
I'm still friends with all my exes, apart from my husbands.

Related quotes
Old Friends
Old friends
Are the best friends
All my old friends
Are my best friends
Old friends
Are the best friends
All my old friends
Are my best friends
Saw you walk into the club last night
Could not even believe what I was seein
How do I even stop thinkin of you?
cause in my eyes youre still mine
Nobody told me I would feel like this
Wanting you more as the years walk on by
Now Im not afraid to say what i, I believe
But I wish you were my wife
My old friend
Old friends
Are the best friends
All my old friends
Are my best friends
(my old friend)
Old friends
Are the best friends
All my old friends
Are my best friends
First time we met so cool, cool I never knew
You would become so closely to my heart
And now when I look back, girl I was so blessed
The rest never passed the test
Im choosy when it comes to newfound friends
And I wish they could be so smooth
(just like you)
And you never sweated me girl that was so tight
You were an angel in my life, oh, if
(I knew then)
What I know now
(what I know now)
Oh, yeah
(you wouldnt be with him)
You would be here
(youd be here with me)
My old friend
Old friends
Are the best friends
All my old friends
Are my best friends
(my old friend)
Old friends
Are the best friends
[...] Read more
song performed by New Edition
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Friends Will Be Friends Will Be Friends ...
Friends Will Be Friends Will Be Friends . . .
Written by John Deacon, Freddie Mercury
Friends will be friends
Friends will be friends
Friends will be friends
Friends will be friends
Friends will be friends
Another red letter day
So the pound has dropped and the children are creating
The other half ran away
Taking all the cash and leaving you with the lumber
Got a pain in the chest
Doctors on strike what you need is a rest
It's not easy love, but you've got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand 'cos friends will be friends - right till the end
Now it's a beautiful day
The postman delivered a letter from your lover
Only a 'phone call away
You tried to track him down but somebody stole his number
As a matter of fact
You're getting used to life without him in your way
It's so easy now, 'cos you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand 'cos friends will be friends - right till the end
It's so easy now, 'cos you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand 'cos right till the end - friends will be friends
Yeah yeah
song performed by Queen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Friends
Scooter!! yeah!!
Were gonna hit you harder!
Yeeah! cmon, cmon!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Were gonna hit you harder!
Yeeah! cmon, cmon!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Friends!...well be friends!
Well be friends...well be friends!
Friends!...
Yeeah! cmon, cmon!
song performed by Scooter
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Friends Will Be Friends
Words and music by freddie mercury and john deacon
Another red letter day
So the pound has dropped and the children are creating
The other half ran away
Taking all the cash and leaving you with the lumber
Got a pain in the chest
Doctors on strike what you need is a rest
Its not easy love but youve got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When youre in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When youre through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands cos friends will be friends right till the
End
Now its a beautiful day
The postman delivered a letter from your lover
Only a phone call away
You tried to track him down but somebody stole his number
As a matter of fact
Youre getting used to life without him in your way
Its so easy love cos you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When youre in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When youre through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands cos friends will be friends right till the
End
Its so easy love cos you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When youre in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When youre through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands cos friends will be friends right till the
End
Friends will be friends
When youre in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When youre through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands cos right till the end-
Friends will be friends
song performed by Queen
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Friends
Now you got to have friends
You know the fellings all so strong
You got to have friends
To make that day last long
I have me some friends but now there gone
Somethink came and took them away
And from the dusk until the dawn
Here is where I'm goin to stay
Hey well I'll stand right here at the end of the road
And I'll wate for the new friends to come
I don't care it I'm hungre or cold
I got to get me some
Talkin about friends
Miles and miles and miles of friends
Lot and lots and lots of friends
You got to have friends
Talkin about friends
Hey do you know what I mean
Everybodys has got to have friends
You got to have friends
And some friends but there gone gone
Something came and took 'em away
And from the dusk til the dawn
Here ,here is where I'll stay
And I'm standing at the end of a long,long road
And I'm wateing for my new friends to come
I don't care if I'm hungre or frezzing cold
I got to get me some of them
Talking about friends
You got to have friends
You know you get yours
I'll get mine
I got to baby
Talkin bout friends
Miles and miles and miles of friends
Lots and lots and lots of friends
You got to have friends
Talkin bout friends
Miles and miles and miles and miles of friends
Friend,friends,friends,friends,friends
You got to have friends
[fade out]
song performed by Barry Manilow
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Wouldn't You Like To Ride
[Intro (Kanye West)]
You like to ride... (uh)
(So "why don't) you and your friends (get with) me and my friends"
"(My friends) my friends, my friends, my friends"
Would you like to ride?
(I don't know what happened, it's just like, heh)
"So why don't you and your friends get with me and my friends"
"My friends, my friends, my friends, my friends"
[Kanye West]
I had that little ass Nissan at your crib showin' up
Liquor store out of Arbor Mist, we Irish Rosed it up
Then we rolled to the movies, you rocked your fake Chloes
You had Gap and Gucci, that's still two G's
But that's that last year purse like it's still too cheap
Ooh you so boozy boo you could of fooled me
Cuz five years ago you was so Fugees
Now you don't want nothin' unless it cost a few G's
You like the light-skinned Ania, the dark-skinned Aaliyah
The black Jennifer Lopez, a ghetto senorita
You remind me of my Jeep but not no Kia
We can talk on your cell, but not Nokia
It be goin' in and out, that's why I barely hear ya
It be goin' in and out like a robbery ah
I'm tryin' to take this money like Robin Geeda
Then I'ma take you to the house like Trick and Trina
[Hook]
Would you like to ride shotgun in the Escalade
"So why don't you and your friends get with me and my friends"
"My friends, my friends, my friends, my friends"
Like a cloud in our sky, grab your things let's fly away
"So why don't you and your friends get with me and my friends"
"My friends, my friends, my friends, my friends"
[Malik Yusef]
Malik Yusef, bet your baby momma know the name
The most critically acclaimed wordsmith in the game
I give you words spit with flames
Stay to m
song performed by Kanye West
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

