old woman from Petrarca rising from
her spinning and lighting the fire, with her feet bare and her clothes
dishevelled. And if you think fit to make grotesques of animals there,
make them of birds singing, geese going forth to their pasture, cocks
announcing the day, and similar fancies. In the frieze on the facade
at the foot, in accord with the darkness there, I would make persons
going fowling by night, spies, adulterers, climbers of windows, and
other suchlike things; and for grotesques, porcupines, hedgehogs,
badgers, a peacock with the tail spread, signifying the night of
stars, owls large and small, bats, and suchlike animals. In the frieze
on the right-hand facade you must paint things in keeping with the
Moon, such as fishers of the night, mariners navigating with the
compass, necromancers, witches, and the like; for grotesques, a
beacon-tower in the distance, nets, weir-baskets with some fishes in
them, crabs feeding by the light of the moon, and, if there be space
enough, an elephant kneeling in adoration of her. And, finally, in the
frieze on the left-hand facade, mathematicians with their instruments
for measuring, thieves, false-coiners, robbers of buried treasure,
shepherds with their folds still closed, lying around their fires, and
the like; and for animals I would make there wolves, foxes, apes,
weasels, and any other treacherous animals that lie in wait for other
creatures.

"In this part I have placed these phantasies thus at random in order
to suggest what kinds of inventions could be painted there; but, since
they are not things that need to be described, I leave you to imagine
them in your own manner, knowing that painters are by their nature
full of resource and grace in inventing such bizarre fantasies. And
now, having filled in all the parts of the work both within and
without the chamber, there is no occasion for us to say any more, save
that you must discuss the whole matter with the most illustrious
Monsignore, and, according to his taste, adding or taking away
whatever may be necessary, you must strive on your part to do yourself
honour. Fare you well."

Now, although all these beautiful inventions of Caro's were very
ingenious, fanciful, and worthy of praise, nevertheless Taddeo was not
able to carry into execution more than the place would contain; but
those that he painted there were the greater part, and they were
executed by him with much grace and in a most beautiful manner. Next t