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When journeying in the forest of Ardennes！
〃I seem to hear her； hearing the boughs and breezes
And leaves and birds lamenting； and the waters
Murmuring flee along the verdant herbage。〃
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Enough。 It is all seeming； and no being。
If you would know how a man speaks in earnest；
Read here this passage； where St。 Peter thunders
In Paradise against degenerate Popes
And the corruptions of the church； till all
The heaven about him blushes like a sunset。
I beg you to take note of what he says
About the Papal seals； for that concerns
Your office and yourself。
FRA SEBASTIANO； reading。
Is this the passage？
〃Nor I be made the figure of a seal
To privileges venal and mendacious；
Whereat I often redden and flash with fire！〃
That is not poetry。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
What is it； then？
FRA SEBASTIANO。
Vituperation； gall that might have spirited
From Aretino's pen。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Name not that man！
A profligate； whom your Francesco Berni
Describes as having one foot in the brothel
And the other in the hospital； who lives
By flattering or maligning； as best serves
His purpose at the time。 He writes to me
With easy arrogance of my Last Judgment；
In such familiar tone that one would say
The great event already had occurred；
And he was present； and from observation
Informed me how the picture should be painted。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
What unassuming； unobtrusive men
These critics are！ Now； to have Aretino
Aiming his shafts at you brings back to mind
The Gascon archers in the square of Milan；
Shooting their arrows at Duke Sforza's statue；
By Leonardo； and the foolish rabble
Of envious Florentines； that at your David
Threw stones at night。 But Aretino praised you。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
His praises were ironical。 He knows
How to use words as weapons； and to wound
While seeming to defend。 But look； Bastiano；
See how the setting sun lights up that picture！
FRA SEBASTIANO。
My portrait of Vittoria Colonna。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
It makes her look as she will look hereafter；
When she becomes a saint！
FRA SEBASTIANO。
A noble woman！
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Ah； these old hands can fashion fairer shapes
In marble； and can paint diviner pictures；
Since I have known her。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
And you like this picture。
And yet it is in oil； which you detest。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
When that barbarian Jan Van Eyck discovered
The use of oil in painting； he degraded
His art into a handicraft； and made it
Sign…painting； merely； for a country inn
Or wayside wine…shop。 'T is an art for women；
Or for such leisurely and idle people
As you； Fra Bastiano。 Nature paints not
In oils； but frescoes the great dome of heaven
With sunset； and the lovely forms of clouds
And flying vapors。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
And how soon they fade！
Behold yon line of roofs and belfries painted
Upon the golden background of the sky；
Like a Byzantine picture； or a portrait
Of Cimabue。 See how hard the outline；
Sharp…cut and clear； not rounded into shadow。
Yet that is nature。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
She is always right。
The picture that approaches sculpture nearest
Is the best picture。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
Leonardo thinks
The open air too bright。 We ought to paint
As if the sun were shining through a mist。
'T is easier done in oil than in distemper。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Do not revive again the old dispute；
I have an excellent memory for forgetting；
But I still feel the hurt。 Wounds are not healed
By the unbending of the bow that made them。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
So say Petrarca and the ancient proverb。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
But that is past。 Now I am angry with you；
Not that you paint in oils； but that grown fat
And indolent； you do not paint at all。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
Why should I paint？ Why should I toil and sweat；
Who now am rich enough to live at ease；
And take my pleasure？
MICHAEL ANGELO。
When Pope Leo died；
He who had been so lavish of the wealth
His predecessors left him； who received
A basket of gold…pieces every morning；
Which every night was empty； left behind
Hardly enough to pay his funeral。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
I care for banquets； not for funerals；
As did his Holiness。 I have forbidden
All tapers at my burial； and procession
Of priests and friars and monks； and have provided
The cost thereof be given to the poor！
MICHAEL ANGELO。
You have done wisely； but of that I speak not。
Ghiberti left behind him wealth and children；
But who to…day would know that he had lived；
If he had never made those gates of bronze
In the old Baptistery；those gates of bronze；
Worthy to be the gates of Paradise。
His wealth is scattered to the winds； his children
Are long since dead； but those celestial gates
Survive； and keep his name and memory green。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
But why should I fatigue myself？ I think
That all things it is possible to paint
Have been already painted； and if not；
Why； there are painters in the world at present
Who can accomplish more in two short months
Than I could in two years； so it is well
That some one is contented to do nothing；
And leave the field to others。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
O blasphemer！
Not without reason do the people call you
Sebastian del Piombo； for the lead
Of all the Papal bulls is heavy upon you；
And wraps you like a shroud。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
Misericordia！
Sharp is the vinegar of sweet wine； and sharp
The words you speak； because the heart within you
Is sweet unto the core。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
How changed you are
From the Sebastiano I once knew；
When poor； laborious； emulous to excel；
You strove in rivalry with Badassare
And Raphael Sanzio。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
Raphael is dead；
He is but dust and ashes in his grave；
While I am living and enjoying life；
And so am victor。 One live Pope is worth
A dozen dead ones。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Raphael is not dead；
He doth but sleep； for how can he be dead
Who lives immortal in the hearts of men？
He only drank the precious wine of youth；
The outbreak of the grapes； before the vintage
Was trodden to bitterness by the feet of men。
The gods have given him sleep。 We never were
Nor could be foes； although our followers；
Who are distorted shadows of ourselves；
Have striven to make us so； but each one worked
Unconsciously upon the other's thought；
Both giving and receiving。 He perchance
Caught strength from me； and I some greater sweetness
And tenderness from his more gentle nature。
I have but words of praise and admiration
For his great genius； and the world is fairer
That he lived in it。
FRA SEBASTIANO。