Goldoni by Robert Browning
The speaker honors Goldoni for portraying Venice's everyday life and Carnival, defending his comedy against demands for grandeur and gloom. After contrasting his work with Parini's deeper secrets, the speaker pictures Venetians thronging streets and bridges and declares the city's love for him.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Sonnet, Literary Tribute · 178 words
First lines
Goldoni -- good, gay, sunniest of souls, -- / Glassing half Venice in that verse of thine, -- / What though it just reflect the shade and shine / Of common life, nor render, as it rolls, / Grandeur and gloom? Sufficient for thy shoals / Was Carnival; Parini's depths enshrine / Secrets unsuited to that opaline / Surface of things which laughs along thy scrolls. / There throng the people: how they come and go, / Lisp the soft language, flaunt the bright garb, -- see, -- / On Piazza, Calle, under Portico / And over Bridge! Dear king of Comedy, / Be honored! thou that didst love Venice so, / Venice, and we who love her, all love thee!
VENICE, _November 27, 1883._
Genres
- Sonnet — Fourteen rhymed lines move from defending Goldoni's portrayal of common life to a closing declaration of affection.
- Literary Tribute — The speaker directly addresses Goldoni, celebrates his Venetian comedy, and calls for him to be honored.
Tags
Venice · comedy · Carnival · everyday life · literary tribute · sonnet
What this Textopian page supports
Goldoni 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: Sonnet, Literary Tribute
- Length: 178 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Goldoni by Robert Browning
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph