Browning's England - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
Hearts prompt heads, hands that ply the pen Teach babes unborn the where and when --Tyrants, he braved them,-- Patriots, he saved them-- "Westminster's Pym."
Another English musician, Arthur Chappell, was the inspiration of a graceful little sonnet written by the poet in an alb.u.m which was presented to Mr. Chappell in recognition of his popular concerts in London. Browning was a constant attendant at these. It gives a true glimpse of the poet in a highly appreciative mood:
THE FOUNDER OF THE FEAST
1884
"Enter my palace," if a prince should say-- "Feast with the Painters! See, in bounteous row, They range from t.i.tian up to Angelo!"
Could we be silent at the rich survey?
A host so kindly, in as great a way Invites to banquet, subst.i.tutes for show Sound that's diviner still, and bids us know Bach like Beethoven; are we thankless, pray?
Thanks, then, to Arthur Chappell,--thanks to him Whose every guest henceforth not idly vaunts "Sense has received the utmost Nature grants, My cup was filled with rapture to the brim, When, night by night,--ah, memory, how it haunts!-- Music was poured by perfect ministrants, By Halle, Schumann, Piatti, Joachim."