{"id":203,"date":"2014-06-17T21:48:16","date_gmt":"2014-06-17T21:48:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/?post_type=chapter&p=203"},"modified":"2014-09-26T18:44:02","modified_gmt":"2014-09-26T18:44:02","slug":"soliloquy-of-the-spanish-cloister","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/chapter\/soliloquy-of-the-spanish-cloister\/","title":{"raw":"Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister","rendered":"Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister"},"content":{"raw":"Gr-r-r\u2014there go, my heart\u2019s abhorrence!\r\n\r\nWater your damned flower-pots, do!\r\n\r\nIf hate killed men, Brother Lawrence,\r\n\r\nGod\u2019s blood, [footnote]An archaic oath, often \u201c\u2019sblood\u201d; similar to Gadzooks (God\u2019s hooks) or Zounds (His wounds).[\/footnote]would not mine kill you!\r\n\r\nWhat? your myrtle-bush wants trimming?\r\n\r\nOh, that rose has prior claims\u2014\r\n\r\nNeeds its leaden vase filled brimming?\r\n\r\nHell dry you up with its flames!\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAt the meal we sit together;\r\n\r\nSalve tibi!<\/em>[footnote]Latin, \u201cHail to you.\u201d All italicized words are those of Brother Lawrence.[\/footnote]\u00a0<\/em>I must hear\r\n\r\nWise talk of the kind of weather,\r\n\r\nSort of season, time of year:\r\n\r\nNot a plenteous cork crop: scarcely<\/em>\r\n\r\nDare we hope oak-galls,<\/em>[footnote]Swellings on diseased oak leaves, yielding tannin, used in dyeing.[\/footnote]\u00a0I doubt;<\/em>\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s the Latin name for \u201cparsley\u201d?<\/em>\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s the Greek name for \u201cswine\u2019s snout\u201d?[footnote]Translation of the Latin\u2014rostrum porcinum<\/em>\u2014for dandelion.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWhew! We\u2019ll have our platter burnished,\r\n\r\nLaid with care on our own shelf!\r\n\r\nWith a fire-new spoon we\u2019re furnished,\r\n\r\nAnd a goblet for ourself,\r\n\r\nRinsed like something sacrificial\r\n\r\nEre \u2018tis fit to touch our chaps[footnote]Jaws, mouth.[\/footnote]\u2014\r\n\r\nMarked with L. for our initial!\r\n\r\n(He-he! There his lily snaps!)\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSaint,<\/em> forsooth! While brown Dolores\r\n\r\nSquats outside the Convent bank\r\n\r\nWith Sanchicha, telling stories,\r\n\r\nSteeping tresses in the tank,\r\n\r\nBlue-black, lustrous, thick like horsehairs,\r\n\r\n\u2014Can\u2019t I see his dead eye glow,\r\n\r\nBright as \u2018twere a Barbary corsair\u2019s?[footnote]Pirate of Africa\u2019s Barbary Coast of northern Africa, renowned for fierceness and lechery.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\n(That is, if he\u2019d let it show!)\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWhen he finishes refection,[footnote]The taking of food and drink, refreshment.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nKnife and fork he never lays\r\n\r\nCross-wise, to my recollection,\r\n\r\nAs do I, in Jesu\u2019s praise.\r\n\r\nI the Trinity illustrate,\r\n\r\nDrinking watered orange pulp\u2014\r\n\r\nIn three sips the Arian[footnote]Heresy which denied the doctrine of the\u00a0Trinity by asserting that the Son of God was a subordinate entity to God the Father.[\/footnote]\u00a0frustrate;\r\n\r\nWhile he drains his at one gulp!\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOh, those melons! if he\u2019s able\r\n\r\nWe\u2019re to have a feast; so nice!\r\n\r\nOne goes to the Abbot\u2019s table,\r\n\r\nAll of us get each a slice.\r\n\r\nHow go on your flowers? None double?\r\n\r\nNot one fruit-sort can you spy?\r\n\r\nStrange!\u2014And I, too, at such trouble,\r\n\r\nKeep them close-nipped on the sly!\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThere\u2019s a great text in Galatians,[footnote]cf. Galatians 5:19-21, which lists numerous mortal sins.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nOnce you trip on it, entails\r\n\r\nTwenty-nine distinct damnations,\r\n\r\nOne sure, if another fails;\r\n\r\nIf I trip him just a-dying,\r\n\r\nSure of heaven as sure can be,\r\n\r\nSpin him round and send him flying\r\n\r\nOff to hell, a Manichee?[footnote]A heretic. The Manichean holds that the universe is controlled by equally balanced forces of good and evil.The speaker hopes to trick Brother Lawrence into uttering such a heresy before Lawrence can recant.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOr, my scrofulous French novel\r\n\r\nOn grey paper with blunt type!\r\n\r\nSimply glance at it, you grovel\r\n\r\nHand and foot in Belial\u2019s [footnote]The Devil\u2019s grip.[\/footnote]\u00a0gripe;\r\n\r\nIf I double down its pages\r\n\r\nAt the woeful sixteenth print,\r\n\r\nWhen he gathers his greengages,\r\n\r\nOpe a sieve and slip it in\u2019t?\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOr, there\u2019s Satan!\u2014one might venture\r\n\r\nPledge one\u2019s soul to him, yet leave\r\n\r\nSuch a flaw in the indenture[footnote]The speaker considers selling his soul to Satan in exchange for Lawrence\u2019s damnation, but would leave a loophole through which he can escape damnation himself.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nAs he\u2019d miss till, past retrieve,\r\n\r\nBlasted lay that rose-acacia\r\n\r\nWe\u2019re so proud of! Hy, Zy, Hine...<\/em>[footnote]Probably the opening words of a curse against Lawrence.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\n\u2018St, there\u2019s Vespers! Plena gratia<\/em>\r\n\r\nAve, Virgo!<\/em> [footnote]\u201cFull of grace; Hail, Virgin!\u201d[\/footnote]\u00a0Gr-r-r\u2014you swine!\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u20141842\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