A'Yo Kato (feat. Magic & Val)
*cell phone rings*
DMX-yo
FRIEND-yo X we got sum bad news...katos dead man
DMX-what???
FRIEND-yeah katos dead man
DMX-YOU CANT BE SERIOUS MAN
[DMX]
Uh, this go out to my dog Kato
Rest in peace baby, it's a K thing
Dogs that I call my friends
Prayin for all my friends
Things I do for my friends
We miss you! Aiyyo Kato!
We started off, two dogs with the same goals (uh)
Nothin but two dogs walkin the same roads (uh)
Two different cultures, but had the same heart (yeah)
Enjoyed seeing the light, but lived in the dark
Dipped out and bumped heads in the parking lot (aight)
It was a quiet brother, didn't like to bark a lot
Came through wreck (uh), when he came, gained respect
So I gave respect (uh), we shared, the same respect
Two names to rep in our own circles (what)
Two brothers with good hearts
But if you start, two bothers that'll hurt you (yeah)
Know how that dirt do, hittin for quarters
Arf arf arf arf! Right back on orders
Guys tried to warn us, but sometimes we don't wanna see
When I first heard, I'm like, this can't be!
Y'all niggaz is buggin, got the wrong information or somethin
Please tell me that these niggaz is frontin! God, no
Dogs that I call my friends, prayin for all my friends
Things I do for my friends, we miss you! Aiyyo Kato! (We miss you Kato)
Dogs that I call my friends, prayin for all my friends (We miss you Kato)
Things I do for my friends, we miss you! Aiyyo Kato! (We miss you Kato)
Yo K, let me kick it with you for a minute
It was things left unsaid, dog, we wasn't finished
Never got to say thank you for being a friend
Dogs for life, and you, rolled til the end
Held dog down, didn't let a day go by
Every time dog came to the shy (what) - I was good
Trips out to fendis, with the scramblin squad
If I come back to Phoenix, like, damn it's hard
To accept the fact (uh) that you won't be comin back (uh)
But I hope he comin back (uh), cause I won't accept the fact (uh)
When you came to New York, you had to come to the crib
And vice versa (yeah), that's just how we did
Remote-control cars, what! We would race all day
It was adventure we would chase all day (yeah)
So I'm not gonna say goodbye, my nigga (uh-uh)
Instead I would rather (rather)
[...] Read more
song performed by DMX
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!


