Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/167

Rh think of living in quiet, and should carefully shun the strifes and contentions of active life; all which he might have done most conveniently, he having acquired both honour and profit enough, if he had not been too avaricious and eager for gain. Vasari furthermore advised him to sell the greater part of his offices, and to arrange his affairs in such sort, that in all cases, and whatever might happen, he might be in a condition to remember his friends, and those who had served him faithfully. Francesco promised to proceed discreetly, both in act and word, confessing that Giorgio told him the truth, but as it usually happens with men of dilatory habits, he did nothing in the matter.

Arrived in Rome, Francesco found that the Cardinal Emulio had commissioned other artists to execute the Stories of the Flail, having given two of them to Taddeo Zucchero, of Sant’ Agnolo, one to Livio da Forlì, another to Orazio da Bologna, one to Girolamo Sermoneta, and others to other masters. Hereupon Francesco sent an account of what had been done to Vasari, inquiring of him if he thought it advisable that what he, Salviati, had commenced before his departure from Borne to Florence should now be completed.

Vasari made answer to the effect, that since so many small designs and large cartoons had been made, it would be well to finish, at least, one of the pictures, notwithstanding that the greater part of the work had been accorded to so many others, all of whom were inferior to himself; and adding, that Francesco would do wisely in approaching, so far as he could, to the pictures executed by Buonarroti, on the front and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and to those of the Pauline.

Vasari furthermore assured him, that when once his work had appeared, those executed by the others would be thrown to the ground, and the whole undertaking made over to himself, to his no small honour and glory: he entreated him, moreover, not to think of profit in this case, nor to regard the vexations which he might receive from those who had the superintendence of the works, seeing that the honour to be acquired was worth more than all besides. The letters written on this occasion by Vasari, with the replies, both copies and originals, are still preserved among those which we retain as memorials of so great a man and so intimate a