'Bianca Among The Nightingales' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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The cypress stood up like a church
That night we felt our love would hold,
And saintly moonlight seemed to search
And wash the whole world clean as gold;
The olives crystallized the vales'
Broad slopes until the hills grew strong:
The fireflies and the nightingales
Throbbed each to either, flame and song.
The nightingales, the nightingales.
Upon the angle of its shade
The cypress stood, self-balanced high;
Half up, half down, as double-made,
Along the ground, against the sky.
And we, too! from such soul-height went
Such leaps of blood, so blindly driven,
We scarce knew if our nature meant
Most passionate earth or intense heaven.
The nightingales, the nightingales.
We paled with love, we shook with love,
We kissed so close we could not vow;
Till Giulio whispered, 'Sweet, above
God's Ever guarantees this Now.'
And through his words the nightingales
Drove straight and full their long clear call,
Like arrows through heroic mails,
And love was awful in it all.
The nightingales, the nightingales.
O cold white moonlight of the north,
Refresh these pulses, quench this hell!
O coverture of death drawn forth
Across this garden-chamber... well!
But what have nightingales to do
In gloomy England, called the free.
(Yes, free to die in!...) when we two
Are sundered, singing still to me?
And still they sing, the nightingales.
I think I hear him, how he cried
'My own soul's life' between their notes.
Each man has but one soul supplied,
And that's immortal. Though his throat's
On fire with passion now, to her
He can't say what to me he said!
And yet he moves her, they aver.
The nightingales sing through my head.
The nightingales, the nightingales.
He says to her what moves her most.
He would not name his soul within
Her hearing,—rather pays her cost
With praises to her lips and chin.
Man has but one soul, 'tis ordained,
And each soul but one love, I add;
Yet souls are damned and love's profaned.
These nightingales will sing me mad!
The nightingales, the nightingales.
I marvel how the birds can sing.
There's little difference, in their view,
Betwixt our Tuscan trees that spring
As vital flames into the blue,
And dull round blots of foliage meant
Like saturated sponges here
To suck the fogs up. As content
Is he too in this land, 'tis clear.
And still they sing, the nightingales.
My native Florence! dear, forgone!
I see across the Alpine ridge
How the last feast-day of Saint John
Shot rockets from Carraia bridge.
The luminous city, tall with fire,
Trod deep down in that river of ours,
While many a boat with lamp and choir
Skimmed birdlike over glittering towers.
I will not hear these nightingales.
I seem to float, we seem to float
Down Arno's stream in festive guise;
A boat strikes flame into our boat,
And up that lady seems to rise
As then she rose. The shock had flashed
A vision on us! What a head,
What leaping eyeballs!—beauty dashed
To splendour by a sudden dread.
And still they sing, the nightingales.
Too bold to sin, too weak to die;
Such women are so. As for me,
I would we had drowned there, he and I,
That moment, loving perfectly.
He had not caught her with her loosed
Gold ringlets... rarer in the south...
Nor heard the 'Grazie tanto' bruised
To sweetness by her English mouth.
And still they sing, the nightingales.
She had not reached him at my heart
With her fine tongue, as snakes indeed
Kill flies; nor had I, for my part,
Yearned after, in my desperate need,
And followed him as he did her
To coasts left bitter by the tide,
Whose very nightingales, elsewhere
Delighting, torture and deride!
For still they sing, the nightingales.
A worthless woman! mere cold clay
As all false things are! but so fair,
She takes the breath of men away
Who gaze upon her unaware.
I would not play her larcenous tricks
To have her looks! She lied and stole,
And spat into my love's pure pyx
The rank saliva of her soul.
And still they sing, the nightingales.
I would not for her white and pink,
Though such he likes—her grace of limb,
Though such he has praised—nor yet, I think,
For life itself, though spent with him,
Commit such sacrilege, affront
God's nature which is love, intrude
'Twixt two affianced souls, and hunt
Like spiders, in the altar's wood.
I cannot bear these nightingales.
