the complete poetical works-第195节
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Or aught else that is mine？
VALDESSO。
The hindrance lies
In that original sin； by which all fell。
JULIA。
Ah me； I cannot bring my troubled mind
To wish well to that Adam； our first parent；
Who by his sin lost Paradise for us；
And brought such ills upon us。
VALDESSO。
We ourselves；
When we commit a sin； lose Paradise；
As much as he did。 Let us think of this；
And how we may regain it。
JULIA。
Teach me； then；
To harmonize the discord of my life；
And stop the painful jangle of these wires。
VALDESSO。
That is a task impossible； until
You tune your heart…strings to a higher key
Than earthly melodies。
JULIA。
How shall I do it？
Point out to me the way of this perfection；
And I will follow you； for you have made
My soul enamored with it； and I cannot
Rest satisfied until I find it out。
But lead me privately； so that the world
Hear not my steps； I would not give occasion
For talk among the people。
VALDESSO。
Now at last
I understand you fully。 Then； what need
Is there for us to beat about the bush？
I know what you desire of me。
JULIA。
What rudeness！
If you already know it； why not tell me？
VALDESSO。
Because I rather wait for you to ask it
With your own lips。
JULIA。
Do me the kindness； then；
To speak without reserve； and with all frankness；
If you divine the truth； will I confess it。
VALDESSO。
I am content。
JULIA。
Then speak。
VALDESSO。
You would be free
From the vexatious thoughts that come and go
Through your imagination； and would have me
Point out some royal road and lady…like
Which you may walk in； and not wound your feet；
You would attain to the divine perfection；
And yet not turn your back upon the world；
You would possess humility within；
But not reveal it in your outward actions；
You would have patience； but without the rude
Occasions that require its exercise；
You would despise the world； but in such fashion
The world should not despise you in return；
Would clothe the soul with all the Christian graces；
Yet not despoil the body of its gauds；
Would feed the soul with spiritual food；
Yet not deprive the body of its feasts；
Would seem angelic in the sight of God；
Yet not too saint…like in the eyes of men；
In short； would lead a holy Christian life
In such a way that even your nearest friend
Would not detect therein one circumstance
To show a change from what it was before。
Have I divined your secret？
JULIA。
You have drawn
The portrait of my inner self as truly
As the most skilful painter ever painted
A human face。
VALDESSO。
This warrants me in saying
You think you can win heaven by compromise；
And not by verdict。
JULIA
You have often told me
That a bad compromise was better even
Than a good verdict。
VALDESSO。
Yes； in suits at law；
Not in religion。 With the human soul
There is no compromise。 By faith alone
Can man be justified。
JULIA。
Hush； dear Valdesso；
That is a heresy。 Do not； I pray you；
Proclaim it from the house…top； but preserve it
As something precious； hidden in your heart；
As I； who half believe and tremble at it。
VALDESSO。
I must proclaim the truth。
JULIA。
Enthusiast！
Why must you？ You imperil both yourself
And friends by your imprudence。 Pray； be patient。
You have occasion now to show that virtue
Which you lay stress upon。 Let us return
To our lost pathway。 Show me by what steps
I shall walk in it。
＇Convent bells are heard。
VALDESSO。
Hark！ the convent bells
Are ringing； it is midnight； I must leave you。
And yet I linger。 Pardon me； dear Countess；
Since you to…night have made me your confessor；
If I so far may venture； I will warn you
Upon one point。
JULIA。
What is it？ Speak； I pray you；
For I have no concealments in my conduct；
All is as open as the light of day。
What is it you would warn me of？
VALDESSO。
Your friendship
With Cardinal Ippolito。
JULIA。
What is there
To cause suspicion or alarm in that；
More than in friendships that I entertain
With you and others？ I ne'er sat with him
Alone at night； as I am sitting now
With you； Valdesso。
VALDESSO。
Pardon me； the portrait
That Fra Bastiano painted was for him。
Is that quite prudent？
JULIA。
That is the same question
Vittoria put to me； when I last saw her。
I make you the same answer。 That was not
A pledge of love； but of pure gratitude。
Recall the adventure of that dreadful night
When Barbarossa with two thousand Moors
Landed upon the coast； and in the darkness
Attacked my castle。 Then； without delay；
The Cardinal came hurrying down from Rome
To rescue and protect me。 Was it wrong
That in an hour like that I did not weigh
Too nicely this or that； but granted him
A boon that pleased him； and that flattered me？
VALDESSO。
Only beware lest； in disguise of friendship
Another corsair； worse than Barbarossa；
Steal in and seize the castle； not by storm
But strategy。 And now I take my leave。
JULIA。
Farewell； but ere you go look forth and see
How night hath hushed the clamor and the stir
Of the tumultuous streets。 The cloudless moon
Roofs the whole city as with tiles of silver；
The dim； mysterious sea in silence sleeps；
And straight into the air Vesuvius lifts
His plume of smoke。 How beautiful it is！
＇Voices in the street。
GIOVAN ANDREA。
Poisoned at Itri。
ANOTHER VOICE。
Poisoned？ Who is poisoned？
GIOVAN ANDREA。
The Cardinal Ippolito； my master。
Call it malaria。 It was sudden。
＇Julia swoons。
V。
VITTORIA COLONNA
A room in the Torre Argentina。
VITTORIA COLONNA and JULIA GONZAGA。
VITTORIA。
Come to my arms and to my heart once more；
My soul goes out to meet you and embrace you；
For we are of the sisterhood of sorrow。
I know what you have suffered。
JULIA。
Name it not。
Let me forget it。
VITTORIA。
I will say no more。
Let me look at you。 What a joy it is
To see your face； to hear your voice again！
You bring with you a breath as of the morn；
A memory of the far…off happy days
When we were young。 When did you come from Fondi？
JULIA。
I have not been at Fondi since
VITTORIA。
Ah me！
You need not speak the word； I understand you。
JULIA。
I came from Naples by the lovely valley
The Terra di Lavoro。
VITTORIA。
And you find me
But just returned from a long journey northward。
I have been staying with that noble woman
Renee of France； the Duchess of Ferrara。
JULIA。
Oh； tell me of the Duchess。 I have heard
Flaminio speak her praises with such warmth
That I am eager to hear more of her
And of her brilliant court。
VITTORIA。
You shall hear all
But first sit down and listen patiently
While I confess myself。
JULIA。
What deadly sin
Have you committed？
VITTORIA。
Not a sin； a folly
I chid you once at Ischia； when you told me
That brave Fra Bastian was to paint your portrait。
JULIA
Well I remember it。
VITTORIA。
Then chide me now；
For I confess to something still more strange。
Old as I am； I have at last consented
To the entreaties and the supplications
Of Michael Angelo
JULIA
To marry him？
VITTORIA。
I pray you； do not jest with me！ You now；
Or you should know； that never such a thought
Entered my breast。 I am already married。
The Marquis of Pescara is my husband；
And death has not divorced us。
JULIA。
Pardon me。
Have I offended you？
VITTORIA。
No； but have hurt me。
Unto my buried lord I give myself；
Unto my friend the shadow of myself；
My portrait。 It is not from vanity；
But for the love I bear him。
JULIA。
I rejoice
To hear these words。 Oh； this will be a portrait
Worthy of both of you！ ＇A knock。
VITTORIA。
Hark！ He is coming。
JULIA。
And shall I go or stay？
VITTORIA。
By all means； stay。
The drawing will be better for your presence；
You will enliven me。
JULIA。
I shall not speak；
The presence of great men doth take from me
All power of speech。 I
