MANIBUS EXTRUCTUM MAGNO ANIMI
ARDORE IPSIUS MEMORIAE DEDICAVIT.

This epitaph was supported by two little Angels, who, with weeping
faces, and extinguishing each a torch, appeared to be lamenting that a
genius so great and so rare was now spent.

Next, in the picture which came to face towards the door that leads
into the cloister, was Michelagnolo making, on account of the siege of
Florence, the fortifications of the hill of San Miniato, which were
held to be impregnable and a marvellous work. This was by the hand of
Lorenzo Sciorini, a pupil of Bronzino and a young man of excellent
promise.

This lowest part, or, so to speak, the base of the whole structure,
had at every corner a pedestal that projected, and upon every pedestal
was a statue larger than life, which had beneath it another, as it
were subjugated and vanquished, of similar size, but each constrained
in a different and extravagant attitude. The first, on the right hand
going towards the high-altar, was a young man, slender and the very
presentment of pure spirit, and of a most lively beauty, representing
Genius, with two little wings over the temples, in the guise wherein
at times Mercury is painted; and beneath this young man, wrought with
incredible diligence, was a marvellous figure with asses' ears,
representing Ignorance, the mortal enemy of Genius. These two statues
were by the hand of Vincenzio Danti of Perugia, of whom and of his
works, which are renowned among the young modern sculptors, we shall
speak at greater length in another place.

Upon the next pedestal, which, being on the right hand of the approach
towards the high-altar, looked towards the new sacristy, was a woman
representing Christian Piety, which, being composed of religion and
every other excellence, is nothing less than an aggregate of all those
virtues that we have called the Theological, and of those that were
named by the Gentiles the Moral; wherefore it was right that, since
the genius of a Christian, adorned by most saintly character, was
being celebrated by Christians, a seemly and honourable place should
be given to this Piety, which is concerned with the law of God and the
salvation of souls, seeing that all other ornaments of body and mind,
where she is lacking, are to be held in little estimation, or rather,
none. This figure, who had beneath her, prostrate and trampled under
foot by her, Vice, or rather, Impiety, was by the hand of Valerio
Cioli, who is a you