But，mindyou，whenaboystarvesinthestreetsEightyearstogetherasmyfortunewas，Watchingfolk’sfacestoknowwhowillflingThebitofhalf-strippedgrape-bunchhedesires，Andwhowillcurseorkickhimforhispains，——
Whichgentlemanprocessionalandfine，HoldingacandletotheSacrament，WillwinkandlethimliftaplateandcatchThedroppingsofthewaxtosellagain，[120]
OrhollafortheEightandhavehimwhipped，——
HowsayI?——nay，whichdogbites，whichletsdropHisbonefromtheheapofoffalinthestreet，——
Why，soulandsenseofhimgrowsharpalike，Helearnsthelookofthings，andnonethelessForadmonitionfromthehunger-pinch。
Ihadastoreofsuchremarks，besure，Which，afterIfoundleisure，turnedtouse：
Idrewmen’sfacesonmycopy-books，Scrawledthemwithintheantiphonary’smarge，[130]
Joinedlegsandarmstothelongmusic-notes，FoundeyesandnoseandchinforA’sandB’s，AndmadeastringofpicturesoftheworldBetwixttheinsandoutsofverbandnoun，Onthewall，thebench，thedoor。Themonkslookedblack。”Nay，”quoththePrior，”turnhimout，d’yesay?
Innowise。Loseacrowandcatchalark。
Whatifatlastwegetourmanofparts，WeCarmelites，likethoseCamaldoleseAndPreachingFriars，todoourchurchupfine[140]
Andputthefrontonitthatoughttobe！”
Andhereuponhebademedaubaway。
Thankyou！myheadbeingcrammed，thewallsablank，Neverwassuchpromptdisemburdening。
Firsteverysortofmonk，theblackandwhite，Idrewthem，fatandlean：then，folksatchurch，FromgoodoldgossipswaitingtoconfessTheircribsofbarrel-droppings，candle-ends，——
Tothebreathlessfellowatthealtar-foot，Freshfromhismurder，safeandsittingthere[150]
WiththelittlechildrenroundhiminarowOfadmiration，halfforhisbeard，andhalfForthatwhiteangerofhisvictim’ssonShakingafistathimwithonefiercearm，SigninghimselfwiththeotherbecauseofChristWhosesadfaceonthecrossseesonlythisAfterthepassionofathousandyears，Tillsomepoorgirl，heraprono’erherheadWhichtheintenseeyeslookedthrough，cameateveOntiptoe，saidaword，droppedinaloaf，[160]
Herpairofear-ringsandabunchofflowersThebrutetookgrowling，prayed，andsowasgone。
Ipaintedall，thencried，”’Tisaskandhave；
Choose，formore’sready！”——laidtheladderflat，Andshowedmycoveredbitofcloister-wall。
ThemonksclosedinacircleandpraisedloudTillchecked，taughtwhattoseeandnottosee，Beingsimplebodies，——”That’stheveryman！
Lookattheboywhostoopstopatthedog！
Thatwoman’slikethePrior’sniecewhocomes[170]
Tocareabouthisasthma：it’sthelife！”
Buttheremytriumph’sstraw-fireflaredandfunked；
Theirbetterstooktheirturntoseeandsay：
ThepriorandthelearnedpulledafaceAndstoppedallthatinnotime。”How?what’shere?
Quitefromthemarkofpainting，blessusall！
Faces，arms，legs，andbodieslikethetrueAsmuchaspeaandpea！it’sdevil’sgame！
Yourbusinessisnottocatchmenwithshow，Withhomagetotheperishableclay，[180]
Butliftthemoverit，ignoreitall，Makethemforgetthere’ssuchathingasflesh。
Yourbusinessistopaintthesoulsofmen——
Man’ssoul，andit’safire，smoke……no，it’snot……
It’svapordoneuplikeanew-bornbabe——
Inthatshapewhenyoudieitleavesyourmouth，It’s……well，whatmatterstalking，it’sthesoul！
Giveusnomoreofbodythanshowssoul！
Here’sGiotto，withhisSainta-praisingGod，Thatsetsuspraising，——whynotstopwithhim?[190]
WhyputallthoughtsofpraiseoutofourheadWithwonderatlines，colors，andwhatnot?
Paintthesoul，nevermindthelegsandarms！
Ruballout，tryatitasecondtime！
Oh，thatwhitesmallishfemalewiththebreasts，She’sjustmyniece……Herodias，Iwouldsay，——
Whowentanddanced，andgotmen’sheadscutoff！
Haveitallout！”Now，isthissense，Iask?
