Hunting Radetzky's soul like a partridge 33. This time we'll shoot better game and bag 'em hot: (Ex: "Casa Guidi," quod videas ante) Shall ponder, once Freedom restored to Florence, 34. How we shall prologuize, how we shall perorate, Feel truth at blood-heat and falsehood at zero rate, Show monarchy ever its uncouth cub licks Out of the bear's shape into Chimera's, 35. Then one shall propose in a speech (curt Tuscan, Expurgate and sober, with scarcely an "issimo"), 5, 1858, in his 92d year; governed the Austrian possessions in Italy to Feb. 28, 1857. Morello: Monte Morello, the highest of the spurs of the Apennines, to the north of Florence. St. 33. the stone of Dante: see Casa Guidi Windows, Pt. I., Sect. XIV., XV. Witanagemot: A. S. witena gemôt: an assembly of wise men, a parliament. Casa Guidi: Mrs. Browning's Casa Guidi Windows, a poem named from the house in Florence in which she lived, and giving her impressions of events in Tuscany at the time. the Loraine's: the "hated house" included the Cardinals of Guise, or Lorraine, and the Dukes of Guise, a younger branch of the house of Lorraine. Orgagna: Andrea di Cione (surnamed Orcagna, or Arcagnolo, approximate dates of b. and d. 1315-1376), one of the most noted successors of Giotto, and allied to him in genius; though he owed much to Giotto, he showed great independence of spirit in his style. St. 35. an "issimo": any adjective in the superlative degree. to end: com. To end now our half-told tale of Cambuscan, 36. Shall I be alive that morning the scaffold Springs from its sleep, and up goes the spire, At least to foresee that glory of Giotto And Florence together, the first am I ! plete. our half-told tale of Cambuscan: by metonymy for the unfinished Campanile of Giotto; "Or call up him that left half-told The story of Cambuscan bold." -Milton's Il Penseroso. An allusion to Chaucer, who left the Squire's Tale in the Canterbury Tales unfinished. The poet follows Milton's accentuation of the word "Cambuscan," on the penult; it's properly accented on the ultimate. beccaccia: woodcock. the Duomo's fit ally: "There is, as far as I know, only one Gothic building in Europe, the Duomo of Florence, in which the ornament is so exquisitely finished as to enable us to imagine what might have been the effect of the perfect workmanship of the Renaissance, coming out of the hands of men like Verocchio and Ghiberti, had it been employed on the magnificent framework of Gothic structure." - Ruskin in Stones of Venice. 1 St. 36. and up goes the spire: Giotto's plan included a spire of 100 feet, but the project was abandoned by Taddeo Gaddi, who carried on the work after the death of Giotto in 1336. "The mountains from without In silence listen for the word said next. What word will men say, here where Giotto planted His Campanile like an unperplexed Fine question heaven-ward, touching the things granted A noble people, who, being greatly vexed In act, in aspiration keep undaunted?" -Mrs. Browning's Casa Guidi Windows, Pt. I., vv. 66–72. PICTOR IGNOTUS. [FLORENCE, 15-] I COULD have painted pictures like that youth's To outburst on your night, with all my gift Of fires from God: nor would my flesh have shrunk And wide to heaven, or, straight like thunder, sunk Turned calmly and inquisitive, to scan Each face obedient to its passion's law, Each passion clear proclaimed without a tongue : A-tiptoe for the blessing of embrace, Or Rapture drooped the eyes, as when her brood And locked the mouth fast, like a castle braved, O human faces! hath it spilt, my cup? What did ye give me that I have not saved? 3. ah, thought which saddens while it soothes: the thought saddens him that he has not realized his capabilities, and soothes him that he has resisted the temptations to earthly fame, and been true to his soul. 14-22. he could have expressed Hope, Rapture, Confidence, and all other passions, in the human face, each clear proclaimed without a tongue. 23. hath it spilt, my cup? the cup of his memory. 24. What did ye give me that I have not saved? he has retained all the impressions he has received from human faces. Nor will I say I have not dreamed (how well!) As, making new hearts beat and bosoms swell, To Pope or Kaiser, East, West, South, or North, Or glad aspiring little burgh, it went, Oh, thus to live, I and my picture, linked This world seemed not the world it was, before: They drew me forth, and spite of me . . . enough! ... These buy and sell our pictures, take and give, Count them for garniture and household-stuff, And where they live needs must our pictures live 30 40 50 25 et seq. Nor will I say I have not dreamed (how well I have dreamed!) of going forth in each new picture, as it went to Pope or Kaiser, etc., making new hearts beat and bosoms swell. 34. the star not yet distinct above his hair: his fame not having yet shone brightly out; "his" refers to "youth." lie learning: and should lie. 41. But a voice changed it: the voice of his secret soul. Partakers of their daily pettiness, Discussed of, "This I love, or this I hate, This likes me more, and this affects me less! " If at whiles With the same series, Virgin, Babe, and Saint, At least no merchant traffics in my heart; Vain tongues from where my pictures stand apart : While, blackening in the daily candle-smoke, So, die my pictures! surely, gently die! O youth, men praise so,- holds their praise its worth? 60 70 ANDREA DEL SARTO. [CALLED "THE FAULTLESS PAINTER."] BUT do not let us quarrel any more, Fix his own time, accept too his own price, 67. travertine: coating of lime; properly a limestone. Lat., lapis Tiburtinus, found near Tibur, now Tivoli. |