BROWNING

AS

PHILOSOPHICAL

AND

RELIGIOUS
TEACHER

BY

HENRY
PROFESSOR

JONES

OF

PHILOSOPHY
OF

IN

"

AND

NEW

SONS

DUBLIN

EDINBURGH,

LONDON,

UNIVERSITY

GLASGOW

NELSON

THOMAS

THE

YORK

DEC

1940

PREFACE.

purpose

)t

simply

as

system

of

tfrich

idgment

and,

which

of
he

has

is

first

icrely

[orwhom

"the

there
case

in

he

are

poetic

great

poet, there

And

place,

idle

attempting

singer
enthusiasm

all

of

an

was

estimate

to

from

the

modern

form

poets,
invites

treatment.

of

one

prophets.
of

every-

obviously

clearly

is

also

of

most

method

on

of

it.

determined
for

said

such

final

our

place

said, apart

who

if

his

has

one

of

is

he

the

who

be

am

neglect,

aspect

wrong,

to

were

the

to

poet

artistic

be

advantage

what

justifies

poets

in

even

religious subjects,

to

the

exponent

philosophy.

wrong

But

an

frowning

the

poetry

method.

value

id

is

his

on

sometimes
ic

called

be

Browning,

the

as

and

least, it would

At

rork.

moral

on

subordinate,

to

even

ling

it

that

mscious

ideas

with

rather

but

poet,

deal

is to

book

fairly

may

ich

this

of

[HE

empty

He

For,
that

was

day/'

intimately

class
never

but

bound

one

up

:..;*
viii

PREFACE.

"'faith,and who spoke in numbers"':'

religious
not merely because the numbers
came," but because^-'
i;
theywere for him the necessary vehicle of an inspii
ing thought. If it is the business of philosopl
all the great intellect!
to analyzeand interpret
forces that mould the thought of an
age, it caj
has exerc
of one
who
not neglectthe works
and is exercising
so
powerfulan influence on
moral
and
life of the present gene:
religious

with

"

"

tion.
In the second

place,as

will be

seen

in the seqi

Browning has himself led the way towards such

of his work.
For, c
philosophical
interpretation
in his earlier poems,

seldom

he not

crossed the

and
poet from the philosopher,
but broke through the strict limits of art in tl
effort to express
and we might even
say to preac

that divides the

"

"

his

own

idealistic faith.

In

his later works

raising
philJB
disguise,
all the pros anfl
and discussing
sophicalproblems,
of their solution,
with no littlesubtlety
cons
ar||
did this almost

without

dialectical skill. In

some

any

of these poems

we

lesson
receivinga philosophical
in placeof a poetic
if it were
not fJl
inspiration,
those powerful
utterances, those wing^B
imaginative
words, which Browning has always in reserve,
close the ranks of his argument. If the questi"
is stated in a prosaic
form, the final answer, as

even

seem

to

be

PREFACE.
ancient

the

oracle,

is in

ix

poetic language

the

of

the

gods.
From

give

this
connected

of

his

estimate

the

ideas

based.

they

who

have

will

be

not

reflected

with

it

so,

is

more

although

of

and

the

less

ninth

language

moral

of

acquainted
un-

the

schools.
I

have

received

this

work

for

G.

B.

Mathews,

Caird.

owe

the

much

press

and
them

still

both

valuable
from
more

help

preparing

colleague,

my

Professor

from

deep

debt

HENRY

1891.

in

of

those

be

may

of

sophical
philo-

and

they

was

or

unintelligible by
difficulties

to

validity

seventh,

methods

the

and

immediately

second,

the

even

do

doctrine

more

found

on

religious life,

and

his

the

morality,
to

to

ideas, especially

philosophical

The
are

endeavoured

and

order

the

which

on

chapters
but

In

have

Browning's

religion

on

discuss

principles

of

value.

to

consciously

view

account

their

necessary

of

point

Professor
Edward

gratitude.
JONES.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.

INTRODUCTION
13

CHAPTER
ON

THE

NEED

OF

II.
PHILOSOPHY

CHAPTER
BROWNING'S

PLACE

28

III.
ENGLISH

IN

CHAPTER
BROWNING'S

LIFE

OF

POETRY

58

IV.

OPTIMISM

82
....

CHAPTER
OPTIMISM

ETHICS

AND

V.

DICTION
CONTRA-

THEIR

no

...

CHAPTER
ROWNING'S

TREATMENT
OF

VI.
CIPLE
PRIN-

THE

OF

LOVE
.

"i5S

CONTENTS"

Continued.

CHAPTER
BROWNING'S

VII.

IDEALISM,

AND

SOPHICAL
PHILO-

ITS

185

JUSTIFICATION.
.

VIII.

CHAPTER
/BROWNING'S

OF

SOLUTION

OF

EVIL

229

CRITICISM
THE

PROBLEM

THE

IX.

CHAPTER
A

OF

BROWNING'S

FAILURE

OF

VIEW

OF

KNOWLEDGE

274
.

X.

CHAPTER

/HE

HEART

AND

THE

LOVE

HEAD.

REASON

311

CHAPTER
CONCLUSION

AND

"

XI.

343

ROBERT

BROWNING.

CHAPTER

I.

INTRODUCTION.

"

Grau,
Und

is

world

the

to

heaviest

refinement
I

senses

of

his

office.

the

beautiful

He

the
do
his

as

has

art

the

has

very

led

his

perhaps suggest
point of view, from

intention
72

to

the
and

it

demnation
con-

generally

probably,

and,

the

The

himself, who

be

and
best

that

falls

has

the

to

last

he

the

which

artist's

only

into
line of
we

can

work,

by

comprehending

his

is not
of

nature
a

fall back

company
"

is

mentator
com-

no

heard, if he

temporary

he must

may

justice

him/'

and

right to

object, and

he

condemns

man

acknowledge

subordinate

At

Hegel's, frequently

man

(Faust.)

speciesof cruelty is to expound a

apology in both
begin with an

term.

of the

soon

one,

great

therefore
the

of

explaining

double

of this

on

aware

of

Theorie,
Baum."

goldner

great

explanation

to

poet.

that

the

on

submit

"

task

is

Lebens

saying

quoted,

ist alle

Freund,

griin des

I ^HERE

so

theurer

guide

to

in silence

its presence.

vision/'

or

fix

hope to
appropriating
best

idea

but

if

ROBERT

I4
he seeks to
to do

ruled

the ends of art, he will not

serve

attempt

anythingmore.
this

it is essential
successfully,
every judgment passed should be exclusively
which govern art.
Fine
by the principles

In order
that

BROWNING.

to do

even

"

art is not real art tillit is free

"

that is,tillitsvalue

recognizedas lyingwholly within itself. And

it is not, unfortunately,
altogetherunnecessary to
insist that, so far from enhancing the value of an
artist's work, we
means,
only degrade it into mere
and therefore antagonistic
subordinate it to uses alien,
if we
to its perfection,
try to show that it gives
pleasure,or refinement, or moral culture. There
is no doubt that great poetry has all these uses, but
the reader can enjoy them
getting
only on condition of forthem
effects that follow the
; for they are
of its beauty. Art, morality,
is each
sense
religion,
in its own
sphere; the beautiful is not
supreme
is

more

beautiful

paintinggreat
is true

that

at its best

because
because

their

is a
it is also moral, nor
its subject is religious.
It

spheresoverlap,and

art

is

never

tion
except when it is a beautiful representaof the good ; nevertheless the pointsof view
of the artist and of the ethical teacher
are
quite
also the elements within
and consequently
different,
which they work and the truth they reveal.
In
attempting, therefore, to discover Robert
Browning's philosophyof life,I do not pretendthat
of him is adequate. Browning is,
treatment
my
firstof all,a poet ; it is only as a poet that he can
be finally
judged ; and the greatness of a poet is to

INTRODUCTION.
be measured
a

by

the extent

revelation of what
I undertake

of

its

hardly avoid

to which

his

are
writings

is beautiful.

different and

humbler

limitations,and aware
violence
doing some

I shall seek

What

15

scious
task, con-

that
the

to

can

artist.

in the

poet'swritingsis not
beauty,but truth ; and althoughtrutlijs-beautiful,
and beauty isjruth.stillthe poeticand philosophic
losophy
Phiof life are not to be confused.
interpretation
separate the

must

Its

synthesiscomes

is destructive

of

from

matter

the

form.

and analysis
through analysis,
beauty, as it is of all life. Art,

therefore,resists the violence of the criticalmethods

of philosophy,
and the feud between
them, of which

speaks,will last through all time. The beauty

criticism
of speech which
of form
and
the music
destroys,and to which philosophyis,at the best,
Plato

essential to poetry.

indifferent,
are
them

out

of account

we

When

miss the ultimate

we

leave

secret

of

poetry,for they clingto the meaning and penetrate

it with their charm.
Thought and its expression!
inl
are
are
inseparablein poetry, as they never
hence, in the former, the loss of the1

philosophy;
expressionis

pure idea that

dwells in a poem is suffused in the poeticutterance,
breaks into beauty in the mist, as life
sunshine
as
beats

and

the loss of truth.

blushes

thought breathes
But, although
each

in its

to the

in the flesh,or
in

art

uses

as

impassioned

an

thinker's face.

philosophyare

and

realm, and

own

The

of the

neither

can

be

other, they may

supreme,
ated
subordin-

help each

ROBERT

16

BROWNING.

independent,but not rival powers

Not only is the interchange
of the world of mind.
them
of truth
each
; but
possiblebetween
may
show and give to the other all its treasures, and be
other.

none
some

They

are

"

It is in works of art that

poorer itself.
tions
nations have depositedthe profoundestintui-

the

ideas of their hearts."

and

Job and Isaiah,

Sophocles,Shakespeare and Goethe,

^Eschylusand
were

to

first of
them

of
principles

unutterable

is

Mankind

indebted

place for revealingbeauty ;

them
much
insightinto the facts

to

owes

poets.

first

in the

but it also
and

all

loss

the moral
to

the

world.

It would

ethical thinker

be

and

an

the

if this regionwere
closed againstthem,
philosopher,
that they could no longer seek in the poets the
so
and light
that lead to goodness and truth.
inspiration
In our
own
day, almost above all others, we need
the poets for these ethical and religious
purposes.
For the utterances
of the dogmatic teacher of religion
have
;
authority

been
and

either

votary of
are
principles
the

are

not

few

as
a

divested
the
a

of much

moral
vendor

discredited

matter

is often regarded
philosopher
of commonplaces or as
science,whose primary

of doubt

educated

of their ancient

and

debate.

Englishmen

who

There

find in

expression
of their deepest convictions concerning the profoundest
interests of life. They read the poets for
the
fresh inspiration,
partly,no doubt, because
passion and rapture of poetry lull criticism and
soothe
the
questioningspiritinto acquiescence.
the

poets, and

in the

poets alone, the

INTRODUCTION.

But

there

England
and

further

are

reasons

it is of the

of the

nature

for

its moral

greater than

are

17
the

poets of

;
philosophers

poeticart that, while

eschewing system, it presents the strife between

fore
rightand wrong in concrete character, and thereand
truth
with a fumess
impossibleto the
abstract thought of science.
"

We

prose

For

It is true

folk do

thoughts

on

poet

never

dreams

we

miss

the proper

unseen."

things

duct

to correct
this
philosophyendeavours
fragmentarinessby startingfrom the unity of the
whole.
But it can
never
quiteget rid of an element

of

that

abstraction

and

down

reach

to

the

concrete

individual.

making of character is so complex a process

of it,with its subtle
that the poeticrepresentation
is always more
completeand realistic
suggestiveness,
than any possible
analysis.Science can
philosophic
abstractions, and its
deal only with aspects and
and more
inadequate as its
method
becomes
more
it proceeds
concrete, unless
matter
more
grows
gether.
from
the unity in which all the aspectsare held toThe

In the

case

and
of life,

conduct, the whole

of human

science

moral

the

any

other, partake of the

must

start

outwards,
actions

of

from

must

must,

and

stillmore

nature

to

detect

the

of

poetry

from

the

meaning

man.
*

in that

precedethe part,

therefore, more

go
livingspirit,

in order

so

Fifine at the Fair, Ixxxviii.

than
; for it

heart
of the

ROBERT

i8

BROWNING.

helpfulto
poetry is peculiarly
it alwaystreats the
because
the ethical investigator,
It is the great
particular
thing as a microcosm.
On

this account,

corrective

of the

onesidedness

of science

with

its

analysisand distinction. It is a
and the world.
witness to the unityof man
Every
in
object which art touches into beauty, becomes
the very act a whole.
The thingthat is beautiful
of something
is always complete,the embodiment
of
valuable, the product and the source
absolutely
love ; and the beloved object is all the world for
the lover
beyond all praise,because it is above
all comparison.
harsh

of

method

"

"

Then
Above
But

witness, calmly gazing,

above
aught speak truth
this tress, and this, I touch

why

If earth

not

holds

praise,I love

cannot

"

"

so

This characteristic of the work

much

"

her ?

bringswith it
because
being

of art

importantpracticalconsequence,
complete,it appealsto the whole man.
Poetry,"it has been well said,is the idealized
and monumental
of the deepestfeelings."
utterance
And
be forgotten,
it must
not
are
poeticfeelings,
deepest; that is,theyare the afterglowof the fullest
activityof a complete soul, and not shallow titillasuch as the palateknows.
tions,or surface pleasures,
truth that it
Led by poetry, the intellect so sees
glows with it, and the will is stirred to deeds ofbut
For there is hardly any fact so mean,
heroism.
that when intensified by emotion, it grows poetic; as
an

"

"

Song (Dramatic Lyrics).

INTRODUCTION.
there is

hardly any

19

but that
unimaginative,
when struck with a great sorrow,
or moved
by a great
with the poet's
passion,he is endowed for a moment
speech. A poeticfact,one may almost say, is just
Art, it is true, looks at its object
any fact at its best.
its inmost
through a medium, but it always seems
meaning. In Lear, Othello,Hamlet, in Falstaff and

Touchstone, there is
of human

bestow.

though they
they nevertheless
On

revelation

of the inner truth

life beyond the power

of moral science to
We do well to seek philosophyin the poets,

for

as

so

man

teach

reflect the

it is half revealed
the other

only by

hints and

concrete

truth

half concealed

and

parables,
of life,

in facts.

hand, the reflective process of philosophy

help poetry ; for,as we shall show, there

Even
the critical
is a near
kinshipbetween them.
analyst,while severingelement from element, may
help art and serve the poet'sends, providedhe does
His
not in his analysisof parts forgetthe whole.
to
function,though humble and merely preliminary
full poetic enjoyment, is not
unimportant. To
appreciatethe grandeur of the unity of the work of
be knowledge of the partscombined.
art, there must
is prone
It is quitetrue that the guide in the gallery
may

to

be

too

talkative,and

the commentator

afford to turn

sensibility,
any
aesthete

those

whom

to the charm

may
of

out

many

who

can

of doors, especially
is not

pure

And
he is pure reason.
allows
lose if he occasionally

than

more

will not
he

are

But, after all,man

if he moralizes.

the

there

think

less sensitive than

rhythmicphrase,to

self
him-

direct sober

BROWNING.

ROBERT

20

attention to the

lie embedded

which
principles

great poetry. At the worst, to

poetry is a protest againstthe
to

it for the

read

sake

it

stirs,the tendency to make

and
than

Of

That

nothing more.

is

for truth

seek

constant

of the

emotions

tendency
which

it

refined amusement

deeper wrong

than

for

fine

sensations

it liftsthe
the passionsonly when
purifies
the sphereof truths that are universal.
task of interpreting
The
a
poet may

poem

in

to

art

inflict.
any which the theoretical moralist can
the two, it is better to read poetry for ethical

doctrines

we

in all

One
in different ways.
familiar
have
been made

of

for

poetry

reader

be

into

taken
under-

these, with which

speare
by critics of Shakeand of Browning himself,is to analyzeeach
bodiment
by itself and regard it as the artistic emof

some

central

idea ;

the

other

with each
dealingseparately
to reach the poet's
own
pointof view, and to
It
the sovereigntruths which rule his mind.

attempt, without

is to
poem,
reveal
is this

latter way that I shall try to follow.

Such
dominant
or
even
despoticthoughts it is

possibleto discover in all our

perhaps Shakespeare,whose

great poets, except

universalitybaffles
every classifier. As a rule,the English poets have
been
caught up, and inspired,
by the exceeding
grandeur of some
singleidea, in whose service they
spend themselves with that prodigalthrift which
finds life in givingit. Such an idea gives them
a
fresh way of lookingat the world, so that the world
again with their new
interpretation
grows
young

BROWNING.

ROBERT

22

of life from

his poems.

It is not

by

easy task to liftthe truths he utters

of poeticemotion into the regionof
or

of the

The
and

them

to connect

from
principle

which

any
under

his work.

an

the stress

plation,
placidconteminto a system, by means
he makes
his departure.

firstof these difficulties

arises from

varietyof

means

He

was

the extent

prodigalof poetic

for

fiftyyears on nature, art, and

of spiritual
like a magnificent spendthrift
man,
So great a store of knowledge lay at his
treasures.
with
hand, so real and informed
sympathy, that
we
can
scarcelyfind any great literature which he
has not ransacked, any phase of life which is not
and
All kinds of men
representedin his poems.
ideas, and

wrote

and at every stage of

in every station in life,
his pages.
evil and goodness,crowd
There are few
women,

forms

of human

each

individual

moment

of his

character
he

has

and
life,

so

he has

caught

not
at

in the hardest

studied, and
the

supreme
cumstanc
stress of cir-

working of his nature is

and it is hard
revealed.
The wealth is bewildering,
to follow the central thought, the imperial
chord,
underlies the accidental mists of music
which steadily
thence."*
springing
lies in the fact
A second and still graver difficulty
is
that his poetry, as he repeatedly
insisted,
always
dramatic
in principle,
and
utterances
so
many
of so many
In his
imaginarjr
persons, not mine." f
earlier works, especially,
Browning is creative rather
that

the inmost

"

"

than
*

a Maker
reflective,

Fifine at the Fair.

rather

than

Seer ; and

t Pref. to Pauline, 1888.

his

INTRODUCTION.
creations
fate in
the

stand

aloof

world.

outer

an

from

23

him, working

lose the

often

We

their

out

poet in

imagim;iti\"e-jci]""a"tei%^
his keen

with

within

artistic intuition, and

whom

necessityrevealingitself in their actions

and words.
It is not easy anywhere to separate the
elements, so that we can say with certainty, Here
The
I catch
the poet, there lies his material."

he lies

as

"

and

identification of the work

and

of the

the realization

complete.
In regard to the
poetry, Browning has
"

Shop

"

of his
interpretation
sensitiveness.
manifested a peculiar

same

in several of his

the

House,

free from

direct self-revealment

that

on

and

the

his work.

the

part of

With
spiritof the drama.
key Shakespeareunlocked his heart," said
ally
characteristicDid Shakespeare ?
;
Browning, If so, the less Shakespeare

'the poet violates

this

and

to Pauline

notably The Mermaid,

cuts himself
he explicitly

^Heknew

is too

imaginarypersonage

dramatic

In his Preface
poems

is too intimate,

worker

"

the

"

Wordsworth

"

"

answers

he !

"

of himself he asks

And
"

of you

Which
Once

to

I enable

did

breast,

slip inside my

label

catalogue and
love best,
I like least, what
What
doubt of,
Hope and fear, believe and
and shun, respect" deride ?
Seek

There

Who

to

right to

has

make

Rarities he found

He

of

rout

inside

"

repudiatesall kinship with Byron

*

At

the Mermaid.

and

his sub-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

24

and

jectiveways,
hands

which

refuses

be

him.

anointed

airing,and
respect/' Both as man
an

woes

to

has

"

no

made

king by the
He will not give his
plague that claims

poet, in virtue of the~

native, sunny, outer-air healthiness of his character,-,
is repulsive
to him.^He
every kind of subjectivity
his work, his scroll,
theirs to
hands to his readers
and

"

take
"

or

shop

gems,

leave

his soul he

shop only

was

and

"

not."
proffers
and though he

You

choice

of

jewels,every

Good, better,best, star, moon,

he stilllived elsewhere,and

The

him

dealt in

throws
"

fancies

For

"

fugitive

poems

not

in which

had

meant

"

one,
and

sun," *

straythoughtsand

for the

Browning

has

open

market.

spoken

without

character
are
disguiseof another
very few.
three of much
There
than two
or
are
hardly more
reflecting
importance which can be considered as directly
his own
ideas, namely, Christmas Eve and
Easter Day, La Saisiaz,and One Word
More
unless,
spiteof the poet'swarning,we add Pauline.
But, although the dramatic element in Browning's

the

"

poetry renders it difficult to construct his character

from his works, while this is comparativelyeasy in
the

of Wordsworth

Byron ; and although it

throws a shade of uncertainty
on
every conclusion we
doctrine held by him,
might draw as to any specific
still Browning lives in a certain atmosphere, and
looks at his characters
through a medium, whose
subtle influence makes
all his work
his.
indisputably
case

or

Shop.

INTRODUCTION.
The

lighthe

throws

his

on

25
and

men

is not

women

the unobtrusive

lightof day, which reveals objects,

but not itself. Though a true dramatist, he is not
objectivelike Shakespeare and Scott, whose characters
to

never

seem

have

had

feels,rather, that Browning

through all the sightsand wonders

reader
him

; he

man

the

author.

an

himself

The

attends

of the world

of

of the presence of
of the great conor
poet'spowerfulpersonality,
victions
never

which

on

the

escapes

he

has

sense

based

his life.

Browning

has, at bottom, only one

and

one

way of lookingat the world,

of treatinghis objects; one
point of

way

view, and

Nay, further,he has

one
interest,which he pursues everywhere
supreme
with a constancy shown
by hardly any other poet ;
his works
have a unity and a
and, in consequence,
artistic method.

one

in many
them
which make
originality,
unique contribution to Englishliterature.

certain
a

This
which

which
characteristic,

generallygoes by
element

imperativeto

"

form

in his
a

no

the

ways

critic has missed, and

of

name

poetry, makes

clear view

of his

"

the
it the

physical
metamore

ceptions.
rulingcon-

poet, least of all a dramatic poet,

seeking concrete vehicles for ready-made

No
goes

about

ideas,or

attempts

; and

of all in the
own

to

dress

Browning, as
objectwhich

sole sake, and

not

an

philosophyin

phors
meta-

artist,is interested first

he renders

beautiful for its

trates.
in any abstract idea it illusin his case,
sense
in a peculiar

it is true
Still,
that the eye of the poet brings with it what it sees.
He is,as a rule,conscious of no theory,and does not

BROWNING.

ROBERT

26
construct

for

poem

of his

strikes his ideas out

breathinglife

reveals the

be shown

it may

behind, and
and

heart

its

that

in the

less,
Neverthe-

stone.

as

an

him

theory rules

profound convictions
along the blood at the

creation,usinghis soul

rather

material, as the sculptor

that

rush

he

;
explication

instrument

from

arise in the
of

moment

of

expression

age and

tahis

people.
\Of no English poet, except Shakespeare,can we
say with approximate truth that he is the poet of
of their own
all timesj
The
subjectivebreath
epoch dims the mirror which they hold up to
nature.
Missing by their limitation the highest
in
universality,
they can
only be understood
then- setting. It adds but little to our
knowledge
of Shakespeare's
work
the great
to regard him
as
is nothing temporary in his
Elizabethan
; there
and

dramas, except petty incidents

truly did he dwell

in every
constitutingman
"

so

this cannot
Chaucer

or

Wordsworth.

amidst

age
other

of any
Spenser,far less of
be

said

In

their case,

and

external
the

pings
trap-

elements

clime.

But

poet, not even

Milton, or Pope

the

artistic form

of
or

and

the

the beauty
material,the idea and its expression,
and the truth, are to some
extent
separable. We

can

in Milton between
distinguish
which is perishable,
and the

the Puritanic
art

whose

ology
the-

beauty
The former fixes his kinship
can
never
pass away.
with his own
age, giveshim a definite place in the
evolution of English life ; the latter is independent
of time, a thing which has
worth in itself.
supreme

INTRODUCTION.
Nor
of

it be doubted

Browning.

own
"

can

age.
who

the

same

holds

also is ruled

He

It may

that

27

not

be

good

by the ideas of
altogetherpossiblefor

his
us,

and
mixed up
partners of his motion
with his career," to allow for the influence of these
that which
ideas, and to distinguishbetween
is
are

evanescent

work

and

that

; still I must

which

is permanent
in his
to do so ; for it is the condition

try
of comprehending him, and of appropriating
the truth and beauty he came
to reveal.
And if
to ourselves makes
this more
nearness
difficult,
it also makes

it

imperative.For there is no
doubt that, with Carlyle,
he is the interpreter
of our
its confused
time, reflecting
strength and chaotic
wealth.
He is the high priestof our
age, standing
at the altar for us, and
to our
givingutterance
needs
fears and
and
faith. By
our
aspirations,
stand
understandinghim, we shall,to some degree,underwhich
is silently
ourselves and the power
moulding us to its purposes.
It is because
I thus regard Browning as not
merely a poet but a prophet,that I think I am
entitled to seek in him, as in Isaiah or Aeschylus,a
solution,or a help to the solution,of the problems
that

more

his
reflect upon man,
we
upon us when
placein the world and his destiny. He has given
press

of
and as a poet gives,
a philosophy
indirectly,
in the light
life; he has interpreted
the world anew
us

of
we

dominant
can

make

on
principles

idea ; and it will be no

clear to ourselves those
which

his view

of the world

littlegain if

constitutive
rests.

II.

CHAPTER

THE

ON

"

Art,

which

"

Of

knowing,

For

truth's

The

To

way

that

often

seems

to
ot

other

be

roused

of

jfor^him
Shelley.

He

is

impressively

poems]

when

we

His

principles.

different

writers.

He

speech, rather^bv_the
trian

t^trT^becarne_

truth^

as^

with

by
His

sensibility.

the
^
con-

beaut
Keats

"

sw3^ye6^bY_j^Q^~^ilie^haii_l

endless
the
SrrrSlir^e^m^ocTsr^eneath

his

ness
earnest-

arise

convictions

poetic

of

matters

more

great

our

into

beauty,

not

fundamentally

of

caughtfire7~~~anct
:

aspire

with

which

brings

part

more

ultimate

his_spirituai

truth

weightier

sought

think,

any

"ubtle_JiiC.itements
victions

or

on

entire."

the

on

things

Art

and

spoken

their

to

is, I

of

intensity

ultimate

has

of

good,

any

fixing

once

difficulties

the

penetrate

from

"

LIFE.

rage

truth

instinctive

the

religion,

poetry

not

fragment,

poet

loving,

absolute

the

Browning

meet

the

OF

of

love

sole,

whole,

surpass

and

of

and

thereby

than

to

feeling

the

English

to

the

PHILOSOPHY

feeler, beside,

seer,

for
poor,

morality

style

whole

sake,

reconstruct

NO

seeing,

fumble

However

try

I may

knower,

Must

OF

NEED

there
*

permanent

are

Fifine

at

the

Fair,

xliv.

variety

principles,

o;

BROWNING.

ROBERT

30

morality and religion.And this

ing's
unity justifies
us, I think, in applyingto Browndeliverances

view

on

of criticism that would

of lifemethods

be

place with any other English poet. It is

of his unique characteristics,
as
one
alreadyhinted,
to give us
a
complete
7 that he has endeavoured
out

of

and

reasoned

and

of his relation

view

of the
the

to

ethical nature
world

"

has

of man,
sought, in

fact,to establish a philosophyof life. In his case,

justice
it is true, but with less innot without
injustice,
of any other poet, we
than in the case
may
of
.disregard,
for our purposes,the artistic method
^rhis thought,and lay stress on its content
only. He
/has a right to a place amongst philosophers,
as
has to a place amongst poets. There is such
(.Plato
^deliberate
and systematicconsistency
earnestness
in his teaching,
that Hegel can
scarcelybe said to
Rational

is the Real

have

maintained

with

than
greater intellectual tenacity,

held

to

his view

establish
Kant's

and

that

The

of life. He

Idealism

an

"

and

"

Browning

sought, in fact, to
that Idealism, like

Fichte's,has its last basis in the moral

consciousness.

But,

even

if it be considered

that

it is not

gether
alto-

justto apply these critical tests to the poet's

the penalty for
him
teaching,and to make
pay
it is certain
assuming a place amongst philosophers,
life cannot
he says of man's spiritual
be
that what
rightlyvalued, tillit is regardedin the lightof his
of what
shall miss much
We
guidingprinciples.
is best in him, even
a
as
poet, if,for instance,we

NEED

OF

regardhis

PHILOSOPHY

OF

LIFE.

31

merely as the expression

of elevated passion,
his optimism as based upon
or
mere
hope. Love was to him rather an indwelling
element in the world, present,like power, in everything.
of love

treatment

"

the first,Power

From

Life has made

I knew.

was"

clear

to

me

That, strive but for closer view,

Love

were

plain

as

yieldejjJaJiini,
as

Love

thing in

the

deliberate

which
hypothesis,

facts and

to

same

manner

appliesand
for him

Hegel,-^
of things. Or,

did

in

that

another
he

by their

as

'

the nature

to express

same

see."

Reason

i^^^^_^^^^^
test

to

to

way,

it

was

sought to apply to

means,

which

almost

in the

natural science

principles.

tests its

from, ^jdj^eriia^sjr^re
som^thing..diferenl
',

will,I believe, be

scaceea
.

and

greaterand
tendencies
older, and as his dialectical

held it with

became

threatened

and

evident

to any

other

with him
allowed

as

if he

his artisticfreedom

is

regardshis work as a whole.

admitted so readilythat anything
issue from

can

were

that he held and

will it retain any

grew

who

one

harm

than

wreck

to

it will not be

But

of

he
as
greaterdifficulty

an

attempt

philosopherEven
a definite
expressed

value if we

to de
i

take it out of the region

faith, into
religious
poetry and impassioned
*

Reverie

"

Asolando.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

32

of

zone
frigid

philosophical
inquiry?

Could

any

one

and
maintain, apart from the intoxication of religious
of existence is love?
sentiment, that the essence
poetic
As

long as
it may

remain

we

be

within

argued, we

great sayingsboth solacement

and

seek to treat them

as

of

imagination,
find in our
poet's
strength,both rest

may
and

impulsetowards highermoral

an

if we

realm

the

endeavour

; but

theories of facts,and turn

understanding,will they
be hallucinations ?
not
Poetry,
It
think, has its own
we
proper placeand function.
is an
invaluable
anodyne to the cark and care of
the
reflective thought ; an opiatewhich, by steeping

upon

lightof
inevitably
prove to
them

the

the

critical intellect in slumber,

rise

sets

the

soul

free to

faith. But reason

wings of religious
the spell; and the world of poetry, and religion
is always beautiful
which
to them
a world
the

on

breaks
"

becomes
a
good with God's presence
system
of inexorable laws, dead, mechanical, explicable
in
strict truth, as an equipoise
of constantly
changing
and

forms

"

of energy.

widespreadbelief
that we had better keep poetry and religion
beyond
the reach of critical investigation,
if we set any store
Faith and reason
are
by them.
thought to be finally
There

is,at the present time,

divorced.

It is

an

article of the

creed

common

that

to bring
attempt which the world has made
them
together has resulted in denial, or at the best
in doubt, regarding all
facts. The
supersensuous
condition of leadinga full life,of maintaining
one

every

livingrelation

between

ourselves

and

both

the

NEED

OF

and
spiritual
to make

and

material

lives

our

heart,

Now,

elements

of

our

LIFE.

33

existence,is

alternating
rhythm of the head
distinguishwith absolute clearness

to

such

OF

an

the realm

between

PHILOSOPHY

of

and

reason

that of faith.

assumption would

an

be fatal to any

attempt like the present,to find truth in poetry ; and

I must, therefore,try to meet it before entering
upon
and criticism of Browning'sview of life.
a statement
I cannot

admit

that

lifeTona rational basis are

spiritual
justifythe assertion that there is,.no
that it is not discoverable by^majk

facts of man's
so

great

to

as

basis,or

such

difficulties
ofplaCJngthe

the

unreasonable
Surej.yJJtjs

tliecondition

imposed on

were
own

purpose

live

and

his

man

life,and

defeat
inevitably
continue
cannot
possibly
that
in believing
persist

knows

defence.

no

either rationalize
them

abandon

or
religion,

condition

it must

man,

reason

longrun,

If such

life.
spiritual

; for

divided

which
the

of

jntellectuafde

to make

as

to

for

must, in

We

faith in

our

its

illusions.

morality
And

we

in spite
deny that reason
faith
our
of its apparent failure in the past to justify
comes
life may
of spiritual
in the principles
yet, as it beand the might which
of its own
nature
aware
self,
dwells in it,find beauty and goodness,
nay, God himat least hesitate to

should

"

"

in the
condemn
and

man

We

world.
to

should

at

between

choose

to
or
irreligion,

least hesitate to

irreflective ignorance

lock the intellect and

the

of our
principles
in a mortal struggle. Poetry and religion
life,
may,
after all,be truer thfyprose, and have somethingto

highestemotions

of

our

nature

and

ROBERT

34

tell the world

its own

BROWNING.
is often

that science,which

limits,cannot

ignorantof

teach.

if it
philosophyin the past, even
as
were
completeas is believed by persons ignorant
is no
of its history,
argument againstits success
The

failure of

in the

future.

Such

that the world of

a

steppingstone

thought

of its dead

have

known

never

like that of action makes

self.

He

who

presumes

passes the power of man's thought,

absolute limits to human
to prescribe
knowledge,

to decide
or

persons

what

is rash, to say the least ; and he has neither caught

science,
the most importantof the lessons of modern
nor

lifted to the level of its

been

science

has

done

one

of nature.

For
inspiration.

thing greater than

It has

revealed

to

unlock

something
of the might of reason,
and given new
grounds for
the faith, which in all ages has inspiredthe effort
the faith that the world is an intelligible
to know,
to be penetratedby the thought of
structure, meant
Can it be that nature is an "open secret,"but
man.
and he alone, must
that man,
remain
an
enigma ?
Or does he not rather bear within himself the key
to every
problem which he solves, and is it not
his thought which penetrates the secrets of nature
?
The success
of science,in reducingto law the most
varied and apparently
pel
unconnected
facts,should diswhich attaches to the attempt to
any suspicion
gather these laws under still wider ones, and to
the world in the lightof the highestprininterpret
ciples.
And this is precisely
what poetry and religion
and philosophy
do, each in its own
They carry
way.

the

secrets

"

NEED

OF

PHILOSOPHY

OF

of the sciences into wider

the work

LIFE.

35

and that,
regions,
which, in spiteof

I shall

try to show, by methods

are
at one
many external differences,
fundamentally
with those which the sciences employ.
There is only one
way of givingthe quietusto the
and of showing
metaphysicsof poets and philosophers,
the futility
of a philosophyof life,or of
any
scientific explanation
of religion
and morals.
It is
to show
that there is some
radical absurdityin the
mind will
very attempt. Till this is done, the human
not
give up problems of weighty import,however
as

hard

it may

believe

Socrates when
and
impossible,

nature

break

be to solve them.

man's

he

world refused

The

pronounced

centuries

to

science of

of failure did

not

Science, it is true, has given

courage.

problems as insoluble ; it will not now

a
moving machine, or
try to construct
perpetually
to square the circle. But it has giventhem
up, not
because
but because
they are
they are difficult,
The problemshave a surd or
unreasonable
tasks.
up

some

irrational element

in them

and

to

solve

them

into collision with itself.

bringreason
ing
Noj^_whatever may be the difficultiesof establishit has never
a
theory of life,
a philosophy,
or
task to attempt
been shown
to be an unreasonable
One might, on the contrary,expect, prima facie,
iL
that in a world progressively
proved to be intelligible
himself would be no exception. It is
to man,
man
ness/'
lightin him should be darkimpossiblethat the
that the thought which reveals the order
or

would

be to

"

of the world

should

be itselfchaotic.

ROBERT

36
need

The
*

for

BROWNING.

philosophyis justthe

ultimate

form

knowledge ; and the truths which

philosophy brings to light are implied in every
of things. The only choice we
rational explanation
have is between
a conscious
can
metaphysicsand an
unconscious one, between
hypotheseswhich we have
limitations we know, and hypoexamined
and whose
theses
which rule us from behind, as pure prejudices
do.
It is because
of this that the empiricis so dogmatic,
and the ignorantman
so certain of the truth
their postulates,
of his opinion. They do not know
of
that there is no interpretation
nor
are
they aware
an
objectwhich does not finally
pointto a theory of
no
being. We understand
jointor ligament,except
in relation to the whole organism, and no
fact, or
event, except by findinga placefor it in the context
of our experience. The history
of the pebblecan
be
given,only in the lightof the story of the earth, as
it is told by the whole of geology. We
must
begin
to bear
very far back, and bringour widest principles
the particular
to know
thing,if we wish really
upon
what it is. It is a law that explains,
and laws are
alwaysuniversal. All our knowledge,even the most
broken
and inconsistent,streams
mental
fundafrom some
in virtue of which all the variety
conception,
of objectsconstitute one
world, one orderlykosmos,

of the

even

need

to

central

the

for

meanest

mind.

It is true

that

the

thought, be it rich or poor, must, like the

sun's light, be broken
against particularfacts.
But there is no
need of forgetting
the real source
of knowledge,or of deeming that its
is a
progress

BROWNING.

ROBERT

38
binds

that

it into

explorersknow
the

that

centre.

same

thinker

an

orderly totality.Scientific
they are all working towards

And,

his

presses home

and

ever

anon,

as

the isolated

he
hypothesis,

own

finds

thought beatingon the limits of his science,and

wider hypothesis.The walls that
suggestingsome
separate the sciences are wearing thin, and at times
So that
lightpenetrates from one to the other.
to their votaries, at least,the faith is progressively
that
there is a meeting point for the
justified,
sciences,a central truth in which the dispersedrays
will again be gathered together. In fact,all the
sciences are working togetherunder the guidance of
to them
a principle
common
all,althoughit may not
be consciously
and no
known
to
attempt is made
define it. In science,as in philosophyand art and
there is a principle
of unity,which, though
religion,
of particular
latent,is really
priorto all explanation
his

of fact.

matters

In
There

truth,
is
and

up facts
the stone

man

has

fundamental

no

conceived

gravitation.Wherever
comes

one

philosophic
procedure. We always light
of general laws.
fall of
The
by means
was
a
unintelligibl
perfectenigma, a universally
bit of experience,
tillthe majesticimagination

of Newton

the realm

of knowing.
way
difference between
tific
scien-

only

of

the

mind

invades
successfully

chaos, poetry,the

first. There

is the

glimpse,got no
"though we do know

idea of universal

sense

of the

whole,

intuitive flash,the penetrative

one

that

knows
it

comes

exactlywhence
neither

from

NEED
the

dead

"priori
of

OF

facts

nor

thought,

both

these

PHILOSOPHY
from

but

intuitive flash

the

somehow

elements

LIFE.

vacant

from

of

the

comes

OF

region of
the

labour

of

After

and

the

latter

conquest and
in this labour

is enriched

made

the

proof,the

applicationof the principleto details. And

both the principle
applicationtransforms
and
details,so that the former

interaction

knowledge.

slow

39

that

the

with content

veritable
a
intelligible
valid possessionfor mankind.
And
of proof,science and philosophy
alike
are

"

take their share.

Philosophymay
and

poetry
of

both.

with

be said to

science, and
On

ideals

the
of

one

to

midway between
partake of the nature
come

side it deals, like poetry,

truths
knowledge, and announces
which it does not completely
verify; on the other, it
its prinleaves to science the task of articulating
ciples
in facts, though it begins the articulation
itself. It reveals subsidiaryprinciples,
and is, at
the same
time, a witness for the unity of the
wish,
categoriesof science. We
say, if we
may
that its principles
mere
are
hypotheses. But so
underlie
the most
the ideas which
are
practical
of the sciences ; so is every forecast of genius by
virtue of which
knowledge is extended ; so is
of knowledge not completelyworked
every principle
plies
imTo say that philosophyis hypothetical
out.
be
no
charge, other than that which can
againstthe most solid
levelled,in the same
sense,
body of scientific knowledge in the world. The
alike is, how
far, if
fruitful questionin each case

at

BROWNING.

ROBERT

40

enable
hypothesis

all,does the

us

to understand

facts.
particular
The
well

which

space, and

the existence

"

relations between

man's

and

shall

are

and
"

of material

for

granted/'says
and
I am
helpless;
establish quantitative

elemental
and
particles
energy
the physicist
;
deny them,

grant them,

they work

of their results.

character
hypothetical

Euclidean

take

scientific thinkers

our

of the limits under

aware

of the

of

careful

more

the different forms

of

mental
this ele-

it tractable and tame

to
energy, and make
All I teach depends upon my hypothesis.
uses.

