170 Out of the grange0 whose four walls make his world. farmhouse How could it end in any other way? You called me, and I came home to your heart. The triumph was?to reach and stay there; since I reached it ere the triumph, what is lost?
17? Let my hands frame your face in your hair's gold, You beautiful Lucrezia that are mine! 'Rafael did this, Andrea painted that; The Roman's is the better when you pray, But still the other's Virgin was his wife?'
180 Men will excuse me. I am glad to judge Both pictures in your presence; clearer grows My better fortune, I resolve to think. For, do you know, Lucrezia, as God lives, Said one day Agnolo, his very self,
185 To Rafael .. . I have known it all these years . . . (When the young man was flaming out his thoughts Upon a palace wall for Rome to see, Too lifted up in heart because of it) 'Friend, there's a certain sorry little scrub
190 Goes up and down our Florence, none cares how, Who, were he set to plan and execute As you are, pricked on by your popes and kings, Would bring the sweat into that brow of yours!' To Rafael's?And indeed the arm is wrong.
195 I hardly dare . . . yet, only you to see, Give the chalk here?quick, thus the line should go! Aye, but the soul! he's Rafael! rub it out! Still, all I care for, if he spoke the truth, (What he? why, who but Michel Agnolo?
200 Do you forget already words like those?) If really there was such a chance, so lost? Is, whether you're?not grateful?but more pleased. Well, let me think so. And you smile indeed! This hour has been an hour! Another smile?
205 If you would sit thus by me every night I should work better, do you comprehend? I mean that I should earn more, give you more. See, it is settled dusk now; there's a star; Morello's gone, the watch-lights show the wall,
210 The cue-owls4 speak the name we call them by. Come from the window, love?come in, at last, Inside the melancholy little house We built to be so gay with. God is just. King Francis may forgive me: oft at nights
215 When I look up from painting, eyes tired out, The walls become illumined, brick from brick Distinct, instead of mortar, fierce bright gold, That gold of his I did cement them with!
4. Scops owls; the term is Browning's coinage from the Italian chili or ciit, a name that imitates their cry.
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ANDREA DEL SARTO / 1285
Let us but love each other. Must you go?
220 That Cousin here again? he waits outside? Must see you?you, and not with me? Those loans? More gaming debts to pay?5 you smiled for that? Well, let smiles buy me! have you more to spend? While hand and eye and something of a heart
225 Are left me, work's my ware, and what's it worth? I'll pay my fancy. Only let me sit The gray remainder of the evening out, Idle, you call it, and muse perfectly How I could paint, were I but back in France,
230 One picture, just one more?the Virgin's face, Not yours this time! I want you at my side To hear them?that is, Michel Agnolo? Judge all I do and tell you of its worth. Will you? Tomorrow, satisfy your friend.
235 I take the subjects for his corridor, Finish the portrait out of hand?there, there, And throw him in another thing or two If he demurs; the whole should prove enough To pay for this same Cousin's freak.0 Beside, whim 240 What's better and what's all I care about, Get you the thirteen scudi? for the ruff! Italian coins Love, does that please you? Ah, but what does he, The Cousin! What does he to please you more?
I am grown peaceful as old age tonight.
245 I regret little, I would change still less. Since there my past life lies, why alter it? The very wrong to Francis!?it is true I took his coin, was tempted and complied, And built this house and sinned, and all is said.
250 My father and my mother died of want.6 Well, had I riches of my own? you see How one gets rich! Let each one bear his lot. They were born poor, lived poor, and poor they died: And I have labored somewhat in my time
255 And not been paid profusely. Some good son Paint my two hundred pictures?let him try! No doubt, there's something strikes a balance. Yes, You loved me quite enough, it seems tonight. This must suffice me here. What would one have?
260 In heaven, perhaps, new chances, one more chance? Four great walls in the New Jerusalem,7 Meted on each side by the angel's reed,? measuring rod
For Leonard,8 Rafael, Agnolo and me To cover?the three first without a wife,
5. Lucrezia's 'Cousin' (or lover or friend) owes 6. According to Vasari, Andrea's infatuation for gambling debts to a creditor. Andrea has already Lucrezia prompted him to stop supporting his contracted (lines 5?10) to pay off these debts by poverty-stricken parents. painting some pictures according to the creditor's 7. Cf. Revelation 21.10?21. specifications. Now he agrees to pay off further 8. Leonardo da Vinci (1452?1 5 19). debts.
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128 6 / ROBERT BROWNING
265 While I have mine! So?still they overcome Because there's still Lucrezia?as I choose.
Again the Cousin's whistle! Go, my Love.
ca. 1853 1855
A Grammarian's Funeral1
Shortly after the Revival of Learning in Europe
Let us begin and carry up this corpse, Singing together. Leave we the common crofts,2 the vulgar thorpes0 villages Each in its tether3 5 Sleeping safe on the bosom of the plain, Cared for till cock-crow: Look out if yonder be not day again Rimming the rock-row! That's the appropriate country; there, man's thought, io Rarer, intenser, Self-
