Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/314

302 the Pope, pressed it zealously on His Holiness, urging that it would be much better to construct the Chapel and Tomb in the Church of San Giovanni than at Montorio, because the Florentines, impelled by the motive for action thus presented, would at length be induced to supply the monies needful for the completion of the Church; seeing, that if His Holiness would make the principal Chapel, there were merchants who would make six more, and so on by degrees, until all should be finished. The Pope changed his mind accordingly, although the model had been made and the price of the work agreed on; and going to Montorio, he sent for Michelagnolo. Thereupon Vasari, who was daily writing to the latter and obtaining intelligence of all that was going on there, in reply, received the following, dated August 1, 1550, wherein he notifies the Pontiff’s change of purpose, and these are the words themselves as they came from his own hand:—

“,—With respect to the foundations at San Pietro Montorio, I write you nothing, seeing that the Pope will not hear of them, and I know you are well advised thereof by your man that is here. But I desire to tell you what follows, and that is, that yesterday morning the Pope having repaired to the said Montorio, sent for me: I met him on the bridge as he was returning, and had a long conversation with him in regard to the Tombs confided to you. At length he told me that he had determined not to construct them on the Mount, but in the Church of the Florentines, desiring to have my opinion and designs for the same; whereupon I encouraged him in that purpose, considering that the Church would thus be finished. Eespecting your last three letters, I have no pen that can reply to such high matters; but if I should rejoice to be what you make me, it would be principally that you might have a servant who should be worth something. Yet why should I marvel that you, being the restorer to life of dead men should add life to those who are still living? But to shorten my words, such as I am, I am wholly yours, “. Rome” While these affairs were in course of arrangement and the Florentines in Borne were labouring to raise money, certain difficulties arose; there was nothing concluded and the matter began to cool. But Vasari and Ammannato