第2章

VI。

Elseitloseswhatitlivedfor,Andeternallymustloseit;

Betterendsmaybeinprospect,Deeperblisses(ifyouchooseit),Butthislife\'sendandthislove-blissHavebeenlosthere。DoubtyouwhetherThisshefeltas,lookingatme,Mineandhersoulsrushedtogether?

VII。

Oh,observe!Ofcourse,nextmoment,Theworld\'shonours,inderision,Trampledoutthelightforever:

Neverfearbutthere\'sprovisionOfthedevil\'stoquenchknowledgeLestwewalktheearthinrapture!——

MakingthosewhocatchGod\'ssecretJustsomuchmoreprizetheircapture!

VIII。

SuchamI:thesecret\'sminenow!

Shehaslostme,Ihavegainedher;

Hersoul\'smine:andthus,grownperfect,Ishallpassmylife\'sremainder。

LifewilljustholdouttheprovingBothourpowers,aloneandblended:

Andthen,comenextlifequickly!

Thisworld\'susewillhavebeenended。

THELOSTMISTRESS。

I。

All\'sover,then:doestruthsoundbitterAsoneatfirstbelieves?

Hark,\'tisthesparrows\'good-nighttwitterAboutyourcottageeaves!

II。

Andtheleaf-budsonthevinearewoolly,Inoticedthat,to-day;

Onedaymoreburststhemopenfully——Youknowtheredturnsgrey。

III。

To-morrowwemeetthesamethen,dearest?

MayItakeyourhandinmine?

Merefriendsarewe,——well,friendsthemerestKeepmuchthatIresign:

IV。

Foreachglanceoftheeyesobrightandblack,ThoughIkeepwithheart\'sendeavour,——

Yourvoice,whenyouwishthesnowdropsback,Thoughitstayinmysoulforever!——

V。

YetIwillbutsaywhatmerefriendssay,Oronlyathoughtstronger;

Iwillholdyourhandbutaslongasallmay,Orsoverylittlelonger!

EARTH\'SIMMORTALITIES。

FAME。

See,astheprettiestgraveswilldointime,Ourpoet\'swantsthefreshnessofitsprime;

Spiteofthesexton\'sbrowsinghorse,thesodsHavestruggledthroughitsbindingosierrods;

Headstoneandhalf-sunkfootstoneleanawry,Wantingthebrick-workpromisedby-and-by;

Howtheminutegreylichens,plateo\'erplate,Havesofteneddownthecrisp-cutnameanddate!

LOVE。

So,theyear\'sdonewith(_Lovemeforever!_)

AllMarchbegunwith,April\'sendeavour;

May-wreathsthatboundmeJuneneedsmustsever;

Nowsnowsfallroundme,QuenchingJune\'sfever——

(_Lovemeforever!_)

MEETINGATNIGHT。

I。

Thegreyseaandthelongblackland;

Andtheyellowhalf-moonlargeandlow;

AndthestartledlittlewavesthatleapInfieryringletsfromtheirsleep,AsIgainthecovewithpushingprow,Andquenchitsspeedi\'theslushysand。

II。

Thenamileofwarmsea-scentedbeach;

Threefieldstocrosstillafarmappears;

Atapatthepane,thequicksharpscratchAndbluespurtofalightedmatch,Andavoicelessloud,thro\'itsjoysandfears,Thanthetwoheartsbeatingeachtoeach!

PARTINGATMORNING。

Roundthecapeofasuddencamethesea,Andthesunlookedoverthemountain\'srim:

Andstraightwasapathofgoldforhim,Andtheneedofaworldofmenforme。

SONG。

I。

Naybutyou,whodonotloveher,Isshenotpuregold,mymistress?

Holdsearthaught——speaktruth——aboveher?

Aughtlikethistress,see,andthistress,Andthislastfairesttressofall,Sofair,see,ereIletitfall?

II。

Because,youspendyourlivesinpraising;

Topraise,yousearchthewideworldover:

Thenwhynotwitness,calmlygazing,Ifearthholdsaught——speaktruth——aboveher?

Abovethistress,andthis,ItouchButcannotpraise,Ilovesomuch!

AWOMAN\'SLASTWORD。

I。

Let\'scontendnomore,Love,Strivenorweep:

Allbeasbefore,Love,——Onlysleep!

II。

Whatsowildaswordsare?

IandthouIndebate,asbirdsare,Hawkonbough!

III。

SeethecreaturestalkingWhilewespeak!

