A passage in Mr. Symonds's Introduction to the Life, too long to be quoted here, shows that Benvenuto left France somewhat under a cloud, and followed by suspicions of dishonest dealing, which have never been quite satisfactorily cleared away. Enough has been said to show that in this book, as always in his historical romances, Dumas has substantially rewritten a chapter of history,--for the visit of Benvenuto Cellini to Paris has been deemed worthy of notice at considerable length by more than one grave chronicler; and he has again demonstrated his very exceptional power of interweaving history and fiction in such a way as to make each embellish the other. [Footnote 1: The Court and Reign of Francis I., King of France, Vol. II. Chap. XI.] [Footnote 2: Miss Pardoe, Vol. III. Chap. I.] [Footnote 3: Miss Pardoe. Vol. II. Chap XI.] LIST OF CHARACTERS Period, 1540. FRANÇOIS I., King of France. ELEANORA, his queen, sister to Charles V. THE DAUPHIN, afterwards Henri II. CHARLES D'ORLÉANS, the king's second son. THE DAUPHINE, Catherine de Medicis. THE EMPEROR CHARLES V. THE KING OF NAVARRE. MARGUERITE DE VALOIS, Queen of Navarre. ANNE DE PISSELEU, Duchesse d'Etampes, favorite of François I. DIANE DE POITIERS. BENVENUTO CELLINI, a Florentine artist. ASCANIO, his pupil. MESSIRE ROBERT D'ESTOURVILLE, Provost of Paris. COLOMBE, his daughter. COMTE D'ORBEC, the king's treasurer. VICOMTE DE MARMAGNE, a suitor for Colombe's hand. THE DUKE OF MEDINA-SIDONIA, ambassador of Charles V. MONSIEUR DE MONTBRION, governor of Charles d'Orléans. CONSTABLE ANNE DE MONTMORENCY,} CHANCELLOR POYET,} CARDINAL DE TOURNON,} MESSIRE ANTOINE LE MAÇON,} COMTE DE LA FAYE,} of the French Court. MARQUIS DES PRÉS,} MELIN DE SAINT-GELAIS,} M. DE TERMES,} HENRI D'ESTIENNE,} PIETRO STROZZI, a Florentine refugee. TRIBOULET, the king's jester. FRANÇOIS RABELAIS. CLEMENT MAROT. PAGOLO,} JEHAN,} assistants of Cellini. SIMON-LE-GAUCHER,} HERMANN,} SCOZZONE, Cellini's model. RUPERTA, servant to Cellini. DAME PERRINE, Colombo's governess. PULCHERIA, her assistant. MASTER JACQUES, Messire d'Estourville's gardener. ISABEAU, attendant of Madame d'Etampes. ANDRÉ, physician to Madame d'Etampes. JACQUES AUBRY, a student, attaching himself to the service of Cellini. GERVAISE-PERRETTE POPINOT, a grisette. FRANCESCO PRIMATICCIO, a painter, friend to Cellini. GUIDO, a Florentine physician, FERRANTE,} FRACASSO,} bravos employed by Vicomte de Marmagne. PROCOPE,} MALEDENT,} THE LIEUTENANT CRIMINAL OF THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE. MARC-BONIFACE GRIMOINEAU, his clerk. ETIENNE RAYMOND, a prisoner at the Châtelet. A PRIEST AT THE CHÂTELET. POPE CLEMENT VII. MASTER GEORGIO, governor of the Castle of San Angelo. MONSEIGNEUR DE MONTLUC, French ambassador at Rome. POMPEO, a goldsmith at Rome. RAPHAEL DEL MORO, a Florentine goldsmith. STEFANA, his daughter.