My last duches.................................................... by Robert Browning
That's my last Duchess painted on the wall
Looking as if she were alive, I call
That piece a wonder now Fra Pandolf's 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 sonot the first
Are you to turn andask thus. Sir twas
not
Of job into the Duchess Cheeks; 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
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
sir twas all one my favour 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
Would draw from her alike the approving speech
or blush at least
she thanked man - 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
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
Herself be lessoned so not plainly set
Her wits to yours forsooth and made excuse
e'en the would be some stooping and i choose
never to stoop oh sir she smiled no doubt
when'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew I gave commands
then all smiles stopped togerther 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
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
togerther down sir Notice Neptune
though
taming a sea horse thought a rarity
which claus of innsbruck cast in bronze for me
was courtesy she thought and cause enough
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
sir twas all one my favour 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
Would draw from her alike the approving speech
or blush at least
she thanked man - 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
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
Herself be lessoned so not plainly set
Her wits to yours forsooth and made excuse
e'en the would be some stooping and i choose
never to stoop oh sir she smiled no doubt
when'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew I gave commands
then all smiles stopped togerther 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
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
togerther down sir Notice Neptune
though
taming a sea horse thought a rarity
which claus of innsbruck cast in bronze for me
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