Scenes From 'politian.' (an Unpublished Drama) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B B ACDB EFB AGHE IJKLMF ENFO PQRS T UVWX J YJJ JJ XY XZ JZJYEA2Y B2A2XC2 A2 MYDYJJYJJ VY D2E2F2JG2E VJE D2JJJ ZVF2H2X VJJX JRI2V J A VJXR J2 JI2 EK2A2 L2 EXJ JA2 X YJJM2VJJJ X A2JMF2JJYJRJVXXVJ N2J JJX O2 J P2RA2JA2 A2 Q2B2 A2JJJVA2E R2A2 JEJJJ JJS2 JX JA2JYK2JJ J JJ XYA2YJJJJJXJT2VA2EJU 2JX XJ JXM A2JA2MJJXV2 A2 YCUTD2W2VRX2V J A2JJJ2 A2 A2EYVEVJY2EJYJVV YJVO2J V A Y VJJJJ YJ JX JJJYJZ2YY JJ XYYJ JVV J JXYXX XV J YXA3XA2XB3JYC3XJ A2J JA2XXJA2YJXD3VMY J JJVA2XXA2XX VJJXC2S2XE3JY V XB3XB3E2B3XM JJV XB3XB3E2B3XM A2 A2 V A2 XA2V XB3E2B3V JVXY YEJB2XYE2 YJJ V JXJJJJU2JJ YV J J V JJJJ XZA2JXJVJEJJJJJVJEXX A2JXVJJJXJ JYEVA2JVYVVJJJVYX V XJJA2 V Y YXJ ZJJ JJXXXVJ JJJJXJ JJJJJJXXF3YV VVJA2JJXT2JJJZJ JX J J A2XXJJQ2JJJXJJJJJJA2 YX J J JJJXJJT2A2JJ Y JJA2 XYXXXJ YXJZ YYJJJX YJA2 YYJXYXJA2 J JA2ZJJYJ JJ J A2 J Y JY ZEJXEEYEJA2X Y XA2X A2JJZ JZZXJ JA2V2 JJJJ JJ JXJA2JXJ A2J Z J JEO2JJJJJ A2JYYYJJJJJJJ J JJ J JJA2JYJ JJ A2 A2JA2 Y JJJ XJ J J JJJA2 J JYJJJ YA2JXXJYJJJJXYJJG3J J ZJJ JYA2 XEYYJA2A2JA2JXX JJJJYJJE YJJYYY J JJA2 X J J A2 A2A2H3YA2J JJJJJJ J

IA
-
ROME A Hall in a Palace ALESSANDRA and CASTIGLIONEB
-
Alessandra Thou art sad CastiglioneB
-
Castiglione Sad not IA
Oh I'm the happiest happiest man in RomeC
A few days more thou knowest my AlessandraD
Will make thee mine Oh I am very happyB
-
Aless Methinks thou hast a singular way of showingE
Thy happiness what ails thee cousin of mineF
Why didst thou sigh so deeplyB
-
Cas Did I sighA
I was not conscious of it It is a fashionG
A silly a most silly fashion I haveH
When I am very happy Did I sigh sighingE
-
Aless Thou didst Thou art not well Thou hast indulgedI
Too much of late and I am vexed to see itJ
Late hours and wine Castiglione theseK
Will ruin thee thou art already alteredL
Thy looks are haggard nothing so wears awayM
The constitution as late hours and wineF
-
Cas musing Nothing fair cousin nothingE
Not even deep sorrowN
Wears it away like evil hours and wineF
I will amendO
-
Aless Do it I would have thee dropP
Thy riotous company too fellows low bornQ
Ill suit the like of old Di Broglio's heirR
And Alessandra's husbandS
-
Cas I will drop themT
-
Aless Thou wilt thou must Attend thou also moreU
To thy dress and equipage they are over plainV
For thy lofty rank and fashion much dependsW
Upon appearancesX
-
Cas I'll see to itJ
-
Aless Then see to it pay more attention sirY
To a becoming carriage much thou wantestJ
In dignityJ
-
Cas Much much oh much I wantJ
In proper dignityJ
-
AlessX
haughtily Thou mockest me sirY
-
CosX
abstractedly Sweet gentle LalageZ
-
Aless Heard I arightJ
I speak to him he speaks of LalageZ
Sir CountJ
places her hand on his shoulderY
what art thou dreamingE
He's not wellA2
What ails thee sirY
-
Cas starting Cousin fair cousin madamB2
I crave thy pardon indeed I am not wellA2
Your hand from off my shoulder if you pleaseX
This air is most oppressive Madam the DukeC2
-
Enter Di BroglioA2
-
Di Broglio My son I've news for thee heyM
what's the matterY
observing AlessandraD
I' the pouts Kiss her Castiglione kiss herY
You dog and make it up I say this minuteJ
I've news for you both Politian is expectedJ
Hourly in Rome Politian Earl of LeicesterY
We'll have him at the wedding 'Tis his first visitJ
To the imperial cityJ
-
Aless What PolitianV
Of Britain Earl of LeicesterY
-
Di Brog The same my loveD2
We'll have him at the wedding A man quite youngE2
In years but gray in fame I have not seen himF2
But Rumor speaks of him as of a prodigyJ
