He settled Hoti's business—let it be!
Properly based Oun—,
Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic De.
—Hoti is the Greek particle ὅτι, that, etc.—Oun is the Greek particle οὖν, then, now then, etc.—The enclitic De is the Greek δε, which Browning refers to in a letter to the London Daily News of Nov. 21, 1874: "To the Editor: Sir,—In a clever article this morning you speak of 'the doctrine of enclitic De'—'which, with all deference to Mr. Browning, in point of fact does not exist.' No, not to Mr. Browning: but pray defer to Herr Buttmann, whose fifth list of 'enclitics' ends with 'the inseparable De'—or to Curtius, whose fifth list ends also with 'De (meaning "towards" and as a demonstrative appendage).' That this is not to be confounded with the accentuated 'De, meaning but' was the 'doctrine' which the Grammarian bequeathed to those capable of receiving it.—I am, sir, yours obediently, R. B."
Page 287. Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came.
In an article describing a visit to the poet, Rev. John W. Chadwick speaks of this tapestry and Mr. Browning's comments on the poem:—
"Upon the lengthwise wall of the room, above the Italian furniture, sombre and richly carved, was a long, wide band of tapestry, on which I thought I recognized the miserable horse of Childe Roland's pilgrimage:—
"'One stiff blind horse, his every bone a-stare,
Stood stupefied, however he came there:
Thrust out past service from the devil's stud!'