Elizabeth Barrett Browning — An August Voice

I. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspI made the treaty upon it. Just venture a quiet rebuke;        &nbspDall’ Ongaro write him a sonnet; Ricasoli gently explain        &nbspSome need of the constitution: He’ll swear to it over again,        &nbspProviding an “easy solution.” You’ll call back the Grand-duke. II. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspI promised the Emperor Francis To argue the case by his book,        &nbspAnd ask you to meet his advances. The Ducal cause, we know        &nbsp(Whether you or he be the wronger), Has very strong points;—although        &nbspYour bayonets, there, have stronger. You’ll call back the Grand-duke. III. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspHe is not pure altogether. For instance, the oath which he took        &nbsp(In the Forty-eight rough weather) He’d “nail your flag to his mast,”        &nbspThen softly scuttled the boat you Hoped to escape in at last,        &nbspAnd both by a “Proprio motu.” You’ll call back the Grand-duke. IV. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspThe scheme meets nothing to shock it In this smart letter, look,        &nbspWe found in Radetsky’s pocket; Where his Highness in sprightly style        &nbspOf the flower of his Tuscans wrote, “These heads be the hottest in file;        &nbspPray shoot them the quickest.” Quote, And call back the Grand-duke. V. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspThere are some things to object to. He cheated, betrayed, and forsook,        &nbspThen called in the foe to protect you. He taxed you for wines and for meats        &nbspThroughout that eight years’ pastime Of Austria’s drum in your streets—        &nbspOf course you remember the last time You called back your Grand-duke? VI. You’ll take back the Grand-duke?        &nbspIt is not race he is poor in, Although he never could brook        &nbspThe patriot cousin at Turin. His love of kin you discern,        &nbspBy his hate of your flag and me— So decidedly apt to turn        &nbspAll colours at the sight of the Three. You’ll call back the Grand-duke. VII. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbsp’T was weak that he fled from the Pitti; But consider how little he shook        &nbspAt thought of bombarding your city! And, balancing that with this,        &nbspThe Christian rule is plain for us; ... Or the Holy Father’s Swiss        &nbspHave shot his Perugians in vain for us. You’ll call back the Grand-duke. VIII. Pray take back your Grand-duke.        &nbsp—I, too, have suffered persuasion. All Europe, raven and rook,        &nbspScreeched at me armed for your nation. Your cause in my heart struck spurs;        &nbspI swept such warnings aside for you: My very child’s eyes, and Hers,        &nbspGrew like my brother’s who died for you. You’ll call back the Grand-duke? IX. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspMy French fought nobly with reason,— Left many a Lombardy nook        &nbspRed as with wine out of season. Little we grudged what was done there,        &nbspPaid freely your ransom of blood: Our heroes stark in the sun there        &nbspWe would not recall if we could. You’ll call back the Grand-duke? X. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspHis son rode fast as he got off That day on the enemy’s hook,        &nbspWhen I had an epaulette shot off. Though splashed (as I saw him afar—no        &nbspNear) by those ghastly rains, The mark, when you’ve washed him in Arno,        &nbspWill scarcely be larger than Cain’s. You’ll call back the Grand-duke? XI. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbsp’T will be so simple, quite beautiful: The shepherd recovers his crook,        &nbsp... If you should be sheep, and dutiful. I spoke a word worth chalking        &nbspOn Milan’s wall—but stay, Here’s Poniatowsky talking,—        &nbspYou’ll listen to him to-day, And call back the Grand-duke. XII. You’ll take back your Grand-duke?        &nbspObserve, there’s no one to force it,— Unless the Madonna, Saint Luke        &nbspDrew for you, choose to endorse it. I charge you, by great Saint Martino        &nbspAnd prodigies quickened by wrong, Remember your Dead on Ticino;        &nbspBe worthy, be constant, be strong— Bah!—call back the Grand-duke!!