Pre eminent in arts and arms and wealthG2
And high descent We'll have him at the weddingE
-
Aless I have heard much of this PolitianV
Gay volatile and giddy is he notJ
And little given to thinkingE
-
Di Brog Far from it loveD2
No branch they say of all philosophyJ
So deep abstruse he has not mastered itJ
Learned as few are learnedJ
-
Aless 'Tis very strangeZ
I have known men have seen PolitianV
And sought his company They speak of himF2
As of one who entered madly into lifeH2
Drinking the cup of pleasure to the dregsX
-
Cas Ridiculous Now I have seen PolitianV
And know him well nor learned nor mirthful heJ
He is a dreamer and shut outJ
From common passionsX
-
Di Brog Children we disagreeJ
Let us go forth and taste the fragrant airR
Of the garden Did I dream or did I hearI2
Politian was a melancholy manV
-
ExeuntJ
-
-
-
-
IIA
-
ROME A Lady's Apartment with a window open and looking into a gardenV
LALAGE in deep mourning reading at a table on which lie some books andJ
a hand mirror In the background JACINTA a servant maid leansX
carelessly upon a chairR
-
-
Lalage Jacinta is it thouJ2
-
JacintaJ
pertly Yes ma'am I'm hereI2
-
Lal I did not know Jacinta you were in waitingE
Sit down let not my presence trouble youK2
Sit down for I am humble most humbleA2
-
Jac aside 'Tis timeL2
-
Jacinta seats herself in a side long manner upon the chair restingE
her elbows upon the back and regarding her mistress with a contemptuousX
look Lalage continues to readJ
-
Lal It in another climate so he saidJ
Bore a bright golden flower but not i' this soilA2
-
pauses turns over some leaves and resumesX
-
No lingering winters there nor snow nor showerY
But Ocean ever to refresh mankindJ
Breathes the shrill spirit of the western windJ
Oh beautiful most beautiful how likeM2
To what my fevered soul doth dream of HeavenV
O happy land pauses She died the maiden diedJ
O still more happy maiden who couldst dieJ
JacintaJ
-
Jacinta returns no answer and Lalage presently resumesX
-
Again a similar taleA2
Told of a beauteous dame beyond the seaJ
Thus speaketh one Ferdinand in the words of the playM
She died full young one Bossola answers himF2
I think not so her infelicityJ
Seemed to have years too many Ah luckless ladyJ
Jacinta still no answerY
Here's a far sterner storyJ
But like oh very like in its despairR
Of that Egyptian queen winning so easilyJ
A thousand hearts losing at length her ownV
She died Thus endeth the history and her maidsX
Lean over her and keep two gentle maidsX
With gentle names Eiros and CharmionV
Rainbow and Dove JacintaJ
-
JacN2
pettishly Madam what is itJ
-
Lal Wilt thou my good Jacinta be so kindJ
As go down in the library and bring meJ
The Holy EvangelistsX
-
Jac PshawO2
-
ExitJ
-
Lal If there be balmP2
For the wounded spirit in Gilead it is thereR
Dew in the night time of my bitter troubleA2
Will there be found dew sweeter far than thatJ
Which hangs like chains of pearl on Hermon hillA2
-
re enter Jacinta and throws a volume on the tableA2
-
There ma'am 's the bookQ2
aside Indeed she is very troublesomeB2
-
LalA2
astonished What didst thou say JacintaJ
Have I done aughtJ
To grieve thee or to vex thee I am sorryJ
For thou hast served me long and ever beenV
Trustworthy and respectfulA2
resumes her readingE
-
Jac aside I can't believeR2
She has any more jewels no no she gave me allA2
-
Lal What didst thou say Jacinta Now I bethink meJ
Thou hast not spoken lately of thy weddingE
How fares good Ugo and when is it to beJ
Can I do aught is there no further aidJ
Thou needest JacintaJ
-
Jac aside Is there no further aidJ
That's meant for me I'm sure madam you need notJ
