The Ring and the Book (Book 2) - Robert Browning
Rumors and Suspicions Swirl in the Streets of Rome
The Ring and the Book – Book 2 (“Half-Rome”)
by Robert Browning
[Excerpt]
So, I see Rome—no lack of witnesses—
Once it was whispered, cast from mouth to mouth,
In corners, on the sly, by nod and wink,
That Guido’s house was loud with wrathful words,
And something worse than words, these latter nights.
The city stretched its ear, paused listening,
Took in reports from friend or enemy,
Until men marvelled what the truth might be;
Who wronged, who suffered, how began and ended.
Some said, “The Marchioness, outraged in heart,
Flies from her lord.” Some answered, “He but claims
His rightful due; she leaps at any chance
To smirch his station. Wait, the courts decide!”
So half the town believed him, half believed
Her, none believed all wholly. So the talk
Muttered and weltered, more and ever more;
And thus we have our tale—a tangle tossed,
A riddle read in part by half the crowd.
[Book 2, titled “Half-Rome,” provides one angle on the notorious murder trial, capturing how rumors and fragmented reports color the city’s perception. The excerpt above offers a taste of Browning’s style and themes; the full text of Book 2 is available in the public domain.]
In Book 2 of Robert Browning’s monumental poem, *The Ring and the Book*, the reader hears “Half-Rome”—the perspective of a faction in Rome that sides with Count Guido in the infamous murder case. While Book 1 introduced Browning’s discovery of the Yellow Book and explained his plan to reconstruct the trial, Book 2 immerses us in the charged atmosphere of rumor, partial truths, and sweeping conjecture surrounding the crime.
By focusing on the city’s talk and hearsay, Browning shows how distorted or incomplete information can shape strong opinions. The speaker, representing “half” of Rome, puts forward interpretations sympathetic to Guido, portraying him as a husband whose honor has been challenged. Yet these same neighbors also hint at faults or wrongdoing—enough to keep the matter unresolved. In doing so, Browning reveals the malleability of public opinion: how quickly it seizes on gossip, and how easily it shifts its allegiances.
Stylistically, Book 2 uses conversational language and episodic details, lending a sense of vibrant urgency to the city’s chatter. Browning echoes how real people might have transmitted rumors: by chance meetings, half-known testimonies, and insinuations rather than firm facts. This approach showcases his larger theme of how truth becomes obscured by bias and rumor.
Throughout this section, Browning’s aim is not simply to give us “the truth” about the murder, but to demonstrate how an entire community, working with incomplete or skewed information, may reach conclusions shaped by personal interest, class prejudice, or idle fascination. Book 2 thus positions readers as detectives: we must sift through swirling stories and prejudices to discern hints of the actual sequence of events.
Ultimately, Book 2 is indispensable for comprehending the play of rumor and reputation in *The Ring and the Book*. It draws us deeper into the poem’s central puzzle, reminding us that perspective is everything, and that a single tale can be fractured into many competing narratives.
Key points
• “Half-Rome” presents the perspective of those who favor Count Guido.
• Gossip and rumor dominate, underscoring the difficulty of finding truth.
• Browning shows how partial facts can spark strong but divided opinions.
• Readers must navigate conflicting viewpoints to piece together what truly happened.