Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/131

Rh which were, I do not say magnificent only, but little less than regal in their splendour, they very greatly distinguished themselves, and still more on occasion of the Nuptials of the most Illustrious Signor, the Don Drancesco Medici, Prince of Plorence, and of the most exalted Queen, Joanna of Austria, wherein they did indeed perform admirable works, as has been fully and with good order related by others, and as will be repeated in a more suitable place and more at length, by ourselves.

And now, since not only from the life of the above-mentioned Father Fra Giovann’ Agnolo, but also from those of others, of whom we have before held discourse, it has been shown, and is continually seen, that a truly good monk is useful to the world; not only in letters, in the education of youth, and in the councils of the Church, but also in the arts and other noble vocations, wherein they have by no means cause to be ashamed of comparison with others;—since it is thus, I say, we may perhaps be suffered to declare that those who too broadly affirm the contrary, and declare that monks select their mode of life because they are incapable, from poverty of spirit, of taking care of themselves, have done so unadvisedly, and that such opinion is maintained rather from anger or from some private pique, than with any good reason and from a love of truth. But may God forgive them for that error. Fra Giovann’ Agnolo lived sixty five years, and died on the last day of August, 1563.

The father of Francesco Salviati, whose life we are now about to write, and who was born in the year 1510, was a good man, called Michelagnolo de’ Rossi, a weaver of velvets.

He had not only this son, but many other children besides, both male and female; and having therefore great need of assistance, had determined within himself that Fran-