Be always throwing those jewels in my teethS2
-
Lal Jewels Jacinta now indeed JacintaJ
I thought not of the jewelsX
-
Jac Oh perhaps notJ
But then I might have sworn it After allA2
There's Ugo says the ring is only pasteJ
For he's sure the Count Castiglione neverY
Would have given a real diamond to such as youK2
And at the best I'm certain madam you cannotJ
Have use for jewels now But I might have sworn itJ
-
ExitJ
-
Lalage bursts into tears and leans her head upon the table after aJ
short pause raises itJ
-
Lal Poor Lalage and is it come to thisX
Thy servant maid but courage 'tis but a viperY
Whom thou hast cherished to sting thee to the soulA2
taking up the mirrorY
Ha here at least's a friend too much a friendJ
In earlier days a friend will not deceive theeJ
Fair mirror and true now tell me for thou canstJ
A tale a pretty tale and heed thou notJ
Though it be rife with woe It answers meJ
It speaks of sunken eyes and wasted cheeksX
And beauty long deceased remembers meJ
Of Joy departed Hope the Seraph HopeT2
Inurned and entombed now in a toneV
Low sad and solemn but most audibleA2
Whispers of early grave untimely yawningE
For ruined maid Fair mirror and true thou liest notJ
Thou hast no end to gain no heart to breakU2
Castiglione lied who said he lovedJ
Thou true he false false falseX
-
While she speaks a monk enters her apartment and approachesX
unobservedJ
-
Monk Refuge thou hastJ
Sweet daughter in Heaven Think of eternal thingsX
Give up thy soul to penitence and prayM
-
LalA2
arising hurriedly I cannot pray My soul is at war with GodJ
The frightful sounds of merriment belowA2
Disturb my senses go I cannot prayM
The sweet airs from the garden worry meJ
Thy presence grieves me go thy priestly raimentJ
Fills me with dread thy ebony crucifixX
With horror and aweV2
-
Monk Think of thy precious soulA2
-
Lal Think of my early days think of my fatherY
And mother in Heaven think of our quiet homeC
And the rivulet that ran before the doorU
Think of my little sisters think of themT
And think of me think of my trusting loveD2
And confidence his vows my ruin think thinkW2
Of my unspeakable misery begoneV
Yet stay yet stay what was it thou saidst of prayerR
And penitence Didst thou not speak of faithX2
And vows before the throneV
-
Monk I didJ
-
Lal 'Tis wellA2
There is a vow 'twere fitting should be madeJ
A sacred vow imperative and urgentJ
A solemn vowJ2
-
Monk Daughter this zeal is wellA2
-
Lal Father this zeal is anything but wellA2
Hast thou a crucifix fit for this thingE
A crucifix whereon to registerY
This sacred vow he hands her his ownV
Not that Oh no no no shudderingE
Not that Not that I tell thee holy manV
Thy raiments and thy ebony cross affright meJ
Stand back I have a crucifix myselfY2
I have a crucifix Methinks 'twere fittingE
The deed the vow the symbol of the deedJ
And the deed's register should tally fatherY
draws a cross handled dagger and raises it on highJ
Behold the cross wherewith a vow like mineV
Is written in heavenV
-
Monk Thy words are madness daughterY
And speak a purpose unholy thy lips are lividJ
Thine eyes are wild tempt not the wrath divineV
Pause ere too late oh be not be not rashO2
Swear not the oath oh swear it notJ
-
Lal 'Tis swornV
-
-
-
-
IIIA
-
An Apartment in a Palace POLITIAN and BALDAZZARY
-
-
Baldazzar Arouse thee now PolitianV
Thou must not nay indeed indeed thou shalt notJ
Give way unto these humors Be thyselfJ
Shake off the idle fancies that beset theeJ
And live for now thou diestJ
-
Politian Not so BaldazzarY
Surely I liveJ
-
Bal Politian it doth grieve meJ
