The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-05
the young men. "This picture was painted


by dead man"
"He is dead, repeated Rubens, land no
one has known him. His very name Ia for
gotten-his name, which ought TO be I'm
mortal his name, which would have out
shone mine. Yes, mine, PADRE" added
the artist, with noble pride, "for you must
know that am Peter Paul Rubens."
At the sound of that name, whose re-
nown, associated as 1t was with 100 sacred
paintings, had penetrated even to the mon
astery, the pallid cheek of the prior flushed
lightly, and his dim eyes were fixed on the
strangers face with as much veneration
as surprise.
"Ah, you know me-" exclaimed Rubens,
with boyish satisfaction. "That delights
my soul So you will be the less of priest
with mel Now, then, will you sell me the
painting2"
"You ask for the impossible" respond
ed tho prior.
swell, then, do you know Of any other
works of this unfortunate genius9 Can
you not recall his namep viii you tell me
when he diedS"
"You have not understood Alright" re-
piled the priest. II told you that the au-
thor of this painting did not belong to the
world, but that does not signify, precisely,
that he Is dead.
"Oh, be lives, he lives" exclaimed all
the artists. "Give us his name. )"
"Tor WHAT The unhappy man has re-
nounced the world. He has nothing In
common with men-nothing. Therefore
implore you, let him die In peace"
"Oh!" said Rubens, with enthusiasm.
"That cannot be, padre. When God lights
In a soul the sacred fire of genius, he does
not intend that the soul shall he consumed
In solitude, but that 1t shall fulfill its sub
lime mission by Illuminating the minds
of other mcnl Give me the name of the
monastery where this master is hidden,
and will go to look for him and restore
him to his sphere. What glory awaits himl"
but if he should refusef asked the
prior timidly.
''If he refuses, will have recourse to
the pope, whose friendship honors me- and
the pope will convince him better than l..
1.-THE popel" exclaimed the prior.
Eyes, padre, the pope, repeated Rubens.
"Be assured, would not tell you the
name of this painter even If l remember
ed it. l shall not tell you in what convent
he has sought refuge.
swell, then, padre, the king and tho
pope will compel you to tell it, responded
Rubens in u tone Of evaporation. II
will see that they do"
"Oh, pray do not" exclaimed the priest.
"You will do wrong, Senior Rubens. Take
tho picture, if you wish, but leave Its au-
thor in peace. speak to you In the name
of God Yes, have known, have loved,
r In, lDl rnnnanp1 I
saved from the sea Of passion and misfor-
tune, shipwrecked and suffering, this mas
ter as you Gull him, this kind and misera-
BILE mortal, as l call him, yesterday for
gotten by God and by himself, today near
supreme felicity.
"Gloryl Do you know of anything
greater than that to which he aspires1"
BY what right do you wish to revive
in that soul the flame Of earthly vanity
when there burns in his heart the inex-
tinguishable fire Of devotionH Do you
think that this man before leaving tho
world, before renouncing riches, fame,
power, youth, love and everything that
fills mankind with pride, had not under
gone sharp conflict with his own hearth
Can you not divine the discnchantment,
the bitterness, which he must have borne
before he understood the falscncss of hu-
man atfuirs9 And you would bring him
back to the fight when he has triumphedT
But he Is renouncng Immortality"
cried Rubens
NO; be aspires to Immortality" re-
turned the priest
What right have you to interposo be-
tween this man ind the worldS Let me
talk with him. and be shall decide, " said
| Rubens hotly.
II have the right of an elder brother,
| of q teacher, of u father, all OF which am
to him l say again do it In the name
of God Respect that holy name, for the
love of your own SOUL" Thus speaking,
the monk covered his head and walked
Let us CO." said Ruhens. II know
what must do.
Maestro, exclaimed one of his pupils,
who during the preceding conversation
had been iutcntly looking now Mt tho can.
vas, then ut the priest, 'do You not think
that this old monk is very like the dying
man in the pictIre?"
''Joyel You're rightr exclaimed the
pupils,
"IHke away the wrinkles and beard and
| make allowances for the 80 years which
| the painting shows and you will see that
the maestro was right when no said that
| this dead monk was at tie same time the
portrait and work Of n living priest, Con
found me, if the living monk is not the
padre priOri" said the youth who had
| spoken first,
In the meanwhile Rubcns, gloomy,
ashamed and profoundly moved saw the
old man move away. The prior, crossing
| his arms on his breast. snluted him Just
before hc disappeared
1T was he. GCsl' cried the artist. "Oh,
lot us gol" he added, turning to his pu-
| pills This man is right His glory is
worth Mcre than mine, Let him do in
peace
Throwing n last glance at the canvas
which hld So moved him, he left tho
church and went to tho palace, where their
majcstiCs hOnOrCd him by IN invitation to
| dinner.
Three days Inter Ruhens returned en-
tircly alone to that humble chapel, dcsir-
GUS of contemplating once more the marvol-
| Gus painting and even Of speaking to Its
presumed author. But the picture was not
| in Its place Instead he found that there
was II coffin on tho floor Of the principal
| nave OF the church. 1t was surrounded
| by all the brotherhood Of monks, chanting
the requiem for the dead. The artist
drew near TO look at the face Of the dead
man and saw that it Was tho padre prior.
''Hc WAS great painter, said Ruhrus
as soon rs his surprise and pain had given
| place to other sentiments Now it is that
| no most resembles his work From tho
Spanish Of Pedro Antonio dc Alarcun in
Living Age.