DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32874#0425
CH. xm] LIFE OF BENVENUTO CELLINI 357
closed up; in such a way that every evening when I arrived
at the Palace I had to wait a long time for the reason that
the Duchess for her private convenience re-
mained in those ante-chambers, through which I had to
pass; and since she was ailing^ I never arrived at any
time when I did not incommode her. Now for this and
for another cause she conceived for me so much dislike,
that for no reason could she bear to see me; but in spite
of all this my great discomfort and infinite trouble, I
continued patiently to go thither. The Duke had however
given express commands upon the point, so that directly
I rapped upon those doors they were opened to me, and
without saying anything to me I was allowed to enter
anywhere; in such a way that it happened sometimes
that, entering quietly thus unexpectedly by way of those
private apartments, I found the Duchess employed upon
her own private affairs ; who immediately burst
out upon me with so much angry fury, that I was terrified,
and she kept always saying to me: " When will you ever
finish repairing those little figures? For I am now ex-
cessively annoyed at this coming and going of yours." At
which I gently answered: "My Lady! My sole patron-
ess! I wish for nothing else but to serve you faithfully
and with the utmost obedience. But since these com-
missions which the Duke has ordered of me will last for
many months, will Your Most Illustrious Excellency tell
* a participle contracted from that is to say, in
poor health. In fact, GALLUZZi, amongst others, informs us that
Eleonora of Toledo died on December 18th 1562, having been for
a long time indisposed and unwell; so much so that a cough and
constant fever had destroyed her lungs. GALLUZZi, <3^/
TbyrwM, <TA, Vol. II, p. 1.
closed up; in such a way that every evening when I arrived
at the Palace I had to wait a long time for the reason that
the Duchess for her private convenience re-
mained in those ante-chambers, through which I had to
pass; and since she was ailing^ I never arrived at any
time when I did not incommode her. Now for this and
for another cause she conceived for me so much dislike,
that for no reason could she bear to see me; but in spite
of all this my great discomfort and infinite trouble, I
continued patiently to go thither. The Duke had however
given express commands upon the point, so that directly
I rapped upon those doors they were opened to me, and
without saying anything to me I was allowed to enter
anywhere; in such a way that it happened sometimes
that, entering quietly thus unexpectedly by way of those
private apartments, I found the Duchess employed upon
her own private affairs ; who immediately burst
out upon me with so much angry fury, that I was terrified,
and she kept always saying to me: " When will you ever
finish repairing those little figures? For I am now ex-
cessively annoyed at this coming and going of yours." At
which I gently answered: "My Lady! My sole patron-
ess! I wish for nothing else but to serve you faithfully
and with the utmost obedience. But since these com-
missions which the Duke has ordered of me will last for
many months, will Your Most Illustrious Excellency tell
* a participle contracted from that is to say, in
poor health. In fact, GALLUZZi, amongst others, informs us that
Eleonora of Toledo died on December 18th 1562, having been for
a long time indisposed and unwell; so much so that a cough and
constant fever had destroyed her lungs. GALLUZZi, <3^/
TbyrwM, <TA, Vol. II, p. 1.