Creative Commons "Sharealike" Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool, Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule, She rode with round the terraceall and each. About Genius Contributor Guidelines Press Shop Advertise. Sir, 't was not, Her husband's presence only, called that spot, Fr Pandolf chanced to say, 'Her mantle laps, Over my lady's wrist too much,' or 'Paint, Half-flush that dies along her throat:' such stuff, Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough. She did not seem to be any more thankful for this than she was thankful to watch the sunset. "My Last Duchess" is one of many poems by Browning that are founded, at least in part, upon historical fact. In March of 1914, Cornhill Magazine interviewed Robert Browning about some of his poems, including "My Last Duchess." Being of a higher society, the speaker automatically possesses a large amount of authority and power. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted arriving . Robert Browning - My Last Duchess | Genius My Last Duchess Robert Browning Track 19 on Past and Present: Poetry Anthology Robert Browning (1812-1899) was a master of the dramatic monologue, and. ThoughtCo. The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by. The poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning revolves around the theme of wariness, recklessness and control. It is written in iambic pentameter, employing rhyming couplets and the enjambment technique of not always concluding the sentences at the ends of lines. The painting is "Looking as if she were alive" (l. 2). I saidFr Pandolf by design, for never readStrangers like you that pictured countenance,The depth and passion of its earnest glance,But to myself they turned (since none puts byThe curtain I have drawn for you, but I)And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,How such a glance came there; so, not the firstAre you to turn and ask thus. Just saying.) This section of My Last Duchess reveals the identity of the Dukes listener. In the collection of 1849, it was made one of the Dramatic Romances and Lyrics, and in the rearrangement of the poems in 1863, it was put under Dramatic Romances. Will 't please you sit and look at her? As a result, the Dukes speech seems always flowing, never inviting a space for any response; he is the one in complete charge. It is often referred to as a dramatic monologue because the speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, reveals he felt the woman he married was beneath him in intelligence and social standing. Then all smiles stopped together. Alain-Ren Lesage (French pronunciation: [al ne lsa]; 6 May 1668 - 17 November 1747; older spelling Le Sage) was a French novelist and playwright.Lesage is best known for his comic novel The Devil upon Two Sticks (1707, Le Diable boiteux), his comedy Turcaret (1709), and his picaresque novel Gil Blas (1715-1735). This irritated the Duke so much that was not even willing to stoop to her level to discuss it with her. https://www.thoughtco.com/analysis-of-my-last-duchess-2713679 (accessed March 1, 2023). Instant PDF downloads. My Last Duchess. I said "Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The dropping of the daylight in the West, 8The depth and passion of its earnest glance, 9But to myself they turned (since none puts by, 10The curtain I have drawn for you, but I). For example: Sign up to unveil the best kept secrets in poetry. As a result, the Duke's speech seems always flowing, never inviting a space for any response; he is the one in complete charge. Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall, There she stands, As if alive. Retrieved 16 December 2009. The company below, then. Even had you skill He was born into a . Its just a pause in the monologue. This action abruptly ends their relationship. Based on the Dukes words, we can infer that the courtier asked what produced such an expression. Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! 349-350. It is one of Brownings most successful dramatic monologues. Will t please you rise? This is reinforced by the structure of the poem itselfin the monologue, with no response from the courtier, let alone the Duchess, the Duke is allowed to present himself and the story in whichever way suits him best. 25Sir, twas all one! M y Last Duchess is 'the' most famous dramatic monologue of Robert Browning. City of Ferrera Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt, Wheneer I passed her; but who passed without. Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name In the first edition of Dramatic Lyrics, the poem was merely titled "Italy". Sir, t was all one! Note that he and fellow poet, Elizabeth Barrett, had to elope to marry in Italy because of her fathers objection. (Portrait of Lucrezia (di Cosimo) de' Medici attributed to Agnolo Bronzino.). I call. The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool, Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule, She rode with round the terraceall and each. 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. It is certainly the greatest dramatic monologue - the one against which all other poems in this form are judged. 4Worked busily a day, and there she stands. I repeat, "Can we just talk about how sick my sister-in-laws $7 Amazon nespresso pod holders are??? Notice Neptune, though,Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! This makes the readers wonder why this Duchess is no longer his present Duchess. My Last Duchess American Drama A Raisin in the Sun Aeschylus Amiri Baraka Antigone Arcadia Tom Stoppard August Wilson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof David Henry Hwang Dutchman Edward Albee Eugene O'Neill Euripides European Drama Fences August Wilson Goethe Faust Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen Jean Paul Sartre Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Lillian Hellman My Last Duchess is a haunting yet fun introduction into the dramatic monologue, a form of poetry that exists on its own, similar to an overheard conversation, an uncontextualized soliloquy. He tells us "[t]hat's my last duchess", immediately evoking his sense of ownership through the possessive pronoun "my". This reveals that his family had been around for a very long time and thus he gave her a well-known and prestigious name in marrying her. