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Robert Browning - Count Gismond--Aix in Provence
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Christ God who savest man, save most
     Of men Count Gismond who saved me!
   Count Gauthier, when he chose his post,
     Chose time and place and company 
   To suit it; when he struck at length 
   My honour, `t was with all his strength.
   And doubtlessly, ere he could draw
     All points to one, he must have schemed! 
   That miserable morning saw
    Few half so happy as I seemed,
  While being dressed in queen`s array 
  To give our tourney prize away.

  I thought they loved me, did me grace
    To please themselves; `t was all their deed;
  God makes, or fair or foul, our face;
    If showing mine so caused to bleed 
  My cousins` hearts, they should have dropped 
  A word, and straight the play had stopped.

  They, too, so beauteous! Each a queen
    By virtue of her brow and breast;
  Not needing to be crowned, I mean,
    As I do. E`en when I was dressed,
  Had either of them spoke, instead
  Of glancing sideways with still head!

  But no: they let me laugh, and sing
    My birthday song quite through, adjust
  The last rose in my garland, fling
    A last look on the mirror, trust
  My arms to each an arm of theirs,
  And so descend the castle-stairs-

  And come out on the morning troop
    Of merry friends who kissed my cheek,
  And called me queen, and made me stoop
    Under the canopy-(a streak
  That pierced it, of the outside sun,
  Powdered with gold its gloom`s soft dun)-

  And they could let me take my state
    And foolish throne amid applause
  Of all come there to celebrate
    My queen`s-day-Oh I think the cause
  Of much was, they forgot no crowd
  Makes up for parents in their shroud!

  However that be, all eyes were bent
    Upon me, when my cousins cast
  Theirs down; `t was time I should present
    The victor`s crown, but… there, `t will last
  No long time… the old mist again
  Blinds me as then it did. How vain!

  See! Gismond`s at the gate, in talk
    With his two boys: I can proceed.
  Well, at that moment, who should stalk
    Forth boldly-to my face, indeed-
  But Gauthier? and he thundered "Stay!"
  And all stayed. "Bring no crowns, I say!

  "Bring torches! Wind the penance-sheet
    "About her! Let her shun the chaste,
  "Or lay herself before their feet!
    "Shall she, whose body I embraced
  "A night long, queen it in the day?
  "For honour`s sake no crowns, I say!"

  I? What I answered? As I live,
    I never fancied such a thing
  As answer possible to give.
    What says the body when they spring
  Some monstrous torture-engine`s whole
  Strength on it? No more says the soul.

  Till out strode Gismond; then I knew
    That I was saved. I never met
  His face before, but, at first view,
    I felt quite sure that God had set
  Himself to Satan; would who spend
  A minute`s mistrust on the end?

  He strode to Gauthier, in his throat
    Gave him the lie, then struck his mouth
  With one back-handed blow that wrote
    In blood men`s verdict there. North, South,
  East, West, I looked. The lie was dead,
  And damned, and truth stood up instead.

  This glads me most, that I enjoyed
    The heart o` the joy, with my content
  In watching Gismond unalloyed
    By any doubt of the event:
  God took that on him-I was bid
  Watch Gismond for my part: I did.

  Did I not watch him while he let
    His armourer just brace his greaves,
  Rivet his hauberk, on the fret
    The while! His foot… my memory leaves
  No least stamp out nor how anon
  He pulled his ringing gauntlets on.

  And e`en before the trumpet`s sound
    Was finished, prone lay the false knight,
  Prone as his lie, upon the ground:
    Gismond flew at him, used no sleight
  O` the sword, but open-breasted drove,
  Cleaving till out the truth he clove.

  Which done, he dragged him to my feet
    And said, "Here die, but end thy breath
  "In full confession, lest thou fleet
    "From my first, to God`s second death!
  "Say, hast thou lied? "And, "I have lied
  "To God and her,"he said, and died.


  Then Gismond, kneeling to me, asked
    -What safe my heart holds, though no word
  Could I repeat now, if I tasked
    My powers for ever, to a third
  Dear even as you are. Pass the rest
  Until I sank upon his breast.


  Over my head his arm he flung
    Against the world; and scarce I felt
  His sword (that dripped by me and swung)
    A little shifted in its belt:
  For he began to say the while
  How South our home lay many a mile.


  So, `mid the shouting multitude
    We two walked forth to never more
  Return. My cousins have pursued
    Their life, untroubled as before
  I vexed them. Gauthier`s dwelling-place
  God lighten! May his soul find grace!


  Our elder boy has got the clear
    Great brow, tho` when his brother`s black
  Full eye shows scorn, it… Gismond here?
    And have you brought my tercel back?
  I was just telling Adela
  How many birds it struck since May.
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