Cleon by Robert Browning
Writing to the ruler Protus, the poet Cleon defends his command of several arts but denies that surviving works save their maker from death. He argues that growing awareness sharpens the desire for joys an aging body cannot sustain, and imagines an afterlife that he believes Zeus would have revealed if it were possible. He closes by dismissing Protus's inquiry into Paulus and the doctrine about Paulus and Christ reported by visiting slaves.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Dramatic Monologue, Philosophical Poetry, Epistolary literature · 4,439 words
First lines
"As certain also of your own poets have said" --
Cleon the poet (from the sprinkled isles, / Lily on lily, that o'erlace the sea, / And laugh their pride when the light wave lisps "Greece") -- / To Protus in his Tyranny: much health!
Genres
- Dramatic Monologue — Cleon alone speaks, quoting and answering Protus's questions while revealing his artistic confidence, fear of death, and dismissive judgment of Paulus.
- Philosophical Poetry — The verse develops arguments about human consciousness, bodily limits, artistic survival, and the possibility of joy after death.
- Epistolary literature — Cleon addresses Protus in a verse letter, acknowledges his gifts, answers successive questions, and closes with a farewell and remarks about his messenger.
Tags
mortality · artistic achievement · aging · consciousness · pleasure · afterlife
What this Textopian page supports
Cleon is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Dramatic Monologue, Philosophical Poetry, Epistolary literature
- Length: 4,439 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cleon by Robert Browning
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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