Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/511

Rh them all that he knew more than willingly, and might have expected that some one of them would have distinguished themselves, yet no one of these young men ever made any progress; and instead of receiving from them that affection and gratitude which his kindness had well merited, he never obtained any thing better than vexations from any one of them; insomuch that he was wont to declare the only enemies he had ever had in his life to have been his own disciples and assistants.

In the year 1550, when Benvenuto had become much advanced in age, his disease of the eyes returned upon him, and he became totally blind: in this state he remained nine years, supporting his misfortune with great constancy of mind and patience, being in all things submissive to the will of God. At length, and when he had attained his seventyeighth year, rejoicing in the approach of death, and seeming to himself to have too long wandered in darkness, with the hope of thenceforward enjoying eternal life, he completed the course of his life on the 6th day of September, in the year 1559. Benvenuto left a son called Girolamo still living, who is a very amiable person, and also a daughter.

This artist was an exceedingly good and worthy man, cheerful of disposition, mild in his converse, and always supporting the trials of his life with patient resignation. In his youth he found much pleasure in fencing and in playing on the lute; he was very warmly attached to his friends, and was indeed beyond measure affectionate and devoted to their service; among his intimates were the painter Giorgione da Castel Franco, Titian of Cadore, and Giulio Romano, Benvenuto was indeed universally well-disposed, and ever proved himself most friendly to all those of his art; I can myself bear testimony to this matter, seeing that during the two visits which I made to Ferrara in his time, I received from him innumerable favours and marks of kindness.

Benvenuto was honourably interred in the church of Santa Maria del Yado, and received from many persons of distinction that tribute of respect, both in verse and prose, which his qualities had well deserved. But as I have not