Page:The Life of Michael Angelo.djvu/152

 "My dear lord, do not be irritated by my love, which is addressed only to what is best in you, For the spirit of the one ought to be enamoured of the spirit of the other. That which I desire, that which I learn in your beautiful face, cannot be understood by ordinary men. He who wishes to understand it must first of all die."

And certainly there was nothing immodest in this passion for beauty. But the secret of this ardent and agitated love (yet for all that chaste) was nevertheless disquieting and deluded. To these morbid friendships—a despairing effort to deny the nothingness of his life and create the love for which he craved—there fortunately succeeded the serene affection of a woman, who could understand his old child, alone and lost in the world, and bring to his bruised soul a little peace, a little confidence, a little reason, and melancholy acceptance of life and death.

It was in 1533 and 1534 that Michael Angelo's friendship for Cavalieri reached its height. In 1535 he began to know Vittoria Colonna.

She was born in 1492. Her father was Fabrizio Colonna, Lord of Paliano and Prince of Tagliacozzo.