The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-25

MEANWHILE Benvenuto's broth
AfA er had come to Rome, quar-
relied with a gangster, and beer
killed. When Benyenuto learned OF
it he could not sleep. He went out
jealousy, found the assassin, and
killed him, in order that he, Cellini,
might be able to sleep.
The complaints we're made to
Clement VII, but as Benvenuto was
doing for him an important piece
of work which no other artist IN
Rome could finish, the Pope said
nothing. But when Cellini was re-
ported to-have killed another enemy
shortly afterward His Holiness ord
cred that he should be arrested and
hanged on the spot.
Not agreeing with this solution,
the artist took horse and fed from
Rome; but hearing that his enemy,
Pompeo was recovering from the
blow, he turned back to the capital,
resolved to finish his work. when
Pompeo heard that I was coming
back to Rome. he swore that lie
would die to serve me an i'll turn"
Instead. he recovered. and hired
some fellows to help him kill Gel
lini. But Cellini, having knelt and
begged the assistance of God,
plunged alone into the midst of the
hostile gang, and sank his dagger
into Popeo'S neck.
II gave only two blows, for he
fell stone dead at the second. I had
not meant to kill him; but, as the
saying goes, knocks are not dealt by
measure. drew my sword to
defend my life; but those
bravi too; no action against me-"
News Of the engagement came to
the new Pope, Paul III, with a rec
ommendation from the bearer, a
cardinal, that Cellini should be Sc
verelg punished.
know, then" he said, that men
like Benvenuto, unique in their pro-
fession, stand above the law; and
how far more he, who received the
provocation I have heard off"
Il
- OVAlC4 p4OuuOOAOAl VI tAlC
IN Renaissance so wildly reveals
its spirit and "mores" as the
picturesque autobiography. Here
violence is unabashed; Cellini en-
joys himself most when he is kill
ing people; he tells how once, being
offended, he tried to restrain HIM
self; but he came near to choking,
and to save himself from Suffoca-
ton he rushed with brandished
dagger upon his enemy.
Next to murder he loved love; he
speaks with charming innocence of
his affairs, tells without shame of
being incapacitated for a time by
disease. Withal he is piouS, or
rather superstitious; he always says
grace before and after murder; and
when the knife has found its mark
he thanks God for his cooperation.
Not content with divine assistance
he seeks that of the devil; in the
Colosseum, at night, he reciteS
recromantic formulae, and believes
that he sees many demons He is
a child of his century.
Suddenly, despite his friendship
with God and Satan, he found him
self in prison, in that same CASTILLO
SAINT Angelo which he had defend
ed so we'll for Clement VII, and it
was Clements successor, exasper-
ated by repeated crimes, who had
put him there.
Francis 1 Of France offered a per-
suasive sum to Paul II to set him
free on condition that the artist
would come and work for him in
Paris; but this suggestion that bar
barrie foreigners might win Cellini
from him angered the Pope, and
had no result. CA gentleman from
Milan argued against even sending
samples of Cellini's artistry to
France: most blessed father" he
said, please to reflect that the
French are a people of no culture,
and will not understand the excel
lence of Benvenuto's work..'D
INNE of the most brilliant cpl
~ sodes of the autobiography
is story of Ben's escape from the
castle; here the passion that makes
great art is transformed into linn
itiess aaudacity and bravery. The
escape completed after a hundred
tribulations and achievements, SIM
plicity cost him his freedom; the