Chapter 10. "Neither does this astonish at the end,"

Single author

The Ring and the Book

by Robert BROWNING (1812 - 1889)

"Better translate--"A Roman murder-case: "Position of the entire criminal cause "Of Guido Franceschini, nobleman, "With certain Four the cutthroats in his pay, "Tried, all five, and found guilty and put to death "By heading or hanging as befitted ranks, "At Rome on February Twenty-Two, "Since our salvation Sixteen Ninety Eight: "Wherein it is disputed if, and when, "Husbands may kill adulterous wives, yet 'scape 'The customary forfeit.'" (Excerpt from first chapter of The Ring and the Book.) Note from reader: The main text I have read from follows the first edition; but there are some words or lines that do not make sense, either through copying mistakes or because they are difficult if not impossible to make sense of in the first edition. In such cases, I have relied upon an alternate text, found at archive.org and also in the public domain, that contains the wording of the later editions. --Tony Oliva

Listen next episodes of The Ring and the Book:
Chapter 10. "And is this little all that was to be?" , Chapter 10. "How should I answer this Euripides?" , Chapter 10. "Still, I stand here, not off the stage though close" , Chapter 11. "All which just means," , Chapter 11. "And the Pope breaks talk with ambassador," , Chapter 11. "And then my Trial,--'tis my Trial that bites" , Chapter 11. "Enough of the hypocrites. But you, Sirs, you--" , Chapter 11 - Guido: "You are the Cardinal Acciaiuoli, and you," , Chapter 11. "I say that, long ago, when things began," , Chapter 11. "Just this immaculate official stares," , Chapter 11. "Life!" , Chapter 11. "Panciatichi!" , Chapter 11. "So, let death atone!" , Chapter 11. "That's Nature's way of loosing cord!--but Art," , Chapter 11. "Thus The time's arrived when, ancient Roman-like," , Chapter 11. "'Tis I preach while the hour-glass runs and runs!" , Chapter 11. "Why must your nephews begin breathing spice" , Chapter 11. "Yes, presently...what hour is fleeting now?" , Chapter 11. "You too are petrifactions of a kind:" , Chapter 12. "Alack, Bottini, what is my next word" , Chapter 12. "And so forth,--follow name and place and date:" , Chapter 12. "For me, the weary and the worn, who prompt" , Chapter 12. "I looked that Rome should have the natural gird" , Chapter 12. "Now for the thing; no sooner the decree" , Chapter 12 - The Book and the Ring: "Here were the end, had anything an end:"