Filippo Baldinucci On The Privilege Of Burial Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCDEDE FGFGHIHI JKJKLMLM NOOOPOPO QRQROROR OOOOOOOO SOSOOROR QOQOFOFO TUTUVOVO RWRWRRRR QXQXYSYS ROROZRZR A2OA2ORRRR YRYROB2OB2 RC2RC2A2RA2R D2E2 E2OOOO F2G2F2G2H2YH2Y OI2OI2RJ2OJ2 ROROA2YA2Y C2OOORORO K2RK2ROJ2OJ2 L2RL2RORO RI2RI2OM2OM2 OOOOOOOO ROROPOPO OA2OA2OYOY RN2RN2OOOO OJ2OJ2O2RO2R ORORRORO P2J2H2J2RA2RA2 OOOOOB2OB2 C2RC2RORO RJ2OJ2RORO ORORORO FOFOOQ2OR2 S2C2S2C2C2T2C2T2 OU2OU2ROR OC2OC2YOYO RORORJ2RO V2RV2RORO OOOOC2RC2R ROROORO W2RW2RA2OA2O X2C2X2C2Y2OY2O ROROORO T2Z2T2Z2Z2OZ2O OC2OA3OOOO OA2OA2RRRR B3OB3OC2OC2O C3A2C3A2OW2OW2 Z2Z2Z2Z2POP ORORD3FD3F J2RJ2RROR XRXRJ2RJ2R A2OA2OROR C2RC2RRORO RA2RA2YRY OROROOOO

A Reminiscence of A DA
-
-
No boy we must not so beganB
My Uncle he's with God long sinceC
A petting me the good old manB
We must not and he seemed to winceC
And lost that laugh whereto had grownD
His chuckle at my piece of newsE
How cleverly I aimed my stoneD
I fear we must not pelt the JewsE
-
When I was young indeed ah faithF
Was young and strong in Florence tooG
We Christians never dreamed of scatheF
Because we cursed or kicked the crewG
But now well well The olive cropsH
Weighed double then and Arno's pranksI
Would always spare religious shopsH
Whenever he o'erflowed his banksI
-
I'll tell you and his eye regainedJ
Its twinkle tell you something choiceK
Something may help you keep unstainedJ
Your honest zeal to stop the voiceK
Of unbelief with stone throw spiteL
Of Laws which modern fools enactM
That we must suffer Jews in sightL
Go wholly unmolested FactM
-
There was then in my youth and yetN
Is by our San Frediano justO
Below the Blessed OlivetO
A wayside ground wherein they thrustO
Their dead these Jews the more our shameP
Except that so they will but dieO
Christians perchance incur no blameP
In giving hogs a hoist to styO
-
There anyhow Jews stow awayQ
Their dead and such their insolenceR
Slink at odd times to sing and prayQ
As Christians do all make pretenceR
Which wickedness they perpetrateO
Because they think no Christians seeR
They reckoned here at any rateO
Without their host ha ha he heR
-
For what should join their plot of groundO
But a good Farmer's Christian fieldO
The Jews had hedged their corner roundO
With bramble bush to keep concealedO
Their doings for the public roadO
Ran betwixt this their ground and thatO
The Farmer's where he ploughed and sowedO
Grew corn for barn and grapes for vatO
-
So properly to guard his storeS
And gall the unbelievers tooO
He builds a shrine and what is moreS
Procures a painter whom I knewO
One Buti he's with God to paintO
A holy picture there no lessR
Than Virgin Mary free from taintO
Borne to the sky by angels yesR
-
Which shrine he fixed who says him nayQ
A facing with its picture sideO
Not as you'd think the public wayQ
But just where sought these hounds to hideO
Their carrion from that very truthF
Of Mary's triumph not a houndO
Could act his mummeries uncouthF
But Mary shamed the pack all roundO
-
Now if it was amusing judgeT
To see the company arriveU
Each Jew intent to end his trudgeT
And take his pleasure though aliveU
With all his Jewish kith and kinV
Below ground have his venom outO
Sharpen his wits for next day's sinV
Curse Christians and so home no doubtO
-
Whereas each phiz upturned beholdsR
Mary I warrant soaring braveW
And in a trice beneath the foldsR
Of filthy garb which gowns each knaveW
Down drops it there to hide grimaceR
Contortion of the mouth and noseR
At finding Mary in the placeR
They'd keep for Pilate I supposeR
-
At last they will not brook not theyQ
Longer such outrage on their tribeX
So in some hole and corner layQ
Their heads together how to bribeX
The meritorious Farmer's selfY
To straight undo his work restoreS
Their chance to meet and muse on pelfY
Pretending sorrow as beforeS
-
Forthwith a posse if you pleaseR
Of Rabbi This and Rabbi ThatO
Almost go down upon their kneesR
To get him lay the picture flatO
The spokesman eighty years of ageZ
Gray as a badger with a goat'sR
Not only beard but bleat 'gins wageZ
War with our Mary Thus he dotesR
-
'Friends grant a grace How Hebrews toilA2
Through life in Florence why relateO
To those who lay the burden spoilA2
Our paths of peace We bear our fateO
But when with life the long toil endsR
Why must you the expression cravesR
