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Book FirstPart XX
Part XX
While I was working at this piece, Lucagnolo, of whose ability I have
before spoken, showed considerable discontent, telling me over and over again
that I might acquire far more profit and honour by helping him to execute
large plate, as I had done at first. I made him answer that, whenever I chose,
I should always be capable of working at great silver pieces; but that things
like that on which I was now engaged were not commissioned every day; and
beside their bringing no less honour than large silver plate, there was also
more profit to be made by them. He laughed me in the face, and said: "Wait and
see, Benvenuto; for by the time that you have finished that work of yours, I
will make haste to have finished this vase, which I took in hand when you did
the jewel; and then experience shall teach you what profit I shall get from my
vase, and what you will get from your ornament." I answered that I was very
glad indeed to enter into such a competition with so good a craftsman as he
was, because the end would show which of us was mistaken. Accordingly both the
one and the other of us, with a scornful smile upon our lips, bent our heads
in grim earnest to the work, which both were now desirous of accomplishing; so
that after about ten days, each had finished his undertaking with great
delicacy and artistic skill.
Lucagnolo`s was a huge silver piece, used at the table of Pope Clement,
into which he flung away bits of bone and the rind of divers fruits, while
eating; an object of ostentation rather than necessity. The vase was adorned
with two fine handles, together with many masks, both small and great, and
masses of lovely foliage, in as exquisite a style of elegance as could be
imagined; on seeing which I said it was the most beautiful vase that ever I
set eyes on. Thinking he had convinced me, Lucagnolo replied: "Your work seems
to me no less beautiful, but we shall soon perceive the difference between the
two." So he took his vase and carried it to the Pope, who was very well
pleased with it, and ordered at once that he should be paid at the ordinary
rate of such large plate. Meanwhile I carried mine to Madonna Porzia, who
looked at it with astonishment, and told me I had far surpassed my promise.
Then she bade me ask for my reward whatever I liked; for it seemed to her my
desert was so great that if I craved a castle she could hardly recompense me;
but since that was not in her hands to bestow, she added laughing that I must
beg what lay within her power. I answered that the greatest reward I could
desire for my labour was to have satisfied her ladyship. Then, smiling in my
turn, and bowing to her, I took my leave, saying I wanted no reward but that.
She turned to the Roman lady and said: "You see that the qualities we
discerned in him are companied by virtues, and not vices." They both expressed
their admiration, and then Madonna Porzia continued: "Friend Benvenuto, have
you never heard it said that when the poor give to the rich, the devil
laughs?" I replied: "Quite true! and yet, in the midst of all his troubles, I
should like this time to see him laugh;" and as I took my leave, she said that
this time she had no will to bestow on him that favour.
When I came back to the shop, Lucagnolo had the money for his vase in a
paper packet; and on my arrival he cried out: "Come and compare the price of
your jewel with the price of my plate." I said that he must leave things as
they were till the next day, because I hoped that even as my work in its kind
was not less excellent than his, so I should be able to show him quite an
equal price for it.
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