Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/570

 534 Readings in European History or dishonorable means, one evening I prepared to put an end to my disquietude. Just after sunset, as this musketeer stood at his door with his sword in his hand, when he had done supper, I with great address came close up to him with a long dagger and gave him a violent back-handed stroke which I had aimed at his neck ; that instant he turned about, and the blow falling directly upon his left shoulder, broke the whole bone of it; upon which he dropped his sword, quite over- come by the pain, and took to his heels. I pursued and in four steps came up with him, when, raising the dagger over his head which he lowered down, I hit exactly upon his collar bone and the middle of the neck ; the weapon pene- trated so deep into both that though I made a great effort to recover it again, I found it impossible ; for at this same instant there issued out of a neighboring house four soldiers, with their swords drawn, so that I was obliged to draw mine also in my own defense. [He takes refuge with his protector, Duke Alexander of Medici, in whose palace he stays under cover for eight days. At the end of that time the pope sends for him, the messenger saying that the pope] knew all that had happened, that his Holiness was very much my friend, and desired me to go on with my business without giving myself any uneasiness. When I came into the presence of the pontiff, he frowned on me very much, and with angry looks seemed to reprimand me ; but, upon viewing my performance, his countenance grew serene and he praised me highly, telling me that I had done a great deal in a short time ; then looking attentively at me, he said, " Now that you have recovered your health, Benvenuto, take care of yourself." I understood his mean- ing, and told him that I should not neglect his advice. Giorgio Vasari (1512-1574), a painter of some ability himself and an enthusiastic admirer of the great artists of Italy, among whom he considered his friend and con- temporary, Michael Angelo, the greatest, wrote a long