elf towards me with
astonishment, and say:

"Forgive me, M. Francisco, for not having seen you for had I not the
Marchioness before my eyes, but as God has sent you here, assist and help
me as a comrade."

"For that reason only will I forgive you; but it seems to me that the
Marchioness causes with one light contrary effects, as the sun does, which
with the same rays melts and hardens, because you were blinded by seeing
her and I both hear and see you, because I see her; and also because I
know how much a wise person will occupy himself with her Excellency, and
how little time she leaves for others; and therefore at times I do not
take the advice of some friars."

Here the Marchioness laughed again.

Then Friar Ambrosio rose and took leave of the Marchioness and of us,
remaining thenceforward a great friend of mine, and he went away.

And now the Marchioness began to speak thus:

"His Holiness has done me the favour of allowing me to build a nunnery for
ladies here at the foot of Monte Cavallo, by the broken portico, where it
is said that Nero saw Rome burning, so that the wicked footprints of such
a man may be trodden out by others more honest of holy women. I do not
know, M. Angelo, what shape and proportions to give to the house, where
the door should be placed, and whether some of the old work may be adapted
to the new?"

"Yes, madam," said Michael, "the broken portico might be used as a
campanile."

And this was so pleasant, and Michael said it so seriously and in such a
manner that M. Lactancio could not help calling attention to it; and the
great painter added these words:

"I quite think your Excellency may build the nunnery; and when we leave
here, with your permission, we may very well go and look at the site, so
as to give you some drawing for it."

"I did not dare to ask you for so much," she said, "but I already knew
that in everything you follow the doctrine of the Lord: _deposuit
potentes, exaltavit humiles_; and in that also you are excellent, for you
acknowledge yourself at last as discreetly generous and not as an ignorant
prodigal. And therefore in Rome those who know you esteem you even more
than your works; and those who do not know you esteem only the least of
you, which are the works of your hands. And certainly I do not give any
less praise to your knowledge of how to retire within yourself and fly
from our useless conversations, and to your wisdom in not painting for all
the princes