Benvenuto Cellini, Life, translated by John Addington Symonds, 1889

Three days after this, the Pope sent for me after dinner- time, and I found that great noble in the presence. On my arrival, the Pope had my cope-button brought, and I in the meantime drew forth my chalice. The nobleman said, on looking at it, that he had never seen a more stupendous piece of work. When the button came, he was still more struck with wonder : and looking me straight in the face, he added : "The man is young, I trow, to be so able in his art, and still apt enough to learn much." He then asked me what my name was. I answered : "My name is Benvenuto." He replied : "And Benvenuto shall I be this day to you. Take flower-de-luces, stalk, blossom, root, together ; then decoct them over a slack fire ; and with the liquid bathe your eyes several times a day ; you will most certainly be cured of that weakness ; but see that you purge first, and then go forward with the lotion." The Pope gave me some kind words, and so I went away half satisfied. It was true indeed that I had got the sickness ; but I believe I caught it from that fine young servant-girl whom I was keeping when my house was robbed. The French disease, for it was that, remained in me more than four months dormant before it showed itself, and then it broke out over my whole body at one instant. It was not like what one commonly observes, but covered my flesh with certain blisters, of the size of sixpences, and rose-coloured. The doctors would not call it the French disease, albeit I told them why I thought it was that. I went on treating myself according to their methods, but derived no benefit. At last, then, I resolved on taking the wood, against the advice of the first physicians in Rome; and I took it with the most scrupulous discipline and rules of abstinence that could be thought of ; and after a few days, I perceived in me a great amendment. The result was that at the end of fifty days I was cured and as sound as a fish in the water. Some time afterwards I sought to mend my shattered health, and with this view I betook myself to shooting when the winter came in. That amusement, however, led me to expose myself to wind and water, and to staying out in marsh-lands ; so that, after a few days, I fell a hundred times more ill than I had been before. I put myself once more under doctors' orders, and attended to their directions, but grew always worse. When the fever fell upon me, I resolved on having recourse again to the wood ; but the doctors forbade it, saying that if I took it with the fever on me, I should not have a week to live. However, I made my mind up to disobey their orders, observed the same diet as I had formerly adopted, and after drinking the decoction four days, was wholly rid of fever. My health improved enormously ; and while I was following this cure, I went on always working at the models of the chalice. I may add that, during the time of that strict abstinence, I produced finer things and of more exquisite invention than at any other period of my life. After fifty days my health was re-established, and I continued with the utmost care to keep it and confirm it. When at last I ventured to relax my rigid diet, I found myself as wholly free from those infirmities as though I had been born again. Although I took pleasure in fortifying the health I so much longed for, yet I never left off working ; both the chalice and the Mint had certainly as much of my attention as was due to them and to myself.