In it is the secret

pretend to

I do not
of all the power
I wield.
this elemental
is. I
what
energy

say
declaration

regardingthe actual nature of

things; and all questionsas to the ultimate origin
or final destination of the world
are
beyond the scope
of my
inquiry. I am ruled by my hypothesis; I
regard phenomena from my pointof view ; and my
rightto do so I substantiate by the practicaland
theoretical results which follow." The language of
tics
mathemageology,chemistry,zoology,and even
is the same.
;
They all start from a hypothesis
they are all based on an imaginativeconception,
make

and
the

no

in this

sense

their votaries

unity of being throb

in the

are

poets, who

see

fact.
particular
Now, so far as the particularsciences are concerned,
I presume
that no one
will deny the supreme
of these colligating
ideas. The
sciences do
power
not grow
by a process of empiricism,which rambles
and blindlyfrom fact to fact,unguided of
tentatively

NEED

OF

PHILOSOPHY

hypothesis. But

OF

LIFE.

41

if

trary,
they do not, if,on the coneach science is ruled by its own
hypothesis,
that hypothesisto bind its facts together,
and
uses
then the questionarises,are
there no
wider colligating
selves
principles
amongst these hypotheses them?
Are the sciences independentof each other,
is their independence only surface appearance
?
or
This is the questionwhich philosophyasks, and the
sciences themselves
by their progress suggest a positive

any

answer

to it.

knowledge of the world which the sciences

are
By their
buildingis not a chaotic structure.
apparently independent efforts,the outer kosmos
and the
is graduallyreproducedin the mind of man,
rising.We may not as yet
temple of truth is silently
be able to connect
wing with wing, or to declare
order of
The logical
the law of the whole.
definitely
nection
the hypothesesof the various sciences,the true conof constructive thought,
of these categories
The

may
order

there is such
But, still,

yet be uncertain.
and

connection

the

whole

an

buildinghas its
as
intelligible

and more
more
plan, which becomes
all the
it approaches to its completion. Beneath
which
principles
differences,there are fundamental
give to human
thought a definite unityof movement
architectonic conceptions
There
and direction.
are

guiding,not only the different sciences,

There are
of thought of an age.
but all the modes
by means
intellectual media,
working hypotheses/'
successive centuries observe all that they
of which
constructive principles
see
; and these far-reaching
which

are

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

42

into distinct stages.

historyof mankind
of great ideas, such as
In a word, there are dynasties
the idea of development in our
own
day ; and these
of mind, and hold
ascend the throne
successively
human
over
a
thought which is well-nigh
sway

divide the

absolute.
all

if this is so, is it certain that

Now,

knowledge

is impossible
?
In other
rulingconceptions
a
words, is the attempt to construct
philosophy
absurd ?
To say that it is,to deny the possibility
of catching any glimpse of those regulative
ideas,

of these

which

determine

main

the

of

tendencies

human

thought,is to placethe supreme directorate of the

human
in the hands of a necessity
which,
intelligence
for us, is blind. For, an order that is hidden is
cerned
equivalentto chance, so far as knowledge is con; and

the

face of the

believe

fact that

it to

all

we

law

disorder

in
as

its details
a

organizedinto

and

all

and

see,

so

we

in
can

lawlessness.
be

subjected

compartments,

but

to

whole.

would
be
Thinking men
regiments; but the regimentswould

constitute

unity of movement
ignorance.

an

army, 'nor
in the

would

attack

But, such is not the conclusion

of human

do

exist, we

oppositeof order, namely

knowledge,on this view, would

Human

not

we

is the

see,

to

if

.there be
on

the

to which

realm

the

any
of

study

when
observe
we
historyleads,especially
its movements
on
a
largescale. On the contrary,
it is found that historyfalls into
great epochs,each
of which has its own
peculiarcharacteristics. Ages,

NEED
well

as

their
and
has

OF

nations

as

PHILOSOPHY
and

have
individuals,

43

features

of

specialand definite modes of thinking

of thought in each age
acting. The movement
its own
direction,which is determined by some

for it the

and

part of

science.

thought in
rulingidea when

fundamental

idea, that

fulfils

working hypothesisin a particular

of the greatest leaders
prerogative
age to catch a glimpse of this

It is the

of

an

it first makes

it is their function, not

its appearance

; and

discover it,but also

only to

reveal it to others.

And, in this way, they are at

the exponents of their time, and its prophets.

once

They

reveal that which

"

power

"

tendency

which
the

LIFE.

own,

characteristic

to

OF

will

potency which

national

is alreadya latent but active

"

see

they reveal

; but

generation
for itself,
only after

the truth

manifested

lies in it has

institutions

and

it to

of

habits

itself in

thought

and

After the prophetshave left us, we believe

what
they have said ; as long as they are with us,
they are voices cryingin the wilderness.
of the
Now, these great ideas, these harmonies
action.

world

of mind, first strike upon the ear of the poet.

to break into the consciousness of man
seem

They
by the way of emotion.
is divinely
mad, and he
passes his own
find in Goethe,
:

an

calmer
we

They possess
utters

words

whose

seer

is also

manner

; he

meaning

comprehension.What

find also in

insightwhich

the

we

in Browning

dim
a
foresight,

and

to
about
be,
of the truth
partialconsciousness
sending its light before it, and anticipatingall
systematicreflection. It is an insightwhich appears

BROWNING.

ROBERT

44

independentof all method ; but it is in nature,

tuitive
though not in sweep and expanse, akin to the inleap by which the scientific explorerlights
his new
hypothesis.We can find no other
upon
law for it,than that sensitiveness to the beauty and
to be

truth hidden

in

facts,which

generates for genius. For

"

muddy

"

vesture

hear the immortal

The

poet

hands

of

soon

the

is

worn

much

reflection

them

on

great minds the

thin by thought,and they
these

music.
his

glowing torch into

philosopher.After Aeschylus
passes

come
Sophocles,

Plato and

flash grows

into

fixed

Aristotle.

The

and

intuitive

rules the

light,which

the

day.

The

becomes
reflected upon,
a
great idea, when
the lightof such an idea is steadily
system. When
held on human
it breaks into endless forms
affairs,
of

beauty and truth. The content of the idea is

graduallyevolved ; hypothesesspring out of it,
which are accepted as principles,
rule the mind of
an
In
and its character.
age, and give it its work
this way,

Hobbes

and

Locke

laid down, or at least

within which
the
moved

defined,the boundaries
thought of the eighteenthcentury ; and no one
acquaintedwith the poeticand philosophic
thought
of

Germany, from Lessingto Goethe and from Kant

to Hegel, can
fail to find therein the source
and
spring of the constitutive principlesof our own
intellectual,
and religious
social,political,
life. The
virtues and the vices of the
of the world
aristocracy
of mind

poets and

penetrate downwards.
far
so
philosophers,

The

from

works

of the

being filledwith

BROWNING.

ROBERT

46

There
the same.
are
many
substantially
the prodistinction between
cesses
points of superficial
both
of philosophyand science, and between

which

is

and the method

if

so

one

may
time to have

poetry ; but the inner movement,

express it,is identical in all. It is
of

with the notion that

philosophers
or
regionbeyond experience,
occupy a transcendent
methods, and with
cocoons
by a priori
spinspiritual
the view that scientific men
are
mere
empirics,
buildingtheir structures from below by an a posteriori
the help of any
of thought, without
way
rulingconceptions.All alike endeavour to interpret
but none
of them
experience,
get their principles
done

from it.
"

There

Truth

is within

From

outward

is

room

ourselves

But, friends,
;

it takes

things,whate'er

and

for the

need

you

no

rise

may

believe."

higher synthesisof

philosophyand poetry, as well as for the more

gating
collitime, more
narrow
palpableand, at the same
of the systematic
sciences. The
conceptions
material
quantitativerelations between
objects,
which are investigated
and physics,
by mathematics
do not
leave

exhaust

the realm

place for

the

of the knowable,

or
poet's,

the

so

as

to

philosopher's
view of the world.
The scientific investigator
who,
like Mr. Tyndall,so far forgets
the limitations of his
provinceas to use his natural data as premisesfor
or
religious
irreligious
conclusions, is as illogical
the popular preacher, who
as
scientific
attacks
conclusions because they are not consistent with his
no

OF

NEED

PHILOSOPHY

OF

LIFE.

47

theological
presuppositions.Looking only at their
that
cannot
primary aspects, we
religious
say
and the scientific interpretation
of
presuppositions
facts are either consistent or inconsistent : they are
simply different. Their harmony or discord can
of philosophy
come
only when the higherprinciples
have
been
mental
fullydeveloped,and when the departideas of the various sciences are
organized
into

view

task which

of the world
has

not

as

this is

And

whole.

yet been accomplished. The

as

When

forces from

above

they do

they will assuredlyfind that they are

articulate
For philosophycan
not foes.
conception only by interaction with

met.

not

meet,

friends,and
its supreme
the sciences
of

have

below

and

and,

science, and

hand, the progress

the other

on

effectiveness of its division of

the

conditioned by its sensitiveness

labour,are ultimately
of
to the hints, given by poets and
philosophers,
in virtue of which the world
those wider principles
is conceived
as
a
unity. There are many, indeed,
who
are

cannot

others

who

cannot

the

sunbeam

advance

on

scientific

with

interest the

have
scorn

of

knowledge

vain.

For
I

and

its movement
in

growth

able to

Ruskin

sees

little in

the
of

will show

more

is

slow

slag-hills.
to

moralists.
the

that

is that
there

wood.

for the
were

been

not

there

as

science

except

comprehensive view

human

grows

men

trees,

trees

its axis ;

invention

of

And

more

the

see

nothing though

Carlylecared
turn

for the

wood

the

see

return

But

movement
none

labour

of
in

thing which
always movement
of

BROWNING.

ROBERT

48
both

towards

pursuing truth
constrained
by

into
its

isolate its interests

its material, to
and

more

growing deeper, their

is

far

it is achieved.

as

working

are

task

of the world

quitesay
we

may

are

an

"

Sorrow

with

Browning

yet admit

with

"

view

concrete

more

that

at the

philosophers
is becoming more
greater triumph in
science and philosophy
If

articulated whole.

an

thus,

and

poets

cannot

we

dream,"

never

gratitudethat

then- dreams

inspiration.
is hard

Each
But

God

The

And

as

Both

towards

divide

the

poets and

difficult of achievement, and

so

; and

more

for the

of

consciousness

growing

time, the need

same

Science, in
greater detail, is

greater and

of

wealth

unlimited

difference.

and

unity

to

bear, and

doubt

is slow

to

clear.

sufferer says his say, his scheme

of the weal
has a few of us whom
he whispers in the

rest may

side

by

and

reason

welcome

side with

'tis we

and
ear

musicians

woe

know."

the

poetry that grasps the

truth in immediate intuition,
there is also the uniting
of philosophy,
activity
which, catchingup its hints,
"

carries
and

back

scattered

our

laws of nature

rest ;

and,
so

as

on

to

to the

the

other

fill all the

knowledge of the facts

principle
upon which they
hand, developsthat principle
details of knowledge with

which they cannot

significance
have in themselves,
but onlyas seen
sub specie
aeternitatis."f
So far we have spoken of the function of
philosophy
a

AH

t The
Caird-

Vogler.
Problem

of

Philosophyat

{he Present

Time, by Professor

NEED
in the

OF

of
interpretation

world.

It bears

strives

and

PHILOSOPHY

witness
the

by

categoriesof

is, no

it is evident

that

to

to render

to

presuppose

rest

of

the

content

with

still,it might be

But

it is premature at

presentto

endeavour

ogy,
biolunity. Physics,chemistry,
the other sciences, while they necessarily
the unityof knowledge, and attempt in

formulate
and

49

unity explicit.
important,for

that

cannot

fragmentary knowledge.
objectedthat

criticism

doubt, valid and

man

LIFE.

phenomena of the outer

the unity of knowledge,

constructive

science

Its function

the

OF

that

sphere to discover
it, are making very satisfactory
headway without
physics
raisingany of the desperate questions of metatheir

own

as

to
likely
Optimism or
none

matter

of them, be true.
establish

remain

true

the

for

Pessimism,

they
there

in their

its ultimate

to

not

or

and

way

are
"

will be
sciences

valid.

cakes

break

down

For

nature.

long time

to

Materialism

come
or

them

it is

whether

Idealism,

principles
Physicalrelations always
In any

gingerwill

more

own

case

be hot

and

ale."
beneath

the

i' the mouth,

It is
the

and

only when
weight of

inadequate, that
seek for
it becomes
necessary or advantageous to
more
comprehensive principles.At present is it

knowledge

not

better

and

to

to be seduced

prove

themselves

of science, than
in the way
persevere
from it by the desire to solve ultimate

reasonable and pressing,

problems, which, however
?
to be beyond our
seem
power to answer
far
so
Such reasoningsare not convincing; still,
to
is concerned,
natural
science
as
they seem

BROWNING.

ROBERT

50
indicate

for
ignoring,

aspectsof
of nature

in
might be no great harm
time, its dependence on the wider
thought. There is no department

there

that
a

human
so

than
it may
more
of the individual for

that

limited, but

satisfythe largestambition
knowledge. But this attitude
ultimate
questionsis liable at

of

indifference

to

to

be

moment

any

disturbed.
"

Just when we are safest,there's a sunset -touch,

one's death,
A fancy from a flower-bell,some
Euripides,
A chorus-ending from
that's enough for fiftyhopes and fears
And
as nature's self,
at once
As old and new
in our
and
enter
soul,
To rap and knock
fantastic
and dance
a
ring,
hands
Take
there,
Round
the ancient idol,on his base again,
look on helplessly.
The grand Perhaps ! We
"

"

There

the old

misgivings,crooked

Amongst the facts

most
loudlyfor some
our

kind

experience which

our

life. We

inner

own

of

questions are."

of

solution,are
in

are

cry
those of

pressingneed

of

"

"

selves,
ourworkinghypothesis wherewith to understand
well as of a theory which
will explain
as
the revolution
of the planets,or the structure
of
an

oyster. And
It is

that

we

world

outer

the

can

on

ours

intrudes

only by resolutely
shuttingour
forget the part it plays even

of natural

constitution

nature

this self of

of

the nature

scientific men

science.

Bishop

active

eyes,
in the
is it in

things,so dependent is their

of our
that
knowing faculties,

themselves
*

So

where.
every-

Blou

admit

that

gram's Apology.

their surest

NEED
results

OF

PHILOSOPHY

OF

LIFE.

51

only hypothetical.Their truth depends

laws of thought which natural science does not
on
investigate.
But quiteapart from this doctrine of the relativity
of knowledge,which is generallyfirst acknowledged
and
then ignored,every man,
and the
the worst
best alike, is constrained
to take
some
practical
are

attitude
with

towards

nature, and

which

Man

connections

the

life,are
intelligent
trouble, if they are not

into

is

alone

never

with

his

sustain

him

his fellows.

his fellows

liable to
to

bring
degree

some

understood.
"There's

in me,"

power
dominate

Which

said

exercise,they hurt

I must

The

impulse to know
generalimpulse to act
devotion

Bishop

is

me

else."

only a phase

and

to

to his science is his

will to

Blougrara, "and

be.
answer

of the

The
to

more

specialist'
a

demand,

need, that he realize

springingfrom his practical
his
He does not construct
himself through action.
edifice of knowledge, as the bird is supposed to
build its nest, without

any

consciousness

of

an

end

thereby. Even if,like Lessing,he

sake, still
values the pursuitof truth for its own
that in truth
what stingshim into effort is the sense
and realizing
of satisfying
onlycan he find the means
to

be

attained

himself.

spring and
of

an

end

Beneath

all man's
there

source,

to

be

which

lies

attained.
no

as their very
activities,
some

This

dim

conception

is his moral

sciousness,
con-

neglectwill utterlysuppress.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

52
All

effort, the

human

other, conceals within it

conceived

time

as

this,in turn, contains

and

of the universe

self and
his
of

the

at

image. Every

,man

reference

which

The

of man's

impress
philosophy,
though, in

must

his

act ;

be

latent

and

flection..
objectof reelementary questiondirected

most

element.

We

definite

will at

consciousness

his moral

universal

he

have

must

least,not
at

and

may
that^jphilosophy

cases,

some

theory both

he must
lifej__sjrmoly__because

many

good,
complete ;

to

supreme

on

like every

know

effort to

ask

cannot

elicit the

once

whether

an

rightor wrong without awakening all the

echoes of metaphysics. As there is no objecton the
earth's surface whose equilibrium
is not fixed by its
action be

relation to the earth's centre,

so

the

tary
elemen-

most

judgment, the simplestchoice, the most

irrational vagariesof a will callingitself free and
in its supposed lawlessness,are
dominated
revelling
by the conceptionof a universal good. Everything
that a man
does is an
attempt to articulate his
view of this good, with a particular
content.
Hence,
moral
man
as
a
agent is always the centre of his
own
the zenith.
horizon, and stands rightbeneath
moral

Little

he may
be aware
of it,his relation between
himself and his supreme
good is direct. And he
orders his whole world from his pointof view, just
as
on

he

as

regards East

which

cannot
as

the

but

he

and

stands.

West

as

Whether

regard the universe

instrument

meeting at
will

he
of

men

of his purposes.

or

and
He

the

spot

not, he

objects
extracts

who

He

his world.
in

BROWNING.

ROBERT

54

and,
tortuosity,

neighbour believes
Carlylesays, has the Supreme

cheats

as

his

Quack for his God. No one ever acted without some

dim, though perhaps foolish enough, half-beliefthat
he plotsgood
at his back ; whether
the world was
evil he always has God as an accomplice. And
or
be reallybettered by
this is why character cannot
Moralists and preachersare
any peddlingprocess.
the need of a new
on
life,that is,
rightin insisting
of a new
the basis of any real improveas
ment
principle,
carries in it
; and such a principle
necessarily
attitude towards
and a new
a new
tion
interpretamen,
of the moral

lifeof man,
practical
referred to a metaphysic. His creed
his character,and it beats as a pulse

Thus, wherever
we

are

at

once

is the heart
in every

of

agent himself and of his world.

we

action.

touch

the

Hence, when

we

deal with

must
start from the centre.
life,
we
In
it is not obviously
life,
unreasonable

that there is no
to

but

need of

constructive
when
As

we
a

to
endeavouring

idea,which

act, such
moral

makes

our

moral

tual
intellec-

to suppose

reach

upward

the universe

is not
self-deception

agent, and

moral

agent

one,

sible.
posman

always is,he not only may, but must have his working
hypothesis,and that hypothesismust
be allinclusive. As there

are

natural

laws which

connect

man's

physicalmovements
with the whole system of
nature, so there are spiritual
relations which connect
him with the whole
universe ; and spiritual
spiritual
relations are alwaysdirect.
Now

it follows from

this,that, whenever

we

con-

OF

NEED
sider

as

man

A
moral

ideas

converts

PHILOSOPHY

into

OF

agent, that is,as

actual

an

things,the

LIFE.

55

agent who
need

of

philosophybecomes evident. Instead of condemning

ideal interpretations
of the universe as useless dreams,
the foolish products of an ambition
of thought which
refuses

to

respect the limits of the human

we

shall

are

reallystrivingwith

and

in

understand

that

sustained

intellect,

philosophersand

poets
greater clearness of vision,

perform the task

which all men
are
obligedto perform in some
way
other.
subsists as
natural
Man
or
a
being only
condition
of comprehending,to some
on
degree,the
a

more

conditions
natural

manner,

of his natural

environment.

From

to

life,and

the

earliest

laws

of his

youth upwards,

learningthat fire will burn and water drown,

and that he can
play with the elements with safety
only within the sphere lit up by his intelligence.
of ignorance,
will not pardon the blunders
Nature
nor
tamely submit to every hasty construction.
he

is

And

man's

this truth

moral

with

much

obvious

in relation

to

pre-eminent
waits on
intelligence.Deep will
deep ; and great characters only
the things that are
meditation
on
Here, too, and

life.

degree, conduct
unto
only answer
come

is still more

in

tion
highest. And, on the other hand, the misconstrucback upon himself,
man
of life'smeaning flings
and
makes
his action nugatory. Byronism was
driven
howling home again,"says the poet. The
of sense,
in terms
will not be interpreted
universe
There
carrion, as Carlylesaid.
as
be treated
nor
EverlastingNo," because it is a
is no
rest in the
"

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

56
view

\\Tong

of

of the

and

man

; and
negativeis not everlasting
onwards
by despair,through the

the

"

tillhe finds

is driven

man

Centre

of

Yea""

"Universal

differen
Intrue

of his relation to the universe.

view

is

There
or

rather,

Or

world.

to let

given to

the

men

alone, at every

necessitywhich
they carry it within

one

try to make

the world

largestchoice

step in life. But

they

cannot

them.

escape,

to

do
is

there

because

They absolutelymust

their home, find

kind of

some

and the forces

themselves
idea between
reconciling
kind of working
have some
amidst which they move,
that
to admit
hypothesisof life. Nor is it possible
they will find rest tillthey discover a true hypothesis.
If they do not seek it by reflection
if,in their ardour
to penetrate into the secrets of nature, they forget
facts of their
themselves ; if they allow the supreme
"

moral
and

life to remain

in the

confusion

of tradition,

of their spirit
compromise the demands
to the idols of their childhood's faith ;
by sacrificing
if they fortifythemselves
in the indifference of
agnosticism,they must reap the harvest of their
irreflection. Ignorance is not harmless in matters
seek to

"

of character
outer

any
life. There

more
are

than

in the

in national

concerns

and

of

our

in individual

of despair,
seasons
and that despair,
it
when
history
is deepest,
is ever
found to be the shadow
of moral
failure" the result of going out into action with a

false view
wrong

of

the

of human
life,and a
purpose
conception of man's
destiny. At such

times,the people have

not

understood

themselves

OF

NEED

their

or

is

as

of

that

faith

and

of

leads

it

to

of

irrefragable

the

by

-which

on

destiny.
and

We

those

problems
he

who,
ask

task,

all

once

which

continues

the

undaunted

by
and

more,
man

to

and

strive

act

mankind,

ciples
prin-

those

theory,

of

man's

of

to

of

the

those

answer,

escape,

life

except

difficulties

the

entirely

cannot

think

such

carry

higher

theory

for

look

we

these

for

lip

the

elements

great

than

who

reason,

without

act

cannot

shall

whom

to

of

processes

rest

and

ear

establish

to

duct
con-

pitiable

into

inquiry

scientific

of

moral

philosophers

endeavour

and

of

deaf

people,

or

ignorance

more

turn

There

age

concerns

those

towards

spirit

regions,

as

no

contempt

the

to

is

an

common

attitude

there

which

that

to

deep

the

they

welfare.

own

the

to

57

consequence,

dangerous

so

relegating

unreasoning

in

their

with

LIFE.

OF

and,

collision

experiment

no

PHILOSOPHY

environment,

into

come

as

long

III.

CHAPTER

BROWNING'S

"

there's

But

It's

days

IT

has

be

he

that

laid

Sartor

in

the

as

that
view

period
of

new

idea

He

lived

ever

of

evidence,
more

too

in

or

narrow

vain

case

was

no

afterwards

and

emphasizing
and

good

evil

it is true,

less

that

consciously
for

against

him,
their

Carlyle speculated

and

in

within

we

find

the

to

man

range

and

the
is

There
which

beating

still, on

in

man

ultimately

him
;

with

grimness

from

universe.

action.

formulae

limitations

the

his

called

be

greater

forth,

in

in, showing

of

set

old

After

men.

of

human

the

His

them.

can

fill it

with

thought

change

sketch

relations

figure,

twin
of

most

which

to

many

forty years

was

fundamental

outline

the

poet's

with

only

detail

he

nothing

his

for

may

enlarged

before

these

in

man

pjjiis world
never

the

world

who

our

as

and

disturbed

greater

history,
war

the

there

to

Carlyle,

foundations

is, indeed,

in

behold

seems

world.

the

(Carlyle.)

Orientirung~vfas over
"

He

me.

satisfaction

spectacle

considered

Resartus,

and

him

much

takes

of

said

been

reasons

between

cheerful."

confidently

so

contrast

curious

and

strange

very

IN

life, and

with

content

very

great

POETRY.

ENGLISH

PLACE

the

he

proved
himself

whole,

influence

of

HIS

PLACE

IN

ENGLISH

POETRY.

59

and never
abandoned
adopted earlyin life,
principles
for higheror richer ideas,or substantially
changed.
In these

respects,there is considerable resemblance

Carlyleand Browning. Browning, indeed,

between

fixed his

point of

silence.

Like

view

and

chose

his

battleground
still earlier ; and he held it resolutely
to his life's
close. In his Pauline and in his Epilogueto A solando
catch the triumphant tone of a single
we
idea,which,
sunk
into
during all the long interval,had never

"

wise thrush, he sings each

The
Lest
The

should

you
first fine careless

both

were

he

"

witness^

recapture

tErough

the

here, a

permitted
truth.
They
be

of

fjio.pr^pnr^

to

over,

two

of man,
andlooked
spirit
a
higher ;
another__and

even

could

never

rapture

twice

song

poets,if I may
Carlylea poet,taught the same

Moreover, these
to call

think

lightof
or
rather, they penetrated
is
husk of time_anA-Saw.jthat.
eternitytranquilf.lpTngnf underlyingthe noisy
at this life in the

of them,

afitagpj^nis^_ina^
like Plato's

in the

God

philosophermade
they were

their home

in the

sun-

cave

takkhe'Things

shadows

for

of

sense

echoes
realities,

not

for those

Carlylebought
poet

"was

free born."
*

Home

with

of the

thought,

into this

men.

region,

the first; while

himself in it from
his freedom

of

for the voices of

But, while Carlyle

foughthis way

Browning found

denizens

great sum,

Carlylesaw

Thoughts from Abroad.

the

old

the

world

BROWNING.

ROBERT

60

faith break up around him, and its fragmentsnever

at the point
his path. He was
ceased to embarrass
of transition,presentat the collision of the old and
of the confusion.

in the midst

and

new,

He,

more

the instrument
any other Englishwriter,was
of the change from
the^Deism of the eighteenth

than

followed

century and the despairwhich

n1ir own.
Tnr^rjffilTnf
was

and

heaven

now

it1JnjLoJ:he

ButTfor Bro_wiiin"L_there
earth, and old things
^-new

passecLaway. This notable contrast between

the two men,
arisingat once from their disposition
and their moral environment, had far-reaching
effects
their lives and their writings. But their affinity
on
ally
was
deeperthan the difference,for they are essentihad

heirs and

exponents of the

in

movement

same

Englishthought.
The

main

it is both
and

moral

and

the active service

of the
on

characteristic of that movement

rightsof

the

devotion
to God
a
religious,
of man,
at once
a recognition
and of spirit.It does not,

hand, raise the individual

one

being to

nature

the

throne

of the

forces social,political,
and

any

individualisticor
both
more

at once,
to

so

this age

socialistic;
than

natural
all

make

instrument
reconcile

nature, without

It cannot

that both

spiritual
stoop to his
other hand, deny these

facts of human
of them.

as

universe, and

does it,on
the
rights
; nor
make
or
the individual a mere
rights,
of society.It at least
attempts to

fundamental

is that

but

man

they

ever

be

the
promising
com-

called either

it strives to
and

be

societymean

did before.

The

BROWNING.

ROBERT

62

"Wait
slow

The

O' the

and

sober

uprise all

around

building,"

but
"

After
the

sudden

the

up

right

to roof

marvel, piece of perfectness."*

Puritanism

rightsof

Ran

came

Charles

flesh,which

the

Second

rightswere

clarified,till they contradicted

and

gradually

themselves

in the

David
of altruistic hedonism.
self-seeking
of eternity,
led the world out of the shadow
Hume
that it was
and showed
only an objectof the five
add that of
hunger/' The
senses
; or of six,if we
divine element was
explainedaway, and the proper
studyof mankind wa", not man, as that age thought,
elements
reduced to his^beggarly
but man
a being
animated solely
springsof pleasure
by the sensuous
and pain,which should properly,
as
Carlylethought,
of
go on all fours,and not lay claim to the dignity
beingmoral. All thingswere reduced to what they
seemed, robbed of their suggestiveness,
changed into
definite,
sharp-edged,
mutuallyexclusive particulars.

benevolent

"

"

The

world

was

an

aggregate of isolated facts,or,

the best, a mechanism

at

into which

were
particulars
fitted by force ; and
of mere
a gathering
was
society
individuals,
each other by their needs and
repelling
greed,with a ringof natural necessity
to bind them
together. It was a fittime for political
to
economy
supplantethics. There was nowhere an ideal which

could liftman

above

it,to
by losing

find a
*

Prince

his natural

self,and teach him,

higherlife. And, as a necessary
Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

HIS

PLACE

ENGLISH

religion
gave

consequence,

poetry to

IN

POETRY.
to

way

63

naturalism

and

prose.

After this age of prose came

our
new
light first flushed the modern

day.

own

The

in the

world

of Germany : Kant
writingsof the philosopher-poets
and Lessing,Fichte and Schiller,
Goethe and Hegel.
They brought about the Copernican change. For
them
this world of the five seiibeb,-of-spaug"arT":
time
and natural cause, instead of being the fixed centre
around
all things revolved, was
which
explicable
only in its relation to a system which was spiritual
;
and man
found his meaning in his connection with
society,the life of which stretched endlesslyfar
back into the past and
into the future.
forward
versal
Psychology gave way to metaphysics. The unielement
in the thought of man
revealed.
was
Instead of mechanism
of
life. A new
there was
spirit
poetry and philosophybrought God back into the

world, revealed his incarnation

and

changed

which
hard

into

nature

the love

throbbed

alternatives

was

at

in the mind

of man,

pellucid
garment within
The antagonism of
divine.
a

an

end

; the

universe

was

"

filled
and every smallest object was
spirit-woven
full of magical music, as they freighta star with
light." There were no longer two worlds, but one ;
for
vealed
the other
world penetrated
this,and was reand nature,
in it : thought and sense, spirit
"

"

were

reconciled.

These

thinkers

made

room

for

against
of
their successors.
Instead of the hopelessstruggle
ascetic morality,
which divides man
againsthimself,

man,

as

againstthe Puritans, and

for God,

as

BROWNING.

ROBERT

64

him

they awakened

to

that

tion
of his reconcilia-

sense

religiongives: "Psyche
forgetsher sorrows."

his ideal which

with

drinks its stream

and

For
justthe soil where art blooms.
what is beauty but the harmony of thought and sense,
a universal
meaning caught and tamed in the particular

this is

Now,

To

the

poet each little flower that blooms

regarded as perfectand
of the whole
complete; for he sees that the spirit
dwells in it. It whispersto him the mystery of the
infinite; it is a pulsein which beats the universal
heart.
The
true
poet finds God everywhere ; for
the ideal is actual wherever
beauty dwells. And
art and religion,
there is the closest affinity
between
its history
as
proves, from Job and Isaiah, Homer
and Aeschylus,to our
own
poet ; for both art and
liftus, each in its own
religion
way, above one-sidedand limitation,to the region of the universal.
ness
The one draws God to man,
here,and
bringsperfection
reaches its highestform in the joyous life of Greece,
has

endless

where

worth,

natural

the

is

and

world

was

supernaturalbeauty ; the other

finds this life good because
it
the greater life that
are

lift man

reconciliation and

above
and

the

with

with

liftsman

to

Both
a

in the

an

eye

and

satisfaction

made

peace

T intern

Abbey.

"

ligion
re-

; both

of limited

regionof

the

suggests

poetry and

quiet by the power

harmony,
deep power of joy,
He sees into the life of things." *

Of

almost

God, and

reflects and

contradictions

placehim
"

is to be.

clothed

ence,
exist-

where,

HIS

PLACE

IN

ENGLISH

In this sense, it will be

it is of the religious
man,

as

POETRY.

65

of the

always true

poet,

that
"

world,
|)
and the power,
beauty and the wonder
shapes of things,their colours,lightsand shades,'

The
The

the

Changes, surprises,"*

lead him

back to God, who

is

He

made

a witness
essentially

it all.

to the

divine element

in the world.
It is the

of this divine element, after

rediscovery
its expulsionby the age of Deism
and doubt, that
has given to this century its poetic grandeur.
Unless
era,

we

of the

regard Burke as the herald of the new

may
say that England first felt the breath
of Shelleyand
in the poems
returningspirit
we

Wordsworth.
"

The

change and pass ;

lightfor ever shines, earth's shadows
of many-coloured glass,
dome

remains, the

One

Heaven's

Life,like

Stains the white

Until

"

And

death

I have
"

many

radiance

fly;

of

eternity,
fragments."f

tramples it to

felt,"says Wordsworth,

presence
Of elevated

that

disturbs

thoughts ;

me
sense

with

the

joy

sublime

deeply interfused,
something
Whose
dwelling is the lightof settingsuns,
and the livingair,
And
the round
ocean
of man
:
And
the blue sky, and in the mind
that impels
and a spirit,
A motion
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And
rolls through all things."J
Of

Fra

Lippo Lippi.

far

more

f Adonais.

J Tintern

Abbey,

BROWNING.

ROBERT

66
Such

notes

these could not

as

be struck

by Pope,
Still they
Browning.

by the age of prose.

are
only the preludeof the fuller song of
he be a greaterpoet than these or not,"
Whether
benefit nothing, for
can
a
questionwhose answer
worth, and reflects by his
each poet has his own
his poetry contains
facet the universal truth
own
in it largerelements, and the promise of a deeper

nor

be understood

"

Browning

held

manner.

To

perhaps
Shelley,

of all our
spiritual

That

in

different

intensely

most

poets,
smile kindles

light whose

"That

the

more

spherestouch,

artistic truth

the

by

their

his

of

discords

where

Even

material.

stubborn

harsher

the

from

harmony

beauty in which

all

the universe,
and

things work

move,"

tion
impassionedsentiment, a gloriousintoxicaand
a conviction, reasoned
; to Browning it was
and held in the
the whole man,
willed,possessing
an

was

sober

moments

heavy

and

world
he
the

when

heart

is silent.

weightof all this unintelligible

lightenedfor Wordsworth, only when

was

far from

the

haunts

of men,

"

and

free from

but

Browning

"

drearyintercourse of dailylife ;
J weaved his song of hope rightamidst
woe

The

"

the weary

"

was

the

of man's

sin and

wretchedness.

the

wail

For

and

worth
Words-

sweet, felt in the blood and felt

along the heart, passed into his purer mind with
"sensations

tranquilrestoration/'and
blessed

mood

"

merely the poetry

but

issued

"

in

Browning's poetry

of the

emotions

and

serene

however

is

not

subli-

HIS
mated.

PLACE
He

crushes

by

IN

ENGLISH

with

starts

the

POETRY.
hard

67

repellentfact,

sheer force of

thought its stubborn rind,

brings forth the truth at its
presses into it, and
heart.
The
greatness of Browning's poetry is in
its perceptivegrip: and
in nothing is ne
more
originalthan

in

and
his^task,

assumes

postponement

of

the_mannerin

which

takes

he

his artistic function.

feeling
to^thought we

poeticmethod,

up

In his

recognize

of which we
significance
estimate
cannot
as
yet. But, although we
may
fail to apprehend the meaning of the new
method
he employs, we
fail to perceivethe fact,
cannot
which
is not
less striking,
that the regionfrom
wjiichhe quarrieshis material is new.
And
abruptlyfrom
yet he does not break away
his predecessors.His kinshipwith them, in that
he recognizesthe presence
in nature, is
ot Cod
evident.
everywhere
\We quote one
passage,
scarcelyto be surpassedby any of our poets, as
indicative of his power
of dealingwith the supera

new

naturalism
"

The

of nature.
centre-fire

And

the earth

The

the

molten

Winds

ore

into

In hidden
Crumbles

changes like
burst

the

underneath

heaves

up

human

among

the

earth,

face

rocks,

bright

the stone's heart, outbranches

mines, spots barren

into fine sand

where

river-beds,
bask

sunbeams

are
The wroth sea's waves
joys therein.
With
foam, white as the bitter lip of hate,
When, in the solitary waste, strange groups

God

Of

young

volcanos

come

up,

cyclops-like,

Staring together with their eyes on flame

pride.
God
tastes a pleasure in their uncouth
"

Then

all is still ; earth

is

wintry clod

"

edged

BROWNING.

ROBERT

68

dancing psaltress,
passes
it,rare verdure
its breast to waken
Over
Buds
tenderly upon rough banks, between
and the cracks of frost,
withered
tree-roots
The

spring-wind,like

But

Like

smile

strivingwith

and

up

up,

wrinkled

face.

flocks,the lark

Above, birds flyin merry

Soars

shivering for

very

joy

sleeps ; white fishinggulls

the strand is purple with its tribe
Flit where
seek
Of nested limpets ; savage creatures
and God
and plain
renews
Their loves in wood
in
His ancient rapture.
Thus He dwells
all,
last
at
life's
minute
From
beginnings, up
the

Afar

ocean

"

To

man

of this scheme

the consummation

"

Of being, the completion of this sphere of life."

passages as these contain neither the rapt,

reflective calm of Wordsworth's
solemn
tones, nor
Such

the

ethereal

intoxication

but there is in them

the

of

Shelley'sspirit-music
;

same

infinite meaning of natural

consciousness

facts.

And

of the

beyond this,

there is also, in the

closinglines,a hint of a new

the
were
regionfor art. Shelleyand Wordsworth
poets of Nature, as all truly say ; Browning was
soul.
For
^the poet of the human
Shelley,the
beauty in which all things work and move
was
well-nigh quenched by the eclipsingcurse of the
"

birth of
habitual
groves,

"

man

sway
while

; and

of
he

Wordsworth

lived beneath

the

fountains,meadows, hills and

o'er man's
kept grave watch
the shades of the prison-house

mortality,and saw
him.
From
gather round
the life of man
they
garnered nought but mad indignation,
or
mellowed
sadness. It was
foolish and furious strife with
a
*

Paracelsus.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

7o
and

it demands

to understand

elements

the fundamental

deeperinsightinto

of human

life.

proximatelyadequate manner,
should be obliged,
as alreadyhinted, to connect
we
the poet's
work, not merelywith that of his English
but with the deeperand more
hensive
comprepredecessors,
of the thought of Germany
movement
To

show

this in

since the time

of Kant.

It would

be necessary
to
throughthe narrow

by breakinga way
of the previous
creeds and equallynarrow
scepticism
extended
the horizon of man's
spirit
age, the new
active and contemplativelife,and made
him free
of the universe, and
the repository
of the past
It proposedto man
the great
conquestsof his race.
task of solvingthe problem of humanity, but it
strengthenedhim with its past achievement, and
inspiredhim with the conviction of its boundless
It is not
that the significance
of the
progress.
individual or the meaning of his endeavour
is lost.
Under
this new
has still to fightfor his
view, man
own
hand, and it is still recognizedthat spiritis
alwaysburdened with its own fate and cannot share
its responsibility.
Moralitydoes not give way to
or pass into it,and
there is a sense
religion
in which
the individual is alwaysalone in the
sphereof duty.
But from this new
pointof view the individual is
for us, and we
re-explained
begin to understand
that he is the focus of a
lightwhich is universal,
indicate how,

incarnation of the mind

is
to
ense,^bu

LIBRARY

n,\

of God."

longerto seek his own

elevate humanity; for it
no

in the
is

His
old

only by

HIS

PLACE

taking this
Such

task

This

is

that

to those

he

POETRY.

can

own.

sufficiently
great one
is to humanity in him

it will therefore

one-sidedness.

new

his

to

come

71

to

it

; but

belongs,and
no

ENGLISH

this is

as

all time

occupy
the

circuit

task

IN

that

achieved.

be

It does

not

mean,

who

comprehend it,the supplantingof the

individual
thought by the collective thought, or
the substitution of humanity for man.
versal
uniThe
is in the
the fact is the law.
particular,
There

is

collision

no

part, for the

whole

the

between
in

lives

individual

is but

part. As each
life and
beauty and
has conspiredto bring

which
spiritual,
Like

have

letter in

from

come

word,

far

higher degree,
although
dignity,

of forces, natural

embodiment

the

or

the

endless
in

word

round

past.

meaning from his context ; but the

Rays from
meaningless without him.
"

which

nay,

has

"Think

as

On

if

if all creation

as

the

acting

has

tence
sen-

all

cept
expower
; but all the

no

he must
never

man

he

lent to him

been

all the more,

Act

and

in him,"

converge
that

same,

and

sentence,

he gets his
is

the

the

plant has its own

worth, although the universe
it into being ; so also, and in a
has his own
man
duty and his own
he

and

whole

of such

thought

before

hung attent
faculty as his."

is not less,but
his individuality,
responsibility,
greater, in that he can, in his thought and moral
His

the forces that

action, command
for him.

The
*

the

race

has

speaks the thought

great

man

Prince

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

stored
of his

BROWNING.

ROBERT

72

priestare just
yearnings.And even
he is, in
is what
man
and insignificant
the mean
torted
disvirtue of the humanity which is blurred and
within him ; and he can shed his insignificance
and meanness,
onlyby becoming a truer vehicle for
that humanity.
discerned, it is seen
is spiritually
Thus, when spirit

and his invocations

people,
of their dumb
the expression

that

any

man

is bound

to

in

man

of

sense

show

organism can
physical
in the old

their

as

union
; while

closer than
"

vidual,"
the indi-

being opposedto society

opposedto the world, is found to be a fiction

cause
of abstract thought,not discoverable anywhere,beis no
not real. And, on the other hand, society
but so organicthat the whole is
longer collective,"
in every part
an
organismof organisms.
potentially
The influence of this organicidea in every department
is
of thought which concerns
itself with man
It is already fast changing
not to be measured.
all the practical
sciences of man
economics, politics,
ethics and religion.The material, being newly interpre
is wrought into a new
and
purpose,
revelation is once
tion.
more
bringingabout a reformaBut human
action in its ethical aspect is,
above
The
all, charged with a new
significance.
idea of duty has received
an
expansion almost
and man
illimitable,
himself has thereby attained
worth
and dignity for what is duty except a
new
man's
of being
dignityand opportunity,
chance
good ? When
we
contrast this view of the life of
and

"

"

"

"

man

as

the

life of

humanity

in him, with

the

old

HIS

PLACE

IN

ENGLISH

POETRY.

