Chapter I: Front Matter

The Cambridge Edition of the Poets

EDITED BY
HORACE E. SCUDDER

BROWNING

BY

THE EDITOR

THE COMPLETE

POETIC AND DRAMATIC WORKS OF

ROBERT BROWNING

Cambridge Edition

BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
The Riverside Press, Cambridge

Copyright, 1895,
BY HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO.

_All rights reserved._

_The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._
Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Company.

PUBLISHERS' NOTE

The Riverside Edition of the _Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning_ was published first in 1887. It included all the writings which the American publishers had from time to time brought out by arrangement with Mr. Browning or his representatives. A year later the English publishers issued a new and revised edition, whereupon the Riverside Edition was carefully compared with the author's latest revision and made to agree with it. There had grown up, moreover, about the writings a considerable body of comment and interpretation, and to facilitate the study and enjoyment of the poems, the American publishers engaged Mr. George Willis Cooke to prepare a _Guide-Book_ which served as a very desirable accompaniment to the Riverside Edition of the works. They added also to the series, by arrangement with the English publishers, the authorized Life of the poet by Mrs. Sutherland Orr.

The ten volumes thus brought together furnish a complete Browning collection, but it has long been apparent that students and lovers of Browning would find it very convenient to have the complete works of their author in a single portable volume, and the plan of the Cambridge Edition so successfully applied to the poems of Longfellow and Whittier was adopted for this purpose. By a careful study of condensation with every regard for legibility it has been found possible to bring the entire body of Browning's work into a single volume, and to equip the edition with the requisite apparatus. The order of arrangement is chronological, with one or two obvious divergences. As in the other volumes of the Cambridge Edition, a biographical sketch introduces the work, brief head-notes chiefly pertaining to the origin of the respective poems have been supplied, drawn largely from Mr. Cooke's admirable volume, and a small body of pertinent notes of an explanatory character added, though the reader will readily see that the exigencies of the volume have compelled the editor to be very frugal in this respect. The appendix also contains the one notable piece of Browning's prose, a chronological list of his writings, and indexes of titles and first lines.

BOSTON, 4 PARK STREET, _August 1, 1895_.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ix

PAULINE: A FRAGMENT OF A CONFESSION 1

SONNET: "EYES, CALM BESIDE THEE, (LADY, COULDST THOU
KNOW!)" 11

PARACELSUS.
I. PARACELSUS ASPIRES 12
II. PARACELSUS ATTAINS 19
III. PARACELSUS 25
IV. PARACELSUS ASPIRES 34
V. PARACELSUS ATTAINS 40

STRAFFORD: A TRAGEDY 49

SORDELLO 74

PIPPA PASSES: A DRAMA 128

KING VICTOR AND KING CHARLES: A TRAGEDY 145

DRAMATIC LYRICS.
CAVALIER TUNES.
I. MARCHING ALONG 163
II. GIVE A ROUSE 163
III. BOOT AND SADDLE 163
THE LOST LEADER 164
"HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX" 164
THROUGH THE METIDJA TO ABD-EL-KADR 165
NATIONALITY IN DRINKS 166
GARDEN FANCIES.
I. THE FLOWER'S NAME 166
II. SIBRANDUS SCHAFNABURGENSIS 167
SOLILOQUY OF THE SPANISH CLOISTER 167
THE LABORATORY 168
THE CONFESSIONAL 169
CRISTINA 169
THE LOST MISTRESS 170
EARTH'S IMMORTALITIES 170
MEETING AT NIGHT 170
PARTING AT MORNING 170
SONG: "NAY BUT YOU, WHO DO NOT LOVE HER" 170
A WOMAN'S LAST WORD 171
EVELYN HOPE 171
LOVE AMONG THE RUINS 171
A LOVERS' QUARREL 172
UP AT A VILLA--DOWN IN THE CITY 174
A TOCCATA OF GALUPPI'S 175
OLD PICTURES IN FLORENCE 176
"DE GUSTIBUS--" 178
HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD 179
HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM THE SEA 179
SAUL 179
MY STAR 184
BY THE FIRESIDE 185
ANY WIFE TO ANY HUSBAND 187
TWO IN THE CAMPAGNA 189
MISCONCEPTIONS 189
A SERENADE AT THE VILLA 189
ONE WAY OF LOVE 190
ANOTHER WAY OF LOVE 190
A PRETTY WOMAN 190
RESPECTABILITY 191
LOVE IN A LIFE 191
LIFE IN A LOVE 191
IN THREE DAYS 192
IN A YEAR 192
WOMEN AND ROSES 193
BEFORE 193
AFTER 194
THE GUARDIAN-ANGEL 194
MEMORABILIA 195
POPULARITY 195
MASTER HUGUES OF SAXE-GOTHA 195

