My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess

That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive; I call
That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day , and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
'Fra Pandolf ' by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance ,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance ,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The 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 first
Are you to turn and ask thus.Sir,'t was not
Her husband's presence only,called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Fra Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps
'Over my lady's wrist too much, 'or 'Paint
Must never hope to reproduce the faint
Half-flush that dies alone her throat:' such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy . She had
A heart... how shall I say?... too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 't was all one! My favour at her breast,
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 terrace ---all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least, She thanked men --- good ! but thanked
Somehow --- I know not how ---- as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name