Son Of The Evening Star, The
Can it be the sun descending
O'er the level plain of water?
Or the Red Swan floating, flying,
Wounded by the magic arrow,
Staining all the waves with crimson,
With the crimson of its life-blood,
Filling all the air with splendor,
With the splendor of its plumage?
Yes; it is the sun descending,
Sinking down into the water;
All the sky is stained with purple,
All the water flushed with crimson!
No; it is the Red Swan floating,
Diving down beneath the water;
To the sky its wings are lifted,
With its blood the waves are reddened!
Over it the Star of Evening
Melts and trembles through the purple,
Hangs suspended in the twilight.
No; it is a bead of wampum
On the robes of the Great Spirit
As he passes through the twilight,
Walks in silence through the heavens.
This with joy beheld Iagoo
And he said in haste: "Behold it!
See the sacred Star of Evening!
You shall hear a tale of wonder,
Hear the story of Osseo,
Son of the Evening Star, Osseo!
"Once, in days no more remembered,
Ages nearer the beginning,
When the heavens were closer to us,
And the Gods were more familiar,
In the North-land lived a hunter,
With ten young and comely daughters,
Tall and lithe as wands of willow;
Only Oweenee, the youngest,
She the wilful and the wayward,
She the silent, dreamy maiden,
Was the fairest of the sisters.
"All these women married warriors,
Married brave and haughty husbands;
Only Oweenee, the youngest,
Laughed and flouted all her lovers,
All her young and handsome suitors,
And then married old Osseo,
Old Osseo, poor and ugly,
Broken with age and weak with coughing,
Always coughing like a squirrel.
"Ah, but beautiful within him
[...] Read more
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!


The Son Of The Evening Star
Can it be the sun descending
O'er the level plain of water?
Or the Red Swan floating, flying,
Wounded by the magic arrow,
Staining all the waves with crimson,
With the crimson of its life-blood,
Filling all the air with splendor,
With the splendor of its plumage?
Yes; it is the sun descending,
Sinking down into the water;
All the sky is stained with purple,
All the water flushed with crimson!
No; it is the Red Swan floating,
Diving down beneath the water;
To the sky its wings are lifted,
With its blood the waves are reddened!
Over it the Star of Evening
Melts and trembles through the purple,
Hangs suspended in the twilight.
No; it is a bead of wampum
On the robes of the Great Spirit
As he passes through the twilight,
Walks in silence through the heavens.
This with joy beheld Iagoo
And he said in haste: "Behold it!
See the sacred Star of Evening!
You shall hear a tale of wonder,
Hear the story of Osseo,
Son of the Evening Star, Osseo!
"Once, in days no more remembered,
Ages nearer the beginning,
When the heavens were closer to us,
And the Gods were more familiar,
In the North-land lived a hunter,
With ten young and comely daughters,
Tall and lithe as wands of willow;
Only Oweenee, the youngest,
She the wilful and the wayward,
She the silent, dreamy maiden,
Was the fairest of the sisters.
"All these women married warriors,
Married brave and haughty husbands;
Only Oweenee, the youngest,
Laughed and flouted all her lovers,
All her young and handsome suitors,
And then married old Osseo,
Old Osseo, poor and ugly,
Broken with age and weak with coughing,
Always coughing like a squirrel.
"Ah, but beautiful within him
[...] Read more
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!


