Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A LIGHT WOMAN, by ROBERT BROWNING Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: So far as our story approaches the end Last Line: Here's a subject made to your hand! Subject(s): Courtship; Loyalty | ||||||||
So far as our story approaches the end, Which do you pity the most of us three? -- My friend, or the mistress of my friend With her wanton eyes, or me? My friend was already too good to lose, And seemed in the way of improvement yet, When she crossed his path with her hunting-noose, And over him drew her net. When I saw him tangled in her toils, A shame, said I, if she adds just him To her nine-and-ninety other spoils, The hundredth for a whim! And before my friend be wholly hers, How easy to prove to him, I said, An eagle's the game her pride prefers, Though she snaps at a wren instead! So, I gave her eyes my own eyes to take, My hand sought hers as in earnest need, And round she turned for my noble sake, And gave me herself indeed. The eagle am I, with my fame in the world, The wren is he, with his maiden face. -- You look away and your lip is curled? Patience, a moment's space! For see, my friend goes shaking and white; He eyes me as the basilisk: [have turned, it appears, his day to night, Eclipsing his sun's disk. And I did it, he thinks, as a very thief: "Though I love her -- that, he comprehends -- One should master one's passions, (love, in chief) And be loyal to one's friends!" And she, -- she lies in my hand as tame As a pear late basking over a wall; Just a touch to try and off it came; 'T is mine, -- can I let it fall? With no mind to eat it, that's the worst! Were it thrown in the road, would the case assist? 'T was quenching a dozen blue-flies' thirst When I gave its stalk a twist. And I, -- what I seem to my friend, you see: What I soon shall seem to his love, you guess: What I seem to myself, do vou ask of me? No hero, I confess. 'T is an awkward thing to play with souls, And matter enough to save one's own: Yet think of my friend, and the burning coals He played with for bits of stone! One likes to show the truth for the truth; That the woman was light is very true: But suppose she says, -- Never mind that youth! What wrong have I done to you? Well, anyhow, here the story stays, So far at least as I understand; And, Robert Browning, you writer of plays, Here's a subject made to your hand! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ELSINORE IN THE LATE ANCIENT AUTUMN by NORMAN DUBIE THE SHADOWS AT BOXFORD by NORMAN DUBIE FAREWELL TO ARMS by GEORGE PEELE TORRISMOND; AN UNFINISHED DRAMA by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES RHYME OF THE DUCHESS MAY by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A FAITHFUL DOG by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME' by ROBERT BROWNING |
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