Hushandhidethetalking,Cheekoncheek!

IV。

Whatsofalseastruthis,Falsetothee?

Wheretheserpent\'stoothisShunthetree——

V。

WheretheapplereddensNeverpry——

LestweloseourEdens,EveandI。

VI。

BeagodandholdmeWithacharm!

BeamanandfoldmeWiththinearm!

VII。

Teachme,onlyteach,LoveAsIoughtIwillspeakthyspeech,Love,Thinkthythought——

VIII。

Meet,ifthourequireit,Bothdemands,LayingfleshandspiritInthyhands。

IX。

Thatshallbeto-morrowNotto-night:

ImustburysorrowOutofsight:

X——

Mustalittleweep,Love,(Foolishme!)

Andsofallasleep,Love,Lovedbythee。

EVELYNHOPE。

I。

BeautifulEvelynHopeisdead!

Sitandwatchbyhersideanhour。

Thatisherbook-shelf,thisherbed;

Shepluckedthatpieceofgeranium-flower,Beginningtodietoo,intheglass;

Littlehasyetbeenchanged,Ithink:

Theshuttersareshut,nolightmaypassSavetwolongraysthro\'thehinge\'schink。

II。

Sixteenyearsold,whenshedied!

Perhapsshehadscarcelyheardmyname;

Itwasnothertimetolove;beside,Herlifehadmanyahopeandaim,Dutiesenoughandlittlecares,Andnowwasquiet,nowastir,TillGod\'shandbeckonedunawares,——

Andthesweetwhitebrowisallofher。

III。

Isittoolatethen,EvelynHope?

What,yoursoulwaspureandtrue,Thegoodstarsmetinyourhoroscope,Madeyouofspirit,fireanddew——

And,justbecauseIwasthriceasoldAndourpathsintheworlddivergedsowide,Eachwasnoughttoeach,mustIbetold?

Wewerefellowmortals,noughtbeside?

IV。

No,indeed!forGodaboveIsgreattogrant,asmightytomake,Andcreatesthelovetorewardthelove:

Iclaimyoustill,formyownlove\'ssake!

Delayeditmaybeformorelivesyet,ThroughworldsIshalltraverse,notafew:

Muchistolearn,muchtoforgetErethetimebecomefortakingyou。

V。

Butthetimewillcome,——atlastitwill,When,EvelynHope,whatmeant(Ishallsay)

Inthelowerearth,intheyearslongstill,Thatbodyandsoulsopureandgay?

Whyyourhairwasamber,Ishalldivine,Andyourmouthofyourowngeranium\'sred——

Andwhatyouwoulddowithme,infine,Inthenewlifecomeintheoldone\'sstead。

VI。

Ihavelived(Ishallsay)somuchsincethen,Givenupmyselfsomanytimes,Gainedmethegainsofvariousmen,Ransackedtheages,spoiledtheclimes;

Yetonething,one,inmysoul\'sfullscope,EitherImissedoritselfmissedme:

AndIwantandfindyou,EvelynHope!

Whatistheissue?letussee!

VII。

Ilovedyou,Evelyn,allthewhile。

Myheartseemedfullasitcouldhold?

Therewasplaceandtospareforthefrankyoungsmile,Andtheredyoungmouth,andthehair\'syounggold。

So,hush,——Iwillgiveyouthisleaftokeep:

See,Ishutitinsidethesweetcoldhand!

There,thatisoursecret:gotosleep!

Youwillwake,andremember,andunderstand。

LOVEAMONGTHERUINS。

I。

Wherethequiet-colouredendofeveningsmiles,MilesandmilesOnthesolitarypastureswhereoursheepHalf-asleepTinklehomewardthro\'thetwilight,strayorstopAstheycrop——

Wasthesiteonceofacitygreatandgay,(Sotheysay)

Ofourcountry\'sverycapital,itsprinceAgessinceHeldhiscourtin,gatheredcouncils,wieldingfarPeaceorwar。

II。

Now,——thecountrydoesnotevenboastatree,Asyousee,Todistinguishslopesofverdure,certainrillsFromthehillsIntersectandgiveanameto,(elsetheyrunIntoone)

WherethedomedanddaringpalaceshotitsspiresUplikefiresO\'erthehundred-gatedcircuitofawallBoundingall,Madeofmarble,menmightmarchonnorbepressed,Twelveabreast。

III。

Andsuchplentyandperfection,see,ofgrassNeverwas!

