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Book FirstPart XCI
Part XCI
The Pope ordered out two Turkish horses, which had belonged to Pope
Clement, and were the most beautiful that ever came to Christendom. Messer
Durante, ^1 his chamberlain, was bidden to bring them through the lower
galleries of the palace, and there to give them to the Emperor, repeating
certain words which his Holiness dictated to him. We both went down together,
and when we reached the presence of the Emperor, the horses made their
entrance through those halls with so much spirit and such a noble carriage
that the Emperor and every one were struck with wonder. Thereupon, Messer
Durante advanced in so graceless a manner, and delivered his speech with so
much of Brescian lingo, mumbling his words over in his mouth, that one never
saw or heard anything worse; indeed the Emperor could not refrain from smiling
at him. I meanwhile had already uncovered my piece; and observing that the
Emperor had turned his eyes towards me with a very gracious look, I advanced
at once and said: "Sacred Majesty, our most holy Father, Pope Paolo, sends
this book of the Virgin as a present to your Majesty, the which is written in
a fair clerk`s hand, and illuminated by the greatest master who ever professed
that art; and this rich cover of gold and jewels is unfinished, as you here
behold it, by reason of my illness: wherefore his Holiness, together with the
book, presents me also, and attaches me to your Majesty in order that I may
complete the work; nor this alone, but everything which you may have it in
your mind to execute so long as life is left me, will I perform at your
service." Thereto the Emperor responded: "The book is acceptable to me, and so
are you; but I desire you to complete it for me in Rome; when it is finished,
and you are restored to health, bring it me and come to see me." Afterwards,
in course of conversation, he called me by my name, which made me wonder,
because no words had been dropped in which my name occurred; and he said that
he had seen that fastening of Pope Clement`s cope, on which I had wrought so
many wonderful figures. We continued talking in this way a whole half hour,
touching on divers topics artistic and agreeable; then, since it seemed to me
that I had acquitted myself with more honour than I had expected, I took the
occasion of a slight lull in the conversation to make my bow and to retire.
The Emperor was heard to say: "Let five hundred golden crowns be given at once
to Benvenuto." The person who brought them up asked who the Pope`s man was who
had spoken to the Emperor. Messer Durante came forward and robbed me of my
five hundred crowns. I complained to the Pope, who told me not to be uneasy,
for he knew how everything had happened, and how well I had conducted myself
in addressing the Emperor, and of the money I should certainly obtain my
share.
[Footnote 1: Messer Durante Duranti, Prefect of the Camera under Paul III,
who gave him the hat in 1544, and the Bishopric of Brescia afterwards.]
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