Robert Browning



                   The Italian in England


                   That second time they hunted me
                   From hill to plain, from shore to sea,
                   And Austria, hounding far and wide
                   Her blood-hounds through the countryside,
                   Breathed hot and instant on my trace, —
                   I made six days a hiding-place
                   Of that dry green old aqueduct
                   Where I and Charles, when boys, have plucked
                   The fire-flies from the roof above,
                   Bright creeping throuoh the moss they love.
                   — How long it seems since Charles was lost!
                   Six days the soldiers crossed and crossed
                   The country in my very sight;
                   And when that peril ceased at night,
                   The sky broke out in red dismay
                   With signal-fires; well, there I lay
                   Close covered o'er in my recess,
                   Up to the neck in ferns and cress,
                   Thinking on Metternich our friend,
                   And Charles's miserable end,
                   And much beside, two days; the third,
                   Hunger o'ercame me when I heard
                   The peasants from the village go
                   To work among the maize; you know,
                   With us, in Lombardy, they bring
                   Provisions packed on mules, a string
                   With little bells that cheer their task,
                   And casks, and boughs on every cask
                   To keep the sun's heat from the wine;
                   These I let pass in jingling line,
                   And, close on them, dear noisy crew,
                   The peasants from the village too;
                   For at the very rear would troop
                   Their wives and sisters in a group
                   To help, I knew; when these had passed,
                   I threw my glove to strike the last,
                   Taking the chance: she did not start,
                   Much less cry out, but stooped apart
                   One instant, rapidly glanced round,
                   And saw me beckon from the ground;
                   A wild bush grows and hides my crypt,
                   She picked my glove up while she stripped
                   A branch off, then rejoined the rest
                   With that; my glove lay in her breast:
                   Then I drew breath: they disappeared;
                   It was for Italy I feared.

                   An hour, and she returned alone
                   Exactly where my glove was thrown.
                   Meanwhile come many thoughts; on me
                   Rested the hopes of Italy;
                   I had devised a certain tale
                   Which, when 'twas told her, could not fail
                   Persuade a peasant of its truth;
                   I meant to call a freak of youth
                   This hiding, and give hopes of pay,
                   And no temptation to betray.
                   But when I saw that woman's face,
                   Its calm simplicity of grace,
                   Our Italy's own attitude
                   In which she walked thus far, and stood,
                   Planting each naked foot so firm,
                   To crush the snake and spare the worm — 
                   At first sight of her eyes, I said,
                   "I am that man upon whose head
                   They fix the price, because I hate
                   The Austrians over us: the State
                   Will give you gold—oh, gold so much,
                   If you betray me to their clutch!
                   And be your death, for aught I know,
                   If once they find you saved their foe.
                   Now, you must bring me food and drink,
                   And also paper, pen, and ink,
                   And carry safe what I shall write
                   To Padua, which you'll reach at night
                   Before the Duomo shuts; go in,
                   And wait till Tenebrae begin;
                   Walk to the Third Confessional,
                   Between the pillar and the wall,
                   And Kneeling whisper whence comes peace?
                   Say it a second time; then cease;
                   And if the voice inside returns,
                   From Christ and Freedom: what concerns
                   The cause of Peace? — for answer, slip
                   My letter where you placed your lip;
                   Then come back happy we have done
                   Our mother service — I, the son,
                   As you daughter of our land!"

                   Three mornings more, she took her stand
                   In the same place, with the same eyes:
                   I was no surer of sunrise
                   Than of her coming: we conferred
                   Of her own prospects, and I heard
                   She had a lover—stout and tall,
                   She said—then let her eyelids fall,
                   "He could do much" — as if some doubt
                   Entered her heart, — then, passing out,
                   "She could not speak for others — who
                   Had other thoughts; herself she knew:"
                   And so she brought me drink and food.
                   After four days, the scouts pursued
                   Another path: at last arrived
                   The help my Paduan friends contrived
                   To furnish me: she brought the news:
                   For the first time I could not choose
                   But kiss her hand and lay my own
                   Upon her head — "This faith was shown
                   To Italy, our mother; — she
                   Uses my hand and blesses thee!"
                   She followed down to the seashore;
                   I left and never saw her more.

                   How very long since I have thought
                   Concerning—much less wished for — aught
                   Beside the good of Italy,
                   For which I live and mean to die!
                   I never was in love; and since
                   Charles proved false, nothing could convince
                   My inmost heart I had a friend;
                   However, if I pleased to spend
                   Real wishes on myself — say, Three — 
                   I know at least what one should be;
                   I would grasp Metternich until
                   I felt his red wet throat distil
                   In blood through these two hands; and next,
                   — Nor much for that am I perplexed —
                   Charles, perjured traitor, for his part,
                   Should die slow of a broken heart
                   Under his new employers; last
                   —Ah, there, what should I wish? For fast
                   Do I grow old and out of strength. — 
                   If I resolved to seek at length
                   My father's house again, how scared
                   They all would look, and unprepared!
                   My brothers live in Austria's pay
                   — Disowned me long ago, men say;
                   And all my early mates who used
                   To praise me so — perhaps induced
                   More than one early step of mine — 
                   Are turning wise; while some opine
                   "Freedom grows License," some suspect
                   "Haste breeds Delay," and recollect
                   They always said, such premature
                   Beginnings never could endure!
                   So, with a sullen "All's for best,"
                   The land seems settling to its rest.
                   I think, then, I should wish to stand
                   This evening in that dear, lost land,
                   Over the sea the thousand miles,
                   And know if yet that woman smiles
                   With the calm smile; some little farm
                   She lives in there, no doubt; what harm
                   If I sate on the door-side bench,
                   And, while her spindle made a trench
                   Fantastically in the dust,
                   Inquired of all her fortunes — just
                   Her children's ages and their names,
                   And what may be the husband's aims
                   For each of them — I'd talk this out,
                   And sit there, for and hour about,
                   Then kiss her hand once more, and lay
                   Mine on her head, and go my way.

                   So much for idle wishing — how
                   It steals the time! To business now.


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