. The marble faun; or, The romance of Monte Beni . r hill and valley, and allowedhim to taste the cool purity of mid-atmosphere. Atlength they reached the topmost chamber, directlybeneath the roof of the tower. This is my own abode, said Donatello; my ownowls nest. In fact, the room was fitted up as a bedchamber,though in a style of the utmost simplicity. It likewiseserved as an oratory; there being a crucifix in onecorner, and a multitude of holy emblems, such asCatholics judge it necessary to help their devotionwithal. Several ugly little prints, representing thesufferings of the Saviour, an
. The marble faun; or, The romance of Monte Beni . r hill and valley, and allowedhim to taste the cool purity of mid-atmosphere. Atlength they reached the topmost chamber, directlybeneath the roof of the tower. This is my own abode, said Donatello; my ownowls nest. In fact, the room was fitted up as a bedchamber,though in a style of the utmost simplicity. It likewiseserved as an oratory; there being a crucifix in onecorner, and a multitude of holy emblems, such asCatholics judge it necessary to help their devotionwithal. Several ugly little prints, representing thesufferings of the Saviour, and the martyrdoms ofsaints, hung on the wall; and, behind the crucifix,there was a good copy of Titians Magdalen of thePitti Palace, clad only in the flow of her golden ring-lets. She had a confident look (but it was Titiansfault, not the penitent womans), as if expecting towin heaven by the free display of her eartlily of a glass case appeared an image of the sa-cred Bambino, in the guise of a little waxen boy, very Titians Magdalen. THE OWL TOWER. 295 prettily made, reclining among flowers, like a Cupid,and holding up a heart that resembled a bit of redsealing-wax. A small vase of precious marble was fullof holy water. Beneath the crucifix, on a table, lay a human skull,which looked as if it might have been dug up out ofsome old grave. But, examining it more closely. Ken-yon saw that it was carved in gray alabaster, mostskilfully done to the death, with accurate imitation ofthe teeth, the sutures, the empty eye-caverns, and thefragile little bones of the nose. This hideous emblemrested on a cushion of white marble, so nicely wroughtthat you seemed to see the impression of the heavyskull in a silken and downy substance. Donatello dipped his fingers into the holy-water,vase, and crossed himself. After doing so he trembled. I have no right to make the sacred symbol on asinful breast! he said. On what mortal breast can it be made, then ?asked the sculptor. Is there o
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