The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini — Part 196

Then did a solitary sparrow cry Loud from the keep; hearing which note, I said: “He tells that I shall live and you must die!”

I sang, and wrote my hard case, head by head, Asking from god pardon and aid in need, For now If felt mine eyes outworn and dead.

Ne’er lion, tiger, wolf, or bear knew greed Hungrier than that man felt for human blood; Nor viper with more venomous fang did feed. [11]

The cruel chief was he of robbers’ brood, Worst of the worst among a gang of knaves; Hist! I’ll speak soft lest I be understood!

Say, have ye seen catchpolls, the famished slaves, In act a poor man’s homestead to distrain, Smashing down Christs, Madonnas, with their staves?

So on the first of August did that train Dislodge me to a tomb more foul, more cold:- “November damns and dooms each rogue to pain!” [12]

I at mine ears a trumpet had which told Truth; and each word to them I did repeat, Reckless, if but grief’s load from me were rolled.

They, when they saw their final hope retreat, Gave me a diamond, pounded, no fair ring, Deeming that I must die if I should eat.

That villain churl whose office ‘twas to bring My food, I bade taste first; but meanwhile thought: “Not here I find my foe Durante’s sting!”

Yet erst my mind unto high God I brought Beseeching Him to pardon all my sin, And spoke a Miserere sorrow-fraught.

Then when I gained some respite from that din Of troubles, and had given my soul to God, Contented better realms and state to win,

I saw along the path which saints have trod, From heaven descending, glad, with glorious palm, An angel: clear he cried, “Upon earth’s sod

Live longer thou! Through Him who heard thy psalm, Those foes shall perish, each and all, in strife, While thou remainest happy, free, and calm, Blessed by our Sire in heaven on earth for life!”

Note 1. Cellini’s Capitolo in Praise of the Prison is clearly made up of pieces written, as escribed above, in the dungeon of S. Angelo, and of passages which he afterwards composed to bring these pieces into a coherent whole. He has not displayed much literary skill in the redaction, and I have been at pains to preserve the roughness of the original.

Note 2. The Italian is 'acqua morta;' probably a slang phrase for urine.