him with as much daily bread as shall suffice for
his small desires." Allowing the Pope to finish that
torrent of words of his, I begged for the post of
which was then vacant. To which request the Pope
replied that he wished to give me something of far
greater importance. I answered His Holiness that he
might give me this small thing in the meantime by way
of pledge. Bursting out laughing he said that he was
happy (to do so), but that he did not wish me to perform
the duties of the post, and that I must arrange with my
fellow bedels that I should not act, he in return grant-
ing them a certain favour, which they had asked of the
Pope, which was the power to recover their incomes
under his authority. And thus it came about. This
bedelship brought me in a little less than two hundred
per annum in income. Continuing afterwards to
t The or " mace-bearers " (A. " bedels ") were Apostolic
attendants or "sergeants at arms," who preceded the Pope on
State occasions bearing maces or rods like the ancient Roman
lictors (c/1 VASARI, cA, Vol. VII, p. 621). The y/zcA/yV.yVA'
conferring this office (A/wT-jcT*. (Vc7/2. IW, Lib. 15, r. 30 f.)
is dated April 14th 1331. Qt CERASOLI, czY., p. 373.