andhedrewtheartistawaywithhim.atthismomenthewasabletodoso,forafireraninthebloodoftheyoungsculptor;achangehadtakenplaceinhissoul;hefeltalongingtotearfromtheold,theaccustomed-toforget,ifpossible,hisownindividuality;andthereforeitwasthathefollowedangelo.

inanout-of-the-waysuburbofromelayatavernmuchvisitedbyartists.itwasbuiltontheruinsofsomeancientbaths.thegreatyellowcitronshungdownamongthedarkshiningleaves,andcoveredapartoftheoldreddish-yellowwalls.thetavernconsistedofavaultedchamber,almostlikeacavern,intheruins.alampburnedtherebeforethepictureofthemadonna.agreatfiregleamedonthehearth,androastingandboilingwasgoingonthere;without,underthecitrontreesandlaurels,stoodafewcoveredtables.

thetwoartistswerereceivedbytheirfriendswithshoutsofwelcome.littlewaseaten,butmuchwasdrunk,andthespiritsofthecompanyrose.songsweresunganddittieswereplayedontheguitar;presentlythesalterellosounded,andthemerrydanceyoungromangirls,whosatasmodelstotheartists,tookpartinthedanceandinthefestivity.twocharmingbacchanteswerethey;certainlynotpsyches-notdelicate,beautifulroses,butfresh,hearty,glowingcarnations.

howhotitwasonthatday!evenaftersundownitwashot.therewasfireintheblood,fireineveryglance,fireeverywhere.theairgleamedwithgoldandroses,andlifeseemedlikegoldandroses.

"atlastyouhavejoinedus,foronce,"saidhisfriends."nowletyourselfbecarriedbythewaveswithinandaroundyou."

"neveryethaveifeltsowell,somerry!"criedtheyoungartist."youareright-youareallofyouright.iwasafool-adreamer.manbelongstoreality,andnottofancy."

withsongsandwithsoundingguitarstheyoungpeoplereturnedthateveningfromthetavern,throughthenarrowstreets;thetwoglowingcarnations,daughtersofthecampagna,wentwiththem.

inangelo'sroom,amongalitterofcoloredsketches(studies)andglowingpictures,thevoicessoundedmellower,butnotlessthegroundlaymanyasketchthatresembledthedaughtersofthecampagna,intheirfresh,heartycomeliness,butthetwooriginalswerefarhandsomerthantheirportraits.alltheburnersofthesix-armedlampflaredandflamed;andthehumanflamedupfromwithin,andappearedintheglareasifitweredivine.

"apollo!jupiter!ifeelmyselfraisedtoourheaven-toyourglory!ifeelasiftheblossomoflifewereunfoldingitselfinmyveinsatthismoment!"

yes,theblossomunfoldeditself,andthenburstandfell,andanevilvaporarosefromit,blindingthesight,leadingastraythefancy;thefireworkofthesenseswentout,anditbecamedark.

hewasagaininhisownroom.therehesatdownonhisbedandcollectedhisthoughts.

"fieonthee!"thesewerethewordsthatsoundedoutofhismouthfromthedepthsofhisheart."wretchedman,go,begone!"andadeeppainfulsighburstfromhisbosom.

"away!begone!"these,herwords,thewordsofthelivingpsyche,echoedthroughhisheart,escapedfromhislips.heburiedhisheadinthepillows,histhoughtsgrewconfused,andhefellasleep.

inthemorningdawnhestartedup,andcollectedhisthoughtsanew.whathadhappened?hadallthepastbeenadream?thevisittoher,thefeastatthetavern,theeveningwiththepurplecarnationsofthecampagna?