THE RETURN OF THE DRUSES 197

A BLOT IN THE 'SCUTCHEON 216

COLOMBE'S BIRTHDAY 230

DRAMATIC ROMANCES.
INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP 251
THE PATRIOT 251
MY LAST DUCHESS 252
COUNT GISMOND 252
THE BOY AND THE ANGEL 253
INSTANS TYRANNUS 254
MESMERISM 255
THE GLOVE 256
TIME'S REVENGES 258
THE ITALIAN IN ENGLAND 258
THE ENGLISHMAN IN ITALY 260
IN A GONDOLA 262
WARING 264
THE TWINS 266
A LIGHT WOMAN 267
THE LAST RIDE TOGETHER 267
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN 268
THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS 271
A GRAMMARIAN'S FUNERAL 279
THE HERETIC'S TRAGEDY 280
HOLY-CROSS DAY 281
PROTUS 283
THE STATUE AND THE BUST 283
PORPHYRIA'S LOVER 286
"CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME" 287

A SOUL'S TRAGEDY 289

LURIA 299

CHRISTMAS-EVE AND EASTER-DAY.

CHRISTMAS-EVE 316
EASTER-DAY 327

MEN AND WOMEN.
"TRANSCENDENTALISM: A POEM IN TWELVE BOOKS" 335
HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY 336
ARTEMIS PROLOGIZES 337
AN EPISTLE, CONTAINING THE STRANGE MEDICAL EXPERIENCE
OF KARSHISH, THE ARAB PHYSICIAN 338
JOHANNES AGRICOLA IN MEDITATION 341
PICTOR IGNOTUS 341
FRA LIPPO LIPPI 342
ANDREA DEL SARTO 346
THE BISHOP ORDERS HIS TOMB AT SAINT PRAXED'S CHURCH 348
BISHOP BLOUGRAM'S APOLOGY 349
CLEON 358
RUDEL TO THE LADY OF TRIPOLI 361
ONE WORD MORE 361

IN A BALCONY 364

BEN KARSHOOK'S WISDOM 372

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
JAMES LEE'S WIFE.
I. JAMES LEE'S WIFE SPEAKS AT THE WINDOW 373
II. BY THE FIRESIDE 373
III. IN THE DOORWAY 373
IV. ALONG THE BEACH 374
V. ON THE CLIFF 374
VI. READING A BOOK, UNDER THE CLIFF 374
VII. AMONG THE ROCKS 375
VIII. BESIDE THE DRAWING-BOARD 375
IX. ON DECK 376
GOLD HAIR: A STORY OF PORNIC 376
THE WORST OF IT 378
DÎS ALITER VISUM; OR, LE BYRON DE NOS JOURS 379
TOO LATE 380
ABT VOGLER, AFTER HE HAS BEEN EXTEMPORIZING UPON THE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OF HIS INVENTION 382
RABBI BEN EZRA 383
A DEATH IN THE DESERT 385
CALIBAN UPON SETEBOS; OR, NATURAL THEOLOGY IN THE
ISLAND 392
CONFESSIONS 394
MAY AND DEATH 395
DEAF AND DUMB: A GROUP BY WOOLNER 395
PROSPICE 395
EURYDICE TO ORPHEUS: A PICTURE BY LEIGHTON 395
YOUTH AND ART 396
A FACE 396
A LIKENESS 396
MR. SLUDGE, "THE MEDIUM" 397
APPARENT FAILURE 412
EPILOGUE 413

THE RING AND THE BOOK.
I. THE RING AND THE BOOK 414
II. HALF-ROME 427
III. THE OTHER HALF-ROME 441
IV. TERTIUM QUID 456
V. COUNT GUIDO FRANCESCHINI 471
VI. GIUSEPPE CAPONSACCHI 489
VII. POMPILIA 508
VIII. Dominus Hyacinthus de Archangelis, Pauperum
Procurator 525
IX. JURIS DOCTOR JOHANNES-BAPTISTA BOTTINIUS,
FISCI ET REV. CAM. APOSTOL. ADVOCATUS 540
X. THE POPE 554
XI. GUIDO 572
XII. THE BOOK AND THE RING 594

