Robert Browning - Delphi Poets Series

by Robert Browning

  Too much bother over books! Some reverie has proved amusing.

  What did Peter prate of? ‘Faith, my brow is clammy!

  How my head throbs, how my heart thumps! Can it be I swooned?

  Oh, I spoke my speech out — cribbed from Plato’s tractate,

  Dosed him with ‘the Fair and Good,’ swore — Dog of Egypt — I was choosing

  Plato’s way to serve men! What’s the hour? Exact eight!

  Home now, and to-morrow never mind how Plato mooned!

  “Peter has the secret! Fair and Good are products

  (So he said) of Foul and Evil: one must bring to pass the other.

  Just as poisons grow drugs, steal through sundry odd ducts

  Doctors name, and ultimately issue safe and changed.

  You’d abolish poisons, treat disease with dainties

  Such as suit the sound and sane? With all such kickshaws vain you pother!

  Arsenic’s the stuff puts force into the faint eyes,

  Opium sets the brain to rights — by cark and care deranged.

  “What, he’s safe within door? — would escape — no question —

  Thanks, since thanks and more I owe, and mean to pay in time befitting.

  What most presses now is — after night’s digestion,

  Peter, of thy precepts! — promptest practice of the same.

  Let me see! The wise man, first of all, scorns riches:

  But to scorn them must obtain them: none believes in his permitting

  Gold to lie ungathered: who picks up, then pitches

  Gold away — philosophizes: none disputes his claim.

  “So with worldly honours: ‘tis by abdicating,

  Incontestably he proves he could have kept the crown discarded.

  Sylla cuts a figure, leaving off dictating:

  Simpletons laud private life? ‘The grapes are sour,’ laugh we.

  So, again — but why continue? All’s tumultuous

  Here: my head ‘s a-whirl with knowledge. Speedily shall be rewarded

  He who taught me! Greeks prove ingrates? So insult you us?

  When your teaching bears its first-fruits, Peter — wait and see!”

  As the word, the deed proved; ere a brief year’s passage,

  Fop — that fool he made the jokes on — now he made the jokes for, gratis:

  Hunks — that hoarder, long left lonely in his crass age —

  Found now one appreciative deferential friend:

  Powder-paint-and-patch, Hag Jezebel — recovered,

  Strange to say, the power to please, got courtship till she cried Jam satis!

  Fop be-flattered, Hunks be-friended, Hag be-lovered —

  Nobody overlooked, save God — he soon attained his end.

  As he lounged at ease one morning in his villa,

  (Hag’s the dowry) estimated (Hunks’ bequest) his coin in coffer,

  Mused on how a fool’s good word (Fop’s word) could fill a

  Social circle with his praise, promote him man of mark, —

  All at once — ”An old friend fain would see your Highness!”

  There stood Peter, skeleton and scarecrow, plain writ Phi-lo-so-pher

  In the woe-worn face — for yellowness and dryness,

  Parchment — with a pair of eyes — one hope their feeble spark.

  “Did I counsel rightly? Have you, in accordance,

  Prospered greatly, dear my pupil? Sure, at just the stage I find you

  When your hand may draw me forth from the mad war-dance

  Savages are leading round your master — down, not dead.

  Padua wants to burn me: baulk them, let me linger

  Life out — rueful though its remnant — hid in some safe hole behind you!

  Prostrate here I lie: quick, help with but a finger

  Lest I house in safety’s self — a tombstone o’er my head!

  “Lodging, bite and sup, with — now and then — a copper

  — Alms for any poorer still, if such there be, — is all my asking.

  Take me for your bedesman, — nay, if you think proper,

  Menial merely, — such my perfect passion for repose!

  Yes, from out your plenty Peter craves a pittance

  — Leave to thaw his frozen hands before the fire whereat you’re basking!

  Double though your debt were, grant this boon — remittance

  He proclaims of obligation: ‘tis himself that owes!”

  “Venerated Master — can it be, such treatment

  Learning meets with, magic fails to guard you from, by all appearance?