Suchacarpetas,thissummer-time,o\'erspreadsAndembedsEveryvestigeofthecity,guessedalone,Stockorstone——

WhereamultitudeofmenbreathedjoyandwoeLongago;

Lustofgloryprickedtheirheartsup,dreadofshameStruckthemtame;

Andthatgloryandthatshamealike,thegoldBoughtandsold。

IV。

Now,——thesinglelittleturretthatremainsOntheplains,Bythecaperoverrooted,bythegourdOverscored,Whilethepatchinghouseleek\'sheadofblossomwinksThroughthechinks——

MarksthebasementwhenceatowerinancienttimeSprangsublime,Andaburningring,allround,thechariotstracedAstheyraced,AndthemonarchandhisminionsandhisdamesViewedthegames。

V。

AndIknow,whilethusthequiet-colouredeveSmilestoleaveTotheirfolding,allourmany-tinklingfleeceInsuchpeace,AndtheslopesandrillsinundistinguishedgreyMeltaway——

ThatagirlwitheagereyesandyellowhairWaitsmethereIntheturretwhencethecharioteerscaughtsoulForthegoal,Whenthekinglooked,whereshelooksnow,breathless,dumbTillIcome。

VI。

Buthelookeduponthecity,everyside,Farandwide,Allthemountainstoppedwithtemples,alltheglades\'

Colonnades,Allthecauseys,bridges,aqueducts,——andthen,Allthemen!

WhenIdocome,shewillspeaknot,shewillstand,EitherhandOnmyshoulder,givehereyesthefirstembraceOfmyface,Erewerush,ereweextinguishsightandspeechEachoneach。

VII。

InoneyeartheysentamillionfightersforthSouthandNorth,AndtheybuilttheirgodsabrazenpillarhighAsthesky,Yetreservedathousandchariotsinfullforce——

Gold,ofcourse。

Ohheart!ohbloodthatfreezes,bloodthatburns!

Earth\'sreturnsForwholecenturiesoffolly,noiseandsin!

Shutthemin,Withtheirtriumphsandtheirgloriesandtherest!

Loveisbest。

ALOVERS\'QUARREL。

I。

Oh,whatadawnofday!

HowtheMarchsunfeelslikeMay!

AllisblueagainAfterlastnight\'srain,AndtheSouthdriesthehawthorn-spray。

Only,myLove\'saway!

I\'dasliefthattheblueweregrey,II。

Runnels,whichrilletsswell,Mustbedancingdownthedell,WithafoamingheadOntheberylbedPavensmoothasahermit\'scell;

Eachwithataletotell,CouldmyLovebutattendaswell。

III。

Dearest,threemonthsago!

Whenwelivedblocked-upwithsnow,——

WhenthewindwouldedgeInandinhiswedge,In,asfarasthepointcouldgo——

Nottoouringle,though,Wherewelovedeachtheotherso!

IV。

Laughswithsolittlecause!

Wedevisedgamesoutofstraws。

WewouldtryandtraceOneanother\'sfaceIntheash,asanartistdraws;

Freeoneachother\'sflaws,Howwechatteredliketwochurchdaws!

V。

What\'sinthe`Times\'\'?——ascoldAttheEmperordeepandcold;

HehastakenabrideTohisgruesomeside,That\'sasfairashimselfisbold:

Theretheysitermine-stoled,Andshepowdersherhairwithgold。

VI。

FancythePampas\'sheen!

MilesandmilesofgoldandgreenWherethesunflowersblowInasolidglow,And——tobreaknowandthenthescreen——

Blackneckandeyeballskeen,Upawildhorseleapsbetween!

VII。

Try,willourtableturn?

Layyourhandstherelight,andyearnTilltheyearningslipsThro\'thefinger-tipsInafirewhichafewdiscern,Andaveryfewfeelburn,Andtherest,theymayliveandlearn!

VIII。

Thenwewouldupandpace,Forachange,abouttheplace,Eachwitharmo\'erneck:

\'Tisourquarter-deck,Weareseameninwoefulcase。

Helpintheocean-space!

Or,ifnohelp,we\'llembrace。

IX。

See,howshelooksnow,dressedInasledging-capandvest!

\'Tisahugefurcloak——

Likeareindeer\'syokeFallsthelappetalongthebreast:

Sleevesforherarmstorest,Ortohang,asmyLovelikesbest。

X。

TeachmetoflirtafanAstheSpanishladiescan,OrItintyourlipWithaburntstick\'stipAndyouturnintosuchaman!

