t beautiful curves of the borders; while the arms with their
muscles, and the hands with their bones and nerves, are carried to
such a pitch of beauty and perfection, and the legs, knees, and feet
are covered with buskins so beautifully fashioned, and every part of
the work is so finished, that Moses may be called now more than ever
the friend of God, seeing that He has deigned to assemble together and
prepare his body for the Resurrection before that of any other, by the
hands of Michelagnolo. Well may the Hebrews continue to go there, as
they do every Sabbath, both men and women, like flocks of starlings,
to visit and adore that statue; for they will be adoring a thing not
human but divine.

[Illustration: MOSES

(_After =Michelagnolo=. Rome: S. Pietro in Vincoli_)

_Anderson_]

Finally all the agreements for this work were made, and the end came
into view; and of the four sides one of the smaller ones was
afterwards erected in S. Pietro in Vincola. It is said that while
Michelagnolo was executing the work, there came to the Ripa all the
rest of the marbles for the tomb that had remained at Carrara, which
were conveyed to the Piazza di S. Pietro, where the others were; and,
since it was necessary to pay those who had conveyed them,
Michelagnolo went, as was his custom, to the Pope. But, his Holiness
having on his hands that day some important business concerning
Bologna, he returned to his house and paid for those marbles out of
his own purse, thinking to have the order for them straightway from
his Holiness. He returned another day to speak of them to the Pope,
but found difficulty in entering, for one of the grooms told him that
he had orders not to admit him, and that he must have patience. A
Bishop then said to the groom, "Perhaps you do not know this man?"
"Only too well do I know him," answered the groom; "but I am here to
do as I am commanded by my superiors and by the Pope." This action
displeased Michelagnolo, and, considering that it was contrary to what
he had experienced before, he said to the Pope's groom that he should
tell his Holiness that from that time forward, when he should want
him, it would be found that he had gone elsewhere; and then, having
returned to his house, at the second hour of the night he set out on
post-horses, leaving two servants to sell all the furniture of his
house to the Jews and to follow him to Florence, whither he was bound.
Having arrived at Poggibonzi, a place in the