University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poetical Works of Robert Browning

Browning, Robert (1812-1889)

collapse sectionI. 
VOL. I.
  
[dedication]
  
PAULINE;
  
SORDELLO.
collapse sectionII. 
VOL. II.
collapse section 
PARACELSUS.
 I. 
PART I. PARACELSUS ASPIRES.
 II. 
PART II. PARACELSUS ATTAINS.
 III. 
PART III. PARACELSUS.
 IV. 
PART IV. PARACELSUS ASPIRES.
 V. 
PART V. PARACELSUS ATTAINS.
collapse section 
STRAFFORD;
collapse sectionI. 
ACT I.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
collapse sectionII. 
ACT II.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
collapse sectionIII. 
ACT III.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
 III. 
Scene III.
collapse sectionIV. 
ACT IV.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
 III. 
Scene III.
collapse sectionV. 
ACT V.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
collapse sectionIII. 
VOL. III.
collapse section 
PIPPA PASSES;
  
[dedication]
  
[castlist]
  
INTRODUCTION.
 I. 
PART I. MORNING.
 II. 
PART II. NOON.
 III. 
PART III. EVENING.
 IV. 
PART IV. NIGHT.
collapse section 
KING VICTOR & KING CHARLES;
  
[castlist]
collapse section 
FIRST YEAR, 1730.—KING VICTOR.
 I. 
Part I.
 II. 
Part II.
collapse section 
SECOND YEAR, 1731.—KING CHARLES.
 I. 
Part I.
 II. 
Part II.
collapse section 
THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES
  
[castlist]
 I. 
ACT I.
 II. 
ACT II.
 III. 
ACT III.
 IV. 
ACT IV.
 V. 
ACT V.
collapse section 
A SOUL'S TRAGEDY.
  
[castlist]
 I. 
ACT I.
 II. 
ACT II.
collapse sectionIV. 
VOL. IV.
collapse section 
A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON;
  
[castlist]
collapse sectionI. 
ACT I.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
 III. 
Scene III.
 II. 
ACT II.
collapse sectionIII. 
ACT III.
 I. 
Scene I.
 II. 
Scene II.
collapse section 
COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY;
  
[castlist]
 I. 
ACT I. MORNING.
 II. 
ACT II. NOON.
 III. 
ACT III. AFTERNOON.
 IV. 
ACT IV. EVENING.
 V. 
ACT V. NIGHT.
collapse section 
MEN AND WOMEN.
  
“TRANSCENDENTALISM: A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS.”
  
HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY.
  
ARTEMIS PROLOGIZES.
  
AN EPISTLE
  
JOHANNES AGRICOLA IN MEDITATION.
  
PICTOR IGNOTUS.
  
FRA LIPPO LIPPI.
  
ANDREA DEL SARTO.
  
THE BISHOP ORDERS HIS TOMB AT SAINT PRAXED'S CHURCH.
  
BISHOP BLOUGRAM'S APOLOGY.
  
CLEON.
  
RUDEL TO THE LADY OF TRIPOLI.
  
ONE WORD MORE
collapse sectionV. 
VOL. V.
collapse section 
DRAMATIC ROMANCES.
  
INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP.
  
THE PATRIOT.
  
MY LAST DUCHESS.
  
COUNT GISMOND.
  
THE BOY AND THE ANGEL.
  
INSTANS TYRANNUS.
  
MESMERISM.
  
THE GLOVE.
  
TIME'S REVENGES.
  
THE ITALIAN IN ENGLAND
  
THE ENGLISHMAN IN ITALY.
collapse section 
IN A GONDOLA.
  
He sings.
  
She speaks.
  
He sings.
  
She sings.
  
He sings.
  
He muses.
  
He speaks, musing.
  
Still he muses
  
She replies, musing.
  
He speaks.
  
She speaks.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
collapse section 
WARING.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
  
THE TWINS.
  
A LIGHT WOMAN.
  
THE LAST RIDE TOGETHER.
  
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN;
collapse section 
THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
  
A GRAMMARIAN'S FUNERAL,
collapse section 
THE HERETIC'S TRAGEDY.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X
  
HOLY-CROSS DAY.
  
