MICHAEL ANGELO. 251 



was chiseling into shapely proportions the colossal 

 statue of David, he was obliged to omit finishing 

 touches by an order for every citizen to arm, and enter 

 actively upon military dut}^. At that time all was 

 not harmony in the ranks. The presence of several 

 partisans was a weakness where a competent leader 

 might have organized strength. The gates and walls 

 of the city had been erected as a safe-guard against 

 spearmen ; and the invention of gunpowder and the 

 use of cannon rendered them useless. In the pinch 

 Michael Angelo was appointed military architect and 

 master of ordnance. Hostile forces were pouring into 

 Tuscany day by day with the avowed purpose of be- 

 sieging its capital. While the advance of the enemy 

 was threatening, Michael Angelo had fortifications 

 erected on Monte San Miniato, a height commanding 

 not only Florence but much of the surrounding coun- 

 try ; and as subsequent events proved, the wisdom of 

 the policy was apparent to all. In the first assault on 

 the citidel the besiegers were easily repulsed. After 

 months of delay on the part of the enemy they threw 

 up a rampart to storm the bastion of San Miniato ; 

 but the plan was frustrated by the measures Michael 

 Angelo had taken for its defense. Cannons were 

 planted in the garden of the convent and two large 

 guns were mounted on the bell tower commanding 

 the intrenchments ; and these so completely annoyed 

 the enemy that the intention to storm the bastion 

 was given up, and the artillery directed to demolish 

 the tower. This scheme failed through means adopted 

 to preserve the Citidel. Michael Angelo hung mat- 

 tresses of wool on the sides exposed to attack ; and 

 by means of a projecting cornice a considerable space 

 was left between the cushions and the wall. This 



