I should like to
have his place. I believe I shall be able to carry out the duties
properly._" The Magnificent put his hand upon his shoulder and, smiling,
said: "_You will always be poor_," for he expected that he would ask for
some great thing. However, he continued, "_If you will be the comrade of
Marco, be it so, till something better turns up_." This place brought him
eight scudi(15) the month, a little more or a little less.
X. In the meantime Michael Angelo prosecuted his studies, showing the
result of his labours to the Magnificent each day. In the same house lived
Poliziano, a man, as every one knows, and as is testified by his works,
most learned and witty. This man recognising the lofty spirit of Michael
Angelo loved him exceedingly, and little as he needed it, spurred him on
in his studies, always explaining things to him and giving him subjects.
One day, amongst others, he suggested "The Rape of Deianira" and "The
Battle of the Centaurs," telling him in detail the whole of the story.
Michael Angelo set himself to carve it out in marble in mezzo-rilievo, and
so well did he succeed, that I remember to have heard him say that when he
saw it again he recognised how much wrong he had done to his nature in not
following promptly the art of sculpture, judging by that work how well he
might have succeeded, nor does he say this boastingly, he was a most
modest man, but because he truly laments having been so unfortunate that
by the fault of others he has sometimes been ten or twelve years doing
nothing, as will be seen presently.
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