They, on their part, were never satisfied, and repaid his kindness with ingratitude.

The following letter to Giovan Simone shows how terrible Michelangelo could be when he detected baseness in a brother:-- "Giovan Simone,--It is said that when one does good to a good man, he makes him become better, but that a bad man becomes worse.

It is now many years that I have been endeavouring with words and deeds of kindness to bring you to live honestly and in peace with your father and the rest of us.

You grow continually worse.

I do not say that you are a scoundrel; but you are of such sort that you have ceased to give satisfaction to me or anybody.