DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0446
338 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. i
Raising my foot in the air, I emptied out the water, and,
mounting my horse, we hurried along upon our return
to Rome; but since it was very cold, I felt my leg in a
state of freeze, so that I said to Filice: "I must
relieve this leg here, for I do not know how to endure
it." The excellent Filice, without saying anything
further, dismounted from his horse, and having collected
thistles and twigs, got ready to make preparations
for a fire, and whilst I waited, having placed my hands
among the breast feathers of those geese, I felt them
very warm; for the which reason I would not let him
make a fire after all, but I filled that boot of mine with
the feathers of that goose, and I immediately felt so
much relief that it gave me life. Remounting our horses
we came steadily towards Rome. When we had arrived
at a certain small eminence, it was already night.
Gazing in the direction of Florence, we both with one
accord uttered a loud cry of astonishment, saying: " Oh,
God of Heaven! what great thing is that which we see
above Florence?" It was like a great beam of fire that
shone and emitted very great radiance. I said to
Filice: "We shall certainly hear to-morrow that some
great event has taken place in Florence." So we reached
Rome; it was very dark; and when we got into the neigh-
bourhood of the Banks and near our own home, I was
mounted upon my nag, which was proceeding at a most
rapid amble, to such purpose that, there having been
that day made in the middle of the road a mound of rub-
bish and broken tiles, that horse of mine, not seeing the
mound, nor I either, climbed it at that furious pace, and
then went headlong in the descent, in such fashion as
to cause a tumble. He put his head between his legs;
Raising my foot in the air, I emptied out the water, and,
mounting my horse, we hurried along upon our return
to Rome; but since it was very cold, I felt my leg in a
state of freeze, so that I said to Filice: "I must
relieve this leg here, for I do not know how to endure
it." The excellent Filice, without saying anything
further, dismounted from his horse, and having collected
thistles and twigs, got ready to make preparations
for a fire, and whilst I waited, having placed my hands
among the breast feathers of those geese, I felt them
very warm; for the which reason I would not let him
make a fire after all, but I filled that boot of mine with
the feathers of that goose, and I immediately felt so
much relief that it gave me life. Remounting our horses
we came steadily towards Rome. When we had arrived
at a certain small eminence, it was already night.
Gazing in the direction of Florence, we both with one
accord uttered a loud cry of astonishment, saying: " Oh,
God of Heaven! what great thing is that which we see
above Florence?" It was like a great beam of fire that
shone and emitted very great radiance. I said to
Filice: "We shall certainly hear to-morrow that some
great event has taken place in Florence." So we reached
Rome; it was very dark; and when we got into the neigh-
bourhood of the Banks and near our own home, I was
mounted upon my nag, which was proceeding at a most
rapid amble, to such purpose that, there having been
that day made in the middle of the road a mound of rub-
bish and broken tiles, that horse of mine, not seeing the
mound, nor I either, climbed it at that furious pace, and
then went headlong in the descent, in such fashion as
to cause a tumble. He put his head between his legs;