The Patriot Robert Browning ICSC TREASURE TROVE

The Patriot

Robert Browning

Stanza 1

It was roses, and roses all the way

With myrtle mixed in my path like mad:

The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway,

The church-spires flamed, such flags they had,

A year ago on this very day.

Reference to the context: These lines depicting the patriot's recollection of the kind of welcome he received on the very day a year ago,have been extracted from the poem entitled The Patriot, written by Robert Browning.

Here the poet describes the tragic downfall of the patriot who was warmly welcomed by his people when be returned triumphant over the enemy. The patriot recalls that a year ago on the same day, the people seemed to be mad after him. They seemed to be very eager to get his glimpse, but just after a year, they brought a great change in their attitudes and behaviour. They had grown completely indifferent towards him.

Explanation: The patriot (who once had been a popular and famous political leader in the eyes of his countrymen ) is the speaker of the poem. As he had been proved a traitor  due to committing political offences and other misdeeds, he was sentenced to death and he was being carried to be hanged. While moving to the scaffold, he recalls when, a year ago, on the same day, he was given a grand welcome by the people on his arrival to the town as a hero. His path was strewn with sweet smelling roses which symbolised their love and loyalty for him. They were behaving as it they were insane after him. (They seemed to be mad in their zeal and enthusiasm) There was a huge crowd. The people were seen on the roofs of the houses. The people were so excited to the patriot that they were jumping and leaping and it seemed as it seemed as if the roofs of the houses were swaying. The church spires were decorated with beautiful flags. In this way, the patriot received a memorable welcome a year ago on the same day.

Stanza 2

The air broke into a mist with bells,

The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.

Had I said, “Good folk, mere noise repels —

But give me your sun from yonder skies!”

They had answered, “And afterward, what else?”

Reference to the context. These lines showing the patriots contemplation on his glorious past while moving to the scaffold, have been extracted from the poem the poem entitled The Patriot ,written by Robert Browning.

Here the patriot , after observing great change in the people.s attitude and behaviour , recalls the same day a year ago when he was given a warm welcome and his victory was appreciated everywhere.

Explanation: The patriot kept recalling the same day a year ago when he was given a warm welcome by his people on his returning home town. A year ago, on the same day, the atmosphere and circumstances were entirely different. The whole atmosphere seemed to be foggy due to crowd. The  atmosphere had become vibrant. The people seemed to be full of zeal and enthusiasm. On his arrival to the town, the people were blowing trumpets. They were ringing the bells. The old walls were full of people. They were sitting in large number over the walls. They were crying and shouting slogans for their hero. It had demanded from them something impossible, like the sun from the distant sky, they would have granted his demand. They would have asked him what else he desired.

Stanza 3

Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun

To give it my loving friends to keep!

Nought man could do, have I left undone:

And you see my harvest, what I reap

This very day, now a year is run.

Reference to the context: These lines showing the patriot's lamentation and sorrow at the changed attitude of the people who had shifted their loyalties at somewhere , have been extracted from from the poem entitled The Patriot, Written by Robert Browning.

Here the poet expresses the remorseful and sorrowful feelings for the people who, after forgetting his achievement, had shifted  their loyalties at other place. He feels highly dejected at the reward which he received from the public.

Explanation: The patriot regretfully says that the people did not  help him, instead , it was  he who leaped at the sun and made impossible into possible for them. He brought the sun down and handed it over to his countrymen. In other words, it was he who tried to do some impossible task to make his people happy and comfortable. If he had left the task undone, there would have been none to accomplish it. The patriot feels highly dejected at the reward which he had obtained in return of making welfare of his countrymen. In other words, it is a matter of sorrow for the patriot that the people had forgotten all that he had done for them. They were easily swayed by the present situation without using their intellect. Everything had changed for him in a year.

Stanza 4

There’s nobody on the house-tops now—

Just a palsied few at the window set

For the best of the sight is, all allow,

At the shambles’ gate— or, better yet

By the scaffold’s very foot, I trow.

Reference of the context: These lines depicting the fickle-mindedness of the people and their callous and cruel attitude, have been extracted from from the poem entitled The Patriot , written by Robert Browning.

Explanation: Now, a year after the day of reception, the patriot fell on evil days. His accomplishments were deemed as political  offences. He was being taken to the gallows. He found that the scene had totally been changed their attitudes and loyalties. Now  they considered him a traitor. They had no love for him . Some paralysed people who were unable to walk to the place  of execution, were sitting at the windows of their houses and were watching him. Most of the people had gone to the Shamble's Gate or were quite near the scaffold to have the best  view of his execution.

           

Stanza 5

I go in the rain, and, more than needs,

A rope cuts my wrists behind;

And I think, by the feel, of my forehead bleeds

For they fling, whoever has a mind,

Stones at me for my year’s misdeeds.

Reference to the context: These lines showing very pitiable and tragic  state of the patriot who is moving to the gallows, have been extracted from the poem entitled The Patriot, written by Robert Browning.

Here the poet shows pathetic and miserable condition of the patriot who was being taken to be hanged. The patriot who was once welcomed and respected by the people., had become the subject of the people's callousness and contempt. The people had no sympathetic attitude towards him.

Explanation: The patriot was being taken to be executed in the midst of heavy rain. He was being led to the scaffold. His wrists were tied back so tightly with a long rope that it made serious cuts (injuries) on his wrists. He felt that his forehead was bleeding. The people who once respected and loved him., had  become so callous and cruel that they were throwing stones at him. They were hurling the stones to show their resentment for the so called misdeeds done by him during the year. Indeed it was an ironic situation that the people had completely forgotton his good deeds which were done for their welfare.

Stanza 6

Thus I entered, and thus I go!

In triumphs, people have dropped down dead.

“Paid by the world, what dost thou owe

Me?”—God might question; now instead,

’Tis God shall repay: I am safer so.

Reference to the context: These lines showing the speaker's  firm faith his entry and that of exit. He also shows his firm faith in God and His judgement. He believes that he will truly be rewarded by God in Heaven.

Explanation: When the patriot entered the field of politics, he was a hero in the eyes of the people i.e. countrymen. On his arrival to the town, he was warmly, welcomed by the people. The people showed their intense love and respect for him. But his departure was very woeful and humiliating. Now in the eyes of people, he was nothing but a traitor. The patriot says that in such victories as have brought him honour, some people often collapse in excess of joy. As he is fortunate enough to escape such a death, he thinks that the hanging is a blessing in disguise. Since he had not been rewarded by the people, he was certain to be rewarded  in heaven. He feels safer in the hands of God. So he thinks himself in a better position than he would have been otherwise. Consoling himself like this, he snatches victory out of his defeat.