,
at the statues that were going into the above-named tomb.

In the year 1533[1] came the death of Pope Clement, whereupon the work
of the library and sacristy in Florence, which had remained unfinished
in spite of all the efforts made to finish it, was stopped. Then, at
length, Michelagnolo thought to be truly free and able to give his
attention to finishing the tomb of Julius II. But Paul III, not long
after his election, had him summoned to his presence, and, besides
paying him compliments and making him offers, requested him to enter
his service and remain near his person. Michelagnolo refused, saying
that he was not able to do it, being bound by contract to the Duke of
Urbino until the tomb of Julius should be finished. The Pope flew into
a rage and said: "I have had this desire for thirty years, and now
that I am Pope do you think I shall not satisfy it? I shall tear up
the contract, for I am determined to have you serve me, come what
may." Michelagnolo, hearing this resolution, was tempted to leave Rome
and in some way find means to give completion to the tomb; however,
fearing, like a wise man, the power of the Pope, he resolved to try to
keep him pacified with words, seeing that he was so old, until
something should happen. The Pope, who wished to have some
extraordinary work executed by Michelagnolo, went one day with ten
Cardinals to visit him at his house, where he demanded to see all the
statues for the tomb of Julius, which appeared to him marvellous, and
particularly the Moses, which figure alone was said by the Cardinal of
Mantua to be enough to do honour to Pope Julius. And after seeing the
designs and cartoons that he was preparing for the wall of the chapel,
which appeared to the Pope to be stupendous, he again besought
Michelagnolo with great insistence that he should enter his service,
promising that he would persuade the Duke of Urbino to content himself
with three statues, and that the others should be given to other
excellent masters to execute after his models. Whereupon, his Holiness
having arranged this with the agents of the Duke, a new contract was
made, which was confirmed by the Duke; and Michelagnolo of his own
free will bound himself to pay for the other three statues and to have
the tomb erected, depositing for this purpose in the bank of the
Strozzi one thousand five hundred and eighty ducats. This he might
have avoided, and it seemed to him that he had truly done enough to be
free of