Page:The Life of Michael Angelo.djvu/190

128 "It was placed in my hands against my wishes," he said. "For eight years, in the midst of all sorts of worries and troubles, have I been exhausting myself in vain. Now that the building is sufficiently advanced to enable them to cover the cupola with a vault, my departure from Rome would be the ruin of the work, a great affront to myself, and a very great sin on my soul."

His enemies refused to lay down their arms, and at one time the struggle assumed a tragic character. In 1563 Michael Angelo's most devoted assistant, Pier Luigi Gaeta, was thrown into prison on a false charge of theft; and the clerk of the works, Cesare da Casteldurante, was stabbed. Michael Angelo replied by appointing Gaeta in Cesare's place. The committee dismissed Gaeta and appointed Michael Angelo's enemy, Nanni di Baccio Bigio. The artist, beside himself with anger, came no longer to St. Peter's. They spread the rumour that he had resigned, and the committee appointed as his substitute Nanni, who immediately began to assume the rôle of master. He counted on tiring out the old man of eighty-eight—sick and dying as he was. But he did not know his adversary. Michael Angelo at once went to the Pope and threatened to leave Rome unless justice were shown him. Insisting on a fresh inquiry, he convicted Nanni