employing many workmen. Whereupon, since
like always draws to like, he so contrived that he became the friend of
Giorgio, by means of M. Marco da Lodi, a gentleman of the above-named
Cardinal of Cortona, who showed to Giorgio a portrait, which much
pleased him, by the hand of Francesco, who a short time before had been
placed to learn painting with Giuliano Bugiardini. Meanwhile Vasari, not
neglecting the study of letters, by order of the Cardinal spent two
hours every day with Ippolito and Alessandro de' Medici, under their
master Pierio, an able man. And this friendship, contracted as described
above between Vasari and Francesco, became such that it never ceased
to bind them together, although, by reason of their rivalry and a
certain somewhat haughty manner of speech that Francesco had, some
persons thought otherwise.

When Vasari had been some months with Michelagnolo, that excellent man
was summoned to Rome by Pope Clement, to receive instructions for
beginning the Library of S. Lorenzo; and he was placed by him, before he
departed, with Andrea del Sarto. And devoting himself under him to
design, Giorgio was continually lending his master's drawings in secret
to Francesco, who had no greater desire than to obtain and study them,
as he did day and night. Afterwards Giorgio was placed by the
Magnificent Ippolito with Baccio Bandinelli, who was pleased to have the
boy with him and to teach him; and Vasari contrived to obtain Francesco
as his companion, with great advantage to them both, for the reason that
while working together they learned more and made greater progress in
one month than they had done in two years while drawing by themselves.
And the same did another young man who was likewise working under
Bandinelli at that time, called Nannoccio of the Costa San Giorgio, of
whom mention was made not long ago.

In the year 1527, the Medici being expelled from Florence, there was a
fight for the Palace of the Signoria, and a bench was thrown down from
on high so as to fall upon those who were assaulting the door; but, as
fate would have it, that bench hit an arm of the David in marble by
Buonarroti, which is beside the door on the Ringhiera, and broke it into
three pieces. These pieces having remained on the ground for three days,
without being picked up by anyone, Francesco went to the Ponte Vecchio
to find Giorgio, and told him his intention; and then, children as they
were, they went to the Piazza, and, without