New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-02

thought abject. They were among the greatest
soveregns of their time Yet the reader VINO
should get his first notion of these Pontifs anu
Princes from Cellini would come away persuaded
that Celini was greater parsonage than any Oh
them The mans vanity is colossal. but that ID
only one charm the more among the many wh'eh
lend an irresistible attraction to the book
Whether this vanity and self-assertiveness mace
him more agreeable to the people with whom the
flesh and blood Celini came in contact is another
matter. He quarrels with everybody, and he has
but one notion of the proper method of settling
dispute His sword is always ready to draw. anu
his dagger not less loose in its sheath than his
sword He will fight anybody on any pretext.
Pompeo. one of the Pope's jewellers, maIigns him
to Clement, and Cellini ponards Pompeo; sur
rounded though he was by dozen brdri Primatcco'
favored by Madame dEtampes, mistress TO FRANCIS
the First gels an order from the king to execute
colossal statue promised to BeDvenuto. anu inc
latter gives him his choice between relnquisnlhg
the work and tasting B'nvenutos steel Prlma-
tcco prudent soul. elects to retire from all COIL
petition with his terrible rival Francis gives MIN
the chateau known as the Petit Nesle, which an
other favorte disputes with him. Benvenuto makes
good his title by arms and when Madame dEtanpes
tries to quarter one OF her friends on him. pitches
the lady's protege and his belongings into the
street When one OF his workmcn hetrays MN
with one OF his many mistresses Bervenuto makes
ready as usual to kill the pair Pagolo proves such
a poltroon that Ccni. unwilling to use MS oword
on a fellow who will not defend himself, beihinks
himself of a vengeance the refinement of which Is
peculiarly Italian. and much too piquant to be re-
lated here. Ali through the volume there Is the
CLEAN of steel and clash of arms. Often enough
one has to doubt whether Benvenuto tells the
whole truth about his quarrels yet he seems never
to doubt that he has right on his SIDE II lot 10
better reason, because it is his side lie relates
with entire composite circumstances when are
ANYTHING but creditable to him; never doubling
that to others as to himself his conduct will seem
discreet and honorable. Nay he is n most religious
man. He is constantly appealing to the Deity
against his enemies; and appealing in the true
spIrit of the Old Testament. His confidence IN
Divine mercy 10 himself when meditating or per-
petrating the most abominable acts IS ohlV
equallcd by his absolute trust in Gohs hatred "l
those who are Benyenutos foes. with his IDEAS OF
Providence are mixed up others about Fate when
he does not trouble himself to reconcile. Always
on good terms with God and assured OF Ills favor
he is nevertheless prosecuted I'll through his ile Dy
a malignant demon. II never occurs to Inn that
most of his troubles directly traceable to his
ung0vernable temper. But the sincerity OF his
view is, as / was saying, sufficiently proved by the
iprcnnossncss of his revelations. He not only
describes his own worst deeds fully >but lays bare
the uotyes OF them; all with the san e serene
assurance o! approval. So that whatever inaccu-
racies there NAV be in it, the book ~ essentially
yeracous and Trustworthy Horace WalPoos
verdict on it was none too strong, though he pro
nounced Cellini one of the most extraordinary men
of an extrao binary age and his life ore an using
than any novel he knew. OF amusing novels to DC
sure Walpole eau have known but few.
[ have dwelt on the defects of Bcnvcnutoi not so
much because they are glariug as because they
bring out in the stron gest relief the what may
call anthropologcal value of the memoirs. That
is no more fair to him than he is to Others. HIS
better Qualities reveal themselves quite as aDun-
dainty as the worse. His courage shines out IN
other WAYS than IN braws. lie faces Pope and King
with a II anful independence and W. an inrellec-
tual con posnre that in his tire was rare indeed
His devotion TO art was passion. but he sacrifices
the prospect of brilliant trumphs TO brothc ly
duties His wit mas Is Keen an edge rs his dagger
His resource in difficulties, his checrfuness, his
mistaken constancy ami I'd perll- of all kInds, his
enthusiasm and twenty other delightful traits en-
dear him TO the reader. will aid one thing only,
chat though literature was no business of his. and
he wrote nothing but technical books till near the
end of his life his style is admirable for coSencSs,
for ucldity for what | must call, IN default Of a
better word it's Photographic quality. He repro
duces with literal accuracy the image as it WAS IN
the writer's mind. g. W. 8