Page:The Life of Benvenuto Cellini Vol 1.djvu/124

 

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 spent— The wind it beareth man's frail thoughts away. Yet, since remorse avails not, I'm content, As erst I came, to go one day, Here in the Flower of this fair Tuscan land.