SOME ACCOUNT OF A BOOK, CALLED THE LIFE O F BENVENUTO CELLINI, TH HE Original of this celebrated Performance lay in Manuscript above a Century and Half. Though it was read with the greatest Pleasure by the Learned of Italy, no Man was hardy enough, during fo long a Period, to introduce to the World a Book, in which the Succeffors of St. Peter, were handled fo roughly: A Narrative, where Artists and Sovereign Princes, Cardinals and Courtezans, Minifters of State and Mechanics, are treated with equal Impartiality. At length, in the Year 1730, an enterprizing Neapolitan, encouraged by Dr. Antonio Cocchi, one of the politeft Scholars in Europe, published this fomuch-defired Work in one Volume Quarto. The Doctor gave the Editor an excellent Preface, which, with very flight Alteration, is judiciously preferved by the Tranflator, Dr. Nugent: The Book is, notwithstanding, very fcarce in Italy: The Clergy of Naples are very powerful; and though the Editor very very prudently put Colonia inftead of Neapoli in the Title Page, the Sale of Cellini was prohibited; the Court of Rome has actually made it an Article in their Index Expurgatorius, and prevented the Importation of the Book into any Country where the Power of the Holy See prevails. The Life of Benvenuto Cellini is certainly a Phenomenon in Biography, whether we confider it with refpect to the Artist himself, or the great Variety of hiftorical Facts which relate to others: It is indeed a very good Supplement to the Hiftory of Europe during the greatest Part of the fixteenth Century, more especially in what relates to Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, and the most eminent Masters in those elegant Arts, whofe Works Cellini praifes or cenfures with peculiar Freedom and Energy. As to the Man himself, there is not perhaps a more fingular Character among the Race of Adam: The admired Lord Herbert of Cherbury scarce equals Cellini in the Number of peculiar Qualities which separate him from the reft of the human Species. He is at once a Man of Pleafure, and a Slave to Superftition; a Defpifer of vulgar Notions, and a Believer in magical Incantations; a Fighter of Duels, and a Compofer of Divine Sonnets; an ardent Lover of Truth, and a Retailer of vifionary Fancies; an Admirer of papal Power, and a Hater of Popes; an Offender against the Laws, with a ftrong Reliance on Divine Providence. If I may be allowed the Expreffion, Cellini is one ftriking Feature added to the human Form-a Prodigy to be wondered at, not an Example to be imitated. Though Cellini was fo blind to his own Imperfections as to commit the most unjustifiable Actions, with a full Perfuafion of the Goodness of his Caufe and the Rectitude of his Intention, yet no Man was a keener and more accurate Obferver of the Blemishes Blemishes of others; hence his Book abounds with farcaftic Wit and fatirical Expreffion. Yet thought his Portraits are fometimes grotefque and overcharged, ftom Mifinformation, from Melancholy, from Infirmity, and from Peculiarity of Humour; in general it must be allowed that they are drawn from the Life, and conformable to the Idea given by cotemporary Writers. His Characters of Pope Clement the Seventh, Paul the Third, and his Baftard Son Pier Luigi, Francis the First, and his favourite Mistress Madam d'Estampes, Cofmo Duke of Florence and his Duchefs, with many others, are touched by the Hand of a Mafter. General Hiftory cannot defcend to minute Details of the domeftic Life and private Tranfactions, the Paffions and Foibles of great Perfonages; but these give truer Representations of their Characters than all the elegant and laboured Compofitions of Poets and Hiftorians. To fome a Register of the Actions of a Statuary may feem a Heap of uninterefting Occurrences; but the Difcerning will not difdain the Efforts of a powerful Mind, because the Writer is not ennobled by Birth, or dignified by Station. The Man who raises himself by confummate Merit in his Profeffion to the Notice of Princes, who converses with them in a Language dictated by honeft Freedom, who fcruples not to tell them those Truths which they must despair to hear from Courtiers and Favourites, from Minions and Parafites, is a bold Leveller of Diftinctions in the Courts of powerful Monarchs. Genius is the Parent of Truth and Courage; and these, united, dread no Oppofition. The Tufcan Language is greatly admired for its Elegance, and the meaneft Inhabitants of Florence fpeak a Dialect which the rest of Italy are proud to imitate. The Stile of Gellini, though plain and familiar, familiar, is vigorous and energetic. He poffeffes, to an uncommon Degree, Strength of Expreffion, and Rapidity of Fancy. Dr. Nugent seems to have carefully ftudied his Author, and to have translated him with Eafe and Freedom, as well as Truth and Fidelity. AN AN EPIT A PH O N MISS DRU M M O N D, DAUGHTER to the ARCHBISHOP of YORK. By the Reverend Mr. MASON. ERE fleeps what once was Beauty, once was Grace, HER Grace, that with Senfe and Tendernefs combin'd, To form that Harmony of Soul and Face, Where Beauty shines the Mirror of the Mind. Such was the Maid, who, in the Morn of Youth, He weeps-O venerate the holy Tear! Faith lends her Aid to ease Affliction's Load, The Parent mourns his Child upon her Bier, The Christian yields an Angel to his God. Some |