Pardon but truth compels me friendsR
Why must you plague us in our gravesR
-
'Thoughtlessly plague I would believeY
For how can you the lords of easeR
By nurture birthright e'en conceiveY
Our luxury to lie with treesR
And turf the cricket and the birdO
Left for our last companionshipB2
No harsh deed no unkindly wordO
No frowning brow nor scornful lipB2
-
'Death's luxury we now rehearseR
While living through your streets we fareC2
And take your hatred nothing worseR
Have we once dead and safe to bearC2
So we refresh our souls fulfilA2
Our works our daily tasks and thusR
Gather you grain earth's harvest stillA2
The wheat for you the straw for usR
-
'What flouting in face what harmD2
In just a lady borne from bierE2
By boys' heads wings for leg and arm '-
You question Friends the harm is hereE2
That just when our last sigh is heavedO
And we would fain thank God and youO
For labor done and peace achievedO
Back comes the Past in full reviewO
-
'At sight of just that simple flagF2
Starts the foe feeling serpent likeG2
From slumber Leave it lulled nor dragF2
Though fangless forth what needs must strikeG2
When stricken sore though stroke be vainH2
Against the mailed oppressor GiveY
Play to our fancy that we gainH2
Life's rights when once we cease to liveY
-
'Thus much to courtesy to kindO
To conscience Now to Florence folkI2
There's core beneath this apple rindO
Beneath this white of egg there's yolkI2
Beneath this prayer to courtesyR
Kind conscience there's a sum to pouchJ2
How many ducats down will buyO
Our shame's removal sirs AvouchJ2
-
'Removal not destruction sirsR
Just turn your picture Let it frontO
The public path Or memory errsR
Or that same public path is wontO
To witness many a chance befallA2
Of lust theft bloodshed sins enoughY
Wherein our Hebrew part is smallA2
Convert yourselves ' he cut up roughY
-
Look you how soon a service pairC2
Religion yields the servant fruitO
A prompt reply our Farmer madeO
So following 'Sirs to grant your suitO
Involves much danger How TransposeR
Our Lady Stop the chastisementO
All for your good herself bestowsR
What wonder if I grudge consentO
-
'Yet grant it since what cash I takeK2
Is so much saved from wicked useR
We know you And for Mary's sakeK2
A hundred ducats shall induceR
Concession to your prayer One dayO
Suffices Master Buti's brushJ2
Turns Mary round the other wayO
And deluges your side with slushJ2
-
'Down with the ducats therefore ' DumpL2
Dump dump it falls each counted pieceR
Hard gold Then out of door they stumpL2
These dogs each brisk as with new leaseR
Of life I warrant glad he'll dieO
Henceforward just as he may chooseR
Be buried and in clover lieO
Well said Esaias 'stiff necked Jews '-
-
Off posts without a minute's lossR
Our Farmer once the cash in pokeI2
And summons Buti ere its glossR
Have time to fade from off the jokeI2
To chop and change his work undoO
The done side make the side now blankM2
Recipient of our Lady whoO
Displaced thus had these dogs to thankM2
-
Now boy you're hardly to instructO
In technicalities of ArtO
My nephew's childhood sure has suckedO
Along with mother's milk some partO
Of painter's practice learned at leastO
How expeditiously is pliedO
A work in fresco never ceasedO
When once begun a day each sideO
-
So Buti he's with God beginsR
First covers up the shrine all roundO
With hoarding then as like as twinsR
Paints t'other side the burial groundO
New Mary every point the sameP
Next sluices over as agreedO
The old and last but spoil the gameP
By telling you Not I indeedO
-
Well ere the week was half at endO
Out came the object of this zealA2
This fine alacrity to spendO
Hard money for mere dead men's wealA2
How think you That old spokesman JewO
Was High Priest and he had a wifeY
As old and she was dying tooO
And wished to end in peace her lifeY
-
And he must humor dying whimsR
And soothe her with the idle hopeN2
They'd say their prayers and sing their hymnsR
As if her husband were the PopeN2
And she did die believing justO
This privilege was purchased DeadO
In comfort through her foolish trustO
'Stiff necked ones ' well Esaias saidO
-
So Sabbath morning out of gateO
And on to way what sees our archJ2
Good Farmer Why they hoist their freightO
The corpse on shoulder and so marchJ2
'Now for it Buti ' In the nickO2
Of time 'tis pully hauly henceR
With hoarding O'er the wayside quickO2
There's Mary plain in evidenceR
