Arcades Ambo by Robert Browning
A defends running away from enemy fire, arguing that people live only once and should avoid death. B scolds cowardice but admits he would have countless animals cut up alive to discover a treatment for his toe pain.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Satirical Poetry, Dialogue · 155 words
First lines
_A._ You blame me that I ran away? / Why, Sir, the enemy advanced: / Balls flew about, and -- who can say / But one, if I stood firm, had glanced / In my direction? Cowardice? / I only know we don't live twice, / Therefore -- shun death, is my advice.
_B._ Shun death at all risks? Well, at some! / True, I myself, Sir, though I scold / The cowardly, by no means come / Under reproof as overbold / -- I, who would have no end of brutes / Cut up alive to guess what suits / My case and saves my toe from shoots.
What this Textopian page supports
Arcades Ambo is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Satirical Poetry, Dialogue
- Length: 155 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Arcades Ambo by Robert Browning
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Satirical Poetry — Two rhymed speeches juxtapose a retreating combatant's self-preservation with his critic's willingness to sacrifice animals for personal comfort.
- Dialogue — Speakers A and B give contrasting responses to accusations of cowardice.
Tags
cowardice · self-preservation · vivisection · hypocrisy · animal suffering