  Strange! for, as you entered, — what the famous feat meant,

  I was full of, — why you reared that fabric, Padua’s boast.

  Nowise for man’s pride, man’s pleasure, did you slyly

  Raise it, but man’s seat of rule whereby the world should soon have clearance

  (Happy world) from such a rout as now so vilely

  Handles you — and hampers me, for which I grieve the most.

  “Since if it got wind you now were my familiar,

  How could I protect you — nay, defend myself against the rabble?

  Wait until the mob, now masters, willy-nilly are

  Servants as they should be: then has gratitude full play!

  Surely this experience shows how unbefitting

  ‘Tis that minds like mine should rot in ease and plenty. Geese may gabble,

  Gorge, and keep the ground: but swans are soon for quitting

  Earthly fare — as fain would I, your swan, if taught the way.

  “Teach me, then, to rule men, have them at my pleasure!

  Solely for their good, of course, — impart a secret worth rewarding,

  Since the proper life’s-prize! Tantalus’s treasure

  Aught beside proves, vanishes, and leaves no trace at all.

  Wait awhile, nor press for payment prematurely!

  Over-haste defrauds you. Thanks! since, — even while I speak, — discarding

  Sloth and vain delights, I learn how — swiftly, surely, —

  Magic sways the sceptre, wears the crown and wields the ball!

  “Gone again — what, is he? ‘Faith, he’s soon disposed of!

  Peter’s precepts work already, put within my lump their leaven!

  Ay, we needs must don glove would we pluck the rose — doff

  Silken garment would we climb the tree and take its fruit.

  Why sharp thorn, rough rind? To keep unviolated

  Either prize! We garland us, we mount from earth to feast in heaven,

  Just because exist what once we estimated

  Hindrances which, better taught, as helps we now compute.

  “Foolishly I turned disgusted from my fellows!

  Pits of ignorance — to fill, and heaps of prejudice — to level —

  Multitudes in motley, whites and blacks and yellows —

  What a hopeless task it seemed to discipline the host!

  Now I see my error. Vices act like virtues

  — Not alone because they guard — sharp thorns — the rose we first dishevel,

  Not because they scrape, scratch — rough rind — through the dirt-shoes

  Bare feet cling to bole with, while the half-mooned boot we boast.

  “No, my aim is nobler, more disinterested!

  Man shall keep what seemed to thwart him, since it proves his true assistance,

  Leads to ascertaining which head is the best head,

  Would he crown his body, rule its members — lawless else.

  Ignorant the horse stares, by deficient vision

  Takes a man to be a monster, lets him mount, then, twice the distance

  Horse could trot unridden, gallops — dream Elysian! —

  Dreaming that his dwarfish guide’s a giant, — jockeys tell’s.”

  Brief, so worked the spell, he promptly had a riddance:

  Heart and brain no longer felt the pricks which passed for conscience-sc
ruples:

  Free henceforth his feet, — Per Bacco, how they did dance

  Merrily through lets and checks that stopped the way before!

  Politics the prize now, — such adroit adviser,

  Opportune suggester, with the tact that triples and quadruples

  Merit in each measure, — never did the Kaiser

  Boast as subject such a statesman, friend, and something more!

  As he, up and down, one noonday, paced his closet

  — Council o’er, each spark (his hint) blown flame, by colleagues’ breath applauded,

  Strokes of statecraft hailed with “Salomo si nôsset!”

  (His the nostrum) — every throw for luck come double-six, —

  As he, pacing, hugged himself in satisfaction,

  Thump — the door went. “What, the Kaiser? By none else were I defrauded

  Thus of well-earned solace. Since ‘tis fate’s exaction, —

  Enter, Liege my Lord! Ha, Peter, you here? Teneor vix!”

  “Ah, Sir, none the less, contain you, nor wax irate!

  You so lofty, I so lowly, vast — the space which yawns between us!

  Still, methinks, you — more than ever — at a high rate

  Needs must prize poor Peter’s secret since it lifts you thus.

  Grant me now the boon whereat before you boggled!