-
And here's the convoy halting rightO
Oh they are bent on howling psalmsR
And growling prayers when oppositeO
And yet they glance for all their qualmsR
Approve that promptitude of hisR
The Farmer's duly at his postO
To take due thanks from every phizR
Sour smirk nay surly smile almostO
-
Then earthward drops each brow againP2
The solemn task's resumed they reachJ2
Their holy field the unholy trainH2
Enter its precinct all and eachJ2
Wrapt somehow in their godless ritesR
Till rites at end up waking loA2
They lift their faces What delightsR
The mourners as they turn to goA2
-
Ha ha he he On just the sideO
They drew their purse strings to make quitO
Of Mary Christ the CrucifiedO
Fronted them now these biters bitO
Never was such a hiss and snortO
Such screwing nose and shooting lipB2
Their purchase honey in reportO
Proved gall and verjuice at first sipB2
-
Out they break on they bustle whereC2
A top of wall the Farmer waitsR
With Buti never fun so rareC2
The Farmer has the best he ratesR
The rascal as the old High PriestO
Takes on himself to sermonizeR
Nay sneer 'We Jews supposed at leastO
Theft was a crime in Christian eyes '-
-
'Theft ' cries the Farmer 'Eat your wordsR
Show me what constitutes a breachJ2
Of faith in aught was said or heardO
I promised you in plainest speechJ2
I'd take the thing you count disgraceR
And put it here and here 'tis putO
Did you suppose I'd leave the placeR
Blank therefore just your rage to glutO
-
'I guess you dared not stipulateO
For such a damned impertinenceR
So quick my graybeard out of gateO
And in at Ghetto Haste you henceR
As long as I have house and landO
To spite you irreligious chapsR
Here shall the Crucifixion standO
Unless you down with cash perhaps '-
-
So snickered he and Buti bothF
The Jews said nothing interchangedO
A glance or two renewed their oathF
To keep ears stopped and hearts estrangedO
From grace for all our Church can doO
Then off they scuttle sullen jogQ2
Homewards against our Church to brewO
Fresh mischief in their synagogueR2
-
But next day see what happened boyS2
See why I bid you have a careC2
How you pelt Jews The knaves employS2
Such methods of revenge forbearC2
No outrage on our faith when freeC2
To wreak their malice Here they tookT2
So base a method plague o' meC2
If I record it in my BookT2
-
For next day while the Farmer satO
Laughing with Buti in his shopU2
At their successful joke rat tatO
Door opens and they're like to dropU2
Down to the floor as in there stalksR
A six feet high herculean builtO
Young he Jew with a beard that balksR
Description 'Help ere blood be spilt '-
-
Screamed Buti for he recognizedO
Whom but the son no less no moreC2
Of that High Priest his work surprisedO
So pleasantly the day beforeC2
Son of the mother then whereofY
The bier he lent a shoulder toO
And made the moans about dared scoffY
At sober Christian grief the JewO
-
'Sirs I salute you Never riseR
No apprehension ' Buti whiteO
And trembling like a tub of sizeR
Had tried to smuggle out of sightO
The picture's self the thing in oilsR
You know from which a fresco's dashJ2
Which courage speeds while caution spoilsR
'Stay and be praised sir unabashedO
-
'Praised ay and paid too for I comeV2
To buy that very work of yoursR
My poor abode which boasts well someV2
Few specimens of Art securesR
Haply a masterpiece indeedO
If I should find my humble meansR
Suffice the outlay So proceedO
Propose ere prudence intervenes '-
-
On Buti cowering like a childO
These words descended from aloftO
In tone so ominously mildO
With smile terrifically softO
To that degree could Buti dareC2
Poor fellow use his brains think twiceR
He asked thus taken unawareC2
No more than just the proper priceR
-
'Done ' cries the monster 'I disburseR
Forthwith your moderate demandO
Count on my custom if no worseR
Your future work be understandO
Than this I carry off No aidO
My arm sir lacks nor bone nor thewsR
The burden's easy and we're madeO
Easy or hard to bear we Jews '-
-
Crossing himself at such escapeW2
Buti by turns the money eyesR
And timidly the stalwart shapeW2
Now moving doorwards but more wiseR
The Farmer who though dumb this whileA2
Had watched advantage straight conceivedO
A reason for that tone and smileA2
So mild and soft The Jew believedO
-
Mary in triumph borne to deckX2
A Hebrew household Pictured whereC2
No one was used to bend the neckX2
