Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/434

426 of one unbroken stone, nay, rather might be supposed to have been hewn out of the living; rock in the magnificent form there presented to the spectator, and this not only nor even principally because the masses of which it is constructed are so enormous, but because of the perfection with which all are joined and united together. Of the ornaments and other peculiarities that might be insisted on, I say nothing, seeing that nothing adequate to the merit of the work could be said.

Within the walls, San Michele laid out a Square or Piazza divided by pillars and arches in the rustic manner, which would indeed have proved to be a most admirable performance, had it not been suffered to remain unfinished. But when this vast undertaking had reached the point above described, certain malicious and envious persons persuaded the Signori that although the work was a most beautiful one and constructed with all due care, yet it would nevertheless be totally useless for all practical purposes, nay, might possibly cause injury to the possessors, since the weight and quantity of the artillery which the place would require were such, that in the discharge thereof, the whole building must needs be shaken to pieces and utterly destroyed.

Thereupon the Signori determined in their wisdom that it would be desirable to ascertain the truth on that point, as being one of the very first importance; they consequently ordered an immense quantity of artillery, and that of the very heaviest that could be found in the Arsenal, to be brought to the fortress, and having caused all the embrasures, above as well as below, to be filled with cannon, even more heavily loaded than common, they had all fired off together.

Then the uproar, the thunders, and the earthquake that were heard and felt were such and so vast, as to make it appear as if the whole world were falling to pieces, •while the mass of the building itself, with all its mouths of fire, presented the aspect of a great volcano, or rather of a very hell.

But the fabric remained firm in its seat nevertheless, exhibiting all its wonted strength and solidity, to the utter shame of the malignant critics, who wrere proved to be "wholly destitute of judgment, while the great ability of San Michele was rendered most clearly manifest to the Senate as well as to