After this, Raphael, having seen this new and marvellous manner as one who excelled in imitating, tried by the aid of Bramante to get the rest of the chapel to paint.

Michael Angelo was much troubled, came before the Pope, and bitterly complained of the injury Bramante was doing him; and in his presence grieved over it with the Pope, discovering to him all the persecution he had suffered from him, and afterwards unfolded to him many of Bramante's shortcomings, principally that in pulling down the old church of Saint Peter's he threw to earth those marvellous columns that were therein, not respecting them or caring whether they were broken to pieces or not, when he might have lowered them gently and preserved them whole; explaining how it was an easy thing to pile brick on brick, but to make such a column was most difficult, and many other things that it was most necessary to relate; so that the Pope, hearing of all these sad doings, willed that Michael Angelo should continue the work, showing him more favour than ever.

He finished all this work in twenty months( 45) without assistance,( 46) not even any one to grind the colours.

It is true that I have heard him say that the work is not finished as he would have wished, as he was prevented by the hurry of the Pope, who demanded of him one day when he would finish the chapel.

Michael Angelo said: "_When I can_." The Pope, angered, added: "_Do you want me to have you thrown down off this scaffolding ?_" Michael Angelo, hearing this, said to himself: "_Nay, you shall not have me thrown down_," and as soon as the Pope had gone away he had the scaffolding taken down and uncovered his work upon All Saints Day.