"
At this point I said: "Senhor Lactancio, in calling painting _dumb_ poetry
it seems to me that the poets did not know how to paint well, because, if
they understood how much more painting declares and speaks than poetry,
her sister, they would not say it was dumb, and I will maintain rather
that poetry is the more dumb."
The Marchioness said: "How will you prove, Spaniard, what you say? how
will you prove that painting is not dumb and that poetry is? Let us hear,
for in no more worthy discourse could this day be spent, hearing what you
maintain on that subject; afterwards it may be possible to bring this
company together again, in another place."
"How can your Excellency wish," I answered, "that I should dare to do so
at once, and how should I be able to interest this company with my little
knowledge, especially as I am a pupil of the lady who is dumb and has no
tongue? Particularly, too, as it is already late, if the light through
these windows does not deceive me; how can you order me to praise my
innamorata before her own husband and in such an honourable court of those
who know her worth? If there were some powerful adversaries here I might
attempt it, although in this I am wrong, for it would be much easier to
vanquish enemies than to please these friends. But if your Excellency
desires so much to see me put to silence I will speak, not as an enemy of
poetry, for I am much indebted to her, and I owe her much in the virtue of
my profession, and in the perfection which I so much desire, but to defend
the other lady, who is still more mine, for whose sake only I rejoice to
live, and for whom I confess I have a voice and speak, she being dumb,
solely because I one day saw her move her eyes; and as she teaches one to
speak by her eyes, what would she do if she were to move her wise lips?
Good poets (as Senhor Lactancio said) do not do more with words than even
mediocre painters do with their works, for the former recount what the
latter express and declare.
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