weet angel
babes floated on thin clouds above her head, singing hymns to a mandoline
and viol. Thus had my lord Cardinal commanded, and the work was so
excellent that, if the Saint herself vouchsafed to look down on it out of
Heaven, of a certainty it was pleasing in her eyes.

As to mine own presentment; at first I weened that I would be limned in
my peach-colored brocade gown with silver dolphins thereon, by reason
that I had worn that weed in the early morn after the dance, when Hans
spoke his last loving farewell at the door of our house. But whereas one
cold day I went into Master Giacomo's work-chamber in a red hood and a
green cloak bordered with sable fur, he would thenceforth paint me in no
other guise. At first he was fain to present me as going forth to church;
then he deemed that he might not show forth my very look and seeming if I
were limned with downcast head and eyes. Therefor he gave me the falcon
on my hand which had erewhile been my lover's gift. My eyes were set on
the distance as though I watched for a heron; thus I seemed in truth like
one hunting--"chaste Diana," quoth the painter, minding him of the
reproofs I had given him so often. But it would be a hard task to tell of
all the ways whereby the painter would provoke me to reprove him. When
the likeness was no more than half done, he painted his own merry face to
the falcon on my wrist gazing up at me with silly languor. Thereupon,
when he presently quitted us, I took the red chalk and wrote his wife's
name on a clear place in front of the face and beneath it the image of a
birch rod; and on the morrow he brought with him a right pleasant Sonnet,
which I scarce had pardoned had he not offered it so humbly and read it
in so sweet a voice. And, being plainly interpreted, it was as follows:

"Upon Olympus, where the gods do dwell
Who with almighty will rule earth and heaven,
Lo! I behold the chiefest of them all
Jove, on his throne with Juno at his side.
A noble wedded pair. In all the world
The eye may vainly seek nor find their like.
The nations to his sanctuary throng,
And kings, struck dumb, cast down their golden crowns.

"Yet even these are not for ever one.
The god flies from the goddess.--And a swan
Does devoir now, the slave of Leda's charms.

"Thus I behold the beams of thy bright eye,
And bid my home farewell,--I, hapless wight,