Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/20

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,—the delight, as well as the honour and profit that I have derived from labouring as I have best been able in these most noble arts, has ever been so great, that I have not only felt an ardent wish to exalt, to celebrate, and to honour them by every means in my power, but have also been ever most affectionately disposed towards all who take similar pleasure in them, or who have distinguished themselves more happily in the pursuit of them than I, perchance, have been able to do. And from this, my good will and fulness of most sincere affection, it appears to me, that I have hitherto gathered the due and proper fruits, having been constantly beloved and honoured by all of you; and the intercourse between us having always been of a cordial intimacy, if I might not rather say of the most perfect brotherhood,—for we have mutually laid open to each other our various works,—I to you, and you to me,— assisting one another whenever the occasion presented itself, both with council and with aid. Wherefore, moved by this our affection, and much more by your excellent talents, but also by mv own inclination, by nature, and by a most potent instinct and attraction, I have always felt deeply bound to gratify and serve you, in every manner, and by all means, that I have judged likely to contribute either to your enjoyment or advantage. To this end it was, that in the year 1550, I put forth the lives of those most renowned and esteemed among us, moved thereunto by a cause recounted elsewhere, and also (to declare the truth) by a generous indignation that so much talent should remain concealed for so long a time, and still continue buried. For does this my labour appear to have been unwelcome; on the contrary, it has been so well accepted, that,—besides the many things that have been said and written to me from many parts,—of the very large number that was printed of my book, there does not remain one single volume in the hands of the booksellers.

Accordingly, daily receiving requests from many friends, and knowing, too, with equal certainty, the unexpressed wishes of many others, I have once more addressed myself to my former labours, (although occupied in most important undertakings) with the intention, not only of adding the names of those who,