that he set himself, with all possible diligence, to cause the work to
be carried on in those parts where the fabric was to be changed in
design, to the end that it might remain so solid and stable that it
might never be changed by another; which was the wise provision of a
shrewd and prudent intellect, because it is not enough to do good
work, if further precautions be not taken, seeing that the boldness
and presumption of those who might be supposed to have knowledge if
credit were placed rather in their words than in their deeds, and at
times the favour of such as know nothing, may give rise to many
misfortunes.

[Footnote 2: Piacenza.]

The Roman people, with the sanction of that Pope, had a desire to give
some useful, commodious, and beautiful form to the Campidoglio, and
to furnish it with colonnades, ascents, and inclined approaches with
and without steps, and also with the further adornment of the ancient
statues that were already there, in order to embellish that place. For
this purpose they sought the advice of Michelagnolo, who made them a
most beautiful and very rich design, in which, on the side where the
Senatore stands, towards the east, he arranged a facade of travertine,
and a flight of steps that ascends from two sides to meet on a level
space, from which one enters into the centre of the hall of that
Palace, with rich curving wings adorned with balusters that serve as
supports and parapets. And there, to enrich that part, he caused to be
placed on certain bases the two ancient figures in marble of recumbent
River Gods, each of nine braccia, and of rare workmanship, one of
which is the Tiber and the other the Nile; and between them, in a
niche, is to go a Jove. On the southern side, where there is the
Palace of the Conservatori, in order that it might be made
rectangular, there followed a rich and well varied facade, with a
loggia at the foot full of columns and niches, where many ancient
statues are to go; and all around are various ornaments, doors,
windows, and the like, of which some are already in place. On the
other side from this, towards the north, below the Araceli, there is
to follow another similar facade; and before it, towards the west, is
to be an ascent of baston-like steps, which will be almost level, with
a border and parapet of balusters; here will be the principal
entrance, with a colonnade, and bases on which will be placed all that
wealth of noble statues in which the