Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/203

Rh variety, all which are distributed with the most admirable judgment. In the midst of these, according to the design of Tribolo, there was to be formed a very beautiful piece of water, which has in effect been done. The space is here gradually restricted until it forms an angle; this being truncated to the breadth of a Loggia, erected to surround the same; and from this point, after ascending certain flights of steps, the whole view beneath lies discovered, the palace, the gardens, the fountains, and all the plain below and around them that is to say, even to the ducal villa of Poggioa-Cajano and the city of Florence itself; while distant views of Prato, Siena, and all around, are obtainable to the extent of many miles.

The above-named Maestro Pietro da San Casciano had now completed his work of the aqueduct even to Castello, and had brought all the water of the Castellina to that place; when it chanced that he was attacked by a most violent fever, whereof he died in a very few days. Thereupon Tribolo, having taken the entire conduct of the building upon himself, perceived that, although the waters had been led to Castello in very great quantities, yet they were not by any means sufficient to effect all that he had it in his thoughts to do. The water from Castellina, moreover, did not proceed from a height equal to that required for his purposes. He therefore received permission from the Duke to conduct the waters of the Petraia, which is situate more than 150 braccia above Castello, to the latter place; and this permission he obtained the more readily because the waters of Petraia are of great purity and in vast abundance. Tribolo, therefore, caused an aqueduct similar to the former one to be constructed, making it of such height that men could enter within it; by this he brought the waters of Petraia to the great ponds, the waters flowing from the principal fountains, being received by another aqueduct.

Having done this, Tribolo began to build the above-