JustthetwospotsthatspanHalfthebilloftheyoungmaleswan。

XI。

Dearest,threemonthsagoWhenthemesmerizerSnowWithhishand\'sfirstsweepPuttheearthtosleep:

\'TwasatimewhentheheartcouldshowAll——howwasearthtoknow,\'Neaththemutehand\'sto-and-fro?

XII。

Dearest,threemonthsagoWhenwelovedeachotherso,LivedandlovedthesameTillaneveningcameWhenashaftfromthedevil\'sbowPiercedtoouringle-glow,Andthefriendswerefriendandfoe!

XIII。

Notfromtheheartbeneath——

\'Twasabubblebornofbreath,Neithersneernorvaunt,Norreproachnortaunt。

Seeaword,howitsevereth!

Oh,poweroflifeanddeathInthetongue,asthePreachersaith!

XIV。

Woman,andwillyoucastForaword,quiteoffatlastMe,yourown,yourYou,——

Since,astruthistrue,IwasYouallthehappypast——

MedoyouleaveaghastWiththememoriesWeamassed?

XV。

Love,ifyouknewthelightThatyoursoulcastsinmysight,HowIlooktoyouForthepureandtrueAndthebeauteousandtheright,——

Bearwithamoment\'sspiteWhenameremotethreatsthewhite!

XVI。

Whatofahastyword?

IsthefleshlyheartnotstirredByaworm\'spin-prickWhereitsrootsarequick?

Seetheeye,byafly\'sfootblurred——

Ear,whenastrawisheardScratchthebrain\'scoatofcurd!

XVII。

FoulbetheworldorfairMoreorless,howcanIcare?

\'TistheworldthesameFormypraiseorblame,Andenduranceiseasythere。

Wrongintheonethingrare——

Oh,itishardtobear!

XVIII。

Here\'sthespringbackorclose,Whenthealmond-blossomblows:

WeshallhavethewordInaminorthirdThereisnonebutthecuckooknows:

Heapsoftheguelder-rose!

Imustbearwithit,Isuppose。

XIX。

CouldbutNovembercome,WerethenoisybirdsstruckdumbAtthewarningslashOfhisdriver\'s-lash——

IwouldlaughlikethevaliantThumbFacingthecastleglumAndthegiant\'sfee-faw-fum!

XX。

Then,weretheworldwellstrippedOfthegearwhereinequippedWecanstandapart,HeartdispensewithheartInthesun,withtheflowersunnipped,——

Oh,theworld\'shangingsripped,Wewerebothinabare-walledcrypt!

XXI。

Eachinthecryptwouldcry``Butonefreezeshere!andwhy?

``Whenaheart,aschill,``Atmyownwouldthrill``Backtolife,anditsfiresout-fly?

``Heart,shallweliveordie?

``Therest……settleby-and-by!\'\'

XXII。

So,she\'deffacethescore,Andforgivemeasbefore。

Itistwelveo\'clock:

IshallhearherknockIntheworstofastorm\'suproar,Ishallpullherthroughthedoor,Ishallhaveherforevermore!

UPATAVILLA——DOWNINTHECITY。

(ASDISTINGUISHEDBYANITALIANPERSONOFQUALITY。)

I。

HadIbutplentyofmoney,moneyenoughandtospare,Thehouseforme,nodoubt,wereahouseinthecity-square;

Ah,suchalife,suchalife,asoneleadsatthewindowthere!

II。

Somethingtosee,byBacchus,somethingtohear,atleast!

There,thewholedaylong,one\'slifeisaperfectfeast;

Whileupatavillaonelives,Imaintainit,nomorethanabeast。

III。

Wellnow,lookatourvilla!stucklikethehornofabullJustonamountain-edgeasbareasthecreature\'sskull,Saveamereshagofabushwithhardlyaleaftopull!——

Iscratchmyown,sometimes,toseeifthehair\'sturnedwool。

IV。

Butthecity,ohthecity——thesquarewiththehouses!Why?

Theyarestone-faced,whiteasacurd,there\'ssomethingtotaketheeye!

