The Complete Poems of Robert Browning - 22 Poetry Collections in One Edition. Robert Browning
“In your sweet self; were Palma Ecelin
“For me to work with! Could that neck endure
“This bauble for a cumbrous garniture,
“She should… or might one bear it for her? Stay —
“I have not been so flattered many a day
“As by your pale friend — Bacchus! The least help
“Would lick the hind’s fawn to a lion’s whelp:
“His neck is broad enough — a ready tongue
“Beside: too writhled — but, the main thing, young —
“I could… why, look ye!”
And the badge was thrown
Across Sordello’s neck: “This badge alone
“Makes you Romano’s Head — becomes superb
“On your bare neck, which would, on mine, disturb
“The pauldron,” said Taurello. A mad act,
Nor even dreamed about before — in fact,
Not when his sportive arm rose for the nonce —
But he had dallied overmuch, this once,
With power: the thing was done, and he, aware
The thing was done, proceeded to declare —
(So like a nature made to serve, excel
In serving, only feel by service well!)
— That he would make Sordello that and more.
“As good a scheme as any. What ‘s to pore
“At in my face?” he asked — ”ponder instead
“This piece of news; you are Romano’s Head!
“One cannot slacken pace so near the goal,
“Suffer my Azzo to escape heart-whole
“This time! For you there ‘s Palma to espouse —
“For me, one crowning trouble ere I house
“Like my compeer.”
On which ensued a strange
And solemn visitation; there came change
O’er every one of them; each looked on each:
Up in the midst a truth grew, without speech.
And when the giddiness sank and the haze
Subsided, they were sitting, no amaze,
Sordello with the baldric on, his sire
Silent, though his proportions seemed aspire
Momently; and, interpreting the thrill, —
Night at its ebb, — Palma was found there still
Relating somewhat Adelaide confessed
A year ago, while dying on her breast, —
Of a contrivance, that Vicenza night
When Ecelin had birth. “Their convoy’s flight,
“Cut off a moment, coiled inside the flame
“That wallowed like a dragon at his game
“The toppling city through — San Biagio rocks!
“And wounded lies in her delicious locks
“Retrude, the frail mother, on her face,
“None of her wasted, just in one embrace
“Covering her child: when, as they lifted her,
“Cleaving the tumult, mighty, mightier
“And mightiest Taurello’s cry outbroke,
“Leapt like a tongue of fire that cleaves the smoke,
“Midmost to cheer his Mantuans onward — drown
“His colleague Ecelin’s clamour, up and down
“The disarray: failed Adelaide see then
“Who was the natural chief, the man of men?
“Outstripping time, her infant there burst swathe,
“Stood up with eyes haggard beyond the scathe
“From wandering after his heritage
“Lost once and lost for aye: and why that rage,
“That deprecating glance? A new shape leant
“On a familiar shape — gloatingly bent
“O’er his discomfiture; ‘mid wreaths it wore,
“Still one outflamed the rest — her child’s before
“‘T was Salinguerra’s for his child: scorn, hate,
“Rage now might startle her when all too late!
“Then was the moment! — rival’s foot had spurned
“Never that House to earth else! Sense returned —
“The act conceived, adventured and complete,
“They bore away to an obscure retreat
“Mother and child — Retrude’s self not slain”
(Nor even here Taurello moved) “though pain
“Was fled; and what assured them most ‘t was fled,
“All pain, was, if they raised the pale hushed head
“‘T would turn this way and that, waver awhile,
“And only settle into its old smile —
“(Graceful as the disquieted water-flag
“Steadying itself, remarked they, in the quag
“On either side their path) — when suffered look
“Down on her child. They marched: no sign once shook
“The company’s close litter of crossed spears
“Till, as they reached Goito, a few tears
“Slipped in the sunset from her long black lash,
“And she was gone. So far the action rash;
“No crime. They laid Retrude in the font,
“Taurello’s very gift, her child was wont
“To sit beneath — constant as eve he came
“To sit by its attendant girls the same
“As one of them. For Palma, she would blend
“With this magnific spirit to the end,
“That ruled her first; but scarcely had she dared
“To disobey the Adelaide who scared
“Her into vowing never to disclose
“A secret to her husband, which so froze
“His blood at half-recital, she contrived
“To hide from him Taurello’s infant lived,
“Lest, by revealing that, himself should mar
“Romano’s fortunes. And, a crime so far,
“Palma received that action: she was told
“Of Salinguerra’s nature, of his cold
“Calm acquiescence in his lot! But free
“To impart the secret to Romano, she
“Engaged to repossess Sordello of
“His heritage, and hers, and that way doff
“The mask, but after years, long years: while now,
“Was not Romano’s sign-mark on that brow?”
Across Taurello’s heart