And even then he will not do it;
and the painter will do it so that it may be seen with greater pleasure
and move the spectator more, and likewise he will place before your eyes
the brave image of Turnus, boastful and furious with the coward Drances,
that it seems as if you fear him yourself and that he is saying: _Larga
quidem semper, Drance, tibi copia fandi_. Therefore I with my small
talent, as a pupil of a mistress without a tongue, still deem the power of
painting to be greater than that of poetry in making greater effects and
in having more force and vehemence whether to move mind and soul to joy
and laughter, or to sorrow and tears, with more effective eloquence. But
let the muse Calliope be the judge in this matter, for I will be content
with her judgment."
And having said that I ceased. The Marchioness honoured me in bantering
terms thus:
"You, Senhor Francisco, have done so well for your innamorata, painting,
that, if Master Michael does not show just as great a sign of love for
her, we may perhaps get her to divorce him and go with you to Portugal."
And, smiling, Michael said: "He knows, Madam, that I have already done so,
and that I have already released her entirely to him; for as I do not
possess such powers as such great love demands, he has said what he has
said, as of one who belongs to him."
"I confess," said I, "Madam, that he has released her to me, but she does
not wish to go with me, so that she still remains at home with him;
neither would I, although she is so worthy, like to see her come to my
country, for there are but few there who know how to esteem her, and my
most serene king, unless it were in his unoccupied moments, would not
favour her, especially if there happened to be any unrest through war, in
which she is of no use; and so she would become angry and perhaps in a fit
of temper she would one day throw herself into the ocean, which is hard
by, and cause me to sing many times the verse:
Audieras: et fama fuit; sed opera tantum
nostra valent, Lycida, tela inter maria, quantum
chaonias dicunt aquila veniente columbas.
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