immortal person

Later, people who saw the statue came to the same conclusion: this is a statue that should be seen by everyone.After review and resolution by the ruling group, this statue of Hercules will be placed on the top of the stairs on the second floor of the city hall for all passing citizens to admire.On August 29 of this year, while commemorating the patron saint of Florence, John the Baptist, representatives of the citizens held a grand unveiling ceremony for the statue.As the scarlet woolen cloth was lifted by the flag officer, everyone held their breath at the same moment.

People in this city have not seen such a statue for a long time.Every inch of its body curve is accurate and smooth, with a sense of fierce and majestic power; it not only has the calmness and firmness of marble, but also is solemn and solemn like a monument.Unlike traditional statues, Giovanni did not completely polish its surface, but chose to retain the original rough texture of the stone, which makes it more suitable for the characteristics of the legendary God of Power.Even if it was a pagan idol, the priests and monks who came to hear the news would not criticize it. Such a heroic figure has a soul common to all great men, and you can regard it as Hercules It can also be regarded as the brave and warlike St. George - after all, they all have a dragon-slaying sword in their hands; they have the incarnation of a hero, which represents the glory of the city, and that's enough.

Admiration turned to admiration when they learned the statue's author wasn't even 19 years old.Giovanni was once again surrounded by people—he had become accustomed to being treated like this these days—some who wanted to discuss classical philosophy with him, others who insisted that he must be a pious man.It wasn't until the orchestra started playing and a nobleman stepped forward to read his sonnets for the sculpture that people reluctantly returned to their places.Giovanni stood next to Lorenzo calmly, and the Duke looked at him sideways with a smile on his lips.

"You are my pride." Lorenzo whispered when the harp sounded.

——This is better than all previous awards.

In the evening people held a celebratory banquet in the Medici Palace.Under Luigi's urging, he finally changed into the formal attire prepared for him by the family on the day he entered the palace. After putting on the light-colored satin dress, in Luigi's words, he was "a mason covered in gray all of a sudden." Looks like a master."The flag-bearer announced before the banquet that, in recognition of the young artist, the town hall would immediately provide Giovanni with an annuity of one hundred florins a year.The crowd applauded him, raised their glasses, and many of them, many of whom had come to dinner for a night of indulgence, began to really look at him.Giovanni received several orders that night, all of them came from dignitaries in the city, and they were paid a lot of money; at the same time, he keenly noticed that these patrons looked at him quite intriguingly, how many of these orders were out of respect for The true love of art, or just to make a name for future generations through the collection of artworks at home, or even feel Lorenzo's special care for him, and want to get close to the Duke by this-all are still unknown.

He belatedly realized that no matter what the purpose of these invitations was, from the moment he completed his first independent sculpture, from this night, he would no longer be the unknown apprentice in the garden of St. Mark, But the hottest art upstart in the city.

Lorenzo was surrounded by several young men from the Soderini family all night, and it was difficult for others to talk to him.Giovanni was coaxed and coaxed by the guests to drink a few glasses of wine, and he was a little tipsy when the dance music played.He was surprised to find that several ladies in luxurious dresses were trying to walk towards him. Almost subconsciously, he hurriedly left the banquet hall under the pretext of being unwell.

He came to the courtyard.The evening wind, smelling of daisies, was blowing, and Giovanni walked to the edge of the hedge trimmed into an alcove, slowly breathing the cool night air.Until a familiar voice came, someone called him: "Joe."

He turned and saw Bertholdo.

Out of a certain intuition, he felt that his teacher tonight was very different from the past—Bertoldo looked at him, and there was almost restrained emotion in his cloudy eyes.He hesitated for a while, then said, "...I'll just say it straight."

"You say."

"I heard that your parents died before they got engaged to you," Bertholdo said. "Is that true?"

"Yes," Giovanni replied.

"You're almost 19 years old, you're not a child anymore," Bertoldo said slowly, "I think this should be on the agenda...Do you want a wife?"

"..."

Giovanni looked at him in astonishment.He said "no" almost immediately, but quickly concealed his surprise.Bertoldo was staring at him closely, waiting for an explanation, so he said: "Your Highness is still unmarried at 25 years old, I thought it was too early to mention this. You—why are you asking so suddenly?"