To see thee thusX
-
Pol Baldazzar it doth grieve meJ
To give thee cause for grief my honored friendJ
Command me sir what wouldst thou have me doJ
At thy behest I will shake off that natureY
Which from my forefathers I did inheritJ
Which with my mother's milk I did imbibeZ2
And be no more Politian but some otherY
Command me sirY
-
Bal To the field then to the fieldJ
To the senate or the fieldJ
-
Pol Alas alasX
There is an imp would follow me even thereY
There is an imp hath followed me even thereY
There is what voice was thatJ
-
Bal I heard it notJ
I heard not any voice except thine ownV
And the echo of thine ownV
-
Pol Then I but dreamedJ
-
Bal Give not thy soul to dreams the camp the courtJ
Befit thee Fame awaits thee Glory callsX
And her the trumpet tongued thou wilt not hearY
In hearkening to imaginary soundsX
And phantom voicesX
-
Pol It is a phantom voiceX
Didst thou not hear it thenV
-
Bal I heard it notJ
-
Pol Thou heardst it not Baldazzar speak no moreY
To me Politian of thy camps and courtsX
Oh I am sick sick sick even unto deathA3
Of the hollow and high sounding vanitiesX
Of the populous Earth Bear with me yet awhileA2
We have been boys together school fellowsX
And now are friends yet shall not be so longB3
For in the Eternal City thou shalt do meJ
A kind and gentle office and a PowerY
A Power august benignant and supremeC3
Shall then absolve thee of all further dutiesX
Unto thy friendJ
-
Bal Thou speakest a fearful riddleA2
I will not understandJ
-
Pol Yet now as FateJ
Approaches and the Hours are breathing lowA2
The sands of Time are changed to golden grainsX
And dazzle me Baldazzar Alas alasX
I cannot die having within my heartJ
So keen a relish for the beautifulA2
As hath been kindled within it Methinks the airY
Is balmier now than it was wont to beJ
Rich melodies are floating in the windsX
A rarer loveliness bedecks the earthD3
And with a holier lustre the quiet moonV
Sitteth in Heaven Hist hist thou canst not sayM
Thou hearest not now BaldazzarY
-
Bal Indeed I hear notJ
-
Pol Not hear it listen now listen the faintest soundJ
And yet the sweetest that ear ever heardJ
A lady's voice and sorrow in the toneV
Baldazzar it oppresses me like a spellA2
Again again how solemnly it fallsX
Into my heart of hearts that eloquent voiceX
Surely I never heard yet it were wellA2
Had I but heard it with its thrilling tonesX
In earlier daysX
-
Bal I myself hear it nowV
Be still the voice if I mistake not greatlyJ
Proceeds from younder lattice which you may seeJ
Very plainly through the window it belongsX
Does it not unto this palace of the DukeC2
The singer is undoubtedly beneathS2
The roof of his Excellency and perhapsX
Is even that Alessandra of whom he spokeE3
As the betrothed of CastiglioneJ
His son and heirY
-
Pol Be still it comes againV
-
VoiceX
very faintly And is thy heart so strongB3
As for to leave me thusX
That have loved thee so longB3
In wealth and woe amongE2
And is thy heart so strongB3
As for to leave me thusX
Say nay say nayM
-
-
Bal The song is English and I oft have heard itJ
In merry England never so plaintivelyJ
Hist hist it comes againV
-
VoiceX
more loudly Is it so strongB3
As for to leave me thusX
That have loved thee so longB3
In wealth and woe amongE2
And is thy heart so strongB3
As for to leave me thusX
Say nay say nayM
-
Bal 'Tis hushed and all is stillA2
-
Pol All is not stillA2
-
Bal Let us go downV
-
Pol Go down Baldazzar goA2
-
Bal The hour is growing late the Duke awaits usX
Thy presence is expected in the hallA2
Below What ails thee Earl PolitianV
-
VoiceX
