arthquake that resulted, that it seemed
as if the world had burst to pieces, and the fortress, with all those
flaming cannon, had the appearance of a volcano and of Hell itself.
But for all that the building stood firm in its former strength and
solidity, whereby the Senate was convinced of the great worth of San
Michele, and the evil-speakers were put to scorn as men of little
judgment, although they had put such terror into everyone, that the
ladies then pregnant, fearing some great disaster, had withdrawn from
Venice.

Not long afterwards a place of no little importance on the coast near
Venice, called Marano, having returned under the dominion of the
Venetians, was restored and fortified with promptitude and diligence
under the direction of San Michele. And about the same time, the fame
of Michele and of his kinsman, Gian Girolamo, spreading ever more
widely, they were requested many times, both the one and the other, to
go to live with the Emperor Charles V and with King Francis of France;
but, although they were invited under most honourable conditions, they
would not leave their own masters to enter into the service of
foreigners. Indeed, continuing in their offices, they went about
inspecting and restoring every year, wherever it was necessary, all
the cities and fortresses of the State of Venice.

[Illustration: PORTA DEL PALIO

(_After =Michele San Michele=. Verona_)

_Alinari_]

But more than all the rest did Michele fortify and adorn his native
city of Verona, making there, besides other things, those most
beautiful gates of the city, which have no equal in any other place.
One was the Porta Nuova, all in the Dorico-rustic Order, which in
its solidity and massive firmness corresponds to the strength of the
site, being all built of tufa and pietra viva,[10] and having within
it rooms for the soldiers who mount guard there, and many other
conveniences, never before added to that kind of building. That
edifice, which is quadrangular and open above, serving with its
embrasures as a cavalier, defends two great bastions, or rather,
towers, which stand one on either side of the gate at proper
distances; and all is done with so much judgment, cost, and
magnificence, that no one thought that for the future there could be
executed any work of greater grandeur or better design, even as none
such had been seen in the past. But a few years afterwards the same
San Michele founded and carried upwards the gate common