and copies of the Pieta della Febbre,
now in St. Peter's, and of the Christ holding the Cross, in Santa Maria
Sopra Minerva, for his chapel. A draft of Michael Angelo's reply runs:--

[Image #47]

THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL

THE CHAPEL OF POPE PAUL
(_By permission of the Fratelli Alinari, Florence_)

_To the most Christian King of France._(157)

"SACRED MAJESTY,--I do not know which is the greater, the grace or
the wonder at it, that your Majesty should have deigned to write
to a man like me, and still more to ask him for things of his,
unworthy even of the name of your Majesty; but, whatever they are,
let your Majesty understand that for a long time I have desired to
serve you in them; but, not having had the opportunity, because
you have not been in Italy where my work is, I have not been able
to do it. Now I am old, and have been occupied these many months
with the work for Pope Paul. But if a little life is still left me
after all these occupations, what I have desired is, as I have
said, a little time to work for your Majesty at my art--one work to
be in marble, one in bronze, and one in painting. And if death
hinders me from carrying out my wish, and if it be possible to
carve statues or to paint in the other life, I shall not fail to
do so there, where there is no more growing old. And I pray God
that He grant your Majesty a long and happy life.

"From Rome, the day XXVI. of April, MDXLVI."

In the letters and poems of this period we note the endeavour to attain to
a style in literature full of rich conceits and elaborate compliment,
which may be compared to the style, elaborate and ornamental, but somewhat
cold and unattractive, of the frescoes in the Cappella Paolina. As he grew
older he devoted himself more entirely to architecture and literature. The
arts of sculpture and painting, as exercised by him, could not be carried
on by assistants; he now perforce had to employ himself upon work in which
the execution could be left to younger hands. He sought the help of
scholars to overhaul and set to rights his poems, sonnets, and thoughts in
words, as the masons and master-builders expressed his thoughts in
architecture--the Dome of St. Peter's, and the cornice of the Farnese
Palace. In the devotional drawings we have mentioned, and an unfinis