conceived in his mind. And, secondly, from the same cause (as often
happens to those who lead a peaceful and contemplative life), he has
always been somewhat timid; saving only when a just indignation against
some wrong or lapse of duty to himself or to others moves him, then he
plucks up more spirit than those who are held to be courageous; otherwise
he is of a most patient disposition. Of his modesty it is not possible to
say as much as he deserves; and so also of his manners, and his ways, they
are seasoned with pleasantries and sharp sayings: for instance, his
conversation at Bologna with a certain gentleman, who, seeing the mere
largeness and mass of the bronze statue Michael Angelo had made, marvelled
and said: "_Which do you suppose to be the larger, this statue or a pair
of oxen?_" To whom Michael Angelo replied: "_It is according to the oxen
you mean; if it be these of Bologna doubtless they are much larger; if
ours of Florence they are much smaller._"(57) So also when Il Francia, who
was at that time thought to be an Apelles in Bologna, came to see that
same statue and said: "_This is a beautiful bronze_," it seemed to Michael
Angelo that he was praising the metal and not the form, so he laughingly
replied: "_If this be beautiful bronze, I must thank Pope Julius for it,
who gave it to me, as you have to thank the apothecaries who provide your
colours_." And another day, seeing the child of Francia, who was a very
beautiful boy: "_My son,_" said he, "_your father makes better living
pictures than painted ones._"

LXIX. Michael Angelo is of a good complexion; his figure rather sinuous
and bony than fleshy and fat; healthy above all by nature, as well as by
the use of exercise and his continence of life and moderation in taking
food; nevertheless, as a child he was feeble and sickly, and as a man he
had two illnesses. He has suffered much for several years in the passing
of urine, which trouble would have turned into a stone if he had not been
relieved by the care and diligence of the before-mentioned Messer Realdo.
Michael Angelo has always had a good colour in his face; he is of middle
height; he is broad shouldered, with the rest of the body in proportion,
rather slight than not. The shape of his skull in front is round; the
height above the ear is a sixth part of the circumference round the middle
of the head, so that the temples project somewhat beyond the ears, and the
ears beyond the cheek-bones, and the ch