inary care; and
when he had finished this, thinking that he had made a very rare work,
he showed it to Filippo di Ser Brunellesco, who was very much his
friend, wishing to have his opinion. Filippo, whom the words of Donato
had led to expect something much better, smiled slightly on seeing it.
Donato, perceiving this, besought him by all the friendship between them
to tell him his opinion; whereupon Filippo, who was most obliging,
replied that it appeared to him that Donato had placed a ploughman on
the Cross, and not a body like that of Jesus Christ, which was most
delicate and in all its parts the most perfect human form that was ever
born. Donato, hearing himself censured, and that more sharply than he
expected, whereas he was hoping to be praised, replied, "If it were as
easy to make this figure as to judge it, my Christ would appear to thee
to be Christ and not a ploughman; take wood, therefore, and try to make
one thyself." Filippo, without another word, returned home and set to
work to make a Crucifix, without letting anyone know; and seeking to
surpass Donato in order not to confound his own judgment, after many
months he brought it to the height of perfection. This done, he
invited Donato one morning to dine with him, and Donato accepted the
invitation. Whereupon, as they were going together to the house of
Filippo, they came to the Mercato Vecchio, where Filippo bought some
things and gave them to Donato, saying, "Do thou go with these things to
the house and wait for me there, I am coming in a moment." Donato,
therefore, entering the house and going into the hall, saw the Crucifix
of Filippo, placed in a good light; and stopping short to study it, he
found it so perfectly finished, that, being overcome and full of
amazement, like one distraught, he spread out his hands, which were
holding up his apron; whereupon the eggs, the cheese, and all the other
things fell to the ground, and everything was broken to pieces. But he
was still marvelling and standing like one possessed, when Filippo came
up and said with a laugh, "What is thy intention, Donato, and what are
we to have for dinner, now that thou hast upset everything?" "For my
part," answered Donato, "I have had my share for this morning: if thou
must have thine, take it. But enough; it is thy work to make Christ and
mine to make ploughmen."

[Footnote 20: See note on p. 57, Vol. I.]

[Illustration: POGGIO BRACCIOLINI

(_After_ Donatello. _Florence: Duom