DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32873#0474
364 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. 1
posals, pointing out that he had had a desire that I should
make his portrait; and since I desired nothing else in
the world, having prepared for myself certain very white
stucco in a small box, I began my task; and the hrst day
I worked for two hours continuously, and I sketched
out that clever head with so much charm, that his lord-
ship remained in stupefaction at it; and though that
man was very great in his scholarship and in poetry to
a superlative degree, of this profession of mine his lord-
ship understood nothing in the world; wherefore it
seemed to him that I should have finished in that time
when I had scarcely begun: so much so that I could not
make him understand that I wanted much time in which
to fashion it thoroughly. At last I resolved to do the
best I knew with the time that it deserved; and since
he wore his beard short after the Venetian fashion (<%//%
^723Y/<372<3), I put myself to great trouble to make a head
that should satisfy me. However, I finished it, and it
seemed to me that I fashioned the most beautiful work
that I had ever made as far as appertained to my art.
At which I saw him amazed, for he thought that since
I had completed the wax model in two hours I ought
to make the steel one in ten. When he saw then that I
was not able to make the wax one in two hundred
hours, and that I was asking for leave to proceed
towards France, at this he was much upset, and asked
me that I would at least make a reverse for his medal,
and this was the horse A^^zz-sw-y (%% A^<%.yz?u) ^
in the midst of a wreath of myrtle. This I did in about
three hours' time, imparting to it very excellent style;
and he being very well satisfied said: " This horse seems
* Bembo's emblem.
posals, pointing out that he had had a desire that I should
make his portrait; and since I desired nothing else in
the world, having prepared for myself certain very white
stucco in a small box, I began my task; and the hrst day
I worked for two hours continuously, and I sketched
out that clever head with so much charm, that his lord-
ship remained in stupefaction at it; and though that
man was very great in his scholarship and in poetry to
a superlative degree, of this profession of mine his lord-
ship understood nothing in the world; wherefore it
seemed to him that I should have finished in that time
when I had scarcely begun: so much so that I could not
make him understand that I wanted much time in which
to fashion it thoroughly. At last I resolved to do the
best I knew with the time that it deserved; and since
he wore his beard short after the Venetian fashion (<%//%
^723Y/<372<3), I put myself to great trouble to make a head
that should satisfy me. However, I finished it, and it
seemed to me that I fashioned the most beautiful work
that I had ever made as far as appertained to my art.
At which I saw him amazed, for he thought that since
I had completed the wax model in two hours I ought
to make the steel one in ten. When he saw then that I
was not able to make the wax one in two hundred
hours, and that I was asking for leave to proceed
towards France, at this he was much upset, and asked
me that I would at least make a reverse for his medal,
and this was the horse A^^zz-sw-y (%% A^<%.yz?u) ^
in the midst of a wreath of myrtle. This I did in about
three hours' time, imparting to it very excellent style;
and he being very well satisfied said: " This horse seems
* Bembo's emblem.