TO J. MILSAND, OF DIJON.

DEAR FRIEND:

Let this poem be introduced by your name, and so repay all trouble it ever cost me. I wrote it twenty-five years ago for only a few, counting even in these on somewhat more care about its subject than they really had. My own faults of expression were many; but with care for a man or book such would be surmounted, and without it what avails the faultlessness of either? I blame nobody, least of all myself, who did my best then and since; for I lately gave time and pains to turn my work into what the many might instead of what the few must like: but after all, I imagined an other thing at first, and therefore leave as I find it. The historical decoration was purposely of no more importance than a background requires; and my stress lay on the incidents in the development of a soul: little else is worth study. I, at least, always thought so, you, with many known and unknown to me, think so, others may one day think so: and whether my attempt remain for them or not, I trust, though away and past it, to continue ever yours,

LONDON, June 9, 1863.

R. B.

SORDELLO.

BOOK THE FIRST.

A QUIXOTIC ATTEMPT.

WHO will, may hear Sordello's story told:
His story? Who believes me shall behold
The man, pursue his fortunes to the end,
Like me for as the friendless-people's friend
Spied from his hill-top once, despite the din
And dust of multitudes, Pentapolin
Named o' the Naked Arm, I single out
Sordello, compassed murkily about

With ravage of six long sad hundred years.
Only believe me. Ye believe?

Appears

Verona... Never, I should warn you first,
Of my own choice had this, if not the worst
Yet not the best expedient, served to tell
A story I could body forth so well
By making speak, myself kept out of view,
The very man as he was wont to do,

And leaving you to say the rest for him.

Since, though I might be proud to see the dim
Abysmal Past divide its hateful surge,
Letting of all men this one man emerge
Because it pleased me, yet, that moment past,
I should delight in watching first to last
His progress as you watch it, not a whit
More in the secret than yourselves who sit
Fresh-chapleted to listen. But it seems
Your setters-forth of unexampled themes,
Makers of quite new men, producing them,
Would best chalk broadly on each vesture's hem,
The wearer's quality; or take their stand,
Motley on back and pointing-pole in hand,
Beside him. So, for once I face ye, friends,
Summoned together from the world's four ends,
Dropped down from heaven or cast up from hell,
To hear the story I propose to tell.
Confess now, poets know the dragnet's trick,
Catching the dead, if fate denies the quick,
And shaming her; 't is not for fate to choose
Silence or song because she can refuse
Real eyes to glisten more, real hearts to ache
Less oft, real brows turn smoother for our sake:
I have experienced something of her spite;
But there's a realm wherein she has no right
And I have many lovers. Say, but few

Friends fate accords me?

Here they are now view

The host I muster! Many a lighted face

Foul with no vestige of the grave's disgrace;

What else should tempt them back to taste our air
Except to see how their successors fare?

My audience! and they sit, each ghostly man
Striving to look as living as he can,

Brother by breathing brother; thou art set,
Clear-witted critic, by . . . but I'll not fret

A wondrous soul of them, nor move death's spleen
Who loves not to unlock them.

The living in good earnest

Friends! I mean

-ye elect

suppose not I reject

Judicious praise, who contrary shall peep,
Some fit occasion, forth, for fear ye sleep,
To glean your bland approvals. Then, appear,
Verona! stay.
thou, spirit, come not near

To scare me, thus employed, with that pure face!

I need not fear this audience, I make free

With them, but then this is no place for thee!
The thunder-phrase of the Athenian, grown
Up out of memories of Marathon,

Would echo like his own sword's griding screech
Braying a Persian shield, the silver speech
Of Sidney's self, the starry paladin,

Turn intense as a trumpet sounding in

Have I to play my puppets, bear my part

Before these worthies?

Lo, the Past is hurled