Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/319

Rh of which you write, and have seen the birth of another Buonarroto. For this intelligence I thank you as much as I can or may, although I am displeased by so much pomp, seeing that no man should laugh when the whole world is in tears. I think, too, that Leonardo should not rejoice so much over the birth of one who is but beginning to live; such joy should be reserved for the death of one who has lived well. Do not be surprised if I have not replied immediately; and for the many praises you send me, if I could only deserve one of them, I should then think that in giving myself to you, soul and body, I might perhaps have given you something that might, in some small measure, repay the much wherein I am your debtor: but I must acknowledge you my creditor for more than I can ever pay, and being old I have now no hope of acquitting myself. In the next life we may nevertheless regulate our account, wherefore I pray you to take patience, and am wholly yours. Things here stand much as before.”

So early as the time of Paul III. Duke Cosimo had sent Tribolo to Pome to try if he could persuade Michelagnolo to return to Florence, there to finish the Sacristy of San Lorenzo; but the master had excused himself, saying that he was become old, might no longer endure the fatigue of labour, and could not leave Pome. Tribolo then inquired as to the steps for the Library of San Lorenzo, for which Michelagnolo had caused many of the stones to be prepared, but for which no model, nor any certain indication of the form in which they were to be constructed, could be found. It is true that there were some few sketches of a pavement and other things in terra^ yet the correct and final design of the work could not be ascertained. But not all the entreaties of Tribolo, although he brought in the name of the Duke, could move Michelagnolo to say more than that he did not remember.

The Duke then commanded Vasari to write to the master, since it was hoped that for love of him Michelagnolo would perhaps say something which might enable them to bring