DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0039
CH. xxii] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 11
and so he gave me convenience that I might be able to
continue my trade. Upon this, thinking that this wrath
of the Pope, as well on account of my innocence, as
also on account of the favours of the King, must come
to an end, keeping my shop still open, my apprentice
Ascanio used to come to me in the Castello and bring
me some materials for working. Although I could work
but little, seeing myself imprisoned in that way so wrong-
fully, I nevertheless made a virtue of necessity: I cheer-
fully bore this perverse fortune of mine the best way I
could. I had made very great friends with all those
guards and many soldiers of the Castello. And since
the Pope came sometimes to supper in the Castello, and
during such time as the Pope was there the Castello was
not guarded, but stood open freely like an ordinary
palace; and since during this time that the Pope re-
mained thus, all the prisoners were accustomed to be shut
up with greater care: and whereas to me none of these
sort of things were done: but on all these occasions I
walked freely about the Castello; many times some
of those soldiers counselled me that I should escape,
and that they would assist me (yiz/%7 since they
knew the great wrong that was done me. To them I
replied that I had given my word to the Castellan, who
was so honest a man, and one who had done me such
great kindnesses. One very brave and very able soldier
there was; and he said to me: "My Benvenuto! you
know that one who is in prison is not bound nor can
be bound to keep his word, any more than any other
thing: do what I tell you, escape from this rascal of a
Pope and from this bastard son of his, who will take away
your life at any cost." I, for I had determined to myself
and so he gave me convenience that I might be able to
continue my trade. Upon this, thinking that this wrath
of the Pope, as well on account of my innocence, as
also on account of the favours of the King, must come
to an end, keeping my shop still open, my apprentice
Ascanio used to come to me in the Castello and bring
me some materials for working. Although I could work
but little, seeing myself imprisoned in that way so wrong-
fully, I nevertheless made a virtue of necessity: I cheer-
fully bore this perverse fortune of mine the best way I
could. I had made very great friends with all those
guards and many soldiers of the Castello. And since
the Pope came sometimes to supper in the Castello, and
during such time as the Pope was there the Castello was
not guarded, but stood open freely like an ordinary
palace; and since during this time that the Pope re-
mained thus, all the prisoners were accustomed to be shut
up with greater care: and whereas to me none of these
sort of things were done: but on all these occasions I
walked freely about the Castello; many times some
of those soldiers counselled me that I should escape,
and that they would assist me (yiz/%7 since they
knew the great wrong that was done me. To them I
replied that I had given my word to the Castellan, who
was so honest a man, and one who had done me such
great kindnesses. One very brave and very able soldier
there was; and he said to me: "My Benvenuto! you
know that one who is in prison is not bound nor can
be bound to keep his word, any more than any other
thing: do what I tell you, escape from this rascal of a
Pope and from this bastard son of his, who will take away
your life at any cost." I, for I had determined to myself