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23
G e N R e s
My Last Duchess
Robert Browning,
Dramatic Lyrics
(1842)
The Duke of Ferrara is negotiating his marriage to the niece of the
Count of Tyrol. On the staircase of his palace the Duke points out to
the Count’s envoy a portrait of his previous wife, who was probably
murdered on his orders.
FERRARA
1
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
2
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
3
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned
4
(since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
5
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.
6
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 favour at her breast,
7
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
8
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
5
10
15
20
25
30
late, former
picture / miracle
many days
would you like to
on purpose / because
face
grave, serious / look
dared
i.e. in the picture
so / it was
that caused / i.e. blush
happened / i.e. covers
i.e. the Duchess
i.e. can / (tenue)
blush / gets fainter /words
quickly, easily
touched / whatever
the same
i.e. the sunset
(ramo) / cerimonious
(frutteto) / (mulo)
i.e. all these
obtain / equally / words
first-person speaker (historical figure)
precise background
presence of a listener
crucial point
colloquial language
unusual syntax
1.
Ferrara
: the poem is set in Renaissance
Ferrara, ruled by the House of Este. The Estes
were great patrons of the arts and their court
was one of the celebrated artistic centres of
Europe. Browning’s Duke is unnamed, but
he has been identified as Alfonso II of Este
(1533-97).
2.
Frà Pandolf’s hands
: an imaginary painter.
3.
read
: i.e. saw. The subject of this verb is
“Strangers like you” (l. 7), the object “that
pictured countenance” (l. 7). Notice the
unusual syntax.
4.
But... turned
: without turning to me.
5.
none... but I
: I am the only one who opens
the curtain behind which the picture is hidden.
The Duke still wants to have absolute power
over his wife, even now that she is dead and
only survives in her painting.
6.
spot of joy
: the blush above mentioned.
7.
My favour... breast
: the favour, gift
(probably a medallion) I had given her and that
she wore on her breast.
8.
some... fool
: some foolish person (so the
Duke describes one of the many people who
were in love with the Duchess) eager to do
something that might please her.
visual
analysis
001-027_The Victorians.indd 23
16/01/12