ful, and also our duty, to describe this manner of
design for building the structure of this tribune with the form,
order, and method that Michelagnolo thought to give it; wherefore with
such brevity as we may we will give a simple description of it, to the
end that, if it should ever be the fate of this work, which God
forbid, to be disturbed by the envy and malice of presumptuous persons
after the death of Michelagnolo, even as we have seen it disturbed up
to the present during his lifetime, these my writings, such as they
may be, may be able to assist the faithful who are to be the executors
of the mind of that rare man, and also to restrain the malignant
desires of those who may seek to alter it, and so at one and the same
time assist, delight, and open the minds of those beautiful intellects
that are the friends of this profession and regard it as their joy.

[Footnote 4: Drum.]

[Illustration: S. PETER'S

(_After =Michelagnolo=. Rome_)

_Anderson_]

I must begin by saying that according to this model, made under the
direction of Michelagnolo, I find that in the great work the whole
space within the tribune will be one hundred and eighty-six palms,
speaking of its width from wall to wall above the great cornice of
travertine that curves in a round in the interior, resting on the four
great double piers that rise from the ground with their capitals
carved in the Corinthian Order, accompanied by their architrave,
frieze, and cornice, likewise of travertine; which great cornice,
curving right round over the great niches, rests supported upon the
four great arches of the three niches and of the entrance, which
form the cross of the building. Then there begins to spring the first
part of the tribune, the rise of which commences in a basement of
travertine with a platform six palms broad, where one can walk; and
this basement curves in a round in the manner of a well, and its
thickness is thirty-three palms and eleven inches, the height to the
cornice eleven palms and ten inches, the cornice over it about eight
palms, and its projection six and a half palms. Into this basement you
enter, in order to ascend the tribune, by four entrances that are over
the arches of the niches, and the thickness of the basement is divided
into three parts; that on the inner side is fifteen palms, that on the
outer side is eleven palms, and that in the centre is seven palms and
eleven inches, which make up the thickness of th