be contented with no other
wages for my work except permission to return to Florence." Although
much displeased, the bishop could not refrain from laughing when he
heard this, especially when he considered that a beast had made a
jest of the most jest-loving man in the world. After they had laughed
and talked over this new adventure, the bishop prevailed so far, that
Buonamico set himself a third time to do the work, and he finished
it. The baboon, as a punishment and penance for his fault, was shut
up in a large cage of wood, and kept there while Buonamico worked,
until the painting was quite finished. It is not possible to imagine
the antics which the great beast played in that cage with his mouth,
his body and his hands, at seeing others work while he was not able
to imitate them. When the decoration of the chapel was completed the
bishop asked, for a jest or for some other reason, that Buffalmacco
should paint him on a wall of his palace an eagle on the back of a
lion which it had killed. The cunning painter promised to do as the
bishop desired, and made a large partition of boards, saying that he
did not wish anyone to see such a thing being painted. This done, and
while being shut up all alone inside, he painted the contrary to what
the bishop wished, a lion crushing an eagle. When the work was
completed, he asked licence from the bishop to go to Florence to
procure some colours which he needed. Accordingly, having locked up
his picture, he went to Florence intending never to return. The
bishop after waiting some time and seeing that the painter did not
return, caused the painting to be opened, and found that Buonamico
was wiser than himself. Furious at the trick which had been played
upon him he threatened to take the artist's life. When Buonamico
heard this, he sent to tell him to do his worst, wherefore the bishop
menaced him with a malediction. But at length he reflected that the
artist had only been jesting, and that he should take the matter as a
jest, whereupon he pardoned Buonamico the insult, and acknowledged
his pains most liberally. What is more, he induced him to come again
to Arezzo not long after, and caused him to paint many things in the
old Duomo, which have been thrown down to-day, treating him always as
his friend and most faithful servant. The same artist also painted in
Arezzo the apse of the principal chapel of S. Giustino. Some write
that when Buonamico was in Florence he was often in the wor