Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/451

Rh the place of liis sepulture was the cliurcli of San Tommaso, which belongs to the Carmelite Monks; the ancient tombs of his forefathers being in that church, and here the Physician, Messer Niccold San Michele, has even now commenced the erection of a monument to his memory, which is at this time in process of execution.

San Michele was a man of most orderly and upright life, highly honourable in all his actions; he was of a cheerful disposition, yet grave withal; a man who feared God, and was so rigidly attentive to his religious duties, that he would on no account have commenced any work in the morning until he had first heard mass devoutly, and repeated his prayers. On the first beginning of any work of importance, moreover, he would invariably cause the Mass of the Spirito Santo, or that of the Madonna, to be solemnly sung before any other thing was attempted. He was of an exceedingly liberal disposition, and so obliging towards his friends, that they were as much masters of all he possessed as he was himself.

One proof of his integrity and generosity I will not omit to mention here, believing it to be known to very few besides myself. When Giorgio Vasari, with whom, as we have said, San Michele was on the most friendly terms, was last parting from him in Venice, the architect said to him, “I would have you to know, Messer Giorgio, that when I was at Monte-Fiascone in my youth, I fell in love, as it pleased fortune, with the wife of a stone-cutter; and she was, of a truth, very kindly disposed towards me, but no one ever knew any thing of that matter except myself. Now, I hear that this poor woman has been left a widow, with a daughter whom she desires to give in marriage, and who, as she declares, is mine own.

This may very possibly not be true; nor do I think it is true; but however that may be, do you take her these fifty crowns of gold, and give them to her as bestowed on my part, for the love of God, and to the end that she may help herself and settle her daughter according to the condition of the mother.” Giorgio was then going to Rome, and passed through Monte Fiascone, when, although