Gr-r-r\u2014there go, my heart\u2019s abhorrence!<\/p>\n

Water your damned flower-pots, do!<\/p>\n

If hate killed men, Brother Lawrence,<\/p>\n

God\u2019s blood, [1]<\/sup><\/a>would not mine kill you!<\/p>\n

What? your myrtle-bush wants trimming?<\/p>\n

Oh, that rose has prior claims\u2014<\/p>\n

Needs its leaden vase filled brimming?<\/p>\n

Hell dry you up with its flames!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the meal we sit together;<\/p>\n

Salve tibi!<\/em>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>I must hear<\/p>\n

Wise talk of the kind of weather,<\/p>\n

Sort of season, time of year:<\/p>\n

Not a plenteous cork crop: scarcely<\/em><\/p>\n

Dare we hope oak-galls,<\/em>[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0I doubt;<\/em><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Latin name for \u201cparsley\u201d?<\/em><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Greek name for \u201cswine\u2019s snout\u201d?[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whew! We\u2019ll have our platter burnished,<\/p>\n

Laid with care on our own shelf!<\/p>\n

With a fire-new spoon we\u2019re furnished,<\/p>\n

And a goblet for ourself,<\/p>\n

Rinsed like something sacrificial<\/p>\n

Ere \u2018tis fit to touch our chaps[5]<\/sup><\/a>\u2014<\/p>\n

Marked with L. for our initial!<\/p>\n

(He-he! There his lily snaps!)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saint,<\/em> forsooth! While brown Dolores<\/p>\n

Squats outside the Convent bank<\/p>\n

With Sanchicha, telling stories,<\/p>\n

Steeping tresses in the tank,<\/p>\n

Blue-black, lustrous, thick like horsehairs,<\/p>\n

\u2014Can\u2019t I see his dead eye glow,<\/p>\n

Bright as \u2018twere a Barbary corsair\u2019s?[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

