Colombe's Birthday: "One taste of the old time sets all to rights"

By Robert Browning

Robert Browning is one of the most significant Victorian Poets and, of course, English Poetry.

Much of his reputation is based upon his mastery of the dramatic monologue although his talents encompassed verse plays and even a well-regarded essay on Shelley during a long and prolific career.

He was born on May 7th, 1812 in Walmouth, London. Much of his education was home based and Browning was an eclectic and studious student, learning several languages and much else across a myriad of subjects, interests and passions.

Browning's early career began promisingly. The fragment from his intended long poem Pauline brought him to the attention of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and was followed by Paracelsus, which was praised by both William Wordsworth and Charles Dickens. In 1840 the difficult Sordello, which was seen as willfully obscure, brought his career almost to a standstill.

Despite these artistic and professional difficulties his personal life was about to become immensely fulfilling. He began a relationship with, and then married, the older and better known Elizabeth Barrett. This new foundation served to energise his writings, his life and his career.

During their time in Italy they both wrote much of their best work. With her untimely death in 1861 he returned to London and thereafter began several further major projects.

The collection Dramatis Personae (1864) and the book-length epic poem The Ring and the Book (1868-69) were published and well received; his reputation as a venerated English poet now assured.

Robert Browning died in Venice on December 12th, 1889.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stage Door
• Release date: Jan 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781787376458

Robert Browning

Robert Browning (1812-1889) was an English poet and playwright. Browning was born in London to an abolitionist family with extensive literary and musical interests. He developed a skill for poetry as a teenager, while also learning French, Greek, Latin, and Italian. Browning found early success with the publication of Pauline (1833) and Paracelsus (1835), but his career and notoriety lapsed over the next two decades, resurfacing with his collection Men and Women (1855) and reaching its height with the 1869 publication of his epic poem The Ring and the Book. Browning married the Romantic poet Elizabeth Barrett in 1846 and lived with her in Italy until her death in 1861. In his remaining years, with his reputation established and the best of his work behind him, Browning compiled and published his wife’s final poems, wrote a series of moderately acclaimed long poems, and traveled across Europe. Browning is remembered as a master of the dramatic monologue and a defining figure in Victorian English poetry.

Book preview

Colombe’s Birthday by Robert Browning

A PLAY

Bells and Pomegranates Number VI

"Ivy and violet, what do ye here

With blossom and shoot in the warm spring-weather,

Hiding the arms of Monchenci and Vere?"

HANMER.

Robert Browning is one of the most significant Victorian Poets and, of course, English Poetry.

Much of his reputation is based upon his mastery of the dramatic monologue although his talents encompassed verse plays and even a well-regarded essay on Shelley during a long and prolific career.

He was born on May 7th, 1812 in Walmouth, London.  Much of his education was home based and Browning was an eclectic and studious student, learning several languages and much else across a myriad of subjects, interests and passions.

Browning's early career began promisingly. The fragment from his intended long poem Pauline brought him to the attention of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and was followed by Paracelsus, which was praised by both William Wordsworth and Charles Dickens. In 1840 the difficult Sordello, which was seen as willfully obscure, brought his career almost to a standstill.

Despite these artistic and professional difficulties his personal life was about to become immensely fulfilling.  He began a relationship with, and then married, the older and better known Elizabeth Barrett. This new foundation served to energise his writings, his life and his career.

During their time in Italy they both wrote much of their best work. With her untimely death in 1861 he returned to London and thereafter began several further major projects.

The collection Dramatis Personae (1864) and the book-length epic poem The Ring and the Book (1868-69) were published and well received; his reputation as a venerated English poet now assured.

Robert Browning died in Venice on December 12th, 1889.

Index of Contents

NOTE

PERSONS

PLACE

TIME

ACT I. Morning.

SCENE. A Corridor Leading to the Audience Chamber

ACT II. Noon.

SCENE. The Presence Chamber

ACT III. Afternoon.

