lognese=. London: British
Museum_)

_M.S._]

After this, Giulio Romano caused Marc' Antonio to engrave twenty plates
showing all the various ways, attitudes, and positions in which
licentious men have intercourse with women; and, what was worse, for
each plate Messer Pietro Aretino wrote a most indecent sonnet, insomuch
that I know not which was the greater, the offence to the eye from
the drawings of Giulio, or the outrage to the ear from the words of
Aretino. This work was much censured by Pope Clement; and if, when it
was published, Giulio had not already left for Mantua, he would have
been sharply punished for it by the anger of the Pope. And since some of
these sheets were found in places where they were least expected, not
only were they prohibited, but Marc' Antonio was taken and thrown into
prison; and he would have fared very badly if Cardinal de' Medici and
Baccio Bandinelli, who was then at Rome in the service of the Pope, had
not obtained his release. Of a truth, the gifts of God should not be
employed, as they very often are, in things wholly abominable, which are
an outrage to the world.

Released from prison, Marc' Antonio finished engraving for Baccio
Bandinelli a large plate that he had previously begun, with a great
number of nude figures engaged in roasting S. Laurence on the gridiron,
which was held to be truly beautiful, and was indeed engraved with
incredible diligence, although Bandinelli, complaining unjustly of Marc'
Antonio to the Pope while that master was executing it, said that he was
committing many errors. But for this sort of gratitude Bandinelli
received the reward that his lack of courtesy deserved, for Marc'
Antonio, having heard the whole story, and having finished the plate,
went, without Baccio being aware of it, to the Pope, who took infinite
delight in the arts of design; and he showed him first the original
drawing by Bandinelli, and then the printed engraving, from which the
Pope recognized that Marc' Antonio not only had committed no errors, but
had even corrected with great judgment many committed by Bandinelli,
which were of no small importance, and had shown more knowledge and
craftsmanship in his engraving than had Baccio in his drawing. Wherefore
the Pope commended him greatly and ever afterwards received him with
favour; and it is believed that he might have done much for him, but the
sack of Rome supervening, Marc' Antonio became little less than a
beggar, seeing tha