第9章

Solikeawallattheworld’sedgeitstood，Withnaughtbeyondtolivefor，——isthatreached?——

Alreadyarenewundream’denergiesOutgrowingunder，andextendingfartherToanewobject；——there’sanotherworld！”

ThedyingJohnin`ADeathintheDesert’，ismadetosay：——”Isaythatmanwasmadetogrow，notstop；

Thathelpheneededonce，andneedsnomore，Havinggrownupbutaninchby，iswithdrawn：

Forhehathnewneeds，andnewhelpstothese。

Thisimportssolely，manshouldmountoneachNewheightinview；thehelpwherebyhemounts，Theladder-runghisfoothasleft，mayfall，SinceallthingssufferchangesaveGodtheTruth。

ManapprehendshimnewlyateachstageWhereatearth’sladderdrops，itsservicedone；

Andnothingshallprovetwicewhatoncewasproved。”

Andagain：——”Manknowspartlybutconceivesbeside，Creepseveronfromfanciestothefact，Andinthisstriving，thisconvertingairIntoasolidhemaygraspanduse，Findsprogress，man’sdistinctivemarkalone，NotGod’s，andnotthebeasts’：Godis，theyare，Manpartlyisandwhollyhopestobe。

SuchprogresscouldnomoreattendhissoulWereallitstrugglesafterfoundatfirstAndguesseschangedtoknowledgeabsolute，Thanmotionwaithisbody，wereallelseThanitthesolidearthoneveryside，Wherenowthroughspacehemovesfromresttorest。

Man，therefore，thusconditioned，mustexpectHecouldnot，whatheknowsnow，knowatfirst；

Whatheconsidersthatheknowsto-day，Comebutto-morrow，hewillfindmisknown；

Gettingincreaseofknowledge，sincehelearnsBecausehelives，whichistobeaman，Settoinstructhimselfbyhispastself：

First，likethebrute，obligedbyfactstolearn，Next，asmanmay，obligedbyhisownmind，Bent，habit，nature，knowledgeturnedtolaw。

God’sgiftwasthatmanshouldconceiveoftruthAndyearntogainit，catchingatmistake，Asmidwayhelptillhereachfactindeed。

ThestatuaryerehemouldashapeBoastsalikegift，theshape’sidea，andnextTheaspirationtoproducethesame；

So，takingclay，hecallshisshapethereout，Criesever，`NowIhavethethingIsee’：

Yetallthewhilegoeschangingwhatwaswrought，Fromfalsehoodlikethetruth，totruthitself。

Howwereithadhecried，`Iseenoface，Nobreast，nofeeti’theineffectualclay’?

Rathercommendhimthatheclappedhishands，Andlaughed，`Itismyshapeandlivesagain！’

Enjoyedthefalsehoodtoucheditontotruth，UntilyourselvesapplaudthefleshindeedInwhatisstillflesh-imitatingclay。

Rightinyou，rightinhim，suchwaybeman’s！

Godonlymakestheliveshapeatajet。

Willyerenouncethisfactofcreatureship?

ThepatternontheMountsubsistsnomore，Seemedawhile，thenreturnedtonothingness，Butcopies，MosesstrovetomaketherebyServestillandarereplacedastimerequires：

Bythesemakenewestvessels，reachthetype！

Ifyedemur，thisjudgmentonyourhead，Nevertoreachtheultimate，angels’law，IndulgingeveryinstinctofthesoulTherewherelaw，life，joy，impulseareonething。”

Browninghasgivenvariedandbeautifulexpressionstotheseideasthroughouthispoetry。

Thesoulmustrestinnothingthissideoftheinfinite。

Ifitdoesrestinanything，howeverrelativelynoblethatthingmaybe，whetherart，orliterature，orscience，ortheology，even，itdeclinesinvitality——ittorpifies。

Howevergreataconquestthecombatantmayachieveinanyofthesearenas，”stridingawayfromthehugegratitude，hisclubshouldered，lion-fleeceroundloinandflank”，hemustbe”boundonthenextnewlabour，heighto’erheighteversurmounting——

destiny’sdecree！”*

Aristophanes’Apology’，p。31，Englished。”RejoicethatmanishurledFromchangetochangeunceasingly，Hissoul’swingsneverfurled！”*

JamesLee’sWife’，sect。6。

Butthistabernacle-life，whichshouldeverlookahead，hasitsclaimswhichmustnotbeignored，anditsstandardswhichmustnotbetoomuchabovepresentconditions。Manmust”fittothefinitehisinfinity”(`Sordello’)。Lifemaybeover-spiritualaswellasover-worldly。”Letuscry，`Allgoodthingsareours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul！’”*

Thefigurethepoetemploysin`TheRingandtheBook’

toillustratetheartprocess，maybeasaptlyappliedtolifeitself——

thegreatestofallarts。Thelife-artistmustknowhowtosecuretheproperdegreeofmalleabilityinthismixtureoffleshandsoul。