SCENE. The Vestibule.

ACT IV. Evening.

SCENE. An Antechamber.

ACT V. Night.

SCENE. The Hall

ROBERT BROWNING – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

ROBERT BROWNING – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY

NOTE

Browning was stimulated by the enthusiastic reception of A Blot in the 'Scutcheon to write another play for the stage, but for some reason it was not performed for ten years or so. It was printed in 1844 as No. VI. of Bells and Pomegranates. Mr. Gosse in his Personalia says:—

"I have before me at the present moment a copy of the first edition, marked for acting by the author, who has written: 'I made the alterations in this copy to suit some—I forget what—projected stage representation; not that of Miss Faucit, which was carried into effect long afterward.' The stage directions are numerous and minute, showing the science which the dramatist had gained since he first essayed to put his creations on the boards.

Some of the suggestions are characteristic enough. For instance: 'Unless a very good Valence is found, this extremely fine speech, [in Act IV. where Valence describes Berthold to Colombe], perhaps the jewel of the play, is to be left out.' In the present editions the verses run otherwise.

PERSONS

COLOMBE OF RAVESTEIN, Duchess of Juliers and Cleves.

SABYNE, ADOLF, her Attendants.

GUIBERT, GAUCELME, MAUFROY, CLUGNET, Courtiers.

VALENCE, Advocate of Cleves.

PRINCE BERTHOLD, Claimant of the Duchy.

MELCHIOR, his Confidant.

PLACE: The Palace at Juliers.

TIME: 16—.

ACT I

Morning

SCENE. A Corridor Leading to the Audience Chamber

GAUCELME, CLUGNET, MAUFROY and other COURTIERS, round GUIBERT who is silently reading a paper: as he drops it at the end—

GUIBERT

That this should be her birthday; and the day

We all invested her, twelve months ago,

As the late Duke's true heiress and our liege;

And that this also must become the day ...

Oh, miserable lady!

1st COURTIER

Ay, indeed?

2nd COURTIER

Well, Guibert?

3rd COURTIER

But your news, my friend, your news!

The sooner, friend, one learns Prince Berthold's pleasure,

The better for us all: how writes the Prince?

Give me! I'll read it for the common good.

GUIBERT

In time, sir,—but till time comes, pardon me!

Our old Duke just disclosed his child's retreat,

Declared her true succession to his rule,

And died: this birthday was the day, last year,

We convoyed her from Castle Ravestein—

That sleeps out trustfully its extreme age

On the Meuse' quiet bank, where she lived queen

Over the water-buds,—to Juliers' court

With joy and bustle. Here again we stand;

Sir Gaucelme's buckle's constant to his cap:

To-day's much such another sunny day!

GAUCELME

Come, Guibert, this outgrows a jest, I think!

You're hardly such a novice as to need

The lesson, you pretend.

GUIBERT

What lesson, sir?

That everybody, if he'd thrive at court,

Should, first and last of all, look to himself?

Why, no: and therefore with your good example,

(—Ho, Master Adolf!)—to myself I'll look.

[Enter ADOLF.

GUIBERT

The Prince's letter; why, of all men else,

Comes it to me?

ADOLF

By virtue of your place,

Sir Guibert! 'Twas the Prince's express charge,

His envoy told us, that the missive there

Should only reach our lady by the hand

Of whosoever held your place.

GUIBERT

Enough!

[ADOLF retires.

Then, gentles, who'll accept a certain poor

Indifferently honorable place,

My friends, I make no doubt, have gnashed their teeth

At leisure minutes these half-dozen years,

To find me never in the mood to quit?

Who asks may have it, with my blessing, and—

This to present our lady. Who'll accept?

You,—you,—you? There it lies, and may, for me!

MAUFROY [A youth, picking up the paper, reads aloud]

"Prince Berthold, proved by titles following

Undoubted Lord of Juliers, comes this day

To claim his own, with license from the Pope,

The Emperor,