und to risk his own life in this cause. Enough, I
tell you that you have nothing in the world; and if I hear the
least thing about your goings on, I will come post-haste and show
you your error, and teach you to waste your substance and set fire
to houses and farms you have not earned. Indeed, you are not where
you think yourself to be. If I come, I will open your eyes to what
will make you weep hot tears, and let you know on what false
grounds you found your pride.

"I have something else to say to you which I have not said before.
If you will endeavour to live rightly, and to honour and revere
your father, I will help you like the rest, and make you able
shortly to open a good shop. If you do not do so, I shall come and
settle your affairs in such a fashion that you will know what you
are better than you ever did, and will understand what you have in
the world, and it will be seen in every place where you may go. No
more. What I lack in words I will supply with deeds.

"MICHAEL ANGELO, in Rome.

[Image #19]

ATHLETE

SISTINE CHAPEL, ROME
(_By permission of the Fratelli Alinari, Florence_)

"I cannot refrain from adding two lines. It is this: I have gone
these twelve years past, drudging about through all Italy, borne
every shame, suffered every hardship, worn my body in every toil,
put my life into a thousand dangers, solely to help the fortunes
of my house, and now that I have begun to raise it up a little,
you alone choose to destroy and ruin in one hour all that I have
done in so many years, and with such labours. By Christ's body
this shall not be! for I am the man to confound ten thousand such
as you whenever it be needed. Be wise in time then, and do not try
one who has other things to vex him."

So with hindrances enough, private and public, we must imagine the great
artist climbing his scaffolding to the vault of the Pope's chapel,
followed by his assistants, and setting them their task, transferring his
full-size outline cartoons, prepared from the general designs, to the
roof. We may fancy L'Indaco, Buggiardini, and the rest, staring with
amazement at the huge figures and the great flowing lines before them, and
trying to fit their dry manner of painting t