es and plebeians, for the
reason that, besides other things, as has been told, with his judgment
and knowledge he has brought it about that the city has been made
almost entirely new and has learned the true and good method of
building.

Three most beautiful figures in stucco by his hand, also, may be seen
in the possession of his son, one a Laocoon, another a Venus standing,
and the third a Madonna with many children about her; which figures
are so rare, that in Venice there is seen nothing to equal them. The
said son also has in drawing sixty plans of temples and churches of
Sansovino's invention, which are so excellent that from the days of
the ancients to our own there have been seen none better conceived or
more beautiful. These I have heard that the son will publish for the
benefit of the world, and already he has had some pieces engraved,
accompanying them with designs of the numberless labours that have
been carried into execution by Sansovino in various parts of Italy.

For all this, although occupied, as has been related, with the
management of so many things both public and private, and both in the
city and abroad (for strangers, also, ran to him for models and
designs of buildings, for figures, or for counsel, as did the Duke of
Ferrara, who obtained a Hercules in the form of a giant, the Duke of
Mantua, and the Duke of Urbino), he was always very zealous in the
private and particular service of each of his own Lords Procurators,
who, availing themselves of him both in Venice and elsewhere, and not
doing a single thing without his assistance or counsel, kept him
continually at work not only for themselves, but also for their
friends and relatives, without any reward, he consenting to endure any
inconvenience and fatigue in order to satisfy them. But above all he
was greatly loved and held in infinite price by the Prince Gritti, who
delighted in beautiful intellects, by Messer Vettorio Grimani, brother
of the Cardinal, and by Messer Giovanni da Legge the Chevalier, all
Procurators, and by Messer Marc'Antonio Justiniano, who became
acquainted with him in Rome. For these illustrious men, exalted in
spirit and truly regal in mind, being conversant with the affairs of
the world and well informed in the noble and excellent arts, soon
recognized his merit and how worthy he was to be cherished and
esteemed, and availed themselves of him in due measure; and they used
to say, in accord with the whole city, that the