第8章

TheChristhimselfhadbeennoLawgiver，UnlesshehadgiventheLIFE，too，withthelaw。”

TheimportanceofRobertBrowning’spoetry，asembodyingtheprofoundestthought，thesubtlestandmostcomplexsentiment，and，aboveall，themostquickeningspiritualityoftheage，has，asyet，notwithstandingthegreatincreasewithinthelastfewyearsofdevotedstudents，receivedbutaniggardlyrecognitionwhencomparedwiththatreceivedbyfarinferiorcontemporarypoets。Thereare，however，manyindicationsinthepoeticalcriticismofthedaythatuponitwillerelongbepronouncedtheverdictwhichisitsdue。

AndthefoundingofasocietyinEnglandin1881，”togathertogethersomeatleastofthemanyadmirersofRobertBrowning，forthestudyanddiscussionofhisworks，andthepublicationofpapersonthem，andextractsfromworksillustratingthem”hasalreadycontributedmuchtowardspayingalong-standingdebt。

Mr。Browning’searliestpoems，`Pauline’(hecallsitintheprefacetothereprintofitin1868”aboyishwork”，thoughitexhibitsthegreatbasalthoughtofallhissubsequentpoetry)，waspublishedin1833，sincewhichtimehehasproducedthelargestbodyofpoetryproducedbyanyonepoetinEnglishliterature；andtherangeofthoughtandpassionwhichitexhibitsisgreaterthanthatofanyotherpoet，withoutasingleexception，sincethedaysofShakespeare。

AndheisthemostlikeShakespeareinhisdeepinterestinhumannatureinallitsvarietiesofgoodandevil。

Thoughendowedwithapowerful，subtle，andrestlessintellect，hehasthroughouthisvoluminouspoetrymadethestrongestprotestthathasbeenmadeinthesedaysagainstmereintellect。

Andhispoetryhas，therefore，apeculiarvalueinanagelikethepresent——anageexhibiting”aconditionofhumanitywhichhasthrownitselfwhollyonitsintellectanditsgeniusinphysics，andhasdonemarvelsinmaterialscienceandinvention，butattheexpenseoftheinteriordivinity。”Itisthehumanheart，thatis，theintuitive，thenon-discursivesideofman，withitshopesanditspropheticaspirations，asopposedtotheanalytic，thediscursiveunderstanding，whichistohimasubjectofthedeepestandmostscrutinizinginterest。Heknowsthatitsdeepestdepthsare”deeperthandideverplummetsound”；

buthealsoknowsthatitisinthesedepthsthatlife’sgreatestsecretsmustbesought。Thephilosophiesexcogitatedbytheinsulatedintellecthelpnothingtowardevenaglimpseofthesesecrets。Inoneofhislaterpoems，thatentitled`House’，hehasintimated，andforciblyintimated，hissenseoftheimpossibilityofpenetratingtotheHolyofHoliesofthiswondroushumanheart，thoughassuredasheisthatallourhopesinregardtothesoul’sdestinyarewarmedandcherishedbywhatradiatesthence。Hequotes，inthelaststanzaofthispoem，fromWordsworth’ssonnetontheSonnet，”WiththissamekeyShakespeareunlockedhisheart，”andthenadds，”DIDShakespeare?

Ifso，thelessShakespearehe！”

Mrs。Browning，intheFifthBookofher`AuroraLeigh’，hasgivenafullandveryforcibleexpressiontothefeelingwhichhascausedthehighestdramaticgeniusofthepresentdaytoseekrefugeinthepoemandthenovel。”Iwillwritenoplays；

becausethedrama，lesssublimeinthis，makeslowerappeals，defendsmoremenially，adoptsthestandardofthepublictastetochalkitsheighton，wearsadog-chainrounditsregalneck，andlearnstocarryandfetchthefashionsoftheday，topleasetheday；……’Tisthat，honoringtoitsworththedrama，Iwouldfeartokeepitdowntothelevelofthefootlights……

Thegrowingdramahasoutgrownsuchtoysofsimulatedstature，face，andspeech，italso，peradventure，mayoutgrowthesimulationofthepaintedscene，boards，actors，prompters，gaslight，andcostume；

andTAKEFORAWORTHIERSTAGE，THESOULITSELF，ITSSHIFTINGFANCIES

ANDCELESTIALLIGHTS，WITHALLITSGRANDORCHESTRALSILENCES

TOKEEPTHEPAUSESOFTHERHYTHMICSOUNDS。”