If she chose sin, some gentler guise
She might have sinned in, so it seems:
She might have pricked out both my eyes,
And I still seen him in my dreams!
- Or drugged me in my soup or wine,
Nor left me angry afterward:
To die here with his hand in mine
His breath upon me, were not hard.
(Our Lady hush these nightingales!)
But set a springe for him, 'mio ben',
My only good, my first last love!—
Though Christ knows well what sin is, when
He sees some things done they must move
Himself to wonder. Let her pass.
I think of her by night and day.
Must I too join her... out, alas!...
With Giulio, in each word I say!
And evermore the nightingales!
Giulio, my Giulio!—sing they so,
And you be silent? Do I speak,
And you not hear? An arm you throw
Round some one, and I feel so weak?
- Oh, owl-like birds! They sing for spite,
They sing for hate, they sing for doom!
They'll sing through death who sing through night,
They'll sing and stun me in the tomb—
The nightingales, the nightingales!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bianca Among The Nightingales: A Masterpiece by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
As a literary enthusiast, I have always been captivated by the beauty of poetry. The way words can be woven together to create a vivid image or convey a powerful emotion is nothing short of magical. While there are countless poets who have left their mark on the world of literature, one that has always stood out to me is Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Her work is a true testament to the power of poetry, and one of her most memorable poems is "Bianca Among The Nightingales". In this piece, Browning captures the essence of nature and the beauty of the nightingale's song in a way that is both enchanting and haunting.
Background
Before diving into an analysis of the poem itself, it's important to understand a bit about its creator. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a prolific poet and writer who lived during the Victorian era. She was born in 1806 in Durham, England, and began writing poetry at a young age. Her work was heavily influenced by her own life experiences, including her struggles with illness and her love for her husband, Robert Browning. Despite facing numerous obstacles throughout her life, Elizabeth Barrett Browning continued to write until her death in 1861.
Overview
"Bianca Among The Nightingales" is a beautiful and complex poem that paints a vivid picture of a woman known as Bianca who is surrounded by nightingales. The poem is divided into nine stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a strict ABAB rhyme scheme. The use of this rhyme scheme adds to the musicality of the poem, which is fitting given its focus on the nightingale's song.
Analysis
The first stanza of the poem sets the scene and introduces us to Bianca, the main character. We learn that she is "veiled" and "mute", which suggests that she is hiding or unable to express herself fully. This is contrasted with the nightingales, who are described as "full-throated ease" and "voluptuous coverts". The use of such contrasting imagery helps to highlight the beauty of the nightingales' song and the stark contrast to Bianca's veiled and muted presence.
The second stanza is where Browning really begins to showcase her skill as a poet. She describes the nightingales' song in such a way that it almost feels like you can hear it yourself. The use of words like "trill", "warble" and "liquid note" help to create a sense of movement and fluidity, as though the nightingales' song is constantly shifting and evolving.
In the third stanza, Browning introduces the concept of "love" into the poem. She describes how the nightingales' song is a "love-song" and how it "thrills the woodland through". This is significant because it suggests that Bianca is somehow connected to this world of love and nature, even if she is unable to fully participate in it.
The fourth stanza is where things start to get a bit more mystical. Browning describes how the nightingales "flock together" and "make sweet moan". The use of the word "moan" is interesting because it suggests a sense of longing or sadness, which is a common theme in Browning's work. The idea of the nightingales coming together to make this mournful sound is both beautiful and haunting.
In the fifth stanza, Bianca is described as being "still as any stone". This is another contrast to the movement and fluidity of the nightingales' song. However, the fact that Bianca is compared to a stone suggests that she is solid and unchanging, which is a stark contrast to the constantly shifting and evolving nature of the natural world around her.
The sixth stanza is where Browning really starts to play with language. She describes how the nightingales "drink delight of the rose". The use of the word "drink" here is interesting because it suggests that the nightingales are consuming something, rather than simply singing. This helps to create a sense of physicality and vividness that is characteristic of Browning's work.
