DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0061
CH. xxm] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 31
descending from a window; thus I fell and broke a leg.
And since the spot whence I came out is one of great
note, and I should run the risk of being cut in
pieces, I therefore beg you to carry me off quickly, and
I will give you a -yr%<3?<9 of gold;" and I drew out my
purse wherein I chanced to have a good quantity. He
immediately took me up, and willingly put me upon his
back, and carried me to the said summit of the steps
of Sanpiero; and there I made him leave me, and told
him that he must return at full speed to his donkey.
Crawling thus I immediately took my way, and went
towards the house of the Duchess, wife of the Duke
Ottavio, and daughter (natural, not legitimate daugh-
ter) of the Emperor, who had been the wife of Duke
Lessandro, Duke of Florence,^ for I knew most certainly
that in the house of this great princess there were many
of my friends, who had come with her from Florence;
for besides I had through the medium of the Castellan
done her a service; for desiring to help me he had told
the Pope, that when the Duchess made her entry into
Rome,^ I was the cause of saving (the city) from more
' Margaret of Austria, natural daughter of the Emperor Charles V
(U- Chap. XVI, Vol. I, p. 303, n. 2), and widow of Duke Alessandro
de' Medici. Though sought in marriage by Cosimo de' Medici, her
father preferred to give her to Ottavio Farnese, nephew to Pope
Paul III. This alliance had been agreed upon at the meeting
which took place between the Emperor and the Pope at Nice in
1538 to arrange the terms of the treaty with Francis 1. The bride-
groom, although but hfteen years of age, was already appointed
Prefect of Rome.
^ The Duchess made her state entry into Rome on November
3rd 1538, when Cellini had been already eighteen days in prison.
(Qf VARCHI, Lib. XIV and XV.)
descending from a window; thus I fell and broke a leg.
And since the spot whence I came out is one of great
note, and I should run the risk of being cut in
pieces, I therefore beg you to carry me off quickly, and
I will give you a -yr%<3?<9 of gold;" and I drew out my
purse wherein I chanced to have a good quantity. He
immediately took me up, and willingly put me upon his
back, and carried me to the said summit of the steps
of Sanpiero; and there I made him leave me, and told
him that he must return at full speed to his donkey.
Crawling thus I immediately took my way, and went
towards the house of the Duchess, wife of the Duke
Ottavio, and daughter (natural, not legitimate daugh-
ter) of the Emperor, who had been the wife of Duke
Lessandro, Duke of Florence,^ for I knew most certainly
that in the house of this great princess there were many
of my friends, who had come with her from Florence;
for besides I had through the medium of the Castellan
done her a service; for desiring to help me he had told
the Pope, that when the Duchess made her entry into
Rome,^ I was the cause of saving (the city) from more
' Margaret of Austria, natural daughter of the Emperor Charles V
(U- Chap. XVI, Vol. I, p. 303, n. 2), and widow of Duke Alessandro
de' Medici. Though sought in marriage by Cosimo de' Medici, her
father preferred to give her to Ottavio Farnese, nephew to Pope
Paul III. This alliance had been agreed upon at the meeting
which took place between the Emperor and the Pope at Nice in
1538 to arrange the terms of the treaty with Francis 1. The bride-
groom, although but hfteen years of age, was already appointed
Prefect of Rome.
^ The Duchess made her state entry into Rome on November
3rd 1538, when Cellini had been already eighteen days in prison.
(Qf VARCHI, Lib. XIV and XV.)