The “Moses” of Michael Angelo

Robert Browning

And who is He that sculptured in huge stone,   
      Sitteth a giant, where no works arrive
      Of straining Art, and hath so prompt and live

The lips, I listen to their very tone?
Moses is He—Ay, that, makes clearly known
     The chin’s thick boast, and brow’s prerogative
     Of double ray: so did the mountain give

Back to the world that visage, God was grown
Great part of! Such was he when he suspended
      Round him the sounding and vast waters; such
      When he shut sea on sea o’er Mizraïm.

And ye, his hordes, a vile calf raised, and bended
      The knee? This Image had ye raised, not much
      Had been your error in adoring Him.

From Zappi, R. B. (Given to Ba “for love’s sake,” Siena. Sept. 27, ’50.) 


Editors’ Note: The Yale Review is committed to publishing pieces from its archive as they originally appeared, without alterations to spelling, content, or style. Occasionally, errors creep in due to the digitization process; we work to correct these errors as we find them. You can email [email protected] with any you find.

Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright.
Originally published:
October 1, 1914

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