In the seventh stanza, Browning returns to the idea of love. She describes how the nightingales' song is a "love-lament" and how it "burns like fire". This is a powerful image that suggests a deep, intense emotion. The fact that the nightingales' song is described as a "lament" also reinforces the idea of longing and sadness that has been present throughout the poem.
The eighth stanza is where the poem really starts to build to its climax. Browning describes how the nightingales' song is "too sweet for sorrow". This is a powerful line that suggests that even in the face of sadness and pain, there is still beauty to be found in the natural world. The fact that the nightingales' song is described as being "too sweet" also reinforces the idea of excess and indulgence that has been present throughout the poem.
Finally, in the ninth stanza, Browning brings the poem to a close. She describes how Bianca is "veiled from sight" and how the nightingales' song is "lost in light". This suggests that Bianca is somehow connected to the beauty and mystery of the natural world, even if she is unable to fully participate in it. The fact that the nightingales' song is described as being "lost in light" suggests that it is something ephemeral and fleeting, but also something that has the power to transcend the bounds of time and space.
Conclusion
Overall, "Bianca Among The Nightingales" is a stunning example of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poetic prowess. Through her use of vivid imagery, powerful language, and strict rhyme scheme, she creates a world that is both beautiful and haunting. The poem explores themes of love, longing, and the beauty of nature in a way that is both timeless and deeply moving. It is truly a masterpiece of Victorian poetry, and one that continues to captivate readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Bianca Among The Nightingales: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a prominent Victorian poet who is known for her romantic and emotional poetry. Her poem "Bianca Among The Nightingales" is a masterpiece that showcases her poetic prowess and her ability to capture the essence of nature and human emotions. This poem is a beautiful representation of the romantic era, and it is a perfect example of how poetry can evoke emotions and create vivid imagery in the reader's mind.
The poem "Bianca Among The Nightingales" is a sonnet that consists of fourteen lines. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which is a common meter used in sonnets. The poem is divided into two quatrains and two tercets, and it follows the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDC DCD. The poem is written in the first person, and it is a reflection of the speaker's emotions and thoughts.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the beauty of the nightingales. The speaker says that the nightingales are singing in the moonlight, and their songs are so beautiful that they make the speaker's heart ache. The speaker then introduces Bianca, who is standing among the nightingales. Bianca is described as a beautiful woman who is dressed in white. The speaker says that Bianca is so beautiful that she looks like a nightingale herself.
The second quatrain of the poem describes the speaker's emotions as she watches Bianca among the nightingales. The speaker says that she is filled with envy and jealousy because Bianca is so beautiful. The speaker says that she wishes she could be like Bianca and be as beautiful as she is. The speaker then says that she is filled with despair because she knows that she can never be as beautiful as Bianca.
The first tercet of the poem describes the speaker's feelings of inadequacy. The speaker says that she is like a "poor bird" who cannot sing as beautifully as the nightingales. The speaker says that she is filled with sadness because she knows that she can never be as beautiful or as talented as Bianca.
The second tercet of the poem describes the speaker's acceptance of her own limitations. The speaker says that she knows that she can never be like Bianca, but she is content with who she is. The speaker says that she is happy to be able to appreciate the beauty of the nightingales and Bianca, even though she cannot be like them.
The poem "Bianca Among The Nightingales" is a beautiful representation of the romantic era. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and emotions, and it captures the essence of nature and human emotions. The poem is a perfect example of how poetry can evoke emotions and create vivid imagery in the reader's mind.
The poem is also a reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's own life. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a woman who struggled with her own self-image and her own limitations. She was a woman who was confined to her room for most of her life due to her poor health. However, despite her limitations, she was able to create some of the most beautiful poetry of her time.
In conclusion, "Bianca Among The Nightingales" is a masterpiece of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The poem is a beautiful representation of the romantic era, and it is a perfect example of how poetry can evoke emotions and create vivid imagery in the reader's mind. The poem is a reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's own life, and it is a testament to her ability to overcome her own limitations and create something beautiful.
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