s first works was a
portrait from life of the Dauphin, the son of the King, born only a few
months before, and still in swaddling-clothes; and when he took this to
the King, he received a present of three hundred gold crowns. Then,
continuing to work, he painted for the King a figure of Charity, which
was considered a very rare work and was held by that Sovereign in the
estimation that it deserved. After that, his Majesty granted him a
liberal allowance and did all that he could to induce Andrea to stay
willingly with him, promising him that he should never want for
anything; and this because he liked Andrea's resoluteness in his work,
and also the character of the man, who was contented with everything.
Moreover, giving great satisfaction to the whole Court, he executed many
pictures and various other works; and if he had kept in mind the
condition from which he had escaped and the place to which fortune had
brought him, there is no doubt that he would have risen--to say nothing
of riches--to a most honourable rank. But one day, when he was at work
on a S. Jerome in Penitence for the mother of the King, there came to
him some letters from Florence, written by his wife; and he began,
whatever may have been the reason, to think of departing. He sought
leave, therefore, from the King, saying that he wished to go to
Florence, but would return without fail to his Majesty after settling
some affairs; and he would bring his wife with him, in order to live
more at his ease in France, and would come back laden with pictures and
sculptures of value. The King, trusting in him, gave him money for that
purpose; and Andrea swore on the Testament to return to him in a few
months.

Thus, then, he arrived in Florence, and for several months blissfully
took his joy of his fair lady, his friends, and the city. And finally,
the time at which he was to return having passed by, he found in the end
that what with building, taking his pleasure, and doing no work, he had
squandered all his money and likewise that of the King. Even so he
wished to return, but he was more influenced by the sighs and prayers of
his wife than by his own necessities and the pledge given to the King,
so that, in order to please his wife, he did not go back; at which the
King fell into such disdain, that for a long time he would never again
look with a favourable eye on any painter from Florence, and he swore
that if Andrea ever came into his hands he would give him