Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Algernon Charles Swinburne (Illustrated) (Delphi Poets Series)
Page 169
ODE ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
ODE TO MAZZINI
OFF SHORE.
OLIVE
ON A COUNTRY ROAD.
ON AN OLD ROUNDEL TRANSLATED BY D. C. ROSSETTI FROM THE FRENCH OF VILLON
ON LAMB’S SPECIMENS OF DRAMATIC POETS
ON THE BICENTENARY OF CORNEILLE, CELEBRATED UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF VICTOR HUGO.
ON THE CLIFFS
ON THE DEATH OF COLONEL BENSON
ON THE DEATH OF MRS. LYNN LINTON
ON THE DEATH OF RICHARD BURTON
ON THE DEATH OF RICHARD DOYLE.
ON THE DEATH OF SIR HENRY TAYLOR
ON THE DEATHS OF THOMAS CARLYLE AND GEORGE ELIOT
ON THE DOWNS
ON THE RUSSIAN PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS
ON THE SOUTH COAST
ON THE VERGE.
ONE OF TWAIN
PAN AND THALASSIUS
PAST DAYS
PASTICHE
PELAGIUS.
PERINDE AC CADAVER
PHÆDRA
PHILIP MASSINGER
PLUS INTRA
PLUS ULTRA
POPE CELESTIN AND GIORDANO
POSTSCRIPT
PRELUDE
PRELUDE
PROLOGUE TO A VERY WOMAN
PROLOGUE TO ARDEN OF FEVERSHAM
PROLOGUE TO DOCTOR FAUSTUS
PROLOGUE TO OLD FORTUNATUS
PROLOGUE TO THE BROKEN HEART
PROLOGUE TO THE DUCHESS OF MALFY
PROLOGUE TO THE REVENGER’S TRAGEDY
PROLOGUE TO THE SPANISH GIPSY
PROLOGUE TO THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN
PSYCHAGOGOS
QUEEN YSEULT
QUIA MULTUM AMAVIT
QUIA NOMINOR LEO
RECOLLECTIONS
RECOLLECTIONS
RELICS
REVERSE
RIZPAH
ROCOCO
RONDEL
RONDEL
ROUNDEL FROM THE FRENCH OF VILLON
RUSSIA: AN ODE
SAIREY GAMP’S ROUNDEL
SAPPHICS
SATIA TE SANGUINE
SECOND LOVE
SESTINA
SEVEN YEARS OLD
SIENA
SIR WILLIAM GOMM
SIX YEARS OLD.
SLEEP
SONG BEFORE DEATH
SONG FOR CHASTELARD
SONG FOR THE CENTENARY OF WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR
SONG FOR THE CENTENARY OF WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR.
SONG: LOVE LAID HIS SLEEPLESS HEAD
SONNET (WITH A COPY OF MADEMOISELLE DE MAUPIN)
SONNET FOR A PICTURE
SONNET: AH, FACE AND HANDS AND BODY BEAUTIFUL
SONNET: HIGH THOUGHT AND HALLOWED LOVE, BY FAITH MADE
SORROW
SPRING IN TUSCANY
ST. DOROTHY
STAGE LOVE
STRATFORD-ON-AVON
SUMMER IN AUVERGNE
SUNRISE
SUNSET AND MOONRISE
SUPER FLUMINA BABYLONIS
TENEBRAE
THALASSIUS
THANKSGIVING
THAW
THE AFTERGLOW OF SHAKESPEARE
THE ALTAR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
THE ALTAR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
THE ARMADA
THE BALLAD OF DEAD MEN’S BAY
THE BALLAD OF MELICERTES
THE BALLADE OF TRUTHFUL
THE BIRDS.
THE BLOODY SON
THE BRIDE’S TRAGEDY
THE BROTHERS
THE CENTENARY OF ALEXANDRE DUMAS
THE CENTENARY OF SHELLEY
THE CENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF THE NILE
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL
THE CLIFFSIDE PATH.
