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Robert Browning - Instans Tyrannus
Work rating: Low

I.

Of the million or two, more or less,
I rule and possess,
One man, for some cause undefined,
Was least to my mind.

	II.

I struck him, he grovelled of course—-
For, what was his force?
I pinned him to earth with my weight
And persistence of hate:
And he lay, would not moan, would not curse,
As his lot might be worse.

	III.

``Were the object less mean, would he stand
``At the swing of my hand!
``For obscurity helps him and blots
``The hole where he squats.``
So, I set my five wits on the stretch
To inveigle the wretch.
All in vain! Gold and jewels I threw,
Still he couched there perdue;
I tempted his blood and his flesh,
Hid in roses my mesh,
Choicest cates and the flagon`s best spilth:
Still he kept to his filth.

	IV.

Had he kith now or kin, were access
To his heart, did I press:
Just a son or a mother to seize!
No such booty as these.
Were it simply a friend to pursue
`Mid my million or two,
Who could pay me in person or pelf
What he owes me himself!
No: I could not but smile through my chafe:
For the fellow lay safe 
As his mates do, the midge and the nit,
—-Through minuteness, to wit.

	V.

Then a humour more great took its place
At the thought of his face,
The droop, the low cares of the mouth,
The trouble uncouth
`Twixt the brows, all that air one is fain
To put out of its pain.
And, ``no!`` I admonished myself,
``Is one mocked by an elf,
``Is one baffled by toad or by rat?
``The gravamen`s in that!
``How the lion, who crouches to suit
``His back to my foot,
``Would admire that I stand in debate!
``But the small turns the great
``If it vexes you,—-that is the thing!
``Toad or rat vex the king?
``Though I waste half my realm to unearth
``Toad or rat, `tis well worth!``

	VI.

So, I soberly laid my last plan
To extinguish the man. 
Round his creep-hole, with never a break
Ran my fires for his sake;
Over-head, did my thunder combine
With my underground mine:
Till I looked from my labour content
To enjoy the event.

	VII.

When sudden… how think ye, the end?
Did I say ``without friend``?
Say rather, from marge to blue marge
The whole sky grew his targe
With the sun`s self for visible boss,
While an Arm ran across
Which the earth heaved beneath like a breast
Where the wretch was safe prest!
Do you see? Just my vengeance complete,
The man sprang to his feet,
Stood erect, caught at God`s skirts, and prayed!
—-So, I was afraid!
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