Afinewaytopaintsoul，bypaintingbodySoill，theeyecan’tstopthere，mustgofurther[200]
Andcan’tfareworse！Thus，yellowdoesforwhiteWhenwhatyouputforyellow’ssimplyblack，AndanysortofmeaninglooksintenseWhenallbesideitselfmeansandlooksnaught。
Whycan’tapainterlifteachfootinturn，Leftfootandrightfoot，goadoublestep，Makehisfleshlikerandhissoulmorelike，Bothintheirorder?Taketheprettiestface，ThePrior’sniece……patron-saint——isitsoprettyYoucan’tdiscoverifitmeanshope，fear，[210]
Sorroworjoy?won’tbeautygowiththese?
SupposeI’vemadehereyesallrightandblue，Can’tItakebreathandtrytoaddlife’sflash，Andthenaddsoulandheightenthemthreefold?
Orsaythere’sbeautywithnosoulatall——
Ineversawit——putthecasethesame——
Ifyougetsimplebeautyandnaughtelse，YougetaboutthebestthingGodinvents：
That’ssomewhat：andyou’llfindthesoulyouhavemissed，Withinyourself，whenyoureturnhimthanks。[220]”Ruballout！”Well，well，there’smylife，inshort，Andsothethinghasgoneoneversince。
I’mgrownamannodoubt，I’vebrokenbounds：
YoushouldnottakeafelloweightyearsoldAndmakehimsweartoneverkissthegirls。
I’mmyownmaster，paintnowasIplease——
Havingafriend，yousee，intheCorner-house！
Lord，it’sfastholdingbytheringsinfront——
ThosegreatringsservemorepurposesthanjustToplantaflagin，ortieupahorse！[230]
Andyettheoldschoolingsticks，theoldgraveeyesArepeepingo’ermyshoulderasIwork，Theheadsshakestill——”It’sart’sdecline，myson！
You’renotofthetruepainters，greatandold；
BrotherAngelico’stheman，you’llfind；
BrotherLorenzostandshissinglepeer：
Fagonatflesh，you’llnevermakethethird！”
`Flowero’thepine，Youkeepyourmistr……manners，andI’llsticktomine！’
I’mnotthethird，then：blessus，theymustknow！[240]
Don’tyouthinkthey’rethelikeliesttoknow，TheywiththeirLatin?So，Iswallowmyrage，Clinchmyteeth，suckmylipsintight，andpaintTopleasethem——sometimesdo，andsometimesdon’t；
For，doingmost，there’sprettysuretocomeAturn，somewarmevefindsmeatmysaints——
Alaugh，acry，thebusinessoftheworld——
`Flowero’thepeach，Deathforusall，andhisownlifeforeach！’
Andmywholesoulrevolves，thecuprunsover，[250]
Theworldandlife’stoobigtopassforadream，AndIdothesewildthingsinsheerdespite，Andplaythefooleriesyoucatchmeat，Inpurerage！Theoldmill-horse，outatgrassAfterhardyears，throwsuphisstiffheelsso，AlthoughthemillerdoesnotpreachtohimTheonlygoodofgrassistomakechaff。
Whatwouldmenhave?Dotheylikegrassorno——
Maytheyormayn’tthey?allIwant’sthethingSettledforeveroneway。Asitis，[260]
Youtelltoomanyliesandhurtyourself：
Youdon’tlikewhatyouonlyliketoomuch，Youdolikewhat，ifgivenyouatyourword，Youfindabundantlydetestable。
Forme，IthinkIspeakasIwastaught；
Ialwaysseethegarden，andGodthereA-makingman’swife：and，mylessonlearned，Thevalueandsignificanceofflesh，Ican’tunlearntenminutesafterwards。
Youunderstandme：I’mabeast，Iknow。[270]
Butsee，now——why，IseeascertainlyAsthatthemorning-star’sabouttoshine，Whatwillhapsomeday。We’veayoungsterhereComestoourconvent，studieswhatIdo，Slouchesandstaresandletsnoatomdrop：
HisnameisGuidi——he’llnotmindthemonks——
TheycallhimHulkingTom，heletsthemtalk——
Hepicksmypracticeup——he’llpaintapace，Ihopeso——thoughIneverlivesolong，Iknowwhat’ssuretofollow。Youbejudge！[280]
YouspeaknoLatinmorethanI，belike；
However，you’remyman，you’veseentheworld——Thebeautyandthewonderandthepower，Theshapesofthings，theircolors，lights，andshades，Changes，surprises，——andGodmadeitall！——
Forwhat?Doyoufeelthankful，ayorno，Forthisfairtown’sface，yonderriver’sline，Themountainrounditandtheskyabove，Muchmorethefiguresofman，woman，child，Thesearetheframeto?What’sitallabout?[290]
Tobepassedover，despised?ordweltupon，Wonderedat?oh，thislastofcourse！——yousay。
Butwhynotdoaswellassay，——painttheseJustastheyare，carelesswhatcomesofit?