The Song Of Hiawatha XII: The Son Of The Evening Star
Can it be the sun descending
O'er the level plain of water?
Or the Red Swan floating, flying,
Wounded by the magic arrow,
Staining all the waves with crimson,
With the crimson of its life-blood,
Filling all the air with splendor,
With the splendor of its plumage?
Yes; it is the sun descending,
Sinking down into the water;
All the sky is stained with purple,
All the water flushed with crimson!
No; it is the Red Swan floating,
Diving down beneath the water;
To the sky its wings are lifted,
With its blood the waves are reddened!
Over it the Star of Evening
Melts and trembles through the purple,
Hangs suspended in the twilight.
No; it is a bead of wampum
On the robes of the Great Spirit
As he passes through the twilight,
Walks in silence through the heavens.
This with joy beheld Iagoo
And he said in haste: 'Behold it!
See the sacred Star of Evening!
You shall hear a tale of wonder,
Hear the story of Osseo,
Son of the Evening Star, Osseo!
'Once, in days no more remembered,
Ages nearer the beginning,
When the heavens were closer to us,
And the Gods were more familiar,
In the North-land lived a hunter,
With ten young and comely daughters,
Tall and lithe as wands of willow;
Only Oweenee, the youngest,
She the wilful and the wayward,
She the silent, dreamy maiden,
Was the fairest of the sisters.
'All these women married warriors,
Married brave and haughty husbands;
Only Oweenee, the youngest,
Laughed and flouted all her lovers,
All her young and handsome suitors,
And then married old Osseo,
Old Osseo, poor and ugly,
Broken with age and weak with coughing,
Always coughing like a squirrel.
'Ah, but beautiful within him
[...] Read more
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Hello OK Goodbye
She was so proud to have 'bagged' him -
he'd toured the world on Dad's business;
he'd 'squired'
(that's the word we use -
who wants to hang around the hotel's staff door all and every night?)
every It girl, every starlet, every girl of the moment;
and the Valentine cards with foreign stamps
just added to her catch;
the press cameras loved him,
with that extra button on his open neck shirt
undone, under his suit,
even when he was with Her.
But he'd chosen her.
For ever.
In sickness or in obscurity,
in notoriety or in overweight.
He for his part was so proud to have 'bagged 'her.
Her string of exes was impeccable -
her loyal girlfriends saw to that,
sharing their lists, and quietly informing
the PRs of suitable Hollywood superstars
weekending in London for their premieres
that mutual publicity might be 'leaked'
- like a hole punched in a bucket.
Their wedding was a private one
since they loved each other just so much
more than themselves.
Stella, and Fleshtape, did the bridesmaids
proud, and pert; amazing food;
a happening designer; an edgy band.
One ex is a sad sight at such a bash;
ten-plus exes for each of the pair - that's sparky.
To tell the world their love,
they each sold the story of their romance of a lifetime
and by setting the mags against each other
got a doubled fee -
his was in one, hers in the other.
In fact, such was their love
they even discussed having one PR instead of two.
Their payments for their stories were a few months late,
(their accountants insisted they went down as 'expenses') :
but by the time they put them through
their separate bank accounts
we had noted that their well-paid break-up stories
didn't quite match.
[...] Read more
poem by Michael Shepherd
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

I Dont Think We Could Ever Be Friends
(jean-alain roussel / sting)
Its the end of our journey
What can I do?
Lonely together
When Im alone with you
Now that weve come so far
It seems like the end
We could be lovers
We could never be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
We can never talk
Like others seem to do
Lonely together
Making love to you
We dont get nothing
From the letters we send
We could be lovers
We could never be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
Plus a new relationship
You know you break my heart
What I feel for yous too strong
It has been from the start
Everytime I see your face
Its tearing me apart
What is need is love from you
Oh, but I cant?
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
I dont think we could ever be friends
I dont think we could ever
[...] Read more
song performed by Dusty Springfield
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!