distinctly Who have loved thee so longB3
In wealth and woe amongE2
And is thy heart so strongB3
Say nay say nayV
-
Bal Let us descend 'tis time Politian giveJ
These fancies to the wind Remember prayV
Your bearing lately savored much of rudenessX
Unto the Duke Arouse thee and rememberY
-
Pol Remember I do Lead on I do rememberY
goingE
Let us descend Believe me I would giveJ
Freely would give the broad lands of my earldomB2
To look upon the face hidden by yon latticeX
To gaze upon that veiled face and hearY
Once more that silent tongueE2
-
Bal Let me beg you sirY
Descend with me the Duke may be offendedJ
Let us go down I pray youJ
-
Voice loudly Say nay say nayV
-
Pol aside 'Tis strange 'tis very strange methoughtJ
the voiceX
Chimed in with my desires and bade me stayJ
Approaching the windowJ
Sweet voice I heed thee and will surely stayJ
Now be this fancy by heaven or be it FateJ
Still will I not descend Baldazzar makeU2
Apology unto the Duke for meJ
I go not down to nightJ
-
Bal Your lordship's pleasureY
Shall be attended to Good night PolitianV
-
Pol Good night my friend good nightJ
-
-
-
-
IVJ
-
The Gardens of a Palace Moonlight LALAGE and POLITIANV
-
-
Lalage And dost thou speak of loveJ
To me Politian dost thou speak of loveJ
To Lalage ah woe ah woe is meJ
This mockery is most cruel most cruel indeedJ
-
Politian Weep not oh sob not thus thy bitter tearsX
Will madden me Oh mourn not LalageZ
Be comforted I know I know it allA2
And still I speak of love Look at me brightestJ
And beautiful Lalage turn here thine eyesX
Thou askest me if I could speak of loveJ
Knowing what I know and seeing what I have seenV
Thou askest me that and thus I answer theeJ
Thus on my bended knee I answer thee kneelingE
Sweet Lalage I love thee love thee love theeJ
Thro' good and ill thro' weal and woe I love theeJ
Not mother with her first born on her kneeJ
Thrills with intenser love than I for theeJ
Not on God's altar in any time or climeJ
Burned there a holier fire than burneth nowV
Within my spirit for thee And do I loveJ
arisingE
Even for thy woes I love thee even for thy woesX
Thy beauty and thy woesX
-
Lal Alas proud EarlA2
Thou dost forget thyself remembering meJ
How in thy father's halls among the maidensX
Pure and reproachless of thy princely lineV
Could the dishonored Lalage abideJ
Thy wife and with a tainted memoryJ
My seared and blighted name how would it tallyJ
With the ancestral honors of thy houseX
And with thy gloryJ
-
Pol Speak not to me of gloryJ
I hate I loathe the name I do abhorY
The unsatisfactory and ideal thingE
Art thou not Lalage and I PolitianV
Do I not love art thou not beautifulA2
What need we more Ha glory now speak not of itJ
By all I hold most sacred and most solemnV
By all my wishes now my fears hereafterY
By all I scorn on earth and hope in heavenV
There is no deed I would more glory inV
Than in thy cause to scoff at this same gloryJ
And trample it under foot What matters itJ
What matters it my fairest and my bestJ
That we go down unhonored and forgottenV
Into the dust so we descend togetherY
Descend together and then and then perchanceX
-
Lal Why dost thou pause PolitianV
-
Pol And then perchanceX
Arise together Lalage and roamJ
The starry and quiet dwellings of the blestJ
And stillA2
-
Lal Why dost thou pause PolitianV
-
Pol And still together togetherY
-
Lal Now Earl of LeicesterY
Thou lovest me and in my heart of heartsX
I feel thou lovest me trulyJ
-
Pol O LalageZ
throwing himself upon his kneeJ
And lovest thou meJ
-
Lal Hist hush within the gloomJ
Of yonder trees methought a figure passedJ
A spectral figure solemn and slow and noiselessX
