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Book FirstPart LVIII
Part LVIII
The Pope came back from Bologna, and sent at once for me, because the
Cardinal had written the worst he could of my affairs in his despatches. He
was in the hottest rage imaginable, and bade me come upon the instant with my
piece. I obeyed. Now, while the Pope was staying at Bologna, I had suffered
from an attack of inflammation in the eyes, so painful that I scarce could go
on living for the torment; and this was the chief reason why I had not carried
out my work. The trouble was so serious that I expected for certain to be left
without my eyesight; and I had reckoned up the sum on which I could subsist,
if I were blind for life. Upon the way to the Pope, I turned over in my mind
what I should put forward to excuse myself for not having been able to advance
his work. I thought that while he was inspecting the chalice, I might tell him
of my personal embarrassments. However, I was unable to do so; for when I
arrived in the presence, he broke out coarsely at me: "Come here with your
work; is it finished?" I displayed it; and his temper rising, he exclaimed:
"In God`s truth I tell thee, thou that makest it thy business to hold no man
in regard, that, were it not for decency and order, I would have thee chucked
together with thy work there out of windows." Accordingly, when I perceived
that the Pope had become no better than a vicious beast, my chief anxiety was
how I could manage to withdraw from his presence. So, while he went on
bullying, I tucked the piece beneath my cape, and muttered under my breath:
"The whole world could not compel a blind man to execute such things as
these." Raising his voice still higher, the Pope shouted: "Come here; what
say`st thou?" I stayed in two minds, whether or not to dash at full speed down
the staircase; then I took my decision and threw myself upon my knees,
shouting as loudly as I could, for he too had not ceased from shouting: "If an
infirmidy has blinded me, am I bound to go on working?" He retorted: "You saw
well enough to make your way hither, and I don`t believe one word of what you
say." I answered, for I noticed he had dropped his voice a little: "Let your
Holiness inquire of your physician, and you will find the truth out." He said:
"So ho! softly; at leisure we shall hear if what you say is so." Then,
perceiving that he was willing to give me hearing, I added: "I am convinced
that the only cause of this great trouble which has happened to me is Cardinal
Salviati; for he sent to me immediately after your holiness` departure, and
when I presented myself, he called my work a stew of onions, and told me he
would send me to complete it in a galley; and such was the effect upon me of
his knavish words, that in my passion I felt my face in flame, and so
intolerable a heat attacked my eyes that I could not find my own way home. Two
days afterwards, cataracts fell on both my eyes; I quite lost my sight, and
after your holiness` departure I have been unable to work at all."
Rising from my knees, I left the presence without further license. It was
afterwards reported to me that the Pope has said: "One can give commissions,
but not the prudence to perform them. I did not tell the Cardinal to go so
brutally about this business. ^1 If it is true that he is suffering from his
eyes, of which I shall get information through my doctor, one ought to make
allowance for him." A great gentleman, intimate with the Pope, and a man of
very distinguished parts, happened to be present. He asked who I was, using
terms like these: "Most blessed Father, pardon if I put a question. I have
seen you yield at one and the same time to the hottest anger I ever observed,
and then to the warmest compassion; so I beg your Holiness to tell me who the
man is; for if he is a person worthy to be helped, I can teach him a secret
which may cure him of that infirmity." The Pope replied: "He is the greatest
artist who was ever born in his own craft; one day, when we are together, I
will show you some of his marvellous works, and the man himself to boot; and I
shall be pleased if we can see our way toward doing something to assist him."
Three days after this, the Pope sent for me after dinnertime, and I found that
great noble in the presence. On my arrival, the Pope had my cope-button
brought, and I in the meantime drew forth my chalice. The nobleman said, on
looking at it, that he had never seen a more stupendous piece of work. When
the button came, he was still more struck with wonder: and looking me straight
in the face, he added: "The man is young, I trow, to be so able in his art,
and still apt enough to learn much." He then asked me what my name was. I
answered: "My name is Benvenuto." He replied: "And Benvenuto shall I be this
day to you. Take flower-de-luces, stalk, blossom, root, together; then
decoct them over a slack fire; and with the liquid bathe your eyes several
times a day; you will most certainly be cured of that weakness; but see that
you purge first, and then go forward with the lotion." The Pope gave me some
kind words, and so I went away half satisfied.
[Footnote 1: Che mettessi tanta mazza.]
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