Housesinfourstraightlines,notasinglefrontawry;

Youwatchwhocrossesandgossips,whosaunters,whohurriesby;

Greenblinds,asamatterofcourse,todrawwhenthesungetshigh;

Andtheshopswithfancifulsignswhicharepaintedproperly。

V。

Whatofavilla?ThoughwinterbeoverinMarchbyrights,\'TisMayperhapserethesnowshallhavewitheredwellofftheheights:

You\'vethebrownploughedlandbefore,wheretheoxensteamandwheeze,Andthehillsover-smokedbehindbythefaintgreyolive-trees。

VI。

IsitbetterinMay,Iaskyou?You\'vesummerallatonce;

InadayheleapscompletewithafewstrongAprilsuns。

\'Midthesharpshortemeraldwheat,scarcerisenthreefingerswell,Thewildtulip,atendofitstube,blowsoutitsgreatredbellLikeathinclearbubbleofblood,forthechildrentopickandsell。

VII。

Isiteverhotinthesquare?There\'safountaintospoutandsplash!

Intheshadeitsingsandsprings;intheshinesuchfoam-bowsflashOnthehorseswithcurlingfish-tails,thatpranceandpaddleandpashRoundtheladyatopinherconch——fiftygazersdonotabash,Thoughallthatshewearsissomeweedsroundherwaistinasortofsash。

VIII。

Alltheyearatthevilla,nothingtoseethoughyoulinger,Exceptyoncypressthatpointslikeadeath\'sleanliftedforefinger。

Somethinkfirefliespretty,whentheymixi\'thecornandmingle,Orthridthestinkinghemptillthestalksofitseema-tingle。

LateAugustorearlySeptember,thestunningcicalaisshrill,Andthebeeskeeptheirtiresomewhineroundtheresinousfirsonthehill。

Enoughoftheseasons,——Ispareyouthemonthsofthefeverandchill。

IX。

Ereyouopenyoureyesinthecity,theblessedchurch-bellsbegin:

Nosoonerthebellsleaveoffthanthediligencerattlesin:

Yougetthepickofthenews,anditcostsyouneverapin。

By-and-bythere\'sthetravellingdoctorgivespills,letsblood,drawsteeth;

OrthePulcinello-trumpetbreaksupthemarketbeneath。

Atthepost-officesuchascene-picture——thenewplay,pipinghot!

Andanoticehow,onlythismorning,threeliberalthieveswereshot。

Aboveit,beholdtheArchbishop\'smostfatherlyofrebukes,Andbeneath,withhiscrownandhislion,somelittlenewlawoftheDuke\'s!

Orasonnetwithflowerymarge,totheReverendDonSo-and-soWhoisDante,Boccaccio,Petrarca,SaintJeromeandCicero,``Andmoreover,\'\'(thesonnetgoesrhyming,)``theskirtsofSaintPaulhasreached,``HavingpreachedusthosesixLent-lecturesmoreunctuousthaneverhepreached。\'\'

Noonstrikes,——heresweepstheprocession!ourLadybornesmilingandsmartWithapinkgauzegownallspangles,andsevenswordsstuckinherheart!

_Bang-whang-whang_goesthedrum,_tootle-to-tootle_thefife;

Nokeepingone\'shaunchesstill:it\'sthegreatestpleasureinlife。

X。

Butblessyou,it\'sdear——it\'sdear!fowls,wine,atdoubletherate。

Theyhaveclappedanewtaxuponsalt,andwhatoilpayspassingthegateIt\'sahorrortothinkof。Andso,thevillaforme,notthecity!

Beggarscanscarcelybechoosers:butstill——ah,thepity,thepity!

Look,twoandtwogothepriests,thenthemonkswithcowlsandsandals,Andthepenitentsdressedinwhiteshirts,a-holdingtheyellowcandles;

One\'hecarriesaflagupstraight,andanotheracrosswithhandles,AndtheDuke\'sguardbringsuptherear,forthebetterpreventionofscandals:

_Bang-whang-whang_goesthedrum,_tootle-te-tootle_thefife。

Oh,adayinthecity-square,thereisnosuchpleasureinlife!

ATOCCATA<*1>OFGALUPPI\'S。

[GaluppiwasafamousItaliancomposeroftheeighteenthcentury。HewasinLondonfrom1741to1744。]

I。

OhGaluppi,Baldassaro,thisisverysadtofind!

Icanhardlymisconceiveyou;itwouldprovemedeafandblind;

ButalthoughItakeyourmeaning,\'tiswithsuchaheavymind!

II。

Hereyoucomewithallyourmusic,andhere\'sallthegooditbrings。

What,theylivedoncethusatVenicewherethemerchantswerethekings,WhereSaintMark\'sis,wheretheDogesusedtowedtheseawithrings?

