Romance As he stepped in front once more, and Not a symptom of surprise Reality In the frank blue Breton eyes, Just the same man as before. Then said Damfreville, "My friend, France remains your debtor still. Ask to heart's content and have! or my name's not Damfreville." Then a beam of fun outbroke On the bearded mouth that spoke, Since on board the duty's done, And from Malo Roads to Croisic Point, what is it but a run? Since 'tis ask and have, I may— Since the others go ashore Come! A good whole holiday! Leave to go and see my wife, whom I call the Romance Belle Aurore! That he asked and that he got, nothing more. Name and deed alike are lost: Not a pillar nor a post In his Croisic keeps alive the feat as it befell; Not a head in white and black On a single fishing smack, In memory wrack of the man but for whom had gone to All that France saved from the fight whence England bore the bell. Go to Paris: rank on rank Search the heroes flung pell-mell On the Louvre, face and flank! You shall look long enough ere you come to Hervé So, for better and for worse, Hervé Riel, accept my verse! In my verse, Hervé Riel, do thou once more 6 ROBERT BROWNING. and Reality Romance and Reality Vision of Belshazzar. The King was on his throne, In Judah deem'd divine- The godless Heathen's wine. In that same hour and hall, Along the letters ran, And traced them like a wand. The monarch saw, and shook, And bade no more rejoice; And tremulous his voice. The wisest of the earth, Chaldea's seers are good, But here they have no skill; Are wise and deep in lore; A captive in the land, A stranger and a youth, "Belshazzar's grave is made, His kingdom pass'd away, He, in the balance weigh'd, Is light and worthless clay; The shroud his robe of state, His canopy the stone; The Mede is at his gate! The Persian on his throne!" GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON. Romance and Reality Romance and Solomon and the Bees Reality When Solomon was reigning in his glory, Unto his throne the Queen of Sheba came(So in the Talmud you may read the story)— Drawn by the magic of the monarch's fame, Nor this alone: much had her highness heard speech; What gems of wisdom dropped with every word; Besides, the Queen had heard (which piqued her How through the deepest riddles he could spy; How all the curious arts that women boast Were quite transparent to his piercing eye; And straight she held before the monarch's view, bowers; |