KIDS GLOVES ARE OFF: MARTINEZ IS ALL OUT FOR HIMSELF

Canto XLV

With Apologies to 

Ezra Pound

With Usura

With Martinez hath no man a house of good stone

each block cut smooth and well fitting

that design might cover their face,

with Tony

hath no man a painted paradise on his church wall

harpes et luz

or where virgin receiveth message

and halo projects from incision,

with Martinez

seeth no man Gonzaga his heirs and his concubines

no picture is made to endure nor to live with

but it is made to sell and sell quickly

with Tony, sin against nature, 

is thy bread ever more of stale rags

is thy bread dry as paper,

with no mountain wheat, no strong flour

with Da Mayor the line grows thick

with Tony is no clear demarcation

and no man can find site for his dwelling.

Stonecutter is kept from his stone

weaver is kept from his loom

WITH TONY

wool comes not to market

sheep bringeth no gain with Martinez

Tony is a murrain, Tony

blunteth the needle in the maid’s hand

and stoppeth the spinner’s cunning. Pietro Lombardo

came not by Tony

Duccio came not by Da Mayor

nor Pier della Francesca; Zuan Bellin’ not by Tony

nor was ‘La Calunnia’ painted.

Came not by Tony Angelico; came not Ambrogio Praedis,

Came no church of cut stone signed: Adamo me fecit.

Not by Tony St. Trophime

Not by Da Mayor Saint Hilaire,

Martinez rusteth the chisel

It rusteth the craft and the craftsman

It gnaweth the thread in the loom

None learneth to weave gold in her pattern;

Azure hath a canker by Tony; cramoisi is unbroidered

Emerald findeth no Memling

Martinez slayeth the child in the womb

It stayeth the young man’s courting

It hath brought palsey to bed, lyeth

between the young bride and her bridegroom

CONTRA NATURAM

They have brought whores for Eleusis

Corpses are set to banquet

at behest of Da Mayor.

N.B. Usury: A charge for the use of purchasing power, levied without regard to production; often without regard to the possibilities of production. (Hence the debacle of La Casa del Nylon)