Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/154

142 attention to the matter, as it seemed to Francesco; and his adversaries perceiving, as they thought, that his favour had decayed, took courage thereupon, and sent forth a rumour to the effect that the stories which he had painted in the Hall were to be thrown to the earth, as by no means giving satisfaction to the rulers.

All these injuries, directed against him by his enemies with incredible envy and calumny, at length began to produce their effect, and at the last Francesco was so much annoyed by them that, had it not been for the kindness of Messer Lelio Torelli, Messer Pasquino Bertini, and others of his friendsj he would certainly have left the court clear for those evil speakers, which was exactly the thing that they desired. But those his well-wishers above-named encouraged him to complete the works of the Hall, with others which he had in hand, and prevented him from departing; their efforts being aided by those of others among his friends who were at a distance from Florence at the time, but to whom he had written the history of these persecutions. Among the latter was Giorgio Vasari, who in reply to a letter wherein Salviati complained of this matter, exhorted him to take patience, reminding him that goodness is refined to excellence by persecution, as gold is made perfect in the fire, consoling him by the assurance that a time would come when his genius and high superiority must needs be acknowledged, and adding, that he must henceforth complain of no other than himself, who had not sufficiently studied the humours of those around him, and had failed to appreciate correctly the character of the people, but more particularly that of the artists of his own country.

Thus it happened that, notwithstanding all the vexations and annoyances by which the poor Francesco was assailed, he did nevertheless complete that Hall, the engagement that is to say which he had made to decorate the walls; for as to the ceiling or wood-work, there was no need that he should do anything, since it was already most richly carved and adorned with gilding, and exhibited work, than which none of that kind could possibly be finer. To make all suitable, moreover, the Duke commanded two new windows of glass to be made, with ornaments of his own arms and devices, accompanied by those of the Emperor Charles V.