But it is relieved, not only by the scenery, the sketch of the monks in the refectory, the garden of flowers, the naughty girls seated on the convent bank washing their black hair, but also by the admirable humour which ripples like laughter through the hopes of his hatred, and by the brilliant sketching of the two men.

We see them, know them, down to their little tricks at dinner, and we end by realising hatred, it is true, but in too agreeable a fashion for just distress.
In other poems of the evil passions the relieving element is pity.

There are the two poems entitled _Before_ and _After_, that is, before and after the duel.

_Before_ is the statement of one of the seconds, with curious side-thoughts introduced by Browning's mental play with the subject, that the duel is absolutely necessary.

The challenger has been deeply wronged; and he cannot and will not let forgiveness intermit his vengeance.