Hemustminglegoldwithgold’salloy，anddulytemperingbotheffectamanageablemass。Theremaybetoolittleofalloyinearth-lifeaswellastoomuch——toolittletoworkthegoldandfashionit，notintoaring，butring-ward。”Ontheearththebrokenarcs；

intheheavenaperfectround”(`AbtVogler’)。”Oh，ifwedrawacirclepremature，heedlessoffargain，greedyforquickreturnsofprofit，sure，badisourbargain”(`AGrammarian’sFuneral’)——

*`RabbiBenEzra’——

`AnEpistlecontainingtheStrangeMedicalExperiencesofKarshish，theArabPhysician’，isoneofBrowning’smostremarkablepsychologicalstudies。Itmaybesaidtopolarizetheidea，sooftenpresentedinhispoetry，thatdoubtisaconditionofthevitalityoffaith。Inthispoem，thepoethastreatedasupposedcaseofaspiritualknowledge”increasedbeyondthefleshlyfaculty——heavenopenedtoasoulwhileyetonearth，earthforcedonasoul’susewhileseeingheaven”，aspiritualstate，lessdesirableandfarlessfavorabletothetruefulfilmentofthepurposesofearth-life，thanthatexpressedinthefollowinglinesfrom`EasterDay’：——”AworldofspiritasofsenseWasplaintohim，yetnotTOOplain，Whichhecouldtraverse，notremainAGUESTIN：——elsewerepermanentHeavenonearth，whichitsgleamsweremeantTostingwithhungerforfulllight”，etc。

TheEpistleisasubtlerepresentationofasoulconceivedwithabsolutespiritualstandards，whileobligedtoliveinaworldwhereallstandardsarerelativeanddeterminedbythecircumstancesandlimitationsofitssituation。

Thespirituallifehasbeentoodistinctlyrevealedforfulfillingarightthepurposesofearth-life，purposeswhichthesoul，whileintheflesh，mustnotignore，since，inthewordsofRabbiBenEzra，”allgoodthingsareours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul。”Thepoemmayalsobesaidtorepresentwhatis，orshouldbe，thetruespiritofthemanofscience。InspiteofwhatKarshishwrites，apologetically，hebetrayshisrealattitudethroughout，towardsthewonderfulspiritualprobleminvolved。

Itis，asmanyofBrowning’sMonologuesare，adoublepicture——

onedirect，theotherreflected，andthereflectedoneisasdistinctasthedirect。ThecompositionalsobearstestimonytoBrowning’sownsoul-healthfulness。Thoughthespiritualbearingofthingsistheall-in-all，inhispoetry，therobustnessofhisnature，thefulnessandsplendidequilibriumofhislife，protecthimagainstaninarticulatemysticism。Browningis，inthewidestanddeepestsenseoftheword，thehealthiestofalllivingpoets；

andingeneralconstitutionthemostShakespearian。

WhathemakesShakespearesay，intheMonologueentitled`AttheMermaid’，hecouldsay，withperhapsgreatertruth，inhisownperson，thanShakespearecouldhavesaidit：——”Haveyoufoundyourlifedistasteful?

Mylifedidanddoessmacksweet。

Wasyouryouthofpleasurewasteful?

MineIsaveandholdcomplete。

Doyourjoyswithagediminish?

Whenminefailme，I’llcomplain。

Mustindeathyourdaylightfinish?

Mysunsetstoriseagain。

Ifindearthnotgraybutrosy，Heavennotgrimbutfairofhue。

DoIstoop?Ipluckaposy。

DoIstandandstare?All’sblue。”

ItisthespiritexpressedintheselineswhichhasmadehispoetrysoentirelyCONSTRUCTIVE。Withthedestructivespirithehasnoaffinities。Thepoetryofdespairandpoetswiththedumpshecannotawaywith。

PerhapsthemostcomprehensivepassageinBrowning’spoetry，expressiveofhisidealofacompletemanundertheconditionsofearth-life，isfoundin`Colombe’sBirthday’，ActIV。

ValencesaysofPrinceBerthold：——”Hegathersearth’sWHOLEGOODintohisarms，standing，asman，now，stately，strongandwise——marchingtofortune，notsurprisedbyher：

onegreataim，likeaguidingstarabove——whichtasksstrength，wisdom，stateliness，tolifthismanhoodtotheheightthattakestheprize；aprizenotnear——lestoverlookingearth，herashlyspringtoseizeit——norremote，sothatherestsuponhispathcontent：butdaybyday，whileshimmeringgrowsshine，andthefaintcircletprophesiestheorb，heseessomuchas，justevolvingthese，thestateliness，thewisdom，andthestrengthtoduecompletion，willsufficethislife，andleadhimathisgrandesttothegrave。”

Browningfullyrecognizes，touseanexpressioninhis`FraLippoLippi’，fullyrecognizes”thevalueandsignificanceofflesh。”Ahealthyandwell-tonedspirituallifeiswithhimthefurthestremovedfromasceticism。Tothepassagefromhis`RabbiBenEzra’alreadyquoted，”allgoodthingsareours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul”，shouldbeaddedwhatDavidsingstoSaul，inthepoementitled`Saul’。