73

individualism, we may say that moralityalso has

at last,in Bacon's
phrase,passed from the narrow
into the open
of
achievement

our

after all,the greatest

be not that it has

age

may
sciences of nature, but

the

established

And

ocean.

seas

that

it has

We
have, at
possiblethe science of man.
length, reached a point of view from which we
ourselves.
Law, order,
hope to understand
may
action
the
essential precontinuity,in human
conditions
of a moral
science
were
beyond the
individualistic theory. It left to
reach
of an
ethical writers no choice but that of either sacrificing
to law, or law to man
man
; of denying either the
particularor the universal element in his nature.

made

"

"

Naturalism
The

former

natural

Intuitionism, the second.

did the first.

agent

action

human

made

the

on

incitement

^action

the

of

of natural

forces.

object,a thingcapableof being

affected by other thingsthrough his facultyof being
pained or pleased; an object acting in obedience
external origin,just like
that had
to motives
an
free
any other object. The latter theory cut man
It made

from
a

man

the

dogmatic

and
another

no

new

and

law, and

thereby
morality.
world

stillleaves him
in

of them.

conscience that

succeeded

consciousness
the

him

his fellows, endowed

and

But this

each

had

law and

mankind

and

world

will that

both

mere

free.

humanity,which
It elevates the

him

out

It relates

was

stultifying

in

of the relation of

takes

with

man

to

tion
of his isolato

men

anew

in

above

the

is incarnated

individual

one

BROWNING.

ROBERT

74

up the past in him

of his knowledge and morality

distinctions of time ; it treasures

the active energy
in the present,and also

as

On

life of the future.

the

race

life of

landmarks
the

new

change
is bound

man

ideal

the

this view, the individual

in
to

bringconfusion
out of
i.e.,
conception,

way

of

abolish

the

our

for

and

and

other.

only through each

possible

are

This fundamental
at the

potency of

the

as

looking
ancient

time.

Out

of

the idea of evolution,

well as the strength of our

has sprung the tumult
as
The
time.
with
present age is moved
thoughts
beyond the reach of its powers : great aspirations
for the well-being
of the peopleand
high ideals of
social welfare

flash

across

its mind, to

followed

be

is hardly any
There
again by thicker darkness.
limit to its despairor hope. It has a far larger
faith in the destinyof man
than any of its predecessors,
and
of hardly anything
yet it is sure
"

except that the ancient rules of human

Individualism
moral

in

chaos

methods
ourselves

is

are

no

now

detected

disguise.We
longerof use.

free of the

fate of

cries for

help that are

recognizedas the voices
now

know

that the

that

our

problem

grapplewith

We,

the

cannot

every
brethren

of their welfare

social

that

on

our

in

is also

questionsat last,and
death

false.

scepticismand
now

others'.The

fate is involved

that the issues of life and

these

know

heard
of

as

life are

old
cut

confused
hand
;

and

are
we

theirs,and
ours.

We

recognize

lie in the solution of

enigmas. Legislators
and economists, teachers
of religion
and socia'ists,
all alike social reformers.
are

HIS

PLACE

IN

has
Philanthropy

taken

sects

bear

back

by

found

its banner.

POETRY.

But

their forces

sovereignremedy

the result is in many

rerhedies often work

would

75

deeper meaning ;

the social wretchedness, for

the

whom

ENGLISH

of

and

beaten

are

they have

great idea

all

not

and

ways sad enough. Our social

mischief ; for we degrade those

elevate, and

in

charityforget
justice. We insist on the rightsof the people and
the duties of the privilegedclasses,and
thereby
tend to teach greed to those for whom
labour,
we
we

and

goodness to

that

lies before

of the

tend

publicgood

is

us

condemn.

we

plain:

want

we

The
the

task

welfare

fail to grasp the

elements
together,and our
very
We
know
them.
that the
to sunder

people as
complex social
remedies

those whom

our

whole.

will not

But

we

be obtained

man
by separating

circle
securingeach unit in a charmed
of personalrights,and
protectingit from others
dual
by isolation. We must find a place for the indiviknow
within the social organism,and we
now
fathers seemed
that this organism has not, as our
doll.
to think, the simple constitution of a wooden
Societyis not put together mechanically,and the
to it,if he
individual cannot
be outwardlyattached
rather share its life,be
is to be helped, He must
the heir of the wealth it has garneredfor him in the
movement.
in its onward
past, and participate
from

man,

social ideal and

Between

this

between

the

resources

of intellect and

lies a chasm

new

magnitude of
which

we

our

will at

our

attainment,

social duties and

our

command,

despairof bridgingover.

the

there

BROWNING.

ROBERT

76

reflect
epoch faithfully
whose
of Carlyle,with
in the pages
themselves
nected.
thoughts those of Browning are immediately conrevealed
It was
Carlylewho first effectively
of human
life,and the
to England the continuity
Seeing
magnitude of the issues of individual action.
the infinite in the finite,
livingunder a continued
of the mystery that surrounds
he flung
sense
man,
formulae
of
explosivenegationsamidst the narrow
the social and religious
orthodoxy of his day, blew
the blindingwalls of ethical individualism,
down

characteristics of this

The

and, amidst

much

smoke

din, showed

and

his

English readers

something of the greatness of the

moral world.
He gave us a philosophyof clothes,
penetratedthrough symbols to the immortal ideas,
condemned

all shibboleths, and

revealed

the soul of

of man's
humanity behind the external modes
activity.He showed us, in a word, that the world
is spiritual,
that loyaltyto duty is the foundation
of all human
on

good,

character.

for any

ask,

"

After

who

one

and

that

reading him,

reflects

very

on

Am

I my
brother's
imagined,but knew, how
that

man

look

does,

national

the

nature

impossible
of duty to
He not only

keeper ?
all thingsthe

minutelyinfluence

of his face blesses

or

rests

it is

"

"

welfare

minutest

all men,

curses

and

whom-so

the

it

lights
on, and so generates ever
new
blessingor new
cursing. I say, there is not a Red Indian, hunting
by Lake Winnipeg,can quarrel with his
but the whole

priceof

world

beaver

must

rise ?

smart

It is

for it :

squaw,
will not the

mathematical

fact

BROWNING.

ROBERT

7g
ought

"

individual cannot

an

he

ought only because

and

of his
opportunities

good are

The

evils

The

moral

the

are

overcome

fellows.

can

not lone

of
of God's purposes, and there is no need
too
like the ancient prophet,was
Carlyle,

workers

despair.
conscious
that

of his

"

of others.

been

I have

of hosts ; because

God

Lord

of
forgetful
jealousfor the

mission, and

own

too

very
the children

of Israel

forgottenThy covenant, thrown down Thine

I only,
and I, even
alters,and slain Thy prophets,
left ; and they seek my life,to take it away."
am
He needed, beside the consciousness of his prophetic

have

function,

of

consciousness

"

Yet

humbler

workers.

thousand

in Israel, all the

left Me

have

which

knees

which

Baal, and every mouth

bowed

unto

kissed

him."

It would

remembered,

there

that

helped him

have

seven

have

not

hath

not

had

all sides

on

were

with

brotherhood

other

engaged on the temple not made

hands, althoughhe could not hear the sound of

workers

for the

hammers

din he

made

he

with
their

It would

himself.

changed his despairinto joy, and his pity

into a higher moral
quality,had he been able to

have

believe that, amidst

he

him

hurled

his anathemas,

do what

either the

he

will,is

follyand

gloryof goodness.
of all to the

millions

there

is

race,

is

It is not

to

one

no

of

wretchedness

or

againstwhom

constrained

not

who, let

to illustrate

sin, or

the

any one, least

the onward
ment
move-

given to

wicked, to hold back

of the

good which

all the

destroythe impulse for

plantedwithin

it.

HIS

But

PLACE

IN

ENGLISH

POETRY.

79

Carlylesaw

only one side of the truth about

mar/s moral
nature
and destiny. He knew, as the
ancient prophets did, that evil is potentialwreck ;
and Le taxed the power
of metaphor to the utmost
to indicate,how
graduallytakes root, and
wrong
ripens into putrescence and self-combustion,in
obedience to a necessitywhich
is absolute.
That
of things,that wrong
must
moralityis the essence
its weakness, that right is the only might,
prove
is reiterated and illustrated on
all his pages ; they
are
now
commonplaces of speculationon matters
of history,if not
conscious
practicalprinciples
which guide its makers.
But Carlylenever
inquired
into the character
and he
of this moral
necessity,
overlooked
which
the beneficence
places death at
the heart

of sin.

He

never

to execution, or in the
way
did not look in the face of the

it

on

to

death.

but
history,
necessity.
The
which

same
was

not

He
the

alien

the

character

beneficent

to

and

into failure.
his

last

his age.

He

its

heavens, in comparison with which

its best sank

duty,

binding force.
an
the duty was
infinite in might,
an
; and the duty itself was
the high
letters of flame across

authorityand
categorical
the power
which
imposed
awful in majesty,
power,

"great task-master"
outer law, written in

he

of that

of

his view

his greatest revelation

its

gentlepower that led

necessitywhich rules

limitations marred

felt its
But

saw

except on
wrong
death
throes ; but

saw

His

rendering

action at

man's

only virtue
even

of

ence,
is obedi-

himself

is

BROWNING.

ROBERT

8o

servant."
unprofitable
Icombined strengthand

"

Calvinism.

He

Infinite
\\the

of the

In this he has much

"

weakness

stands

between

of the old Scottish

the individual and

hope or guide. HeTias_ji

constant
to crush
the human
being by
disposition
lous
comparinghim with God," said Mazzini,with marvelat times so daring,
penetration. From his lips,
without

"

we

Mariner
and

'
"

Thy

and

My

ocean

man

have

every instant the cry of the Breton

God protectme
! My bark is so small,

to hear

seem

so

manifested
did not

and

behind

But

the

His reconciliation of God

incomplete:

was

He

'

vast/

Himself
that

see

"

to

the

God

seemed

man

but

to
not

him
in

to

man.

is before

Eternitywhich

is also within us."

us

moral

reflection of the

law

which

commands

is

justthe

of progressive
aspirations
man,

who

horizon.
The
always creates his own
extension of
duty is the objectivecounterpartof man's growth ; a
proofof victoryand not of failure,
a sign that
man
is mounting upwards. And, if
so, it is irrational to
infer the impossibility
of success
from the magnitude
of the

demands

promise of
for
set
sees

of

moral

better future.

law, which
The

is itself the

hard

problems set
us
by our social environment are recognizedas
by ourselves ; for,in matters of morality,the eye
only what the heart prompts. The very statement
of the

contains
difficulty

the

potency of its
understood, is on the way
and the good, when
seen,

solution ; for evil,when

towards being
overcome,
contains the promise of its
own
ignorance which
is ruinous, as

fulfilment.
when

the

It is

cries of

HIS

PLACE

IN

ENGLISH

POETRY.

humanity beat againsta deaf ear

a comfort, denied
to Carlyle,
from
made
the
we

the

awake

us

to

upon

should

first be

and

us,

it is

overcome

helplessness.But this
of hope, and England

germ

feet to wrestle with its wrongs.

within sightof our
us
future, and
a

step into
but

from

it.

He

our

died there, and

he

broke

take

He

has let loose

only natural that

of bewildered
by a sense

contains
very sense
is strugglingto its

Carlylehas brought
are
now
we
taking
ness
guide in the wilderdenied

was

Was

the. view

Browning,and \
victory,whose strains
in the coming
to many

givento

Robert

song of
will givestrengthand comfort

time.

into

out

in the

at

evils of life is not

of the

be admitted.

once

problem

which

his solution

That

final,may
and

can

Pisgah.

Now, this view

he

has been

we

the fact that he has

social duties.

our

confusion
at

; and

81

of which

will force

he

those

There

has
who

deepermysteriesof man's moral

anything that the poet has to

are

taken

elements

account,

no

lighton the
nature, to go beyond
seek

the

Even

say.

poet

fident
directions,less congrows, at least in some
of the completenessof his triumph as he grows

himself

older.
is the

His

faith in the

faith of

links himself

one

to

his conviction

who

of the

and

beneficence

work
poems

not

fail,but it

ignorance,and
Still,so thorough is
to

of life,of the

moral

purpose
towards which

the

good

does

confesses

his finitude.

certaintyof
of the

good

of the

man

power
world, that

everywhere in the
ringlike the triumphant songs

is

moving,

which

is at

of his
many
of Luther.

IV.

CHAPTER

BROWNING'S

"

Gladness

And

more

Into

And

recommence

the

worth

the

Carlyle

its

the

present

of

the

moral

and

of human
that

of

character

organic

view

doctrines,
life of
in

the

as

And,

the
the

stress

man,

and

life

This

view

of

in

man's,
neither

the

lays
new

of

view
sion,
expres-

of

pages

are

interested

the

evolution

too,stegard

whom,

realization

the

finds

whom

say,

it

its

by

in

side,

both

than

although

by

man

rule

which

of

the

in

the

deyeloped/the
hupanity7whicn~lslmp!ied in their

of

into

and

is the
of

of

distinctive

the

that

to

almost
;

greater

purposes,

life

both

of

one

ethical

may

evolution

world.

and

Browning
one

era

history.

social

exclusively,

life

of

continuity
on

mankind,

that

given

bursts

blossoms,

sorrow."

show

to

glad,

waxes

gladness
for

at

World
seal

and

sign

ever

until

suffer1

to

it has

significance

it

that

rage

features

authentic

is the

the

of

thfee, Helper

glad,

tried

HAVE

on

this

Godship,

Of

with

be

I think

OPTIMISM.

explicit

an

individual
finite.
*

each

of

meaning

Balaustion's

still the

philosophy,

is for
The

of them

Adventure.

them

of

the

the

moral
infinite

universe

is

BROWNING'S

OPTIMISM.

moral, its last might is Tightness

; and
is to catch

the

task

of

that

meaning, convert it into his

own
motive, and therebymake
it the source
of his
actions,the inmost principle
of his life. This, fully
grasped,will bringthe finiteand the infinite,
morality
and religion,
together,and reconcile them.
But
the reconciliation which
Carlylesought to
effect was
incompleteon every side even within the
sphere of duty, with which alone, as moralist, he
himself.
The
moral
law
speciallyconcerned
was
imposed upon man
by a higherpower, in the presman

up

"

of
yfence

whom

had

power

man

awed

was

stinted man's

crushed

and

and

endowment,

; for that
set him

to

fight
f^f

hopelessbattle againstendless evil. God was

and the universe was
everywhere around man,
just
the expressionof His will a will inexorably
bent on
the good, so that evil could not prevail
; but God was
a

"

within

not

except

man,

issuing
imperativesand
was

laid upon
break out

the

but
reconciliation,

as

of conscience

voice

infinite

An

threats.

duty

being,and its weight made

him
into a cry of despair.
Browning, however, not onlysought to bringabout
a

finite

succeeded, in

is

possiblein terms of
contains suggestions
that
also
for

or

force within

in
righteousness
rather

manifests

will, the

things,and
which

reason

the

the

moral

the

world

itself as,

as

feeling. His

mere

; that the

man

far

so

man.

poetry

will without

power

has

that~~

which

makes

penetratedinto,
and
Intelligence

apprehends the nature

original
impulseof self-conscious
which

issues in action, are

God's

is-?-

power

in

man

of-

life
;

is

God

that

so

and human

man,

Outer

duty

in the

are,

deeds

in the

realizingHimself
historyis justHis

inner motive

and

law

of the
of

BROWNING.

ROBERT

84

Himself.

to

return

for the

of

festations
poet,mani-

beneficent purpose; and instead

of an autocratic imperative,
or

same

sense

man's
tyranny, he finds, deep beneath
foolishness and sin,a constant
tendency towards the

beneficent

good

which

man's

reason

up with
will. If man

is bound
and

himself he would

with

his

has

loaded

with

of

limiting

no

is one

law which

essential

own

being. A beneficent power

dice,accordingto the epigram,so
of failure and victoryare not even
;

the

that the chances

for man's

him

find without

the manifestation

but
necessity,

of
very nature
stand
could only under-

the

nature

is itself a

divine

endowment,

the

that rules his life,and

power
reach through error
to truth, and
finally

man

one

must

through sin
to holiness.
In the languageof theology,it
be
may
that the moral process is the spiritual
tion
incarna^said
of God ; it is God's goodness as love, effecting
itself in human
action.
Hence
pair
Carlyle's
cry of desis turned
by Browning into a song of victory.
While the former regardsthe strugglebetween
good
and

evil

as

fixed battle,in which

the
immovablyinterlocked,
'

ness

against
embattling

the

forces

are

latter has the conscious-

retreatingfoe ; and the

conviction of coming triumph gives
joyousvigour to
stroke.
every
Browning lifted morality into an
optimism, and translated its battle into song.
This
a

was

the distinctive mark

and

him

such

inspiration.

power

of moral

mission

which

give to

BROWNING.

ROBERT

86

only in virtue of it,"-just

and work only in virtue of the
move
as trulyas we
the spheres revolve, or think
make
forces which
by help of the meaning which presses upon us
the thought-woven world, through all the
from

actions, and

pores

of

we

act at all

sense.
or

ethics, like

true

of

science

true

true

nature,

chology,
psylean

must

and it cannot
pretend to start
metaphysics,
upon
live in the Copernicanage, which
ab initio. We
in

puts the individual

whose

laws

his

finds

he

system, in obedience

this

And

welfare.

to

is

simply the assertion of an optimisticcreed, for

world.
it implies
a harmonious
be remembered
But, though this is true, it must
rather
that this faith is a propheticanticipation,
than
are
only on the
acquired knowledge. We
towards
in thought the fact
reconstructing
way
ledge
which we
bringinginto clear knoware, or towards
the
within

us

elemental
as

thought, desire,and

this is achieved,
creed.

have

we

The

be the

last attainment
of nature

in

the

and

future, and

deed.

full

no

revelation

pervades all things,even

manifests

which

power

of

of science ;

will

and
be

God

the

And, until

right to an optimistic
the unity which

in the natural

man

itself

and

world, will
the

ciliation
recon-

is still further

last

triumph

of

philosophy.During all the interval the world will

be a scene
of warringelements ; and
poetry,religion,
and philosophy
can
only hold forth a promise,and
foretaste of ultimate victory. And
give to man
a
in this state of things even
their assurance
often

BROWNING'S

OPTIMISM.

87

Faith

falters.

lapses into doubt, poetry becomes

wail for a lost god, and
its votary exhibits,
a
through Europe to the ^Etolian shore, the pageant
of his bleedingheart."
The optimistic
faith is,as a
Grand
rule,,
only a hope and a desire,a
Perhaps,"
defence
which knows
no
standing,
against the critical underand sinks dumb
when
questioned. If, in
the form of a religious
is
conviction, its assurance
"

"

confident, then,

more

foundations

treacherous
which

crumble

awakened
aid

into

dust

liberated

and

philosophy we
held by reason,
well

as

glad,it

of

us

before

led

from

away

tellect
in-

grows
mediate
inter-

the

spurns

content,

bare

plunge into

facts,was

Emerson's.

the

pure
Caroline

Carlylewhich reveals
that Carlyleonce
pointedly. It seems
very
tions
the serene
philosopherthrough the abominaat midnight,asking
of London
of the streets
tells

him
you
the

the

only a generalhypothesis,

which

reality.
optimism, such

an

blue and

this

which

that lacks

Such

Fox

of

blows

the

steps, a universal without

form

ignorance,

heart, worships and

God

leap to

mere

our

fact

the

upon

Nay, if by the
optimism into a

reason.

still is for most

beneath

turn

the

as

rests

of authoritative

of

faith

often, it

too

with

grim

humour

believe in the devil

he

more

and

lays
Where

saw

better

he

bare

the

the

and

story of him

one

now

of the

saw,

of
the

steps,

"

Do

that
replied
English people the greater

them.

thought
limits

few
every
? "
Emerson

at

both
other

This

little incident

these
was

great

blind.

To

men.

the

one

to

there

mirk

universal

was
scarcely
pure white beam
Carlylebelieved in the good, beyond all

other, the

the

doubt

the

misery and

the

was

broken.

and

BROWNING.

ROBERT

88

he

fought
he

"

but

won,

his

was

great battle in
sorelywounded."

its

strength
Emerson

Sir Galahad, blind to all but the Holy Grail,

his virtue cloistered and
his armour
spotless-white,
and
the dust
without
won
unbreathed, his race

was

His

in the

won

chaos,

the

poeticimagination.
can
only convince the

air of

placidupper
; and

factory.
satiseasy to be
in the enemy's

amidst

sin sits throned

Emerson

And, in consequence,
converted

too

not

victory was

citadel,where
but

optimism was

his

But

heat.

his song

is not

heard

in the

dark,

way,
wayfarer on the muddy highalongwhich burthened humanity meanly toils.
and
earnest
But
Browning's optimism is more
real than
pious hupe,"5T"dogmaticbelief,or
any
benevolent
theory held by a placidphilosopher,
protectedagainstcontact with the sins and sorrows
of man
as
by an invisible garment of contemplative

nor

it cheer the

does

holiness.
*-*"*

shocks

It is

has
CQBvictJQJi^wriir.ri

of criticism and

therefore,both
mission

for the

beyond the
a
mystic good. Its
value recognized by

confronted
known

""

the

the

test

poet and
reach
power
those

sustained

ojLJacts ; and

his readers, fulfils

of any
easy trust
will be felt and

who

contradictions

it

have
of human

in

its

themselves
life and

their

depths.
No
lover of Browning's poetry can
miss
vigorous manliness of the poet'sown
or
bearing,

the

fail

BROWNING'S
to

OPTIMISM.

recognizethe strength that

fearless personality,and
"

89

flows from
the

his

might

ous^,
joy-

of

his

British literature,"
said

When

"

Carlyleof Scott and Cobbett, lay all puking and

sprawlingin Wertherism, Byronism and other Sentimentalisms,

nature

kind

was

And
healthy men."
health, of
eulogy of mere
two

faculties that
and

finds

it easy
:

men

Such

within

to

faced

never

wrote

earshot

for

account

healthiness

he

"

to

breaks

out

send

with

of the

the

the

health

us

into

just balance
radiates
a
glad lightoutwards,
embellishingall things." But

had

they

he

enough

of

of
lightening
en-

he

these

the

ence.
mystery of existfind in Browning, although
we
Carlyleat his side, and

infinite wail

this moral

of

fatalist. And

yet,the word health is inadequateto

convey the depth of the joyous meaning which the
His optimism was
not'
poet found in the world.
to be
constitutional and irreflective hopefulness,
a
the great
accounted
for on
the ground that
mystery of existence was not great to him : did not
drive him
into rocky solitudes to wrestle with it
"

for

an

answer,

to be answered

or

to

perish." There

indeed, certain rash and foolish persons who

pretend to trace Browning's optimism to his mixed
and
descent ; but there is a
pause in the leading
are,

"

the

"

light

moral

and

antecedents.

of those

wiseacres, who

mental

characteristics

They
in the making, nor,
say anything wiser

cannot
even

about

pretendto trace
to physiological

quitecatch a great man

by the help of evolution,
genius than that "the

BROWNING.

ROBERT

90

wind

bloweth

it listeth."

where

a
poet'soptimism indicates

head

and

VHe

heart.

doubt

No

native

sturdiness

the
of

ment
endowthe_Jnvaluable

had

side
the sunny
to see
pre-disposition
of life, and
native tendency to revolt against
a
that subjectivity,
which
is the root of our
misery
of

in

all

its forms.

Welt-schmerz, and
of the

little

had

He

civil to the

scarcelybe

can

respect for the

hero

bleedingheart.
"

Sinning,sorrowing,despairing,
Body-ruined, spirit-wrecked
I give my
woes
an
airing,
Where's
one
plague that claims respect ?
"

Should

"

"

Have

you found your life distasteful ?

life did, and does, smack
sweet.

My
Was

youth of pleasure wasteful

I saved and hold complete.
joys with age diminish ?

your

Mine
Do

your

When
Must

My
"

mine

fail

in death

your

I find earth

Heaven

not

I'll complain.

me

daylight finish

sets to rise

sun

grey

again.
but

rosy,

grim but fair of hue.

I stoop ? I pluck a
posy.

Do

Do

not

I stand

and

stare

All's blue."

Browning was no doubt least of all men

inclined to
pout at his "plain bun"; on the contrary,he was
awake
to the grandeur of his
and valued
inheritance,
most
highly his life-rent of God's universe with the
"

tasks it offered and

his

optimism sent
"

the tools to do them

its roots

with."

But

deeperthan any
tion
disposiit penetrated
beyond mere health of body and
*

At the Mermaid.

"

BROWNING'S

mind,

sensitive to

sentiment
beyond a mere
Optimisms restingon these
; for the former

the

evils that

of

the powers

body and
test,useful onlyfor

is,at

it breaks

it,and

91

it did

as

goodness.
always weak

and

OPTIMISM.

doubt.

down

leaves
crowd

mind

of God's
bases
naked

man

round

him

decay,and

and
when

the latter

the individual who

under

are

possesses

the stress of criticism

Browning'soptimism is a great element

in

English literature,because it opposes with such

from
both
these
strength the shocks that come
is the reflection in feeling
quarters. His joyousness
of a conviction as to the nature
of things,which he
"

had

verified in the

and

established

details

darkest

for

in

himself

of human

the

face

life,
of

the

able to call
gravest objectionsthat his intellect was
forth.
In fact,its value lies,
above all,in this, that
"

it

criticism, after

after

comes

the

condemnation

which

Byron and Carlylehad passed,each from his

own
pointof view, on the world and on man.
The need of an
optimism is one of the penalties
life takes
which
the
reflection brings. Natural
turbs
goodness of thingsfor granted ; but reflection disand
the placid contentment
sets man
at
variance

with

fruit of the

The

his world.

tree

; he

knowledge always reveals his nakedness to man

is turned out of the paradise
of unconsciousness
doomed

to

force

Nature,

conceived

now

satisfyneeds which
Optimism is the expressionof

dame,

to

with his world

pessimism is the

as

consciousness

the

are

as

and
a

step-

first felt.

now

man's

new

ciliation
recon-

oppositedoctrine

of

an

of

unresolved

of

con-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

92

judgment passed upon the

world, from the point of view of its adequacy or
inadequacy to meet demands, arisingfrom needs
Both

tradiction.

are

Now,

tried to show,

I have

as

claims.

and

wants

The

sightof during the

; and

that

was
"

of

main

the

of the

present
of
significance

the

of its
life,and, therefore, by implication,

human

lost

deeper intuition

its

was

of

one

openingyears

characteristics of the
era

in himself.

the individual has discovered

which

Man

was

as

born

which

Rousseau's

attained

man,

swept all before it ;

set

can

immediate

of

supreme
themselves

man,

covered
re-dis-

consequence
infinite worth.

cried Rousseau, with

free,''

inalienable,and
which

first and

the

man,

nature
spiritual
preceding age, was

viction
con-

original,
rightsagainst all things
And
against him."

countrymen believed

"he

has

him.

There

was

Sans-culotte amongst them all but held his head

can
high,beingcreation's lord ; and history
scarcely

not

show

their

sense

to their great burst of joy and hope,

parallel
as
they ran riot in their new-found inheritance, from
which they had so long been excluded.
They flung
themselves upon the world, as if they would
"glut
"

it.

upon

"

Expend

Eternity upon its shows,

Flung them as freelyas one
Out

But

is the

of

summer's

rose

opulence."

the very discovery

that man
is spirit,
which
of all his rights,is also an
source
implicit
*

Easter

Day.

Entsagung,
can

your

BROWNING.

ROBERT

94

"

renunciation

be increased in value
numerator

Blessed

as

alone

fraction

the

not

much

so

of

life

by increasing

by lessening
your denominator."

is he

expectethnothing. The
hears whispered the
man

that

holy of holies, where

the
mystery of life, is
sanctuary of sorrow."
of Legislaturewas
What
Act
there that thou
shouldst be Happy ?
A littlewhile ago thou hadst
if thou wert born and
no
rightto be at all. What
not to be Happy, but to be Unhappy ?
predestined
life itself a disease,knowledge the
Nay, is not
symptom of derangement ? Have not the poets
nobler
Hymns to the Night as if Night were
sung
than
but a small motleyDay ; as if Day were
coloured
veil spread transientlyover
the infinite
bosom
of Night, and did but deform
and hide from
its pure
us
We,
transparent eternal deeps."
ence
existthe whole speciesof Mankind, and our
whole
and history,
but a floating
are
speck in the
"

"

'

'

'

'

"

illimitable
that

ocean

by

way

ocean

currents, of which

there that
ascertain

Doubt,

this way and

its deep-swelling
tides, and grand
of the All

we

the

should

ever

goings and

therefore, hovers

borne

faintest chance

what
exhaust

the

comings ?
for

ever

is

significance
A
region of

in

the

ground.
back-

of Darkness, such
Only on a canvas
is man's
of being, could the many-coloured
way
pictureof our Life paintitselfand shine."
In such
as
these, there is far deeper
passages
pessimism than in anything which
Byron could
experienceor express.
Scepticismis directed by
.

BROWNING'S

Carlyle,not
the

mere

againstthe

sensuous

OPTIMISM.
natural

elements

95
of life
"

outworks, but againstthe citadel

of

the reflectthought itself. Self-consciousness,

ing
or
of himself and his world,
interpretation
by man
the very activity
that lifts him above
animal existence
and makes
him man,
instead of being a divine
endowment, is declared to be a disease,a poisonous
destructive
of all good. The discovery
subjectivity
that man
is spiritand no
due
vulture, which was
to Carlylehimself
than to any other English
more
writer

of his age, seemed, after all,to be a great

calamity; for it led to the renunciation of happiness,

and

filled man

yearningsafter a better than

happiness,but left him nothing wherewith
they
might be satisfied,except the duty next to hand."
And the duty next to hand, as interpreted
by Carlyle,
is a means
of suppressingby action,not idle speech
only, but thought itself. But, if this be true, the
itself. And what kind
is set against
highestin man
of action remains possible
able
to a
speckon the illimitocean, borne this way and that way by its deepearth we
soldiers,
are
on
Here
swellingtides ?
not the
in a foreignland ; that understand
fighting
stand
plan of the campaign, and have no need to underit,seeingwhat is at our hand to be done."
of still deeper gloom in
But there is one
element
this blind fighting
cause.
; it is fought for a foreign
It is God's cause
only in so
and not ours, or ours
far as it has been
imposed upon us ;
despotically
and it is hard to discover from Carlylewhat interest
a
in the victory. Duty is to him
have
we
can
with

"

"

"

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

96
menace

like the

"

which

It lacks the element

to

his

as

free

The

that the outer

looked
moral law is rarely

at

by

still more

will reconcondition which, if fulfilled,

cile
and with God.
And consewith nature
quently,

man

he

littlestrengthfrom

draw

can

for it is onlylove that

To

it be nized
recoghis
law become

beneficent revelation,and

Carlyleas a
as the
rarely

it imperative

make

can

being,namely,that

good,and

inner motive.

alone

possible.

that

duty of a slave,were

sum

up

all in

can
a

cast out fear.

;
religion

\ itjkAr

word, Carlyleregardedevil

of
having penetratedinto the inmost recesses
man's being. Thought was
disease ; morality
was
blind obedience to a foreign
was
authority
; religion
as

of

awe

an

Unknowable, with whom

man

can

claim

to be
discovered
kinship.Man's nature was
It was
an
spiritual,
onlyon the side of its Wants.
of a hungerwhich nothingcould satisfy
endowment
not the infinite,
because it is too great,not the
no

"

because it is too little;

finite,
is too far above
far beneath him.

with the

man,

We

not
are

not

God, because

nature, because
unable

to

He

it is too

ourselves
satisfy

of sense, and are also

shut out of
things
the heaven of spirit."
What
have been called, the
three great terms of thought""the
World, Self,and
God
have fallen asunder
in his teaching.It is
the difficulty
of reconciling
these which
brings
while optimismis
despair,
the consciousness
evidently
of their harmony.
"

"

"

Now, these evils which reflectionhas revealed,and

which are so much
sendeeperthan those of mere

BROWNING'S

OPTIMISM.

97

disappointment,can
only be removed
by
deeper reflection. The harmony of the world of
which has been broken
man's experience,
by the
of sceptical
comprehensivecurse
despair/'can, as
teaches us, be restored only by thought
Goethe

suous

"

"

"

In thine

own

soul, build it up again."

complete refutation of Carlyle's

pessimistic
view can
each of the
only come, by reinterpreting
in the lightof a higher conterms
ception.
contradicting
We
must
have a deepergrasp and a new
The

view

of the Self,the World, and

view

can

God.

And

such

given adequatelyonly by philosophy.

alone can
Reason
justifythe faith that has been
disturbed by reflection,
and re-establish its authority.
be asked, can
pected
a poet be exHow, then, it may
back
the forces of a scepticism,
to turn
which

be

have

dialectic ?

been
Can

of
the weapons
anythingavail in this regionexcept
armed

thus

explicitdemonstration?
but perceives
;
result ; truth

with

poet

art is not

never

process, but

for it is immediate,

strates,
demon-

and

it neither

connection of ideas.
any logical
be
The
and the trumpeters may
standard-bearers
necessary to kindle the courage of the army and to
admits

nor

lead it

on

demands

to

the

thrust

than

the

maintain
.

of sword

fightmust be won by
pike. Man needs more
great poets,if he is to

the

but
victory,
and

intuitions of the

of the truth.
solid possession

Now, I

am

and
objection,

prepared to

admit

I shall endeavour
4

the

force of this

in the

sequelto

BROWNING.

ROBERT

98

is
establish optimism,more
prove that, in order to
preted
interwhen
needed than Browning can
give,even

in the most
is offered in terms

In

some

in La

without

have

violatingthe

his poems,

of

His doctrine

it cannot

of art, and

force

demonstrative
of art.

sympatheticway.

however,

Saisiaz,Ferishtah's Fancies

"

any
limits

stance,
for inand

the

definite
Parleyings,
Browning sought to advance
proofsof the theories which he held. He appears
like a philosopher.
before us at times armed cap-a-pie,
it is not when he argues that Browning proves :
Still,
itiswhen he sees, as a poet sees.
It is not by means
of logical
demonstrations
that he helpsus to meet the
of Carlyle,
to the establishment
or contributes
despair
of a better faith. Browning'sproofsare least convincing
he was
when
of his philosophical
most
aware
critic could
a
presuppositions
; and
philosophical
well afford to agree with the critic of art, in relegating
the demonstrating
portionsof his poems to the
chaotic limbo lyingbetween philosophy
and poetry.
When, however, he forgetshis philosophy,and
speaks as poet and religious
when
he is dominated
man,
by that sovereignthought which gave unity
to his life-work,
and which, therefore,seemed
to
lie deeper in him than the necessities of his art
and to determine his
poeticfunction,his utterances
have a far higher significance.For he so lifts the
artistic objectinto the
region of pure thought,and
makes
and reason
sense
to interpenetrate,
so
that
the old metaphors of
the noble lie and
the truth
beneath
the veil" seem
no
longer to help. He
"

"

"

BROWNING'S
to show

seems

that

us

OPTIMISM.

the

truth

so

less

99

vividlyand simply,
art and philosophy

willingto make
differ.
mutually exclusive,although their methods
of the greatest philosophers,
Like some
and notably
Plato and Hegel,he constrains us to doubt, whether
we

are

distinction penetrates low beneath

the surface ;
for philosophy,
at its best, is a thinking
too, when

the

of

thingstogether. In their lightwe begin to ask,

whether
it is not possible
that the interpretation
of the
world in terms
of spirit,
which is the common
feature
of both Hegel'sphilosophyand Browning's
poetry,
does not necessarily
bringwith it a settlement of the
ancient feud between
these two modes
of thought.
But, in any case, Browning's utterances, especially
those which
he makes
he is most
when
poet
and least philosopher,
have something of the convincing
of a reasoned
ness
impressive
system of
optimism. And this comes,
as
alreadysuggested,
from his loyaltyto a singleidea, which givesunity
to

all his work.

That

idea

we

end,

in the

may,

be

obligedto treat not only as a hypothesis for

all principles
of reconciliation,
of the
those
even
sciences,as long as knowledge is incomplete,must
be regarded as hypotheses but also as a hypothesis
which
he had no rightto assume.
It may
be that
in the end we
shall be obligedto say of him, as of
"

"

so

others

many
"

See

"

And

the sage, with the hunger for the truth,

his system that's all true, except
see

The

one

weak
*

place, that's stanchioned

Prince

by

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

lie ! "

BROWNING.

ROBERT

ioo

be that the

It may

form, through which

religious

generallyreaches his convictions, is not freed

from a dogmatic element, which
so
penetrates his
theless,
thought as to vitiate it as a philosophy.Neverof a
for the poet all the uses
it answered
do the same
and it may
for many
who
philosophy,
distrustful of the systems of the schools,and who
are
he

are

"neither

one."

able to

It contains

that
than

a
an

faith

to do

nor

hints
far-reaching

of the elements

suggestionof

find

of discord

in

of

our

tion
reconcilia-

lives,and

it may
be
optimistic
theoryis truer
way

without

in which

strated,
demonto

facts

with the despair

or agnosticism,
scepticism
they necessarily
bring.
or
a
Browning not only advanced
principle,
hereby,as he conceived, man
might again be
reconciled to the world and God, and all things be
any

viewed

as

benevolent

the
;

he

manifestation
also

sought

to the facts of life. He

of

power
to apply his

is

that

principle

illustrateshis fundamental

of these facts ; and he tests

hypothesisby means
its validity
with the persistence
and impressivecandour
of a scientificinvestigator.
His optimism is
not that of an eclectic,
who can ignoreinconvenient
difficulties.It is not an
attempt to justifythe
whole by neglecting
to make
or
details,
seem
wrong
rightby reference to a far-off result, in which the

steps of the
value
facts ;

of

process

his view

are

forgotten. He

of life

on

its power

stakes
to

meet

fact,ultimately
irreconcilablewith
hypothesis,
will,he knows, destroyit.
one

the
all
his

BROWNING.

ROBERT

102

the earth and

questionsin

All
And

has

so

thee

far advanced

is

Consequently,there

it,

of

out
to be

wise."

defiant_and jiggressive

Strengthened wjth^aain_jiis_attitude.

element

faith in_yie_sup^inelGoQd^_this
knight
unfaltering
o?The Holy Spiritgoes forth over all the world
He has," said Dr. Westcott,
seekingout wrongs.
"

"

dared

of action
and
for

look

to

from

eyes, and

our

this universal

conviction

interest in

vice

"

curiosity.Browning
remain

he

describes evil
it to

of

conviction
in order

was

to

was

no

filth

on

subtleties

of

no

was

"painter,of
for

H^ rr/?wrlg*"g
jLiTartist.

nals^because
allows

the

falsehood"

portray

can

his_"uest.
in^najUCje^IclQiel^^
of
j;heirrational perversity

aesthetic
sophic~~andr'
artist

commonly
brought back

we

that he set out

bmtishness^ meanness,
a
and
corrupt disposition,

no

forms

meanest

he has

survey
I believe, further,that it

ope."
this
justify
His

and

which

passion,from

and

rightlyturn
us

darkest

the

on

philo-

morbid
dirt

filth's sake,

p?p^s

"

L,,

and

crirnj-

with

deeperthan their crimes.

without
palliationor reserve,"

He

sees

"

put forth all its might. Jn order

and
that
,

he

may^injLheend, show
Gud's purposes.^

it to

be

Jleconfronts

it
_

He

conceives it as his mission

evil is
stuff for transmuting,"and
nought in the world.
..

to prove

that

"

Death

in the Desert.

that

there

is

BROWNING'S
"

But, touched
Of

All

aright, prompt

elemental

From

flame
and

gums

He

spice,or

The

else from

to make

power

lights and

Howe'er

whence

flame sprung,

straw

and

rottenness."

"

"

What

yields each particleits tongue

matter

no

"

103

is

want

we

OPTIMISM.

burn, express

henceforth, leaves only ash behind,

warms

the chance."

them

Pompilia'sfaith.

had

"And

still,as the day wore, the trouble grew,

Whereby I guessed there would be born a star."

He

of

forth in the

goes

of his faith in the power

for all to try the resources
once

might

if he wished

good, as

of evil at their uttermost,

a

and

complete

condemnation.

final

view, he seeks evil in its

own

Guido, the subtlest and

most

of

vice

in

literature

our

merely in order that

and he placeshim in
nature,

as

crucis.

