In Rome, his palace Is the asylum of all men distinguished In art or science, and all Florentines Escaping from the tyranny of his cousin, Duke Alessandro.
VITTORIA.
I have seen his portrait, Painted by Titian.

You have painted it In brighter colors.
JULIA.
And my Cardinal, At Itri, in the courtyard of his palace, Keeps a tame lion! VITTORIA.
And so counterfeits St.Mark, the Evangelist! JULIA.
Ah, your tame lion Is Michael Angelo.
VITTORIA.
You speak a name That always thrills me with a noble sound, As of a trumpet! Michael Angelo! A lion all men fear and none can tame; A man that all men honor, and the model That all should follow; one who works and prays, For work is prayer, and consecrates his life To the sublime ideal of his art, Till art and life are one; a man who holds Such place in all men's thoughts, that when they speak Of great things done, or to be done, his name Is ever on their lips.
JULIA.
You too can paint The portrait of your hero, and in colors Brighter than Titian's; I might warn you also Against the dangers that beset your path; But I forbear.
VITTORIA.
If I were made of marble, Of Fior di Persico or Pavonazzo, He might admire me: being but flesh and blood, I am no more to him than other women; That is, am nothing.
JULIA.
Does he ride through Rome Upon his little mule, as he was wont, With his slouched hat, and boots of Cordovan, As when I saw him last?
VITTORIA.
Pray do not jest.
I cannot couple with his noble name A trivial word! Look, how the setting sun Lights up Castel-a-mare and Sorrento, And changes Capri to a purple cloud! And there Vesuvius with its plume of smoke, And the great city stretched upon the shore As in a dream! JULIA.
Parthenope the Siren! VITTORIA.
And yon long line of lights, those sunlit windows Blaze like the torches carried in procession To do her honor! It is beautiful! JULIA.
I have no heart to feel the beauty of it! My feet are weary, pacing up and down These level flags, and wearier still my thoughts Treading the broken pavement of the Past, It is too sad.

I will go in and rest, And make me ready for to-morrow's journey.
VITTORIA.
I will go with you; for I would not lose One hour of your dear presence.

'T is enough Only to be in the same room with you.
I need not speak to you, nor hear you speak; If I but see you, I am satisfied.
[They go in.
MONOLOGUE: THE LAST JUDGMENT MICHAEL ANGELO's Studio.

He is at work on the cartoon of the Last Judgment.
MICHAEL ANGELO.
Why did the Pope and his ten Cardinals Come here to lay this heavy task upon me?
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.