in which are graven the most notable Actions of S. Francis in a basso relievo. I never beheld it, but I found some new graces in it. Somewhat behind it, near to a little door, is the Tomb of Michael Angelo, the Trismegist of Italy; being the greatest Painter, the greatest Sculptor, the greatest Architect of his time. Hence over his Tomb, and under his Picture, are placed three Women in white marble representing Architecture, Painting, and Sculpture, holding in their hands the several instruments belonging to these professions. If you ask me whither of the two, Painting, or Sculpture, is to be preferred, though a blind Man being chosen judge once of this question, when he was given to understand that in the smooth Painting there were Heads, Arms, Legs, Hands and Feet, as well as in the bulky statue which he had felt, judged presently for Painting; yet Michael Angelo himself preferred Sculpture before Painting, as the Body is to be preferred before the Superficies of a Body. But to return again to the Tomb of this great Artist, I found some words upon the Tombstone, but those so dull and hard to be read in that dark corner, that one in the Company chose rather to make him a new Epitaph, than read that which is written there: and it was this;
Cur indignemur mortales morte perire?
Ecce, stupor mundi! hic Angelas ipse perit.
And I think the modern Roman was of the same mind too, when he chose also to make him this Epitaph:
Roma
