Upon the 12th of January he wrote to his friend Donate Giannotti, then at Vicenza, in the following words:-- "Alas, my friend Donato! Our Cecchino is dead.

All Rome weeps.
Michelangelo is making for me the design of a decent sepulture in marble; and I pray you to write me the epitaph, and to send it to me with a consolatory letter, if time permits, for my grief has distraught me.

Patience! I live with a thousand and a thousand deaths each hour.

O God! How has Fortune changed her aspect!" Giannotti replied, enclosing three fine sonnets, the second of which, beginning-- _Messer Luigi mio, di noi che fia Che sian restati senza il nostro sole ?_ seems to have taken Michelangelo's fancy.

Many good pens in Italy poured forth laments on this occasion.