In the present selection from my poetry, there is an attempt to escape from the embarrassment of appearing to pronounce upon what myself may consider the best of it. I adopt another principle; and by simply stringing together certain pieces on the thread of an imaginary personality, I present them in succession, rather as the natural development of a particular experience than because I account them the most noteworthy portion of my work. Such an attempt was made in the volume of selections from the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning : to which-in outward uniformity, at least—my own would venture to become a companion. A few years ago, had such an opportunity presented itself, I might have been tempted to say a word in reply to the objections my poetry was used to encounter. Time has kindly co-operated with my disinclination to write the poetry and the criticism besides. The readers I am at last privileged to expect, meet me fully half-way; and if, from the fitting stand-point, they must still“ censure me in their wisdom," they have previously “awakened their senses that they may the better judge.” Nor do I apprehend any more charges of being wilfully obscure, unconscientiously careless, or perversely harsh. Having hitherto done iny utmost in the art to which my life is a devotion, I cannot engage to increase the effort; but I conceive that there may be helpful light, as well as re-assuring warmth, in the . attention and sympathy I gratefully acknowledge. R. B. LONDON, Vlay 14, 1872. CONTENTS. PAGE MY LAST DUCHESS . . . . . . . . 2 SONG FROM “PIPPA PASSES" . i . . . 4 CRISTINA . . . . . . . . . . 4 COUNT GISMOND . . . . . . . . 7 A SERENADE AT THE VILLA . . . . . 18 SONG FROM “PIPPA PASSES” . . . . . . “ HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GJENT TO SONG FROM "PARACELSUS” . . . . . . 53 THROUGH THE METIDJA TO ABD-EL-KADER . . . 54 INCIDENT OF THE FRENCH CAMP . . . ... 56 THE LOST LEADER . . . . . . . 57 IN A GONDOLA . . . . . . . . . 58 A LOVERS' QUARREL . . . . . . . 66 EARTH'S IMMORTALITIES . . . . . . . 72 BY THE FIRESIDE . . . . . . . . 81 ANY WIFE TO ANY HUSBAND . . . . . . 91 IN A YEAR . . . . . . . . . 96 A WOMAN'S LAST WORD . . . . . . 99 MEETING AT NIGHT . . . . . . . IOI A PRETTY WOMAN . . . . . . . . 104 LOVE IN A LIFE . . . . . . . . 110 LIFE IN A LOVE . . . . . . . . 110 THE LABORATORY . . . . . . . . III GOLD HAIR . . . . . . . . . 113 LOVE AMONG THE RUINS . . . . . . 128 THE ENGLISHMAN IN ITALY . . . . . . 146 UP AT A VILLA-DOWN IN THE CITY . . . . . 154 PICTOR IGNOTUS .. ... . . . . 158 FRA LIPPO LIPPI . . . . . . . . . 160 ANDREA DEL SARTO . . . . . . . 171 THE BISHOP ORDERS HIS TOMB AT SAINT PRAXED's CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . 179 A TOCCATA OF GALUPPI'S . . . . . . . . 183 HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY . . . . 186 PROTUS . . . . . . . . . . 189 MASTER HUGUES OF SAXE-GOTHA . . . . . 191 |