some houses in Italy, they could not be
so uncultured as not to esteem it greatly, and wish to attain to it; but
it is not surprising that they do not know or appreciate what they have
never seen and what they do not possess." Here M. Angelo rose, showing
that it was already time for him to retire and go; and likewise the
Marchioness rose; I asked her as a favour to invite all that distinguished
company for the following day in that same place, and that M. Angelo
should not fail to appear. She did so, and he promised that he would come.
And the Marchioness going with the rest, M. Lactancio left with Michael,
and I and Diogo Zapata, a Spaniard, went with the Marchioness from the
monastery of St. Silvester at Monte Cavallo to the other monastery where
there is the head of St. John the Baptist, and where the Marchioness
resides, and we left her with the mothers and nuns, and I went to my
residence.

SECOND DIALOGUE

All that night I thought of the past day, and was preparing myself for the
one to come; but it frequently happens that our arrangements prove
uncertain and vain, and very contrary to what we expect, as I then learnt.
On the following day M. Lactancio sent me word that we could not meet as
we had arranged, owing to certain business matters which had cropped up
both for the Lady Marchioness and likewise for Michael Angelo himself, but
he asked me to be at St. Silvester's in eight days' time, as that day had
been agreed upon.

I found those eight days long, but finally, when Sunday came, the time
appeared to me to have been but short, for I should have liked to have
been better armed with knowledge for such a noble company. When I arrived
at St. Silvester the lesson from the Epistles which Friar Ambrose read was
finished and he was gone, and they were beginning to complain of my being
late and about me.

After they had pardoned me, I having confessed to being a laggard, and
after the Marchioness had bantered me a little, and I Messer Angelo in my
turn, I obtained permission to proceed with the former conversation about
painting; I commenced saying:

"I think, Senhor Michael Angelo, that last Sunday, when we were about to
part, you told me that if in the kingdom of Portugal, which you here call
Spain, they were to see the noble pictures of Italy, they would esteem
them greatly, for which reason I beg as a favour (for I have come here for
nothing else) that you will not disdain to inform me what famous