THE COMMONWEAL
THE COMMONWEAL
THE COMPLAINT OF LISA
THE COMPLAINT OF THE FAIR ARMOURESS
THE CONCERT OF EUROPE
THE CUP OF GOD’S WRATH
THE DEATH OF RICHARD WAGNER
THE DEATH OF RUDEL
THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN
THE DISPUTE OF THE HEART AND BODY OF FRANÇOIS VILLON
THE EARL OF MAR’S DAUGHTER
THE EMPEROR’S PROGRESS.
THE EPITAPH IN FORM OF A BALLAD
THE EVE OF REVOLUTION
THE FESTIVAL OF BEATRICE
THE FIRST OF JUNE
THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY.
THE GARDEN OF CYMODOCE
THE GARDEN OF PROSERPINE
THE GHOST OF IT
THE HALT BEFORE ROME — SEPTEMBER 1867
THE HEPTALOGIA
THE HIGH OAKS
THE HIGHER PANTHEISM IN A NUTSHELL
THE INTERPRETERS
THE KING’S AE SON
THE KING’S DAUGHTER
THE LAKE OF GAUBE
THE LAST ORACLE
THE LAST PILGRIMAGE
THE LAST WORD
THE LAUNCH OF THE LIVADIA.
THE LEPER
THE LITANY OF NATIONS
THE LUTE AND THE LYRE
THE MAIDEN MARRIAGE
THE MANY
THE MANY II
THE MASQUE OF QUEEN BERSABE
THE MILL GARDEN.
THE MONUMENT OF GIORDANO BRUNO
THE OBLATION
THE ORDER OF RELEASE
THE PALACE OF PAN
THE PASSING OF THE HAWTHORN
THE PERSON OF THE HOUSE
THE PILGRIMS
THE POET AND THE WOODLOUSE
THE PROMISE OF THE HAWTHORN
THE QUEEN’S PLEASANCE
THE QUEEN’S TRAGEDY
THE QUESTION
THE RECALL
THE RESURRECTION OF ALCILIA.
THE ROUNDEL
THE SAILING OF THE SWALLOW
THE SAILING OF THE SWAN
THE SALT OF THE EARTH
THE SEABOARD.
THE SEA-SWALLOWS
THE SONG OF THE STANDARD
THE STATUE OF VICTOR HUGO
THE SUNBOWS.
THE SUNDEW
THE TALE OF BALEN
THE TRANSVAAL
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN
THE TRIUMPH OF TIME
THE TURNING OF THE TIDE
THE TWILIGHT OF THE LORDS.
THE TWO DREAMS
THE TYNESIDE WIDOW
THE UNION
THE WAY OF THE WIND
THE WEARY WEDDING
THE WHITE CZAR
THE WHITE MAID’S WOOING
THE WIFE’S VIGIL
THE WINDS
THE WITCH-MOTHER
THE WORM OF SPINDLESTONHEUGH
THE YEAR OF LOVE
THE YEAR OF THE ROSE
THÉOPHILE GAUTIER
THOMAS DECKER
THOMAS HEYWOOD
THOMAS MIDDLETON
THREE FACES
THREE WEEKS OLD
THRENODY
THRENODY
TIME AND LIFE
TIRESIAS
TO A BABY KINSWOMAN
TO A CAT
TO A LEEDS POET
TO A SEAMEW
TO CATULLUS
TO DORA DORIAN
TO DR. JOHN BROWN
TO GEORGE FREDERICK WATTS
TO JAMES MCNEIL WHISTLER
TO JOHN NICHOL
TO LOUIS KOSSUTH
TO SIR RICHARD F. BURTON
TO VICTOR HUGO
TO VICTOR HUGO
TO WALT WHITMAN IN AMERICA
TO WILLIAM BELL SCOTT
TRAFALGAR DAY
TRANSFIGURATION
TRANSLATIONS FROM THE FRENCH OF VILLON
TRIADS
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
TRISTRAM IN BRITTANY
TWINS
TWO LEADERS
TWO PRELUDES
VIA DOLOROSA
VICTOR HUGO IN 1877
VICTOR HUGO: L’ARCHIPEL DE LA MANCHE.
