Robert Browning - The Complete Poems of Robert Browning - 22 Poetry Collections in One Edition

“New structure from the ancient: as they changed

“The spoils of every clime at Venice, ranged

“The horned and snouted Libyan god, upright

“As in his desert, by some simple bright

“Clay cinerary pitcher — Thebes as Rome,

“Athens as Byzant rifled, till their Dome

“From earth’s reputed consummations razed

“A seal, the all-transmuting Triad blazed

“Above. Ah, whose that fortune? Ne’ertheless

“E’en he must stoop contented to express

“No tithe of what ‘s to say — the vehicle

“Never sufficient: but his work is still

“For faces like the faces that select

“The single service I am bound effect, —

“That bid me cast aside such fancies, bow

“Taurello to the Guelf cause, disallow

“The Kaiser’s coming — which with heart, soul, strength,

“I labour for, this eve, who feel at length

“My past career’s outrageous vanity,

“And would, as its amends, die, even die

“Now I first estimate the boon of life,

“If death might win compliance — sure, this strife

“Is right for once — the People my support.”

My poor Sordello! what may we extort

By this, I wonder? Palma’s lighted eyes

Turned to Taurello who, long past surprise,

Began, “You love him — what you ‘d say at large

“Let me say briefly. First, your father’s charge

“To me, his friend, peruse: I guessed indeed

“You were no stranger to the course decreed.

“He bids me leave his children to the saints:

“As for a certain project, he acquaints

“The Pope with that, and offers him the best

“Of your possessions to permit the rest

“Go peaceably — to Ecelin, a stripe

“Of soil the cursed Vicentines will gripe,

“ — To Alberic, a patch the Trevisan

“Clutches already; extricate, who can,

“Treville, Villarazzi, Puissolo,

“Loria and Cartiglione! — all must go,

“And with them go my hopes. ‘T is lost, then! Lost

“This eve, our crisis, and some pains it cost

“Procuring; thirty years — as good I’d spent

“Like our admonisher! But each his bent

“Pursues: no question, one might live absurd

“Oneself this while, by deed as he by word

“Persisting to obtrude an influence where

“‘T is made account of, much as… nay, you fare

“With twice the fortune, youngster! — I submit,

“Happy to parallel my waste of wit

“With the renowned Sordello’s: you decide

“A course for me. Romano may abide

“Romano, — Bacchus! After all, what dearth

“Of Ecelins and Alberics on earth?

“Say there ‘s a prize in prospect, must disgrace

“Betide competitors, unless they style

“Themselves Romano? Were it worth my while

“To try my own luck! But an obscure place

“Suits me — there wants a youth to bustle, stalk

“And attitudinize — some fight, more talk,

“Most flaunting badges — how, I might make clear

“Since Friedrich’s very purposes lie here

“ — Here, pity they are like to lie! For me,

“With station fixed unceremoniously

“Long since, small use contesting; I am but

“The liegeman — you are born the lieges: shut

“That gentle mouth now! or resume your kin

“In your sweet self; were Palma Ecelin

“For me to work with! Could that neck endure

“This bauble for a cumbrous garniture,

“She should… or might one bear it for her? Stay —

“I have not been so flattered many a day

“As by your pale friend — Bacchus! The least help

“Would lick the hind’s fawn to a lion’s whelp:

“His neck is broad enough — a ready tongue

“Beside: too writhled — but, the main thing, young —

“I could… why, look ye!”

And the badge was thrown

Across Sordello’s neck: “This badge alone

“Makes you Romano’s Head — becomes superb

“On your bare neck, which would, on mine, disturb

“The pauldron,” said Taurello. A mad act,

Nor even dreamed about before — in fact,

Not when his sportive arm rose for the nonce —

But he had dallied overmuch, this once,

With power: the thing was done, and he, aware

The thing was done, proceeded to declare —

(So like a nature made to serve, excel

In serving, only feel by service well!)

— That he would make Sordello that and more.

“As good a scheme as any. What ‘s to pore

“At in my face?” he asked — ”ponder instead

“This piece of news; you are Romano’s Head!

“One cannot slacken pace so near the goal,

“Suffer my Azzo to escape heart-whole

“This time! For you there ‘s Palma to espouse —

“For me, one crowning trouble ere I house

“Like my compeer.”

On which ensued a strange

And solemn visitation; there came change

O’er every one of them; each looked on each:

Up in the midst a truth grew, without speech.

And when the giddiness sank and the haze

Subsided, they were sitting, no amaze,

Sordello with the baldric on, his sire

Silent, though his proportions seemed aspire

Momently; and, interpreting the thrill, —

Night at its ebb, — Palma was found there still

Relating somewhat Adelaide confessed

A year ago, while dying on her breast, —

Of a contrivance, that Vicenza night

When Ecelin had birth. “Their convoy’s flight,

“Cut off a moment, coiled inside the flame

“That wallowed like a dragon at his game

“The toppling city through — San Biagio rocks!

“And wounded lies in her delicious locks

“Retrude, the frail mother, on her face,

“None of her wasted, just in one embrace

“Covering her child: when, as they lifted her,

“Cleaving the tumult, mighty, mightier

“And mightiest Taurello’s cry outbroke,

“Leapt like a tongue of fire that cleaves the smoke,

“Midmost to cheer his Mantuans onward — drown

“His colleague Ecelin’s clamour, up and down

“The disarray: failed Adelaide see then

“Who was the natural chief, the man of men?

“Outstripping time, her infant there burst swathe,

“Stood up with eyes haggard beyond the scathe

“From wandering after his heritage

“Lost once and lost for aye: and why that rage,

“That deprecating glance? A new shape leant

“On a familiar shape — gloatingly bent

“O’er his discomfiture; ‘mid wreaths it wore,

“Still one outflamed the rest — her child’s before

“‘T was Salinguerra’s for his child: scorn, hate,

“Rage now might startle her when all too late!

“Then was the moment! — rival’s foot had spurned

“Never that House to earth else! Sense returned —

“The act conceived, adventured and complete,

“They bore away to an obscure retreat

“Mother and child — Retrude’s self not slain”

(Nor even here Taurello moved) “though pain

“Was fled; and what assured them most ‘t was fled,

“All pain, was, if they raised the pale hushed head

“‘T would turn this way and that, waver awhile,

“And only settle into its old smile —

“(Graceful as the disquieted water-flag

“Steadying itself, remarked they, in the quag

“On either side their path) — when suffered look

“Down on her child. They marched: no sign once shook

“The company’s close litter of crossed spears

“Till, as they reached Goito, a few tears

“Slipped in the sunset from her long black lash,

“And she was gone. So far the action rash;

“No crime. They laid Retrude in the font,