Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/483

THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE COURTIER we, being severed from ourselves, may, like true lovers, be able to transform ourselves into the beloved, and rising above the earth may be admitted to the angels' feast, where, fed on ambrosia and immortal nectar, we may at last die a most happy and living death, as died of old those ancient fathers whose souls thou, by the most glowing power of contemplation, didst ravish from the body and unite with God." 7I-— Having thus far spoken, with such vehemence that he al- most seemed transported and beside himself, Bembo remained silent and motionless, keeping his eyes towards heaven, as if wrapped in ecstasy; when my lady Emilia, who with the others had been listening most attentively to his discourse, took him by the border of his robe, and shaking him a little, said :**" " Have a care, messer Pietro, that with these thoughts your soul, also, does not forsake your body." " My Lady," replied messer Pietro, " that would not be the first miracle that love has wrought upon me." Then my lady Duchess and all the others again began urging Bembo to continue his discourse : and everyone seemed almost to feel in his mind a spark of that divine love which inspired the speaker, and all desired to hear more; but Bembo added: " My Lords, I have said that which love's sacred phrensy dic- tated to me at the moment; now that it seems to inspire me no further, I should not know what to say : and I think love is not willing that its secrets should be further disclosed, or that the Courtier should pass beyond that stage which it has been pleased to have me show him; and therefore perhaps it is not permitted to speak more of this matter." 72.—" Verily," said my lady Duchess, " if the unyouthful Courtier should prove able to follow the path that you have shown him, he ought in all reason to content himself with such great feli- city, and to have no envy of the youthful Courtier." Then messer Cesare Gonzaga said: " The road which leads to this felicity seems to me so steep that I believe it is very hard to travel." My lord Gaspar added: "I believe it is hard for men to travel, but impossible for women." 307