The

if he

we

He

creates

powerfulcompound
except lago, perhaps
"

"

may

evil at its worst

see

experimentum

an

blotch

Midmost

of

blaqk

crimes
of clustered
in the group
they call
together in the cave

Huddling
Their palace."f
Beside
"

him

"

tint of hell

Pompilia saw
fade

"

; and
*

the

his mistress,

glow

his mother

Fifine

f The

his brothers, each

are

on

with

his
face

whose

of the nether

pit

"

"

the Book

"

The

own

even

flash and

at the Fair.

Ring and

suited to his

environment

an

"

Discernible

haunts.

carryingout

was

pass upon it
this
With

and

Pope, 869-872.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

104
"

gaunt grey nightmare in the furthest

The

hag that gave these three abortions

Unmctherly mother and unwomanly

The

that

Woman,

Womanliness

"

Such

loathing

to

o'

denizens

the

"

shame,

to

round

cluster

now

cave

While

sevenfold/'

furnace

the

heat

Pompilia and

motherhood

turns

near

smoke,
birth,

she
"

prayer like incense up

the beneficent,
the strong, God

God

To
God

ever

for

Who,

Sent

mindful

in all strife and

our

good, makes

own

lines

throughout
through
bend
as

the

that with

while

from

him

the result of it
"

poem.
side
at our

him

bolt from

it is

; and

to cleave

purify the

Which
Ne'er
To

scene

its

witness, some
despair
J

wants

safely
flames

expect

we

come

clear

place,

flood

outside

yet, in the absolutest

the

only what

roof and

then
with

all the

for the

"

all,that there should

heaven

constant

travel

can

we

know

We

Inferno

the

....

And

saves."

poet'spurpose,

whole

depths of

the

back

feel the

we

extreme,

puts forth might and

Till at the last He

In these

strait,

the need

drench

day

"

of dark,

stray beauty-beam

of hell."

The

him
at

viction
superabundant strengthof Browning's conin the supremacy
led
of the good, which
in The Ring and the Book to depict criminals

their

exhibit
*

worst,

forced

evil in

another

The

him

later

on

forirO The

Ring and the Book

Ring and the Book"
J The Ring and the Book

The

"

t The

"

in his life to

real

meaning

Pope, 911-915.
Pompilia, 1384-1388.
The Pope, 996-1003.

BROWNING'S
of

value

and

such

OPTIMISM.

Fifine

as

poems

105
the

at

Fair,

Prince

Red Cotton Nightcap

Hohenstiel-Schwangau,
Country,Ferishtah's Francies, and others, can only
be determined
by a careful and complete analysis
of each of them.
But they have one
characteristic
in poetry, that the most
so
prominent, and so new
careless reader
dramatic

is

and

giveplaceto

treatment

metaphysical;

within

fail to detect

cannot

instead

character, the

will in collision with

reflection

action

on

after

Action

and

discussion which

of the

stress

it.

conflict of motives

and

strain of

passion

circumstances,there is
it has passed, and
the

conflict of subtle
motives
moral

All

and

consciousness

without

condemns

that these poems

agree
in poetry, and some

the

hesitation.

represent
consider

that

new

parture
de-

in them

tions,
poet, in thus dealingwith metaphysicalabstrachas

To

arguments on the ethical value of

of conduct, which
the ordinary
ways

overleaptthe

boundaries

of the

poeticart.
the periodof

such

this later periodseems

critics,
his decadence^ in which the casuistical tendencies,
which

had

alreadyappeared in Bishop Blougram's

Apology,Mr.
have

Sludge the Medium,

his art, and

overwhelmed

prideof strength,has
Fair

is said to be

"

and

defence

of

poems,

his intellect,in its

Fifineat
inconstancy,or

wanton.

grown

other

the
of

rightof experiment in love." Its hero, who is

modern
a
gentleman,a refined,cultured,musical,
artistic and philosophic
person, of high attainments,
loftyaspirations,
strong emotions, and capricious
wide in range, of prowill,"produces arguments
the
"

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

106

to defend
and infinite ingenuity,"
significance
immoral intercourse with a gipsytrull.
and justify
of a libertine,
The poem consists of the speculations
and
into his service truth and sophistry,
who coerces
wealth of thoughtand imagery/'
a superabounding
and with no further purpose on the poet'spart than

found

"

of

delineation

dramatic

the

character.

Prince

is spoken of in a
similar
Hohenstiel-Schwangau
the justification,
manner
as
by reference to the
deepest principlesof morality, of compromise,
hypocrisy,lying,and a selfishness that betrays

The

to

cause

every

the

individual's
"

objectof

the poet is
by no means
black white, or white black, or to make

appear
monster

it is,and

am

the

prove
worse

seeming
common

it has grown to be
less selfwith more
or

by showing how
how

reconcile
V^delusion
I

to

the better reason,

but to bring a
and perplexing
anomaly under the

) laws of nature,
/ what

welfare.

meanest

not able to

it

can

itselfto itself."

accept this as

of the intention of the

tion
completeexplana-

poet, except with refer-

to Prince

The Prince is
Hohenstiel-Schwangau.
a psychological
study,like Mr. Sludge the Medium,
and
Bishop Blougram. No doubt he had the

ence

interest of

dramatist

in the hero

Fifineat the
Red Cotton NightcapCountry ;

Fair and in the hero of

but, in these poems, his dramatic
determined by an ethical
purpose
His
profound.
meeting with the
and the spectacleof her

vice,not only

"

sent

of

his

interest is itself
which
,

is

equally

gipsy at Pornic,
unscrupulousaudacityin
fancyroaming/'but opened

BROWNING'S
before him

out

the

OPTIMISM.

fundamental

What

I would

is not

the casuistic defence

find, therefore,in

but
libertine,

of

problems of
Fifineat the

life.
Fair

artistic and

an

earnest

an

107

attempt

on

speculative
the part

of the poet to prove,

"

That, through the outward

And
sparks from heaven

sign, the inward

grace allures,
tures,
covertranspierce earth's coarsest

"

All

by demonstrating the value

Within
to

his scheme

of Fifine."

of the universal

good

he seeks

fincTa place_even_fox_
this "gipsy
creature, who
in

traffics

just what we most

keep." Having,in the Ring and
evil at
in

its worst

as

and

us

the Book,

it manifests

characters

concrete

pique

itself

external

that

we

challenged
practically

action, and

from
it the victory of the good, in
having wrung
Fifineand in his other later poems he meets it again
in the region of dialectic. In this sphere of metaphysical
more
a
dangerous
ethics,evil has assumed
faith
His optimistic
for an artist.
form, especially
has
never

driven

the

poet into
before.

ventured

flesh and

realm

into which

His battle is now,

blood, but with the subtler powers

poetry
not

of

with

dark-;

ing
argumentative,and threatento turn
the poet'sfaith in good into a defence
of immorality,
the worst evil by what
and to justify
in outward
is highest of all. Having indicated
of sin and
fact "the need," as well as the "transiency

ness

grown

vocal and

death," he seeks here

*

to

prove that need, and seems,

Fifine at the Fair, xxviii.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I08

thereby,to degradethe highest truth

into

moralist, who

the abstract

nothingbut

casuisticaland shameless

is

of evil,which
We

made

are

repulsiveto
sufficiently
is apt to find in Fifine

result is

the

discover,"for instance, that

"There

Enough
Could

and

too

not

was

just

of hate, love,

much

hold

discerninglybut

one

justification

blasphemy againstgoodness itself.

"

to

religion

wickedness.

defence of the worst

doubt

No

of

greed

and

lust,

the balance, shift

scale,do justiceto the drift

Of nature, and explain the gloriesby the shames
stuff miscalled by different names."
one
Mixed up in man,

The

We

scale to

weight from

are

told that"
"

Force, guile were

blame

My praise,not

with

Confronted

such

which

arms

at

earned

all."

utterances

these, it is

as

only natural that, rather than entanglethe poet in

the sophistries
should regard them
them, we
as
of a philosophical
Don
Juan, powerful enough,
under

to

tinction
to confuse the disself-defence,
of rightand wrong.
But, as we shall try

the stress

show

in

of

the next

chapter,

such

an

apparent
flective
by a re-

of evil cannot
be avoided
justification
contained
optimist; and it is implicitly
in those religious
even
Ben
of Rabbi
utterances
Ezra, Christmas Eve, and A Death in the Desert,with
which we
not only identify
the poet but ourselves,
in

so

far

as

we

share his faith that

*

Fifine at the Fair, cviii.

V.

CHAPTER

AND

ETHICS

remedies

oft

OPTIMISM

"

Our

Which

we

Gives

scope

designs, when

But

most

it is

The

help

of

the

Good

tried

of

which

elements
moral

words,

of

world

And

the
or

impulse

which

not,

antagonisms

finding
absolute

with

governing

motive

in

of

led
of

them

of

men."*

one

of

life

itself in all
of

it is

when

which

soberly

reconcile

the

whether

dramatise

of

was

the

the

Well

that

Ends

Well.

and

with,
himself.

conscious
secret

conflicts

necessity

presence

Good.

lies in

held

the

poetry,
the

other

man

motive,

life,

In

Carlyle.

and

with

human

ception,
con-

sensational

in^the

Browning's

All's

this

GodT andthereby

to

is that

the
brin^~~TogetIier

asunder

evidence

the

means

sought_tp

him

puling

of

it reveals

Byron

thought

and

are

re-interpretingpower

the

fearlesslyapplied, hg
the

act

to"

fallen

pessimism

this fundamental

the

life^.By

had

through

when

that

endeavoured

he

us,

pull
dull.

Browning^sjvjew

human

sky

backward

that

absolute^and
of

events

show

to

conceptions
is

in

count

we

fated

ourselves

we

presumption

heaven

lie,

The
doth

only

slow

and

free

do

heaven.

to

Our

HAVE

the

us

ourselves

in

ascribe

CONTRADICTION.

THEIR

of

and
of

this

OPTIMISM

AND

ETHICS.

in

's optimismwas

deep and comprehensive

compromise. His faith in the

enough to rejectall
to rise with the demands
that were
good seemed
made
of man,
upon it by the misery and wickedness
and -the apparentlypurposeless
of life and its
waste
him

wjiichled
H

HP^
jffir.nl

nf

to

test

of

difficulties still

tho^e -alv"

'

anH

power to reveal the presence

individual evils. But there
than

nearer

those

facts, difficulties arisingout

concrete

earnestness

thpnry
optimism, as of any
philosophic
is more
than
a
pious sentiment,

optimism which
lie in its
must
finally
of the good in actual
are

wUh

lifp,b"t

rpflprfinn
a

deliberate

ihe..cojicr"teJb^i
grapple^noLojilyLwitli

individual

tjiat springfrom
The

it

There_^as_in

resources.

suggestion that evil is a

speculativedifficulties must

presentedby
of the

of

form

very
Such

good.
be met
by a reflective
of an
mind, before it can follow out the application
ing's
facts.
Now, Brownoptimistic
theory to particular
creed, at least

as

he

it in his later years,

of an
able exaggeration

held

ious sentiment, the

of

OnH-intoYKatfHrrnrm

presentedas^solutionof

convicimpassio_nsd
It

moral

was

deliberately

and
jproblems,

was

nature
theory oTthe spiritual
of things..It is,therefore, justlyopen to the same
a

as

kind of criticism

as

trine
docphilosophic
poet deprivedhimself of the_

that to which

is

exposed. The
legitimate enouglTto the intmtivemetliod
jrefuge,
art, when,

a^dramatic

in his later works, he

solution

of the

not

of

only^olfered

problem oTTifeT'but

BROWNING.

ROBERT

H2

attempted_to_jnfptthe difficulties
lefinitely
ethics!
srjeculative
of these
In this chapter I shall point out some
and then proceedto show how the poet
difficulties,
proposedto solve them.
A thorough-goingoptimism,in that it subdues
all thingsto the idea of the supreme
Good, and
luteness
denies to evil the righteven
to disputethe absoof its sway,
to imply a
naturallyseems
pantheistic
theory of the world. And Browning's
insistence on
of the highest in all
the presence
revival
thingsmay easilybe regarded as a mere
of the oldest and crudest attempts at findingtheir
unity in Godj For if all, as he says, is for the
best, there

to be

seems

room

no

left for the

ences
differ-

apparent in the world, and the varietywhich

givesit beauty
would

seem

the

delusive
stands
and

and

to be

worth.

and
illusory

creations of human

existences

phenomena,
imagination,itself a
evanescent

infinite,on this view,

againstthe finite,and it overpowers

appearance.

over

Particular

it ; and

consumes

"The

the

optimism,impliedin

the

God
is all," turns
phrase that
into a
at once
pessimism. For, as soon
as
we
inquire into the
meaning of this all,"we find that it is only a negation
of everything we
Such
be.
know
a
can
or
pantheism as this is self-contradictory
; for, while
seeming to level all thingsupwards to a manifestation
of the divine,it
reallylevels all downwards
to the level of
mere
unqualified
being,a stagnant
and empty unknowable.
It leaves only a choice
"

"

OPTIMISM
between

time,

akosmism
it

AND

each

of

the

all

the

at

alternatives

For, in explainingthe world

and

113

atheism, and,

and

makes

ETHICS.

in

abolishingthe world
that
the
so
signification;

it

same

sible.
impos-

it abolishes it,

empties

Godhood

itself of
it

which

attempts to establish throughout the whole realm

of being, is found
to mean
nothing. "It is the
night,in which all cows are black."
(The optimistic
creed, which the poet strove to
nence
teach, must, therefore, not only establish the immaof

God,

immanence

or

things.)His doctrine
folly,or wickedness, or
incident

no

room

risks

which

the

is

universe

that there

conceals

misery, but

there

; that

divine element

failure,

is no

historywhich is not a
has
life of the highest,and which
of universal good, must
scheme
a

morality brings with

impossible. For a God
with

His

presence,

all the

and

life of man,

moral

for the

optimism

the

such
how
way
of parexistence
ticular

in human

pulsationof the
not its place in
leave

some

with

is consistent

within it,at its heart,

is

in

show

but

it.

Otherwise,

who,

in

encroaches

filling
the

on

the independenceof man,

extinguishes
of all that is best for man
precludesthe possibility
Life, degriyeiLQlits
namely, moral achievement.
the poet, and so, in
moral
purpose, is worthless to

freedom

and

"

to maintain

in order
is all that_exists
xojjsecjuence,

IhaUtfe.

Optimism and~ethicsseem

hitolmmediatecollision.
presence
room

for

of

God

man

in all
and

The

former,

things, seems

the latter

seems

to

thus

come

findingthe
to

leave

to set

man

no

to

BROWNING.

ROBERT

ii4

destinyin solitude,and to givehim

life ;
his own
supreme and absolute authorityover
he forms, be it good
which
that any character
so
the product of his own
bad, is entirely
or
activit
in
So far as his life is culpableor praiseworthy,
other words, so far as we
pass any moral judgment
think of it as the revelation
upon it,we necessarily
of a self,
that is,of an independent
will,which cannot
divide its responsibility.
There may be, and indeed
there always is for every individual,a hereditary
and
dencies
a
environment, tenpredisposition
soliciting
work

out his

own

which
and

which

are

his inheritance from

rise to the

surface

remote

in his

own

other words, the life of the individual

is

past,

life ; in

always led
within the larger
sweep of the lifeof humanity. He
is part of a whole, and has his place fixed,and his
function predetermined,
by a power which is greater
than his own.
But, if we are to call him good or evil,
if he is to aspireand
repent and strive,in a word,
if

(heis

be

have

to

merely a part of
within him

and

which

makes

moral

any
a

system

which
him

character, he
; there must

is superior
to
master

of his

cannot

be

thing
some-

circumstances,
own

fate.

His

natural

historymay begin with the grey dawn of

primal being,but his moral historybegins with
himself,from
the world

in which

his natural
who

can

What
"

an

the time

is

he first reacted

placed,and

relations into will and

be

responsiblefor what

could

ought

he

when

a
"

moral

upon
transformed

character.
he

imperativemean,
to a being who
signify,

did not
what
was

For
will ?
could

only

OPTIMISM

AND

embodiment

temporary

ETHICS.

of

115

forces, who

are

prior

to, and

independentof himself ? It would seem,

irreconcilable with
therefore, as if morality were
be the
cannot
optimism. The moral life of man
manifestation

of

divine

benevolence

is necessary ; it is a trust
which he may
either violate or
divine

whose

pose
pur-

laid upon himself,

keep. It surpasses
with equal power
"

goodness, tho* matched

to make
the flowers
man
good, as it has made
beautiful.
From
this pointof view, spiritual
ment,
attain"

whether

intellectual

or

moral, is man's

own,

spontaneous product. Just as God is conceived

all in all in the universe,so man
is all in all
as
within the sphere of duty ; for the kingdom of

is within.

heaven

both

exclusion

of external

this reason,

it has

absolute
For

In

interference.

often

as
philosophersand theologians,

too

confined

to

hold

within

In the East, the consciousness

at

times

to

leave

the West, where

interest therein
a
aspires,

and

Deism

allowed

Him

no

room

is

alike, there

cases

seemed
if the

it both

God

both

to

world

were

and

man.

of the infinite seemed

for the

the consciousness

finite ; and

in

of the finite and

strives and
is strongest,and
man
which set God at a distance,
arose
to

interfere in the

fate of

man

only by a benevolent miracle. Nor is this collision

and
of pantheism and
freedom, nay of religion
morality,confined to the theoretical region. This
bold
is not merely the punishment of an overdifficulty
and
over-ambitious
philosophy,which pries
too
curiouslyinto the mystery of being. It lies

BROWNING.

ROBERT

n6
the

at

of the

of all reflection

threshold

very

life.

moral

of God's

sin,and
permitting

parents

with

benevolence
"

vain

and

must

be

absolute

cruelties of life.

controversy/'
says

Teufels-

soul since the beginning

arises in every

in every soul,that would

idle suffering
into actual endeavouring,

of the world
from

facts

mystery
their helpless

between

miseries and

the

interminable

drockh, "which

pass

embarrass

contradiction

the

the

feel the

children

Even

on

put

time, have

and

end

an

to.

The

with

most,

in

our

own

simple,incomplete
enough Suppressionof this controversy: to a few
Solution of it is indispensable."
is what Browning
Solution,and not Suppression,
sought ; he did, in fact,propound a solution,which,
whether
or
finally
not, at least carries
satisfactory
us
beyond the easy compromises of ordinaryreligious
and
ethical teaching. He
does
not
deny
the universality
of God's
beneficence
or
power,
and divide the realm
of being between
Him
and
the adversary
:
the other hand, does he
nor, on
limit man's freedom, and
ethics by extracting
stultify
the stingof reality
from sin. To limit God, he
to deny Him
knew, was
the difficulties
; and, whatever
he felt in regardingthe absolute
Spiritas
itself in man,
he could not be content
realizing
to
reduce

to go

into

man

take

their onward

temporary phantom, an evanescent

of
spiritualor natural forces,
form in him
fleeting
as
they pursue

embodiment
that

content

"

"

way.

Brpj^iingjield_with"qual
tenacityto the

idea of

BROWNING.

ROBERT

n8

through conflict. He does not

plant grows into maturity.

"

The
the

sufiereth violence, and

heaven

the

good as
kingdom

become

violent

of

take

it

force/'

by

"

the

No, when

worth

man's

looks

Satan

fightbegins within himself,

up

stoops o'er his head,

his feet, both tug
God

something.
between

"

"

the soul awakes

:
He's left,himself, i' the middle
And
Prolong that battle through this life !
grows.
leave growing till the life to come." *
Never

spectatorof the conflict of the forces

loses the
of right and
; Browning never
wrong
individual in the throng, or sinks him into his age
And
or
race.
although the poet ever bears within
of victoryfor the good,he calls his
him the certainty
fellows to the fightas if the fate of all hung on the
valour of each. yThe struggleis always personal,
Man

is

no

idle

individual like the duels of the Homeric

It is under

heroes.

guise of warfare that morality

always presents itself to Browning. It is not a
the measured, selfmere
equilibriumof qualities"
contained, statuesqueethics of the Greeks, nor the
the

asceticism and

self-restraint of Puritanism,

peacefulevolution

of

it is valour

battle of life.

no

ux

he

bids each

that is within
the

even

to

artistic

negativecommandments,

; but

with

the

Goethe's

him, and

whole
seek

man

energy
evil with
*

one's

and

morality:
code
no

tains
con-

tions
limita-

all the power

life
himself upon

let out

throw

of his

His

the

nor

being.
whole

Bishop Blougram.

It is better

mind, than

to

OPTIMISM
be lukewarm

ETHICS.

ng

in

goodness. Whether you seek good

play for the counter or the coin,stake it

evil,and

or

AND

boldly!
"

Let

contend to the utteimost

man
his life's set prize,be it what it will !
a

For
"

The
As

counter

surely

And
"

lovers staked

our

as

if it

the sin I

lawful

were

impute

to each

lost

was

coin

frustrate

ghost

Is,the unlit lamp and the ungirt loin

Though the end in sight was a vice, I say.
Ycu, of the virtue (we issue join)
How

strive you

Indifference and

poet, the

'
"

De

lassitude
spiritual
"

of sins.

worst

"

fabula /'

te

Go

"

to

are,

says the

the

Pope

to

Pompilia'spseudo-parents,
"

Never

again

White

elude

the choice

shall riot neutralize

of tints !

the black,
absolve
him

nor
good
Compensate bad in man,
so :
Life's business being just the terrible choice." f

In
the

all the

greater characters

of The

Ring

of vigour in good and

Book, this intensity

flashes out

gentle of

Even

us.

upon

and
evil

Pompilia,the most
the first prompting

all his

creations,at
of the instinct of motherhood,
rises to the law
demanding resistance,and casts off the old sivity.
pas"

Dutiful

to the foolish

Submissive
Tolerant
That
*

The

t The

next

to

of those

did his
Statue

Ring

parents first,

the bad

and
and

"

nay,

miserable

meaner

bests,eked

husband,

out

the dole of

pain

"

the Bust.
the Book

% Ibid., 1052-1055.

"

Tht

P"p", i"ss-i"3*.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

120

she is found
in

"

Sublime

"

I did for

right,do right,give tongue

see

once

adequate protest : for

The

have

If it would
I did

thus

Yet, shame
off it

And

Beneath

the

the

ashes

He

is

to

armoury

'Twas

truth

do

the lies

singed

wisdom

mature

Pope, amidst

of the

fire.
sleepsthe same
priestas Caponsacchi
experienceonly muffles
his life-long
labour, we

as

his matured

with
vigour. Wearied
him gather himself together

see

of old age, there

truly a warrior

himself, and
his

lay low

magic mail,

withered, cobweb
me."

saved

me,

patent, I struck, bare,

to foot in

Against the lightning!

And

and

sun

and

rank

head

foe from

At

aside

to thrust

good and truth."

neutral izer of all

The

by God.

observed

spring up, attempt

turn

must

worm

its wrong

ice-block 'twixt the

That

"

impatience with the foe."

new

His

will

on

earth

once

"

in God's

name,"

with

more

trated
concen-

might.
"

With

whole

my

Ending,

far

so

strengthonce
as

man

more,

ere

I smite
end

this offence."

may,

my

part,

Nor, spiteof doubts, the promptings of mercy,

the friends pluckinghis sleeve to
stay his arm,
does

he

fear

"

to handle

from
be

sendingthe criminal
but one
day before he
*

The

Ring

and

the

lie

"

roughly

to his account,

himself

or

though

and

Book"Pompilia, 1591-1596.

the Book"

The

it

is called before

t Ibid.,1637-1641.

} The Ring

shrink

Pope, 1958-1960.

OPTIMISM

AND

ETHICS.

the

judgment seat. The same

of bold conflict,animates
spirit
evil for his good. At all but

his life of monstrous

the

echo

of the

deed

Guido's
the

adoptionof

last moment

to his

who
priests,

death,

"

same

of

he hears

descend

the

he repeats his evil

in will."
"

Nor

is it in

last
up my
Pietro in the

use

Old

unhate

to

me

hates,

my

strength

"

to strike

once

trample

Of

beast

To

loathinglyreject Pompilia's pale

If there

be

underfoot

the

Viol ante,

whine

hasty hunger took

any

one

wile
gorge

for food."

form

concrete

and

I" grow

and

"

my

more

wine-house-gossip-face,

To

Poison

the

the

energy,

crime, just before

feet of the

stair to lead him

121

of evil with

which

able
poet'soptimism is not able to cope, any irretrievblack
beyond white's power to disintensify,"
"

it is the refusal to take

for either virtue
of
to

its

is

life that

and

resolute

hesitancyand
loyalto nothing,not

vice ;

or

selfishness.

own

definite stand

the

cool

The
"

old

self-love

reduced
English moralists, which
life to principles,"
and
weighed good
the scales of prudence, is to our
poet

promise
comeven

of

of
game
evil in
and

the

the

deepest

damnation.
"

Saint

Eldobert

"

much

approve

his mode;

Vertgalant I sympathize ;
But histrionic Sganarelle,who
prompts
refuses
While
yet concedes,
pulling back,
With

sinner

Surely,
*

The

one

should

Ring and

the

bid

"

pack that mountebank

Bo"k"Guido,

the

2400-2406.

!"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

122

In him,

even
"

thickheads

ought

to

recognize

Devil, that old stager, at his trick

The

generalutility,who leads
Downward, perhaps,but fiddles

Of

For

bold

the

sinner, who

all the way

sustains

and

chooses

"

hope. Indeed,
the resolute choice is itself the beginningof hope ;
for,let a man
only givehimselfto anything,wreak:
of his hate,
himselfon the world in the intensity
set all sail before the gusts of passion
and
range
from Helen
to Elvire, frenetic to
be free/' let
him rise into a decisive self-assertion againstthe
stable order of the moral
world, and he cannot
his

part

end, the

the

to

poet

has

"

fail to discover the

and

the

of the task

nature

meaning

he has

of the

without,
power
himself.
If there
be

againstwhich he has set

sufficientstrength
in a man
to vent himself
and
try conclusions with the world/' he
"

learn that it has

another

instrument of evil.

good
and

destinythan

in action,
will then

to

be

the

Self-assertion taken

indeed,it is the very law of

by itself is
human
every life,

other.
"

Redounded
Man's

But
than
the

dertaken,
un-

to the

nature

had

praise of man,
both

it leads to

that

of

was

right to get

the

lie

victory
might to gain." *

revelation

selfishness. The

self which

and

Each

of

very

higher law
assertion

of

leads into evil,ultimately

leaves the

self assertion futile. There

*

Red

Cotton

is the

disappointment

Nightcap Country.

t Fifrne at the Fair, cxxviii.

OPTIMISM
of utter

failure ;

AND

empty-handed.
when
sinning,

He

"

other

quite

To

have

its way

Poor

Each

wanderer

Beyond
Could

the

not

man,

brings home

To

the

reign

fit

saw

his way

man

subjected,

with

it."

divergency in

begin anew."

no

of livinga
impossibility

divided

of the flesh

the sweets

once

vain.

profitfrom his quest

that keeping house were
best

the sad surmise

life

at

Red

with

step aside just proves

The

and

nature, that

upon

pabulum for pride when the first love is found

also ! and, so far from realizinggain,

Last

The

real

as

back

finds himself
"

Of

123

sinner is thrown

the

himself
even

ETHICS.

life,of enjoying
the
Turf/'
"

on

the

securityof the "Towers," is the text of

sordid hero of
Cotton Nightcap Country. The
is graduallydriven to choose between
the
poem

alternatives.

best of his luck, the

The

poet thinks,

the

was

"

Rough

jerk which

continuance

The

the retention
made

which

accident

An

of

"

Thus

by

Fifine at

t Red

joint!

Miranda

seeming

fear and

thinks

mid-shame,
cramp

"

and

covert

and

"

trembling, and
:

one

bold

the shiver

drowning may

Fair, cxxviii.
Nightcap Country.

the

Cotton

cure,

rightlierjudged
surprise,publicity

Cowardice

Though

or

subterfuge,and
first falsehood," are ultimately

in

Stopped further
the

Leonce

rude

Beneficent

Into

dislocated

disguiseand

the

impossibleto

to kill

comes

mends

of
"

shock,

wholesome

but

what

tale

splash

ends,
begin perhaps." "
cxxix.
t MM.
" Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I24
In the

the best deed

'

of life

Such

end

Hold

With

all-momentous

belief,you

I advise

faith to

Put

you

only half-believe,
issues either way,
imitate this leap,

proof,be cured

killed

or

'

once

Guido
"

claims

hate,"

"

some

Pompilia

as

In that very

the truth of him."

was

at

gains the poet's

universe
a
great plot

approval. He finds the

againsta pied morality. Even
kind of regardfrom him, since
"

"

that

decisive deed

it is the

said,

I say.

! sane,

irrational.

not

was

No

leap

of his life,

being the conditions

And

Thus

Mad

'

"

Such

suicidal

he finds Miranda's
spirit
for him.
possible

same

hate

we

something real,
subterfuges,
And
at last.
since,through his hate, he is frankly
measuring his powers againstthe good at work in
his endless

find,beneath

the

of the
doubt
any
bringthe rival forces face to face is just

world, there
To

issue.

is wanted.

what

"

Himself

I felt
to

A. minute's

It is the
of

From

rear

he
the

and

without
*

who

would

on

the end

mistrust

respect for

same

that God

quite sure
Satan

strenuous

had

set

spend
?
f
"

action

and

like
dis-

compromise, that inspiredthe patheticlines

in which
"

remain

cannot

Red

condemns
van

and

the slaves."

the
the

Lost

Leader"who

free-men, and

For the

sunk

good pursues

broke
to the

its work

him.
Cotton

Nightcap Country.

t Count

Gismond.

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i26

the

Greet

with

unseen

thrive

Strive and
There

as

!
"

here.'

fitwords

are

'

cheer !

forward, breast and back

Bid him

These

work-time

noon-day in the bustle of man's

at

No,

as
*

cry

either

Speed

!"

should

be,

fighton, fare

to close such

life. His last act

is a kind of re-enlistment in the service of the

the

joyousventuringforth
is

who

iBut

in lands

and

conditions

on

by

of his

sure

new

heroic

man

cause.

How
the great difficulty.
in the moral
such earnestness

can

comes

now

good ;

under

war

new

unknown,

of himself and

sure

ever

the

struggle
poet combine
with so deep a conviction of the ultimate nothingness
of evil,and of the complete victoryof the good $
Again and againwe have found him pronounce such
victoryto be absolutely
necessary and inevitable.
His belief in God, his trust in His love and might,
will brook no limit anywhere. His conviction is that
of the good subjectsevil itself to its
the power
authority.
"

My

The

hope is,a

own

thickest cloud

sun

earth

will
ever

pierce
stretched

That, after Last, returns

the First,
Though a wide compass
round
be fetched
That
what
began best, can't end worst.
Nor

what

God

blessed once,

prove

accurst." f

It is the

poet himself and not merely the sophistic

aesthete of Fifinethat speaks :
"

"

Partake
But

my

that, some

Its supreme
*

Epilogue

to

confidence
way,
worth
:

No

creature's

made

so

mean

it

boasts, could we investigate,

fulfils,
by ordinance of fate,

Asolando.

f Apparent Failure.

OPTIMISM

AND

ETHICS.

127

Its momentary
task, gets glory all its own,
Tastes triumph in the world, pre-eminent, alone."
"

As

firm is my

belief,quick sense
Self-vindicatingflash illustrate
And

and

mass,

every

prove,

place allotted it,was

if so,
within the
But

them

"

man

throughout
prime

the

plan,

if

Helen, Fifine,Guide, find themselves

after all,the task allotted
plan,fulfilling,

in the universal
?

them

Must

optimism

bounds,

and
the

on

or,

"

scheme, how
faith in

keep

our

other

hand, make

"

to effort

but

"

"

What
The

but

illusion all the

an

in

the weakness

incentive

to

we

demn
con-

plainlyeither modify

not

we

can

humanity,

Faith

within

God

every failure
the distinction

apparent only,sin a phantom, and

between
rightand wrong a helpfulillusion
man

same

perfect."*

And

our

our

detail but, in

No

to

of

woman

perceivesthe

stings

that
?

same

supplies

strength

no

Absolute, irresistible comforts.

How

can.

man

love

but

what

he yearns

to

help

of self-sacrifice,
possibility,
except where there is misery? How can good,
ance
and give utterthe good which is highest,
find itself,
within
and actuality
that slumbers
to the power
Are not good and evil
evil ?
it,except as resisting
known,
relative ?
Is not every criminal,when really
working out in his own way the salvation of himself
and the world ? Why cannot
he, then, take his stand
towards the good by any path
his rightto move
on
It
he must.
that best pleases
himself : since move
Where

is the need, nay,

the

Fifine at the Fair, xxix.

t The

Ring and

the Book"

The

Pope, 1649-1652.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

128
is easy

conscience
religious

for the

admit

to

with

Pippathat
All service ranks

"

God, whose

With
Are

we

there is

why do we
beauty,and

But, if so,
in moral
Ottima

"

the

with God

same

"

puppets, best and worst,

no

last

admire
in what

or

first." *

pre-eminence
better than
really

her sweet
is she

doctrine that

The
"

God's in His heaven

All's right with the world
"

"

in every devout
spiritfrom the
beginningof the world : it is of the very essence
?
of its moral consequences
But what
of religion.

finds its echo

when thoroughlyconsistent,is the

(Religion,
reconciliation of all contradictions.

phant
triumIt is

of thingsas the process of

optimism,the justification
evolvingthe good ; and its peace and joy are justthe
of the conviction,won
outcome
by faith,that the
that every detail of lifeis,in its
place,illumined with divine goodness. But

ideal is actual,and
own

is the
^morality

by

reference to

to

be.)The

and

condemnation
a

of

conceptionof

absolute

thingsas they are,

good which ought

identification of the

ideal

actual

either in something
extinguishes
morality,
lower or something higher. But the moral ideal,
when reached, turns at once
into a stepping-stone,
a
dead self ; and the good formulates itself anew
as an
ideal in the future. So that moralityis the sphereof
and the moral lifea progressive
realizadiscrepancy,
*

Pippa Passes.

t Ibid.

OPTIMISM
tion of

AND

ETHICS.

129

good that can never be complete. It would

thus seem
to be irreconcilably
different from religion,
which must, in some
way or other, find the good to
be present, actual, absolute, without
shadow
of
change,or hint of limit or imperfection.
How, then, does the poet deal with the apparently
fundamental
which
discrepancybetween religion,
postulatesthe absolute and universal supremacy
of God, and morality,
which postulates
the absolute
of man
within the sphere of his own
supremacy
action,in so far as it is called rightor wrong ?
This difficulty,
in one
other of its forms, is,
or
in modern
perhaps,the most pressing
philosophy.
It is the problem of the possibility
of rising
above
the
of discrepant
to a
Either, Or
conceptions,
positionwhich grasps the alternatives togetherin
the question,
a
higher idea. It is at bottom
whether
have
a
can
we
philosophyat all ; or
a

"

whether

"

must

we

fall back

once

into

more

conv

and despairwhich it
promise,and the scepticism
//
alwaysbringswith it.
fIt is justbecause Browning does not compromise^^p
between
the contendingtruths that he is instructive/
The
value of his solution of the problem corresponds
accuratelyto the degree in which he holds
both the absoluteness of God's presence in history,
moral
and
the
complete independence of the
consciousness. (He refused to degrade either God
of religion,
he refuses to
In the name
or
man.

say

that

social and

"

purpose

of

reason

is visible in the

of mankind

legalstructures
5

"
"

only

"

on

BROWNING.

ROBERT

130
"

the whole
"

to

assert

it is,and

of

name

he
morality,

refuses
"

of the actual world

as
perfection
all human
to stultify
deavour.
enby implication
the vice of compromising,and
He
knew
the

to hold

strove

in the

; and

in their fulnc

the truths

both

compromise God's love or power,

it dominant
merely on the whole," leaving

he did not

That

"

and make

is universal,a limbo

His realm, which

within

"lost/*is evident
"

for the

casual reader.

to the most

doctrine,which one healthy view of things,

One sane
sight of the general ordinance
Nature, and its particularobject, man,
This

"

"

ch

one

Of Who

made

these

and

at

dissipatedonce

This

doctrine

dosed

I have

Because

man

to

sense

evermore,

boot,

"

flock wit'.

our

believed

none

"

the character

gave

and

it."

O'er-punished
wrong
Hell

says.
in

eyecast

mere

Had

Why
"

"

right,"Browning
grows
is,for him, the consciousness of opportunities

arrested growth
neglected,
of a better
turn, is the beginning
"

However

I stand

; and

even

that,

life.

in His

regard,
I stood by steps
nearer
Offered the feet which rashly spurned their
help.
That I call Hell ; why further punishment ?
f
So

much

near

the

had

"

Another

ordinaryview, accordingto which evil

self-destructive,
and ends with the annihilation
its sen-ant, he
in a
least,
power,
he

passage
which he

describes
*

The

Inn

does

not

so

of wonderful

Alburn.

as

of

decisively
reject. At
poeticand philosophic

puts into the mouth

Guido

is

of

Caponsacchi,
graduallylapsing towards

f"
A

Camd-Driver.

OPTIMISM

is lower

chaos, which

the
He

to die

Not

much

so

Pushed

the

by
Low, lower,
to

seem

One

then

131

existence.

created

by

slide out

as

general

horror

see

at all honest

one

of

life,

and

hate

common

left o' the very ledge of things,

him catch convulsively,

"

ETHICS.

him

observes
"

AND

-.At reason, order,

To cramp
him and

forms

decency

of

and

use,

get foothold

And

still

they disengage them

And

thus

life,

by
from

at least ;

his clutch.

him

slowly and surely edged

whence
life upsprings
immortality."

see

Off all the table-land

Aspiring
There

dusk

loses him

he

the

At

But

horizontal
what

From

in

matchless

the

line, creation's verge,

moral

suddenness

of Guide's

"

instant and

one

The

of death

'

fate,"and hopes that the truth

by the blow of death, and Guido
Nor

be saved."

is his trust vain.

"

he
In his agony
heard
he has known
or

him.

light breaks

through

ters
minis-

The

summons

of

"

'

blackest

the

:
"'

The

the

in the

"

his first trust

Abate," Cardinal," Christ," Maria," God"

then

gloom
*

claim

helperwhom
"

the

comes," said Dr. Westcott.

end

every

Pope leads
poet againretrieves

insightof

Pope puts

be flashed out

may

and

nothingness."*

different conclusion,and the

The

"

loneliness,silence and

just is to absolute

his faith.

see

the

"

"

to

to be

Pompilia

Ring

and

! will

the Book"

you

let them

murder

me

'

Giuseppe Caponiacchi,1911-1931.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

132

In this supreme

love is,

what

he has known

moment

and, knowing it,has begun to feel it. The cry, like

is a
in Hades,
the intercession
of the rich man

promise of
But
"most

beyond
the Pope

even

men,
"

far-off deliverance/'

Else

I avert

Into

that

Where
He

God

else made

The

the words
"

work

Love
I' the

My

be/'

not

not

of my

be."

to

seems

Pompilia addresses

to

me

of the

faith in the future

poet
in

appears

her

priest.

life,O soldier-saint,

begun shall

ever

helpfulto

hand

course,

in

pause

me

the

for death
and

more

the purpose
of God ;
limit to His power,
all God's

nor
or

of

more

path I

new

thy strong hand,

For the poet, the death

impliedin

must

conviction
irrefragable

coming

weak

which

must

same

will be

the soul

to remake

but

first in vain

in which

O lover
No

still another.

which

in it the

himself.

had

unmakes

phrase,

carry

hope, which

follow him
ray face,nor
sad obscure
sequestered state

"

This

is the last for

this

must

tread,

strong for that

"

bringsno change in
does it,or aught else,fix a
stultify
by failure the end
man

work,

nature

no

less than

man

himself" to wit,that
every soul shall learn the lesson
of goodness, and reflect the divine life in desire,
and will.
intelligence,

I Equallyemphatic,on

sides at

some

ing's
is Brownleast,

of those compromises, with which the

rejection
one-sided religious
consciousness threatens the exist*

The

t The

Ring
Ring

and

the Book

and

the Book"

"

The

Pope, 2129-2132.
Pompilia, 1786-1790.'

BROWNING.

ROBERT

134
The

towards

Browning'sjoy is in the need of progress

high goal. He rejoices
infinitely

of

root

an

"

that

is hurled

man

change to change unceasingly,

furled."
His soul's wings never
From

endeavour, the infinite worth

of failure,with its evidence

bliss of

The

"

the

triumph,
the

are

essence

of the
of

sciousness
con-

coming

spark which disturbs our clod," these

of his optimistic
of
interpretation

life,and also of his robust ethical doctrine.

human

welcome

"Then,
That

each

earth's

turns

Each

rebuff

smoothness

rough,

that bids

sit nor
stand but go !
nor
sting
!
joys three-parts pain
Strive, and hold cheap the strain ;
the pang ; dare, never
Learn, nor account
grudge the throe
Be

our

And

he

prolongs the

battle is the moral

God's

best in

battle

life and

beyond time,

man's

best, and

for

"

the

therefore

The

struggleupward from the

brute, may, indeed end with death.
But this only
that man
has learned the uses
means
of the flesh/'
and there are in him other potencies
to evolve :
man.

