DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0167
CH. Hi] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 131
King said to me: "Who are you and what is your
name?" I remained greatly taken aback, and did not
know what it was that the King meant; and as I stood
thus silent, the King repeated a second time the same
words as if in a rage. Thereupon I replied that I
bore the name of Benvenuto. The King said: "Then
if you are that Benvenuto whom 1 understand, act
according to your wont, for I give you full licence."
I told His Majesty that it sufficed for me only to keep
myself in his favour, and for the rest I knew nothing
that could injure me. The King, smiling a little, said:
" Go, then, and my favour will never be wanting to
you." He immediately ordered one of his first secretaries,
who was called Monsignior di Villurois/ to give in-
structions to provide for me and to arrange for all my
necessities. This Villurois was a very great friend of
that nobleman called the Provost, to whom the said
property of the Nesle belonged. The place was of
triangular form, and adjoined the city walls/ and it was
an ancient fortress, but did not contain a garrison; it
was of considerable size. This said Monsignior di Villu-
rois advised me that I should look for some thing else,
and that at all hazards I should leave the place; for
he to whom it belonged was a man of very great power,
1 Nicholas de Neufville, the third of that name, Seigneur de
Villeroy. See above, p. 128, n. 1. In 1539 he was, by cession of his
father, appointed to the secretaryship of the royal finances. He
held the most distinguished offices in the kingdom, being also
Councillor and Secretary of State, and he died at a very advanced
age in 1598.
^ We learn from PlGANlOL DE LA FORCE (c^. rz'A, Vol. VIII,
p. 187) that the gardens and other premises belonging to the Chateau
extended on one side as far as the Porte de Bussy.
King said to me: "Who are you and what is your
name?" I remained greatly taken aback, and did not
know what it was that the King meant; and as I stood
thus silent, the King repeated a second time the same
words as if in a rage. Thereupon I replied that I
bore the name of Benvenuto. The King said: "Then
if you are that Benvenuto whom 1 understand, act
according to your wont, for I give you full licence."
I told His Majesty that it sufficed for me only to keep
myself in his favour, and for the rest I knew nothing
that could injure me. The King, smiling a little, said:
" Go, then, and my favour will never be wanting to
you." He immediately ordered one of his first secretaries,
who was called Monsignior di Villurois/ to give in-
structions to provide for me and to arrange for all my
necessities. This Villurois was a very great friend of
that nobleman called the Provost, to whom the said
property of the Nesle belonged. The place was of
triangular form, and adjoined the city walls/ and it was
an ancient fortress, but did not contain a garrison; it
was of considerable size. This said Monsignior di Villu-
rois advised me that I should look for some thing else,
and that at all hazards I should leave the place; for
he to whom it belonged was a man of very great power,
1 Nicholas de Neufville, the third of that name, Seigneur de
Villeroy. See above, p. 128, n. 1. In 1539 he was, by cession of his
father, appointed to the secretaryship of the royal finances. He
held the most distinguished offices in the kingdom, being also
Councillor and Secretary of State, and he died at a very advanced
age in 1598.
^ We learn from PlGANlOL DE LA FORCE (c^. rz'A, Vol. VIII,
p. 187) that the gardens and other premises belonging to the Chateau
extended on one side as far as the Porte de Bussy.