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As if it were a bubble； and these statues
Spring at a signal to their sacred stations；
As sentinels mount guard upon a wall。
Then were my task completed。 Now； alas！
Naught am I but a Saint Sebaldus； holding
Upon his hand the model of a church；
As German artists paint him； and what years；
What weary years； must drag themselves along；
Ere this be turned to stone！ What hindrances
Must block the way； what idle interferences
Of Cardinals and Canons of St。 Peter's；
Who nothing know of art beyond the color
Of cloaks and stockings； nor of any building
Save that of their own fortunes！ And what then？
I must then the short…coming of my means
Piece out by stepping forward； as the Spartan
Was told to add a step to his short sword。
＇A pause。
And is Fra Bastian dead？ Is all that light
Gone out； that sunshine darkened； all that music
And merriment； that used to make our lives
Less melancholy； swallowed up in silence
Like madrigals sung in the street at night
By passing revellers？ It is strange indeed
That he should die before me。 'T is against
The laws of nature that the young should die；
And the old live； unless it be that some
Have long been dead who think themselves alive；
Because not buried。 Well； what matters it；
Since now that greater light； that was my sun；
Is set； and all is darkness； all is darkness！
Death's lightnings strike to right and left of me；
And； like a ruined wall； the world around me
Crumbles away； and I am left alone。
I have no friends； and want none。 My own thoughts
Are now my sole companions；thoughts of her；
That like a benediction from the skies
Come to me in my solitude and soothe me。
When men are old； the incessant thought of Death
Follows them like their shadow； sits with them
At every meal； sleeps with them when they sleep；
And when they wake already is awake；
And standing by their bedside。 Then； what folly
It is in us to make an enemy
Of this importunate follower； not a friend！
To me a friend； and not an enemy；
Has he become since all my friends are dead。
II
VIGNA DI PAPA GIULIO
POPE JULIUS III。 seated by the Fountain of Acqua Vergine；
surrounded by Cardinals。
JULIUS。
Tell me； why is it ye are discontent；
You； Cardinals Salviati and Marcello；
With Michael Angelo？ What has he done；
Or left undone； that ye are set against him？
When one Pope dies； another is soon made；
And I can make a dozen Cardinals；
But cannot make one Michael Angelo。
CARDINAL SALVIATI。
Your Holiness； we are not set against him；
We but deplore his incapacity。
He is too old。
JULIUS。
You； Cardinal Salviati；
Are an old man。 Are you incapable？
'T is the old ox that draws the straightest furrow。
CARDINAL MARCELLO。
Your Holiness remembers he was charged
With the repairs upon St。 Mary's bridge；
Made cofferdams； and heaped up load on load
Of timber and travertine； and yet for years
The bridge remained unfinished； till we gave it
To Baccio Bigio。
JULIUS。
Always Baccio Bigio！
Is there no other architect on earth？
Was it not he that sometime had in charge
The harbor of Ancona。
CARDINAL MARCELLO。
Ay； the same。
JULIUS。
Then let me tell you that your Baccio Bigio
Did greater damage in a single day
To that fair harbor than the sea had done
Or would do in ten years。 And him you think
To put in place of Michael Angelo；
In building the Basilica of St。 Peter！
The ass that thinks himself a stag discovers
His error when he comes to leap the ditch。
CARDINAL MARCELLO。
He does not build； he but demolishes
The labors of Bramante and San Gallo。
JULIUS。
Only to build more grandly。
CARDINAL MARCELLO。
But time passes：
Year after year goes by； and yet the work
Is not completed。 Michael Angelo
Is a great sculptor； but no architect。
His plans are faulty。
JULIUS。
I have seen his model；
And have approved it。 But here comes the artist。
Beware of him。 He may make Persians of you；
To carry burdens on your backs forever。
SCENE II。
The same： MICHAEL ANGELO。
JULIUS。
Come forward； dear Maestro！ In these gardens
All ceremonies of our court are banished。
Sit down beside me here。
MICHAEL ANGELO； sitting down。
How graciously
Your Holiness commiserates old age
And its infirmities！
JULIUS。
Say its privileges。
Art I respect。 The building of this palace
And laying out these pleasant garden walks
Are my delight； and if I have not asked
Your aid in this； it is that I forbear
To lay new burdens on you at an age
When you need rest。 Here I escape from Rome
To be at peace。 The tumult of the city
Scarce reaches here。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
How beautiful it is；
And quiet almost as a hermitage！
JULIUS。
We live as hermits here； and from these heights
O'erlook all Rome and see the yellow Tiber
Cleaving in twain the city； like a sword；
As far below there as St。 Mary's bridge。
What think you of that bridge？
MICHAEL ANGELO。
I would advise
Your Holiness not to cross it； or not often
It is not safe。
JULIUS。
It was repaired of late。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Some morning you will look for it in vain；
It will be gone。 The current of the river
Is undermining it。
JULIUS。
But you repaired it。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
I strengthened all its piers； and paved its road
With travertine。 He who came after me
Removed the stone； and sold it； and filled in
The space with gravel。
JULIUS。
Cardinal Salviati
And Cardinal Marcello； do you listen？
This is your famous Nanni Baccio Bigio。
MICHAEL ANGELO； aside。
There is some mystery here。 These Cardinals
Stand lowering at me with unfriendly eyes。
JULIUS。
Now let us come to what concerns us more
Than bridge or gardens。 Some complaints are made
Concerning the Three Chapels in St。 Peter's；
Certain supposed defects or imperfections；
You doubtless can explain。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
This is no longer
The golden age of art。 Men have become
Iconoclasts and critics。 They delight not
In what an artist does； but set themselves
To censure what they do not comprehend。
You will not see them bearing a Madonna
Of Cimabue to the church in triumph；
But tearing down the statue of a Pope
To cast it into cannon。 Who are they
That bring complaints against me？
JULIUS。
Deputies
Of the commissioners； and they complain
Of insufficient light in the Three Chapels。
MICHAEL ANGELO。
Your Holiness； the insufficient light
Is somewhere else； and not in the Three Chapels。
Who are the deputies that make complaint？
JULIUS。
The Cardinals Salviati and Marcello；