PROTUS.
  
THE STATUE AND THE BUST.
  
PORPHYRIA'S LOVER
  
“CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME.”
collapse section 
CHRISTMAS-EVE AND EASTER-DAY.
  
CHRISTMAS EVE.
collapse section 
EASTER-DAY.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
 XXI. 
XXI.
 XXII. 
XXII.
 XXIII. 
XXIII.
 XXIV. 
XXIV.
 XXV. 
XXV.
 XXVI. 
XXVI.
 XXVII. 
XXVII.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII.
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX.
 XXXI. 
XXXI.
 XXXII. 
XXXII.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII.
collapse sectionVI. 
VOL. VI.
collapse section 
DRAMATIC LYRICS.
collapse section 
CAVALIER TUNES.
 I. 
I. MARCHING ALONG.
 II. 
II. GIVE A ROUSE.
 III. 
III. BOOT AND SADDLE.
  
THE LOST LEADER.
  
“HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX.”
  
THROUGH THE METIDJA TO ABD-EL-KADR.
  
NATIONALITY IN DRINKS.
collapse section 
GARDEN FANCIES.
 I. 
I. THE FLOWER'S NAME.
 II. 
II. SIBRANDUS SCHAFNABURGENSIS.
  
SOLILOQUY OF THE SPANISH CLOISTER.
  
THE LABORATORY.
  
THE CONFESSIONAL
  
CRISTINA.
  
THE LOST MISTRESS.
  
EARTH'S IMMORTALITIES.
  
MEETING AT NIGHT.
  
PARTING AT MORNING.
  
SONG.
  
A WOMAN'S LAST WORD.
  
EVELYN HOPE.
  
LOVE AMONG THE RUINS.
  
A LOVERS' QUARREL.
  
UP AT A VILLA—DOWN IN THE CITY.
  
A TOCCATA OF GALUPPI'S.
  
OLD PICTURES IN FLORENCE
  
“DE GUSTIBUS------”
  
HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD.
  
HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM THE SEA.
  
SAUL.
  
MY STAR.
  
BY THE FIRE-SIDE.
  
ANY WIFE TO ANY HUSBAND.
  
TWO IN THE CAMPAGNA.
  
MISCONCEPTIONS.
  
A SERENADE AT THE VILLA.
  
ONE WAY OF LOVE.
  
ANOTHER WAY OF LOVE.
  
A PRETTY WOMAN.
  
RESPECTABILITY.
  
LOVE IN A LIFE.
  
LIFE IN A LOVE.
  
IN THREE DAYS.
  
IN A YEAR.
  
WOMEN AND ROSES.
  
BEFORE.
  
AFTER.
  
THE GUARDIAN-ANGEL.
  
MEMORABILIA.
  
POPULARITY.
  
MASTER HUGUES OF SAXE-GOTHA.
collapse section 
[section]
collapse section 
LURIA;
  
[castlist]
 I. 
ACT I. MORNING.
 II. 
ACT II. NOON.
 III. 
ACT III. AFTERNOON.
 IV. 
ACT IV. EVENING.
 V. 
ACT V. NIGHT.
collapse sectionVII. 
VOL. VII.
collapse section 
[section]
  
IN A BALCONY.
collapse section 
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
collapse section 
JAMES LEE'S WIFE.
 I. 
I.—JAMES LEE'S WIFE SPEAKS AT THE WINDOW.
 II. 
II.—BY THE FIRESIDE.
 III. 
III.—IN THE DOORWAY.
 IV. 
IV.—ALONG THE BEACH.
 V. 
V.—ON THE CLIFF.
 VI. 
VI.—READING A BOOK, UNDER THE CLIFF
 VII. 
VII.—AMONG THE ROCKS.
collapse sectionVIII. 
VIII.—BESIDE THE DRAWING BOARD.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IX. 
IX.—ON DECK.
  
GOLD HAIR:
  
THE WORST OF IT.
  
DIS ALITER VISUM; OR, LE BYRON DE NOS JOURS.
  
TOO LATE.
  
