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Book FirstPart LVII
Part LVII
When the Pope took his journey to Bologna, he left Cardinal Salviati as
Legate of Rome, and gave him commission to push the work that I was doing
forward, adding: "Benvenuto is a fellow who esteems his own great talents but
slightly, and us less; look to it then that you keep him always going, so that
I may find the chalice finished on my return."
That beast of a Cardinal sent for me after eight days, bidding me bring
the piece up. On this I went to him without the piece. No sooner had I shown
my face, than he called out: "Where is that onion-stew of yours? ^1 Have you
got it ready?" I answered: "O most reverend Monsignor, I have not got my
onion-stew ready, nor shall I make it ready, unless you give me onions to
concoct it with." At these words the Cardinal, who looked more like a donkey
than a man, turned uglier by half than he was naturally; and wanting at once
to cut the matter short, cried out: "I`ll send you to a galley, and then
perhaps you`ll have the grace ^2 to go on with your labour." The bestial
manners of the man made me a beast too; and I retorted: "Monsignor, send me to
the galleys when I`ve done deeds worthy of them; but for my present laches, I
snap my fingers at your galleys: and what is more, I tell you that, just
because of you, I will not set hand further to my piece. Don`t send for me
again, for I won`t appear, no, not if you summon me by the police."
[Footnote 1: Cipollata. Literally, a show of onions and pumpkins;
metaphorically, a mess, gallimaufry.]
[Footnote 2: Arai di grazia di. I am not sure whether I have given the right
shade of meaning in the text above. It may mean: You will be permitted.]
After this, the good Cardinal tried several times to let me know that I
ought to go on working, and to bring him what I was doing to look at. I only
told his messengers: "Say to Monsignor that he must send me onions, if he
wants me to get my stew ready." Nor gave I ever any other answer; so that he
threw up the commission in despair.
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