the Browning admitted that in writing this poem had Wordsworth in mind, but insisted that he d not mean it as an exact portrait of Wordsorth. Browning's mature judgment on atter is best expressed in his own words: "I d in my hasty youth presume to use the great d venerated personality of Wordsworth as a rt of painter's model; one from which this or e other particular feature may be selected 4 turned to account; had intended more, ove all, such a boldness as portraying the enman, I should not have talked about 'handIs of silver and bits of ribbon.' These never luenced the change of polities in the great et, whose defection, nevertheless, accom med as it was by a regular face-about of his cial party, was to my juvenile apprehension, leven mature consideration, an event to dere." See also Mrs. Orr's Browning (Life and Iters), I, 191. Compare Shelley's early Sonnet TO WORDSWORTH Deeds will be done,-while he boasts his quiescence, Still bidding crouch whom the rest bade aspire: Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more, One task more declined, one more footpath untrod, One more devils'-triumph and sorrow for angels, One wrong more to man, one more insult to God! Life's night begins: let him never come back to us! There would be doubt, hesitation and pain, Forced praise on our part-the glimmer of twilight, Never glad confident morning again! Best fight on well, for we taught himstrike gallantly. Menace our heart ere we master his Pardoned in heaven, the first by the throne ! 1845. HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX 1 I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he: I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; 1 This galloping ballad, which has no historical foundation, was written at sea, off Cape St. Vincent. See Mrs. Orr's Browning, I, 144-45. Sunset ran, one glorious blood-red, reek ing into Cadiz Bay; Bluish mid the burning water, full in face Trafalgar lay; In the dimmest Northeast distance dawned Gibraltar grand and gray; "Here and here did England help me: how can I help England?"—say, Whoso turns as I, this evening, turn to God to praise and pray, While Jove's planet rises yonder, silent over Africa. 1838. 1845. TIME'S REVENGES I'VE a Friend, over the sea; Were to snap to-night in this heavy brain, To-morrow month, if I lived to try, To be my nurse in this poor place, The creaking of his clumsy boots." Yes, rather should see him than not So I might prove myself that sea And my style infirm and its figures faint, And you shall see how the devil spends crown, And feasted with love's perfect feast, With the face of her, the eyes of her, Of shadow round her mouth; and she There may be heaven; there must be hell; Meantime, there is our earth herewell! 1845. Up to the neck in ferns and cress, And much beside, two days; the third, I threw my glove to strike the last, A branch off, then rejoined the rest An hour, and she returned alone Exactly where my glove was thrown. Meanwhile came many thoughts; on me Rested the hopes of Italy; I had devised a certain tale Which, when 't was told her, could not fail Persuade a peasant of its truth; But when I saw that woman's face, In which she walked thus far, and stood, To crush the snake and spare the worm- And carry safe what I shall write Say it a second time, then cease; Three mornings more, she took her stand In the same place, with the same eyes: Than of her coming. We conferred He could do much "-as if some doubt Uses my hand and blesses thee." How very long since I have thought Concerning--much less wished foraught Beside the good of Italy, For which I live and mean to die! I never was in love; and since Charles proved false, what shall now convince My inmost heart I have a friend? I felt his red wet throat distil In blood through these two hands. And next -Nor much for that am I perplexed— So I might prove my And my style infir crown, And feasted To think I k If that v ( South shed grea gh, it went r which bor med afresh from where learned age th, the star not yet learning at my feet!ve, I and my picture. out, and praise, till life nd. ot go to heaven, but linger y earth, earth's every man Friend, might grew frightful, 't was so ily dear! ice changed it. Glimpses of -h sights |