RobertBrowning’spoetryis，inthesedays，thefullestrealizationofwhatisexpressedintheconcludinglinesofthispassage：

hehastakenforaworthierstage，thesoulitself，itsshiftingfanciesandcelestiallights，morethananyotherpoetoftheage。Andhehasworkedwithathought-and-passioncapitalgreaterthanthecombinedthought-and-passioncapitaloftherichestofhispoeticalcontemporaries。Andhehasthoughtnoblyofthesoul，andhastreateditas，initsessence，abovethefixedandlaw-boundsystemofthingswhichwecallnature；inotherwords，hehastreateditassupernatural。”Mind，”hemakesthePopesay，in`TheRingandtheBook’，——andhispoetrybearstestimonytoitsbeinghisownconvictionanddoctrine，——”Mindisnotmatter，norfrommatter，butabove。”WitheverystudentofBrowning，therecognitionandacceptanceofthismustbehisstarting-point。

Eventhatwhichimpelledtheolddog，inhispoementitled`Tray’

(`DramaticLyrics’，FirstSeries)，torescuethebeggarchildthatfellintotheriver，andthentodiveafterthechild’sdoll，andbringitup，afteralongstayunderwater，thepoetevidentlydistinguishesfrommatter，——regardsas”notmatternorfrommatter，butabove”：——”Andso，amidthelaughtergay，Trottedmyherooff，——oldTray，——

Tillsomebody，prerogativedWithreason，reasoned：`Whyhedived，Hisbrainwouldshowus，Ishouldsay。

`John，goandcatch——or，ifneedsbe，Purchasethatanimalforme！

Byvivisection，atexpenseOfhalf-an-hourandeighteenpence，Howbrainsecretesdog’ssoul，we’llsee！”

Inhispoementitled`HalbertandHob’(`DramaticLyrics’，FirstSeries)，quotingfromShakespeare’s`KingLear’，”Isthereareasoninnatureforthesehardhearts?”thepoetadds，”OLear，ThatareasonOUTofnaturemustturnthemsoft，seemsclear！”

Mindis，withBrowning，SUPERNATURAL，butlinkedwith，andrestrained，andevenenslavedby，thenatural。Thesoul，initseducation，thatis，initsawakening，becomesmoreandmoreindependentofthenatural，and，asaconsequence，moreresponsivetohighersoulsandtotheDivine。ALLSPIRITISMUTUALLYATTRACTIVE，andthedegreeofattractivenessresultsfromthedegreeoffreedomfromtheobstructionsofthematerial，orthenatural。

LovingthetruthimpliesagreaterorlessdegreeofthatfreedomofthespiritwhichbringsitintoSYMPATHYwiththetrue。”IfyeabideinMyword，”saysChrist(andwemustunderstandby”word”

Hisownconcretelife，thewordmadeflesh，andlivingandbreathing)，”ifyeabideinMyword”(thatis，continuetoliveMylife)，”thenareyetrulyMydisciples；andyeshallknowthetruth，andthetruthshallmakeyoufree”(Johnviii。32)。

Inregardtothesoul’sINHERENTpossessions，itsmicrocosmicpotentialities，Paracelsusismadetosay(andthismaybetaken，too，asthepoet’sowncreed)，”TruthisWITHINourselves；

ittakesnorisefromoutwardthings，whate’eryoumaybelieve：

thereisaninmostcentreinusall，wheretruthabidesinfulness；

andaround，walluponwall，thegrossfleshhemsitin，thisperfect，clearperception——whichistruth。Abafflingandpervertingcarnalmeshblindsit，andmakesallerror：

and，TOKNOW，ratherconsistsinopeningoutawaywhencetheimprisonedsplendourmayescape，thanineffectingentryforalightsupposedtobewithout。”

AllpossiblethoughtisIMPLICITinthemind，andwaitingforrelease——waitingtobecomeEXPLICIT。”Seekwithinyourself，”

saysGoethe，”andyouwillfindeverything；andrejoicethat，without，thereliesaNaturethatsaysyeaandamentoallyouhavediscoveredinyourself。”AndMrs。Browning，inthepersonofAuroraLeigh，writes：”Thecygnetfindsthewater；butthemanisborninignoranceofhiselement，andfeelsoutblindatfirst，disorganizedbysinintheblood，——hisspirit-insightdulledandcrossedbyhissensations。Presentlywefeelitquickeninthedarksometimes；thenmark，bereverent，beobedient，——

forthosedumbmotionsofimperfectlifeareoraclesofvitalDeityattestingtheHereafter。Letwhosays`Thesoul’sacleanwhitepaper’，rathersay，apalimpsest，aprophet’sholographdefiled，erased，andcoveredbyamonk’s，——

theApocalypsebyaLongus！poringonwhichobscuretext，wemaydiscernperhapssomefair，finetraceofwhatwaswrittenonce，someoff-strokeofanalphaandomegaexpressingtheoldScripture。”

This”fair，finetraceofwhatwaswrittenonce”，itwasthemissionofChrist，itisthemissionofallgreatpersonalities，ofalltheconcretecreationsofGenius，tobringoutintodistinctnessandvitalglow。Itisnot，andcannotbe，broughtout，——

andthisfactisemphasizedinthepoetryofBrowning，——

itcannotbebroughtout，throughwhatisbornandresidesinthebrain：itisbroughtout，eitherdirectlyorindirectly，bytheattractingpowerofmagneticpersonalities，theultimate，absolutepersonalitybeingtheGod-man，Christ，qea/nqrwpos。

