Were not the paintings on the Sistine ceiling Enough for them? They saw the Hebrew leader Waiting, and clutching his tempestuous beard, But heeded not. The bones of Julius Shook in their sepulchre. I heard the sound; They only heard the sound of their own voices. Are there no other artists here in Rome To do this work, that they must needs seek me? Fra Bastian, my Fra Bastian, might have done it; But he is lost to art. The Papal Seals, To the four corners of the earth, and wake The dead to judgment! Ye recording angels, Open your books and read! Ye dead, awake! Rise from your graves, drowsy and drugged with death, As men who suddenly aroused from sleep Look round amazed, and know not where they are! In happy hours, when the imagination What is it guides my hand, what thoughts possess me, That I have drawn her face among the angels, To me, the artisan, to whom all women Have been as if they were not, or at most A sudden rush of pigeons in the air, A flutter of wings, a sound, and then a silence? I am too old for love; I am too old In which the things that cannot be take shape, Distant and near and low and loud the bells, Seems to caress the city that he loves, III. SAN SILVESTRO. A Chapel in the Church of San Silvestro on Monte Cavallo. VITTORIA COLONNA, CLAUDIO TOLOMMEI, and others. VITTORIA. Here let us rest a while, until the crowd Has left the church. I have already sent For Michael Angelo to join us here. MESSER CLAUDIO. After Fra Bernardino's wise discourse MICHAEL ANGELO, at the door. How like a Saint or Goddess she appears ; Diana or Madonna, which I know not! In attitude and aspect formed to be At once the artist's worship and despair! VITTORIA. Welcome, Maestro. We were waiting for you. MICHAEL ANGELO. I met your messenger upon the way, And hastened hither. VITTORIA. It is kind of you To come to us, who linger here like gossips MICHAEL ANGELO. If friends of yours, then are they friends of mine. Pardon me, gentlemen. But when I entered I saw but the Marchesa. VITTORIA. Take this seat Between me and Ser Claudio Tolommei, Who still maintains that our Italian tongue |