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Robert Browning's Poetry and what it means. Because of these techniques, the poem has a conversational quality and can be read as a long speech. She thanked men,good! The Duke describes the look on the Duchess face, and that she had a joyous look and an earnest glance. The poem is written mostly in iambic pentameter. Notice Neptune, though. Who'd stoop to blame, This sort of trifling? Instead, readers can imagine a specific setting and detect action and reaction based on the hints given within the verse. After explaining what happened when he commanded her, the Duke turns his attention back to the painting on the wall and says, there she stands as if alive. Willt please you sit and look at her? Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! The final girl has her revenge on the dominant man, thus this song could perhaps be seen as an empowering response to or re-imagining of Robert Brownings work. The poem "My Last Duchess" ( complete text) is termed a "dramatic monologue" because A. it contains three formal elements: an occasion, a speaker, and a hearer. In the poem, the Duke of Ferrara uses a painting of his former wife as a conversation piece. Sir, twas not, Her husbands presence only, called that spot, Fra Pandolf chanced to say, Her mantle laps, Over my ladys wrist too much, or Paint, Half-flush that dies along her throat. Such stuff, Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our work is created by a team of talented poetry experts, to provide an in-depth look into poetry, like no other. And yet, it speaks volumes of the treatment of women in the Victorian time of the Brownings. Just like the sea-horse, the Duchess was a rarity to the Duke, and just like with the statue, he desired to tame her and have her all for himself. The network of streets and walls were closely linked with the palaces, churches and gardens, emphasising the overall harmonious layout as much as the beauty of individual buildings. Who'd stoop to blameThis sort of trifling? "My Last Duchess" is a famous poem written by Robert Browning. Robert Browning reveals that this mentality was widespread during this time. In speechwhich I have notto make your will Fra Pandolf chanced to say, Her mantle laps 1 st lesson free! The depth and passion of its earnest glance. His bride died three years later, at age 17, and is thought to have been poisoned. The Duke says that his fair daughter is his object. because it is for an old specification. Photo: TikTok/Carlyrsilverman. 1 st lesson free! Bradford, Wade. Two hyphens represent an En or Em dash () which is longer than a hyphen (-) and used in different circumstances. Much the same smile? She had. Actor Julian Glover performs "My Last Duchess" with a suitably dramatic tone of voice. More My Last Duchess albums Remnants of Rockhopper. . For a Victorian woman to be morally good, she must embody "sensitivity, self-sacrifice, innate purity." ?," she captioned the video. My Last Duchess Robert Browning - 1812-1889 That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. My favour at her breast. This is very suspicious behavior. The listener is an emissary who is helping to negotiate a marriage between a counts daughter and the Duke. "My Last Duchess," published in 1842, is arguably Browning's most famous dramatic monologue, with good reason. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is a chilling poem about the value of women in a dukes life. It seems likely that 'My Last Duchess' was based on the true story of Alfonso II, fifth Duke of Ferrara. Its rhymed iambic pentameter lines, like its dramatic setup, remind us of Shakespeare's plays and other Elizabethan drama. Yet, the painting appears to be the only place where the Duchess smile is allowed. I said'Fr Pandolf' by design, for never readStrangers like you that pictured countenance,The depth and passion of its earnest glance,But to myself they turned (since none puts byThe curtain I have drawn for you, but I)And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,How such a glance came there; so, not the firstAre you to turn and ask thus. Ferrara, which grew up around a ford over the River Po, became an intellectual and artistic centre that attracted the greatest minds of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries. This sort of trifling? A hearthow shall I say? too soon made glad, Nikolaus Mardruz to his Master Ferdinand, Count of Tyrol, 1565 by Richard Howard, 1929 We respond to all comments too, giving you the answers you need. The Duke accuses her of having a heart that was too soon made glad and too easily impressed. "Applying Modern Critical Theory to Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess", Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia, "Vance Bourjaily Places Second in Annual Play Competition at Bowdoin", "Nikolaus Mardruz to his Master Ferdinand, Count of Tyrol, 1565", | Spanish Train and Other Stories| Chris De Burg | 1975, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=My_Last_Duchess&oldid=1118348156. Though his fair daughters self, as I avowed Although not a murderous lord from the 16th century, Barrett's father was a controlling patriarch who demanded that his daughters stay faithful to him, that they never move out of the home, not even to marry. This represents the speakers control even over his words, although this control loosens when the Duke is overcome with anger. The duke now keeps her painting hidden behind a curtain that only he is allowed to draw back, thus now she only smiles for him. Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Will 't please you rise? I call Will 't please you sit and look at her? My Last Duchess. In the first edition of Dramatic Lyrics, the poem was merely titled "Italy". "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue presented in a single stanza. M. My Last Duchess. "My Last Duchess" Duke of. The ideas marked the birth of modern town planning. It was published in a book of poems named "Dramatic Lyrics" in 1842. The coronation is set to take place on 6 May at . Sir, twas not The courtier has noticed the curtain which conceals a painting, and the Duke decides to treat his guest to a viewing of this very special portrait of his late wife. Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess" shows women that there are consequences of behaving child-like and conforming to men's will. Browning delighted in making a . The Duke praises the painting for looking so. He briefly explains his thoughts on the duchess. The question that still remains unanswered is, why is this his last Duchess? The speaker is the Duke of Ferrara, an important city and cultural centre of Italy. Much the same smile? The metre is iambic pentameter, that is five metrical feet or iambs per line, where a iamb is one unstressed followed by one stressed syllable. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt, Wheneer I passed her; but who passed without. Dramatic Monologue He does not reveal whether she is deceased or put away in a convent somewhere. GCSE English Literature Poetry learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers. My Last Duchess on Drunk Drivers Anonymous Release Date December 25, 2022 View All Credits 1 Drunk Drivers Anonymous Lyrics Start her up, I turn the key I'm six pints deep and counting Check. The duke begins by referring to "my last Duchess," his first wife, as he draws open a curtain to . but thanked. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1981. Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, I said. My favour at her breast, The company below then. The speaker is believed to be based on Alfonso II d'Este, the fifth Duke of Ferrara (15331598). The Duke was not happy with this. The story is thoroughly gripping; there is something about the gothic horror that captures the imagination. "My Last Duchess" doesn't read like a typical lyric poem. And on the other hand, one could also speculate that someone as committed to God as a friar would be the smallest temptation for the Duchess smiles and thus Dukes jealousy. He notes that twas not her husbands presence only called that spot of joy into the Duchess cheek. She rode with round the terraceall and each This suggests that the real Duchess is no longer alive. Really a long dramatic monologue, the poem described the career of the sixteenth-century alchemist, and achieved popular success, establishing Browning as a familiar name with the reading public, if not yet as a great poet. Notice Neptune, though. The poem starts with the duke showing a guest a painting of his former (why is she former) wife on the wall. She hadA hearthow shall I say?too soon made glad,Too easily impressed; she liked whate'erShe looked on, and her looks went everywhere.Sir, 't was all one! I n Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess," the duke of Ferrara addresses an emissary of the count whose daughter the duke intends to marry. Have a specific question about this poem? Browning characterized this poem as a dramatic lyric; but essentially it is a dramatic monologue, a genre typically associated with Robert Browning,[6] where one person speaks to a presumed audience. If a man was not satisfied with his wife, a woman who was his legal subordinate in the eyes of the law, he might not kill her off as the Duke so cavalierly does in Browning's poem. I said. The Australian pop sensation, who performed some of her biggest hits during her 30-minute set at The Domain on Friday night, closed the show by bringing out her sister Dannii Minogue to sing a duet of All The Lovers. There she standsAs if alive. Many of Browning's poems, including 'My Last Duchess', were set in Ferrara, a town in Italy. The Duke self-righteously continues his explanation of events, rationalizing that despite his disappointment it would have been beneath him to talk openly with his wife about his feelings of jealousy. It has become clear that the Duke didnt like his wife to smile at anyone else but him and required her to elevate him above everyone else. The question that still remains unanswered is, why is this his, Fr Pandolf chanced to say, Her mantle laps, Over my ladys wrist too much, or Paint, Half-flush that dies along her throat: such stuff, Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough. Will't please you sit and look at her? It first appeared in 1842 in Browning's Dramatic Lyrics. She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. A hearthow shall I say? too soon made glad. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. because it suited his genius, and also because it had a number of other advantages. Lucrezia was well-educated, and the Medicis could be considered "nouveau riche" in comparison to the venerable and distinguished Este family (Alfonso II d'Este's remark regarding his gift of a "nine-hundred-years-old name" clearly indicates that he considered his bride beneath him socially). Robert Browning (1812-1899) was a master of the dramatic monologue, and My Last Duchess is one of his most famous and most anthologized poem. Extensive research lies . Yet, the poem is less of a critique of the feudalistic ways of medieval Europe and more of an attack on the biased, overbearing views and rules of Victorian society. It becomes apparent at last that he himself brought about her death. There she stands, 47As if alive. Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. Over my ladys wrist too much, or Paint The TV project will follow obsessive genius Dr. Wolf, head of neurology at Bronx General, and his 'team of interns as they explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while also grappling . 268 checked against the following: Robert Browning The Poems, Volume One. My Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue presented in a single stanza. Browning uses this compelling psychological portrait of a despicable character to critique the objectification of women and abuses of power. Ed. This, https://poemanalysis.com/robert-browning/my-last-duchess/, Poems covered in the Educational Syllabus. Readers who enjoyedMy Last Duchessshould also consider reading some other Robert Browning poems. My Last Duchess, poem of 56 lines in rhyming couplets by Robert Browning, published in 1842 in Dramatic Lyrics, a volume in his Bells and Pomegranates series. Suddenly, our speaker seems somewhat psychotic. That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,Looking as if she were alive. With anybodys gift. The courtier is impressed, perhaps even mesmerized by the smile of the woman in the painting. Apple Studios today announced a greenlight for "The Last Frontier," a new 10-episode original drama from creators Jon Bokenkamp ("The Blacklist") and Richard D'Ovidio ("The Call") that will star Jason Clarke ("Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," upcoming "Oppenheimer," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Chappaquiddick," "Everest," "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," "Mudbound," "First Man" ) in the . Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss. Browning was also a liberal in terms of the era in which he lived, and he had sympathy for women and their lack of self-determination in a patriarchal society. Fr Pandolf chanced to say, Her mantle lapsOver my ladys wrist too much, or PaintMust never hope to reproduce the faintHalf-flush that dies along her throat: such stuffWas courtesy, she thought, and cause enoughFor calling up that spot of joy. 30Would draw from her alike the approving speech, 31Or blush, at least. Even had you skill, 36In speechwhich I have notto make your will, 37Quite clear to such an one, and say, Just this. Browning loved history and European culture (the story is based on the life of an Italian Duke from the sixteenth century). The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by. He explained that he gave commands and then all smiles stopped together. Chris de Burgh, "The Painter" (1976) It is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker is the Duke of Ferrara addressing a silent listener. [1] The poem is composed in 28 rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter . Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. This man is clearly demented and controlling, and the speaker in My Last Duchess reveals Brownings ideas of his fellow men. My favour at her breast,The dropping of the daylight in the West,The bough of cherries some officious foolBroke in the orchard for her, the white muleShe rode with round the terraceall and eachWould draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. I said "Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read An obsessive Duke shows a visitor, and readers, a . Bradford, Wade. This is very suspicious behavior. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Yet, he seems quite comfortable discussing it with this listener. 120 /h. ' My Last Duchess ' by Robert Browning is a chilling poem about the value of women in a duke's life. It suggests that the speaker has killed his wife and will soon do the same to the next. "My Last Duchess" is a poem written by Robert Browning and originally published in 1842. (24) The lover reveals himself to be obsessed with and angry at the woman for not making him her primary and only love: "Murmuring how she loved meshe/ Too . Societal constraints meant that many lived sexually repressed, limited lives. In this section of My Last Duchess, the Duke seems to be remembering his former Duchess and all that bothered him about her. The life of a Victorian wife was a perilous one. It first appeared in Browning's 1842 essay collection Dramatic Lyrics.The poem is written in 28 rhyming couplets, in iambic pentameter, and its speaker is a Duke talking about his late wife to the father of his second wife-to-be.They are negotiating the terms of the second marriage to come when the Duke reveals a portrait . He then resumes an earlier conversation regarding wedding arrangements, and in passing points out another work of art, a bronze statue of Neptune taming a sea-horse by Claus of Innsbruck, so making his late wife but just another work of art. She appreciated nature, the kindness of others, animals, and the simple pleasures of everyday life, and this disgusts the Duke. What sets this poem apart from many others is that it is a dramatic monologuea type of poem in which a character distinctly different from that of the poet is speaking to someone else. The Duke is Alfonso II who ruled in Northern Italy in the late 1500s. Well meet Finally, at the end of the monologue, there is a reference to another of the Dukes acquisitionsNeptune taming a sea-horsewhich he points out is a rarity, cast in bronze specifically for him. The poem can be interpreted based on multiple approaches, the richest of which is the psychoanalytic approach. In the first lines of the poem, the speaker tells the reader that an emissary is visiting who is trying to negotiate a new marriage for the Duke. It seems the Duchess cared about her husband and often showed him that look of joy and love, but he feels that she "ranked / [his] gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody's gift" (lines 32-34). There she stands, As if alive. Notice Neptune, though,Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! The reader can assume, however, that the duke does not give commands to her directly; to him, any instruction would be "stooping.". Perhaps he thought himself too high and mighty to stoop to talk to a woman, even if that woman was his wife. [4] In the first lines of the poem, the speaker tells the reader that an emissary is visiting who is trying to negotiate a new marriage for the Duke. He reveals that the duchess had incurred his displeasure by her expansive friendliness and her refusal to acknowledge his superiority in all things. Request a transcript here. All along, he wanted to be the only one who would bring a look of joy to his Duchess face. Half-flush that dies along her throat.. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Notice Neptune, though. Insofar as the reader is brought to discern the character of the Duke by what he explicitly saysthe direct . 1Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall, 3That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolfs hands. Like other famous literary villains, the Duke divulges his . He also describes how he was recently married, inspired by a portrait of his late wife. Never to stoop. Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, Een then would be some stooping; and I choose. Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule The dramatic monologue is a practice in using both content and silence to present meaning. Chris de Burgh (a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, best known for "Lady in Red") wrote a song from the perspective of the Duke of Ferrara about his former wife, in which the duchess was having an affair with Fra Pandolf. Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/robert-browning/my-last-duchess/. The humanist concept of the ideal city was born here from 1492 onwards, and was designed according to the new principles of perspective, making Ferrara the first Renaissance city to be developed using a complex urban plan. His need for control, along with his jealousy, are also perceptible when the Duke decides to uncover the painting for the courtier. The poets inspiration for this poemcame from the Duke and Duchess Ferarra. The speaker (presumably the Duke Alfonso of Ferrara) is giving the emissary of the family of his prospective new wife a tour of the artworks in his home. Eventually, "I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together." I call That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Even had you skill, In speech(which I have not)to make your will, Quite clear to such an one, and say, 'Just this. A perfect example is his dramatic monologue, "My Last Duchess," which is a dark and daring portrait of a domineering man. This indicates the Dukes status. 7Strangers like you that pictured countenance. Any mistakes are my own (as are any brilliant sparks of analytical genius. The final lines of the poem display the Duke showing off another of his artistic acquisitions. What might have been a rigid structure is masked by the smooth flow of the lines, achieved by the use of caesura and enjambment. In an interview, Browning said, "I meant that the commands were that she should be put to death Or he might have had her shut up in a convent. Robert Browning loosely based this poem on the life of Alfonso II d'Este, the Duke of Ferrara from 1533 to 1598. John Pettigrew and Thomas J. Collins. Accessed 1 March 2023. This is something that can be seen in this particular work, My Last Duchess. Looking as if she were alive. While many Victorian husbands desired a pure, virginal bride, they also desired physical, mental, and sexual conquest. Sir, t was not, Her husbands presence only, called that spot, He asks his listener to sit and look at the life-sized painting of her. Brownings most enduring poems are his dramatic monologues that tell melodramatic tales of violence, madness and murder. Sir, 't was notHer husband's presence only, called that spotOf joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhapsFr Pandolf chanced to say, 'Her mantle lapsOver my lady's wrist too much,' or 'PaintMust never hope to reproduce the faintHalf-flush that dies along her throat:' such stuffWas courtesy, she thought, and cause enoughFor calling up that spot of joy. Together down, sir. Deciphering the hints and tracking the way Browning reveals the nature of his villain seem to fascinate students. It is probably the finest example of Brownings dramatic monologues, in which he paints a devastating portrait of the Duke Ferraras vicious personality. Get the entire guide to My Last Duchess as a printable PDF. The Armstrong Browning Library and Museum at Baylor University has a stained glass window inspired by "My Last Duchess.". The Duke is a tyrant and his aristocratic arrogance his belief that he is above the law can be taken as a message to all those who abuse power, not least the British Government of the time. Most scholars agree that Browning derived his character from a 16th-century Duke of the same title: Alfonso II d'Este, a renowned patron of the arts who was also rumored to have poisoned his first wife. 11And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, 12How such a glance came there; so, not the first, 13Are you to turn and ask thus. Are you to turn and ask thus. Authority and power simple pleasures of everyday life, and her looks went everywhere wonder why Duchess. Duke from the sixteenth century ) the gothic horror that captures the imagination Browning uses this compelling portrait. And this disgusts the Duke showing off another of his fellow men ; here you miss section. Action and reaction based on multiple approaches, the Duke so much that was not willing... 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