he is not a good
master and that he did not work with a will. But he who fails,
fails. And he has failed enough to my loss and his own, for he
blames himself so much that he cannot lift his eyes in Bologna. If
you see Baccio d'Agnolo read him this letter and ask him to tell
San Gallo, at Rome, and remember me to him and to Giovanni da
Ricasoli, and to Granaccio give my respects. I hope, if the thing
goes well, in from fifteen to twenty days to be through with it
and to return to you. If it should not go well, I should perhaps
have to do it again. I will tell you all. Let me know how
Giovansimone is.

"The sixth day of July. (_No signature_.)

"With this will be a letter to go to Rome for Giuliano da San
Gallo. Send it safely and as quickly as you can; but if he should
happen to be in Florence, give it to him."(97)

Again, to the same:--

"BUONORROTO,--I hear by one of yours that you are well and happy.
It pleases me very much. My business here, I hope, will turn out
well after all, but as yet I know nothing. We have recast the
upper part which was wanting, as I informed you, but have not been
able to see how it has come, for the sand is so hot that we cannot
as yet uncover it. By next week I shall know and will tell you.
Master Bernardino left here yesterday. When he salutes you receive
him kindly enough.

"The tenth day of July.

"MICHAEL ANGELO, in Bologna."(98)

To the same, later (July 18, 1501):--

"BUONARROTO,--My affairs might have turned out much better and also
much worse; at any rate, all of it is there as far as I can make
out, for it is not yet all uncovered. I estimate that it will take
some months to chase, for it has come out with a bad surface; all
the same, we must thank God! for, as I say, it might have been
worse. If anything is said to you by Salvestro del Pollaiolo(99)
or others, tell them that I do not need any one, so that no one
will be sent here to be on my shoulders, because I have spent so
much that there hardly remains enough for me to live on, let alone
keeping others. About next week I will let you know more when I
have uncovered the whole figure.

"MICHAEL ANGELO, in Bologna."(100)

After several letters describing his labours, he writes, ultimately, to
the sa