DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0151
cn. II] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 117
them; who told me subsequently that they had said the
finest things in my praise. Misser Alfonso afterwards
wished that I would be more intimate with him, whereat
it seemed to me a thousand years ere I could get away
from Ferrara, and take myself away from them. The
most that I had in the way of advantage had been the
acquaintance of the Cardinal Salviati ^ and that of the
Cardinal of Ravenna," and of some of those clever
musicians/ and no one else; for the Ferrarese are a
very miserly race, and covet the goods of others in every
fashion that they can possibly acquire them; thus are
they all. At twenty-two of the clock there appeared
the above-mentioned Fiaschino, and he offered me the
said diamond of the value of about sixty saying
with a melancholy expression and in a few words,
that I must take that out of affection for His Excel-
lency. To whom I replied—"and I will do so." Set-
ting my feet in the stirrups in his presence, I began
my journey of departure; he noted the act and the
words; and when he reported them to the Duke, he in a
rage conceived a very great desire to make me turn back
again. That evening I proceeded more than ten miles,
trotting continuously; and when next day I was outside
the Ferrarese territory I was very greatly pleased; for
except those young peacocks that I had eaten for the
* 6/- Book I, Chap. IV, Vol. I, p. 8$, n. 2. He was at that time
Archbishop of Ferrara.
^ ty Book I, Chap. VII, Vol. I, p. 138, n. 1. MAZZUCHELLi,
contrary to UGHELLI, proves that this Cardinal resided in Ferrara,
and not at Ravenna.
From very early times music flourished in Ferrara, and at that
particular period there resided in the City several celebrated exe-
cutants and composers.
them; who told me subsequently that they had said the
finest things in my praise. Misser Alfonso afterwards
wished that I would be more intimate with him, whereat
it seemed to me a thousand years ere I could get away
from Ferrara, and take myself away from them. The
most that I had in the way of advantage had been the
acquaintance of the Cardinal Salviati ^ and that of the
Cardinal of Ravenna," and of some of those clever
musicians/ and no one else; for the Ferrarese are a
very miserly race, and covet the goods of others in every
fashion that they can possibly acquire them; thus are
they all. At twenty-two of the clock there appeared
the above-mentioned Fiaschino, and he offered me the
said diamond of the value of about sixty saying
with a melancholy expression and in a few words,
that I must take that out of affection for His Excel-
lency. To whom I replied—"and I will do so." Set-
ting my feet in the stirrups in his presence, I began
my journey of departure; he noted the act and the
words; and when he reported them to the Duke, he in a
rage conceived a very great desire to make me turn back
again. That evening I proceeded more than ten miles,
trotting continuously; and when next day I was outside
the Ferrarese territory I was very greatly pleased; for
except those young peacocks that I had eaten for the
* 6/- Book I, Chap. IV, Vol. I, p. 8$, n. 2. He was at that time
Archbishop of Ferrara.
^ ty Book I, Chap. VII, Vol. I, p. 138, n. 1. MAZZUCHELLi,
contrary to UGHELLI, proves that this Cardinal resided in Ferrara,
and not at Ravenna.
From very early times music flourished in Ferrara, and at that
particular period there resided in the City several celebrated exe-
cutants and composers.