Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/375

Rh to him, no less valuable and useful has it been rendered, by his means, to those who have occupied themselves with similar studies in after times.

Whoever obtains renown among his fellow-men for the possession of any particular gift, is without doubt for the most part a truly blessed light and exemplar to many, whether of his contemporaries or of those who come after him, to say nothing of the great honours and large rewards derived from this advantage by himself in his own life-time. This may be remarked in all cities and countries. Nor is there any thing by which the minds of men are more readily aroused to effort, or by which the discipline of study is rendered less onerous to them, than the honours and benefits to be derived from the heavy labours of the artist or man of learning. By these it is that every undertaking, however difficult, is rendered easy, and at no time will the powers of the labourer be put forth so effectually and with so rich and mature a fruit as when he is stimulated to effort by the praises of the world. There are infinite numbers of men who seeing and feeling this, subject themselves to many a pain, that they also may attain to the distinction, and merit the rewards conferred upon some one of their compatriots; therefore it was that in ancient times men of parts and distinction were rewarded with riches, or honoured by triumphs and statues. But as it rarely happens that talent can escape the persecutions of envy, it is most needful that all should strive, so far as in them lies, to ward off her attacks by the truest excellence, or should at least arm themselves with strength and resolution to sustain the impetus of her onset; as was admirably accomplished by, otherwise di Bartoluccio, who was well aided in the struggle by his own merits, as well as by the favour of fortune. It was the high desert of Lorenzo which induced the sculptor Donato, and Filippo Brunelleschi,