Summary of the poem The Patriot The Patriot by Robert Browning - is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a leader He falls from glory to shame within a year The poem reflects the fickleness of public opinion and contrasts worldly rewards with divine justice A Year of Glory The poem begins with the speaker recalling his grand welcome a year ago People cheered and decorated his path with roses and myrtle They celebrated him as a hero and filled the air with bells and cries of joy The speaker felt loved and honored by everyone A Sudden Fall Now the speaker is being punished by the same people who once praised him The streets are empty and only a few sick people watch from their windows The crowd has moved to the execution site to see him being insulted He is tied with ropes bleeding and pelted