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For his great genius； and the world is fairer
That he lived in it。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
We at least are friends；
So come with me。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
No； no； I am best pleased
When I'm not asked to banquets。 I have reached
A time of life when daily walks are shortened；
And even the houses of our dearest friends；
That used to be so near； seem far away。
FRA SEBASTIANO。
Then we must sup without you。 We shall laugh
At those who toil for fame； and make their lives
A tedious martyrdom； that they may live
A little longer in the mouths of men！
And so； good…night。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Good…night； my Fra Bastiano。
＇Returning to his work。
How will men speak of me when I am gone；
When all this colorless； sad life is ended；
And I am dust？ They will remember only
The wrinkled forehead； the marred countenance；
The rudeness of my speech； and my rough manners；
And never dream that underneath them all
There was a woman's heart of tenderness。
They will not know the secret of my life；
Locked up in silence； or but vaguely hinted
In uncouth rhymes； that may perchance survive
Some little space in memories of men！
Each one performs his life…work； and then leaves it；
Those that come after him will estimate
His influence on the age in which he lived。
V
PALAZZO BELVEDERE
TITIAN'S studio。 A painting of Danae with a curtain before it。
TITIAN；
MICHAEL ANGELO； and GIORGIO VASARI。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
So you have left at last your still lagoons；
Your City of Silence floating in the sea；
And come to us in Rome。
TITIAN。
I come to learn；
But I have come too late。 I should have seen
Rome in my youth； when all my mind was open
To new impressions。 Our Vasari here
Leads me about； a blind man； groping darkly
Among the marvels of the past。 I touch them；
But do not see them。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
There are things in Rome
That one might walk bare…footed here from Venice
But to see once； and then to die content。
TITIAN。
I must confess that these majestic ruins
Oppress me with their gloom。 I feel as one
Who in the twilight stumbles among tombs；
And cannot read the inscriptions carved upon them。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
I felt so once； but I have grown familiar
With desolation； and it has become
No more a pain to me； but a delight。
TITIAN。
I could not live here。 I must have the sea；
And the sea…mist； with sunshine interwoven
Like cloth of gold； must have beneath my windows
The laughter of the waves； and at my door
Their pattering footsteps； or I am not happy。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Then tell me of your city in the sea；
Paved with red basalt of the Paduan hills。
Tell me of art in Venice。 Three great names；
Giorgione； Titian； and the Tintoretto；
Illustrate your Venetian school； and send
A challenge to the world。 The first is dead；
But Tintoretto lives。
TITIAN。
And paints with fires
Sudden and splendid； as the lightning paints
The cloudy vault of heaven。
GIORGIO。
Does he still keep
Above his door the arrogant inscription
That once was painted there；〃The color of Titian；
With the design of Michael Angelo〃？
TITIAN。
Indeed； I know not。 'T was a foolish boast；
And does no harm to any but himself。
Perhaps he has grown wiser。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
When you two
Are gone； who is there that remains behind
To seize the pencil falling from your fingers？
GIORGIO。
Oh there are many hands upraised already
To clutch at such a prize； which hardly wait
For death to loose your grasp；a hundred of them；
Schiavone； Bonifazio； Campagnola；
Moretto； and Moroni； who can count them；
Or measure their ambition？
TITIAN。
When we are gone
The generation that comes after us
Will have far other thoughts than ours。 Our ruins
Will serve to build their palaces or tombs。
They will possess the world that we think ours；
And fashion it far otherwise。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
I hear
Your son Orazio and your nephew Marco
Mentioned with honor。
TITIAN。
Ay； brave lads； brave lads。
But time will show。 There is a youth in Venice；
One Paul Cagliari； called the Veronese；
Still a mere stripling； but of such rare promise
That we must guard our laurels； or may lose them。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
These are good tidings； for I sometimes fear
That； when we die； with us all art will die。
'T is but a fancy。 Nature will provide
Others to take our places。 I rejoice
To see the young spring forward in the race；
Eager as we were； and as full of hope
And the sublime audacity of youth。
TITIAN。
Men die and are forgotten。 The great world
Goes on the same。 Among the myriads
Of men that live； or have lived； or shall live
What is a single life； or thine or mime；
That we should think all nature would stand still
If we were gone？ We must make room for others。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
And now； Maestro； pray unveil your picture
Of Danae； of which I hear such praise。
TITIAN； drawing hack the curtain。
What think you？
MICHAEL ANGELO。
That Acrisius did well
To lock such beauty in a brazen tower
And hide it from all eyes。
TITIAN。
The model truly
Was beautiful。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
And more； that you were present；
And saw the showery Jove from high Olympus
Descend in all his splendor。
TITIAN。
From your lips
Such words are full of sweetness。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
You have caught
These golden hues from your Venetian sunsets。
TITIAN。
Possibly。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Or from sunshine through a shower
On the lagoons； or the broad Adriatic。
Nature reveals herself in all our arts。
The pavements and the palaces of cities
Hint at the nature of the neighboring hills。
Red lavas from the Euganean quarries
Of Padua pave your streets； your palaces
Are the white stones of Istria； and gleam
Reflected in your waters and your pictures。
And thus the works of every artist show
Something of his surroundings and his habits。
The uttermost that can be reached by color
Is here accomplished。 Warmth and light and softness
Mingle together。 Never yet was flesh
Painted by hand of artist； dead or living；
With such divine perfection。
TITIAN。
I am grateful
For so much praise from you； who are a master；
While mostly those who praise and those who blame
Know nothing of the matter； so that mainly
Their censure sounds like praise； their praise like censure。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Wonderful！ wonderful！ The charm of color
Fascinates me the more that in myself
The gift is wanting。 I am not a painter。
GIORGIO。
Messer Michele； all the arts are yours；
Not one a