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Author Topic: This one always slays me  (Read 2334 times)

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Offline Nick

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This one always slays me
« on: January 28, 2011, 07:38:03 PM »
Quote
That's my last duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
"Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Frà Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps
"Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint
"Must never hope to reproduce the faint
"Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart how shall I say? too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
She rode with round the terrace all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. She thanked men good! but thanked
Somehow I know not how as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech which I have not to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this
"Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
"Or there exceed the mark" and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and make excuse,
E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then. I repeat,
The Count your master's known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretense
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

My Last Duchess
  Robert Browning
happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001

My students never got it  noooo:

But it is VERY funny
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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2011, 07:40:43 PM »
Of course...  noooo:
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Offline Nick

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2011, 07:41:39 PM »
Philistine  noooo:
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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2011, 07:43:33 PM »
Shrugs:
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Offline Nick

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2011, 07:44:16 PM »
DS will explain in due course  ::)
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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2011, 07:44:45 PM »
DS will explain in due course  ::)

Okay... like...  rubschin:
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Offline Nick

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2011, 07:46:37 PM »
I will act it out for you when I get there, like  angel1
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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2011, 07:50:37 PM »
I will act it out for you when I get there, like  angel1

So I recognise you at "Arrivals"?  rubschin:
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Offline Nick

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2011, 08:31:51 PM »
Oh, you can't possibly miss me  angel1
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Offline Just One More

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2011, 08:35:25 PM »
I will act it out for you when I get there, like  angel1

So I recognise you at "Arrivals"?  rubschin:

He could do owl impressions. What could possibly go wrong  rubschin:
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Offline Nick

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2011, 08:38:16 PM »
Dolt  evil:

Seen those pandas yet?
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Offline Just One More

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2011, 08:41:55 PM »
No, I haven't seen them yet. I drove by the water meadows today but you can't see them from the road
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Offline Darwins Selection

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2011, 09:30:00 PM »
DS will explain in due course  ::)

I loath Browning.

Too pompous, even for me.
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Offline Pirate

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2011, 09:33:30 PM »
Goodho...I wondered who'd be the first to notice it was Browning...

Offline Just One More

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Re: This one always slays me
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2011, 09:55:51 PM »
Goodho...I wondered who'd be the first to notice it was Browning...

Well I thought it was Browning when he had his name at the end of it like  ;D
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