DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0230
i88 LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI [un. 11
mine of so great a triumph. Therefore let us remain thus,
and we shall be friends. Otherwise we shall be enemies;
and God, who always assists the right, and I, who am mak-
ing the way for it (the right) would demonstrate to you
in how great an error you were." Said Misser Francesco:
" The job is mine, and since it has been consigned to me,
I do not wish to put my title to it in question." To him
I replied: " Misser Francesco! Since you will not take the
good line, which is just and reasonable, I will show you
the other one, which shall be like your own, that is to say,
ugly and disagreeable. I tell you thus, that if I ever hear
in any sort of way that you are speaking about this job of
mine, I will immediately slay you like a dog: and since
we are neither in Rome, nor in Bologna, nor in Florence,
for here one lives after another fashion, if I ever learn
that you have spoken about it to the King or to any
one else, I will slay you at all costs. Think which way
you prefer to take; either that first good one which I
have told you of, or this latter bad one of which I
speak now." The man did not know either what to say
nor what to do: and I was prepared to produce more
willingly that result then and there, than to put it off
to another opportunity (772<?#a?32 A772/V 2'% 772 asu).
The said Bologna uttered no other words than these:
" When I do the things that an honest man ought
to do I shall have no reason in the world for fear."
To this I replied: "You have well said. But in doing
the contrary beware, for the matter concerns you."
And I immediately departed from him and went to the
King. And I discussed with His Majesty a long time the
making of the coins, a subject whereon we were not
much in accord. For his Council being there present,
mine of so great a triumph. Therefore let us remain thus,
and we shall be friends. Otherwise we shall be enemies;
and God, who always assists the right, and I, who am mak-
ing the way for it (the right) would demonstrate to you
in how great an error you were." Said Misser Francesco:
" The job is mine, and since it has been consigned to me,
I do not wish to put my title to it in question." To him
I replied: " Misser Francesco! Since you will not take the
good line, which is just and reasonable, I will show you
the other one, which shall be like your own, that is to say,
ugly and disagreeable. I tell you thus, that if I ever hear
in any sort of way that you are speaking about this job of
mine, I will immediately slay you like a dog: and since
we are neither in Rome, nor in Bologna, nor in Florence,
for here one lives after another fashion, if I ever learn
that you have spoken about it to the King or to any
one else, I will slay you at all costs. Think which way
you prefer to take; either that first good one which I
have told you of, or this latter bad one of which I
speak now." The man did not know either what to say
nor what to do: and I was prepared to produce more
willingly that result then and there, than to put it off
to another opportunity (772<?#a?32 A772/V 2'% 772 asu).
The said Bologna uttered no other words than these:
" When I do the things that an honest man ought
to do I shall have no reason in the world for fear."
To this I replied: "You have well said. But in doing
the contrary beware, for the matter concerns you."
And I immediately departed from him and went to the
King. And I discussed with His Majesty a long time the
making of the coins, a subject whereon we were not
much in accord. For his Council being there present,