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.