Giovanni di Carlo Strozzi on Buonarroti’s sculpture ‘Night’ –
‘Night as you here behold her gracefully
In slumber here was sculpted by an angel
And this still stone because it sleeps has life
If you doubt it wake her she will speak to you’
Buonarroti’s response –
‘I love to sleep still more to be of stone
While shame and ruin their dominion keep
Not to see nor feel is my great fortune
Speak quietly now why rouse me from my sleep?’