Colombe's Birthday by Robert Browning
On her birthday at the palace in Juliers, Duchess Colombe receives Valence, an advocate seeking relief for the starving people of Cleves, and learns that Prince Berthold claims her duchy. Valence confirms Berthold's legal right and conveys his marriage offer, which would preserve her rank but offer no love. Colombe chooses Valence and relinquishes Juliers; Berthold accepts the duchy and promises to redress Cleves' wrongs.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Drama, Dramatic Poetry, Political Drama · 5 chapters · 26,368 words
First lines
A Play
"Ivy and violet, what do ye here / With blossom and shoot in the warm spring-weather, / Hiding the arms of Monchenci and Vere? " / HANMER.
Genres
- Drama — Named speakers, entrances, exits and stage directions present Colombe's encounters with Valence, Berthold and her courtiers over a single birthday.
- Dramatic Poetry — Verse dialogue carries the succession dispute, Valence's pleas for Cleves and the exchanges in which Colombe learns of his love.
- Political Drama — Berthold's legal claim challenges Colombe's rule, while courtiers shift allegiance and Valence argues that the people's trust grounds her authority.
Tags
ducal succession · court intrigue · class barriers · marriage proposals · poverty · love and power · verse drama
What this Textopian page supports
Colombe's Birthday is listed on Textopian as a play by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Play
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Dramatic Poetry, Political Drama
- Length: 26,368 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 506 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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