He defended him, and not only confirmed the _moto proprio_ but honoured him by many kind words, not lending his ears to the quarrels of the overseers or anybody else.

Michael Angelo knows (as many times he has told me) the love and kindness of his Holiness towards him, and how he respects him; and because he cannot requite the Pope with his services, and show his love, he will regret all the rest of his life that he seems useless and appears ungrateful to his Holiness.

One thing comforts him somewhat (as he is accustomed to say); knowing the wisdom of his Holiness he hopes to be excused, and being unable to give more, that his good will may be accepted.

Nor does he refuse, as far as he has the power, and for all he may be worth, to spend his life in his service; this I have from his own mouth.

Nevertheless, at the request of his Holiness, Michael Angelo designed the facade of a palace that the Pope had a mind to build in Rome, a thing new and original to those who have seen it--not bound to any laws, ancient or modern, as in many other works of his in Florence and in Rome--proving that architecture has not been so arbitrarily handled in the past that there is not room for fresh invention no less delightful and beautiful.
LX.