ThehumansoulisregardedinBrowning’spoetryasacomplexlyorganized，individualizeddivineforce，destinedtogravitatetowardstheInfinite。Howisthisforce，withitsnumberlesschecksandcounter-checks，itscentripetalandcentrifugaltendencies，bestdeterminedinitsnecessarilyobliqueway?Howmuchearthlyballastmustitcarry，tokeepitsufficientlysteady，andhowlittle，thatitmaynotbeweigheddownwithmaterialisticheaviness?Howmuchcertaintymustithaveofitscourse，andhowmuchuncertainty，thatitmayshunthe”torporofassurance”，*1*andnotlosethevigorwhichcomesofadubiousandobstructedroad，”whichwhostandsuponisapttodoubtifit’sindeedaroad。”*2*”Purefaithindeed，”

saysBishopBlougram，toGigadibs，theliteraryman，”youknownotwhatyouask！nakedbeliefinGodtheOmnipotent，Omniscient，Omnipresent，searstoomuchthesenseofconsciouscreatures，tobeborne。Itweretheseeinghim，nofleshshalldare。

Somethink，Creation’smeanttoshowhimforth：Isay，it’smeanttohidehimallitcan，andthat’swhatalltheblessedEvil’sfor。

Itsuseintimeistoenvironus，ourbreath，ourdropofdew，withshieldenoughagainstthatsighttillwecanbearitsstress。

Underaverticalsun，theexposedbrainandlidlesseyeanddisimprisonedheartlesscertainlywouldwitherupatonce，thanmind，confrontedwiththetruthofHim。Buttimeandearthcase-hardenustolive；thefeeblestsenseistrustedmost：

thechildfeelsGodamoment，ichorso’ertheplace，playsonandgrowstobeamanlikeus。Withme，faithmeansperpetualunbeliefkeptquietlikethesnake’neathMichael’sfoot，whostandscalmjustbecausehefeelsitwrithe。”*3*

*1*`TheRingandtheBook’，ThePope，v。1853。

*2*`BishopBlougram’sApology’，vv。198，199。

*3*`BishopBlougram’sApology’，vv。650-671。

Thereisaremarkablepassagetothesameeffectin`Paracelsus’，inwhichParacelsusexpatiatesonthe”justsomuchofdoubtasbadehimplantasurerfootuponthesun-road。”

Andin`EasterDay’：——”YoumustmixsomeuncertaintyWithfaith，ifyouwouldhavefaithBE。”

AndthegoodPopein`TheRingandtheBook’，alludingtotheabsenceoftrueChristiansoldiership，whichisrevealedbyPompilia’scase，says：”IsitnotthisignobleCONFIDENCE，cowardlyhardihood，thatdullsanddamps，makestheoldheroismimpossible?

Unless……whatwhispersmeoftimestocome?Whatifitbethemissionofthatagemydeathwillusherintolife，toSHAKETHISTORPOROFASSURANCEFROMOURCREED，reintroducetheDOUBTdiscarded，bringtheformidabledangerbackwedrovelongagotothedistanceandthedark?”

Truehealthydoubtmeans，inBrowning，thatthespiritualnatureissufficientlyquickenednottosubmittotheconclusionsoftheinsulatedintellect。ItWILLreachoutbeyondthem，andassertitself，whateverbetheresistanceofferedbytheintellect。

Meredoubt，withoutanyresistancefromtheintuitive，non-discursivesideofournature，isthedry-rotofthesoul。

Thespiritualfunctionsare”smotheredinsurmise”。Faithisnotamatterofblindbelief，ofslavishassentandacceptance，asmanyno-faithpeopleseemtoregardit。ItiswhatWordsworthcallsit，”apassionateintuition”，andspringsoutofquickenedandrefinedsentiment，outofinborninstinctswhichareascultivableasareanyotherelementsofourcomplexnature，andwhich，too，maybebluntedbeyondaconsciousnessoftheirpossession。Andwhenoneinthislatterstatedeniestherealityoffaith，heisnotunlikeonebornblinddenyingtherealityofsight。

AreiteratedlessoninBrowning’spoetry，andonethatresultsfromhisspiritualtheory，is，thatthepresentlifeisatabernacle-life，andthatitcanbetrulylivedonlyasatabernacle-life；

foronlysuchalifeiscompatiblewiththeever-continuedaspirationandendeavorwhichisaconditionof，andinseparablefrom，spiritualvitality。

Domizia，inthetragedyof`Luria’，ismadetosay：——”Howinexhaustiblythespiritgrows！

Oneobject，sheseemederewhileborntoreachWithherwholeenergiesanddiecontent，