Wasthefullphysicallifeevermorebeautifullysung?”Oh！ourmanhood’sprimevigour！nospiritfeelswaste，Notamuscleisstoppedinitsplaying，norsinewunbraced。

Oh，thewildjoysofliving！theleapingfromrockuptorock，Thestrongrendingofboughsfromthefir-tree，thecoolsilvershockOftheplungeinapool’slivingwater，thehuntofthebear，Andthesultrinessshowingthelioniscouchedinhislair。

Andthemeal，therichdatesyellowedoverwithgolddustdivine，Andthelocust-fleshsteepedinthepitcher，thefulldraughtofwine，Andthesleepinthedriedriver-channelwherebulrushestellThatthewaterwaswonttogowarblingsosoftlyandwell。

Howgoodisman’slife，themereliving！howfittoemployAlltheheartandthesoulandthesensesforeverinjoy！”

Thoughthisissaidinthepersonofthebeautifulshepherd-boy，David，whoeverhaslivedanytimewithBrowning，throughhispoetry，mustbeassuredthatitisalsoanexpressionofthepoet’sownexperienceofthegloryofflesh。Hehashimselfbeenanexpressionofthefullestphysicallife：andnow，inhisfiveandseventiethyear，sincethe7thoflastMay，hepreservesbothmindandbodyinamagnificentvigor。

Ifhissoulhadbeenlodgedinasickly，ricketybody，hecouldhardlyhavewrittentheselinesfrom`Saul’。Norcouldhehavewritten`CalibanuponSetebos’，especiallytheopeninglines：”Willsprawl，nowthattheheatofdayisbest，flatonhisbellyinthepit’smuchmire，withelbowswide，fistsclenchedtoprophischin。And，whilehekicksbothfeetinthecoolslush，andfeelsabouthisspinesmalleft-thingscourse，runinandouteacharm，andmakehimlaugh：andwhileabovehisheadapompion-plant，coatingthecave-topasabrowitseye，creepsdowntotouchandticklehairandbeard，andnowaflowerdropswithabeeinside，andnowafruittosnapat，catchandcrunch，——

helooksouto’eryonseawhichsunbeamscrossandrecrosstilltheyweaveaspider-web(meshesoffire，somegreatfishbreaksattimes)，andtalkstohisownself，howe’erheplease，touchingthatother，whomhisdamcalledGod。”

There’sagrandpassagein`Balaustion’sAdventure：

includingatranscriptfromEuripides’，descriptiveofHeraklesashereturns，afterhisconflictwithDeath，leadingbackAlkestis，whichshowsthepoet’ssympathywiththephysical。Thepassageismorevaluableasrevealingthatsympathy，fromthefactthatit’soneofhisadditionstoEuripides：——”therestoodthestrength，Happyasalways；somethinggrave，perhaps；

Thegreatvein-cordageonthefret-workedbrow，Black-swollen，beadedyetwithbattle-dropsTheyellowhairo’thehero！——hisbigframeA-quiverwitheachmusclesinkingbackIntothesleepysmoothitleapedfromlate。

Underthegreatguardofonearm，thereleantAshroudedsomething，liveandwoman-like，Proppedbytheheart-beats’neaththelion-coat。

Whenhehadfinishedhissurvey，itseemed，Theheavingsoftheheartbegansubside，Thehelpingbreathreturned，andlastthesmileShoneout，allHerakleswasbackagain，Asthewordsfollowedthesalutinghand。”

ItisnotsomuchthegloryoffleshwhichEuripidesrepresentsinHerakles，astheindulgenceofappetite，atatime，too，whenthatindulgenceismadetoappearthemoreculpableandgross。

Thisideaof”thevalueandsignificanceofflesh”，itisimportanttonote，alongwiththepredominantspiritualbearingofBrowning’spoetry。Itarticulateseverywherethespiritual，sotospeak——makesithealthyandrobust，andprotectsitagainstvolatilityandfromrunningintomysticism。

2。TheIdeaofPersonalityasembodiedinBrowning’sPoetry。

AcardinalideainBrowning’spoetryistheregenerationofmenthroughapersonalitywhobringsfreshstuffforthemtomould，interpret，andproveright，——newfeelingfreshfromGod——

whoselifere-teachesthemwhatlifeshouldbe，whatfaithis，loyaltyandsimpleness，alloncerevealed，buttaughtthemsolongsincethattheyhavebutmeretraditionofthefact，——

truthcopiedfalteringlyfromcopiesfaint，theearlytraitsalldroppedaway。(`Luria’。)Theintellectplaysasecondarypart。

Itsplaceisbehindtheinstinctive，spiritualantennaewhichconductalongtheirtremblinglines，freshstufffortheintellecttostampandkeep——freshinstinctforittotranslateintolaw。”Apeopleisbuttheattemptofmanytorisetothecompleterlifeofone。”(`ASoul’sTragedy’。)