"

"

Death

past

heights in other lives,God

is the

summing up of this
strengthfor new adventure.

stored
'

Other

The
"

;
"

willing."

life's meaning,

future I may
face now
I have
and, in view of it,Browning is
Fearless

and

When

I wage

What

weapons

proved

unperplexed
battle next,
to select,what
*

Rabbi

Ben

armour

Ezra.

to indue."

the

OPTIMISM
is

He

sure

that

There

one.

is

confiningof

or

"

Strive

There

and
as

it will be

Now,
to

beyond
cannot

it may

what

ETHICS.

man's
Thrive

endeavour
! cry

'

135

battle,and

limitinghere

no

of man's

after

winning
possibility,
a

goodness.

Speed,' fighton,

fare

ever

here,"

which

the last words

are

AND

fairlybe

came

from

argued

his pen.
that these

death

and
may mean,
death, valuable as they may
help in philosophy. They

what

sions
allu-

may

be

as

do

not

lie

poetry,
solve

the

problem of the relation between moralityand

but merely continue
the antagonism between
religion,
them
into a life beyond, of which
have
we
no
experience. If the problem is to be solved, it
must

be solved

as

it is stated for

us

in the

present

world.

objectionis valid, so far as it goes. But

is valuable all the same, in so
Browning'streatment
far as it indicates his unwillingnessto limit or
truths.
He, by implication,
compromise the conflicting
held without being
the view, ordinarily
rejects
to the
examined, that the moral life is preliminary
to be
joy and rest of religion
; a brief struggle,
followed by a sudden
lift out of it into some
serene
will lead an
sphere, where man
angel'slife,which
knows
no
imperfectionand therefore no growth.
He refuses to make
morality an accident in man's
in the place of God," by
to put man
historyand
the ideal; he also
with
the process
identifying
and God's achieverefuses to make
man's struggle,
This

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I36

mutually exclusive alternatives.

towards
movement
in the sequel,
As I shall show
but
actualized,is for
never
ideal, actualizing
an
And
of man.
to speak
the poet the very nature
the absolute
either God
man
about
or
(or even
of a development
the last term
as
philosopher)
We
not first moral
are
has no
meaning to him.
with evil and
first struggling
and then religious,
is with us
then conscious of overcoming it. God
in the battle,and the victoryis in every blow.
than
this in
But
there lies a deeper difficulty
the
the way of reconciling
or
moralityand religion,
within

ment

man,

"

"

of both

presence

Morality,in so
conceivablybe

God
far

and

man

in human

action.

it is achievement,

as

immediatelyidentified

might

with

the

process of an absolute good ; but moralityis always

of failure as well.
Its very essence
a consciousness
and

is the

verve

actual.

And

the
of

the

more

be

that

the

ideal is not

attainment,
higher a man's spiritual
impressiveis his view of the evil

world, and

pressingto
four

the

conviction

of

done.

months, and

then

the
"

greatness of the

Say

not

cometh

ye, there
harvest ?

are

work

yet

Behold

'
I say unto
Lift up your eyes and look on
you,
the fields ; for they are white alreadyto harvest/ "

It looks

like

blasphemy against morality to say

that God
lives in eternityand
has, therefore,
plentyof time." Moralitydestroysone's contentment
with the world ; and its language seems
to be,
God is not here, but there ; the kingdom is still
"

"

to come."

OPTIMISM

also

finds flaws in

that

we

best

ETHICS.

137

it rest with

does

Nor

AND

condemning the world.

its own
highestachievement

of us."

To

"

ever

seem

mock

ourselves

beginning of

The

It
;

so

in all that's

the

spirituallife
seems
justto consist in a consciousness of complete
and that consciousness
failure,
ever
grows deeper.
This is well illustrated in Browning's account
of
Caponsacchi; from the time when Pompilia'ssmile
first glowed
upon him, and set him
"

"

"

"Thinking
Had

shaken

under

And

showed

the

into

And

him

to

should

what

"

be

"

*
"

his pure love for her revealed

of the grandeur of goodness,and

when

something

also

to define his ideal and

led him

life
my
indeed

is,what
the soul may
slip

'twixt

gap

short

broken

"

abysm

time

to the

up

what

me

how

to

his

express

despair.
"

have

To
The

to do

good,

the

In the main
But

learn

of the

current

of the
not

these, not

and

eternal"

rose's birth

not

But

the comfort, Christ.

"

by

the

Opens his Plutarch, puts him

and

the Book"

t Ibid. 2089-2097.

minute's

far away
dream

"

strengthis such
the drudging student
"

Ring

grandeur, God,

All this how

a

home

his

that he finds himself like

The

and

rush

comet's

for

delectation,meet

beyond
illimitably

day,

particularhearth

only by

alone

general life,

of every

But

Mere

So

nothing but the true,

experiences

small

Concerns
To

with

Trims
in the

f
a

life,
who

his lamp,

place

Giuseppe Caponsacchi,485-488.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

138
Of

Grecian

Roman,
*

Thus

the

draws

should

patched

Dreams,
fight,
Then
smilingly, contentedly, awakes
To the old solitary nothingness."*

The

moral

world

close,
gown
'
rule the world
!

"

its illimitable horizon

with

him, the voice of the

around

opened out

or

save

new

had
mandment
com-

"

his Father
be perfec^
as
biddinghim
in heaven
is perfect had destroyedhis peace, and
made
imperativea well nighhopelessstruggle
; and,
"

he compares himself at his best with the

he breaks out into the cry,
as

"

great, just,good God

Miserable

Me

ideal,

new

"

This

this discontent verging

humilityand contrition,
on
hopelessness,
constituted,as we have seen, the
characteristic attitude of Carlyle; and it
represents
true and, in fact,an
a
indispensableelement of
man's

moral

But

this self-condemnation

moral

law

must

not

the

life.

most

taken

as

between

is

nothing more

be taken

in the

than

face

of the

element,

an

either for the whole

truth

or

and

for

fundamental one.
It is because
it is
fundamental and final that the discrepancy
is held
moralityand religion

and

to be

absolute,

the consciousness of evil is turned

in the Good.
It is an
abstract way
that makes
us
deduce,from the
of the

moral

goodness,and

ideal,the

the failure of God's

this is what
*

The

Rini

and

againstfaith
of thinking
transcendent
height
of attaining
impossibility

the

Carlyledid.

purpose
He

in

stopped

man.

short

Book"GiuseppeCaponsacchi,2098-2103.

OPTIMISM
consciousness

the

at

AND
of

ETHICS.

139

and
imperfection,

he

made

for it. He
took
it as a
attempt to account
complete fact, and therefore drew a sharp line of

no

distinction

And,

between

far,he

the

human

and

divine.

the

right; for,if we look no further

than
this negative
side, it is emphaticallyabsurd
to identify
be he
philosopher or not, with
man,
the Absolute.
Why callest thou Me good ? there
is none
good save One, that is God." The
ought
so

was

"

"

"

"

"

must

stand

that

"

the

attainment, and declare

all human

is,is wrong." But whence

ought itself,the ideal which condemns
whatever

Is it not
"

above

us

in the fact it condemns

also immanent
is not

comes

"

enough/' asks Hegel, to see

a
great deal in his surroundingswhich is reallyfar
from being what
And
who
it ought to be ?
also,
we
add, has not enough of the generalizing
may
one, to
faculty,often mistaken for a philosophical
Who

acute

"

this condemnation

extend

over

the

whole

"

what
?
But
possibleworlds
ought-to-be/'which has such potency in
all thingsconfronted
with it lose their worth
best

of

all

"

The
and

first

is,that it is

answer

particularly
good

little consideration

mere

idea.

It

must

an

"

of

this

is this

it that

idea which

?
men,

But
carry with them.
be
that it cannot
will show
men,

be

something

more

valid

tion.
capricious
product of the individual imaginaFor we cannot
wiselycondemn thingsbecause
casual conception
to any
they do not happen to answer

than

which

criterion.

elevate into a
choose
to
may
have objectivevalidity.
criterion must
we

BROWNING.

ROBERT

140

of something and
notion ; and that something must,
consider
be possible.Nay, when
we
in it,it becomes
obvious that
It must

an

be

ideal

idea

an

which

is

valid

criterion

not
at

empty

an

the

worst,

all that
a

ideal

true

be

must

"

volved
is in"

not

real than
only possiblebut real,and, indeed, more
that which is condemned
lute
by reference to it. Absocontradiction as
pessimism has in it the same
absolute
scepticismhas, in fact, it is only its
and pessipractical
counterpart ; for both scepticism
mism
involve the assumption that it is possible
to
reach a positionoutside the realm
of being, from
"

which

it may

between
or

and

be condemned

actual

ideal must

and

intelligible
world,
a

as

condemnation

do
of

what
man

whole.

the rift

But

fall within

the

real

pessimistswill

the

which

is not

based

on

principlerealized by humanity, is a fiction of

abstract thought, which laysstress on the actuality
of the imperfect
and treats the perfectas if it were
as
good as nothing,which it cannot
In other
be.
of regarding human
words, this way
life isolates
the passingphenomenon, and does not look to that

which

reveals itselfin it and

it to pass away.

causes

Confiningourselves,however, for the present,to

the ideal in morality,
we
can
easilysee that, in
that sphere at least,the actual and
ideal change
places;
as

and that the latter contrasts

the real with

place,the
mere

trite idea ;

the

moral

idea not

phenomenal. For, in
ideal is something more

yet realized.

for

with the former

no

mere

It is

more

the first

even

knowledge,however

than
than

a
a

true,

BROWNING.

ROBERT

142

something

the self that

because

It is for this

in it.

aside

cast

be

to

false show,

as

it was
experienced

not

that the moral

reason

just

realized

agent sets

againstit, and desires to annihilate all its

him
claims upon
by undergoing its punishment,
and drinking to the dregs its cup of bitterness.
Thus his true lifelies in the realization of his ideal,
and his advance
towards it is his coming to himself.
and
Only in attainingto it does he attain reality,
for him in the present
the only realization possible
of the potency of the
is just the consciousness
himself

ideal.

To

him

to live is to realize his ideal.

It is

irks,till it finds expressionin moral

habits that accord
till the
with its nature, i.e.,
spirithas, out of its environment, created a body
a

that

power

adequateto

itself.

condemnation

The

all moral

life and

of

is the condition

not, therefore,be

must

truth.

For

actual
terms

"

the

very

characterizes

self which

of moral

regarded

as

condemnation

progress,

complete
impliesthe
a

of the
Both
presence of somethingbetter.
both
the criterion and
is
the fact which

condemned
life. Man

by

it
"

fall within

the

same

cannot, therefore,without

individual

demn
coninjustice,

himself in all that he is ; for the condemnation

is itself a witness to the
of that good
activity
of

which

he

despairs.Hence, the threatening

majestyof the moral imperativeis nothingbut the
shadow of man's own
dignity; and moral contrition,
and
the complete despair of the
even
pessimistic
when
theory,
understood, are recognizedas
rightly

OPTIMISM

ETHICS.

AND

143

witnesses to the authority

and the actuality
unwilling
oi the highestgood. And, on the other hand, the
highestgood cannot be regardedas a mere
phantom,
without nullifying
all our condemnation
of the self
and the world.
The

deduction
legitimate
ideal is thus

moral

thought,the

found

weakness
its

nature, but

from

and

to

heightof man's
be, not, as Carlyle
the

worthlessness

promise and

native

of human

dignity: and in
it produces, not

healthy moral consciousness

but faith and joy. For, as has beeryalready
despair,
suggested in a previouschapter,the authorityof
a

the moral

law

over

man

is rooted

in man's

ment.
endow-

imperativeis nothing but the voice of

the future self,biddingthe presentself aspire,
while
its reproofis only the expression
of a moral aspiration
Its

which
not

but

bad

itself. Contrition

misunderstood

has
moral

state

which

should

bring despair,

good state, full of promise of one that

better.
It is, in fact, just the first step
the
"

ideal takes

in its process
the stingthat bids nor sit,nor

of

is

is still
which

self-realization :
"

stand, but go !
The moral ideal thus, like every other ideal,even
that which
we
regard as present in natural life,
fulfilment.
guarantee of its own
It is essentially
ment
active thing,an energy, a movean
upwards. It may, indeed, be urged that the

contains

certain

guarantee is imperfect.Ideals tend

but

Men

have

others

the

remain
may
ideals which they never

tendency

some

which,

tion,
to self-realiza-

at

first

sightat least, it

unfulfilled.

reach, and
were

better

BROWNING.

ROBERT

144
for them

attained,
And,

as

cannot
a

between

or

The

reach.

to

not

"

long as man
be, fullyreached,

neither the

rift

plies
imMoralitynecessarily

human

is and

what

never

may

ruin like the resl

a
prove
is moral, the ideal is not, and

it may

rift within

goal

nor

what
the

nature,

ought

to

contradiction
be ;

contradiction

although

is absolute.

of
for this reason
to be no
might seem
way
ciling
bringingoptimism and ethics together,of reconwhat is and what ought to be.
at this stage
to these difficultiesmust
My answer
be very brief and incomplete. That the moral good,
if attained, should itself prove vain is a plainselfFor moral good has no meaning excontradiction.
cept
in so far as it is conceived as the highestgood.
The
question. Why should I be moral," has no
because it is self-contradictory.
The moral
answer,
ideal contains its justification
in itself,
and requires
to lean on nothingelse.
There

"

But

it is not

In

one

sense

the conditions

easy to prove that it is attainable.

it is not attainable, at least under
of human

life which

fall within

our

experience,from which alone we have a rightto

ing
speak. For, as I shall strive to show in a succeedof man's life as spiritual,
chapter,the essence
that is as intelligent
and moral, is its self-realizing
activity.Intellectual and moral life is progress,
althoughit is the progress of an ideal which is
real and complete,the return of the infinite to itself
through the finite. The cessation of the progress
of

the

ideal in man,

whereby

man

the
interprets

OPTIMISM
in terms

world

of

of himself

his

and

point

one

ETHICS.

145
it the instrument

makes

is intellectual

purposes,

From

death.

AND

of

and

moral

view, therefore, this

is
life,or moral and intellectual activity,
spiritual
of a
inspiredat every step by the consciousness
of an unsolved
tion
contradicbeyond not possessed,
between
the self and the not-self,of a good that
The last word, or rather
ought to be and is not.
the last word but one, regardingman
failure."
is
"

"

"

But

failure is the last word

"

well knew.
he

tells

What's

perfectionis

one,

"

process is not ended.

for us
and
more."

poet

perishes/'
perfection

this

not

the

as

point of view the

reached, merely means

From

us.

to

come

but

It seethes

with

fact that

the

the

that
morrow

plies
recognitionof failure imeffort and higherprogress, and contains a
more
a
proof
suggestion of an absolute good, and even
of its active presence.
ledge
The
beyond," for knowAnd
and morality,is the Land
of Promise.
is
land
the promise is not
false one ; for the
a
of the fact to be known,
possessed. The recognition
the statement
of the problem, is the first step in its
The

"

"

"

solution
not

; and

attained

progress.

the
is the

Had

have

the

higher good.

never

add

first
not

man

not

known

consciousness

ideal

say

or recognized
difficulty,

that

the

moral

ideal is

attained,is thus only a half-truth. We must

to it the fact that it is always being attained
that

it is

always present as
attainingitself,evolving its own
nay,

moral

step in its self-actualizing

far, he would
so
come

the further
To

of the

an

active

content.

reality,
Or,

to

BROWNING.

ROBERT

146

metaphor,the land of promise

previous
is possessed,
always reveals
althoughthe possession
which is againa land of promise.
a stillbetter beyond,
While, therefore,it must always remain true that
nor
knowledge does not reach absolute reality,
moralityabsolute goodness,this cannot be used as
an
supposit
argument againstoptimism,except on the preand moral activity
that mental
are
a
to the

return

disease.

this is

And

If

in terms.

contradiction

the ideal is in itselfgood, the process whereby it is

attained is good ; if the process in itselfis evil,the
ideal it seeks is evil,and therefore the condemnation

of the actual

reference to it is absurd.

by

the other hand, to

ideal and

process is necessary,
pointof view where both optimism

actual,so

is to

assume

and

pessimism are

criterion.

As

righteither

that

no

meaningless,for

Aristotle teaches

to

praiseor

to

the

blame

as

moialityis,which

manifestation

of

an

are

both

is not

reveal

But

ideal,but

its manifestation

the process, but

and guide.

if the

God,"

or

with

the

they

be

the

be

process cannot

identifiedwith the ideal,

or
"

an

no
no

highest. A
the

self-

ideal which

potenciesin its passingforms,

cne-sided thought. The process

ideal is not
its source

have

is not

idea,and

is

its

fictionsof
the

actual

there
we

us,

process, such

does not

on

identityof

best the

as
postulate

And,

human

absolute

"

man

and

which
principle
thus

take

self-consciousness

the

is

immediately
the placeof
be

confused

far less can

self-consciousness/'
separated. The infinitely
high ideal of

OPTIMISM

AND

ETHICS.

147

perfectknowledge and perfectgoodness, impliedin

the Christian command,
"Be
ye perfectas your
Father in heaven is perfect/"
is an ideal,
justbecause
the unity of what is and what ought to be is deeper
than their difference. The recognition
of the limit
of our
of our moral
knowledge,or the imperfection
character, is
is

to

more

The

direct witness

be known

and

Man's

knowledge
universe

confession

is made

is meant

to be

be

achieved.

affirmative, and
of the

there

limitation

is its
of

his

suppositionthat the
all its infinitely
rich complexity,
the

on

of facts,in

better to

negative implies the

effect.

to the fact that

known

; and

his confession of moral

by reference to a good which

is absolute, and which
be and ought to
yet may
be his. The good in moralityis necessarily
supreme
and
perfect. A good that is
merely human/'
of not being
relative to man's nature/' in the sense
true goodness, is a phantom of confused thinking.
is
imperfection

made

"

"

"

Moralitydemands

the

good," and

not

simulacrum

right and
contrition,
and with it all moral aspiration,
wrong,
otherwise become
less.
meaningand repentance, would
What
a
can
seeming good avail to a moral
merely
among
agent ? There is no better or worse
apparent excellencies,and of phantoms it matters

or

not

make-shift.

which

The

is chosen.

distinction between
and
as

of

distinction between

And,
true

and

in

similar way, the

false in knowledge,
a

knowledge
merely of phenomena, impliesthe absolute unity
thought and being, and the knowledge of that
the

common

condemnation

of human

BROWNING.

ROBERT

148

unity as a fact. There

merely apparent facts.
But, if the ideal of
conceived

as

attainment

is

man

then
perfect,
but
is possible,

true

no

false

or

amongst

spiritual
being is
it follows not onlythat its
as

that it is necessary.

The

fulfilment which an ideal carries

guarantee of its own
with it as an ideal,that is,as a potency in process
of fulfilment,
becomes
complete when that ideal is
"

absolute.
"

us

If God

The
"

is

be for us,

absolute

good

too

good, in
not

ideal be latent in the nature

of the universe

order
a

and

over

kinshipbetween

the

whole

of

be

can

against

language of

the

be

to

who

true."

son,
Emer-

If such

an

of man,
it bringsthe
to his side. For it implies

him,

existence.

as

spiritual
being,

The

in

stars

their

In other words,
fightfor him.
ideal means
if it does not imply a
nothing,

the

is universal.

already,
the might

courses

whether

man

It is

law

recognizesit

in

which
or

not

moral

law which

exists
; it is

a law of which
things,
no
jotor tittle can in any
wise pass away." The individual does not institute
"

the moral

law ; he finds it to be written both within

and without him.
His part is to recognize,
not to
create it ; to make
it valid in his own
life and so to

himself
identify
be

with it,that his service of it

may

perfectfreedom.

IWe

thus

conclude

that

morality,and

self-condemnation,
contrition,and
of failure which
it bringswith
it
its

growth,

the

actual

are

witnesses of

product of

an

the

absolute

even

the

consciousness
as

phases

presence,

good in

of

and
man.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

150

activityof

It is the

him.

man
lifting
up to Himself,
philosophy, returning to
"

yet it is

And

the

at

ideal^ It is God

the

in the

or,

Himself
time

same

language of
in history."
effort after

man's
"

vessel of divine
goodness. Man is not a mere
of the highestbounty.
grace,"or a passiverecipient
ment.)
All man's
goodness is necessarilyman's achievethe realization by the ideal of itself
And
is man's

The
law

achievement

is also the

without

law

within

of it.

it is

because

\Thus, the

moral

) For

law

it is his ideal.

within.

It is the

the law

recognizedas

out.
with-

consciousness passes

the

religiousconsciousness.
duty is the willingservice

into

The

performance of
of the absolute good ;
and, as such, it involves also the recognitionof a
that cannot
fail. It is both activity
and
purpose
faith,both a struggleand a consciousness of victory,
both moralityand religion.We
cannot, therefore,
treat these
alternative phases of man's
as
life.
There is not firstthe pain of the moral struggle,
and
then the joy and rest of religion.The
and
meat
drink

is

"

to

finish His

good.

"

do

the

work/'

There

will of Him

Heaven

that

is the

sent

service

Me,

to

of the

is

nothing in the world or out of it

that can
be called unconditionally
good, except the
good will." The
of willing"
the mTral
process
reward ;
activityis its own
the only jewelthat
shines in its own
light."
"

"

It may
to

seem

identifythe

separate them

to

some

divine
makes

to

and
both

be

presumptuous thus
the human;
but to

morality and

religion

OPTIMISM

impossible.It
makes

God

think

who

AND

robs

mere

for the

this

it is of

unknown/'

Those

identification

divine, misapprehend the

forgetthat

"

151

its ideal, and

morality of

name

that

ETHICS.

degrades the
ot spirit
; and

nature

its

to

essence

communicate

itself. And

goodness and truth do not become

less when
shared ; they grow
greater. Spiritual
possessionsimply community wherein there is no
exclusion ; and to the Christian the glory of God
is His

communication

of

Himself.

Hence

the

so-

called

religious
humility,which makes God different
hi nature
from His work, reallydegradesthe object
of its worship. It puts mere
the
above
power
and it indicates that the worshipper
giftsof spirit,
has not
been
emancipated from the slavishness,
which makes
is
Such a religion
a fetish of its God.
not free,and the development of man
destroysit.
"

How

The

intense

divine

realized

never

and

the contrast

He

grew

love
the

birth before

of the

"

in being born."

likest God

human

which

God's

young

mother

together,and

prose

ever

draws

drew

set at

the

nought

between

them.

is one
thought of the unity of God and man
which
from the poet when
has frequentutterance
his religious
spiritis most deeply moved ; for it is
ishes
the characteristic of religious
feelingthat it abolall the
all sense
of separation.It removes
into rapturous
limitations of finitude and lifts man
unity with the God he adores ; and it gives such
This

The

Ring

and

the Book

"

Potnpilia, 1690-1691.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

152

to
to him
completenessto his life that it seems
The
be a joyous pulseof the life that is absolute.
be an illusion. This we cannot
of unity may
feeling
essential
discuss here ; but, in any case, it is a feeling
which seeks to lift
the philosophy
to religion.And
and to account
into clear consciousness
this feeling
that it implies
but recognize
for its existence,cannot
and presupposes
the essential affinity
of the divine
nature

wjth the

of

nature

Thus, /both from

man.

side of

moralityand from
that of religion,
we
are
brought to recognizethe
a
as
unity of God with man
spiritual
being. The
moral ideal is man's idea of perfection,
that is,his
idea of God.
While
theology and philosophy are
often occupied with the vain task of bridging a
chasm

they
the
In

between

the

the

finite and

the

infinite,which

separated,the supreme facts of

life of man
as
a
spiritspringfrom their unity.
other words, /Sf^rality
and religion
but difare
assume

be

to

ferent manifestations

of the

effects is,
good that man
working of God within him.

principle.The

same

the

at

The

same

time, the

that
activity

is,
"tending up,
Holds, is upheld by, God, and ends the man
Upward in that dread point of intercourse
Nor

needs

place, for it returns

"

Grants

each

new

man,

Inter-communication

Wreaking
*

on

by
with

some

to Him."

God, perchance,
as
new
a mode,

Himself

finitenessinfinitude." f
Death

f Prince

in the Desert.

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

man

OPTIMISM
And

while

man's

the

as

AND
moral

the divine

incarnated, if

one

perfect human

character.

It

of

be known

being can

revealed, and
conviction

recognized
him, it is also

within

God

153
is thus

endeavour

activityof

impliedthat

ETHICS.

so

may
was

only as
in

say,

permanent

Browning, that

of God
in Christ
acknowledgment
Accepted by thy reason, solves for thee
"

questions in

All

So far from
makes

known

earth

man's

the

be

and

out

of it."

in the world
"

true

which

not-ourselves/' as

his haste, that

in

did

Arnold
to

the

regardingthe Power
righteousness,as

for

Matthew

the

Power

self and

more,

is
and

gradual process whereby its content

is evolved.
which is
And
man's state of perfection,
symbolized for the intelligent
by the term Heaven,
is,for Browning,
morality is

'

the

The

man

intelligency,God
the thunder
glow from pole

"

Abolishing, a
Great

When
The

small,

with

Omniscience
With

anon,

rapture, great with

In momentary

As

and

equalizing, ever

cloud

blissful moment-space,
small cloud, in

alike and

one

to

pole

fire
"

again to flow
the new
receptivitydeserves
completion." *
new
to

sure

ebb

bus,

as

therefore, does

sure

the

poet wed

weakness
; and
w~ength with human
of unity, thus
conceived, gives him
*

Prince

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

the
the
at

divi
ivine

principle
once

his

BROWNING.

ROBERT

154

moral

of

that

and

strenuousness

which

victory,

we

call

may

taste
fore-

present

ever

his

religious

optimism,]
Whether

this
from

next

solution

chapter.
of

the
For

the

receives

principle

enigma

poet,

we

this

on

of

man's

shall

depends
moral

adequate

inquire
its

worth

life.

pression
ex-

in

the

as

CHAPTER
BROWNING'S

TREATMENT

OF

OF

"

God

Thou

be

Browning

well

aware

give

to

I build

before

moral

PRINCIPLE

faith

my

going

to

further

so

far reached.

of

the

And

"

gather

to

conflict of the

of them

each

that

on

he

consciousness, but

utterance.

he is instructive

THE

LOVE.

the results

was

and
hesitate

Love

art

ITtogether
may

VI.

it is

for,whatever

on

ligious
re-

did

its most

not

promising
uncom-

this account

that

be the value

may

of

practical affairs,there is no doubt

human
that it has never
done
anything to advance
thought, his religion is an
optimistic faith, a
of the highest
of the presence
peaceful consciousness
compromise

in man,
does

not

in

and

hesitate

struggle with
towards

an

absolute

movement

which

highest good
sees

one,

that
but
*

the

that

Paracelsus.

is

as

through error
never
finally

contradiction

good

he

Yet

life

moral

represent the

to

evil, and

realized^ He

things.

in all other

therefore

man

is

is not

always

and,
religions,

and

moral

both
he

BROWNING.

ROBERT

156

apart from
God beyond

that the

ideal

and

"

that

he

But

unknowable.

the
it.
name

but, at the

evolution

does

knew

process is nothing,
is simply the
the stars
"

which

also that

starts

itself through

to

comes

ideal is

the

knew, too, that

elements, is

mere

time, the process of human

same

not

act

the

merely the process, but

process, guides it,and
God, emptied of human

not

good
He

difference.

their

does, transcends

in every

The

the idea of God.

exhaust

mere
i.e.,
morality,is a conception
by itself,
of a fragment,a fiction of abstract thought; it is a
which has no beginningor end ; and in
movement

process

it neither the head

the heart of

nor

He

find

could

man

is driven

ophy,
by ethics into philosand by moralityinto religion.
It was
in this way
that (Browning found himself
compelled to trace back the moral process to its
origin,and to identifythe moral law with the
of God.
nature
It is this that gives value to his
view of moral progress, as
reachingbeyond death to a
higherstage of being,for which man's attainments
in this life are only
preliminary.

contentment.

"

What's
Man

There

are

"more

time ?

Leave

has Forever."

other

"

Now

for

dogs

and

apes,

adventures brave

lives

and

"

new

for

yet," other ways of warfare,other

depths of goodness and heightsof love. The poet
lifts the moral
ideal into infinitude,
and
removes

man,

Grammarian's

Funeral.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

158

unembarrassed

it a clear and

of

boldness

sublime

the

risingto

Instead

utterance.

of

Nazarene

the

differences between
Teacher, they set up prudential

God

and

man

not

of

degree only

but

God
is reduced
and, in consequence,
is made
unknowable
absolute, and man

of nature
into

differences

"

an

incapablenot only of moral, but also of intellectual

life. The poet himself has proved craven-hearted
in this, as we
shall see.
mountable
He, too, sets up insurbarriers

human, and therebyweakens

his

moral

his

greatest justwhere
intense.

/In Rabbi

Desert,and

The

moral

and

Ezra, The

and

the

the

and
religious
inspirationis

enthusiasm
religious

Ben

Ring

his

both

His

convictions.

divine

the

between

is most

Death

in

the

Book, there prevails

community of God and man

within the realm
of goodness; and
the world
itself,with its dread machinery of sin and sorrow,"
is made
to jointhe great conspiracy,
whose purpose
is at once
the evolution of man's character,and the
a

constant

of the

sense

"

realization of the will of God;

"

So, the All-Great,were

the All-Loving too
So, through the thunder comes
voice
a human
"

Saying,
IFace, my
'Thou
'

hast

heart

hands

made,

heart

beats

here

fashioned,see it in myself

nor
power
may'st conceive of mine,
But love I gave thee, with myself to love,
And thou must love Me who have died for thee.' "

But, if
and

'

we

more

no

follow

Browning'sthoughts in

reflective poems,
*

An

such

Epistlefrom Karshish.

as

his later

Ferishtatis

THE

PRINCIPLE

OF

LOVE.

Fancies for instance,it will not

be

the

in

159

possibleto hold
that the poet altogether realized the importance
for both morality and religion
alike,of the idea of
actual

poems

he

immanence
to

seems

of God

have

abandoned

In

man.

these

it in favour of

the

timid philosophy. But,

hypotheses of a more
if his religious
faith had not been embarrassed
by
certain dogmatic presuppositions
of which he could
not free himself, he might have met more
successfully
of the difficultieswhich

some

to

later reflection revealed

him, and might have been

that

able to set

true value

"

philosophy," which betrayed his faith

while appearingto support it.
But, before trying to criticize the principle
by
of which
means
Browning sought to reconcile the
moral
and religious
elements of human
life,it may
be well to give it a more
and careful statement.
explicit
on

What,

of unity between
then, is that principle

the divine

and

the

man

in

life of

the human
as

attainingthe

nature, is at

justlybe

may

The
one

the

God's
moral
same

called

How

life in man,
ideal proper
time

to

the confidence

that

so

to

man,

his

ends
fulfilling

own

which

in late life alike,has

given with
question an answer
complete conviction. (The meeting-

this
of

interpret

we

divine

poet, in early life and

answer

can

"

is love. "" Love, in other

point of God and man
both
words, is,for the poet, the supreme
principle
for all,solves
of moralityand religion. Love, once

that

contradiction

between

them

which,

both

in

for

attainable

by

is,

"therefore, love
'

of

perfectform

most

conception
it is the

life

inspiredby
goodness he can conceive
a

man

the world

sublimest

is the

ages, i Love

many

so

embarrassed

has
practice,

in

theory and

'

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i6o

the

at

man's
moment,
A
of Godhood.

same

ideal,and the very essence

life actuated
by love is divine, whatever
moral

it may
have.
Such
glory of this emotion, when

is the

limitations
and

into

of

energy

it to

owns

"

jSo
and
"

For

the

lated
trans-

become

diviner

Amid

his

than

would

man

I doubt

His

own

find the

excel

full in my

can

"

who

man,
same

Him, and

has
in

power
the

creature

'

nature, God's

love

say." *

to

that, if

not

change parts.
so

who

its clod,
loveless God

worlds, I will dare

love,did

to

the

within

loving worm

Were

I find love

That

been

will,that it lifts him

intelligent
the sublimest heightof being.

Creator

Do

it has

an

excellent .is this emotion

this power
God, then

other

perfection

self-conscious motive, and

ultimate

compete

with

gift,

it ?

Here, the

parts shift ?

Here, the

Not

so,

creature

says

poet himself.

surpass

David,
God

the

and

Creator," the

with

is Himself

him
the

end what

no

Began ?

doubt
and

source

of love.
"

'Tis Thou,

In the firstis the

All's

God, that givest,'tis I

last,in Thy will is my

who
power

receive

to believe.

gift."

one

Christmas Eve.

Saul.
-j-

"

the
ness
ful-

THE
"

Would

PRINCIPLE

I suffer

wilt Thou
So shall

for him

I love ?

fillinfinitude

love

Thy

One

spot for the creature

this

to

the moral

the purpose
and
animate

wholly, nor
stand

love not

same

and

"

and

world,

so

"

leave

in ! "

crown

down

nor

up

"

the nature

ideal of man,
but it is also
of all created being,both

essence

it

means

has

God

as

further

this world

This

world's

intensely and

knowing this

What

In

Thou,

inanimate.

blank

And

would'st

only constitutes

"

Nor

So

161

uttermost
Thee, the topmost, ineffablest,

crown

of God

that

LOVE.

And

And

OF

made

it !

is love, and

"

then

blot

beauty
love is duty,
or

declared

all's love,

for us,

good." f

means

All is

sought for

be

may

no

"

yet all's law."

through its universal

and misery of life
the very wickedness
sway, even
of good, and, when
are
brought into the scheme
rightlyunderstood, reveal themselves as its means.
God

permitsnothing to

"

believe

can

Of sin and
Devised

To

poet thus

devised

of the
*
+

him

"

and

love in turn

be

beloved,

and

brings the
same

the

natural

nature

t F"

Ring and

tory
world, the his-

of God,

within

conception.\The idea

Saul.
Th*

expenditure
pain to evolve,
"

and

of man,
limits

else,

too,
self-sacrificing
thus eventually Godlike." J

Creative
And

me

in counterpart,
how
else ?
qualitiesof man"

moral
make

confound

most

pain by
machinery
By new

The

machinery

would

pain, at

Who

Of

The

this dread

sorrow,

all

"

break

the Book"

The

the

of love

LiPP" Lippi.
Pope, 1375-1383-

for

that

thing

"The

of

enigmas

the

all

Browning
and thought.

solves
life

BROWNING.

ROBERT

162

human

seems

schemes,
misery, under human
Becomes, regarded by the light
Of love, as very near, or quite
As good a giftas joy before." *
Mere

[Taking
Browning'swork
possibleto deny
motive

of

his

that

as

whole, it is scarcely

this is at

art, and

the

once

the supreme
which

principleon

He
is
religiousdoctrine rests.
always strong and convincingwhen he is dealing
with this theme, j)
It was
deepest
evidentlyhis own

his

moral

and

conviction,and it gave him the courage

evils of the world, and the power
as
"

contrive his music

its moans/'

from

face the

to
an

It

artist to

plays,in

philosophyof life,the part that Reason fills for

Hegel, or the Blind Will for Schopenhauer; and
he is as fearless as they are in reducingall phenomena
into forms of the activity
of his first principle.
Love not only gave him firm footingamid the wash
and welter of the present world, where
time spins
and all is change,but it made
him
fast,life fleets,
look forward with joy to "the immortal
course";

his

for,to him,

all the universe

is but

All life

is love-woven.

"

treadingthe
love-way,"and no wanderer
can
lose it.
The way-faringmen,
finally
though
shall not err therein/'
fools,
"

Since love has such

he

an

importantplacein

theory of life,it is
means
by it. For love
*

Easter

necessary
has had

Day.

to

see

ing's
Brownwhat

for different

THE

PRINCIPLE

OF

LOVE.

163

individuals,ages and
different
nations, a very
significance
; and almost every great poet has given
it a different interpretation.
And
this is not unnatural.
(Forlove is a passionwhich, beginning
with youth and the hey-day of the blood, expands
with
the expanding life,and takes new
forms of
beauty and goodness at every stage. And this is
equally true, whether we speak of the individual
of the human
or
race.)
Love is no accident in man's history,
a
nor
ing
passemotion.
of man's

It is rather

is the

and

their

and

and

stitutive,
con-

evolution,

being; and
varying forms.

it passes,
To
it if

law

make

potency

"

"

distinction between

between

life,or
practical

causative

his

as

of

the

to

ever

for the moment

the theoretical

necessary

of man's

law

therefore,through
may

element

everythingnative

like

it is obedient

we

and

nature, fundamental

And,
intelligence.
which

constitutive

attributed

be

must

ideas

which has built the world

power
tions
real relaof morality,with its intangible
but most
the

constructive

which
is the

bind
of

author

standingbetween
of nature,

the

and

individual

in him

the

thingsthan physicalsatisfaction.
act

have
the

as

well

as

to

knowledge.
intellect may
the

evolution

It is

of

age.

It

give him
attaininghigher
Man

possiblethat
led men,

at

the

too

race

rudeness

the

and

think, to be virtuous
have

to

age

need, and

faculty,of

the

and

man

organic institutions which,

the
the

awaken

desire

to

man

is meant
as

well

reverence

times,

to

to
as

to

for
bute
attri-

exclusivelyto

BROWNING.

ROBERT

164

consciousness, forgettingthat, along

theoretic

the

co-operates a twin

there

with

reason,

that

is wisest

and

in

best

us,

and

in all

power

that

heart

of all
love, is as essential a pre-condition
worthy attainment, as an intellect which can see.

which

can

Love

and
and

man,

increases

combined

in
equally primal powers
they reflect might into each other : for love
knowledge,and knowledge love. It is their
that givesinterest and meaning to
power
*

reason

are

the facts of life,and

and

them

transmutes

into

moral

intellectual order.

They, together,are lifting

of subjectivity
out of the isolation and chaos
man
into membership in a spiritual
lision
kingdom, where coland exclusion
are
impossible,and all are at
once
kings and subjects.
is present as a transmuting
And, just as reason
in the sensational
life of the infancyof the
power
individual
confused

and

and

race,

make
and

for

is love

present amidst

chaotic

law other than

no

so

activityof the life that

its own
changingemotions.

order,and both grow

have

travelled

with

it.

the

knows
Both

Both

love

long way in the history

of man.
The patriot's
passionfor his country, the
enthusiasm
of pity and
all
helpfulnesstowards
which marks
the man
of God, are
far
suffering
as
removed
from
the physical attraction
of sex
for
sex, and the mere
likingof the eye and ear, as is
the intellectual
of the sage from the vulpine
power
*

the
is no

reason

It would

be

more

correct

love that is rational

dualism.

to

say

the

that

reason

for, though there

is

is

loving

or

distinction,there

BROWNING.

ROBERT

166

age, and finds

itself in all that

and

sex

spend
that

has

which

become

violated
and

mean

God
its

and

the conscious

becomes
to

can

in

even

of life and

law

own

ardour

an

it

made,

has

pitiful.It

humanity, and

fallen

which

objectson

it

save

of

love

by

coming
be-

of all

permanent motive

historyof this evolution of love has

been written by the poets. Every phase through
has
which
this ever-deepeningemotion
passed,
has taken in
this primary power
every form which
its growth, has received from them
its own
proper
the grosser
even
expression.They have made
instincts lyricwith beauty ; and, ascending with
their theme, they have sung the pure passionof soul
for soul, its charm
and
its strength,its idealism
and heroism, up to the pointat which, in Browning,
The

men.

it transcends

the limits of finite existence,sheds

its earthly
vesture, and becomes
of

spiritual
principle

religious
aspirationand self-surrender

Browning nowhere
clearlythan in his
touched

poet
manner

shows

this world-old

has
"

handled,
with

his native
of

treatment

theme

and

"

to God.

strengthmore
love.

which

handled

all

in

He

has

almost

every

his

highest

that freshness and

is
which
insight,
of genius.
originality
given to love a
ways,

possibleonly to the inborn

Other poets have, in some
more
exquisite
utterance, and rendered its sweetness,
and
tenderness,and charm with a lightergrace.
It may
be admitted
even
that there are
poets
whose

verses

and

have

echoed

intoxication of

vour
the ferfaithfully
passion,and who have
more

THE
shown
of

PRINCIPLE

greater power

stands

alone.

elements

which

167

it in the light
interpreting
But, in one thing,Browning
given to love a moral significance,

(He has

placeand

LOVE.

of

mystic idealism.

OF

those

amongst

power

substantial

the

dignityof man's being

and the greatness of his destiny
/ina way which is,
I believe,without example in
any other poet. /'And
he has done
this by means
of that moral
and
religious
earnestness, which pervades all his poetry)
/The one
velopme
interest to him is the deobjectof supreme
of the soul, and his penetrative
insight
on

revealed

to him

fact in that

rest

the power

to love

development.

