During this time the Medici family passed through varying fortunes,
and in consequence the fate of the tombs, and indeed that of the
sculptor himself, hung in the balance. Florence became weary of
tyranny and rose in a revolution which drove the Medici from the city
in 1527.

[Illustration: TOMB OF GIULIANO DE' MEDICI. _Church of S. Lorenzo,
Florence._]

Success was of short duration: the republic soon "found herself
standing out against a world of foes," the Pope, Clement VII. (himself
a Medici), "threatening fire and flame," and all the Medici family
"getting ready to return in double force." The Florentines prepared to
fight for their liberty, and Michelangelo was found among the
patriots. No sense of personal gratitude to the Medici could shake his
love of liberty. He forsook the monuments and turned his skill to the
fortification of the city.

For eleven months Florence was besieged, and in the end the city was
captured. The Medici returned conquerors. Mercenaries now broke into
the houses, killing the best citizens. Had not Michelangelo been in
hiding, he too would have perished. But the Pope could not afford to
lose his best sculptor, and, calling him forth from his hiding-place,
again set him to work in the Medici chapel. It is not strange that the
sculptor's proud spirit rebelled at having to work on that which was
to honor the enemies of his beloved Florence.

Thus it was that his sculpture told the story of "the tragedy of
Florence: how hope had departed, how life had become a desert, and how
it was hard to struggle with waking consciousness, but good to sleep