The Norton Anthology of English literature. Volume 2

5. Pirate of the Barbary Coast of northern Africa, renowned for fierceness and lechery. 6. Heretical follower of Arius (256�336), who denied the doctrine of the Trinity. 7. The speaker hopes to obtain Lawrence's damnation by luring him into a heresy when he may prove unable to interpret "Galatians" in an unswervingly orthodox way. In Galatians 5.15�23 St. Paul specifies an assortment of "works of the flesh" that lead to damnation, which could make up a total of "twenty-nine" (line 51).

8. A heretic, a follower of Mani (3rd century), Persian religious leader.

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M Y LAS T DUCHES S / 125 5 60Simply glance at it, you grovel Hand and foot in Belial's0 gripe: If I double down its pages At the woeful sixteenth print, When he gathers his greengages, Ope a sieve and slip it in't? the devil's 659 Or, there's Satan!�one might venture Pledge one's soul to him, yet leave Such a flaw in the indenture 70As he'd miss till, past retrieve, Blasted lay that rose-acacia9 We're so proud of! Hy, Zy, Hine' 'St, there's Vespers!2 Plena gratia. Ave, Virgo!3 Gr-r-r�you swine! ca. 1839 1842 My Last Duchess' Ferrara 5iois20That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf's2 hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will't please you sit and look at her? I said "Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not Her husband's presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps Fra Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough

9. The speaker would pledge his own soul to Satan in return for blasting Lawrence and his "roseacacia," but the pledge would be so cleverly worded that the speaker would not have to pay his debt to Satan. There would be an escape clause ("flaw in the indenture") for himself. 1. Perhaps the opening of a mysterious curse against Lawrence. 2. Evening prayers. 3. Full of grace, Hail, Virgin! (Latin). The speaker's twisted state of mind may he reflected in his mixed-up version of the prayer to Mary: "Ave, Maria, gratia plena."

1. The poem is based on incidents in the life of Alfonso II. Duke of Ferrara in Italy, whose first wife, Lucrezia, a young woman, died in 1561 after three years of marriage. Following her death, the duke negotiated through an agent to marry a niece of the Count of Tyrol. Browning represents the duke as addressing this agent. 2. Friar Pandolf, an imaginary painter.

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1256 / ROBERT BROWNING

For calling up that spot of joy. She had A heart�how shall I say?�too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

25 Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with round the terrace�all and each

30 Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. She thanked men�good! but thanked Somehow�I know not how�as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame

35 This sort of trifling? Even had you skill In speech�(which I have not)�to make your will Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, Or there exceed the mark"�and if she let

40 Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse �E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without

45 Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet The company below, then. I repeat, The Count your master's known munificence

50 Is ample warrant that no just pretense Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed At starting, is my object. Nay, we'll go Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,

55 Taming a sea horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck' cast in bronze for me!

1842 1842

The Lost Leader1

Just for a handful of silver he left us,2 Just for a riband' to stick in his coat� Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us,