possessed what Ulrich lacks."

"Perhaps so. Besides, his defect is one of those which will vanish with
years. In your school, with zeal and industry...."

"He will obtain, you think, what he lacks. I thought so too! But as I
was saying: he is queerly constituted. What you have admitted to me more
than once, the point we have started from in a hundred conversations--he
cannot grasp: form is not the essence of art to him."

The king shrugged his shoulders and pointed to his forehead; but Moor
continued: "Everything he creates must reflect anew, what he experienced
at the first sight of the subject. Often the first sketch succeeds, but
if it fails, he seeks without regard to truth and accuracy, by means of
trivial, strange expedients, to accomplish his purpose. Sentiment,
always sentiment! Line and tone are everything; that is our motto.
Whoever masters them, can express the grandest things."

"Right, right! Keep him drawing constantly. Give him mouths, eyes,
and hands to paint."

"That must be done in Antwerp."

"I'll hear nothing about Antwerp! You will stay, Antonio, you will stay.
Your wife and child-all honor to them. I have seen your wife's portrait.
Good, nourishing bread! Here you have ambrosia and manna. You know whom
I mean; Sophonisba is attached to you; the queen says so."

"And I gratefully feel it. It is hard to leave your gracious Majesty and
Sophonisba; but bread, Sire, bread--is necessary to life. I shall leave