Who? My wife Gertrude; that, honest and gay, Laughs when you talk of surrendering, “Nay! I've better counsellors; what counsel they? 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 CHORUS+“Boot, saddle, to hors and she looked on, and her looks went every a pante יין, way! MY RAST DUCHESS FERRARA That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will't please you sit and look at her? I said "Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance arry where. 'twas all one! My favor at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, 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, nor plainly set 4° 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 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 munifi cence Is ample warrant that no just pretence 50 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, Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! THE LOST LEADER Just for a handful of silver he left us. Just for a riband to stick in his coatFound the one gift of which fortune be reft us, Lost all the others she lets us devote; They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver, So much was theirs who so little Menace our heart ere we master his allowed: own; 30 |