Benvenuto Cellini to His Mistress

Now will I make my Perseus — first of wax —
Slim, naked, young, exulting. In his left
He shall hold high thy vipered head fresh cleft,
Whence clotted blood shall pour, as, 'neath the axe,

That girl's last week. His foot upon thy back's
Convulsive writhes shall rest; while, in his right,
He'll hold a short fantastic falchion tight.
Thy neck shall pour, just like the head it lacks.

Then to his heels and helmet I will tie
Wings that o'er wondrous fairy lands have flown;
And he shall breathe such triumphs as did I

When my good harqebuss hurled Bourbon down
Rome's wall; or when I wiped my dagger dry
In my first brawl, and thrilled from toe to crown.