God’sworks——paintanyone，andcountitcrimeToletatruthslip。Don’tobject，”HisworksAreherealready；natureiscomplete：
Supposeyoureproduceher——whichyoucan’t
There’snoadvantage！youmustbeather，then。”
For，don’tyoumark?we’remadesothatwelove[300]
Firstwhenweseethempainted，thingswehavepassedPerhapsahundredtimesnorcaredtosee；
Andsotheyarebetter，painted——bettertous，Whichisthesamething。Artwasgivenforthat；
Godusesustohelpeachotherso，Lendingourmindsout。Haveyounoticed，nowYourcullion’shangingface?Abitofchalk，Andtrustmebutyoushould，though！HowmuchmoreIfIdrewhigherthingswiththesametruth！
ThatweretotakethePrior’spulpit-place，[310]
InterpretGodtoallofyou！Oh，oh，ItmakesmemadtoseewhatmenshalldoAndweinourgraves！Thisworld’snoblotforus，Norblank；itmeansintensely，andmeansgood：
Tofinditsmeaningismymeatanddrink。”Ay，butyoudon’tsoinstigatetoprayer！”
StrikesinthePrior：”whenyourmeaning’splainItdoesnotsaytofolks——remembermatins，Or，mindyourfastnextFriday！”Why，forthisWhatneedofartatall?Askullandbones，[320]
Twobitsofsticknailedcross-wise，or，what’sbest，Abelltochimethehourwith，doesaswell。
IpaintedaSaintLaurencesixmonthssinceAtPrato，splashedthefrescoinfinestyle：”Howlooksmypainting，nowthescaffold’sdown?”
Iaskabrother：”Hugely，”hereturns——”AlreadynotonephizofyourthreeslavesWhoturntheDeaconoffhistoastedside，But’sscratchedandproddedtoourheart’scontent，Thepiouspeoplehavesoeasedtheirown[330]
Withcomingtosayprayersthereinarage：
Wegetonfasttoseethebricksbeneath。
Expectanotherjobthistimenextyear，Forpityandreligiongrowi’thecrowd——
Yourpaintingservesitspurpose！”Hangthefools！——
Thatis——you’llnotmistakeanidlewordSpokeinahuffbyapoormonk，Gotwot，TastingtheairthisspicynightwhichturnsTheunaccustomedheadlikeChiantiwine！
Oh，thechurchknows！don’tmisreportme，now！[340]
It’snaturalapoormonkoutofboundsShouldhavehisaptwordtoexcusehimself：
AndhearkenhowIplottomakeamends。
Ihavebethoughtme：Ishallpaintapiece……There’sforyou！Givemesixmonths，thengo，seeSomethinginSant’Ambrogio’s！Blessthenuns！
Theywantacasto’myoffice。IshallpaintGodinthemidst，Madonnaandherbabe，Ringedbyabowery，floweryangel-brood，Liliesandvestmentsandwhitefaces，sweet[350]
Aspuffonpuffofgratedorris-rootWhenladiescrowdtochurchatmidsummer。
Andtheni’thefront，ofcourseasaintortwo——
SaintJohn，becausehesavestheFlorentines，SaintAmbrose，whoputsdowninblackandwhiteTheconvent’sfriendsandgivesthemalongday，AndJob，Imusthavehimtherepastmistake，ThemanofUzandUswithoutthez，Painterswhoneedhispatience。Well，alltheseSecuredattheirdevotion，upshallcome[360]
Outofacornerwhenyouleastexpect，Asonebyadarkstairintoagreatlight，Musicandtalking，whobutLippo！I！——
Mazed，motionless，andmoon-struck——I’mtheman！
BackIshrink——whatisthisIseeandhear?
I，caughtupwithmymonk’sthingsbymistake，Myoldsergegownandropethatgoesallround，I，inthispresence，thispurecompany！
Where’sahole，where’sacornerforescape?
Thenstepsasweetangelicslipofathing[370]
Forward，putsoutasoftpalm——”Notsofast！”