The Monks Of Catalonia
TO you, my friends, allow me to detail,
The feats of monks in Catalonia's vale,
Where oft the holy fathers pow'rs displayed,
And showed such charity to wife and maid,
That o'er their minds sweet fascination reigned,
And made them think, they Paradise had gained.
SUCH characters oft preciously advise,
And youthful easy female minds surprise,
The beauteous FAIR encircle with their net,
And, of the feeling heart, possession get:
Work in the holy vineyard, you may guess,
And, as our tale will show, with full success.
IN times of old, when learning 'mong the FAIR,
Enough to read the testament, was rare,
(Times howsoe'er thought difficult to quote,)
A swarm of monks of gormandizing note,
Arrived and fixed themselves within a town,
For young and beauteous belles of great renown,
While, of gallants, there seemed but very few,
Though num'rous aged husbands you might view.
A NOBLE chapel soon the fathers raised,
To which the females ran and highly praised,
Surveyed it o'er and confidently thought,
'Twas there, of course, salvation should be sought.
And when their faith had thoroughly been proved,
To gain their point the monks the veil removed.--
Good father Andrew scorned to use finesse,
And in discourse the sex would thus address.
IF any thing prevent your sov'reign bliss,
And Paradise incautiously you miss,
Most certainly the evil will arise,
From keeping for your husbands large supplies,
Of what a surplus you have clearly got,
And more than requisite to them allot,
Without bestowing on your trusty friends,
The saving that to no one blessings lends.
PERHAPS you'll tell me, marriage boons we shun;
'Tis true, and Heav'n be praised enough is done,
Without those duties to require our share
You know from direful sin we guard the FAIR.
Ingratitude 's declared the height of crimes,
And God pronounced it such in early times;
For this eternally was Satan curst;
Howe'er you err, be careful of the worst.
Return to Heav'n your thanks for bounteous care,
[...] Read more
poem by La Fontaine
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

friends
we are friends
friends we are
friends forever
forever friends
friend without a car
friends who laugh
friends who cry
friends who dont have to try
i am your friend
you are my friend
my friends you friend
your friends my friend
we are all friends
friends who share
friends who play
friends who tell you, you can stay
you trust friends
friends trust you
you show friends
friends show you
the friend who are true
poem by Brittany Yard
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

There's No 'I' In Team
Well I can't regret,
can't you just forget it?
I started something I couldn't finish
And if we go down,
we go down together
best friends means,
well best friends means
And I've got a twenty-dollar bill
that says you're up late night starting
fist fights versus fences in your backyard
Wearing your black eye like a badge of honor
Soaking in sympathy
from friends who never loved you
nearly half as much as me
Broken down in bars and bathrooms
All I did was what I had to
Don't believe me when I tell you
it's just what anyone would do
Take the time to talk about it
Think a lot and live without it
Don't believe me when I tell you
it's something unforgivable...ohoh
Well I can't regret,
can't you just forget it?
I started something I couldn't finish
If we go down,
we go down together
best friends means,
well best friends means
You never knew
well i never told you...
Everything I know about breaking hearts
I learned from you, it's true
I've never done it with the style and grace you have
But I've made long term plans
based on these mistakes
Broken down in bars and bathrooms
All I did was what I had to
Don't believe me when I tell you
it's just what anyone would do
Take the time to talk about it
Think a lot and live without it
Don't believe me when I tell you
it's something unforgivable
Is this what you call tact?
I swear you're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back
so let's end this call,
and end this conversation
there's nothing worse...
(that's right he said, that's right he said it)
[...] Read more
song performed by Taking Back Sunday
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

With A Little Help From My Friends
What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me
Lend me your ears and Ill sing you a song
And Ill try not to sing out of key
Oh, Ill get by with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get high with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get by with a little help from my friends, my friends
What do you do when our love is away
Does it worry you to be alone
And how does it feel by the end of the day
Are you sad because youre on your own
Oh, Ill get by with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get high with a little help from my friends
Oh Ill get by with a little help from my friends
Do you need any body
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody
I need somebody to love, to love, to love
Would you believe in this love at first sight
Yes Im certain that it happens al the time
What do you see when you turn out the light
I cant tell you but I know that its mine
Oh, Ill get by with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get high with a little help from my friends
Oh Ill get by with a little help from my friends
Do you need any body
I need somebody to love
Could it be anybody
I need somebody to love
Oh, Ill get by with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get high with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get high with a little help from my friends
Oh, Ill get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends, my friends, my friends
Repeat to fade...
song performed by Wet Wet Wet
Added by Lucian Velea
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

