JULIA. selves along, Ere this be turned to stone! What hindrances Never better. Must block the way; what idle interfer 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 II. VIGNA DI PAPA GIULIO. POPE JULIUS III. seated by the Fountai of Acqua Vergine, surrounded by Car dinals. 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. JULIUS. You, Cardinal Salviati, Are an old man. Are you incapable? Is set, and all is darkness, all is dark-'T is the old ox that draws the straight my sun, ness! est furrow. To that fair harbor than the sea had | To be at peace. The tumult of the city done Or would do in ten years. And him you think To put in place of Michael Angelo, covers His error when he comes to leap the ditch. CARDINAL MARCELLO. He does not build; he but demolishes JULIUS. Only to build more grandly. CARDINAL MARCELLO. But time passes: Scarce reaches here. MICHAEL ANGELO. How beautiful it is, And quiet almost as a hermitage! JULIUS. We live as hermits here; and from O'erlook all Rome and see the yellow Cleaving in twain the city, like a sword, MICHAEL ANGELO. I would advise Your Holiness not to cross it, or not of. ten; Year after year goes by, and yet the It is not safe. work Cardinal Salviati And Cardinal Marcello, do you lister? This is your famous Nanni Baccio Bigio. MICHAEL ANGELO, aside. There is some mystery here. These Stand lowering at me with unfriendly Are my delight, and if I have not asked JULIUS. from Rome more 452 Than bridge or gardens. Some com- Certain supposed defects or imperfections, You doubtless can explain. Building about with columns, took all light Out of this plan; left in the choir dark corners I neither am obliged, nor will I be, Is to provide the means, and see that thieves Do not lay hands upon them. The designs Must all be left to me. CARDINAL MARCello. Sir architect, You do forget yourself, to speak thus rudely In presence of his Holiness, and to us MICHAEL ANGELO, putting on his hat. Linked with the Imperial line, and with Matilda, |