raccia high, of a nude Perseus standing over a nude woman
representing Medusa, whose head he had cut off; which work was to be
placed under one of the arches of the Loggia in the Piazza. While he
was executing the Perseus, Benvenuto also did other things for the
Duke. Now, even as it happens that the potter is always the jealous
enemy of the potter, and the sculptor of the sculptor, Baccio was not
able to endure the various favours shown to Benvenuto. It appeared to
him a strange thing, also, that Benvenuto should have thus changed in
a moment from a goldsmith into a sculptor, nor was he able to grasp in
his mind how a man who was used to making medals and little things,
could now execute colossal figures and giants. Baccio could not
conceal his thoughts, but expressed them freely, and he found a man
able to answer him; for, Baccio saying many of his biting words to
Benvenuto in the presence of the Duke, Benvenuto, who was no less
proud than himself, took pains to be even with him. And thus, arguing
often on the matters of art and their own works, and pointing out each
other's defects, they would utter the most slanderous words of one
another in the presence of the Duke, who, because he took pleasure in
this and recognized true genius and acuteness in their biting phrases,
had given them full liberty and licence to say whatever they pleased
about one another before him, provided that they did not remember
their quarrel elsewhere.

This rivalry, or rather, enmity, was the reason that Baccio pressed
forward his statue of God the Father; but he was no longer receiving
from the Duke those favours to which he had been accustomed, and he
consoled himself for this by paying court and doing service to the
Duchess. One day, among others, that they were railing at one another
as usual and laying bare many of each others' actions, Benvenuto,
glaring at Baccio and threatening him, said: "Prepare yourself for
another world, Baccio, for I mean to send you out of this one." And
Baccio answered: "Let me know a day beforehand, so that I may confess
and make my will, and may not die like the sort of beast that you
are." By reason of which the Duke, who for many months had found
amusement in their quarrels, bade them be silent, fearing some evil
ending, and caused them to make a portrait-bust of himself from the
girdle upwards, both to be cast in bronze, to the end that he who
should succeed best should carry off the honours.

Amid this