V. Count Guido Franceschini
Thanks, Sir, but, should it please the reverend Court,
I feel I can stand somehow, half sit down
Without help, make shift to even speak, you see,
Fortified by the sip of … why, 't is wine,
Velletri,—and not vinegar and gall,
So changed and good the times grow! Thanks, kind Sir!
Oh, but one sip's enough! I want my head
To save my neck, there's work awaits me still.
How cautious and considerate … aie, aie, aie,
Nor your fault, sweet Sir! Come, you take to heart
An ordinary matter. Law is law.
Noblemen were exempt, the vulgar thought,
From racking; but, since law thinks otherwise,
I have been put to the rack: all's over now,
And neither wrist—what men style, out of joint:
If any harm be, 't is the shoulder-blade,
The left one, that seems wrong i' the socket,—Sirs,
Much could not happen, I was quick to faint,
Being past my prime of life, and out of health.
In short, I thank you,—yes, and mean the word.
Needs must the Court be slow to understand
How this quite novel form of taking pain,
This getting tortured merely in the flesh,
Amounts to almost an agreeable change
In my case, me fastidious, plied too much
With opposite treatment, used (forgive the joke)
To the rasp-tooth toying with this brain of mine,
And, in and out my heart, the play o' the probe.
Four years have I been operated on
I' the soul, do you see—its tense or tremulous part—
My self-respect, my care for a good name,
Pride in an old one, love of kindred—just
A mother, brothers, sisters, and the like,
That looked up to my face when days were dim,
And fancied they found light there—no one spot,
Foppishly sensitive, but has paid its pang.
That, and not this you now oblige me with,
That was the Vigil-torment, if you please!
The poor old noble House that drew the rags
O' the Franceschini's once superb array
Close round her, hoped to slink unchallenged by,—
Pluck off these! Turn the drapery inside out
And teach the tittering town how scarlet wears!
Show men the lucklessness, the improvidence
Of the easy-natured Count before this Count,
The father I have some slight feeling for,
Who let the world slide, nor foresaw that friends
Then proud to cap and kiss their patron's shoe,
Would, when the purse he left held spider-webs,
Properly push his child to wall one day!
[...] Read more
poem by Robert Browning from The Ring and the Book
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

VIII. Dominus Hyacinthus de Archangelis, Pauperum Procurator
Ah, my Giacinto, he's no ruddy rogue,
Is not Cinone? What, to-day we're eight?
Seven and one's eight, I hope, old curly-pate!
—Branches me out his verb-tree on the slate,
Amo-as-avi-atum-are-ans,
Up to -aturus, person, tense, and mood,
Quies me cum subjunctivo (I could cry)
And chews Corderius with his morning crust!
Look eight years onward, and he's perched, he's perched
Dapper and deft on stool beside this chair,
Cinozzo, Cinoncello, who but he?
—Trying his milk-teeth on some crusty case
Like this, papa shall triturate full soon
To smooth Papinianian pulp!
It trots
Already through my head, though noon be now,
Does supper-time and what belongs to eve.
Dispose, O Don, o' the day, first work then play!
—The proverb bids. And "then" means, won't we hold
Our little yearly lovesome frolic feast,
Cinuolo's birth-night, Cinicello's own,
That makes gruff January grin perforce!
For too contagious grows the mirth, the warmth
Escaping from so many hearts at once—
When the good wife, buxom and bonny yet,
Jokes the hale grandsire,—such are just the sort
To go off suddenly,—he who hides the key
O' the box beneath his pillow every night,—
Which box may hold a parchment (someone thinks)
Will show a scribbled something like a name
"Cinino, Ciniccino," near the end,
"To whom I give and I bequeath my lands,
"Estates, tenements, hereditaments,
"When I decease as honest grandsire ought."
Wherefore—yet this one time again perhaps—
Shan't my Orvieto fuddle his old nose!
Then, uncles, one or the other, well i' the world,
May—drop in, merely?—trudge through rain and wind,
Rather! The smell-feasts rouse them at the hint
There's cookery in a certain dwelling-place!
Gossips, too, each with keepsake in his poke,
Will pick the way, thrid lane by lantern-light,
And so find door, put galligaskin off
At entry of a decent domicile
Cornered in snug Condotti,—all for love,
All to crush cup with Cinucciatolo!
Well,
Let others climb the heights o' the court, the camp!
[...] Read more
poem by Robert Browning from The Ring and the Book
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

