DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0214
1/4 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [BK. 11
with his master Virgil entered within the portals of the
Infernal Regions. For Dante, at the time of the painter
Giotto, was together with him in France, and especially
in Paris 0 wherefore for the said reasons one might
say that that place where they carry on litigation
was an Infernal Region. Dante therefore also, under-
standing thoroughly the French language, employed
this expression: and it seemed to me a remarkable
thing that it has never been understood after this fashion.
Wherefore I declare and believe that the comment-
ators make him say things of which he never even
thought.
Returning to my own affairs, when I saw them pass
certain judgements upon me through the medium of
these lawyers, not seeing any means of being able to
help myself, I had recourse for my assistance to a great
dagger that I had, for I always delighted in possessing
fine weapons; and the first (man) that I began my at-
tack upon was that principal who had set in motion
against me the unjust suit: and one evening I indicted
upon him so many wounds, taking care however not to
kill him, in the legs and in the arms, that I deprived
C ELLINI says, scarcely reflect much credit on the sense of their in-
ventors.
^ It is true that Boccaccio, Filelfo, Benvenuto da Imola, and
others allude to a visit paid by Dante to Paris, but the fact has
yet to be proved historically. That VASARI'S statement regarding
work executed by Giotto at Avignon and " at many other places in
France" is a fable, has been clearly proved by CROWE and CAVAL-
CASELLE 4<W<3 FYY/zzr%, Vol. I, Firenze, Successori Le
Monnier, 1886, pp. 457-466). The authors of the work attributed to
him were Simone Martini of Siena, and his assistants; an artist
whose intimate friendship with the Florentine painter produced
a certain superficial resemblance in style, etc.
with his master Virgil entered within the portals of the
Infernal Regions. For Dante, at the time of the painter
Giotto, was together with him in France, and especially
in Paris 0 wherefore for the said reasons one might
say that that place where they carry on litigation
was an Infernal Region. Dante therefore also, under-
standing thoroughly the French language, employed
this expression: and it seemed to me a remarkable
thing that it has never been understood after this fashion.
Wherefore I declare and believe that the comment-
ators make him say things of which he never even
thought.
Returning to my own affairs, when I saw them pass
certain judgements upon me through the medium of
these lawyers, not seeing any means of being able to
help myself, I had recourse for my assistance to a great
dagger that I had, for I always delighted in possessing
fine weapons; and the first (man) that I began my at-
tack upon was that principal who had set in motion
against me the unjust suit: and one evening I indicted
upon him so many wounds, taking care however not to
kill him, in the legs and in the arms, that I deprived
C ELLINI says, scarcely reflect much credit on the sense of their in-
ventors.
^ It is true that Boccaccio, Filelfo, Benvenuto da Imola, and
others allude to a visit paid by Dante to Paris, but the fact has
yet to be proved historically. That VASARI'S statement regarding
work executed by Giotto at Avignon and " at many other places in
France" is a fable, has been clearly proved by CROWE and CAVAL-
CASELLE 4<W<3 FYY/zzr%, Vol. I, Firenze, Successori Le
Monnier, 1886, pp. 457-466). The authors of the work attributed to
him were Simone Martini of Siena, and his assistants; an artist
whose intimate friendship with the Florentine painter produced
a certain superficial resemblance in style, etc.