This poem was written to amuse little Willie Macready who was ill and wished a poem for which he could make illustrations. There are many legends that deal with the refusal of a reward promised to a magician for some stipulated service. Mr. Berdoe (_Browning Cyclopaedia_, p. 339) says that the story given here is based on an account by Verstegan in his _Restitution of Decayed Intelligence_ (1634). Verstegan gives "Bunting" as the name of the piper; the town, as Hamelin in Brunswick on the Weser; and the mountain into which the children were led as the Koeppenberg. THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS When Mr. Browning was little more than a child he heard a woman one Guy Fawkes's Day sing, in the street a strange song whose burden was "Following the Queen of the Gypsies, O!" The singular refrain haunted his memory for many years, and out of it was ultimately born this poem. 6-31. The Duke's medieval castle was apparently in Northern Germany, near the sea. 78. _Rough-foot merlin._ A species of hawk formerly trained to pursue other birds and game. A "falcon-lanner" is a long-tailed hawk. The word, when used in falconry, is restricted to the female hawk, which is larger than the male. 101. _Struck at himself._ Amazed at his own importance. 130. _Urochs._ The aurochs, the European bison, a species nearly extinct but preserved in the forests of Lithuania and the Caucasus. The "buffle" is the buffalo. 135-153. Compare this lady with the one in "My Last Duchess." 216. _Well, early in autumn._ In writing "The Flight of the Duchess" Browning was interrupted by a friend on some important business which temporarily drove the story out of the poet's mind. Some months after the publication of the first part in _Hood's Magazine_, April, 1845, he was staying at Bettisfield Park in Shropshire when someone in commenting on the early approach of winter said that already the deer had to break the ice in the pond. This chance phrase roused the poet's fancy, and when he returned home he completed his poem. 238. _St. Hubert._ Before his conversion St. Hubert had been passionately fond of hunting; hence he became the patron saint of hunters. 240-247. "The jerkin" or short coat; the "trunk-hose," or full breeches extending from the waist to the middle of the thigh; the big rimless hats with broad projections back and front and highly ornamented, were medieval articles of attire revived by the Duke for his "Middle Age" hunting party. 249. _Venerers, Prickers, and Verderers_ are ancient names for huntsmen, horsemen, and preservers of venison. 263. _Horns wind a mort._ Horns announce the death of the stag; "at siege" probably means "brought to the appointed station." Possibly it means "at bay," in which case "wind a mort" must mean "announce that the death of the stag is imminent." 264. _Prick forth._ Spur her horse forth. She was to ride a jennet, a small Spanish horse known in the Middle Ages. 315. _Quince-tinct._ Tincture of quince was used as a cosmetic.