of his boyhood he was set, as is usual, to learn his letters; and,
after beginning to show in these vivacity of brain and readiness of
spirit, not long afterwards he applied himself of his own accord to
drawing, giving evidence in a certain sort that nature was inclining
him much more to this kind of work than to letters, for the reason
that he went very unwillingly to school and learned much against his
will the scabrous rudiments of grammar. His mother, whom he resembled
strongly, perceiving this and fostering his genius, gave him
assistance, causing him to be taught design in secret, because she
loved the thought that her son should be a sculptor, perchance in
emulation of the then rising glory of Michelagnolo Buonarroti, who at
that time was still quite young; and also moved by a certain fateful
augury, in that Michelagnolo and this Jacopo had been born in one and
the same street, called Via S. Maria, near the Via Ghibellina. Now the
boy, after some time, was placed to learn the trade of a merchant; in
which delighting even less than in letters, he did and said so much,
that he obtained leave from his father to attend without hindrance to
that towards which he was urged by nature.

There had come to Florence at that time Andrea Contucci of Monte
Sansovino, a township near Arezzo, risen to great fame in our days
from having been the birthplace of Pope Julius III; which Andrea,
having acquired in Italy and in Spain the name of the best sculptor
and architect that there was in art after Buonarroti, was staying in
Florence in order to execute two figures of marble. Etc.

II., line 18, p. 197.

(And he was executing many works of the greatest importance for all
those lords), having been recognized by three Pontiffs, and especially
by Pope Leo, who presented him with a Knighthood of S. Pietro, which
he sold during his illness, doubting lest he might die; (when God,
etc.).

III., line 22, p. 198.

Having then entered on that office, he began to occupy himself with
every care, both with regard to buildings and in the management of the
papers and of the books that he held by virtue of his office,
acquitting himself with all possible diligence in the affairs of the
Church of S. Marco, of the Commissions, which are a great number, and
of the many other matters that are in the charge of those Procurators;
and he showed extraordinary lovingness towards those Signori, in that,
having turned his whole attention to benefi