It will be worth while to introduce Condivi’s account of these transactions relating to the tomb of Julius, since it throws some light upon the sculptor’s private feelings and motives, as well as upon the falsification of the contract as finally engrossed.

“When Michelangelo had been called to Rome by Pope Clement, he began to be harassed by the agents of the Duke of Urbino about the sepulchre of Julius.  Clement, who wished to employ him in Florence, did all he could to set him free, and gave him for his attorney in this matter Messer Tommaso da Prato, who was afterwards datary.  Michelangelo, however, knowing the devil disposition of Duke Alessandro toward him, and being in great dread on this account, also because he bore love and reverence to the memory of Pope Julius and to the illustrious house of Della Rovere, strained every nerve to remain in Rome and busy himself about the tomb.  What made him more anxious was that every one accused him of having received from Pope Julius at least 16,000 crowns, and of having spent them on himself without fulfilling his engagements.  Being a man sensitive about his reputation, he could not bear the dishonour of such reports, and wanted the whole matter to be cleared up; nor, although he was now old, did he shrink from the very onerous task of completing what he had begun so long ago.  Consequently they came to strife together, and his antagonists were unable to prove payments to anything like the amount which had first been noised abroad; indeed, on the contrary, more than two thirds of the whole sum first stipulated by the two Cardinals was wanting.  Clement then thinking he had found an excellent opportunity for setting him at liberty and making use of his whole energies, called Michelangelo to him, and said:  ’Come, now, confess that you want to make this tomb, but wish to know who will pay you the balance.’  Michelangelo, knowing well that the Pope was anxious to employ him on his own work, answered:  ‘Supposing some one is found to pay me.’  To which Pope Clement:  ’You are a great fool if you let yourself believe that any one will come forward to offer you a farthing.’  Accordingly, his attorney, Messer Tommaso, and the agents of the Duke, after some negotiations, came to an agreement that a tomb should at least be made for the amount he had received.  Michelangelo, thinking the matter had arrived at a good conclusion, consented with alacrity.  He was much influenced by the elder Cardinal di Monte, who owed his advancement to Julius II., and was uncle of Julius III., our present Pope by grace of God.  The arrangement was as follows:  That he should make a tomb of one facade only; should utilise those marbles which he had already blocked out for the quadrangular monument, adapting them as well as circumstances allowed; and finally, that he should be bound to furnish six statues by his own hand.  In spite of this arrangement, Pope Clement was allowed to employ Michelangelo in Florence or where he liked during four months of the