s of great price, seeing that he had genius and good judgment.

IX. Michael Angelo was between fifteen and sixteen years of age when he
entered the house of the Magnificent, and he stayed with him until his
death, which was in ninety-two,(14) a space of two years. During that time
an office in the customs fell vacant which could only be held by a
Florentine citizen; so Lodovico, the father of Michael Angelo, came to the
Magnificent and spoke for it: "_Lorenzo, I can do nothing but read and
write; the comrade of Marco Pucci in the Dogana is dead. I should like to
have his place. I believe I shall be able to carry out the duties
properly._" The Magnificent put his hand upon his shoulder and, smiling,
said: "_You will always be poor_," for he expected that he would ask for
some great thing. However, he continued, "_If you will be the comrade of
Marco, be it so, till something better turns up_." This place brought him
eight scudi(15) the month, a little more or a little less.

X. In the meantime Michael Angelo prosecuted his studies, showing the
result of his labours to the Magnificent each day. In the same house lived
Poliziano, a man, as every one knows, and as is testified by his works,
most learned and witty. This man recognising the lofty spirit of Michael
Angelo loved him exceedingly, and little as he needed it, spurred him on
in his studies, always explaining things to him and giving him subjects.
One day, amongst others, he suggested "The Rape of Deianira" and "The
Battle of the Centaurs," telling him in detail the whole of the story.
Michael Angelo set himself to carve it out in marble in mezzo-rilievo, and
so well did he succeed, that I remember to have heard him say that when he
saw it again he recognised how much wrong he had done to his nature in not
following promptly the art of sculpture, judging by that work how well he
might have succeeded, nor does he say this boastingly, he was a most
modest man, but because he truly laments having been so unfortunate that
by the fault of others he has sometimes been ten or twelve years doing
nothing, as will be seen presently. This particular work may still be seen
in Florence in his house; the figures are about two palms high.(16) He had
hardly finished this work when the Magnificent Lorenzo passed out of this
life, and Michael Angelo returned to his father's house. So much grief did
he feel for his patron's death that for many days he was unable to work.
When he was him