(That is, if he\u2019d let it show!)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When he finishes refection,[7]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Knife and fork he never lays<\/p>\n

Cross-wise, to my recollection,<\/p>\n

As do I, in Jesu\u2019s praise.<\/p>\n

I the Trinity illustrate,<\/p>\n

Drinking watered orange pulp\u2014<\/p>\n

In three sips the Arian[8]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0frustrate;<\/p>\n

While he drains his at one gulp!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh, those melons! if he\u2019s able<\/p>\n

We\u2019re to have a feast; so nice!<\/p>\n

One goes to the Abbot\u2019s table,<\/p>\n

All of us get each a slice.<\/p>\n

How go on your flowers? None double?<\/p>\n

Not one fruit-sort can you spy?<\/p>\n

Strange!\u2014And I, too, at such trouble,<\/p>\n

Keep them close-nipped on the sly!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There\u2019s a great text in Galatians,[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Once you trip on it, entails<\/p>\n

Twenty-nine distinct damnations,<\/p>\n

One sure, if another fails;<\/p>\n

If I trip him just a-dying,<\/p>\n

Sure of heaven as sure can be,<\/p>\n

Spin him round and send him flying<\/p>\n

Off to hell, a Manichee?[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Or, my scrofulous French novel<\/p>\n

On grey paper with blunt type!<\/p>\n

Simply glance at it, you grovel<\/p>\n

Hand and foot in Belial\u2019s [11]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0gripe;<\/p>\n

If I double down its pages<\/p>\n

At the woeful sixteenth print,<\/p>\n

When he gathers his greengages,<\/p>\n

Ope a sieve and slip it in\u2019t?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Or, there\u2019s Satan!\u2014one might venture<\/p>\n

Pledge one\u2019s soul to him, yet leave<\/p>\n

Such a flaw in the indenture[12]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

As he\u2019d miss till, past retrieve,<\/p>\n

Blasted lay that rose-acacia<\/p>\n

We\u2019re so proud of! Hy, Zy, Hine…<\/em>[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018St, there\u2019s Vespers! Plena gratia<\/em><\/p>\n

Ave, Virgo!<\/em> [14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Gr-r-r\u2014you swine!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u20141842<\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

  1. An archaic oath, often \u201c\u2019sblood\u201d; similar to Gadzooks (God\u2019s hooks) or Zounds (His wounds). ↵<\/a><\/li>
  2. Latin, \u201cHail to you.\u201d All italicized words are those of Brother Lawrence. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  3. Swellings on diseased oak leaves, yielding tannin, used in dyeing. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  4. Translation of the Latin\u2014rostrum porcinum<\/em>\u2014for dandelion. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  5. Jaws, mouth. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  6. Pirate of Africa\u2019s Barbary Coast of northern Africa, renowned for fierceness and lechery. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  7. The taking of food and drink, refreshment. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  8. Heresy which denied the doctrine of the\u00a0Trinity by asserting that the Son of God was a subordinate entity to God the Father. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  9. cf. Galatians 5:19-21, which lists numerous mortal sins. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  10. A heretic. The Manichean holds that the universe is controlled by equally balanced forces of good and evil.The speaker hopes to trick Brother Lawrence into uttering such a heresy before Lawrence can recant. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  11. The Devil\u2019s grip. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  12. The speaker considers selling his soul to Satan in exchange for Lawrence\u2019s damnation, but would leave a loophole through which he can escape damnation himself. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  13. Probably the opening words of a curse against Lawrence. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  14. \u201cFull of grace; Hail, Virgin!\u201d ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":17,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["robert-browning"],"pb_section_license":"public-domain"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[57],"license":[78],"class_list":["post-203","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-robert-browning","license-public-domain"],"part":200,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1774,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/203\/revisions\/1774"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/200"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/203\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=203"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=203"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/englishliterature\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}