Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning

_The Revival of Learning._ The Revival of Learning, or the Renaissance, began as early as the tenth century. Its period of most rapid progress was from the twelfth century to th...

"I am bound to tell you that I saw a different Browning from the hero of all the handbooks and 'gospels' which are now in vogue. People are beginning to treat this vehement and...

113. _Growth came._ New life came to art when men ceased to rest in the perfect achievement of the past, and found a new realm opened up to them in representing the subtler acti...

From the instances already cited it is apparent that Browning's interest centered, not in abstract or theoretical discussions of human problems, but in the individuals who face...

98. _Or what's a heaven for._ According to Browning's theory, perfection gained and rested in means stagnation. Aspiration toward the unattainable is the condition of growth. Th...

Oh, what a drear, dark close to my poor day! How could that red sun drop in that black cloud? Ah, Pippa, morning's rule is moved away, Dispensed with, never more to be allowed!...

92. _A certain moment._ The moment between the fading of the sunset glory and the shutting down of evening darkness is here selected as the moment in which to appraise the work...

"Yea, my King," I began--"thou dost well in rejecting mere comforts that spring From the mere mortal life held in common by man and by 150 brute: In our flesh grows the branch o...

Before the composition of _Strafford_ Browning had begun a long poem, _Sordello_, which he completed after his first visit to Italy in 1838, and published in 1840. No one of his...

I was born the day this present Duke was-- (And O, says the song, ere I was old!) In the castle where the other Duke was-- (When I was happy and young, not old!) 35 I in the ken...

What, there's nothing in the moon noteworthy? Nay: for if that moon could love a mortal, Use, to charm him (so to fit a fancy), All her magic ('tis the old sweet mythos), 160 Sh...

Thy letter's first requirement meets me here. It is as thou hast heard: in one short life I, Cleon, have effected all those things 45 Thou wonderingly dost enumerate. That epos...

'Twas the squadron that escaped, with the victor in full chase; First and foremost of the drove, in his great ship, Damfreville; Close on him fled, great and small, Twenty-two g...

This flower she stopped at, finger on lip, Stooped over, in doubt, as settling its claim; Till she gave me, with pride to make no slip, Its soft meandering Spanish name. 20 What...

Another year, and--hist! What craft is it Duhl designs? He alights not at the door of the tent as he did last time, 50 But, creeping behind, he gropes his stealthy way by the tr...

But do not let us quarrel any more. No, my Lucrezia; bear with me for once: Sit down and all shall happen as you wish. You turn your face, but does it bring your heart? I'll wor...

Well then, 'supposeth He is good i' the main, Placable if His mind and ways were guessed, 110 But rougher than His handiwork, be sure! Oh, He hath made things worthier than Hims...

'Tis a life-long toil till our lump be leaven-- The better! What's come to perfection perishes. 130 Things learned on earth we shall practice in heaven: Works done least rapidly...

Thy long blue solemn hours serenely flowing, Whence earth, we feel, gets steady help and good-- Thy fitful sunshine-minutes, coming, going, As if earth turned from work in games...

And now, what took place at the very first of all, I cannot tell, as I never could learn it: 495 Jacynth constantly wished a curse to fall On that little head of hers and burn i...

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Sleep, crop and herd! sleep, darkling thorpe and croft, Safe from the weather! 30 He, whom we convoy to his grave aloft, Singing together, He was a man born with thy face and th...

The chief's eye flashed; but presently Softened itself, as sheathes A film the mother-eagle's eye 35 When her bruised eaglet breathes; "You're wounded!" "Nay," the soldier's pri...

_His councilors, on left and right,_ 205 _Looked anxious up--but no surprise_ _Disturbed the king's old smiling eyes,_ _Where the very blue had turned to white._ _'Tis said, a P...

[Footnote 4: An interesting corroboration of Mrs. Browning's words is found in the fact that the 1868 edition of Browning's works, by Smith Elder and Co., was reprinted as Numbe...

I am poor brother Lippo, by your leave! You need not clap your torches to my face. Zooks, what's to blame? you think you see a monk! What, 'tis past midnight, and you go the rou...

_Ottima._ To me--not of me! Ungrateful, perjured cheat! A coward, too: but ingrate's worse than all! Beggar--my slave--a fawning, cringing lie! Leave me! Betray me! I can see yo...

_So I grew wise in Love and Hate,_ 205 _From simple that I was of late._ _Once when I loved, I would enlace_ _Breast, eyelids, hands, feet, form, and face_ _Of her I loved, in o...

86. _Canova's gallery._ Possagno was the birthplace of the sculptor Canova, and the circular church there was designed by him. In the gallery at Possagno is his Psyche (_Psiche-...