Like the grim shadow Conscience solemn and noiselessX
walks across and returnsX
I was mistaken 'twas but a giant boughV
Stirred by the autumn wind PolitianJ
-
Pol My Lalage my love why art thou movedJ
Why dost thou turn so pale Not Conscience selfJ
Far less a shadow which thou likenest to itJ
Should shake the firm spirit thus But the night windJ
Is chilly and these melancholy boughsX
Throw over all things a gloomJ
-
Lal PolitianJ
Thou speakest to me of love Knowest thou the landJ
With which all tongues are busy a land new foundJ
Miraculously found by one of GenoaJ
A thousand leagues within the golden westJ
A fairy land of flowers and fruit and sunshineJ
And crystal lakes and over arching forestsX
And mountains around whose towering summits the windsX
Of Heaven untrammelled flow which air to breatheF3
Is Happiness now and will be Freedom hereafterY
In days that are to comeV
-
Pol Oh wilt thou wilt thouV
Fly to that Paradise my Lalage wilt thouV
Fly thither with me There Care shall be forgottenJ
And Sorrow shall be no more and Eros be allA2
And life shall then be mine for I will liveJ
For thee and in thine eyes and thou shalt beJ
No more a mourner but the radiant JoysX
Shall wait upon thee and the angel HopeT2
Attend thee ever and I will kneel to theeJ
And worship thee and call thee my belovedJ
My own my beautiful my love my wifeJ
My all oh wilt thou wilt thou LalageZ
Fly thither with meJ
-
Lal A deed is to be doneJ
Castiglione livesX
-
Pol And he shall dieJ
-
ExitJ
-
LalA2
after a pause And he shall die alasX
Castiglione die Who spoke the wordsX
Where am I what was it he said PolitianJ
Thou art not gone thou art not gone PolitianJ
I feel thou art not gone yet dare not lookQ2
Lest I behold thee not thou couldst not goJ
With those words upon thy lips oh speak to meJ
And let me hear thy voice one word one wordJ
To say thou art not gone one little sentenceX
To say how thou dost scorn how thou dost hateJ
My womanly weakness Ha ha thou art not goneJ
Oh speak to me I knew thou wouldst not goJ
I knew thou wouldst not couldst not durst not goJ
Villain thou art not gone thou mockest meJ
And thus I clutch thee thus He is gone he is goneJ
Gone gone Where am I 'tis well 'tis very wellA2
So that the blade be keen the blow be sureY
'Tis well 'tis very well alas alasX
-
-
-
-
VJ
-
The Suburbs POLITIAN aloneJ
-
-
Politian This weakness grows upon me I am fainJ
And much I fear me ill it will not doJ
To die ere I have lived Stay stay thy handJ
O Azrael yet awhile Prince of the PowersX
Of Darkness and the Tomb oh pity meJ
Oh pity me let me not perish nowJ
In the budding of my Paradisal HopeT2
Give me to live yet yet a little whileA2
'Tis I who pray for life I who so lateJ
Demanded but to die What sayeth the CountJ
-
Enter BaldazzarY
-
Baldazzar That knowing no cause of quarrel or of feudJ
Between the Earl Politian and himselfJ
He doth decline your cartelA2
-
Pol What didst thou sayX
What answer was it you brought me good BaldazzarY
With what excessive fragrance the zephyr comesX
Laden from yonder bowers a fairer dayX
Or one more worthy Italy methinksX
No mortal eyes have seen what said the CountJ
-
Bal That he Castiglione not being awareY
Of any feud existing or any causeX
Of quarrel between your lordship and himselfJ
Cannot accept the challengeZ
-
Pol It is most trueY
All this is very true When saw you sirY
When saw you now Baldazzar in the frigidJ
Ungenial Britain which we left so latelyJ
A heaven so calm as this so utterly freeJ
From the evil taint of clouds and he did sayX
-
Bal No more my lord than I have told youY