  Ten long years your march has moved — one triumph — (though e’s short) — hactēnus,

  While I down and down disastrously have joggled

  Till I pitch against Death’s door, the true Nec Ultra Plus.

  “Years ago — some ten ‘tis — since I sought for shelter,

  Craved in your whale house a closet, out of all your means a comfort.

  Now you soar above these: as is gold to spelter

  So is power — you urged with reason — paramount to wealth.

  Power you boast in plenty: let it grant me refuge!

  House-room now is out of question: find for me some stronghold — some fort —

  Privacy wherein, immured, shall this blind deaf huge

  Monster of a mob let stay the soul I’d save by stealth!

  “Ay, for all too much with magic have I tampered!

  — Lost the world, and gained, I fear, a certain place I’m to describe loth!

  Still, if prayer and fasting tame the pride long pampered,

  Mercy may be mine: amendment never comes too late.

  How can I amend beset by cursers, kickers?

  Pluck this brand from out the burning! Once away, I take my Bible-oath,

  Never more — so long as life’s weak lamp-flame flickers —

  No, not once I’ll tease you, but in silence bear my fate!”

  “Gently, good my Genius, Oracle unerring!

  Strange now! can you guess on what — as in you peeped — it was I pondered?

  You and I are both of one mind in preferring

  Power to wealth, but — here’s the point — what sort of power, I ask?

  Ruling men is vulgar, easy, and ignoble:

  Rid yourself of conscience, quick you have at beck and call the fond herd.

  But who wields the crozier, down may fling the crow-bill:

  That’s the power I covet now; soul’s sway o’er souls — my task!

  “ ‘Well but,’ you object, ‘you have it, who by glamour

  Dress up lies to look like truths, mask folly in the garb of reason:

  Your soul acts on theirs, sure, when the people clamour,

  Hold their peace, now fight now fondle, — earwigged through the brains.’

  Possibly! but still the operation’s mundane,

  Grosser than a taste demands which — craving manna — kecks at peason —

  Power o’er men by wants material: why should one deign

  Rule by sordid hopes and fears — a grunt for all one’s pains?

  “No, if men must praise me, let them praise to purpose!

  Would we move the world, not earth but heaven must be our fulcrum — pou sto!

  Thus I seek to move it: Master, why intérpose —

  Baulk my climbing close on what’s the ladder’s topmost round?

  Statecraft ‘tis I step from: when by priestcraft hoisted

  Up to where my foot may touch the highest rung which fate allows toe,

  Then indeed ask favour! On you shall be foisted

  No excuse: I’ll pay my debt, each penny of the pound!

  “Ho, my knaves without there! Lead this worthy downstairs!

  No farewell, good Paul — nay, Peter — what’s your name remembered rightly?

  Come, he’s humble: out another would have flounced — airs

  Suitors often give themselves when our sort bow them forth.

  Did I touch his rags? He surely kept his distance:

  Yet, there somehow passed to me from him — where’er the virtue might lie —

  Something that inspires my soul — Oh, by assistance

  Doubtlessly of Peter! — still, he’s worth just what he’s worth!

  “‘Tis my own soul soars now: soaring — how? By crawling!

  I’ll to Rome, before Rome’s feet the temporal-supreme lay prostrate!

  ‘Hands’ (I’ll say) ‘proficient once in pulling, hauling

  This and that way men as I was minded — feet now clasp!’

  Ay, the Kaiser’s self has wrung them in his fervour!

  Now — they only sue to slave for Rome, nor at one doit the cost rate.

  Rome’s adopted child — no bone, no muscle, nerve or

  Sinew of me but I’ll strain, though out my life I gasp!”

  As he stood one evening proudly — (he had traversed

  Rome on horseback — peerless pageant! — claimed the Lateran as new Pope) —

  Thinking “All’s attained now! Pontiff! Who could have erst

  Dreamed of my advance so far when, some ten years ago,

  I embraced devotion, grew from priest to bishop,

  Gained the Purple, bribed the Conclave, got the Two-thirds, saw my coop ope,

  Came out — what Rome hails me! O were there a wish-shop,

  Not one wish more would I purchase — lord of all below!