"His Royal Highness Lorenzo? He has delayed too long—a person of his status should have married a princess for us ten years ago." Bertoldo shook his head, "You are different. You You need a good wife to take care of your chores so you can concentrate on your writing."

There was sincere concern and hope in his eyes.Giovanni understood him for a split second, and was speechless for a moment.

He remembered that he had seen Bertholdo's niece from afar.His teacher was single all his life and devoted himself to the art of sculpture. The only surviving relative was the fair and plump girl.She has shaggy chestnut curly hair.He may not be able to read or appreciate pictures, but he must be a good housekeeper.

He hung his head and did not answer for a long time.

"Don't worry, young man." Before leaving, Bertoldo patted him on the shoulder, "Don't give me an answer now."

Giovanni stood for a long time alone in the courtyard.Without thinking, he thought he knew his answer: no.He had never met the woman, and he was quite sure that their divergent interests and preferences would not lead to a happy marriage.He stood by the fountain with the Neptune statue, listening to the water leap and fall again and again.Perhaps because he has read too many classical works, when talking about love, he thinks of the description in "Symposium".Love, this ancient and great emotion, is similar to noble friendship, but deeper than that, while enhancing people's wisdom or other virtues, it also contains the hope of future happiness and goodness. Eternal power... The person who will stay with him for a lifetime should also agree with Plato's point of view-who will it be?

The moment he remembered those blue eyes, he realized the danger he was in.

Giovanni returned to the banquet hall, and the remaining guests were scattered in every corner in twos and threes, flirting, bickering or making friends, and few people paid attention to him.He walked to the long table where the wine was displayed and poured himself a glass of wine.He was thankful Bertoldo was gone and no one was nagging in his ear about how the wine affected the stability of his hands.The glass of wine was surprisingly strong, like a ball of flame rolling down his throat, he choked, but still finished it.

He filled his glass again.After this cup, his vision began to become hazy, but he felt more awake.Someone beside him seemed to be calling his name, but he couldn't hear it clearly.When he came back to his senses, he had finished his third drink, and someone grabbed his wrist and called him "Joe".

"How much did you drink?" the man was asking him.

He sounds like Lorenzo, thought Giovanni.He ignored it and went to grab the jug, but the man stopped his hand.Giovanni turned his head and saw the Duke's face.He thought he was dreaming.

"You're drunk." Lorenzo grabbed his wrist and pulled him up, "Let's go."

"I do not have."

"..." Lorenzo was silent.

He was led forward by Lorenzo, still saying: "...I can't leave."

"why?"

"Waiting for someone."

"Who?"

They walked up to the second-floor landing, and there was no one around.Giovanni stopped suddenly and grabbed him.He didn't answer, but just looked at Lorenzo fixedly, and suddenly smiled.

"You." He whispered.

For a moment Lorenzo felt he could not keep his eyes open.He was willing to believe it because of the reflection in the mirror behind Giovanni.

Too bright, he thought.

"You're drunk," he repeated, "and I'll take you home."

Giovanni followed him quietly.After Lorenzo opened the door for him and was about to turn away, Giovanni dragged him in.The door closed behind him.

"You..." Lorenzo opened his mouth.

Before he knew it, they were kissing.

(abridgement)

God... he thought.

Giovanni began to kiss his neck and collarbone.As his hand reached down, Lorenzo took it.

His voice was hoarse: "No."

Giovanni did not disobey him.The silence between the two seemed to last for an era, enough for heaven to be built and destroyed.Lorenzo sat up slowly and looked directly at him: "Are you really drunk?"

Giovanni's sober gray eyes answered him.

Even if he had been drunk before, he had already regained consciousness.Lorenzo closed his eyes, breathing hard.A hand reached into his hair and stroked the back of his neck slowly and gently.

"I will forget," he heard Giovanni say, "if you want to."

Giovanni withdrew his hand, turned and left the room.

The author has something to say:

Yesterday, because the second half was locked, about [-] words were deleted.Next, we have to catch up with all kinds of ddl, and resume the update in June, don't cheat XD