The Count Castiglione will not fightJ
Having no cause for quarrelA2
-
Pol Now this is trueY
All very true Thou art my friend BaldazzarY
And I have not forgotten it thou'lt do meJ
A piece of service wilt thou go back and sayX
Unto this man that I the Earl of LeicesterY
Hold him a villain thus much I pr'ythee sayX
Unto the Count it is exceeding justJ
He should have cause for quarrelA2
-
Bal My lord my friendJ
-
Pol aside 'Tis he he comes himselfJ
aloud Thou reasonest wellA2
I know what thou wouldst say not send the messageZ
Well I will think of it I will not send itJ
Now pr'ythee leave me hither doth come a personJ
With whom affairs of a most private natureY
I would adjustJ
-
Bal I go to morrow we meetJ
Do we not at the VaticanJ
-
Pol At the VaticanJ
-
Exit BalA2
-
Enter CastiglioneJ
-
Cas The Earl of Leicester hereY
-
Pol I am the Earl of Leicester and thou seestJ
Dost thou not that I am hereY
-
Cas My lord some strangeZ
Some singular mistake misunderstandingE
Hath without doubt arisen thou hast been urgedJ
Thereby in heat of anger to addressX
Some words most unaccountable in writingE
To me Castiglione the bearer beingE
Baldazzar Duke of Surrey I am awareY
Of nothing which might warrant thee in this thingE
Having given thee no offence Ha am I rightJ
'Twas a mistake undoubtedly we allA2
Do err at timesX
-
Pol Draw villain and prate no moreY
-
Cas Ha draw and villain have at thee then at onceX
Proud EarlA2
DrawsX
-
PolA2
drawing Thus to the expiatory tombJ
Untimely sepulchre I do devote theeJ
In the name of LalageZ
-
Cas letting fall his sword and recoiling to the extremity of theJ
stageZ
Of LalageZ
Hold off thy sacred hand avaunt I sayX
Avaunt I will not fight thee indeed I dare notJ
-
Pol Thou wilt not fight with me didst say Sir CountJ
Shall I be baffled thus now this is wellA2
Didst say thou darest not HaV2
-
Cas I dare not dare notJ
Hold off thy hand with that beloved nameJ
So fresh upon thy lips I will not fight theeJ
I cannot dare notJ
-
Pol Now by my halidomJ
I do believe thee coward I do believe theeJ
-
Cas Ha coward this may not beJ
clutches his sword and staggers towards Politian but his purpose isX
changed before reaching him and he falls upon hia knee at the feet ofJ
the EarlA2
Alas my lordJ
It is it is most true In such a causeX
I am the veriest coward Oh pity meJ
-
PolA2
greatly softened Alas I do indeed I pity theeJ
-
Cas And LalageZ
-
Pol Scoundrel arise and dieJ
-
Cas It needeth not be thus thus Oh let me dieJ
Thus on my bended knee It were most fittingE
That in this deep humiliation I perishO2
For in the fight I will not raise a handJ
Against thee Earl of Leicester Strike thou homeJ
baring his bosomJ
Here is no let or hindrance to thy weaponJ
Strike home I will not fight theeJ
-
Pol Now's Death and HellA2
Am I not am I not sorely grievously temptedJ
To take thee at thy word But mark me sirY
Think not to fly me thus Do thou prepareY
For public insult in the streets beforeY
The eyes of the citizens I'll follow theeJ
Like an avenging spirit I'll follow theeJ
Even unto death Before those whom thou lovestJ
Before all Rome I'll taunt thee villain I'll tauntJ
theeJ
Dost hear with cowardice thou wilt not fight meJ
Thou liest thou shaltJ
-
ExitJ
-
Cas Now this indeed is justJ
Most righteous and most just avenging HeavenJ
-
Duke Why do you laughJ
-
Castiglione IndeedJ
I hardly know myself Stay Was it notJ
On yesterday we were speaking of the EarlA2
Of the Earl Politian Yes it was yesterdayJ
Alessandra you and I you must rememberY
We were walking in the gardenJ
-
Duke PerfectlyJ