In praise or bow the knee in prayerC2
Borne to that domicile by whomY2
The son of the High Priest Through whatO
An insult done his mother's tombY2
Saul changed to Paul the case came patO
-
'Stay dog Jew gentle sir that isR
Resolve me Can it be she crownedO
Mary by miracle oh blissR
My prevent to your burial groundO
Certain a ray of light has burstO
Your vale of darkness Had you elseR
Only for Mary's sake an pursedO
So much hard money Tell oh tell's '-
-
Round like a serpent that we tookT2
For worm and trod on turns his bulkZ2
About the Jew First dreadful lookT2
Sends Buti in a trice to skulkZ2
Out of sight somewhere safe alackZ2
But our good Farmer faith made boldO
And firm with Florence at his backZ2
He stood while gruff the gutturals rolledO
-
'Ay sir a miracle was workedO
By quite another power I trowC2
Than ever yet in canvas lurkedO
Or you would scarcely face me nowA3
A certain impulse did suggestO
A certain grasp with this right handO
Which probably had put to restO
Our quarrel thus your throat once spannedO
-
'But I remembered me subduedO
That impulse and you face me stillA2
And soon a philosophic moodO
Succeeding hear it if you willA2
Has altogether changed my viewsR
Concerning Art Blind prejudiceR
Well may you Christians tax us JewsR
With scrupulosity too niceR
-
'For don't I see let's issue joinB3
Whenever I'm allowed polluteO
I and my little bag of coinB3
Some Christian palace of reputeO
Don't I see stuck up everywhereC2
Abundant proof that cultured tasteO
Has Beauty for its only careC2
And upon Truth no thought to wasteO
-
''Jew since it must be take in pledgeC3
Of payment ' so a CardinalA2
has sighed to me as if a wedgeC3
Entered his heart ' this best of allA2
My treasures 'Leda GanymedeO
Or Antiope swan eagle apeW2
Or what's the beast of what's the breedO
And Jupiter in every shapeW2
-
'Whereat if I presume to askZ2
'But Eminence though Titian's whiskZ2
Of brush have well performed its taskZ2
How comes it these false godships friskZ2
In presence of what yonder frameP
Pretends to image Surely oddO
It seems you let confront The NameP
Each beast the heathen called his god '-
-
'Benignant smiles me pity straightO
The Cardinal 'Tis Truth we prizeR
Art's the sole question in debateO
These subjects are so many liesR
We treat them with a proper scornD3
When we turn lies called gods forsoothF
To lies' fit use now Christ is bornD3
Drawing and coloring are TruthF
-
'Think you I honor lies so muchJ2
As scruple to parade the charmsR
Of Leda Titian every touchJ2
Because the thing within her armsR
Means Jupiter who had the praiseR
And prayer of a benighted worldO
He would have mine too if in daysR
Of light I kept the canvas furled '-
-
'So ending with some easy gibeX
What power has logic I at onceR
Acknowledged error in our tribeX
So squeamish that when friends ensconceR
A pretty picture in its nicheJ2
To do us honor deck our gravesR
We fret and fume and have an itchJ2
To strangle folk ungrateful knavesR
-
'No sir Be sure that what's its styleA2
Your picture shall possess ungrudgedO
A place among my rank and fileA2
Of Ledas and what not be judgedO
Just as a picture and becauseR
I fear me much I scarce have boughtO
A Titian Master Buti's flawsR
Found there will have the laugh flaws ought '-
-
So with a scowl it darkens doorC2
This bulk no longer But makesR
Prompt glad re entry there's a scoreC2
Of oaths as the good Farmer wakesR
From what must needs have been a tranceR
Or he had struck he swears to groundO
The bold bad mouth that dared advanceR
Such doctrine the reverse of soundO
-
Was magic here Most like For sinceR
Somehow our city's faith grows stillA2
More and more lukewarm and our PrinceR
Or loses heart or wants the willA2
To check increase of cold 'Tis 'LiveY
And let live Languidly repressR
The Dissident In short contriveY
Christians must bear with Jews no less '-
-
The end seems any IsraeliteO
Wants any picture pishes poopsR
Purchases hangs it full in sightO
In any chamber he may chooseR
In Christ's crown one more thorn we rueO
In Mary's bosom one more swordO
No boy you must not pelt a JewO
O Lord how long How long O LordO

Robert Browning



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Filippo Baldinucci On The Privilege Of Burial poem by Robert Browning


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 1 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