This etext was produced by Norman Wolcott.
Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini
[Redactor's Note: This version of the Autobiography, one of the most famous of all time, was translated by John Addington Symonds
(1840-1893). Cellini lived from 1500-1571. This version is in ISO Latin1
with 8 bit accents, and is also supplied in a single file HTML version.]
The Autobiography of
Benvenuto Cellini
Translated By
John Addington Symonds
With Introduction and Notes
Volume 31
Introductory Sonnet
THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,
To thank the God of nature, who conveyed
My soul to me, and with such care hath stayed
That divers noble deeds I've brought to light.
'Twas He subdued my cruel fortune's spite:
Life glory virtue measureless hath made
Such grace worth beauty be through me displayed
That few can rival, none surpass me quite.
Only it grieves me when I understand
What precious time in vanity I've spentThe wind it beareth man's frail thoughts away.
Yet, since remorse avails not, I'm content,
As erst I came, WELCOME to go one day,
Here in the Flower of this fair Tuscan land.
Introductory Note
AMONG the vast number of men who have thought fit to write down the history of their own lives, three or four have achieved masterpieces which stand out preeminently: Saint Augustine in his "Confessions,"
Samuel Pepys in his "Diary," Rousseau in his "Confessions." It is among these…