To

love, he repeatedly

tells us, is the sole and supreme

life ;\ it is the one
lesson which

object of
he

has

to

man's
learn

learnt, in what
and, love once
way
little, it leaves completion in the soul."
dare not, and, indeed, cannot
absolutely

earth ;

on

"

matters

Love

we

miss.
"

the paramount

as

No

man

can

be

selfish and
absolutely

be

man.

ash, there hides a spark of soul

Which, quickened by love's breath, may yet pervade the whole
O' the grey, and, free again, be fire ; of worth the same,
*
Howe'er
produced, for,great or little,flame is flame."
Beneath

Love,

the veriest

once

evoked,

admitted

once

into the soul,

worth,
As wine enriches blood, and straightway sends it forth,
Conquering and to conquer, through all eternity,
"

That's

This view
*

battle

of the

without

adds

worth

to

end." f

of love
significance

Fifine at the Fair, xliii.

grew

on

Brown-

t Ibid- liv-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i68

ing as jhisknowledge of man's nature and destiny

fuller and deeper,while, at the same
time,
became
his

he

Paracelsus

reveals

love,

intoxicating
passion,as
youthfulpoet, but as one
"

"

faculties

of

less.]Even

intellect became

the

in

trust

as

sentiment

"

great fundamental
halfblind,oft-failing,

"

it

be,

man

The

heir of hopes too

In that poem,
to the level of
from

of the

trust/' though
enlightened,
often-chequered
stillmakes

or

from

might expect

one

Love,

man.

not

in

love, is

individual

fair to turn

out

false."

love is

lifted by the poet

definitely
knowledge. Intellectual gain,apart
for the
worthless
follyand futility,

and

worthless

the

to

"

race.

Mind

is

ness
nothingbut disease,"Paracelsus cries in the bitterof his disappointment, and natural health is
ignorance ; and he asks of the mad
poet who
loved too rashly,"
"

"

"

"

Are

we

not

halves of

dissevered

one

Whom

this strange chance

Till thou the lover, know
Love

And,

"

until both

at the end

are

unites
;

and

saved."

world,

once

I, the

more

Part

Never

knower,

of the poem,

Paracelsus,coming to
an
with himself as to the gain and
understanding
loss of life,proclaims with
his last strength the
truth he had missed
throughout his great career,
namely, the supreme worth of love.
*

Paracelsus.

THE
"

PRINCIPLE

Aprile"

saw

And

the

as

His

I learned

And

melodious

poor

moaned

the

me

LOVE.

worth

wretch

error

of love

169

disburthened

his weakness

deep

own

my

Taught

Aprile there

my

heart, and

OF

in my

love's

ear,

undoing

in man's

estate,

what

proportion love should hold with

In his right constitution ; love preceding
Power, and with much
always much
power,
still too

Love
And

earnest

and

not

for

in his present means,

to set love free."
power

new

long as he hated
pursuit of truth, was
was

love

more

straitened

As

it

power

or,

in

his

indifferent

to

their concerns,

men,

strange that

he

saw

no

passionate

good

in

men

failed to

help them.
Knowledge without love
is not true knowledge, but follyand weakness.
celsus,
But, great as is the place given to love in Parait is far less than
that given to it in the
and La
In Fcrishtah's Fancies
poet'slater works.
Saisiaz it is no longer rivalled by knowledge ; nor
the voice beside the poet
in Easter Day, where
even
proclaimingthat
"

Life is done,

ends, Eternity'sbegun,"

Time

gives a

final

the life of

pronouncement
world

The

man.

of
the purposes
upon
a*"H
of sgnffi nf frp-pnfy
"

knowledge and truth, are given to man, but

none""ofthem
satisfyhis spirit; they merely sting
with
hunger for something better) Deficiency
the essence
is known
as
gapes every side," till love
and worth
of all things.
art, of

"

"

Love
And

is the
all thou

best ?
dost

Is

this thy final choice

late !
'Tis somewhat

enumerate

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I7o

Of power and beauty in the world,

curled
The righteousnessof love was

Inextricably round about.

Love lay within it and without,
To clasp thee, but in vain ! Thy

soul

"

Still shrunk

Still
His

Thy

deliberate

set

love

!
"

whole,

aside

take

Now

the

made

who

Him

from

Well

love !

tardy conscience

"

betide

In his later reflective poems, in which he .deals with

the problems of life in the spiritof a metaphysician,
to
seeking a definite answer
of the intelligence,
he declares the
preferenceof love to knowledge.

he states

love is God's

the

questions

reason

for his

In

Saisiaz

La

spark from
His central fire ; but man's
knowledge is man's
only. Knowledgeis finite,limited and tingedwith
The truth we
reach
sense.
at best is only truth
for ever
for us, relative,distorted. We
are
kept
from the fact which
is supposed to be given ; our
intellects play about it ; sense
and
intellect
even
itselfare interposing
media, which we must use, and
yet, in usingthem, we only fool ourselves with semblances.
that man's

The
he will not
for any
more

poet has

declare his

other

cautious

now

grown

own

knowledge

David

man.

too,

Hume

of the human
suspicious
more
surelypersuaded of

so

could

intellect ;
the

to

be

that

valid

scarcelybe
nor

ley
Berke-

purely subjective
of its attainments.
nature
In fact,the latter relied
human
on
knowledge in a way impossible.to
Browning,for he regarded it as the language of
*

Easter Day.

THE

PRINCIPLE

spiritspeaking
Browning says,

OF

spirit.Out

to

"There

But,
Or

knowledge, this conies

not be, but, without

as

may

myself am what I know

To the knowledge that I
What
is pain and
to me

LOVE.
of

crowds

171

his

conjecture manifold,

only," things may

me

and

above

which

"

be

I behold

as

things

me,

ignorance
since I am,
and,
am,
pleasure : this is
not

experience,

there

proves

are

bar

no

recognize

can

the

sure,

rest

"

mise."
sur-

itself,for

Thought

afflicted with
knows
and

another

Browning
and

affirms

one

circumstances, it is

should

decline

to

"

be

may
; and

"

with

him

contradicts

such

knows,

of colour-blindness

appeal when

no

Under

kind

he

aught

as

green
red

as

he

grass/'
grass."

strange that

not

for himself,

speak except

that he will
4

"

Nowise

dare

to

for my

play the spokesman

brothers

strong

or

weak,"

that

or

for
to pronounce
far less presume
pretend that the truth finds utterance

he

will

God, and
from

lipsof clay
"

"

Pass

"

Have

knowledge

bare
Have

of the

lisp as echo

off human

Confounded

sphere-song

out

it shrivels

at

of reach."

Wisdom

laid

forethought ? how

purblind, how

blank,

to

the

Infinite

Care!

And

thus

looking within

and

around

As

of man's

submission

by each

obeisance

new

La

Saisiaz.

I ever

renew

bending upraisesit too)

nothing-perfectto God's all-complete,
to His feet." f
in spirit,I climb

(With that stoop of the soul, which

The

me,

in

But

finds in himself

David

keeps it in

that he

in worth

"

to claim
Lest, insisting

the Giver

E'en
But

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I72

I sink

God's

the

sake."

"

parade

in

it,wot

one

one

of love

way

man's,

far from

of

ineffably
higher way

power.
as

showing
power

thingswhat
"

love

the

with

into

dwindles
a

He

cise
exer-

puny

Love, in a word, is jthe_highest

such, it has all its worth in itself,

all other

Himself

loving,as

In contrast

activityof love, Omnipotence itself

and creation sinks into
insignificance,

God

being

has of truth, is itself divine.

good ; and,
and givesto

tainted

being

temporary and deceptivepower

for temporary uses, by a Creator who

or

man

another

of

for love's

I abstain

mere

has

with

given to

I worst

ye,

"

faculty of love, so far from

finitude,like knowledge ; so

This

supreme

gift. Behold, I could love if I durst

o'ertake
pretensionas fearinga man
may
in

speed in the

own

and

facultyso
abeyance

one

gains the
and
saving

worth

ineffable
the

they have.
crown
by

weak.

divine,the central energy of God's

"

is

It

the

being)

Browning never
forgetsthis moral or religious
of love.
So pure is this emotion
to the poet,
quality
"so
perfectin whiteness, that it will not take
is armed
pollution
from dishonour
; but, ermine-like,
soft snow."
iln the corruptest hearts,
by its own
amidst

the

worst

divine,making
kindled

love
sensuality,

for all

into flame

by
*

goodness.
an

is still
Even

when

illicit touch, and

Saul, III.

power

it is
wars

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I74
"

Be

With
Be

hold

and

God
a

hold

and

man

thine

With

me

charm

me

arm

only teach, Love

As I ought
I will speak thy speech, Love

"Teach

me,

thy thought"

Think

Meet, if thou require it,

Both
demands,

"

In

love is

spirit

flesh and

Laying

True

thy hands."

which
infinite giving,

always an

holds

magnificentin
spendthrift,
of
its recklessness,squanderingthe very essence
the self upon its object,and by doing so, in the end
the selfbeyond all counting. For in loving,
enriching
the individual becomes
re-impersonatedin another ;
It is

nothing back.

the distinction of Me

pulsesin

there

"

If two

They
One
"

are

near

moment

Were
But

we

The

is oft

and

with

is too

knew

that

life

himself, the

interests with
*

a
a

Woman's

those
Last

and

life.

warm

scar

shadowy

third

far.

a
we

bar

was

were

spite of the mortal

throwingdown

within

one

swept away,

one

after,and hands unseen

hanging the night around

Life and
In

join,there
one

one

is

Thee

individuals

two

lives

and

broken

mixed

screen."

of the

us

fast

between

at last

limits that

wall

man

mingling of his own

deepest
of others, always marks
love ;
Word.

| By the Fireside.

THE
be

it love

of

patriotfor
the pure
to

of

PRINCIPLE

for maid, parent

man

his

LOVE.

OF

It opens

country.

air of the world

175

for

child, or

outlet

an

into

of

and enables man

objects,
phere
escape from the stuffed and poisonousatmosof his narrow
self. It is a streamingoutwards
the inmost
of the spirit,
treasures
a
tion
consecra-

of its best activities to the

And

when

this is known

the

be

to

welfare of others.

and

native

quality
can
regard it
place. Prize-

quintessenceof love, no one

anywhere, or at any time, as out of
lawful or prize-lawlessit is ever
flower, even
a
though it grow, like the love of the hero of Turf
and
desire, which
Towers, in slime. Lust, fleshly
"

"

has

been

perversion.
seeks
last

often

too

Love

satisfaction
uses

wastes

up

spends
only in

others

its object,and
distinction

another's

the current

turns

But

purposes,
ot life back

filth of selfish pleasure.

its

and

love

between

good.

worst

own

worst

another, and

itself for

for its

inwards, into the slush and

The

love, is its

miscalled

perversion,

life of an animal,
impossiblein the naive
ought to be clear enough to all,and probably is.
Nor
beings
should
the sexual impulse in human
be confused
with fleshly
desire, and treated as if
lust of life
it were
merely natural, the mere
that strive," as
to all livingthings,
common
Spinoza put it, to persevere in existing."For
; all
there is no
purely natural impulse in man
he will
whether
that he is,is transfused with spirit,

which

is

"

"

"

"

"

or

he

no.

cannot

He

cannot

leave

act

as

his rational

mere

animal, because

nature

behind

him.

He

BROWNING.

ROBERT

176

desire

cannot

desire is

as

an

always love

innocent
lust.

or

rightto

say that the wisdom

but the

purblindsavagery

as

we

sexual

have

assert

to

impulse.

potency is

with

more

desires
have

We

of

that

Terra

love

is

little

as

nothing
del Fuegian,
nothingbut a

impulse rather,
and

its

when

itself,at first
more

his

is

of the sage

free, will show

set

but

That

brute

clearness

fusedly,
con-

it

as

It
yearning of soul for soul.
not
puts us "in trainingfor a love which knows
seeks
which
nor
; but
partiality
sex,
person, nor
creasing
virtue and wisdom
everywhere, to the end of inwisdom.''
virtue and
The
height to
makes
is just what
which this passionlifts man,
of
possiblethe fall into a sensualityand excess
brutishness,in comparison with which animal life
is a paradiseof innocence.
If this is clearly
of the idle
recognized,
many
raised
that are
sometimes
questionsof casuistry
to
regardingsexual love and marriage will cease
trouble.
For
these
questions generallypresuppose
the lowest
possibleview of this passion.
Browning shows us how to follow with serene
of love,
securitythe pure light of the emotion

expands, to

amidst

all

be

the

the

passion,and

confused

through

lawlessness

all the

of

lustful

intricacies of human

character.

Love, he thinks, is never

never
illicit,
unwise, except when
it is disloyalto itself; it
never
ruins,but alwaysstrives to enrich its object.
Bacon

quotes with

impossibleto

approval a saying
love, and to be wise."

"

That

it is

Browning

PRINCIPLE

THE

177

impossibleto love and not be

is a power
tian
that, accordingto the Chriswhich the poet adopts,has infinite goodness

It

wise.

LOVE.

it is

that

asserts

OF

idea

for its source,

and

that,

in its meanest

even

is always feelingits way

back to its
expression,
it came.
whence
origin,
flowingagain into the ocean
So
sparklingly pure is this passion that it
could
in the

evil and

the

exorcise

At

in this poem,
strives to show
though the love of an unclean
it

woman,

was

sordid

of that

elements

power

to

even

new,

least

Browning,
that, being true love,

Miranda.

of Leonce

case

old

turn

for

man

at

with

war

has

Love

life.

an

unclean
sordid

the

always the

potency, flame is always flame,

same

"

no

From

gums

and

spice,or
"

Let

whence

matter
else from

her but

flame

straw

and

Ne'er
And
You

be ?

assimilates
purifies,
passions to itself." f

falsehood"

All other

"

love

you,
All else you disregard! what else can
how
love is incompatible
You
know
With

sprung,

rottenness."

yourselfso far as quote the world

wrong
go unrequited here !
say, love can
life's end
will have blessed him to his whole

"

passions hindered, baser cares kept back,

and dwell." J
All goodness cherished where
you dwelt
Low

"

liftinga man
ever
originfrom whatupwards to the level of its own
its greatestpotency can
depths of degradation,
intrinsically
reveal itself only in characters
pure,
But, while

Fifine

at the

love

is

Fair, Iv.

always

power

f Colombe's

Birthday.

Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

178

Pompilia and Caponsacchi. Like mercy

other
gift,it is mightiestin
spiritual
every
mighty. In the good and great of the earth
to be God's own
is veritably
seen
energy ;

such

"

Who

He

gave
Remember

is dishonoured

never
us

While

It

and

as

love

spark

and bade
His fire of fires,
be afraid
it sprang, nor
whence
from

that burns

almost

were

in the

the

on,

though all the rest grow

the ways

endless task to recount

an

dark.'1

the

moralizingpower
of all
of love : how it is for him the quintessence
of every
goodness; the motive, and inspiring
cause,
act in the world that is completelyright; and how,
that account, it is the actual working in the
on
of the ideal of all perfection.
This doctrine
man
of love is,in my
opinion,the richest vein of pure
in Browning'spoetry.
ore
But it remains to follow briefly
ment
our
poet'streatof love in another
direction
a
as
principle
present, not only in God as creative and redeeming
and energy
Power, and in man
as the highestmotive

in which

Browning

exhibits

"

of the moral

the

"

the
a

life,but

material

whole

"

the
alsoyin

universe.

creation

is

'ftnthe view

nothing but

pulsationfrom

the

divine

of all law

and

of all

world, in

outer

of the

love

heart.

poet,

incarnate,

Love
"

is the

beauty.
Day unto
day uttereth speech,and night unto night speaketh
knowledge.There is no speech or languagewhere
their voice is not heard."
And
our
poet speaks

source

Any Wife

to

Any

Husband,

III.

THE
had

if he

as

PRINCIPLE

caught

believes

and

that

the

all

OF

LOVE.

179

meaning of the language,

things speak of love the
"

love of God.
"

think," says

"Womanliness

of the Inn

the heroine

Album,

only motherhood
;
there, roams
begins
enough,
*
the
rests
at
home."
run
But, having
circle,
means

and

All love

ends

"

And

Browning detects something of

everywhere. He finds it as
"

as

Away

Pope

declares

cause

is put into a tree, which

turns
what
wind
the
with
nest it holds."
from
.north

Such

The

Some

this motherhood

who, if any

"

one,

speaks for Browning

"

"

that
bird, reptileand the fly,
tree, shrub, plant
Ay and, I nothing doubt, even
all in a common
And
flower o' the field,
are
pact
"

To

worthily

Life

"

Brute

from

and

defend

the

Ever

the

trust

Living." J

motherhood," said the minor

Ivanovitch,
of

Because

Ivan

"

His

to his

The
Who

the female

betrayal of
The

t The

J The

Inn

Ring
Ring

the

mother's

"

fear,

"

only here

felon sire

trust

is the

"

Album.
and

the Book"

Canon

and

the Book"

The

in

male

proved males's mistress

fox-dam, hunger-pined, will slay the
dares assault her whelp."

Beside

each

pope

partner place, sinks proudly in the scale

weakness, wit" folly,and courage
strength owned

Yields

The

of trusts,

Caponsacchi, 1374-1376.
Pope, 1076-1081.

un-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i8o

exampled sin/' which

shames

and

the world

scares

God.
"

I hold
The

that, failinghuman
earth

very

Humanity's

had

oped, sky fallen,to

motherhood's

wrong,

new

sense,

kind

is a
brute-offspring,
natural world
and
akin

disgrace."*

brute-parentto

law
spiritual

of

basis is

in

the

tinuity
it,like all law, guarantees the conunity of the world, and it is scarcely

doubt

merely physicalattraction. No
physical; it has an organism of

to

for its vehicle and

blood

first

binds

This instinct of love, which

efface

instrument

its

flesh and

but

matical
mathe-

it be
can
physics cannot
explain it, nor
detected by chemical tests. Rather, with the poet,
to regard brute affection as a kind of rude
are
we
of human

outline
when

love ;

understood

by

of conduct, becomes
moral

man

the

as

in nature, which,

law

and

adopted
and

essence

as

his rule

potency of his

life.

Thus

Browning regards love as an omnipresent

good. There is nothing,he tells us in Fifine,which
cannot
reflect it ; even
moral
putriditybecomes
pierce
transphosphorescent, and sparks from heaven
"

earth's coarsest
"

There
What
Love

There
*

is

covertures."

good of life but love

but love !
shade
good, is some
flung from
gilds it,gives it worth." f
no

"

else looks

is
IvAn

no

fact which, if
Ivdnovitch.

seen

to
f In

the
a

love,

heart, will

balcony.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i82

Are

faculties,
confusedly everywhere about

previsionsof which

and

Hints

strewn

inferior natures, and all lead up higher,

All shape out divinely the superiorrace,
The heir of hopes too fair to turn out false,

The

And

Power,

at

appears

man

last."

knowledge,love, all these

found

are

in the

world, in which
"

All tended
all has

to

produced,
And, man
in
begins
completed man
But,
A tendency to God."
f
For

"

and

back

"

Man,

once

His presence

on

how

anew

inferior grades,
step in the circle." J
all the

givesvoice to the
lets in the lighton

And

tar

his

light

before,

Illustrates
Each

He

thus

flingsback
being intelligent,

man,

all that went

on

mankind,

its end

is this

explains

of Nature,
significance
its blind groping.
mute

descried,imprints for
all lifeless

ever

things."

achieved
interpretation

By

penetratingbehind force, power, mechanism, and

thinks
even
the poet, to a purpose
intelligence,
which is benevolent,a reason
which is all embracing
and
rooted
in love.
The
magnificent failure of
Paracelsus
from missing this last step. His
came
transcendent hunger for knowledge was not satisfied,
not
because
human
an
knowledge is essentially
illusion or mind disease,but because
his knowledge
*

Paracelsus.

f Ibid.

% Ibid. 189.

THE

PRINCIPLE

OF

did not reach the final truth

For

love

secret

alone

of all

makes

the

of

LOVE.

183

things,which

heart

is love.

wise, to know

the

This is the ultimate

being.

hypothesis
catch a glimpse

can
lightof which alone man
of the generaldirection and intent of the universal
in the world and man.
movement
Dying,Paracelsus,
taught by Aprile,caught a glimpseof this elemental

in the

"

love-force,"in which

problem, and

alone

lies the clue to every

of the final satisfaction

the

promise
of the human
spirit.Failingin this knowledge,man
know
things,but nothing truly; for
may
many
all such knowledge stays with outward
It
shows.
is love alone that puts man
in the rightrelation
his fellows

to

and

the

to

world, and

fillslife with sorrow,

distortion which

"

degradation,uglinessand

Of

record

The

A sullen
Fit

But
and

in the

hope

Only

of

page

to erase."

makes

it

scene

tears,

forgotten,

disgraces best
in human

and

the

removes

chronicles

lightof love, man

in illsuccess,"and

"

good in evil,
that mankind
recognizes
sees

are

"

All with
Their
Like

"

of nobleness, despite
upward tending all though weak

touch

error,

plants in mines
dream

And

do their

not," adds

Paracelsus,

Paracelsus.

and

where

be,
f

he may
get to him."

All this I knew

*

saw

never

guess
best to climb and

of him,

But

which

the sun,

"

and

Let

failed.

of

love,

'

splendour,
show
of

BROWNING.

ROBERT

184

that
His

men

God's

soon

the

beneficence.

take

lamp,
or

universe

lesson

the

close

to

will

late,
is

and

their

pierce

transparent

this

press
breasts
the

gloom,"
manifestation

lamp
'

its

and

-,

VII.

CHAPTER
BROWNING'S

AND

IDEALISM,

ITS

PHILOSOPHICAL

JUSTIFICATION.
"

Master, explain this incongruity !

I dared
question, It is beautiful,
'

When

is it true

But

Lives

Beauty.'

have

WE

'

'

thy

"

answer

truth

In

Browning

how

seen

now

was,

sought

to

of the
explain all things as manifestations
to bring all
principleof love ; how he endeavoured
the deep
the variety of finite existence, and
even
the
of good and
evil, under
sway
discrepancies
that
of one
I have
idea.
already tried to show
task :
all human
thought is occupied with the same
the most
science,art, philosophy,and even
ordinary
common-sense,

we

for constant

laws

may

go

even

activityof
is
between
an

some

all,in their different

are

man,
an

his

amongst
far

so

changing

as

to

practicalas

the

and

environment

to
*

Shah

both
Abbas.

the

as

And

himself.

of

that

the

Nay,
the

retical,
theo-

virendi

modus

assumption

the

attempt rests on
ground common

well

ing
seek-

all

that

say

establish

to

attempt

ways,
facts.

such

there

is

struggling

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i86

within

powers

without,

and

itself both

manifests

in

principlethat

some

in

and

man

So

nature.

of
philosophersto the extent
which is deeperthan all differences
a unity,
postulating
alike tryingto discover, in however
; and all are
limited or ignorant a way, what
that unity
is.
If this fact were
more
constantlykept in
mate
view, the effort of philosophers
to bring the ultiof thought into clear
colligating
principles
that

all

men

are

consciousness

would

regarded with

not, at the outset

much

so

differsfrom

the

in the nature

so

much

to

accomplish,as

least,be

suspicion.For the philosopher

of the world, not
man
practical
of the task which he is trying

in the distinct and

with which

at

he enters

upon

conscious

pose
pur-

it.

Now, I think that those, who, like Browning, offer

idea
explicitly
optimistic

an

and

the

world, have

of the relation between

specialrightto a respectful
be denied that their
hearing; for it can scarcely
is invaluable,ifit is true
optimistic
explanation

man

"

"

So

might

Faith
That

be

now,

haply

Never

on

safelymock

we

at what

spared the sapping fear's increase

good shall cease

evil's strife with

earth."

Despairis a great clogto good

and

unnerves

pessimists,as

rule, have

work

for the world,

shown

much

readiness than
"

way.
Life is an

more

peded
optimiststo let evil have its unimHaving found, like Schopenhauer,that
awkward
business/'they determine to
"

Bernard, de Mandeville.

JUSTIFICATION

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

187

on
it,"or at least in moaning
spend life in reflecting
it. The
about
world's
of
helpershave been men

another

mould;

and

the

contrast

between

Fichte

and
"

Schopenhaueris suggestiveof a generaltruth

Fichte, in the bright triumphant flightof

idealism,supported by faith in
world
back

which
on

works

the

darker

for

moral

order

:
"

his

of the

righteousness,
turning his

ethics

of

self-torture

and

mortification,and

and
rushing into the political
social fray,proclaiming the duties of patriotism,
the soldier,callingto and exercising
idealizing
an
active philanthrophy,
livingwith his nation, and
continually
urging it upwards to higher levels of
self-realization Schopenhauerrecurring
to the idea
of asceticism,preaching the
blessedness
of the
quiescenceof all will, disparagingefforts to save
the nation or elevate the masses,
and holdingthat
each has enough to do in raisinghis own
self from
its dull engrossment in lower thingsto an absorption
in that pure, passionless
beingwhich lies far beyond
the so-called highest,
all,even
pursuitsof practical
"

life." *
A

than flippant
pessimism,which is nothingmore
fault-finding,
frequentlygains a cheap reputation
for wisdom
the other hand, an optimism,
; and, on
which
reflection and
is reallythe result of much
experience,may be regarded as the product of a
the deeper
known
superficial
spiritthat has never
evils of life. But, if pessimismbe true, it differs
if it
from other truths by its uselessness ; for,even
*

Schopenhauer, by Prof. Wallace.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

i88

from

man

saves

bitterness of

the

ments,
petty disappoint-

versal.
only by making the misery uniAll is
when
There is no need to specify,
comfort
does not feel the disvanity." The drowning man
But yet,if we reflect on the
of being wet.
problem of evil, we shall find that there is no
be driven to
neutral ground, and shall ultimately
between
choose
pessimism and its opposite. Nor,
of the problem
the other hand, is the suppression
on
of evil possible,
It presents
except at a great cost.
itself anew
in the mind
of every thinking man
;
it does

so

"

and

kind

some

of solution

of it, or

definite way
of meeting its
in the attitude which every
life and

at

least

some

is involved
difficulty,

towards

assumes

man

its tasks.

It is not

impossiblethat there may be as much

to be said for Browning's joy in life and his love
of it, as there is for his predecessor's
and
rage
sorrow.
Browning certainlythought that there
was
to the end.
; and he held his view consistently
We
cannot, therefore,do justice
to the poet without
with the principle
which he has
dealingcritically
on
based his faith,and observing how
far it is applicable
to the facts of human
life. As I have previously
said,he strives hard
the

miseryof

claims, not

but

and

matter

realityof

demonstrate
to all the

as

matter

and, after doing

of poeticsentiment,

of strict truth, that

it all.

the truth

facts,any

more

It is true
of his
than

with

into fair contact

in all its sadness

man

so, he
as

to come

good
that

is the heart
he

principle
by

cannot

reference

the scientific man

can

BROWNING.

ROBERT

190
emotion.

say that love blushes in the rose, or

into beauty in the clouds, that it shows its
To

taks
;ngthin

the storm, and

in the

sets the stars

sky,

it is in all

of order and
thingsthe source
of supreme
worth both
imply a principle
r, may
asked
to
are
we
; but when
poetry and religion
it as a metaphysicalexplanationof facts,we
e
not
to
are
prone, like the judges of Caponsacchi,
to anythingindecorous
or
levity,
L that

"

"

"

"

"

Only
There

I think
was

The

titter stifled in the hollow

rubbed

not

as

say

tale
we

caressed

the nose,
you know

they meant,
bound

are

other

no

pursed mouth,

palm

the eye-brow and

than

believe

hugged too closely,

may
But

if

for that which

we

are

asked

the sciences

doctrine

comfort

"

that

man's

substitute

suggest, if we
"

be

all's

illusion,if

another

to

"

he says.' "*

what

yet all's law/' like many

to

the

sufficiently
willingto let the
a
pious opinion. The faith

are

love

can

play with

at

I first told my
sly one, all this

The

Well, he

held

:
apprehend the mood
the blameless shrug, permissiblesmirk,

pen's pretence

When

We

The

Which
*

"

ness.
naked-

this view
asked

are

"

"

Love
in the
put
and, by assuming it as

unreal

all the

place of physicalenergy,
to regard as
a
principle,
infinitemisery of humanity and the

degradationof intellect
it arises,common-sense
the side of the doleful

The

Ring

and

seems

character
at

the Book"

the
Canon

state

of

which

from
to

take

When

the

once

sage of Chelsea.

optimist postulates that

*

and

the

world,

Caponsacchi, 14-20.

IDEALISM.

191

it rightly
understood, is completely
satisfactory

were
reason

seems

poetry

and

taken

are

HIS

OF

JUSTIFICATION
be

to

brought

to

stand;

and

if

involve such a postulate,

religion
they
to the emotions
to be ministering
at the

of the intellect,

expense

Browning,however, was not a mere sentimentalist

could satisfyhis heart without
who
answering the
questionsof his intellect. Nor is his view without
support at least, as regards the substance of it.
in thingsis
of an
idealistic element
The presence
recognizedeven by ordinarythought ; and no man's
"

is

world

so

for him, if it
of nature
Such

that

poor

into
world

reduced

were

mere

it would

by

be poorer still
the abstract sciences
not

manifestation

Richter

compares

of
to

physicalforce.

an

empty

eye-

socket.

great result of speculationsince the time

of Kant is to teach us to recognizethat objectsare
related to mind, and that the principles
essentially
The

thought enter, so to speak,into the

A very slight
constitution"of the thingswe know.
of psychology,
acquaintancewith the history even
that facts are
times, shows
especiallyin modern
and more
retracted into thought. This science,
more
which
view,
common-sense
began with a sufficiently
and solidityof the thingsof
not only of the reality
pendence
the outer world, but of their opposition
to, or indeof thought, is now
thinningthat world
down
cites
shadow
a
into a mere
something which exIt shows that external thingsas we
sensation.
which

rule

our

"

know

them, and

we

are

not

concerned

in any

others,

BROWNING.

ROBERT

I92
are, to

great extent, the product of

very

activities. No
Lockian

or

objectson

the

to

the

excitation.

"impresses"has

objectwhich

by mind,

made

be

first to

subscribe

now

ing
think-

view, of images impressedby

Humean
mind

will

one

our

In

*of the

out

results of

word, modern

psychology
well as modern
as
metaphysics,is demonstrating
and more
more
fullythe dependence of the world,
of man's
it is known, on the nature
and activity
as
mind.
of the world
is found
Evejy .^explanation

nervous

be, in this

to

there is

no

sense,

idealislicf and

difference whatsoever

given by science
or
religion,
philosophy. If
"

substance/'

we
physicist,

or

assert

has
the

of

that

that

say

"

"

cause

of
principle

respect,

the interpretation

between

and
we

in this

poetry,
a

or

thing is

if,with

the

the transmutation

of energy, or make
of the idea of evolution
use
with the biologist
or
geologist
speak of
; nay, if we

time

and

with the
space
of unity derived
principles

mathematician,
from

we

use

self-consciousness,

and

interpretnature in terms of ourselves, just as

who makes
trulyas the poet or philosopher,
love, or
the constitutive element
in things. If the
reason,
of the world
practicalman
charges the poet and
philosopherwith livingamidst phantoms, he can
be answered
with a
Tu quoque."
Bow
easy,"
"

said

Emerson,

also is

"

it is to show

"

the materialist

that he

phantom walking and working amid phantoms,

and that he need only ask a
question'or two
beyond his dailyquestionsto find his solid universe
proving dim and impalpable before .his sense/'
a

JUSTIFICATION
"

Sense," which

world

is

solid

seems

OF

HIS

to

show

IDEALISM.

193

directlythat
dependent in any

not
reality,

the

way
to be reliable. All science

thought,is found not

is nothing but an appeal to thought from ordinary
sensuous
opinion. It is an attempt to find the
realityof thingsby thinkingabout them ; and this
when
it is found, turns
out
to be a law.
reality,
But laws are ideas ; though, if they are true ideas,
they represent not merely thoughts in the mind,
but also real principles,
which manifest themselves
in the objectsof the outer world, as well as in the
on

thinker's mind.
It is not

in such a work as this,to give a

possible
reasoned proofof this view of the relation of
carefully
thought and things,or to repeat the argument of
Kant.
I must be content
to it,
with merely referring
in virtue of which we
as
showing that the principles
in virtue of which objectsas
think, are the principles
we

with

know
any

them
other

exist ; and

we

objects. The

cannot

laws

be
which

concerned
scientific

only ideas that can

which explain
be written in books, but also principles
the nature
of things. In other words, the hypotheses
of the natural sciences,or their categories,
are
points
of view in the lightof which the external world can
And
laws.
be regarded as governed by uniform
wise
lift the otherwhich
these constructive
principles,
disconnected world into an intelligible
system,
and
of intelligence,
are
revelations of the nature
the
for explaining
only on that account
principles
discovers
investigation

are

world.
7

not

BROWNING.

ROBERT

194

"

To

know,

opening out a way

the imprisoned splendour may
Whence
in
Than
effectingentry for a light
*
Supposed to be without."
Rather

In this sense,

consists in

;
anthropomorphic

difference
energy
which

as

the

essence

speaks of
reality. Between

love

there is not

knowledge

the

even

the

is
no

of

poetry,

of
principle

ultimate

scientific and

is

speaks

physics,which
of things,and

as

such

all

in this respect there

and

between

the

said that

be

it may

escape,

idealistic

the difference

that

planations
ex-

the

beginswithout and the other within, or that the

and the other subjective.The true
is objective
one
the
which
distinction is that the principles
upon
latter proceedare less abstract than those of science.
for the
and "love"
"Reason"
are
higherprinciples
of thingsthan
substance
of the nature
explanation
or
"cause"; but both are forms of the unity of
to have nothing to
thought. And if the latter seem
equate
do with the self,it is only because
they are inad-

one

"

to express

its full character.

On

"

the other

ideas of reason,
seem
hand, the highercategories,
or
to be merely anthropomorphic,and, therefore, illsuited to explain nature, because
the relation of
nature
to intelligence
is habitually neglectedby

ordinarythought,which has not pressed its problems

far enough to know
gories
that such
higher catealone satisfy
can
for truth.
the demand
But
natural
from
science is gradually driven
the lower
to the higher categories,
or, in other
*

Paracelsus.

JUSTIFICATION

OF

HIS

words, it is learningto
idealistic

view

of

slowly, because
the
is

of

uses

take

in

at

human

doubt

no

of

aware

results
"

mind

that

the

"

held

it and

become
of

cautious

too

the

refuses to make
of

nature

our

he

as

does

it
the

of

first,it drove

At

to make

offered to

He

science

is

sions
extenmore

specialfield,and

he

to

the ultimate

himself

apart from

as

idealism.

from

matical
mathe-

rash

such

uses.

to his

its

alone

physicaland
of
day, the man

holds

things..He

materialism,

which

declaration

any

need

in

principleshe

inclined to limit himself

to

of nature, and

man

But, in

terms.

very
exhaust

alreadyhinted, there
becoming increasingly

valid.

as

of the realm

out

explain both
has

is

moving

the

conditions, under

be

may

science

as

more

thought ; and
the history of

find

change of categories.But,
is

of

great intervals
intellect,that we

only

is

195

and

more

labour

long

instrument

an

It

nature.

it is

IDEALISM.

I think

go further,and say that the fatal flaw of

materialism
has been finally
detected, and that the
may

even

of all objectsto thought is all

relativity
but universally
acknowledged.
plete
notion
that science gives a comThe
common
view of truth, to which we may
futing
appealas reScience itself will
idealism, is untenable.
not
lant
support the appeal,but will direct the appelto another
court.
Perhaps, rather, it would
essential

be

truer

whether
can

to
or

say

its attitude

court,
any
valid decision

not

give any

that

is

one

of doubt

or
philosophical
on

the

matter.

other,
Con-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

196

mena,
region of material phenoscientific men
generallyleave to common
tradition,
ignorance,or to moral and theological
finingthemselves

interests

all the

those

which

the

activities of

and

physicalor

are

of them

some

to

even

are

aware,

than

other

man,

And
physiological.
that if they could

or, through
physical equation of man,
their knowledge of physiology,actuallyproduce in
cribed
asthe sensations,thoughts,and notions now
man
life within him, the questo the intelligent
tion
of man
material
nature
of the spiritual
or
it was.
and the world, would remain precisely
where
The
explanationwould still begin with mind and
of the materialistic exend there.
The
planation
principles

find the

of the world

stillbe

would

from

derived

still underlie all it exmind

would
plained,
intelligence;
still be, in
and completed science would
this sense,
thropomorp
anthropomorphic. The charge of anthus falls to the ground, because
it would
cuts

the

prove
hand

too

that

It is

much.

it.

wields

which

weapon

And,

as

directed

againstidealism,it only shows that he who uses it

has inadequatenotions both of the nature
of the
self and of the world, and is not aware
that each
gets meaning, only as an exponent of the other.
On

the

of science

gives an
much

as

thought.
tendency

whole,
who

we

may

say

that

it is not

men

assail

philosophy,because
idealisticexplanation of the world,
now

unsystematic dabblers
The
to

best

men

in

matters

of science, rather, show

acquiesce in

kind

of

dualism

it
so

of
a

of

to the world

should

we

for

BROWNING.

ROBERT

198

the final triumph of human

as

dust-bin, and

explanationfrom

better

some

into the

them

sweep

thought,

new

seek

point of

view.

explanationis sought,and
but by scientific men
sought not only by idealists,
themselves, did they only comprehend their own
The impulsetowards
main tendency and method.
of thought,if it is
unity,which is the very essence
baulked in one direction by a hopelessdualism, just
breaks out in another.
Subjectiveidealism,that is,
the theory that thingsare
nothing but phenomena
And, indeed,

better

"

individual's consciousness,that

of the

is

the world

is now
known
by
reallyall inside the philosopher,
rialism
most
peopleto end in self-contradiction ; and mateis also known
there
to begin with it. And
not
are
people sanguine enough to believe
many
with Mr. Huxley and Mr. Herbert
Spencer,that, if
add two
theories together,or
we
self-contradictory
hold
them
shall find the truth.
we
alternately,
Modern

science,that is,the science which

does

not

and modern
able
philosophize,
philosophyare with tolerunanimity denying this absolute dualism.
They do not know of any thought that is not of
or of any
things,
thingsthat are not for thought. It
is necessarily
assumed
or
other,
that, in some
way
the gap between
thingsand thought is got over by
knowledge. How the connection is brought about
may

not

be known

between
can

well

real

deny.

but, that there is the

thingsand

It is

an

tion
connec-

thoughts,no one
which
ill-starred perversity
true

JUSTIFICATION
leads

men

to

they have
A
the
to

new

not

such

found

HIS

IDEALISM.

dualism.

of

our

how

out

The

idea

the division

breakingdown

time

199

connection, merely because

it is established.

category of thought has taken

thought

down

deny

OF

"

of

category which

development
mind

between

possessionof

all other absolute

and

is

is fatal

breaking

matter,

as

it is

divisions.

astronomy, and

Geology,
extreme, biology,

physics at one
psychology,and philosophyat the other, combine in
assertingthe idea of the universe as a unity which
is always evolving its content, and bringingits secret
potenciesto the light. It is true that these sciences
have

not

linked

hands

yet. We

as

cannot

get from

chemistryto biologywithout a leap,or from physiology

But no one
another.
to psychology without
will postulatea rift rightthrough being. The whole
science impliesthe oppositeof
tendency of modern
such
a
conception. History is strivingto trace
and the savage.
the civilized man
between
continuity
a
junction with
Psychology is making towards
istry,
physiologyand generalbiology,biologywith chemand chemistrywith physics. That there is an
unbroken
continuity in existence is becoming a
science, almost as trulyas the
postulateof modern
the uniformityof nature."
of law
or
universality
the
Nor
is the postulateheld less firmly because
is not yet
for the continuityof nature
evidence
complete. Chemistry has not yet quitelapsedinto
physics ; biology at presentshows no signof giving
and the former
up its characteristic conceptionof life,
that
science is as yet quite unable
to deal with
"

"

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

200

peculiarphenomenon.
not

been

far,mind

has

have

resolved into
not

been

facts of consciousness

The

action,and,

nervous

shown

to

be

so

secretion of

Nevertheless,all these sciences are beating

againstthe limits which separate them, and new
brain.

natural life and

between
of connection
suggestions
discovered.
its inorganic
environment
are
continually
The
sciences are
boring towards each other, and
the dividingstrata are
wearing thin ; so that it
reasonable to expect that, with the growth
seems
of knowledge, an
unbroken
upwards may be
way
discovered,from the lowest and simpleststages of
existence to the highestand most
complex forms
of self-conscious life.

Now,

to those persons

interesi I
primarily
in the ethical and religious
phenomena of man's life,
the idea of abolishing
and
the chasm
between
spirit
is viewed with no little apprehension. It is
nature
established as a
supposed that if evolution were
universal law, and the unity of being were
proved,
the mental and moral lifeof man
i
would be degradeinto a complex manifestation of mere
force.
physical
And
find religious
we
even
at the
men
rejoicing
failure of science to bridge the
the
between
gap
and the organic,
and between
inorganic
natural and
self-conscious life ; as if the validity
depended
of religion
the maintenance
of their separating
upon
boundaries.
But no religion
that is free from superstitious
elements has anythingto gainfrom the failure
of knowledge to relate
thingsto each other. It is
difficultto see how breaks in the
of being
continuity
who

are

" ""

JUSTIFICATION
can

be

HIS

IDEALISM.

