DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0082
50 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. i
now most excellently prepared and calmed; my glory
is far greater in that I die wrongfully, than if I were to
die rightfully. Come forward, I beg of you, and provide
me with a priest, so that I can speak a few words
with him; although there is no real necessity, for
my devout confession I have made to my Lord God
(Himself); but merely to observe what Our Holy Mother
Church has commanded us; for although She is doing
me this wicked wrong, I freely pardon it/ Come therefore,
Misser Benedetto mine! and hasten matters for me ere
bodily feeling begin to make me offend." When I had
said these words, this worthy man told the guard to lock
the door, for without him that duty could not be per-
formed. Going to the house of the lord Pierluigi's wife/
who happened to be in the company of the Duchess
above-mentioned D and coming into their presence this
man said: " My most illustrious mistress, I pray you for
the love of God, be so kind as to send to tell the Pope
that he send some one else to pronounce that sentence
upon Benvenuto, and to perform my duty, for I renounce
it, and never more will I perform it;" and he departed
sighing with deepest grief of heart. The Duchess, who
was present, frowning said: "This is fine justice that the
Vicar of God administers in Rome! The Duke, my late
husband, liked this man very much on account of his
goodness, and for his talents, and did not want him to
come back to Rome, keeping him with much affection
^ It is to be observed that CELLINI here confuses the Holy
Mother Church with the Pope himself, its visible earthly Head.
^ Girolama, daughter of Lodovico Orsini, Count of Pitigliano,
Qf SANSOVINO, Gr-M CGiAA, p. 80.
^ Margaret of Austria.
now most excellently prepared and calmed; my glory
is far greater in that I die wrongfully, than if I were to
die rightfully. Come forward, I beg of you, and provide
me with a priest, so that I can speak a few words
with him; although there is no real necessity, for
my devout confession I have made to my Lord God
(Himself); but merely to observe what Our Holy Mother
Church has commanded us; for although She is doing
me this wicked wrong, I freely pardon it/ Come therefore,
Misser Benedetto mine! and hasten matters for me ere
bodily feeling begin to make me offend." When I had
said these words, this worthy man told the guard to lock
the door, for without him that duty could not be per-
formed. Going to the house of the lord Pierluigi's wife/
who happened to be in the company of the Duchess
above-mentioned D and coming into their presence this
man said: " My most illustrious mistress, I pray you for
the love of God, be so kind as to send to tell the Pope
that he send some one else to pronounce that sentence
upon Benvenuto, and to perform my duty, for I renounce
it, and never more will I perform it;" and he departed
sighing with deepest grief of heart. The Duchess, who
was present, frowning said: "This is fine justice that the
Vicar of God administers in Rome! The Duke, my late
husband, liked this man very much on account of his
goodness, and for his talents, and did not want him to
come back to Rome, keeping him with much affection
^ It is to be observed that CELLINI here confuses the Holy
Mother Church with the Pope himself, its visible earthly Head.
^ Girolama, daughter of Lodovico Orsini, Count of Pitigliano,
Qf SANSOVINO, Gr-M CGiAA, p. 80.
^ Margaret of Austria.