HELEN'S TOWER 601

BALAUSTION'S ADVENTURE, INCLUDING A TRANSCRIPT FROM
EURIPIDES, 602

ARISTOPHANES' APOLOGY, INCLUDING A TRANSCRIPT FROM
EURIPIDES, BEING THE LAST ADVENTURE OF BALAUSTION 628

PRINCE HOHENSTIEL-SCHWANGAU, SAVIOUR OF SOCIETY 681

FIFINE AT THE FAIR.
PROLOGUE 701
FIFINE AT THE FAIR 702
EPILOGUE 735

RED COTTON NIGHT-CAP COUNTRY; OR TURF AND TOWERS 736

THE INN ALBUM 773

PACCHIAROTTO, WITH OTHER POEMS.
PROLOGUE 802
OF PACCHIAROTTO, AND HOW HE WORKED IN DISTEMPER 802
AT THE "MERMAID" 807
HOUSE 808
SHOP 809
PISGAH-SIGHTS 810
FEARS AND SCRUPLES 811
NATURAL MAGIC 811
MAGICAL NATURE 812
BIFURCATION 812
NUMPHOLEPTOS 812
APPEARANCES 814
ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER 814
HERVE RIEL 815
A FORGIVENESS 817
CENCIAJA 820
FILIPPO BALDINUCCI ON THE PRIVILEGE OF BURIAL 823
EPILOGUE 827

THE AGAMEMNON OF ÆSCHYLUS 830

LA SAISIAZ 849

THE TWO POETS OF CROISIC 859

OH LOVE! LOVE 874

DRAMATIC IDYLS: FIRST SERIES.
MARTIN RELPH 875
PHEIDIPPIDES 877
HALBERT AND HOB 879
IVAN IVANOVITCH 880
TRAY 887
NED BRATTS 887

DRAMATIC IDYLS: SECOND SERIES.
PROLOGUE 892
ECHETLOS 892
CLIVE 893
MULÉYKEH 897
PIETRO OF ABANO 899
DOCTOR ---- 906
PAN AND LUNA 909
TOUCH HIM NE'ER SO LIGHTLY 910
THE BLIND MAN TO THE MAIDEN 910
GOLDONI 910

JOCOSERIA.
WANTING IS--WHAT? 911
DONALD 911
SOLOMON AND BALKIS 913
CRISTINA AND MONALDESCHI 914
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT AND FUSELI 916
ADAM, LILITH, AND EVE 916
IXION 916
JOCHANAN HAKKADOSH 918
NEVER THE TIME AND THE PLACE 928
PAMBO 928

FERISHTAH'S FANCIES.
PROLOGUE 929
I. THE EAGLE 929
II. THE MELON-SELLER 930
III. SHAH ABBAS 930
IV. THE FAMILY 932
V. THE SUN 933
VI. MIHRAB SHAH 934
VII. A CAMEL-DRIVER 936
VIII. TWO CAMELS 937
IX. CHERRIES 938
X. PLOT-CULTURE 939
XI. A PILLAR AT SEBZEVAR 940
XII. A BEAN-STRIPE: ALSO APPLE-EATING 942
EPILOGUE 946
RAWDON BROWN 947
THE FOUNDER OF THE FEAST 947
THE NAMES 947
EPITAPH ON LEVI LINCOLN THAXTER 947
WHY I AM A LIBERAL 948

PARLEYINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE OF IMPORTANCE IN THEIR DAY.
APOLLO AND THE FATES 948
WITH BERNARD DE MANDEVILLE 952
WITH DANIEL BARTOLI 955
WITH CHRISTOPHER SMART 959
WITH GEORGE BUBB DODINGTON 961
WITH FRANCIS FURINI 964
WITH GERARD DE LAIRESSE 970
WITH CHARLES AVISON 974
FUST AND HIS FRIENDS: AN EPILOGUE 979

ASOLANDO: FANCIES AND FACTS.
PROLOGUE 987
ROSNY 987
DUBIETY 987
NOW 988
HUMILITY 988
POETICS 988
SUMMUM BONUM 988
A PEARL, A GIRL 988
SPECULATIVE 988
WHITE WITCHCRAFT 989
BAD DREAMS. I. 989
BAD DREAMS. II. 989
BAD DREAMS. III. 990
BAD DREAMS. IV. 990
INAPPREHENSIVENESS 991
WHICH? 991
THE CARDINAL AND THE DOG 991
THE POPE AND THE NET 992
THE BEAN-FEAST 992
MUCKLE-MOUTH MEG 993
ARCADES AMBO 993
THE LADY AND THE PAINTER 993
PONTE DELL' ANGELO, VENICE 994
BEATRICE SIGNORINI 996
FLUTE-MUSIC, WITH AN ACCOMPANIMENT 999
"IMPERANTE AUGUSTO NATUS EST--" 1001
DEVELOPMENT 1002
REPHAN 1003
REVERIE 1005
EPILOGUE 1007