VOS DEOS LAUDAMUS:
WASTED LOVE
WEARIESWA’
WESTLAND WELL
WHAT IS DEATH?
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
WINTER IN NORTHUMBERLAND
The Verse Dramas
Capheaton Hall, near Wallington, Northumberland, is the seat of the Swinburne Baronets and the childhood home of the poet.
Capheaton Hall today
THE QUEEN MOTHER
CONTENTS
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
ACT I.
ACT II.
ACT III.
ACT IV.
ACT V.
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI.
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
Charles IX.
Henry, King of Navarre.
Gaspard de Saulx,
Marshal of Tavannes, Catholic Noble.
Henry,
Duke of Guise, Catholic Noble.
Pierre de Bourdeilles,
Abbé de Brantôme, Catholic Noble.
The Admiral
Coligny, Huguenot Noble.
M. de La Noue, Huguenot Noble.
M. de Teligny, Huguenot Noble.
M. de La Rochefoucauld, Huguenot Noble.
M. de Marsillac, Huguenot Noble.
M. de Soubise, Huguenot Noble.
M. de Pardaillan, Huguenot Noble.
Cino Galli, Jester to the Queen-Mother.
Two Captains.
Catherine de’ Medici, Queen-Mother.
Margaret, Queen of Navarre.
Claude, Duchess of Lorraine.
Duchess of Guise.
Denise de Maulévrier, Maid of Honour.
Yolande de Montlitard, Maid of Honour.
Anne de Saulx, Maid of Honour.
Renée de Barbezieux, Maid of Honour.
Soldiers, People, Attendants, &c.
Scene, Paris. Time, Aug. 22-24, 1572.
ACT I.
Scene I.
Environs of the Louvre.
Enter Marsillac, Pardaillan, Soubise, and others, masked; the Duchess of Guise, and other Ladies.
Marsillac.
No, not the king, sir, but my lord of Guise;
I know him by the setting of his neck,
The mask is wried there.
Par.
Are not you the queen?
By the head’s turn you should be; your hair too
Has just the gold stamp of a crown on it.
Duch.
You do dispraise her by your scorn of me.
Par.
Not the queen? then that hair’s real gold of yours
And no white under?
Sou.
Speak low, sirs; the king —
See him there, down between the two big stems,
Wearing a rose, some damozel with him
In the queen’s colours.
Mar.
Ill colours those to wear;
I doubt some loose half of a Florentine,
Clipt metal too.
Par.
Lower: they are close by this;
Make space, I pray you; Christ, how thick they get!
[The Courtiers fall back.
Enter the King and Denise de Maulevrier.
Ch.
Why do you pluck your hands away from me?
Have I said evil? does it hurt you so
To let one love you?
Den.
Yea, hurts much, my lord.
Ch.
Such soft small hands to hide in mine like birds —
Poor child, she pulls so hard — hush now, Denise,
The wrist will show a bruise, I doubt.
Den.
My wrist?
This is a knight, a man gilt head and feet,
And does such villainous things as that!
Ch.
Yea now,
Will you not weep too? will you cry for it?
So, there, keep quiet; let one loose the mask;
Show me the rivet.
Den.
No, no, not the mask;
I pray you, sir — good love, let be the clasp,
I will not show you — ah!
Ch.
So, so, I said
This was my lady, this one? let the rest
Go chatter like sick flies, the rest of them,
I have my gold-headed sweet bird by the foot
To teach it words and feed it with my mouth.
I would one had some silk to tie you with
Softer than a man’s fingers be.
Den.
I too;
Your finger pinches like a trap that shuts.
Ch.
Come then, what penance do you think to get
Now I have trapped you? No, my sweet Denise,
No crying, no dear tears for it: no, love,
I am not angry. Why did you break from me?
Den.
Because I would not have a touch of you
Upon me somewhere; or a word of yours
To make all music stupid in my ear.
