Elizabeth Barrett Browning - The Dance lyrics

I. You remember down at Florence our Cascine, Where the people on the feast-days walk and drive, And, through the trees, long-drawn in many a green way, O'er-roofing hum and murmur like a hive, The river and the mountains look alive? II. You remember the piazzone there, the stand-place Of carriages a-brim with Florence Beauties, Who lean and melt to music as the band plays, Or smile and chat with someone who a-foot is, Or on horseback, in observance of male duties? III. 'T is so pretty, in the afternoons of summer, So many gracious faces brought together! Call it rout, or call it concert, they have come here, In the floating of the fan and of the feather, To reciprocate with beauty the fine weather. IV. While the flower-girls offer nosegays (because they too Go with other sweets) at every carriage-door; Here, by shake of a white finger, signed away to Some next buyer, who sits buying score on score, Piling roses upon roses evermore. V. And last season, when the French camp had its station In the meadow-ground, things quickened and grew gayer Through the mingling of the liberating nation With this people; groups of Frenchmen everywhere, Strolling, gazing, judging lightly—“who was fair.” VI. Then the noblest lady present took upon her To speak nobly from her carriage for the rest: “Pray these officers from France to do us honour By dancing with us straightway.” The request Was gravely apprehended as addressed. VII. And the men of France, bareheaded, bowing lowly, Led out each a proud signora to the space Which the startled crowd had rounded for them—slowly, Just a touch of still emotion in his face, Not presuming, through the symbol, on the grace. VIII. There was silence in the people: some lips trembled, But none jested. Broke the music, at a glance: And the daughters of our princes, thus a**embled, Stepped the measure with the gallant sons of France, Hush! it might have been a Ma**, and not a dance. IX. And they danced there till the blue that overskied us Swooned with pa**ion, though the footing seemed sedate; And the mountains, heaving mighty hearts beside us, Sighed a rapture in a shadow, to dilate, And touch the holy stone where Dante sate. X. Then the sons of France, bareheaded, lowly bowing, Led the ladies back where kinsmen of the south Stood, received them; till, with burst of overflowing Feeling—husbands, brothers, Florence's male youth, Turned, and kissed the martial strangers mouth to mouth. XI. And a cry went up, a cry from all that people! —You have heard a people cheering, you suppose, For the Member, mayor ... with chorus from the steeple? This was different: scarce as loud, perhaps (who knows?), For we saw wet eyes around us ere the close. XII. And we felt as if a nation, too long borne in By hard wrongers,—comprehending in such attitude That God had spoken somewhere since the morning, That men were somehow brothers, by no platitude,— Cried exultant in great wonder and free gratitude.