ABT VOGLER.
  
RABBI BEN EZRA.
  
A DEATH IN THE DESERT.
  
CALIBAN UPON SETEBOS; OR, NATURAL THEOLOGY IN THE ISLAND.
  
CONFESSIONS.
  
MAY AND DEATH.
  
DEAF AND DUMB.
  
PROSPICE.
  
EURYDICE TO ORPHEUS.
  
YOUTH AND ART.
  
A FACE.
  
A LIKENESS.
  
MR. SLUDGE, “THE MEDIUM.”
  
APPARENT FAILURE.
  
EPILOGUE.
collapse sectionVIII, IX, X. 
VOL. VIII., IX., X.
collapse section 
THE RING AND THE BOOK.
 I. 
I. THE RING AND THE BOOK.
 II. 
II. HALF-ROME.
 III. 
III. THE OTHER HALF-ROME.
 IV. 
IV. TERTIUM QUID.
 V. 
V. COUNT GUIDO FRANCESCHINI.
 VI. 
VI. GIUSEPPE CAPONSACCHI.
 VII. 
VII. POMPILIA.
 VIII. 
VIII. DOMINUS HYACINTHUS DE ARCHANGELIS,
 IX. 
IX. JURIS DOCTOR JOHANNES-BAPTISTA BOTTINIUS,
 X. 
X. THE POPE.
 XI. 
XI. GUIDO.
 XII. 
XII. THE BOOK AND THE RING.
collapse sectionXI. 
VOL. XI.
  
BALAUSTION'S ADVENTURE;
  
PRINCE HOHENSTIEL-SCHWANGAU,
collapse section 
FIFINE AT THE FAIR.
  
PROLOGUE
  
FIFINE AT THE FAIR.
  
EPILOGUE.
collapse sectionXII. 
VOL. XII.
collapse section 
RED COTTON NIGHT-CAP COUNTRY,
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
collapse section 
THE INN ALBUM.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
collapse sectionXIII. 
VOL. XIII.
collapse section 
ARISTOPHANES' APOLOGY;
  
[section]
  
HERAKLES.
  
THE AGAMEMNON OF ÆSCHYLUS.
collapse sectionXIV. 
VOL. XIV.
collapse section 
PACCHIAROTTO AND HOW HE WORKED IN DISTEMPER ET CETERA
  
PROLOGUE.
  
OF PACCHIAROTTO, AND HOW HE WORKED IN DISTEMPER.
  
AT THE “MERMAID”
  
HOUSE.
  
SHOP.
 I. 
PISGAH-SIGHTS. I.
 II. 
PISGAH-SIGHTS. II.
  
FEARS AND SCRUPLES.
  
NATURAL MAGIC.
  
MAGICAL NATURE.
  
BIFURCATION.
  
NUMPHOLEPTOS.
  
APPEARANCES.
  
ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER.
  
HERVE RIEL.
  
A FORGIVENESS.
  
CENCIAJA.
  
FILIPPO BALDINUCCI ON THE PRIVILEGE OF BURIAL.
  
EPILOGUE.
  
LA SAISIAZ.
  
THE TWO POETS OF CROISIC.
collapse sectionXV. 
VOL. XV.
collapse section 
DRAMATIC IDYLS.
collapse section1. 
FIRST SERIES.
  
MARTIN RELPH.
  
PHEIDIPPIDES.
  
HALBERT AND HOB.
  
IVÀN IVÀNOVITCH.
  
TRAY.
  
NED BRATTS.
collapse section2. 
SECOND SERIES.
  
[“You are sick, that's sure”—they say]
  
ECHETLOS.
  
CLIVE.
  
MULÉYKEH.
  
PIETRO OF ABANO.
  
DOCTOR ------
  
PAN AND LUNA.
  
[“Touch him ne'er so lightly, into song he broke]
collapse section 
JOCOSERIA.
  
[Wanting is—what?]
  
DONALD.
  
SOLOMON AND BALKIS.
  
CRISTINA AND MONALDESCHI.
  
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT AND FUSELI.
  
ADAM, LILITH, AND EVE.
  
