So he ordered him to construct the road." The road, it may parenthetically be observed, was paid for by the wealthy Wool Corporation of Florence, who wished to revive this branch of Florentine industry.

"Michelangelo, carrying out the Pope's commands, had the road laid down, and transported large quantities of marbles to the sea-shore.

Among these were five columns of the proper dimensions, one of which may be seen upon the Piazza di S.Lorenzo.
The other four, forasmuch as the Pope changed his mind and turned his thoughts elsewhere, are still lying on the sea-beach.

Now the Marquis of Carrara, deeming that Michelangelo had developed the quarries at Pietra Santa out of Florentine patriotism, became his enemy, and would not suffer him to return to Carrara, for certain blocks which had been excavated there: all of which proved the source of great loss to Michelangelo." When the contract with Francesco Pellicia was cancelled, April 7, 1517, the project for developing the Florentine stone-quarries does not seem to have taken shape.

We must assume, therefore, that the motive for this step was the abandonment of the tomb.