Men and Women (Browning)/Volume 1/Instans Tyrannus
INSTANS TYRANNUS.
1. Or the million or two, more or less, I rule and possess, One man, for some cause undefined, Was least to my mind.
2. I struck him, he grovelled of course— For, what was his force? I pinned him to earth with my weight And persistence of hate— And he lay, would not moan, would not curse,As if lots might be worse.
3."Were the object less mean, would he standAt the swing of my hand!For obscurity helps him and blotsThe hole where he squats."So I set my five wits on the stretchTo inveigle the wretch.All in vain! gold and jewels I threw,Still he couched there perdue.I tempted his blood and his flesh,Hid in roses my mesh,Choicest cates and the flagon's best spilth—Still he kept to his filth!
4.Had he kith now or kin, were accessTo his heart, if I press— Just a son or a mother to seize—No such booty as these!Were it simply a friend to pursue'Mid my million or two,Who could pay me in person or pelfWhat he owes me himself.No! I could not but smile through my chafe—For the fellow lay safeAs his mates do, the midge and the nit,—Through minuteness, to wit.
5.Then a humor more great took its placeAt the thought of his face,The droop, the low cares of the mouth,The trouble uncouth'Twixt the brows, all that air one is fainTo put out of its pain—And, no, I admonished myself,"Is one mocked by an elf, Is one baffled by toad or by rat?The gravamen's in that!How the lion, who crouches to suitHis back to my foot,Would admire that I stand in debate!But the Small is the GreatIf it vexes you,—that is the thing!Toad or rat vex the King?Though I waste half my realm to unearthToad or rat, 'tis well worth!"
6.So I soberly laid my last planTo extinguish the man.Round his creep-hole,—with never a breakRan my fires for his sake;Over-head, did my thunders combineWith my under-ground mine:Till I looked from my labor contentTo enjoy the event.
7.When sudden . . . how think ye, the end?Did I say "without friend?"Say rather, from marge to blue margeThe whole sky grew his targeWith the sun's self for visible boss,While an Arm ran acrossWhich the earth heaved beneath like a breastWhere the wretch was safe prest!Do you see? just my vengeance complete,The man sprang to his feet,Stood erect, caught at God's skirts, and prayed!—So, I was afraid!