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Apparent Failure Lyrics by Robert Browning

Browning’s Shorter Poems

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"We shall soon lose a celebrated building."
—Paris Newspaper.

No, for I'll save it! Seven years since
        I passed through Paris, stopped a day
To see the baptism of your Prince,
        Saw, made my bow, and went my way:
Walking the heat and headache off,
        I took the Seine-side, you surmise,
Thought of the Congress, Gortschakoff,
        Cavour's appeal and Buol's replies,
        So sauntered till—what met my eyes?

Only the Doric little Morgue!
        The dead-house where you show your drowned:
Petrarch's Vaucluse makes proud the Sorgue,
        Your Morgue has made the Seine renowned.
One pays one's debt in such a case;
        I plucked up heart and entered,—stalked,
Keeping a tolerable face
        Compared with some whose cheeks were chalked:
        Let them! No Briton's to be balked!

First came the silent gazers; next,
        A screen of glass, we're thankful for;
Last, the sight's self, the sermon's text,
        The three men who did most abhor
Their life in Paris yesterday,
        So killed themselves: and now, enthroned
Each on his copper couch, they lay
        Fronting me, waiting to be owned.
        I thought, and think, their sin's atoned.

Poor men, God made, and all for that!
        The reverence struck me; o'er each head
Religiously was hung its hat,
        Each coat dripped by the owner's bed,
Sacred from touch: each had his berth,
        His bounds, his proper place of rest,
Who last night tenanted on earth
        Some arch, where twelve such slept abreast,—
        Unless the plain asphalt seemed best.

How did it happen, my poor boy?
        You wanted to be Buonaparte
And have the Tuileries for toy,
        And could not, so it broke your heart?
You, old one by his side, I judge,
        Were, red as blood, a socialist,
A leveller! Does the Empire grudge
        You've gained what no Republic missed?
        Be quiet, and unclench your fist!

And this—why, he was red in vain,
        Or black,—poor fellow that is blue!
What fancy was it, turned your brain?
        Oh, women were the prize for you!
Money gets women, cards and dice
        Get money, and ill-luck gets just
The copper couch and one clear nice
        Cool squirt of water o'er your bust,
        The right thing to extinguish lust!

It's wiser being good than bad;
        It's safer being meek than fierce:
It's fitter being sane than mad.
        My own hope is, a sun will pierce
The thickest cloud earth ever stretched;
        That, after Last, returns the First,
Tho' a wide compass round be fetched;
        That what began best, can't end worst,
        Nor what God blessed once, prove accurst
Credits
Robert Browning

Robert Browning

About “Apparent Failure” by Robert Browning

Read the complete lyrics to "Apparent Failure" 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.

"Apparent Failure" 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 "Apparent Failure", 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

"Apparent Failure" 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.

"Apparent Failure" 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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