In questo sasso; e perche dorme, ha vita.
Destala, se no 'l credi, e parleratti.

To which Michelagnolo, speaking in the person of Night, answered
thus--

Grato mi e il sonno, e piu l'esser di sasso;
Mentre che il danno e la vergogna dura,
Non veder' non sentir' m'e gran ventura.
Pero non mi destar'; deh parla basso.

Truly, if the enmity that there is between Fortune and Genius, between
the envy of the one and the excellence of the other, had not prevented
such a work from being carried to completion, Art was like to prove to
Nature that she surpassed her by a great measure in every conception.

While Michelagnolo was labouring with the greatest solicitude and love
at these works, there came in 1529 the siege of Florence, which
hindered their completion only too effectually, and was the reason
that he did little or no more work upon them, the citizens having laid
upon him the charge of fortifying not only the hill of S. Miniato, but
also the city, as we have related. And thus, having lent a thousand
crowns to that Republic, and being elected one of the Nine, a military
Council appointed for the war, he turned all his mind and soul to
perfecting those fortifications. But in the end, when the enemy had
closed round the city, and all hope of assistance was failing little
by little, and the difficulties of maintaining the defence were
increasing, and it appeared to Michelagnolo that he was in a sorry
pass with regard to his personal safety, he determined to leave
Florence and make his way to Venice, without making himself known to
anyone on the road. He set out secretly, therefore, by way of the hill
of S. Miniato, without anyone knowing of it, taking with him Antonio
Mini, his disciple, and the goldsmith Piloto, his faithful friend; and
each of them carried a number of crowns on his person, sewn into his
quilted doublet. Having arrived in Ferrara, they rested there; and it
happened that on account of the alarm caused by the war and the league
of the Emperor and the Pope, who were besieging Florence, Duke Alfonso
d'Este was keeping strict watch in Ferrara, and required to be
secretly informed by the hosts who gave lodging to travellers of the
names of all those who lodged with them from one day to another; and
he caused a list of all foreigners, with their nationality, to be
brought to him every day. It came to pass, then, that when
Michelagnolo had dismounted with his companions, int