The least kiss ever put upon your lips
Would throw me this side heaven, to live there. What,
Am I to lose my better place i’ the world,
Be stripped out of my girdled maiden’s gown
And clad loose for the winter’s tooth to hurt,
Because the man’s a king, and I — see now,
There’s no good in me, I have no wit at all;
I pray you by your mother’s eyes, my lord,
Forbear me, let the foolish maiden go
That will not love you; masterdom of us
Gets no man praise: we are so more than poor,
The dear’st of all our spoil would profit you
Less than mere losing; so most more than weak
It were but shame for one to smite us, who
Could but weep louder.
Ch.
But Denise, poor sweet,
I mean you hurt, I smite you? by God’s head
I’d give you half my blood to wash your feet.
[They pass.
Duch.
To speak truth, I’m a German offset, sir,
And no high woman; I was born in Cleves,
Where half the blood runs thick.
Par.
Ay, with your tongue and head,
Tell me of German! your silk hair, madam,
Was spun in Paris, and your eyes that fill
The velvet slit i’ the mask like two fair lamps,
Set to shake spare gold loose about the dark —
Tell me of German!
Duch.
See then in my hands;
You have good skill at palm-reading, my lord?
Par.
The glove smells sweet inside; that’s good to touch.
Duch.
Give me my glove back.
Par.
By your hand, I will not.
Duch.
There is no potency of oath in that;
My hands are weak, sir.
Par.
By your eyes then, no.
Duch.
I pray you, for your courtesy, sweet lord,
Leave me the glove yet.
Par.
Bid me tear it first;
I’ll wear this whether iron gird or silk,
Let snatch at it who will; and whoso doth,
I’ve a keen tongue ensheathed to answer with.
Duch.
I do beseech you, not my glove, fair sir,
For your dear honour, — could you have such heart?
Par.
Yea, truly; do but see me fasten it;
Nay, it drops; help me to set in the wrist.
The queen comes; I shall cross her sight with this:
If you be woman, as you said, of hers,
It will make sharp the inward of her soul
To see it.
Enter the Queen-Mother, Guise, and Attendants; Cino Galli, and Ladies, masked.
Ca.
So, Denise is caught by this;
Alack, the wolf’s paw for the cat’s, fair son!
That tall knight with a glove wrought curiously,
Whose friend, think you?
Gui.
Some lady’s here, no doubt;
Not mine, as surely.
Par.
Not yours, my lord of Guise.
Ca.
Your wife’s glove, is it? sewn with silk throughout,
And some gold work, too: her glove, certainly.
Gui.
Take no note of him, madam; let us go.
[They pass.
Par.
You Catholics, her glove inside my cap,
Look here, I tread it in the dirt: you, Guise,
I tread a token under foot of mine
You would be glad to wear about the heart.
Here, madam, have it back; soiled in the seam
Perhaps a little, but good enough to wear
For any Guise I see yet.
Duch.
I keep it for him.
[Exit Duchess.
Cino.
If he be wise I am no fool. One of you
Bid him come sup with me.
Par.
What fare, good fool?
Cino.
A sacrament of eye-water and rye-bread
Changed to mere foolish flesh and blood to sup, sir.
Yolande.
‘Ware stakes, my Cino; is this a head to roast?
Think, my poor fool’s tongue with a nail through it,
Were it no pity?
Cino.
Fire goes out with rain, child.
I do but think, too, if I were burnt to-morrow,
What a waste of salt would there be! what a ruin of silk stuff!
What sweet things would one have to hear of me,
Being once got penitent! Suppose you my soul’s father,
Here I come weeping, lame in the feet, mine eyes big —
“Yea, my sin merely! be it not writ against me
How the very devil in the shape of a cloth-of-gold skirt
Lost me my soul with a mask, a most ungracious one,
A velvet riddle; and how he set a mark on me,
A red mark, father, here where the halter throttles,
See there, Yolande writ broad;” yet, for all that,
The queen might have worn worse paint, if it please you note me,
If her physic-seller had kept hands cleaner, verily.