in it is
all grace and excellence, whereas the manner of Baccio is entirely
different. But in truth, considering Baccio's Hercules by itself, one
cannot but praise it highly, and all the more because it is known that
many sculptors have since tried to make colossal statues, and not one
has attained to the standard of Baccio, who, if he had received as
much grace and facility from nature as he took pains and trouble by
himself, would have been absolutely perfect in the art of sculpture.

Desiring to know what was being said of his work, he sent to the
Piazza a pedagogue whom he kept in his house, telling him that he
should not fail to report to him the truth of what he might hear said.
The pedagogue, hearing nothing but censure, returned sadly to the
house, and, when questioned by Baccio, answered that all with one
voice were abusing the giants, and that they pleased no one. "And
you," asked Baccio, "what do you say of them?" "I speak well of them,"
he replied, "and say, may it please you, that they please me." "I will
not have them please you," said Baccio, "and you, also, must speak ill
of them, for, as you may remember, I never speak well of anyone; and
so we are quits." Thus Baccio concealed his vexation, and it was
always his custom to act thus, pretending not to care for the censure
that any man laid on his works. Nevertheless, it is likely enough that
his resentment was considerable, because when a man labours for
honour, and then obtains nothing but censure, one cannot but believe,
although that censure may be unjust and undeserved, that it afflicts
him secretly in his heart and torments him continually. He was
consoled in his displeasure by an estate, which was given to him in
addition to his payment, by order of Pope Clement. This gift was
doubly dear to him, first because it was useful for its revenue and
was near his villa of Pinzirimonte, and then because it had previously
belonged to Rignadori, his mortal enemy, who had just been declared an
outlaw, and with whom he had always been at strife on account of the
boundary of this property.

At this time a letter was written to Duke Alessandro by Prince Doria,
asking that he should prevail upon Baccio to finish his statue, now
that the giant was completely finished, and saying that he was ready
to revenge himself on Baccio if he did not do his duty; at which
Baccio was so frightened that he would not trust himself to go to
Carrara. However, having been reassur