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Book FirstPart XVIII
Part XVIII
I went off in the direction of Santa Maria Novella, and stumbling up
against Fra Alessio Strozzi, whom by the way I did not know, I entreated this
good friar for the love of God to save my life, since I had committed a great
fault. He told me to have no fear; for had I done every sin in the world, I
was yet in perfect safety in his little cell.
After about an hour, the Eight, in an extraordinary meeting, caused one
of the most dreadful bans which ever were heard of to be published against me,
announcing heavy penalties against who should harbour me or know where I was,
without regard to place or to the quality of my protector. My poor afflicted
father went to the Eight, threw himself upon his knees, and prayed for mercy
for his unfortunate young son. Thereupon one of those Radical fellows, shaking
the crest of his twisted hood, stood up and addressed my father with these
insulting words: ^1 "Get up from there, and begone at once, for to-morrow we
shall send your son into the country with the lances." ^2 My poor father had
still the spirit to answer: "What God shall have ordained, that will you do,
and not a jot or little more." Whereto the same man replied that for certain
God had ordained as he had spoken. My father said: "The thought consoles me
that you do not know for certain;" and quitting their presence, he came to
visit me, together with a young man of my own age, called Pierro di Giovanni
Landi - we loved one another as though we had been brothers.
[Footnote 1: Un di queli arrovellati scotendo la cresto dello arronzinato
cappuccio. The democrats in Cellini`s days were called at Florence
"Arrabbiati" or "Arrovellati". In the days of Savonarola this nickname had
been given to the ultra-Medicean party or Palleschi.]
[Footnote 2: Lanciotti. There is some doubt about this word. But it clearly
means men armed with lances, at the disposal of the Signory.]
Under his mantle the lad carried a first-rate sword and a splendid coat
of mail; and when they found me, my brave father told me what had happened,
and what the magistrates had said to him. Then he kissed me on the forehead
and both eyes, and gave me his hearty blessing, saying: "May the power of
goodness of God be your protection;" and reaching me the sword and armour, he
helped me with his own hands to put them on. Afterwards he added: "Oh, my good
son, with these arms in thy hand thou shalt either live or die." Pier Landi,
who was present, kept shedding tears; and when he had given me ten golden
crowns, I bade him remove a few hairs from my chin, which were the first down
of my manhood. Frate Alessio disguised me like a friar and gave me a lay
brother to go with me. ^3 Quitting the convent, and issuing from the city by
the gate of Prato, I went along the walls as far as the Piazza di San Gallo.
Then I ascended the slope of Montui, and in one of the first houses there I
found a man called Il Grassuccio, own brother to Messer Benedetto da Monte
Varchi. ^4 I flung off my monk`s clothes, and became once more a man. Then we
mounted two horses, which were waiting there for us, and went by night to
Siena. Grassuccio returned to Florence, sought out my father, and gave him the
news of my safe escape. In the excess of his joy, it seemed a thousand years
to my father till he should meet the member of the Eight who had insulted him;
and when he came across the man, he said: "See you, Antonio, that it was God
who knew what had to happen to my son, and not yourself?" To which the fellow
answered: "Only let him get another time into our clutches!" And my father: "I
shall spend my time in thanking God that He has rescued him from that fate."
[Footnote 3: Un converso, an attendant on the monks.]
[Footnote 4: Benedetto da Monte Varchi was the celebrated poet, scholar, and
historian of Florence, better known as Varchi. Another of his brothers was a
physician of high repute at Florence. They continued throughout Cellini`s life
to live on terms of intimacy with him.]
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