The Poetical Works of Robert Browning - Volume One - Paperback

THE POETICAL WORKS OF ROBERT BROWNING: VOLUME I -- 1812 -- CONTENTS PAGZ PAULINE A FRAGMENT OF A CONFESSION 1 PARACELSUS I. Paracelsus Aspires . . . . . 30 11. Paraoelsus Attains . . . . . 52 111. Paracelsus . . . . . . . 70 IV. Paracelsus Aspires . . . . . 99 V. Paracelsus Attains . . . . . 118 Note . . . . . . . 142 STRAFFORD A TRAGEDYACT I. Scene I. A House near Whitehall . . . 153, , 11. Whitehall . . . . . . 161 ACT 11. Scene I. A House near Whitehall . . . I72, , 11. Whitehall . . . . . . 176 ACT 111. Scene I. Opposite Westminster Hall . . 186 11. Whitehall . . . . . . l88, , 111. The Antechamber of the House of Lords . . . . . . l97 ACT IV. ficene I-Whitehall . . . . . . 202, , 11. A Passage adjoining Westminster Hall 207, I Whitehall . ., ., 214 C vi CONTENTS FAQS ACT V Sc . e . n . e I . Whitehall . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 7 11 . The Tower 219 SORDELLO-. . . . . . . . Dedication 231 Book the First . . . . . . . 23 2 Book the Second . . . . . . . 258 Book the Third . . . . . . . 284 Book the Fourth . . . . . . . 311 Book the Fifth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 8 Book the Gixth 364 PIPPA PASSES A DRAIIA-. . . . . . . . In 1 t 1 I r . . o NMduooocrtnnio inng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 40 98 8 59 . . . . . . . 111 . Evening . . . . . . . . 420 -1V . Night 430 KING VICTOR AXD KING CHARLES A TRAGEDY FIRBYTE AB. 1 730.-. . . . . King Victor . Part l . 441 King Victor . Part 11 . . . . 451 SEOON Y D E AB. 1731.-. . . . . . King Charlerr . Part I . . . . . . 46 9 King Charles . Pert I1 483 THE POETICAL WORKS OF ROBERT BROWNING PAULINE Plus ne suis ce que jai 664, Et ne le s aurois jamaie 6tre.-Harot. Non dubito, quin titulus libri nostri raritate su quamplur mos alliciat adlegendum inter quos nonnulli oblique opmlonis, mente languidi, multi etiam maligni, et in ingeniuul nostrum ingrati accedent, qui temerariL suL ignorantii, vix couspecto titulo clamabunt Nos vetita docere, hsreaium semiua jacere piis auribus nffendiculo, preclaris ingeniis scandal0 esse . . . adeb conscientie sue consulentes, ut nec Apollo, nec Musie omnes, neque Angelus de celo me ab illorum execratione vindicare queant quibus et esa nunc consulo, ne scripta nostra legant, nec intelligant, nec meminerint nam noxia sunt, venenosa sunt Acherontis ostium est in hoc Iibro, lapides loquitur, caveant, ne cerebrum illis excutiat. Vos autem, qui aqua mente ad legendum renitis, si tantarn prudentiie discretionem adhibueritis, qilantam in melle legend0 apes, jam securi legite. Puto namque vos et utilitatis haud pahm et voluptatis plurimhm accepturos. Quod si qus repereritis, qure vobis non placeant, mittite illa, nec utimini. NAM ET EGO VOBIS ILLA NON PROBO, SBD NARRO. C etC ri tanlen porpterea non respite. . . . Ideo, si quid liberiue VOL. I. 1 l3 2 ROBERT BROWNINGS POEMS dictum sit, ignoscite adolescentis nostra, qui minor quam adolescens hoc opus composui.-If. Cor. Agrippa, De Occult. Phil. London, Jauuary, . 1833. v. A. XX. PAULIN m E i, n e own, bend oer me-thy soft breast Shall pant to mine-bend oer me-thy sweet eyes, And loosened hair, and breathing lips, and arms Drawing me to thee-these build up a screen To shut me in with thee, and from all fear, So that I might unlock the slee less brood Of fancies from my soul, their Purlring place, Nor doubt that each would pass, neer to return To one so watched, so loved, aud so secured. But what can guard thee but thy naked love Ah, dearest whososucks a poisoned wound Envenoms his own veins, -thou art so good, So calm-if thou shouldst wear a brow less light For some wild thought which, but for me, were kept From out thy soul, as from a sacred star...