So he returned home, and not to incommode the poor men who had earned
their wages he paid them all out of his own pocket, thinking that his
money would be returned by the Pope at a more convenient season. One
morning he returned and entered the ante-chamber for an audience. A groom
came up to him and said: "_Pardon me, I have been ordered not to admit
you_." A bishop was present, and hearing the words of the man, cried out:
"_You cannot know who this man is?_" "_I know him very well_," replied the
groom, "_but I am obliged to do what I am bid by my masters without
further question_." Michael Angelo, who had never before been kept waiting
or had the door barred against him, seeing himself so turned off and
scorned, was angered and replied: "_You may tell the Pope that,
henceforward, if he wants me he must look for me elsewhere_." So he
returned to his house and instructed his two servants to sell all his
furniture, and when they got the money to follow him to Florence. He
himself took horse and at the second hour of the night reached Poggibonsi,
a castle in the Florentine territory, eighteen or twenty miles from the
city, where, as in a safe place, he rested.
XXIX. A little later five messengers from Pope Julius arrived with orders
to bring Michael Angelo back wherever they might find him. But overtaking
him in a place where they were unable to offer him any violence, Michael
Angelo threatening them with death if they dare lay hands on him, they
turned to entreaties; then not succeeding, they obtained from him the
concession that at least he would reply to the letter from the Pope which
they had given to him, and that he should particularly write that they had
only overtaken him in Florence that the Pope might understand that they
were unable to bring him back against his will.
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