you truly that you shall receive from me for your kindness affection equal, and perhaps greater, in exchange; for I never loved a man more than I do you, nor desired a friendship more than I do yours.  About this, though my judgment may fail in other things, it is unerring; and you shall see the proof, except only that fortune is adverse to me in that now, when I might enjoy you, I am far from well.  I hope, however, if she does not begin to trouble me again, that within a few days I shall be cured, and shall come to pay you my respects in person.  Meanwhile I shall spend at least two hours a day in studying two of your drawings, which Pierantonio brought me:  the more I look at them, the more they delight me; and I shall soothe my complaint by cherishing the hope which Pierantonio gave me, of letting me see other things of yours.  In order not to be troublesome, I will write no more.  Only I beg you remember, on occasion, to make use of me; and recommend myself in perpetuity to you.—­Your most affectionate servant.

“Thomao Cavaliere.”

The next letters were addressed to Michelangelo in Florence:—­“Unique, my Lord,—­I have received from you a letter, very acceptable, from which I gather that you are not a little saddened at my having written to you about forgetting.  I answer that I did not write this for either of the following reasons:  to wit, because you have not sent me anything, or in order to fan the flame of your affection.  I only wrote to jest with you, as certainly I think I may do.  Therefore, do not be saddened, for I am quite sure you will not be able to forget me.  Regarding what you write to me about that young Nerli, he is much my friend, and having to leave Rome, he came to ask whether I needed anything from Florence.  I said no, and he begged me to allow him to go in my name to pay you my respects, merely on account of his own desire to speak with you.  I have nothing more to write, except that I beg you to return quickly.  When you come you will deliver me from prison, because I wish to avoid bad companions; and having this desire, I cannot converse with any one but you.  I recommend myself to you a thousand times.—­Yours more than his own,

“Thomao Cavaliere. 
“Rome, August 2, 1533.”

It appears from the third letter, also sent to Florence, that during the course of the month Michelangelo had despatched some of the drawings he made expressly for his friend:—­“Unique, my Lord,—­Some days ago I received a letter from you, which was very welcome, both because I learned from it that you were well, and also because I can now be sure that you will soon return.  I was very sorry not to be able to answer at once.  However, it consoles me to think that, when you know the cause, you will hold me excused.  On the day your letter reached me, I was attacked with vomiting and such high fever that I was on the point of death; and certainly I should have died, if it (i.e., the letter) had not somewhat