I do remember it what of it what thenJ
-
Cas O nothing nothing at allA2
-
Duke Nothing at allA2
It is most singular that you should laughJ
At nothing at allA2
-
Cas Most singular singularY
-
Duke Look yon Castiglione be so kindJ
As tell me sir at once what 'tis you meanJ
What are you talking ofJ
-
Cas Was it not soX
We differed in opinion touching himJ
-
Duke Him WhomJ
-
Cas Why sir the Earl PolitianJ
-
Duke The Earl of Leicester Yes is it he you meanJ
We differed indeed If I now recollectJ
The words you used were that the Earl you knewJ
Was neither learned nor mirthfulA2
-
Cas Ha ha now did IJ
-
Duke That did you sir and well I knew at the timeJ
You were wrong it being not the characterY
Of the Earl whom all the world allows to beJ
A most hilarious man Be not my sonJ
Too positive againJ
-
Cas 'Tis singularY
Most singular I could not think it possibleA2
So little time could so much alter oneJ
To say the truth about an hour agoX
As I was walking with the Count San OzzoX
All arm in arm we met this very manJ
The Earl he with his friend BaldazzarY
Having just arrived in Rome Ha ha he is alteredJ
Such an account he gave me of his journeyJ
'Twould have made you die with laughter such tales heJ
toldJ
Of his caprices and his merry freaksX
Along the road such oddity such humorY
Such wit such whim such flashes of wild merrimentJ
Set off too in such full relief by the graveJ
Demeanor of his friend who to speak the truthG3
Was gravity itselfJ
-
Duke Did I not tell youJ
-
Cas You did and yet 'tis strange but true as strangeZ
How much I was mistaken I always thoughtJ
The Earl a gloomy manJ
-
Duke So so you seeJ
Be not too positive Whom have we hereY
It cannot be the EarlA2
-
Cas The Earl Oh noX
Tis not the Earl but yet it is and leaningE
Upon his friend Baldazzar Ah welcome sirY
Enter Politian and BaldazzarY
My lord a second welcome let me give youJ
To Rome his Grace the Duke of BroglioA2
Father this is the Earl Politian EarlA2
Of Leicester in Great BritainJ
Politian bows haughtilyA2
That his friendJ
Baldazzar Duke of Surrey The Earl has lettersX
So please you for Your GraceX
-
Duke Ha ha Most welcomeJ
To Rome and to our palace Earl PolitianJ
And you most noble Duke I am glad to see youJ
I knew your father well my Lord PolitianJ
Castiglione call your cousin hitherY
And let me make the noble Earl acquaintedJ
With your betrothed You come sir at a timeJ
Most seasonable The weddingE
-
Politian Touching those letters sirY
Your son made mention of your son is he notJ
Touching those letters sir I wot not of themJ
If such there be my friend Baldazzar hereY
Baldazzar ah my friend Baldazzar hereY
Will hand them to Your Grace I would retireY
-
Duke Retire so soonJ
-
Cas What ho Benito RupertJ
His lordship's chambers show his lordship to themJ
His lordship is unwellA2
-
Enter BenitoX
-
Ben This way my lordJ
-
Exit followed by PolitianJ
-
Duke Retire UnwellA2
-
Bal So please you sir I fear meA2
'Tis as you say his lordship is unwellA2
The damp air of the evening the fatigueH3
Of a long journey the indeed I had betterY
Follow his lordship He must be unwellA2
I will return anonJ
-
Duke Return anonJ
Now this is very strange CastiglioneJ
This way my son I wish to speak with theeJ
You surely were mistaken in what you saidJ
Of the Earl mirthful indeed which of us saidJ
Politian was a melancholy manJ
-
ExeuntJ

Edgar Allan Poe



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Scenes From 'politian.' (an Unpublished Drama) poem by Edgar Allan Poe


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 25 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets