The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning Cambridge Edition

_Lur._ I thought to do this, not to talk this: well, Such were my projects for the city's good, To help her in attack or by defence. Time, here as elsewhere, soon or late may ta...

_Straf._ Well: it has been the fate Of better; and yet,--wherefore not feel sure That Time, who in the twilight comes to mend All the fantastic day's caprice, consign To the low...

_Berth._ Oh, Turned out no better than the foreheadless-- Was dazzled not so very soon, that 's all! For my part, this is scarce the hasty showy Chivalrous measure you give me c...

This at the last effects it: now, King Charles Or else King Victor--that's a balance: but now, D'Ormea the arch-culprit, either turn Of the scale,--that's sure enough. A point t...

_1st Bystander._ [_To_ LUIT.] You, a friend of Luitolfo's? Then, your friend is vanished,--in all probability killed on the night that his patron the tyrannical Provost was loya...

D'Ormea!--for patience fails me, treading thus Among the obscure trains I have laid,--my knights Safe in the hall here--in that anteroom, My son,--D'Ormea, where? Of this, one t...

Now speak! or, wait-- I'll bid you speak directly. [_Seats himself._ Now repeat Firmly and circumstantially the tale You just now told me; it eludes me; either I did not listen,...

Here flock we, obeying the summons. Lo, Hakeem hath appeared, and the Prefect is dead, and we return to Lebanon! My manufacture of goats' fleece must, I doubt, soon fall away th...

_Gau._ Not this-- For friendship's sake leave this for me to say-- That we 're the dupes of an egregious cheat! This plain unpractised suitor, who found way To the Duchess throu...

_Pol._ Affirm not I betrayed you; you resolve On uttering this strange intelligence --Nay, post yourself to find me ere I reach The capital, because you know King Charles Tarrie...

_Eulalia._ What is it keeps Luitolfo? Night 's fast falling, And 't was scarce sunset ... had the ave-bell Sounded before he sought the Provost's house? I think not: all he had...

_Puc._ And here, your captain must report the rest; For, as I say, the main engagement over And Luria's special part in it performed, How could a subaltern like me expect Leisur...

_Brac._ [_To the_ Sec.] "In an hour, the battle." [_To_ PUC.] Sir, let your eye run o'er this loose digest, And see if very much of your report Have slipped away through my civi...

_Mel._ The Grave. More weary seems your Highness, I remark, Than sundry conquerors whose path I've watched Through fire and blood to any prize they gain. I could well wish you,...

_Guibert._ That this should be her birthday; and the day We all invested her, twelve months ago, As the late Duke's true heiress and our liege; And that this also must become th...

_Dja._ That a strong man should think himself a God! I--Hakeem? To have wandered through the world, Sown falsehood, and thence reaped now scorn, now faith, For my one chant with...

_Karshook._ The moon is carried off in purple fire: Day breaks at last! Break glory, with the day, On Djabal's dread incarnate mystery Now ready to resume its pristine shape Of...

_Duch._ Let those not yet arrived, then, keep away! 'T was me, this day last year at Ravestein, You hurried. It has been full time, beside, This half-hour. Do you hesitate?

_Dom._ Well, Florence, shall I reach thee, pierce thy heart Through all its safeguards? Hate is said to help-- Quicken the eye, invigorate the arm; And this my hate, made up of...

_Dja._ Let me but slay the Prefect. The end now! To-morrow will be time enough to pry Into the means I took: suffice, they served, Ignoble as they were, to hurl revenge True to...

_Loys._ But once again, whom could you love? I dare, Alas, say nothing of myself, who am A Knight now, for when Knighthood we embrace, Love we abjure: so, speak on safely: speak...

_Puc._ But mankind are not pieces--there's your fault! You cannot push them, and, the first move made, Lean back and study what the next shall be, In confidence that, when 'tis...

_Strafford._ Is it a dream? my papers, here-- Thus, as I left them, all the plans you found So happy--(look! the track you pressed my hand For pointing out)--and in this very ro...

_Cha._ No doubt a life Like this drags on, now better and now worse. My father may ... may take to loving me; And he may take D'Ormea closer yet To counsel him;--may even cast o...

_Went._ At me? at us, I hope! The King and I! He 's surely not disposed to let me bear The fame away from him of these late deeds In Ireland? I am yet his instrument Be it for w...

_Hollis._ For England's sake let every man be still Nor speak of him, so much as say his name, Till Pym rejoin us! Rudyard! Henry Vane! One rash conclusion may decide our course...

_Queen._ Consider! 'T is the House We summoned so reluctantly, which nothing But the disastrous issue of the war Persuaded us to summon. They 'll wreak all Their spite on us, no...

_Guen._ Now, Mildred, spare those pains. I have not left Our talkers in the library, and climbed The wearisome ascent to this your bower In company with you,--I have not dared ....

_Tresh._ Again here! But I cannot lose myself. The heath--the orchard--I have traversed glades And dells and bosky paths which used to lead Into green wild-wood depths, bewilder...

_1st Spec._ More crowd than ever! Not know Hampden, man? That 's he, by Pym, Pym that is speaking now. No, truly, if you look so high you 'll see Little enough of either!

_Mil._ He comes not! I have heard of those who seemed Resourceless in prosperity,--you thought Sorrow might slay them when she listed; yet Did they so gather up their diffused s...

_Tresham._ I welcome you, Lord Mertoun, yet once more, To this ancestral roof of mine. Your name --Noble among the noblest in itself, Yet taking in your person, fame avers, New...

_Cha._ [_To_ HOLLIS.] You stand, silent and cold, as though I were Deceiving you--my friend, my playfellow Of other times. What wonder after all? Just so, I dreamed my People lo...

_A Follower of Strafford._ Higher, We look to see him. [_To his_ Companions.] I 'm to have St. John In charge; was he among the knaves just now That followed Pym within there?

_Fien._ Ah?--But he was not more a dupe than I, Or you, or any here, the day that Pym Returned with the good news. Look up, friend Vane! We all believe that Strafford meant us w...

_1st Retainer._ Ay, do! push, friends, and then you 'll push down me! --What for? Does any hear a runner's foot Or a steed's trample or a coach-wheel's cry? Is the Earl come or...

The scheme-- Carlisle 's mad scheme--he 'll sanction it, I fear, For love of me. 'T was too precipitate: Before the army 's fairly on its march, He 'll be at large: no matter.

_Vane._ Kept me? Fresh news from Scotland, sir! worse than the last, If that may be. All 's up with Strafford there: Nothing to bar the mad Scots marching hither Next Lord's-day...

_Hol._ Succeed? No dream was half so vain--you 'd rescue Strafford And outwit Pym! I cannot tell you ... lady, The block pursues me, and the hideous show. To-day ... is it to-da...