  “Ha! — who dares intrude now — puts aside the arras?

  What, old Peter, here again, at such a time, in such a presence?

  Satan sends this plague back merely to embarrass

  Me who enter on my office — little needing you!

  ‘Faith, I’m touched myself by age, but you look Tithon!

  Were it vain to seek of you the sole prize left — rejuvenescence?

  Well, since flesh is grass which Time must lay his scythe on,

  Say your say and so depart and make no more ado!”

  Peter faltered — coughing first by way of prologue —

  “Holiness, your help comes late: a death at ninety little matters.

  Padua, build poor Peter’s pyre now, on log roll log,

  Burn away — I’ve lived my day! Yet here’s the sting in death —

  I’ve an author’s pride: I want my Book’s survival:

  See, I’ve hid it in my breast to warm me ‘mid the rags and tatters!

  Save it — tell next age your Master had no rival!

  Scholar’s debt discharged in full, be ‘Thanks’ my latest breath!”

  “Faugh, the frowsy bundle — scribblings harum-scarum

  Scattered o’er a dozen sheepskins! What’s the name of this farrago?

  Ha — ’Conciliator Differentiarum’ —

  Man and book may burn together, cause the world no loss!

  Stop — what else? A tractate — eh, ‘De Speciebus

  Ceremonialis Ma-gi-æ?’ I dream sure! Hence, away, go,

  Wizard, — quick avoid me! Vain you clasp my knee, buss

  Hand that bears the Fisher’s ring or foot that boasts the Cross!

  “Help! The old magician clings like an octopus!

  Ah, you rise now — fuming, fretting, fro
wning, if I read your features!

  Frown, who cares? We’re Pope — once Pope, you can’t unpope us!

  Good — you muster up a smile: that’s better! Still so brisk?

  All at once grown youthful? But the case is plain! Ass —

  Here I dally with the fiend, yet know the Word — compels all creatures

  Earthly, heavenly, hellish. Apage, Sathanas!

  Dicam verbum Salomonis — ’ ‘ — dicite!’ When — whisk! —

  What was changed? The stranger gave his eyes a rubbing:

  There smiled Peter’s face turned back a moment at him o’er the shoulder,

  As the black door shut, bang! “So he ‘scapes a drubbing!”

  (Quoth a boy who, unespied, had stopped to hear the talk.)

  “That’s the way to thank these wizards when they bid men

  Benedicite! What ails you? You, a man, and yet no bolder?

  Foreign Sir, you look but foolish!” “Idmen, idmen!”

  Groaned the Greek. “O Peter, cheese at last I know from chalk!”

  Peter lived his life out, menaced yet no martyr,

  Knew himself the mighty man he was — such knowledge all his guerdon,

  Left the world a big book — people but in part err

  When they style a true Scientiæ Com-pen-di-um:

  “Admirationem incutit” they sourly

  Smile, as fast they shut the folio which myself was somehow spurred on

  Once to ope: but love — life’s milk which daily, hourly,

  Blockheads lap — O Peter, still thy taste of love’s to come!

  Greek, was your ambition likewise doomed to failure?

  True, I find no record you wore purple, walked with axe and fasces,

  Played some antipope’s part: still, friend, don’t turn tail, you’re

  Certain, with but these two gifts, to gain earth’s prize in time!

  Cleverness uncurbed by conscience — if you ransacked

  Peter’s book you’d find no potent spell like these to rule the masses;

  Nor should want example, had I not to transact

  Other business. Go your ways, you’ll thrive! So ends my rhyme.

  — — — —

  When these parts Tiberius, — not yet Cæsar, — travelled,

  Passing Padua, he consulted Padua’s Oracle of Geryon

  (God three-headed, thrice wise) just to get unravelled

  Certain tangles of his future. “Fling at Abano

  Golden dice,” it answered: “dropt within the fount there,

  Note what sum the pips present!” And still we see each die, the very one,

  Turn up, through the crystal, — read the whole account there