consumed with anger and indignation; but inwardly his
nature was kindly to a degree to those he had about him.

Condivi tells us of the delay in the works in the Sistine due to the mould
on the surface of the fresco, and of the haste of Julius. The progress was
fast enough, one would have thought, even for that exacting Pontiff; for
although the whole work consists, on counting heads, of some three hundred
and ninety-four figures, the majority ten feet high; the prophets and
sibyls, twelve in number, would be eighteen feet high if they stood up;
yet by the following letters to his brother Buonarroto, of October 1509,
we know he had finished the first half, consisting probably of some two
hundred figures, even then; or assuming that he began to paint when the
assistants were dismissed in January 1509, he worked at the rate of about
a figure a day.

_To_ BUONARROTO DI LODOVICO DI BUONARROTA, _in Florence_.

_From_ ROME, _the 17th of October, 1509._

"BUONARROTO,--I got the bread: it is good, but it is not good
enough to make a trade of, for there would be little gain. I gave
the knave five carlini, and he would hardly hand it over. I learn
by your last how Lorenzo(112) will pass this way, and how I am to
give him a good reception. It appears you do not know how I am
situated here, all the same I excuse you. What I can do, I will.
About Gismondo and how he intends to come here to advance his
business, tell him from me not to have any designs on me, not
because I do not love him as a brother, but because I am unable to
help him in anything. I am obliged to love myself more than
others, and I have not enough for my own needs. I live here in
great distress and with the greatest fatigue of body, and have not
a friend of any sort, and do not want one, and have not even
enough time to eat necessary food; therefore, do not annoy me any
more, for I cannot bear another ounce.

For the shop I encourage you to be careful. It pleases me to hear
that Giovanni Simone begins to do well. Endeavour to advance a
little, or, at least, maintain what you have got, so that you will
know how to manage larger affairs afterwards; for I have a hope,
when I return to you, that you will be men enough to manage for
yourselves. Tell Lodovico that I have not replied to him because I
had not the time, and not to wonder if I do n