If to the Senate then he chance to go,
He gets his Leffon well, and cries out-No.
The Crowd ftraight hail an Idol of their own,
Made of the true Materials-Wood or Stone:
Him the loud voice of glowing Fame pursues;
Nay more thofe Oracles of Truth-the News :
For him rich Steams of fragrant Incense rise,
And smoky Off'rings reach the vaulted Skies.
Unknowing then despise no earthly Clod,
For Crowds have chang'd a BULLOCK to a God.

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 Artifts and Sovereign Princes, Cardinals and Courtezans, Minifters of State and Mechanicks, 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 somuch-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 prudently put Colonia inftead of Napoli in the Title Page, the Sale of Cellini was prohibited; the Court of Rome has actually made it an Article in their Index Expurgatorins, 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 Phænomenon in Biography, whether we consider it with respect to the Artist himfelf, 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 thofe elegant Arts, whofe Works Cellini praises 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 Pleasure, 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 visionary 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 moft 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 though his Portraits are fometimes grotefque and overcharged, from 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'Eftampes, Cofmo Duke of Florence and his Duchefs, with many others, are touched by the Hand of a Master.

General History cannot defcend to minute Details of the domestic 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 seem a Heap of uninteresting Occurrences; but the Discerning will not difdain the Efforts of a powerful Mind, because the Writer is not ennobled by Birth, or dignified by Station.

The Man who raifes 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 thofe 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 Reft of Italy are proud to imitate. The Stile of Cellini, 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 tranflated him with Ease and Freedom, as well as Truth and Fidelity.

AN