An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry Part 30

1.

Ah, Love, but a day, And the world has changed!

The sun's away, And the bird estranged; The wind has dropped, And the sky's deranged: Summer has stopped.

-- St. 1. Ah, Love, but a day: Rev. H. J. Bulkeley, in his paper on 'James Lee's Wife' ('Browning Soc. Papers', iv., p. 457), explains, "One day's absence from him has caused the world to change."

It's better to understand that something has occurred to cause the world to change in a single day; that James Lee has made some new revelation of himself, which causes the wife's heart to have misgivings, and with these misgivings comes the eager desire expressed in St. 3, to show her love, when he returns, more strongly than ever.

2.

Look in my eyes!

Wilt thou change too?

Should I fear surprise?

Shall I find aught new In the old and dear, In the good and true, With the changing year?

3.

Thou art a man, But I am thy love.

For the lake, its swan; For the dell, its dove; And for thee--(oh, haste!) Me, to bend above, Me, to hold embraced.

II. By the Fireside.

1.

Is all our fire of shipwreck wood, Oak and pine?

Oh, for the ills half-understood, The dim dead woe Long ago Befallen this bitter coast of France!

Well, poor sailors took their chance; I take mine.

2.

A ruddy shaft our fire must shoot O'er the sea; Do sailors eye the cas.e.m.e.nt--mute Drenched and stark, From their bark-- And envy, gnash their teeth for hate O' the warm safe house and happy freight --Thee and me?

3.

G.o.d help you, sailors, at your need!

Spare the curse!

For some ships, safe in port indeed, Rot and rust, Run to dust, All through worms i' the wood, which crept, Gnawed our hearts out while we slept: That is worse.

4.

Who lived here before us two?

Old-world pairs.

Did a woman ever--would I knew!-- Watch the man With whom began Love's voyage full-sail,--(now, gnash your teeth!) When planks start, open h.e.l.l beneath Unawares?

III. In the Doorway.

1.

The swallow has set her six young on the rail, And looks seaward: The water's in stripes like a snake, olive-pale To the leeward,-- On the weather-side, black, spotted white with the wind.

"Good fortune departs, and disaster's behind",-- Hark, the wind with its wants and its infinite wail!

-- St. 1. Note the truth of color in vv. 3-5.

2.

Our fig-tree, that leaned for the saltness, has furled Her five fingers, Each leaf like a hand opened wide to the world Where there lingers No glint of the gold, Summer sent for her sake: How the vines writhe in rows, each impaled on its stake!

My heart shrivels up and my spirit shrinks curled.

-- St. 2. her five fingers: referring to the shape of the fig-leaf.

3.

Yet here are we two; we have love, house enough, With the field there, This house of four rooms, that field red and rough, Though it yield there, For the rabbit that robs, scarce a blade or a bent; If a magpie alight now, it seems an event; And they both will be gone at November's rebuff.

-- St. 3. a bent: a bit of coa.r.s.e gra.s.s; A.-S. 'beonet', an adduced form; Ger. 'binse'.

4.

But why must cold spread? but wherefore bring change To the spirit, G.o.d meant should mate his with an infinite range, And inherit His power to put life in the darkness and cold?

Oh, live and love worthily, bear and be bold!

Whom Summer made friends of, let Winter estrange!

-- St. 4. Whom Summer made friends of, etc.: i.e., let Winter (Adversity) estrange those whom Summer (Prosperity) made friends of, but let it not estrange us.

IV. Along the Beach.

1.

I will be quiet and talk with you, And reason why you are wrong.

You wanted my love--is that much true?

And so I did love, so I do: What has come of it all along?

2.

I took you--how could I otherwise?