II. Half-Rome
What, you, Sir, come too? (Just the man I'd meet.)
Be ruled by me and have a care o' the crowd:
This way, while fresh folk go and get their gaze:
I'll tell you like a book and save your shins.
Fie, what a roaring day we've had! Whose fault?
Lorenzo in Lucina,—here's a church
To hold a crowd at need, accommodate
All comers from the Corso! If this crush
Make not its priests ashamed of what they show
For temple-room, don't prick them to draw purse
And down with bricks and mortar, eke us out
The beggarly transept with its bit of apse
Into a decent space for Christian ease,
Why, to-day's lucky pearl is cast to swine.
Listen and estimate the luck they've had!
(The right man, and I hold him.)
Sir, do you see,
They laid both bodies in the church, this morn
The first thing, on the chancel two steps up,
Behind the little marble balustrade;
Disposed them, Pietro the old murdered fool
To the right of the altar, and his wretched wife
On the other side. In trying to count stabs,
People supposed Violante showed the most,
Till somebody explained us that mistake;
His wounds had been dealt out indifferent where,
But she took all her stabbings in the face,
Since punished thus solely for honour's sake,
Honoris causâ, that's the proper term.
A delicacy there is, our gallants hold,
When you avenge your honour and only then,
That you disfigure the subject, fray the face,
Not just take life and end, in clownish guise.
It was Violante gave the first offence,
Got therefore the conspicuous punishment:
While Pietro, who helped merely, his mere death
Answered the purpose, so his face went free.
We fancied even, free as you please, that face
Showed itself still intolerably wronged;
Was wrinkled over with resentment yet,
Nor calm at all, as murdered faces use,
Once the worst ended: an indignant air
O' the head there was—'t is said the body turned
Round and away, rolled from Violante's side
Where they had laid it loving-husband-like.
If so, if corpses can be sensitive,
Why did not he roll right down altar-step,
Roll on through nave, roll fairly out of church,
Deprive Lorenzo of the spectacle,
[...] Read more
poem by Robert Browning from The Ring and the Book
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

VII. Pompilia
I am just seventeen years and five months old,
And, if I lived one day more, three full weeks;
'T is writ so in the church's register,
Lorenzo in Lucina, all my names
At length, so many names for one poor child,
—Francesca Camilla Vittoria Angela
Pompilia Comparini,—laughable!
Also 't is writ that I was married there
Four years ago: and they will add, I hope,
When they insert my death, a word or two,—
Omitting all about the mode of death,—
This, in its place, this which one cares to know,
That I had been a mother of a son
Exactly two weeks. It will be through grace
O' the Curate, not through any claim I have;
Because the boy was born at, so baptized
Close to, the Villa, in the proper church:
A pretty church, I say no word against,
Yet stranger-like,—while this Lorenzo seems
My own particular place, I always say.
I used to wonder, when I stood scarce high
As the bed here, what the marble lion meant,
With half his body rushing from the wall,
Eating the figure of a prostrate man—
(To the right, it is, of entry by the door)
An ominous sign to one baptized like me,
Married, and to be buried there, I hope.
And they should add, to have my life complete,
He is a boy and Gaetan by name—
Gaetano, for a reason,—if the friar
Don Celestine will ask this grace for me
Of Curate Ottoboni: he it was
Baptized me: he remembers my whole life
As I do his grey hair.
All these few things
I know are true,—will you remember them?
Because time flies. The surgeon cared for me,
To count my wounds,—twenty-two dagger-wounds,
Five deadly, but I do not suffer much—
Or too much pain,—and am to die to-night.
Oh how good God is that my babe was born,
—Better than born, baptized and hid away
Before this happened, safe from being hurt!
That had been sin God could not well forgive:
He was too young to smile and save himself.
When they took two days after he was born,
My babe away from me to be baptized
And hidden awhile, for fear his foe should find,—
[...] Read more
poem by Robert Browning from The Ring and the Book
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!
