rom the design of Agostino and
Agnolo; but it had a very short life, for when the Bolognese
discovered that all the promises made by the Pope were vain, they
dismantled and destroyed it much more quickly than it had been made.

It is said that while these two sculptors were staying at Bologna,
the Po impetuously burst its banks, doing incredible damage to the
territories of Mantua and Ferrara, causing the death of more than ten
thousand persons, and wasting the country for miles around. Being
clever and worthy men, the assistance of Agostino and Agnolo was
requested, and they succeeded in finding means of reducing that
terrible river to its bed, and of confining it there with ditches and
other effective remedies. This brought them much praise and benefit,
for besides the fame which they acquired thereby, their services were
acknowledged by the lords of Mantua and by the house of Este with
most liberal rewards.

When they next returned to Siena in the year 1338, the new church of
S. Maria, near the old Duomo, towards the piazza Manetti, was made
under their direction from their design, and not long after, the
Sienese, who were greatly pleased with all the works which they
executed for them, decided to seize this excellent opportunity of
carrying into effect a plan which they had long discussed, but till
then without any result, namely, the erection of a public fountain on
the principal piazza opposite the palace of the Signoria. The charge
of this undertaking was entrusted to Agostino and Agnolo, and
although it was a matter of great difficulty they brought water to
the fountain by pipes made of lead and earth, and the first jet of
water was thrown up on 1st June 1343, to the great delight and
contentment of all the city, which on this account was under a great
obligation to the talent of these two citizens. At the same time the
hall of the greater council was made in the Palazzo del Pubblico, and
the same artists directed and designed the building of the tower of
that palace, which they completed in the year 1344, hanging two great
bells on it, one of which came from Grosseto, while the other was
made at Siena. In the course of time Agnolo arrived at Assisi, where
he made a chapel in the lower church of S. Francesco, and a marble
tomb for a brother of Napoleone Orsini, a cardinal and a Franciscan
friar, who had died in that place. Agostino, who had remained at
Siena in the service of the State, died while he was engag