I feel he laid the fetter: let it lie! This chamber for example - turn your head All that's behind us! You don't understand Nor care to understand about my art, But you can hear at least when people speak: And that cartoon, the second from the door -It is the thing, Love! so such thing should be 60 Behold Madonna! - I am bold to say. And just as much they used to say in France. At any rate 't is easy, all of it! No sketches first, no studies, that's long past: I do what many dream of all their lives, 69 Dream? strive to do, and agonize to do, And fail in doing. I could count twenty such On twice your fingers, and not leave this town, Who strive-you don't know how the others strive To paint a little thing like that you smeared Carelessly passing with your robes afloat,-Yet do much less, so much less, Someone That arm is wrongly put - and there again A fault to pardon in the drawing's lines, Still, what an arm! and I could alter it: stretch Out of me, out of me! And wherefore out? Had you enjoined them on me, given me soul, We might have risen to Rafael, I and you! Nay, Love, you did give all I asked, I I reached it ere the triumph, what is lost? Let my hands frame your face in your hair's gold, You beautiful Lucrezia that are mine! My better fortune, I resolve to think. 181 To Rafael. I have known it all these I am grown peaceful as old age to-nightI regret little, I would change still less. Since there my past life lies, why alter it? The very wrong to Francis! - it is true I took his coin, was tempted and complied, And built this house and sinned, and all is said. My father and my mother died of want. 250 Well, had I riches of my own? you see How one gets rich! Let each one bear his lot. They were born poor, lived poor, and poor they died: And I have labored somewhat in my time And not been paid profusely. Some good son Paint my two hundred pictures - let him try! No doubt, there's something strikes a balance. Yes, You loved me quite enough, it seems to night. |