Browning's "Patriot into Traitor" presents before us a wide contrast in the fate of the hero who is himself the speaker in the poem. Two pictures of the same person have been given. The first picture is one year old and the second picture is the present one, i.e. of the scene today. The patriot is present there in both of them. People have gathered to have a look at him in both of them. But then the comparison comes to an end and the contrast starts.

One year ago, the patriot was entering the city as a victorious fellow and he was being welcomed by all the people of the city. He was their hero, their leader. They loved him. They honored him. They obeyed him. They had gathered to welcome him. The ways and paths were decorated with flowers and the bells were being rung to welcome him. If he would have ordered the people to do even an impossible work, they would have done it and asked later as to what they should do next. But then he himself began to do impossible works for the welfare of the masses. Today, people have gathered-at the Shamble's Gate where he is going to be beheaded on the charge of being a traitor.

He is being taken to the place, hands tried roughly at his back and forehead bleeding by the stones thrown by the public. He will be killed for his so-called crime but he hopes to get his reward in Heaven by the hands to God.