III。

Ay,becausethesea\'sthestreetthere;and\'tisarchedby……whatyoucall……Shylock\'sbridgewithhousesonit,wheretheykeptthecarnival:

IwasneveroutofEngland——it\'sasifIsawitall。

IV。

DidyoungpeopletaketheirpleasurewhentheseawaswarminMay?

Ballsandmasksbegunatmidnight,burningevertomid-day,Whentheymadeupfreshadventuresforthemorrow,doyousay?

V。

Wasaladysuchalady,cheekssoroundandlipssored,——

Onherneckthesmallfacebuoyant,likeabell-floweronitsbed,O\'erthebreast\'ssuperbabundancewhereamanmightbasehishead?

VI。

Well,anditwasgracefulofthem——they\'dbreaktalkoffandafford——She,tobitehermask\'sblackvelvet——he,tofingeronhissword,WhileyousatandplayedToccatas,statelyattheclavichord?

VII。

What?Thoselesserthirdssoplaintive,sixthsdiminished,sighonsigh,Toldthemsomething?Thosesuspensions,thosesolutions——``Mustwedie?\'\'

Thosecommiseratingsevenths——``Lifemightlast!wecanbuttry!\'\'

VIII。

``Wereyouhappy?\'\'——``Yes。\'\'——``Andareyoustillashappy?\'\'——``Yes。Andyou?\'\'——

``Then,morekisses!\'\'——``Did_I_stopthem,whenamillionseemedsofew?\'\'

Hark,thedominant\'spersistencetillitmustbeansweredto!

IX。

So,anoctavestrucktheanswer。Oh,theypraisedyou,Idaresay!

``BraveGaluppi!thatwasmusic!goodalikeatgraveandgay!

``IcanalwaysleaveofftalkingwhenIhearamasterplay!\'\'

X。

Thentheyleftyoufortheirpleasure:tillinduetime,onebyone,Somewithlivesthatcametonothing,somewithdeedsaswellundone,Deathsteppedtacitlyandtookthemwheretheyneverseethesun。

XI。

ButwhenIsitdowntoreason,thinktotakemystandnorswerve,WhileItriumpho\'erasecretwrungfromnature\'sclosereserve,InyoucomewithyourcoldmusictillIcreepthro\'everynerve。

XII。

Yes,you,likeaghostlycricket,creakingwhereahousewasburned:

``Dustandashes,deadanddonewith,VenicespentwhatVeniceearned。

``Thesoul,doubtless,isimmortal——whereasoulcanbediscerned。

XIII。

``Yoursforinstance:youknowphysics,somethingofgeology,``Mathematicsareyourpastime;soulsshallriseintheirdegree;

``Butterfliesmaydreadextinction,——you\'llnotdie,itcannotbe!

XIV。

``AsforVeniceandherpeople,merelyborntobloomanddrop,``Hereonearththeyboretheirfruitage,mirthandfollywerethecrop:

``Whatofsoulwasleft,Iwonder,whenthekissinghadtostop?

XV。

``Dustandashes!\'\'Soyoucreakit,andIwantthehearttoscold。

Deardeadwomen,withsuchhair,too——what\'sbecomeofallthegoldUsedtohangandbrushtheirbosoms?Ifeelchillyandgrownold。

1。Anoverture——atouchpiece。

OLDPICTURESINFLORENCE。

I。

ThemornwhenfirstitthundersinMarch,Theeelinthepondgivesaleap,theysay:

AsIleanedandlookedoverthealoedarchOfthevilla-gatethiswarmMarchday,Noflashsnapped,nodumbthunderrolledInthevalleybeneathwhere,whiteandwideAndwashedbythemorningwater-gold,Florencelayoutonthemountain-side。

II。

RiverandbridgeandstreetandsquareLaymine,asmuchatmybeckandcall,Throughthelivetranslucentbathofair,Asthesightsinamagiccrystalball。

AndofallIsawandofallIpraised,ThemosttopraiseandthebesttoseeWasthestartlingbell-towerGiottoraised:

Butwhydiditmorethanstartleme?

III。

Giotto,how,withthatsoulofyours,Couldyouplaymefalsewholovedyouso?

SomeslightsifacertainheartenduresYetitfeels,Iwouldhaveyourfellowsknow!

I\'faith,IperceivenotwhyIshouldcareTobreakasilencethatsuitsthembest,ButthethinggrowssomewhathardtobearWhenIfindaGiottojointherest。