The descending sun Seems to caress the city that he loves, And crowns it with the aureole of a saint.
I will go forth and breathe the air a while.
II.
SAN SILVESTRO A Chapel in the Church of San Silvestra on Monte Cavallo.
VITTORIA COLONNA, CLAUDIO TOLOMMEI, and others.
VITTORIA.
Here let us rest a while, until the crowd Has left the church.

I have already sent For Michael Angelo to join us here.
MESSER CLAUDIO.
After Fra Bernardino's wise discourse On the Pauline Epistles, certainly Some words of Michael Angelo on Art Were not amiss, to bring us back to earth.
MICHAEL ANGELO, at the door.
How like a Saint or Goddess she appears; Diana or Madonna, which I know not! In attitude and aspect formed to be At once the artist's worship and despair! VITTORIA.
Welcome, Maestro.

We were waiting for you.
MICHAEL ANGELO.
I met your messenger upon the way, And hastened hither.
VITTORIA.
It is kind of you To come to us, who linger here like gossips Wasting the afternoon in idle talk.
These are all friends of mine and friends of yours.
MICHAEL ANGELO.
If friends of yours, then are they friends of mine.
Pardon me, gentlemen.

But when I entered I saw but the Marchesa.
VITTORIA.
Take this seat Between me and Ser Claudio Tolommei, Who still maintains that our Italian tongue Should be called Tuscan.

But for that offence We will not quarrel with him.
MICHAEL ANGELO.
Eccellenza-- VITTORIA.
Ser Claudio has banished Eccellenza And all such titles from the Tuscan tongue.
MESSER CLAUDIO.
'T is the abuse of them and not the use I deprecate.
MICHAEL ANGELO.
The use or the abuse It matters not.