for themselves, and then to retire
to their apartments, passing by the private and public staircases
through all the rooms in the Palace. Nevertheless, to many it has
caused dissatisfaction that in a work of such beauty and grandeur that
structure was not made square, and many would have liked to have it
pulled down and then rebuilt true to square. But it has been judged to
be better to continue the work in that way, in order not to appear
presumptuous and malign towards Baccio, and also because otherwise we
would have seemed not to have the power to correct the errors and
defects found by us but committed by others.

But, returning to Baccio, we must say that his abilities were always
recognized during his lifetime, yet will be recognized and regretted
much more now that he is dead. And even more would he have been
acknowledged for what he was, when alive, and beloved, if he had been
so favoured by nature as to be more amiable and more courteous,
because his being the contrary, and very rough with his tongue, robbed
him of the goodwill of other persons, obscured his talents, and
brought it about that his works were regarded with ill will and a
prejudiced eye, and therefore could never please anyone. And although
he served one nobleman after another, and was enabled by his talent to
serve them well, nevertheless he rendered his services with such bad
grace, that there was no one who felt grateful to him for them.
Moreover, his always decrying and maligning the works of others
brought it about that no one could endure him, and, whenever another
was able to pay him back in his own coin, it was returned to him with
interest; and before the magistrates he spoke all manner of evil
without scruple about the other citizens, and received from them as
good as he gave. He brought suits and went to law about everything
with the greatest readiness, living in one long succession of
law-suits, and appearing to triumph in them. But since his drawing, to
which it is evident that he gave his attention more than to any other
thing, was of such a kind and of such excellence that it atones for
his every natural defect and makes him known as a rare master of our
art, we therefore not only count him among the greatest craftsmen, but
also have always paid respect to his works, and have sought not to
destroy but to finish them and do them honour, for the reason that it
appears to us that Baccio was in truth one of those who deserve
honourabl