IXION.
  
JOCHANAN HAKKADOSH.
  
NEVER THE TIME AND THE PLACE.
  
PAMBO.
collapse sectionXVI. 
VOL. XVI.
collapse section 
FERISHTAH'S FANCIES.
  
PROLOGUE.
  
THE EAGLE.
  
THE MELON-SELLER
  
SHAH ABBAS.
  
THE FAMILY.
  
THE SUN.
  
MIHRAB SHAH.
  
A CAMEL-DRIVER.
  
TWO CAMELS.
  
CHERRIES.
  
PLOT-CULTURE.
  
A PILLAR AT SEBZEVAR.
  
A BEAN-STRIPE: ALSO, APPLE-EATING.
  
EPILOGUE.
collapse section 
PARLEYINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE
  
[dedication]
  
APOLLO AND THE FATES.
collapse section 
WITH BERNARD DE MANDEVILLE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
collapse section 
WITH DANIEL BARTOLI.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
  
WITH CHRISTOPHER SMART.
  
WITH GEORGE BUBB DODINGTON.
collapse section 
WITH FRANCIS FURINI.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
collapse section 
WITH GERARD DE LAIRESSE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
collapse section 
WITH CHARLES AVISON.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
  
FUST AND HIS FRIENDS.
collapse sectionXVII. 
VOL. XVII.
  
[dedication]
  
PROLOGUE.
  
ROSNY.
  
DUBIETY.
  
NOW.
  
HUMILITY.
  
POETICS.
  
SUMMUM BONUM.
  
A PEARL, A GIRL.
  
SPECULATIVE.
  
WHITE WITCHCRAFT.
collapse section 
[section]
 I. 
BAD DREAMS. I.
 II. 
BAD DREAMS. II.
 III. 
BAD DREAMS. III.
 IV. 
BAD DREAMS. IV.
  
INAPPREHENSIVENESS.
  
WHICH?
  
THE CARDINAL AND THE DOG.
  
THE POPE AND THE NET.
  
THE BEAN-FEAST
  
MUCKLE-MOUTH MEG.
  
ARCADES AMBO.
  
THE LADY AND THE PAINTER.
  
PONTE DELL' ANGELO, VENICE
  
BEATRICE SIGNORINI.
  
FLUTE-MUSIC, WITH AN ACCOMPANIMENT.
  
“IMPERANTE AUGUSTO NATUS EST—”
  
DEVELOPMENT.
  
REPHAN.
  
REVERIE.
  
EPILOGUE.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Poetical Works of Robert Browning
next section
36

THE POPE AND THE NET.

What, he on whom our voices unanimously ran,
Made Pope at our last Conclave? Full low his life began:
His father earned the daily bread as just a fisherman.
So much the more his boy minds book, gives proof of mother-wit,
Becomes first Deacon, and then Priest, then Bishop: see him sit
No less than Cardinal ere long, while no one cries “Unfit!”
But someone smirks, some other smiles, jogs elbow and nods head:
37

Each winks at each: “'I-faith, a rise! Saint Peter's net, instead
Of sword and keys, is come in vogue!” You think he blushes red?
Not he, of humble holy heart! “Unworthy me!” he sighs:
“From fisher's drudge to Church's prince—it is indeed a rise:
So, here's my way to keep the fact for ever in my eyes!”
And straightway in his palace-hall, where commonly is set
Some coat-of-arms, some portraiture ancestral, lo, we met
His mean estate's reminder in his fisher-father's net!
Which step conciliates all and some, stops cavil in a trice:
38

“The humble holy heart that holds of new-born pride no spice!
He's just the saint to choose for Pope!” Each adds “'T is my advice.”
So, Pope he was: and when we flocked—its sacred slipper on—
To kiss his foot, we lifted eyes, alack the thing was gone—
That guarantee of lowlihead,—eclipsed that star which shone!
Each eyed his fellow, one and all kept silence. I cried “Pish!
I'll make me spokesman for the rest, express the common wish.
Why, Father, is the net removed?” “Son, it hath caught the fish.”
previous section The Poetical Works of Robert Browning
next section