Page:Prometheus Bound, and other poems.djvu/193

187 Where guess ye that the living people met, Kept tryst, formed ranks, chose leaders, first unrolled Their banners? In the Loggia? where is set Cellini's godlike Perseus, bronze—or gold— (How name the metal, when the statue flings Its soul so in your eyes?) with brow and sword Superbly calm, as all opposing things Slain with the Gorgon, were no more abhorred Since ended? No! the people sought no wings From Perseus in the Loggia, nor implored An inspiration in the place beside, From that dim bust of Brutus, jagged and grand, Where Buonarotti passionately tried Out of the clenched marble to demand The head of Rome's sublimest homicide, Then dropt the quivering mallet from his hand, Despairing he could find no model stuff Of Brutus, in all Florence, where he found The gods and gladiators thick enough? Not there! the people chose still holier ground! The people, who are simple, blind, and rough, Know their own angels, after looking round. What chose they then? where met they?

On the stone Call'd Dante's,—a plain flat stone, scarce discerned From others in the pavement,—whereupon He used to bring his quiet chair out, turned To Brunelleschi's church, and pour alone