201

established,when

the
and

OF

absolute

futes
every livingplant condifference between
the organic

and, by
inorganic,

the very fact of living,

turns
the latter into the former ; and it is difficultto deny
the

of "mind
and matter/' when
continuity
every
humari
is
being
relatinghimself to the outer world
in all his thoughts and actions.
And religion
is the
from
very last form of thought which could profit
such a proofof absolute distinctions,
it possible.
were
In fact, as we
have
in so far as it
seen,
religion,
demands
and absolute being as the object
a perfect
of worship,is vitally
concerned
in maintaining
the
that matter, in
unityof the world. It must assume
its degree,reveals the same
which, in a
principle
higherform, manifests itselfin spirit.
But closer investigation
will show that the real
ground for such apprehensiondoes not lie in the
of existence,which evolution implies
continuity
; for
itselfpostulates
the same
religion
thing. The apprehension
tinuity
springs,rather, from the idea that the conasserted by evolution, is obtained by resolving
It is
the higher forms of existence into the lower.
of development to
believed that, if the application
facts were
carried out, the organicwould
successfully
be shown to be nothingbut complex inorganic
forces,
mental lifenothing but a physiological
process, and
religion,
morality,and art, nothing but products
of the highlycomplex motion
of highly complex
aggregates of physicalatoms.
It seems
to me
quitenatural that science should
be

regarded as tending towards

such

materialistic

BROWNING.

202

ROBERT

conclusion.

This is the view which

have themselves
investigators

exponents, notably
philosophical
consist
less inor
Spencer,have, with more

of their

and

some

Mr.

Herbert

the
interpreted

But, it may

manner.

far
science is generally

its constructive
account

scientific
many
taken of their work ;

of them.

idea of evolution

be well to bear
more

in mind

in this
that

successful in

ideas, than

it is in

In fact, it is not

employing
rendering an

its business

to

: that task
categories
properlybelongs
and
it is not a superfluousone.
to philosophy,
But, so long as the employment of the categories
in the specialprovince of a
particularscience
yieldsvalid results, scientific explorersand those
who
value to
attach, and rightlyattach, so much
their discoveries,
are
very unwillingto believe that
these categories
valid universally.The
not
are
is not heeded, when
it
warning voice of philosophy
chargesnatural science with applyingits conceptions
to materials to which they are
inadequate; and its
examination
of the categories
of thought is regarded
as
an
innocent,but also a useless,activity.For, it
is argued,what good can
arise from the analysis
of
our
working ideas ? The world looked for causes,

examine

and
to

its

found
the

what

them, when

time

of David

it was

Hume,

very
no

young
one

; but, up

had

shown

causality
meant, and the explanationwhich
he offered is now
science, as
rejectedby modern
as it is rejected
definitely
by philosophy. Meantime,
while philosophy
is still engaged in exposing the
fallacies of the
theory of association as held by

JUSTIFICATION
science has

Hume,

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

203

gether
beyond this category altoit is now
a
;
establishing
theory of the
conservation
of energy, which supplantsthe law of
causality
by tracingit into a deeperlaw of nature.
is

There
both

gone

force in this argument, but it cuts

if it be admitted
that the
For, even

some

-ways.

successfully
appliedin the past, it is
category was
also admitted that it was
applied without being
understood

it cannot

questionedthat
it as the final
rightin rejecting

; and

the

were
philosophers
explanationof the relation
and
in pointing to" other

And

ideas.

towards
may
the
of

be

of the nature
to

achieve.

to the

received

by

maintained

says

the
that

mission

some

go

way

method
prevailing

to

which

new

ordinaryview

the

instrument

Hence, without

of this

use

an

of the final results which

extension

new

as

any

paragem
dis-

science has

idea, it may
of its

be

tendency

is erroneous.

Professor

attempt

should

of it

of their view

soundness

The

objectsto each other,

and
higher connecting

convincingevolutionists that, though they

velopme
to apply the idea of deable successfully
to particular
facts,this does not guarantee

it is destined

"

of

this consideration

thought,or

and

be

now

Caird,

level

'

of

explainingthe world,"

"

may

downwards.'

be

described
The

as

doctrine

an

of

terpret
that idea usuallyis inas
development,interpreted
supports this view, as making it necessary
back
to trace
complex to lower
higher and more
or
simplerforms of being ; for the most obvious way
of accomplishingthis task is to show
analytically

that

there

than

in

reallynothing

is

latter/'

the

Whatever
them

Tyndall,

more

Divorced

in

the

former

matter/'

from

is life to be found

where

faithmay say our knowledge shows

joined. Every meal we eat,
indissolubly

our

to be

every

control

"

*
"

asks Professor

and

BROWNING.

ROBERT

204

of

drink, illustrates the

we

cup
Mind

by

Matter.

Trace

the

mysterious
line of life

and more
approaching more
call the purely physicalcondition.''*
to what
we
And then, rising
to the heightof his subject,
or
even
above it,he proclaims, By an intellectual necessity
I cross
the boundary of the experimentalevidence,
and discern in that Matter
which we, in our
ance
ignorof its latent powers,
and notwithstandingour
for its Creator, have
hitherto
professedreverence
I covered with opprobrium, the promise and potency
Iof all terrestrial life."* A littlefurther on, speaking

backwards

and

see

it

"

in the

name

of science,and

on

behalf of his scientific

fellow-workers
he

adds

"

(with what rightis a little doubtful),

"We
shall wrest, from
claim, and we

the
theology,

entire domain

of

cosmologicaltheory.
All schemes
and systems which
thus infringe
upon
the domain
of science,must, in so far as they do
this,submit to its control,and relinquish
all thought
of controlling
it." But if science is to control the
knowable
for
"a

world, he generouslyleaves the remainder

religion.He will not deprive it

Power
absolutelyinscrutable to
*

of

the

faith

intellect

The Critical Philosophyof Kant, Vol. I.

p. 34
t Address to the British Association,1874, p. 54.

J BelfastAddress, 1874.

in

BROWNING.

ROBERT

206
"

That

you

stand

could

you love,
there and survey

the level which

things to

So roll

at

ease

Nothing undisgraced
old church-spire
By pert obtrusion of some
universal

The

If the distance

writers

Some

"

have adopted
religion

ethics and

on

goal of the idea of evolution.

this supposed tendency of
In consistency with
science,to resolve all things into their simplest,
and earliest forms, religion
traced back
has been
to the superstition
and ghost-worshipof savages ;
the

of the

view

same

and then it has been

nothingmore

than

contended

that it is,in essence,

and ghost-worship.
superstition

in like manner,

(And,

morality,with

imperativeof duty, has been

a
break, to the ignorantfear
a

/"

chief.

savage

similar

its

categorical

back, without

traced

of
of the vengeance
in the same
process

direction reduces the love divine,of which

Y speaks,into

brute

true, in its

lust ; somewhat

highestforms,

but

poet

our

sublimated, it is

fundamentally

not

changed.
"

Philosophersdeduce you chastity

shame, from just the fact that at

Or

Whoso

Threw

So,

embraced
club

stood

Of any
Hence

in this

woman

and

forewent

ready victim
the

saw
or

when

to

cave

the

going

Prince

first

field,

his brains

beside

in hand.
out

prosecute

sacred
when

manner"

of

use

the

in the reach

club
brother-savage,

In wood

"And

down

in the

of

sight

his loves."

things of

moral

life

conduct

treated

is showed

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

f Bishop BJoufjam's Apology.

are

to

JUSTIFICATION
be

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

evolved

207

by a continuous process from

conduct
in general/'the conduct
of an
"infusorium
or
a
cephalopod/'or even of wind-mills or water-wheels,it
is not surprising
if the authorityof the moral
law
to be undermined, and
that
seems
devout souls
are
Does
apprehensiveof the results of science.
law so analyzedcoerce
asks Browning.
?
you much
The
derivation
of spiritualfrom
natural
laws
thus
be
fatal to the former; and
to
appears
religiousteachers naturallythink that it is necessary
"

"

"

"

"

for their
of

evolution, and,

establish

absolute

snap the links of the chain

like Professor
to
Drummond,
to

cause

ganic
only between the inorand
the organic worlds, but
also between
the self-conscious life of man
and the mysterious,
But
it seems
to
spirituallife of Christ, or God.
me
that, in their antagonism to evolution,religious
teachers are
tinguish
incapacityto disshowing the same
not

gaps,

their friends

between

"

Kantian

prove

or

that

was

of

"

things

in

themselves,"

which

the

attempt

of

Hansel

for the
reason
degrade human
;
really a veiled agnosticism
must

show

that the idea of

wise

in
interpreted,

no

of man,
On the

overthrow

or

acceptance of

yond
placed God and the soul beeither to
of speculativereason
power
disprove. It is, however, already recognized

doctrine

the

to

doctrine

their foes, which

in their

they previouslymanifested
the

and

the

threatens
of his

contrary, this idea is, in

Hamilton

and
behoof
and

of faith
little

flection
re-

evolution,truly

degradation
interests.
spiritual
all the historyof
the

BROWNING.

2o8

ROBERT

thought,the
adequate to

first constructive

means

the

hypothesiswhich is
of ethics and religion.By
of the
hope to solve many
of knowledge and
the nature

uses

of it, we

may
problems arisingfrom

conduct, which the lower category of cause

turned
into pure enigmas. It seems,
indeed, to
the science of
contain the promise of establishing
which we may
a firm basis ; on
as intelligent,
on
man,
raise a superstructure, comparable in strengthand
superiorin worth, to that of the science of nature.
if the moral science must, like philosophy,
And, even
always return to the beginning must, that is,
from the necessity
of its nature, and not from any
complete failure it will still begin again at a
that the idea of evolution is in
higher level now
moral

"

"

the field.

It

remains

now

of evolution

leaves

or, in other

words,
to

man

and

running life

show

to

for

room

level

down

into

idea

the

way

and morality;
religion

show

to

the

in what

how,
of the

so

far from

grading
de-

condition,

brute

"

ditions,"
purely physicalconit contains the promise of establishing
that
idealistic view of the world, which is maintained
by
art and religion.

In

order

to

show

idea of evolution
to

it.
of

this, it is necessary

should

all facts that

It must, in other

thought,whose

be

used

that

the

and
fearlessly,

in any way
words, be used
can

come
as

applied
under

category
that,
so

is universal ;
application
if it is valid at all as a
theory, it is valid of all
finite things. For the
questionwe are dealingwith

JUSTIFICATION
is not

the

truth

of

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

209

the

hypothesisof a particular
science, but the truth of a hypothesis as to the
relation of all objects in the world, includingman
himself.

We

must

applicationby
its truth

yet, prove

hypothesisever

has

therefore, that

be

not

the

deterred

from

fact that

in every
exhausted

cannot,

we

detail.

this universal

No

as

scientific

its details.

sider,
con-

Mr.

Tyndall had a complete

the boundary of the experimental
cross
right to
evidence
by an intellectual necessity ; for the
from
the assumption of a possible
necessitycomes
explanation by the aid of the hypothesis. It is
no
against such a procedure to insist
argument
tinuity
that, as yet, there is no proof of the absolute conof matter
and
physical life,or that the
dead begets the living. The hypothesis
proved
is not disby the absence of evidence ; it is only not
be there, although
proved. The connection may
"

"

we

face

have

not,

of such

as

yet, been

difficulties as

able

to

find it.

these, the

In

the

scientific investiga

time ;
always a right to claim more
and his attitude
members,
is impregnable as long as he rethe whole, that
Mr. Tyndall did on
as
his hypothesisis a hypothesis.
But Mr. Tyndall has himself given up this right.
He, like Mr. Huxley, has placed the phenomena of
of the developing prooutside
self-consciousness
cess,
evolution
the sphere in which
and
confined
is applicable,
objects
to natural
objects. Between
both subjectand object
when
and the subject,even
an
are
himself, there lies
man
impassablegulf."
has

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

210

of

"

tween
becomprehend the connection
thought and thing is absurd, like the effort
band."
waistman
tryingto lift himself by his own

Even

to

try

Our

to

states

of self-consciousness

only symbols of
"

nature

we

can

bols
sym-

outside

an

entity,whose real
We
know
only these
anything answering

know.

never

are

"

only infer that

to our
impressionsexists outside of ourselves."
it is impossible
And
that inference ;
to justify
even
for,if we can only know states of consciousness,we
cannot
symbols of anything,
say that they are
that there is anything to be symbolized. The
or
external world, on this theory,ceases
to exist even
unknown
as
an
entity. In triumphantlypointing
out that,in virtue of this psychological
view, There
states

we

"

is,you will observe,no

rank

Mr.

he

Tyndall

very
forgetsthat

basis of all natural

into
can

law

of

which

an

know

never

It

"

science,and
outside

has

reduced

any

here,"

destroyed

entity,"of

anything, and

violates every

materialism

the

evolution
which

inference

we
garding
re-

law of

thought.
to me
seems
quiteplainthat either this psychological
theory,which Mr. Tyndall has mistaken for

is invalid
philosophy,

or

else it is useless to

to

deavour
en-

propound any view regardinga

nature
which is the phantom of the individual's mind."
I
preferthe science of Mr. Tyndall (and of Mr. Huxley,

too)to

"

his

philosophy
have escaped
; and he would
materialism
more
if he had
remained
effectively,
faithfulto his theoryof evolution.
It is a disloyalty,

not

only

to

science,but

to

thought, to

cast

away

JUSTIFICATION

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

211

when
categories
they seem to imply inconvenient
be valid universally,
if
They must
consequences.
they are valid at all.
Mr. Tyndall contends
that nature
makes
man,
our

and

he

finds evidence
"

drink,' of
it

the

in the

fact that

control of mind

by

and

eat

we

matter."

Now,

that

makes
then
if nature
man,
makes
man's thoughts also.
nature
His sensations,
ideas,notions, being those of a naturallyfeelings,
evolved agent, are revelations of the potency of the
primal matter, justas trulyas are the buds, flowers,
and fruits of a tree.
cannot
No doubt, we
as
yet
between
nervous
comprehend the connection
than we
action and
prehend
comcan
sensation, any more
between
the connection
inorganic and
But, if the absence of
organicexistence.
mental
experidoes not disprovethe hypothesis
evidence
in the one
not disproveit in the other.
case, it can
There are two crucial pointsin which the theoryhas
to

seems

me,

"

"

"

"

not

been

established.

alike, there is the

But, in both cases
of evidence
that the connection exists
in

neither

case

we,

can

as

same

yet, discover

kind

although
what

it

into
elements
by changinginorganic
is intelligent
only in
organic structure ; and man
the boundary between
far as
he crosses
so
over
subjectand object,and knows the world without
him.
is no
There
impassablegulfseparatingthe
could not
we
subjectand object ; if there were
not
two
are
know
anything of either. There
of thoughts, the other of things
worlds
the one
is.

Plants

live

"

"

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

212

absolutelyexclusive of each other,

universe
in which
but one
thought and reality
ence
Mr.
meet.
Tyndall thinks that it is an infer(and an inference over an impassable gulf!)
that anything answering to our
impressionsexists
outside ourselves.
The questionof the external
world
is the great battlegroundof metaphysics,"
he quotes approvinglyfrom
Mr. J. S. Mill. But
the questionof the external world is not whether
"

which

are

"

exists ; it

that world

is,how

are

we

for

to account

knowledge that it does exist. The inference is

from
not
thoughts to things,nor from thingsto
known
world to a
thoughts, but from a partially
systematictheory of that world.
Philosophyis not
of tryingto discover
engaged on the foolish enterprise
our

whether
that

the world

it exists ; its

exists,or whether

problem

is how

to

know

we

for

account

knowledge. It asks what must the

thingsbe, seeingthat they are known ;
is the nature
of thought, seeing that
our

nature

and

of

what

it knows

facts ?
There

is no

hope whatsoever for ethics,or religion,

or philosophy no
hope even for science in a theory
which
would
apply evolution all the way up from
inorganic
matter
to life,
but which would postulate
an
"

"

absolute
between
whether
then
be

break

at

consciousness.

thought and thingsis

we

natural

can

account

there

for it or not

science would

be

The
to

connection

begin with,

; if it were

impossible.It

not,
would

palpablyirrationaleven
to try to find out
the
nature
of things by
thinking. The only science

BROWNING,

ROBERT

2i4

of all its differences ; and

its process
The

its actual

content

of the

environment

in the
is

history of

whole

always

the

same.

that content,

plant evokes

of

anything
tion
absolutelynew, no external aggregation,no inserof anything alien into a growing thing, is
possible.What it is now, it was in the beginning;
it will be, it is now.
and
what
Granting the
hypothesisof evolution, there can be no quarrel
with the view that the crude beginningsof things,

but

it adds

nothing to

all the

No

nebulous

in its most

matter

it.

addition

state, contains

variety of

rich

tially
poten-

natural

both

and

life.
spiritual
of
But this continuity

us

interbe preted
all existence may
lead
It may
different ways.
in two
very
of mind
notions
either to radicallychange our

change our notions

radically
of exof matter."
We
take as the principle
planation,
may
either the beginning,or the end of the
process of development. We
may
say of the simple

and

its activities,
or

and

There

"

crass,

reallymeans
of man,

"

or

"This

rich universe
your
ties
activimay say of the spiritual
is what
crude beginning
your

is all that

"

to

we

We
reallywas."
explain the complex by the
may
simple,or the simple by the complex. We may
analyze the highest back into the lowest, or we
follow the lowest,by a process of synthesis,
may
up
to the highest.
And
of the most
one
important of all questions
for morality and religion
of
is the question,which
these

two

methods

is valid.

If out

of

crass

matter

JUSTIFICATION
is evolved

OF

all animal

HIS

and

IDEALISM.

215

life,does
spiritual

prove life to be nothing but

rather show
that what
we,

matter

in

or

that

does it not

ignorance,took
to be
matter
mere
was
really something much
contains all this promise
greater ? If crass matter
and
potency, by what
right do we still call it
?
It is manifestlyimpossibleto treat the
crass
to lie in a thing that grows, as
potencies,assumed
if they were
of no significance
to assert that
; first,
such potenciesexist,in saying that the objectdevelops;
and
then, to neglectthem, and to regard
the effect as constituted merely of its simplestelements.
Either these potencies
not in the object,
are
else the object has in it, and
or
is, at the first,
Either
the object
than
it appears
to be.
more
does not grow,
the lowest stage of its being is
or
no
explanation of its true nature.
our

"

"

"

"

If

wish

we

life mean,
We

look

we

watch

must

what

know

to

in vain

the
to

the evolution

forms

their
and

of natural

primary

revelation

state.

of the

through the
kingdom. The
ascending cycles of the biological
idea of evolution,when it is not muddled, is synthetic
"not
analytic; it explainsthe simplestin the light
of the complex, the beginningin the lightof the end,

secret

and

hid

not

in natural

vice

versa.

life,as

In

it

moves

word, it follows

the ways

footstepsof fact, instead of inventing

And
nature
wilful backward
a
path of its own.
hearken
explains by graduallyexpanding. If we
to nature, and
to the voice of illusory
not
ceptions,
preconher proclaim at the last
shall hear
we
of nature, the

BROWNING.

ROBERT

2i6

meaning of the seedling. Now

which
it reallywas
it is clear what
; for the power
through bud
lay dormant has pushed itselfinto light,
and flower and leaf and fruit." The
realityof a
growing thing is its highest form of being. The
"

stage,

is the

Here

The

explainsthe first,but not the first the last.

first is abstract, incomplete,not yet actual,

but

mere

last

know
could
never
potency ; and we
the potency, except in the lightof its own

even

actualization.
of

correction

this

From

development momentous
the

universe

consequences

science

is, as

view

of

follow.

If

abstract

the

pronounces,

organic
promise and
an

which
is ever
convertingits
totality,
add
that the
then we must
potency into actuality,
ultimate interpretation
of the lowest existence
even
in the world
be given except on
cannot
principles
which
are
adequate to explain the highest. We
"

level up

"

must

only deny that

must

say

that

and

not

matter
even

understood, except
world."
That

level down

not

must

we

itself cannot

matter
an

but
explainspirit,

can

as

"

element

in

we

be

fully
spiritual

the

idea

of

evolution, even

when

applied

in this consistent
it
way, has difficultiesof its own,
is scarcely
But there is nothing
necessary to say.
in it which
terests
imperilsthe ethical and religiousinof
natural

phenomenon.

liftsnature
*

humanity,or
into

Professor

tends
Instead

manifestation

to reduce

man

into

of

degradingman, it
of spirit.If it were

Caird, The Critical Philosophy of Kant,

p. 35.

JUSTIFICATION

OF

established,if every
discovered

and

the

idealism,but it would
and

detail the

IDEALISM.

link of the endless

irrefragably
proved,
in
justify

HIS

"

other

existence

science

not

rather

would

vindicate it.

reason,

arrived

now

is
at

love,

or

were
were

overthrow
It would

attempt of poetry and

in the world

power

I have

of

chain

continuityof

all being as
philosophy,to interpret
vesture

217

religion

the

"

parent
trans-

whatever

or

regardedas highest.

the

conclusion

that

was

sought. I have tried to show, not only that the

of man
is not
in terms
nature
attempt to interpret
a
superstitious
anthropomorphism, but that such
is implied in all rational thought.
an
interpretation
is the key to all
In other words, self-consciousness
the problems of nature.
Science, in its progress, is
one
graduallysubstituting
category for the other,
law
is at once
of these categories
and every one
a
Each
of thought and
law of things as known.
a
to
adopted,lifts nature more
category, successively
the level of man
; and the last category of modern
thought, namely, development, constrains us so to
modify our views of nature, as to regardit as finally
explicableonly in the terms of spirit.Thus, the
of science is towards

movement

of

of that which

into

it elevates nature

loweringman,
is

highestand

best

Instead

idealism.

in

man.

potency
It represents

in the language of philoslife of man,

ophy,
of the highestto itself; or in
the return

the
as

the

language

manifestation
of nature

from

of

our

of
the

poet, and

infinite

love.

as
a
religion,
The
explanation

of

of love, if
principle

it errs,

errs

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

218

it is not

because

it is too

because
and

high

concrete

anthropomorphicenough," not
anthropomorphic; it is not too
and
low
too
but
a
principle,

abstract.

It

to show

remains

now

indicate that

of it.

I shall

"

Will

have

Once

man

time

Through

Till he attained

"

Not

of its true

in which

meaning

use

he

jelly-lump

course

insect,reptile,bird and
an
ape at last,
And

one.

if this doctrine
"

beast,

shock

In

aught the natural

at

the
all,"the poet interrupts

I like the

false

to be

Friend, banish fear !

"

the

others

from was
sprung
he kept an after

fish and

Or last but

few

passages

'

mass
on

detected

few

why and wherefore, and the fact

Science asks.
pike-staff? modern

plain as

*That

aware

had

quote

now

you

Made

"

he

consciousness

was

employpoet, in ing
of its upward

already quoted

I have

which

shows

the

of evolution,

the idea

direction.

that

thought

pride.'

of science

man

"

He

should

have

lodged

once

me

I' the
The
The

hole, the cave, the hut, the tenement,

mansion
and the palace ; made
learn
me
feel o' the first,
before I found myself

Loftier i' the last." f

This

way

upward

other

every

to

from

the

the

lowest

stage through
of
is, the way

highest,that
from loweringus

development,so far
level,is the only way for us to attain
highest,namely, the all-complete.
*

Prince

Hohensticl-Sckwangau.

the

to
to

brute

the

t Ibid.

true

JUSTIFICATION
"

But

grant

And

manufacture

OF

time, give

me

of

HIS

IDEALISM.

me

the

model

me,

219

management

Me

a prince without
fifty-fold,
a flaw,
there's
social
the
no
Why,
grade,
sordidest,
My embryo potentate should brink and scape.
"

King,
He

all the better

should

our

cobbler

was

know, sittingon

'Life to who

But

he

the

sweeps

the

doorway."

then, unfortunately,
we

kings in

tastes

have

time

no

make

to

this way.
"

You

cut

probation short,

And, being half-instructed,on

shuffle through your part
You
"

the

stage

best

as

can."

you

takes

time."

He

makes

man

pass

in
apprenticeship

all the

forms

of

being.

Nor

God, however,
his

once,

throne, how

does

the

poet
"

I' the

backwardness, repine

Mountain

streamlet

or

Before

It is,indeed,
thus

to follow

Refuse

only

on

and

yet
flower,

dwelling-place

my

gained enlargement,

from

evolved

were

farther

if tree

grew

mollusc."

suppositionof having been

inanimate
being that he is able
the

to account
"For
Of

many

kinship, I confess to, with

thrill

the powers

animate, inanimate,
there's something there
parts
in me." "
the man
meets
that somehow
Man-like

Called

Nature

In

These

or

and

that
*

the
he

Prince
Ibid.

it clear that

make

passages
that

in the whole,

idea

makes

of
an

the

poet recognized
"

development
and
intelligent,

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

levels
not
f Ibid.
" Ibid.

up,"
per-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

220

verted and abstract

of

of this instrument

use

thought.

higher stage carrying within it the

lower, the presentstoring
up the past ; he recognizes
He knows
one.
that the process is a self-enriching
it to be no
degradationof the higher that it has
between
been in the lower ; for he distinguishes
the fleeting
amidst
is continuous
that life,which
He

each

sees

which

forms, and the temporary tenements,

of

use

duringthe
"

not

at

The

me."

from
the point
upon
of its final attainment, in the lightof the

self-consciousness

dignityis

new

I,
lodging, I was
all the place that harboured

is thus

nature

of view

ascending.

first to last of

From
And

When

of

process

it makes

lowest

ceases

looked

into which
added
to

be

to

it

ultimatelybreaks,
precedingphase.
every

lowest, except in the

that its

sense

promise is not fulfilled and its potency not

actualized ; for,throughout the whole process, the
streams
from the highest. It is that which
activity
is about to be which guides the growing*thing and
is the efficient cause
givesit unity. The final cause
;
the distant purpose
is the ever-presentenergy ;^the
last is always first.
Nor does the poet shrink from
this highest,
calling
this last which
is also first,by its highest name,
"

God.
From
To

"He
life'sminute

dwells in all,

beginnings,up

the consummation

man"

Prince

at last

of this scheme

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

222

kosmos

by

In
of intelligence.
activity

the

farces of nature

the

"hints

but
purposeless,
"

found

are

inferior natures, and

All shape out dimly the
And

man

hopes

appears

too
at

nor

about

all lead

The

heir of

blind

not

previsions"

and

confusedly everywhere

Strewn

The

be,

to

its light,

higher,

up

superior

race,

fair to turn

out

last."

false,

with the
this way,
and in strict accordance
of evolution, the poet turns back at each
principle
In

higherstage to

before, just as

went

justas, with
the past anew,
interpret
;

and

metal

draws

the true.

"

into pure
the false from

ore

reflection which

the

ended, I shall try

My gain or loss thereby ;
Leave
the fire ashes, what
survives
Give

weigh the same,

life its praise or blame

youth

unconscious
man

is

gold

I shall

Young,

in

life,we

mixed

the

turn

by

in

advance

Youth

And

As

the

every

of action

lightwhat
seedlingafter

broader

know

we

"

it is grown

in

re-illumine

all

lay in dispute ; I shall know,

attains

its

"

Still within

Though

in age,

meaning

process of nature
And old age,

being, old." f

so

to its

come

does

the

meaning

this life

lifted o'er its

strife,"

is able to
"

Discern,compare,
This
That

rage

was

at
pronounce
right i' the main,

acquiescence vain

"

last,

_____^

Paracelsus.

f Rabbi

Ben

Ezra.

J Ibid.

JUSTIFICATION

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

223

is able to

penetrate beneath the apparently

chaotic play of phenomena, and find in them
law,
and beauty,and goodness. The laws which he finds
coveries
by thought are not his inventions,but his disso

man

harmonies

The

artist 'only knows

connection

how

is still

are

to

in the

elicit them.
intimate.

more

organ,
It

if the

Nay, the
is jn_Jiie

its vnirr-:
thojightof mari_thatsilent natur^Jrnrfo
it blooms
into
thought, in
meaning/' significance,
its beauty in the flower.
him, as the plant shows
is making towards
Nature
ity
humanity,and in humanit finds itself.
"

"

the
be man,
through all the

Striving to
Mounts

worm

spiresof

form."

chemist, by discovering
geologist,
physicist,
the laws of nature, do not bind unconnected
nomena
phe; but
they refute the hasty conclusion of
were
sensuous
thought, that the phenomena ever
of science do not introduce order
unconnected.
IVfcp
"that"
there
'chaos,
into
but show
never
The

cha^ic"jmd

poet does not make the

world beautiful,but finds the beauty that is dwelling
there.
Without
him, indeed, the beauty would not
was

chance

be, any

more

until it has

form.

or

The

chaos.

than

the

evolved

Nevertheless,

life of the

tree

is beautiful

into the outward

potencies
he is the expressionof what

its

beauty was there in potency,

awaitingits expression. Only let his thoughts be
of equal scope, and the frame will suit the picture,"
was

before, and

the

"

said Emerson.
*

Emerson.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

224

"

henceforth

Are
A

voices, wailing

querulous mutter,

Never

gust

senseless

or

or

quick
man

now

winds

The

shout,

gay laugh,
is born.

and have
deep thoughts,
pines commune
to discuss
A secret they assemble
their trunks.
behind
the sun
When
drops

The

herded

enterprise,deep quiet droops

With
hour,
evening, triumph takes the sunset
Voluptuous transport ripens with the corn
like a happy face." *
Beneath
a warm
moon

The

has

morn

transmuting power of imagination,

that there is
nothing but doth suffer change into
tion,
somethingrich and strange ; and yet the imaginawhen
loyal to itself,only sees more
deeply
into the truth of things,and gets a closer and fuller
is the

Such

"

"

hold

of facts.

But, although the

breach

between

mind

human

nature

and

heals

thus

spirit,and

the

discovers

this way
For
establishes his idealism.
finally

former, still it is not

the latter in the

that

Browning
him, the principle
working in

in

all

thingsis not reason,

It is from love that allbeingfirst flowed;
but love.
into it all returns
the
thfbugh manj^mTTmall
wide compass
which is fetched," through the infinite
varietyof forms of being, love is the permanent
"

element
back

to

and

the true

God,

static view

essence.

gathering treasure

is not

that for the poet

developmentis

true

to

nature

evolution
*

The

facts; it-is development

explainsthe

the

it goes.

as

Paracelsus.

of

of love.

things;
Love

and

is for

JUSTIFICATION

Browning

OF

HIS

IDEALISM.

225

the

highest,richest conceptionman
can
It is our
form.
idea of that which is perfect
; we
cannot
even
imagine anything better. And the
idea of evolution
necessarily
explainsthe world as
of the highestto itself. The universe is
the return
homeward

bound.
whether

Now,

not, I shall not

chapter
evolution

has

love

is the

or
highest principle
present. My task in this

inquireat

been

drives

to

to

try

onward

show

that

towards

the idea of

highest
and then uses
that conceptionas a princonception,
ciple
is veritably
to explain all things. If man
higher as a physicalorganism than the bird or
then
reptile,
biology,if it proceeds accordingto
of evolution, must
seek the meaning
the principles
of the

latter in the

kingdom
is
a
"

no

more

us

of

life

former, and
process

make

"

rudimental

forms

that

man.

limbs

His

exquisite
organizationsay

the

whole
"

towards

upstart in the creation.

of the

some

are

Man

only

rather the finish

have

alreadybeen

And
creepingin the mud."
a
as
of thought appliesto man
the same
way
+Vian
be ^if^hfr
"a**"-,
spiritual
agent. If spirit
at its best, then the principle
and ijlove be spirit
leaves
of evolution
no
option to the scientific
thinker, but to regard all things as potentially
and
spirit,
a^ the, phenomena of thp. world as
Evolution necessarily
bines
comof 1rvt^
manifest a t^m
it is appliedinto
all the objects to which
a
unity. It knits all the infinite forms of natural
life into an
organism of organisms,so that it is

sweeping the

sea

and

BROWNING.

ROBERT

226

reallylives in all animate

bers
beings. Each animal or vegetableform rememthe next inferior and predictsthe next
higher.
is one
animal, one
There
plant,one matter, and
In its still wider application
force."
by poetry
one
and philosophy,the idea of evolution
gathers all
all
and makes
being into one self-centred totality,
a

universal

life which

"

finite existence

within, and

movement

in order

of time, is first in order

priusof

all

the

of the

ment
move-

which, although
perfection

of, that final

and

of

of God

immanence

"

in all

things,

doctrine

the

"

it reveals

and

the

potency,

things,the active energy

realityof all things. It is

intellect,in the
supreme
frontier of His universe."

effort of God,

In
that

of the

pronouncing,
"

after last

as

comes

last

the
treme
ex-

Browning frequentlydoes,
first

"

and

"

what

God

once

"

blessed cannot

; in the boldness of
prove accursed
the faith whereby he makes
all the inferior grades

of
in

being into embodiments

resolvingthe evils of

strife,and

sin of

man

of the
human

into

means

supreme
life,the

good

sorrow,

of man's

motion,
pro-

he is

the

His

only applying,in a thorough manner,

which all modern
on
rests.
principle
speculation
conclusions

they may
of

is

may

shock

common-sense

and

observation
not only our
stultify
facts,but the testimony of our moral consciousness.
But I do not know
of any principle
of speculation
when
which,
elevated into a universal principle
of thought,will not do the same
this
; and
why the greatest poets and philosophersseem
seem

to

JUSTIFICATION
to be touched

be

with

OF

IDEALISM.

divine madness.

madness, there is

from
escape
of evolution

HIS

method

227

Still,if this

in it.

We

cannot

its

logic,except by denying the idea

the hypothesis by means
of which
modern
thought aims, and in the main successfully
aims, at reducing the variety of existence,and the
chaos
of ordinary experience,into an
order-ruled
world and a kosmos
of articulated knowledge.
The

idea

new

universal
of
"

our

of evolution

causation,

day

own

it does

it finds

"

not

which

to

the

even

learnt to submit, in

has

leave

them.

differs from

the

things on

Both

and

cause

that

of

ignorance
this mainly

level

which

on

evolution

assert

the

unity of being, which, indeed, every one must

assume
even
ment
scepticsand pessimists
; but develop; so
represents that unity as self-enriching
that its true nature
is revealed, only in the highest
"

form

of

attempt

which

existence
of

poets and

universal

synthesisby

from

work

only

the

in the

its results.

the

name

philosophersto

"

our

of

and

war

with

the

dualism

or

"

the

cism
sceptinature

science.
it

was

is his

"

Not

said

of

religious

discoveries

of

comprehends
scientific conceptions

discoveries
him

of

breadth

agnosticism,that

inner

science ; but all such

and
assimilates.
By

the

its real

conceals

spiritof
only," we may say of Browning as
Emerson
by Professor Tyndall,
sense
by the
entirely undaunted
is at

evolution, differs
of science,
by men

idealism," but

day,

establish

of

means

is done

It is not

The

conceive.

can

of its range

extent

which, in
under

which

man

he

and
he

without

does

natural

does

religion

whose

it

is

fragmentary
the

is

gradually

progressively

holds

obscurely
in

the

evolution
in

is

an

that

the

region

reconciling

idealistic

from
of

its

science

conception

goodness.

or

discord

the

making

conscious

whole

beauty,

the

of
of

harmony

It

mankind.

to

of

unity,

first,

the

with
the

which

art

we

actually
The

survey.

of

art,

metaphysic

audible

proving

main

philosophy,

eliminating

more

For

its

overturn

or

and

and

more

all

truth,

this

truth.

the

against
to

existence,

world

are

militate

forms

And

understands

who

threaten

nor

of

distortion

one

not

principle

Rather,

of

to

world."

ideal

an

any

science,

tendency,
and

of

hues

warmer

finer

the

into

transmuted

continually

are

is

BROWNING.

ROBERT

228

and

universe.

idea

ligion,
re-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

230

idealism, Browning is in agreement with the

of modern
latest achievement
thought. For, if the

ing an

love is a far more

of evolution be granted,
principle
adequate hypothesis for the explanation of the
than any purelyphysicalprinciple.
of things,
nature
in so far as it presupposes
tion,
evoluNay, science itself,

tends towards
love be the best
which

idealism

an

of this

for
expression

is conceived

that

the truth of

as

Whether

type.

highestprinciple,
being,and whether

of it is consistent and valid,

Browning'streatment
I do not as yet inquire.Before
attempting that

task, it

be

must

extent, and

what

to

seen

in what

way, he appliesthe hypothesisof universal love to

the particular
facts of life. For the present, I take
it

as

an

admitted

hypothesis;
if any,

the

that

we

ask, with

to

hope, by

may

phenomena
This

as
hypothesisis legitimate,

it remains

contradictions

system.

the

of

life,and

into the

task

cannot

its means,

to

cess,
suc-

solve

flicting
gather its conunity of an intelligible
be accomplished within
I can
partialmanner.

to

limits,except in a very
attempt to meet only a few of the
our

what

more

evident

and

pressingdifficultiesthat present themselves, and I

do that only in a
can
very generalway.
The first of these difficulties, rather,the main
or,
from which all others spring,is that the
difficulty
hypothesisof universal love is incompatiblewith
the

existence
moral.

Of

of any

kind

of

evil,whether

natural

He
this,Browning was
well aware.
knew that he had
broughtupon himself the hard task
of showing that
pain, weakness, ignorance,failure,

or

THE

PROBLEM

OF

EVIL.

231

doubt, death, misery,and vice, in all their complex

find their legitimateplace in a scheme
forms, can
of love.

there

And

his attitude, or
the

more

manly frankness

confront

the

them

admirable
in
nothing more
in his teaching,than
inspiring
with

which

miseries

he

endeavours

of human

to

life,and

ing
yield,as their ultimate meanand reality,
some
spark of good.
But, as we have seen, there is a portion of this
task in the discharge of which
Browning is drawn
beyond the strict limits of art. Neither the magnificent
boldness
of his religious
faith, nor the penetration
of his artistic insight,
although they enabled
him to deal successfully
with the worst
samples of
human
evil, as in The Ring and the Book, could
the gloom which
reflection gathersaround
dissipate
the
the
cannot
answer
general problem. Art
difficulties that
questions of philosophy. The
critical reason
theless,
alone can
raises reason
lay. Neverthe poet was
forced by his reflective impulse,
it
that problem in the form in which
to meet
presents itself in the region of metaphysics. He
within which
of the presuppositions
conscious
was
his art worked, and
he sought to justifythem.
Into this region we
follow him, so as to
must
now
examine
his theory of life,
not merely as it is implied

to

constrain

manifold

is

in the

concrete

to

creations

of his

art, but

as

it is

expressedin those later poems, in which he attempts

difficulties that
to deal directly
with the speculative
crowd
around
the conceptionof evil.
there is hardly more
To the critic of a philosophy,

BROWNING.

ROBERT

232

importance. It is that
which
the
of determiningthe precisepoint from
takes its departure; for,when
theory he examines
the central conceptionis clearlygrasped,it will be
found that it rules all the rest.
The supergenerally
structure
of philosophicedifices is usually put
it is the
solid manner
together in a sufficiently
foundation
that
Hence
Hegel, who,
gives way.
whatever
be thought of his own
theory,was
may
certainlythe most
profound critic of philosophy
since Aristotle,
his attack on
generallyconcentrates
the preliminaryhypothesis. He
the
brings down
erroneous
system by removing its foundation-stone.
His criticism of Spinoza,Kant, Fichte, and Schelling
almost be said to be gathered into a single
may
than

one

of supreme

task

"

sentence.

Browning

has

conception.

It

"

"

immundate

made
is

the

idea

love.

and

the
activity,

love,

the

as

and

central

immanent

an

that

his

have

we

moral

supreme

end

veritable nature

or

of all selfof both

man

God.
"

Derm

das

Und

His

of

And

shown, is conceived by him

motive, the ultimate essence
conscious

of

secret

no

Leben

des Lebens

philosophyof

human

it is the realization of

lovingpurpose.

To

character by

man

life rests

and

on

the idea that

which
purpose,
there is no supreme

moral

him

except good character

ist die Liebe,

Leben
Geist."

and
in

man

the

foundation

is the

is

good,

of that

ultimate

pur-

THE
pose, and,

PROBLEM

OF

therefore,the
"

What

true

but

cannot

the

soul

that

purpose
Conclusions
with, unless

the

and

up

Stay,
For

one

all,stored

by
gain of every

ever,

The
What

some

each

233

meaning

I search

serves

EVIL.

of all existence.

see

strives,or

it tries

world

fruit of victories
and

mode

whereby

life.

Death

guaranteed

its

shall be ma'de

reads

own

known

the title clear

"

for itself

soul

conquered from out things here

Since, in the seeing soul, all worth lies,I assert." *

this passage,

In
idea

which

that

human

moral

a
"

Browning gives expressionto

in his pages
continuallyreappears
life,in its

is movement

essence,

an
"

to

mental
goodness through opposition.His fundaconception of the human
spiritis that it is

process, and not

made
to grow
was
"

increase

Because

he

Man/' he says,

knowledge, since he learns

is to be

lives,which
himself

instruct

to

of

"

fact.

stop."

not

Getting
Set

fixed

by

his

man,

past self." f

"

By such confession straighthe falls

place, a thing nor God nor beast,

man's

Into
Made

to know

Lower

God

than

Higher than
each

that
who

beasts

beast's

he

can

know

knows
which

and

all and
know

not
can

and

more

all,

can

so

far

limit, perfect to an
that they know, nor

end,
Nor conscious
craving more
conceives
While
knows
man
beside,
partly but
the
to
fancies
from
fact,
Creeps ever on
And
in this striving, this converting air
As

Into

Finds
Not
Man

It
*

were

Fifme

and use,
solid he may
grasp
distinctive
mark
man's
progress,

God's

partly

easy
at

and

the

not

is and

to

Fair,

the beasts'

wholly hopes

multiply
Iv.

