them and what they are, and how they die
nameless and without knowledge of the things which in the world are most
worthy of being known and esteemed, and how we cannot even remember that
such a man was born however much money he may have kept in his coffers.
And thus he understands that good work and the good name of immortal
virtue is the felicity of this life and all or almost all that is to be
desired; and therefore he esteems himself more because he is on the road
to attain that glory than one who does not know this and never even knew
how to desire it. Many are content with much less power than that of
imitating a work of God as in painting; and if one never attained to the
distinction of governing a great province, it is but human to be satisfied
with things which are more difficult and more uncertain than governing a
country which stretched from the Columns of Hercules to the Indian River
Ganges. Such an one never killed an enemy more difficult to conquer than
is the conforming the work to the desire or idea of the great painter, and
the one was never so satisfied drinking out of a golden cup as the other
drinking out of an earthen pot. Nor was the Emperor Maximilian wrong in
saying that he could indeed make a duke or a count, but as for an
excellent painter God alone could make him when He so pleased, for which
reason he abstained from putting to death a painter who deserved to die."

"What do you advise me to do, Master Lactancio," the Marchioness then
said; "shall I put a question to M. Angelo about painting, as he now, in
order to prove to me that great men are justified in their ways and not
eccentric, may take measures like those he is accustomed to take?"

And Lactancio: "For your Excellency, Madam, M. Michael cannot help
constraining himself and giving out here that which it is well that he
keeps close elsewhere."

M. Angelo said: "I beg of your Excellency to tell me what I can give to
her and it shall be given."

And she, smiling: "I very much wish to know, as we are dealing with this
subject, what you think of the painting of Flanders and whom it will
satisfy, because it appears to me more devout than the Italian style."

"The painting of Flanders, Madam," answered the artist slowly, "will
generally satisfy any devout person more than the painting of Italy, which
will never cause him to drop a single tear, but that of Flanders will
cause him to shed many; this is not owing to the vigour and goodness