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A Tale Lyrics by Robert Browning

Browning’s Shorter Poems

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(Epilogue to "The Two Poets of Croisic.")

What a pretty tale you told me
        Once upon a time
—Said you found it somewhere (scold me!)
        Was it prose or was it rhyme,
Greek or Latin? Greek, you said,
While your shoulder propped my head.

Anyhow there's no forgetting
        This much if no more,
That a poet (pray, no petting!)
        Yes, a bard, sir, famed of yore,
Went where suchlike used to go,
Singing for a prize, you know.

Well, he had to sing, nor merely
        Sing but play the lyre;
Playing was important clearly
        Quite as singing: I desire,
Sir, you keep the fact in mind
For a purpose that's behind.

There stood he, while deep attention
        Held the judges round,
—Judges able, I should mention,
        To detect the slightest sound
Sung or played amiss: such ears
Had old judges, it appears!

None the less he sang out boldly,
        Played in time and tune,
Till the judges, weighing coldly
        Each note's worth, seemed, late or soon,
Sure to smile "In vain one tries
Picking faults out: take the prize!"

When, a mischief! Were they seven
        Strings the lyre possessed?
Oh, and afterwards eleven,
        Thank you! Well, sir,—who had guessed
Such ill luck in store?—it happed
One of those same seven strings snapped.

All was lost, then! No! a cricket
        (What "cicada"? Pooh!)
—Some mad thing that left its thicket
        For mere love of music—flew
With its little heart on fire,
Lighted on the crippled lyre.

So that when (Ah joy!) our singer
        For his truant string
Feels with disconcerted finger,
        What does cricket else but fling
Fiery heart forth, sound the note
Wanted by the throbbing throat?

Ay and, ever to the ending,
        Cricket chirps at need,
Executes the hand's intending,
        Promptly, perfectly,—indeed
Saves the singer from defeat
With her chirrup low and sweet.

Till, at ending, all the judges
        Cry with one assent
"Take the prize—a prize who grudges
        Such a voice and instrument?
Why, we took your lyre for harp,
So it shrilled us forth F sharp!"

Did the conqueror spurn the creature
        Once its service done?
That's no such uncommon feature
        In the case when Music's son
Finds his Lotte's power too spent
For aiding soul development.

No! This other, on returning
        Homeward, prize in hand,
Satisfied his bosom's yearning:
        (Sir, I hope you understand!)
—Said "Some record there must be
Of this cricket's help to me!"

So, he made himself a statue:
        Marble stood, life size;
On the lyre, he pointed at you,
        Perched his partner in the prize;
Never more apart you found
Her, he throned, from him, she crowned.

That's the tale: its application?
        Somebody I know
Hopes one day for reputation
        Thro' his poetry that's—Oh,
All so learned and so wise
And deserving of a prize!

If he gains one, will some ticket
        When his statue's built,
Tell the gazer "'Twas a cricket
        Helped my crippled lyre, whose lilt
Sweet and low, when strength usurped
Softness' place i' the scale, she chirped?

"For as victory was nighest,
         While I sang and played,—
With my lyre at lowest, highest,
        Right alike,—one string that made
'Love' sound soft was snapt in twain
Never to be heard again,—

"Had not a kind cricket fluttered,
         Perched upon the place
Vacant left, and duly uttered
        'Love, Love, Love,' whene'er the bass
Asked the treble to atone
For its somewhat sombre drone."

But you don't know music! Wherefore
        Keep on casting pearls
To a—poet? All I care for
        Is—to tell him that a girl's
"Love" comes aptly in when gruff
Grows his singing, (There, enough!)
Credits
Robert Browning

Robert Browning

About “A Tale” by Robert Browning

Read the complete lyrics to "A Tale" by Robert Browning from the album "Browning’s Shorter Poems". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"A Tale" is performed by Robert Browning. from the album "Browning’s Shorter Poems" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Tale", explore more songs by Robert Browning using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Robert Browning · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"A Tale" is credited to Robert Browning. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Tale" appears on "Browning’s Shorter Poems".

Visit the Robert Browning artist page at /artist/robert-browning for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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