So he prayed and struggled with
himself till the evening.
Then the Prior came and fetched him. "My son," he said, "my dear
brother, you must not make a paramour of religion; you must not
practise it as a daily task or a bad habit. You must live your life
and regard it as a melody, while religion is a gentle accompaniment
to it. Work is for every day, rest and festival for Sundays. But if
you keep your Sabbath on the week-day you sin.... Come! now I will
show you Rome!"
Martin followed him, but unwillingly. The streets were illuminated,
and the people were amusing themselves with dancing, music, and
jugglers' feats.
"You must know where we are going," said the Prior. "This Agostino
Chigi is a banker, almost as rich as the House of Fugger in
Augsburg, and he looks after the Pope's business affairs. Moreover,
he is a Maecenas, who patronises the fine arts. His especial protege
is Raphael, who has just painted some beautiful large pictures in
his villa, which we will now see."
They reached the Tiber, followed the right bank, went over a bridge,
and stood before a garden which was enclosed by marble pillars and
a--gilded iron fence. It was now dark, and the garden was
illuminated by lanterns which hung on the boughs of the
orange-trees, and so lit up the ripe fruits that they gleamed like
gold.
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