God

passages

f A Death

alone,

is,they

to be."

are,

J
which

in the Desert.

show
J Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

234
his

that

he

that

not

is, nor

the

is

ever

latter

He

him.

he

is

is not, but

former.

the

to

is

tradiction
con-

ing
mov-

Strife constitutes

of elements;

war

that he

ideal, and

and

is,

point of

the

at

actual

the

between
from

that

Man

becoming.

ever

regarding man

deliverance

ultimate

''hurled

from

change to change unceasingly." But rest is death;

for it is the cessation of the spiritual
whose
activity,
is acquirement,
whether
not mere
essence
possession,
in knowledge or in goodness.
"

From

vain

From

what

Were

good,

fact,

to what

now

"

estate, and pass under

long as

as

to new,

proves

best."

to

he is man,

Somewhat

to

cast

angel'slaw."

are

one

thing."f

he has

off,somewhat

Paracelsus,Fifme

NightcapCountry,and
Browning deals with
from

old

to

Indulging every instinct of the soul

There, where law, life,joy, impulse

"

In

seemed

once

from

pass

mistake

stop, and the contradiction

the actual and ideal reconciled,man
would

leave man's

But

must

real,from

the movement

between

"

to

Man

the

at

many
the

to

become."

Fair, Red

of his

other

problem of

human

Cotton
poems,

life

the

point of view of development. And it is

this point of view,
held, which enables
consistently
him

to

ethics.

throw

new

For, if man
*

Death

lighton the whole subjectof

be veritablya being in process

in the Desert.

f Ibid.

THE

PROBLEM

evolution, if he

of

OF

be

EVIL.

changes from earliest childhood to

a living
thing,a potency in process
then

no

that

permanent

fixed distinctions made

235

always

old age, if he be
of actualization,

with

reference to him

If, for instance,it be asked whether

is rational or irrational,
free or bound, good or
man
if he is veritably
evil,God or brute, the true answer,
be true.

can

being moving from ignoranceto knowledge, from

wickedness
to virtue, from
bondage to freedom,
a

is, that
and

is at

he

All hard

both.

of these

neither

once

of

terms

alternatives

division,when

applied

If the life of
subjectwhich grows, are untrue.
is a self-enriching
man
process, if he is becoming
good, and rational, and free,then at no pointin the
is it possibleto pass fixed and definite
movement
He must
be estimated by his
judgments upon him.
direction and momentum,
by the whence and whither
to

of his life.
the
is

first and

only by

he exists
he

There

is

exercise

man.

But

of these ;

none

potency

not

in which

sense

of

there is also

yet actualized.

is at
He

is from

free ; for it
freedom

and

reason

for he

man

and

always good, rational

the

as

is

sense

the

that

in which

first only

is not

rational,

good, but becoming

freedom.
good ; not free, but aspiring towards
he may
in His light,
It is his prayer that
see
light
truly,and in His service find perfectfreedom."
In this frank assumption of the point of view
of development. Browning suggests the
question
whether
the endless debate
regardingfreedom, and
moral
not
other
and
terms, may
spring
necessity,
but

becoming

rational

"

not

BROWNING.

ROBERT

236

opposingschools of
ethics are
fundamentallyunfaithful to the subject
of their inquiry. They are
treatinga developing
realityfrom an abstract point of view, and taking
if he
be true of man,
for granted, what
cannot
moral goodness
and
in intellectual power
grows
that he is either good or
evil, either rational or
of the

both

the fact, that

from

"

"

either free
irrational,

bond,

or

at every

from

the process.
They are treatingman
instead of from a kinetic point of
that
and

it is his business

to

intellectual freedom, which

from

moment
a

in

static,

view, and

getting
for-

acquirethe moral
he has potentially

the first
"

"

Heart's

Some

fitter way

Is past, gives way

before
The all-including
Future

But, whether

express

satisfaction that the Past

indeed

Life's best and

!

"

last,

point of view renders

of the old disputations
some
of ethics meaningless,
it is certain that Browning viewed
life as
moral
a growth through conflict.
not

or

the

"

Did

soul stand

Through
Of

some

new

What

still

were

life

therein, forego her strife

the

ambiguous Present
Future
?
all-reconciling

to
"

the

goal

To

become, to develop, to actualize by reaction

againstthe natural and moral environment, is the
meaning both of the self and of the world it works
"

We

upon.

are

here

to

learn the

good

through strife,of love through hate,

knowledgeby ignorance."
*

Gerard

de Lairesse.

of peace

and

reach

BROWNING.

ROBERT

238

reveals,togetherwith every

and

inner

other

quality

being,have only relative worth.

of it
out
or
is nothing either in the world
There
which is unconditionally
good, except a good will/'
ing,
said Kant
a
good will,accordingto Brown; and
love all
is a will that wills lovingly. From
is earnest
There
other goodness is derived.
ing,
meanand

of

state

outer

"

and

not

sentiment, in the poet'sassertion

mere

that
"

There

is

but love !
good of life but love
What
else looks good, is some
shade
flung from love.
Love
Be warned
gildsit,gives it worth.
by me,
Never
instant ! Love,
you cheat yourself one
*
Give love, ask only love, and leave the rest !
no

"

"

"

man's

Let

the truth
to

of all his

source

And

man.

To

love into the inmost

permanent

task of

Browning
"

Each
Of

There

one

no

need

ideal which

Yearning
of

amount

own

evident

so

its

its

practisingwith
is

lower

man

to

as

dispense,

gain thro' its

own

mode

further the doctrine,

illustrating
is the
love
Browning, that
life makes
through conflict for

in

"

"

in man's

and

is the
activities,

of

element, which
in

being,

defines that love

what

said, it is abundantlyplain that

divine

of his

law

life."

fulfilment. From

own

"

love's
and
adds,
attain this truth, that is,

true," he

of mine."

constitute

and

life be

around
*

In

is at

war

has
love

with

him, and which

a,

Balcony.

been
is to

already
him

all that

is

by reaction

THE

PROBLEM

againstcircumstance

fact.

reaches

the

down

to

is first and

God.

intimacy of
may

be, it is still

continent."

nature,
of God

himself

attain

"

is at
he

in

his

semblance

so

that

of the divine.

own

the

one

with

ranks

with

love
human
qualities
pin-pointrock of His boundless

man

so

nature

amid

essence,

of

Godhood

The

that

he

cannot

ideal

or

true

the love

is in this

man

divine

the

analogon, or verisimilitude,but

an

constitutes him,
or

man's

alien

with

It is not

incarnation

an

love

strong to represent the

limited in
For, however

relation.

the

promise

mere

loving

As

too

are

tainted

and

range

last.

words

No

'

Through
permanent

239

own

of the world, and

fleeting
phenomena
what

its

converts

into fruition and

EVIL.

OF

sense

in him

himself, ;
nature, except by i
become

becoming perfectas God is perfect.

the divine .wortk"
But the emphasis thus laid on
and dignityof human
love i:
which the poet places'Ori-trie-'irairtylmd
finitudejo.f
attribute.
human
other
Having elevatej
every
the ideal^he degrades the actuah__ Knowledge
the

intellectual energy

it ; art
which^produces

and

beauty from which it springs: eve*y

other
and every gift,
physicaland spiritual,
power
than love, has in it the fatal flaw of being merely
human.
All these are so tainted with creatureship,
limited and
conditioned, that it is hardly too
so
much
to say that they are, at their best, deceptive
endowments.
regarded as
Thus, the life of man
the

love

whole

of

is,in

its last essence,

utterlydisparateelements.

The

combination

of

distinction of the

BROWNING.

ROBERT

240
old

moralists

of

dualism

dust

divinityand

between

ascetics

old

the

the

solute
ab-

flesh

between

find their accurate

and
sense
reason,
spirit,
in Browning'steachings. But he is himself
parallel

and

no

ascetic,and the line of distinction he draws

not, like theirs, pass

other.

practicalfrom

nature
spiritual
absolutelydifferent

into

divides

chasm

heart, the intellect from

and

the

the

man's

spirit.It rather cleaves

two
portions,which are
each

and

between

flesh

does

the

the

head

from

from

emotions, the

the

moral

perceptiveand reflective
faculties. And
it is this absolute
cleavage that
gives to Browning's teaching,both on ethics and
of its most
Jieligion,
one
peculiarcharacteristics.
I$ykeeping it constantlyin sight,we may hope to
render
solution he
ourselves
the
to
intelligible
offers of the problem of evil,and of other funda'

mental

the

difficulties of the

life of

For, while

man.

in his
Browning'soptimism has its originalsource
conception of the unity of God and man,
through
the Godlike qualityof love
the poorestlove
even
"

"

that

was

ever

maintain
man's

offered

it, except

at

finds himself

he

unable

to

of degrading
expense
faith
his optimism and

the

ignorance. If,on the

in the spiritof a
almost
insists,

side of

love, he
Spinozist,on God's

substance

While

"

knowledge. Thus,
is finally
based upon

in God

may

"

be

"

communication

of

His

own

knowledge he
called an
pressions
agnostic,in spite of stray exwhich break through his deliberate theory.
love gains God at firstleap,"
to

man

on

the

side of

THE

PROBLEM

OF
"

Ever

-renewed

That

Knowledge

241

means

by defeat

assurance

victory is somehow

flaw

radical

EVIL.

still to reach."

through our knowing faculty.

Human
knowledge is not only incomplete no one
be so foolish as to deny that
but it is, as
can
regarded by Browning, essentially
inadequate to
runs

"

"

the

of fact, and

nature

when

it

demonstrable."

seems

condemn

can

"

must

we

the

distrust it,even

No

human

professedagnostic
intellect

more

utterlythan he does. He pushes the limitedness

of it
human
knowledge into a disqualification
reach

truth

makes

and

all ;

at

"

Is all man's

exercised

What

was,

Thought

what
!

answer

plays

Mind

"

know
of

sum

When

No

them.

To

to

know

about,

of, think

to

conditions

the

accordingto which we know, or seem

which makes
us
a deceiving
necessity,

of

know, into

wrongly.

"

faculty effects

earth's least atom, Son !

be ?
is,what may such atom

on

around

intervenes

facts, but

never

reaches

itself and

between

its

them ;
upon
it penetrate through that shadow, but deals
nor
can
with it as if it were
though it knows all the
reality,

objects,and

time

that

throws

its

it is not.

theory of knowledge,
or
no-knowledge,he givesin
Fancies, The Parleyings,and
This

later and
*

shadow

own

Pillar

at

Sebzevar.

of nescience

Saisiaz, Ferishtah's

La

reflective poems,

more

rather

or

Asolando
in fact.
t

"

in all his
It must, I

Bean-Stripe.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

242

and all the

more

because,by

so,

final view

"

peculiar
process,
ethical and religious

getsfrom it his defence of his

he

and

to be his deliberate

think,be held

faith.
In the firstof these poems, Browning, while discussing
the problem of immortalityin a purely
and
speculative
spirit,

"

without

vided
stipulating,Prosuits my
answer
hopes, not fears,"givesa
full account of that which must be regarded
tolerably
the principles
of his theory of knowledge. Its
as
what
somea
importanceto his ethical doctrine justifies

exhaustive examination
finds himself to be

He
a

before and

cause

Within
two

that
that

that

of it.

"

midway point,between

effect behind

an

both

"

blanks."

space, of the self hemmed

narrow

in

by

is crammed.
Out of
unknowns, all experience
crowds
all that he knows, and all
experience
he misknows.
There issues from experience
"

"

Conjecture manifold,
oaly things may be as I behold,
and abov^ me, things there are
me
ignorance which proves no bar
To the knowledge that I
am, and, since I am, can recognize
What
to me
is pain and pleasure : this is sure, the rest
surmise.
If my
fellows are or are not, what may
please them and what
pain,
But, as knowledge,this comes
Or may
not be, but, without
I myself am
what I know not

"

"

"

"

Mere

surmise

my

own

experience
"

that

is

knowledge

once

(and every
knowledge is

one

again."

Experience,
then, within
else)acknowledges
that
yieldshim

as

he

all his

certain facts

"

La

which

Saisiaz.

fined,
con-

the consciousness

THE
that

he

is, but

that

he

is

whose

God

what

not

he

is

EVIL.
the

243

consciousness

tells

is the

pained by thingsabout him,

is entirelyhidden
from
him :
that
justbefore, the assurance
self perceives
outside itself,

nature

he

as

OF

pleased or

real

and,

PROBLEM

us

thingthe

force

"A

Actual

e'er its

Unaffected

But,

this

existence

defect

of

"

knowledge, limited
of unknown

which

it is to

as

exclusive

an

"thinkingthings" of
fact that

his
His

sense.

"

in

elements

ence
"experi-

conclusions,is his

thinkingthing"
with

common

He

other selves.

the

ignoresthe
of thought,

be general laws
may
which
his mind
act
must

there

accordingto

the

has the further

entities,

draws

he

has, apparently,no

be

thro' its course,

being merely subjective.The

from
in

own

by its end."

even

bare

beginning, operative

own

in order

to

to have no
seems
nature,
Intelligence
and
be anything. All questionsregarding
may
those apparent other mortals
are
consequently
unanswerable
to the poet.
Knowledge stands on
lated
experience"; and this "my" is totallyunremy
a

mind.

"

"

"

to all other

Mes.
"

Free

surmise

may

sport and

All outside

welcome

its

narrow

hem,

Pleasures, pains affect

mankind

Just as they affect myself ? Why, here's my neighbour colourblind,

do I affirm ?
:
Eyes like mine to all appearance
green as grass
which
Red
he contradicts
me
:
as
employs the proper
grass
'

'

'

'

term

"

f
*

La

Saisiaz.

t Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

244
If there

only they

were

two

earth

on

tenants,

as

them ;
of decidingbetween
way
for, accordingto his argument, the truth is apparently

there would

be

no

ual,
by majorityof opinions.Each individkind of senses
equippedwith his own particular
and
and reason, gets his own
particular
experience,
conclusions from it. If it
draws his own
particular

decided

asked

be

not, the

whether

truth

such

or

His

Every

Each

is the

man

world

own

one's

for

opinion is

own

things;

the

as

either

its

of all

mortal,"

or

absurd

be

cannot

measure

every

true

are

questionis

conditions,there

error.

criterion.
"

is that the

only answer

for, under

conclusions

these

poet

puts it.
"

To

each

Pain

mortal

peradventure earth becomes

pleasure no more
tally in our

and

green."

The

machine,

new

than

sense

red

and

first result of this

ledge
subjectiveview of knowis clearly
enough seen
by the poet. He is
well aware
that his convictions regardingthe high
matters
of human
destinyare valid only for himself.
"

Nowise
and

dare

to

weak."

play the spokesman

Only
for

for

myself I speak,
brothers

my

strong

Experience,as he interprets
it, that is, present
consciousness, this moment's
and
me
mine," is
"

too

narrow

conclusion.

basis for any universal

So far as his own
inner

objective
experienceo.f
or

pain and pleasuregoes,

*

La

Saisiaz.

\ Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

246
and

them
to which
apparent choice between
sions
illube mere
is continually
constrained, may
phenomena of the individual consciousness.
wait."
remains, then ? Nothing but to

the

man
"

"

What

the

"Take

and

joys

concern

Living here

the

bear

sorrows

neither

"

with

extreme

nescience

means

to learn."

simply

'tis next

life that

helps

It is

hardly necessary to enter upon any detailed

criticism of such
a
theory of knowledge as this,
which is profferedby the poet. It is well known
by all those who are in some
degree acquainted
with the historyof philosophy and it will be easily
that it
seen
by all who have any critical acumen
leads directly
lute
absointo absolute scepticism. And
dictory.
to be self-contrascepticismis easilyshown
For a theory of nescience,in condemning
all knowledge and
the facultyof knowledge, condemns
itself. If nothing is true, or if nothing is
known, xthen this theory itself is not true, or its
truth cannot
be known.
if this theory is true,
And
then nothingis true ; for this theory,like all others,
is the product of a defective intelligence.
In whatsoever
"

"

way

the

is

matter

put, there

is left

no

condemns
critic who
standing-groundfor the human
human
thought. And he cannot well pretend to a
footingin a sphere above man's, or below it. There
is thus one
must
presuppositionwhich every one
make, if he is to propound any doctrine whatsoever,
even

if that

doctrine
*

be
La

that
Saisiaz.

no

doctrine

can

be

THE
valid ;

PROBLEM

it is the

OF

EVIL.

247

presuppositionthat knowledge

is

and that truth can

be known.
And
this
possible,
presuppositionfills,for modern
philosophy,the
of Descartes.
It is
place of the Cogito ergo sum
the starting-point
and criterion of all knowledge.
It is, at first sight,a somewhat
difficult task to
for the

account

fact, that

keen

so

intellect

an

as

poet'sdid not perceivethe conclusion to which

his theory of knowledge so directly
and necessarily
leads.
It is probable,
ally
critichowever, that he never
examined
it,but simply accepted it as equivalent
of
doctrine of the relativity
to the common
form
or
other, all the
knowledge, which, in some
schools of philosophyadopt. But the main reason
will be found
to lie in the fact that knowledge
criterion or end.
was
not, to Browning, its own
The
primary fact of his philosophyis that human
the

life is

moral

of character
us

; he

was

His interest in the evolution

process.
his deepestinterest,as he informs
was
an

is

He
But
intelligence.
will in

no

that

"

Back

His

wash

and

to the

maxim
practical
"

willingto

ever

is

man

than

asperse-

moral

Furini.

physician.
meta-

man's

agent he

Solid

standing-placeamid
all doubts

welter, whence

are

bid

against in foam."

ledge they break

was

Wholly distrust thy knowledge, then, and

As wholly love allied to ignorance !
There
lies thy truth and safety."f

Francis

This is his

wise doubt.

The

rather

ethical teacher

Pillar

trust

of Sebzevar.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

248

or
conciled
other, be reway
phenomena must, in some
and
by the poet with the fundamental
life of
fact of the progressivemoral
indubitable
which
For
the fundamental
man.
presupposition
ledge,
his criterion of knowmakes, is necessarily
a
man

All

it determines

and

the

truth

illusoriness

or

opinionswhatsoever.
Now, Browning held, not only that no certain
knowledge is attainable by man, but also that such
lute
certaintyis incompatiblewith moral life. Absoabove
knowledge would, he contends, lift man
of making the moral
the need and
the possibility

of all other

choice, which
Man

is

be

can

our

good

business

supreme

evil, only

or

earth.

on

condition

on

of

being in absolute uncertaintyregarding the true

meaning of the facts of nature and the phenomena
of life.
This

somewhat

strange doctrine finds

full expression
in La Saisiaz.

and
explicit

amongst the concessions it demands

claims that
or

fear

man

and

"

or

loss for that

Fancy/'
Reason/'

merely

surmise

in this life awaits

aware

that

he spends
life which
this life depends."
on

moment

next

"

most

in the next.

become

man

incalculable,
every

gain

not

"

done

necessary meed

I also will that

Life has worth

much

know

that every action

"

its proper

So

should

from

"

the

But

Reason

tnat

such

refuses the
sure

concession,upon

knowledge would
*

La

Saisiaz.

be

the

ground

destructive

of

THE

PROBLEM

OF

the very distinction between

the demand
implies. The

EVIL.

249

rightand wrong, which

promulgation of this
decree," by Fancy, makes
both good and evil to
cease."
Prior to it
earth was
man's
probationis no
place ; but under this decree man
longer
free ; for certain knowledge makes
action necessary.
"

"

"

"

'

"

Once

lay down

the

law, with

Nature's

simple

Such

effects

succeed
Causes

such,

heaven

and

hell

or

depends

man's

upon

earthly

deed

Just

depends the straightor else the crooked line

On
making point meet point or with or else without incline,'
he
neither
Thenceforth
evil does man,
doing what
good nor
surely

as

as

his

must."

If

presuppose
be sound
and

mode,

sanity,if his
then

"

actions

which

in

necessary

obedience."
God's

of
"

life

All

as

thou

no

live

thou
"
"

which

absolute

edicts, now
to

hear

"

the other

law

to

means

if the

And,

again,be just

styled

preservation

the

relatingto

to

so

"

were

law"
in

all

"

live now,
regularly draw thy breath !
results
the operation, straight law's breach

in

would

one
*

and

prompt
"

"

is known

and

some

are

laws

stringentas

For, suspend
death

obtain

of this character.

are

Would'st

then

the

(and we must stipulate

be morally judgedat all)
punishment and reward

manner,

nature's,"

Would'st

ways
"

There

own

obey."

binds

"

them, would

to

are

this

addressed

"man,
"

sane

law

to action

bind

that

we

La

disobey it, nor

Saisiaz, 195.

could.
t Ibid"

"It

is

BROWNING.

ROBERT

250

libertyof doing evil that givesthe doing good a

grace." And that libertywould be taken away by
that effects follow
actions
in
complete assurance,
the moral
world
with the necessityseen
in the
is made
natural sphere. Since, therefore,man
to
he is to pass
grow, and earth is the place wherein
probationand prove his powers, there must remain
the

certain

conviction
it man's

doubt

as

must

not

whole

praise,the
man's

spiteof

his

the

be

so

The

has

dim

for truth

consciousness

And
A

auld

now,

Cloots, I ken

your

black

But, faith,he'll turn

And

but, he
is
in

cheat

pit
a

There

disbelieves

his head

receives."

to law.

ye'rethinkin',

jinkin',

corner

yet."

you

and

agree,

regards himself, with Burns;

probably,that such an escape

sees,

as

most

less generous

impossibleto others.
a

But,

orthodox

more

to

rife in

Bardie's rantin', drinkin',

luckless hour will send him linkin'
To

prone

he

and

certain

Some

The

adage

with

of ways
whereby he
of his wickedness, and

elude the consequences

may
of the possibility
of making amends
"

see

conduct.
"

He

carry

I both

best

follow," is the

that edict which

his actions ;
to

as

regardinghis moral
seeingand praising,

In the heart of him

of

issues

strong

"

nature.

worst

mouth

to

He

latent belief that he

will

be

has

himself

special method
*

La

Saistaz.

individual

secret

is
of

is

solacement

exception.
dealing with

an

THE

is

He

him.

PROBLEM

OF

"chosen

think twice before He

sample";
damns

It is

just because there is

and necessity
of
universality
actions and

have

an

251

and

"God

of his

man

such

doubt

will

quality."
the

to

as

the law which

in the moral

consequences

deeds

man's

EVIL.

connects

sphere,that

ethical character ; while, to

of
ignoranceby the assurance

dispersedoubt and
complete knowledge, would take the good from
goodnessand the ill from evil.
In this ingenious
the poet turns the imperfect
manner,
intellect and delusive knowledge of man
to
a moral
the intellectual impotence
use.
Ordinarily,
of man
is regarded as carryingwith it moral
capaci
inas
well,and the delusiveness of knowledge
is one
of the strongest arguments for pessimism.
To persons
pledged to the support of no theory,
and

those

to

maintain

side

it

be

cursed

with

in

is

so

those

who

the

endowed

with

strong,that it
It is the

fallacious
for

very

to

and
faculties,

knowledge
quenched even

truth

best

man

true

be

cannot

that

believe

hard

so

of evils that

worst

desire

futile

naivete,

tions,
strong doctrinal convic-

amongst the

who

attained.

have

side with

by

seems

should

which

who

can

of the

men

be

never

world

cry
"

Oh, this false for real,

This emptiness which feignssolidity,
Ever some
grey that's white, and dun that's black,
When
shall we rest upon the thing itself,
Soul
?
Not on its semblance
too weak, forsooth,
"

"

"

To

cope

Mine

with

fact

"

wants

tires of falsehood
*

fiction
truth

everywhere

at any

cost

"

!
*

Bean-Stripe.
i

rtu.
^

"

poet himself

The
with
he

BROWNING.

ROBERT

252

this vain

desire

too,
recognized,

which

both

seems

burdened

was

for

that

in

no

small

knowing the truth

he was
placed in a

real and

beautiful, and

degree
;

and

world
so

well

knowing. Yet, it is this very failure of

knowledge a failure which, be it remembered, is
complete and absolute, because, as he thinks, all
into phantoms by mere
facts must
turn
contact
which
he constiwith our
"relative intelligences/1
tutes
into the basis of his optimistic
faith.
So high is the dignityand
of the moral
worth
life to Browning, that no sacrifice is too great to
it. And, indeed, if it were
secure
once
clearly
recognizedthat there is no good thing but goodness,
tion
nothing of supreme worth, except the realizaof a loving will, then doubt, ignorance,and
be fully
every other form of apparent evil would
conditions whereby
justifiedprovided they were
this highestgood is attained.
And, to Browning,
And
ignorancewas one of the conditions.
quently,
conseworth

"

"

"

the dread

ticism

pause

brings,is only

"

in the music

silence

which

agnos*
"

implying sound
;
and the vain
cry for truth, arisingfrom the heart
of the earth's best
is only a discord moving
men,
towards
resolution into a more
rapturous harmony.
I do not stay here to
ledge
inquirewhether sure knowwould
really have this disastrous effect of
destroying
morality,or whether its failure does not
rather imply the
of a moral
life. I
impossibility
return
to the question asked
at the beginning of
this chapter, and
which
it is now
possibleto

BROWNING.

ROBERT

254

vigour of the athlete's struggleis not in the

abated
by the consciousness that all he deals
are
phantoms.
"

and

This

"

(to my

own

sense,

from

the

distraught,

failure in the

though

other

none

aim,

feel the

we

"

would

such

be

not

probation-

penetrate into its inmost secret,

phenomena as veritablyeither good
is the need
of playing something

There

like
perilously

trick

is to strive and
"

Taught
Was

pupil'splace,
chances, changes, just probationa

once

its

That

to be

world

space did
and know

man

earth

assuming

with all their

"

space,
Mine, for me."

evil.

remember

world

with

"

If you bar me
And life,
time

or

hated, learnt

and

!)

same

And

with

reconcilingwisdom

no

with triumphant evil,power

Goodness
If

suffered,loved

with

taught

there is

"

and

lived, then, done

I have

least

the

on

intellect if

human

grow.

Here

there

and

touch

betimes, the artifice of things

all about, external
to myself,
meant
to be suspected,
not
revealed
me,

"

"

Demonstrably

cheat

but

"

half

through." |

seen

To know

objectsas they veritably

are, might reveal
all thingsas locked togetherin a scheme
of universal
white would rule unchecked
good, so that
along
"

the

line."
;

But

this would

for,as moral

be

agents, we
"the

Cast
When
*

life'sshine, the

on

"

firmest

LaSaisiaz.

seems

my

asters
greatest of dis-

the

do without

cannot
constant

tremor

that

shade
intrudes

faith in white."

f A Bean-Stripe.

J
% Ibid.

THE

PROBLEM

OF

The

intellectual

insightthat

the

vari-colour

of events

of the

incandescent

EVIL.

would

penetrate through

into the

white

255

actual

presence

love, which

of

glows,as
and
hope tells us, in all things,would stultify
itself,
lose its knowledge even
of the good.
"Think!
Could
All

see

plain, be somehow

illusion

was

Was

good disguised,
Goes knowledge
from

night

Unless

and

is known

needs

evil

Needs

Good

why,

"

As

day,

how

by pain

evil

certified

evil far and

"

"

with

huge wipe
Type needs antitype :
shine needs shade, so good
out

pity

understood

relative to each

are

one

me.

as

were

wide

only through

its

other, and

each

contrary.
"

For

(Patience, beseech you !) Knowledge can

Of good by knowledge of good's opposite
Evil." f

me

but

be

"

The

of

extinction

extinction

of the

one

of the other.

terms

And, in

would

be

the

similar manner,

knowledge that evil is illusion and that all

things have their place in an infinite divine order
would
paralyze all moral effort,as well as stultify

clear

itself.
"

pain
pleasure you abstain
out-stretch
of the finger-tipthat saves
From
A drowning fly."$
evident

Make

Permissibly masks

Certaintyon

either

Furini.

Francis

that
"

side,either that evil is evil for

t Ibid.

% Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

256

dark

utter

but

illuminable

not

by

white

right attitude for man

complete uncertainty,the
He

the

good

to

man.

all

his stand

take

must

it is

folly.
striving
is that of ignorance,
equipoiseof conflicting

The

alternatives.

that

ruinous

itself,would alike be
upon
both alternatives would render

takes
For

or

of

drench

which

semblance,

and

show

mere

absolute,

and

irredeemable

evermore,

the

on

tradiction.
con-

Hope he may have that all thingswork

togetherfor good. It is rightthat he should nourish
the faith that the antagonism of evil with good in
illusion ; but that faith must
the world is only an
ledge
stop short of the complete conviction that knowwould
bring. When, therefore,the hypothesis
of universal love is confronted
and

ask

we

of the

poet

You

"

answers,

they

remains

at

evils

surface

tillyou

and
the

face

know, and

or

cannot

Your

not.

of

character

for

the

know,

knowledge
fit

cannot

upon

their

only a
complete circle of being. Wait
and, in the meantime, hope !
;

you

see

"

see

more,
"

Why
To
Mind
To
To

And, if

in the

maintained

things. You
place,or pronounce

into their true

purpose
small arc
of

the evils of life,

everywhere apparent,

do not

are

the

true

be

can

miseries

manifold

whether

them

it

how

with

we

faith"

but

leaven

the

to lift the

load,
lump, where lies
prostrate through knowledge

the loveless

Power

withstand, how

replyin turn,
*

Reverie

vain

that
"

owed

it tries
!

"

this necessary

Asolando.

ignor-

THE
ance

leaves

it does

PROBLEM
little

as

OF

EVIL.

257

for his scheme

room

of love

for its

as

opposite,he again answers

Not
:
! I appeal from the intellect,
so
which is detected
as
incompetent,to the higher court of the moral
there I find the ignoranceto
consciousness.. And
be justified
for it is the instrument
:
of a higher
a
means
whereby what is best is gained,
purpose,
namely, Love."
"

"

crowned
My curls were
In youth
off,alas,crown
knowledge,
slipped
Next
better
pushed by
moment,
knowledge still
Which
nowise
constant
more
proved
:
gain, to-day,
Was
toppling loss to-morrow, lay at last
Knowledge, the golden ? lacquered ignorance !
As gain
mistrust
it ! Not as means
to gain :
learn
Lacquer we
by :
The prize is in the process : knowledge means
Ever -renewed
assurance
by defeat
with

"

"

"

"

....

That
But

victory is
love

Love

is

In trust's

in

Now,
this

to !

Be

act."

mere

order

theory,we

still to reach,

victory, the prize itself

trust

"

somehow

to

must

rewarded

for the

trust

complete
follow

examination

our

the

poet

in his

of

attempt

from
the testimony of the intellect to
escape
of
the most
that of the heart.
In order to make
to

the latter,we

in
Browning, especially

find that

last work, tends

his accusation

to withdraw

the

tends

it is true.

in
and
but

do

so,

assertingthat
the phenomena

he is not

consistent
*

of utter

part of the intellect. He

incompetence on
to

his

,-i Pillar

know

we

of

is

He

our

own

in his account
at

Sebzevar.

only
sistent
tolerablyconown

our

tions
emo-

consciousness
of

our

know-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

258

ledge, or

ignorance,of

whole, he

asserts

in Asolando

But

that

he

imply that the evidence

world, permittingevil,
least,the testimony of

to

in the

say the
it is, is
as

intellect,such

the

know

we

seems

loveless power
is irresistible.* To
of

things. On the
nothing of them.

external

clear

more

and

vincing
con-

regardto evil than it is with regard to

good. Within the sphere of phenomena, to which
with

the intellect is confined, there

of

benevolent

indifferent to
either

ruled
a world
purpose,
the triumph of evil over

loveless

"

"

Or

looking

With

And

he

which

his moral

the poet.
the illsof life,
"

on

harm's

to

man

facts

not

the

Stop change,

Power, whose
t

See

Bean-Stripe.

for,in doing so,

reaction

against
What

active.
love

is

no

the side of the intellect,

has the will to

remove

decay,
death," J

avert

effect

limitlessness he
*

to

this

contravene

the universal

that
! from

power

in

Fix life fast,banish

has

return

becomes

Man, who

answers

harm

harming." f

nature

None

by a power
good, and

death,
escaped,

to

omissions

the

remove

dream

of

possiblefor

proof is there, then,

mere

back

to that

power

of faults and

would

birth

looking

forward

tenfold

it is not

evidence

Life, from

either

"

be, instead

unintelligent.

or

"

Means

to

seems

his

will ;

while

the

recognizes
everywhere

passage just quoted.

t

Reverie

"

Asolando.

THE
around

PROBLEM

him, merely maintains

and

course,

when

good is prone
nothing/'

does

"

''

OF

No

'

On
But

one

poor
Promptly and
Between

From

he tells

He

quote

we

interposed

beyond mistake
its victim, closed

sin for once,

dream
that

and

bade

wake

us

justicebears no sword,
*
its sharpness serves.'
"

in his later poems,

that there is no
vouchsafed
to man's
cry to the Power, that

answer

it should

us

reveal
"

What

heals

Nay, hinders

all harm,

the

earth."

Saves

"

"

"

when
and

long
Or else forgets whereto

to

no

"

surely

our

morseless
re-

sign,' groaned he,

instance

with

in its

world

helpinghand
triumphant. God

evil

oppression and

Accounts

And

259

stirringof God's fingerto denote

wills that right should
have supremacy
!
How
earth, not wrong
helpful could

He

But

the

puts forth
and

No

EVIL.

harm

can
yet, so far as man
God's
the remedy, if

His

there

see,

no

were
"

all-mercy

"

mate

first,

at

did

bar

really

all-potency."
"

How

to
it seems,
somehow
if
man's

easy

Like
Power

"

sense

met

"

its match

with

immense

"

Love, limitless,unbeset

By hindrance

But
"

that

Power,"

we

love

on

every

side

itself evident.

makes

nowhere

1"

recognize,
"

finds

nought

too

hard,

Fulfillingitself all ways,

Unchecked,
*

Bernard

de Mandeville.

unchanged

while

f Reverie

"

barred,
Asolando.

% Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

260

good began

Baffled,what
evil

Ends

to

leads

power

is that

us

"

mere

No

than

more

rules.

passive clay
potter'sact,

the

the

Disputes
Could

mind

disobey
the cataract." f

whelmed

the

knowledge inevitably

which

Thus, the conclusion

Knowledge,

overwhelmed,

if the intellect is thus

But

side."

every

on

so

to

as

conclusion
passive to the pessimistic
in upon it by "resistless fact," the heart of
It revolts against
is made
of another
mould.

almost

be

borne
man

of the intellect,and

the conclusion

turbidityall between,

"Through

the

From

'

Heaven's

It grasps

namely,the
"

known
Shall

to the

unknown

be,' from

earth's

fact

beyond the
or
even
possibility,

is love."

power

At

and

optimism
come,

has

man

than

when

have

within it the

than

that of power.
"

When

on

When
the

Then, yonder,
Where
And
*

Reverie"

Power

the

Asolando.

knowledge,
that
certainty,
is

stantiati
sub-

no

of

for his

view

will be

the

will

seen

worlds

away,
and new

full in

f Ibid.

have

to

less manifest

no

day,

homely earth,

strange
comes

earth

dawns

of

closer

of love,

there

"

testimony
anchorage

the

on

working

see

If not

been.'

the

the

But
life

our

Has

reach

better

no

faith.

even

here,
'

present there

by knowledge
heart ;

climbs

birth,

play." "
{ Ibid.

" Ibid.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

262

roused
ignoranceand powerlessness,
revolt againstit.

into constant

of

"

True, he makes
the

Had

Thus

to endow

much

What

does

him,

the better
Man

feel

or

see

the

none

the

were

whit

no

fit

initiator-spasmseen

doubly

And

nothing, understands

or

worse

universe.

apprehend

Here, there, and everywhere, but faults

wide
disease
to supply,
Omissions
one

to

mend,

"

Of

things that

Had

will but

moral

the

But

as

distressed

power

of

from

Man

at

knowledge

purpose.

ease

not

suffer

to effect
inability
take will
Things must

Browning tells us.

by the consciousness
lightly of

but

"

does

man

David

such

is not

at

the

his
for
all

of his weakness.
"

Think

would

once

his
"

benevolent

deed,"

and

worth

detraction

least

are, which

is it I dare

Why

impuissance

What

stops

my

despair ?
This

'tis not

"

Would

The

what

do."

man

Does

which

exalts

him, but what

man

fact that

"

his wishes

fall

through," that

he

"

althoughwilling,
help Saul, grow poor to
enrich him, fill up his life by starvinghis own,"
does not prevent him from regardinghis
service
as
perfect." The will was there, althoughit lacked
cannot,

"

power
action

effect

to

itself. The

moral

worth

is

of

an

complete,if it is willed ; and it is nowise

affected by its outer consequences,
both Browning
as
and
Kant
teach.
The
loving will, the inner act
of loving,though it can
outward
bear
no
fruit,
*

Francis

Furini.

f Saul.

THE

PROBLEM

OF

being debarred by outward

complete and highestgood.
"

But

is

Love

Love

In trust's

prize it is.T

the

Whatever
of man,

no

"

prize be

his

it,are

Be

act.

mere

Attainment
The

to

In love

delusion,
apprehended

trust

is sure,

success

whatso'er
a

as

prize,

and

the

ever

is still

for the

rewarded

evil in the

duty

263

impediment,

victory,the prize itself

trust

"

EVIL.

his

same.

and

impotence
dignityin willingto perform
Though God neglectthe

world

the

world
"

Is

part

forth, astray, perhaps

his part." f
done
has
he
matter,

plain

No

this

Now,

Man's

poet thinks

"

to send

fact

of

love

"

experience,which

inner

incontrovertible

"

the

fact that

the
man,

regardsevil,whether natural
necessarily
it only
or
moral, as something to be annulled, were
proof of the indwelling
possible is an immediate
this basis,
On
is highest in man.
of that which
Browning is able to re-establish the optimism which,
doned.
from the side of knowledge, he had utterlyaban-

every

man,

"

is condemned

by
is proof that there dwells in man
something
man
the pessimist
evidence
better than the world, whose
as
All is not wrong,
long
himself cannot
escape.
The
demning
pessimist,in conas
seems
wrong.
wrong
The

very

the
*

fact that

the

world, must

Pillar

at Sebzevar.

world

except himself.
t The

Sun.

In

his

ROBERT

264

BROWNING.
of

charge against God

very

made

having

in

man

; for he himself
anger, there lies a contradiction
fronts and
defies the outrage. There
is no
depth

His

this

of

despair which
joyous light,for
the good.

illumine
with
good cannot
despairis itself the reflex of

the

"Were

Only

earth

machine

for

all it holds

and

teaching love

and

illusions

mere,

hate, and

hope and

If this life's
earth

Though

burst

of the

devil's

God's

doings
"

work

by

infinite

he

loves

be

crowned

there

no

is still not

night,man

In

virtue

God,

as

as

higherlove

Might
While
No

case

less than

First,last,and
Since

if

Where

man

these

However
So

what

in himself

takes, and

"

"

weak

Saisiaz.

he

might

God, if
would

himself

often

poet

If he

were

argues,

believes

neither
he

names

will

love,

nor

Nature's

now

prove

Law

"

recognizeslove
and

will," f

rightlytakes, the
best of things."
the sole existent

combine, whatever
the might or will

they be found
La

the

to chaos

elsewhere.

exist with

can

In God's

"

hell,

exceeding

without

of his love, he

"

man

of

subterfuge," *

no

still,good is good, and love is its own

Alone, in a world abandoned
great reward.
and

"

huge

one

Reflex

life fail to realize

conception new
and proved a bubble
glassing hues

fear,

thing
degree,
love,

their
or

there, put in evidence

f

title of

Death

"

in the Desert.

being

THE
is

He
Than

as

any

PROBLEM

surely higher in the scale

might with neither love

the

to

Thus,

will,

man

nobler

can

proves

limited

however

"

and

mated

with

weakness,

as

all natural

above
infinitely
to

midge for resting-place!

and highest
God, in fine."

best

capable of spiritually
discerning
things,
be no
in regardinggoodness,
difficulty

one

known

nor

265

in the poorest midge,

beyond dead Atlas' self,

Is marvellous
Given

there

EVIL.

life,apparent

As

To- any

OF

Divinitywill be
power.
in any senseless might, however

consist, not

majestic and miraculous, but in moral or

perfection.If God were indifferent to the
spiritual
evil of the world, acquiescedin it without
reason,
let it ripen into all manner
and
of wretchedness,
then man,
in condemning the world, though without
to

power

the least of its miseries, would

remove

be

for
But we
have still to account
higherthan God.
the possibility
of man's assuming an attitude implied

that, while he is without

in the consciousness

is without

God
from

his hate
rises

nature

pity,and

in the

of evil.

How

to

Is

finite in

man

mocking

will

so

despairwhich springs
comes

origin,and

the evil which

condemn

obliged
"

its

above

as

forces, and

yet author

of

in himself

which

moral

Himself

God

God

nay,
permits?
"

invests

cannot

first source

and

him

share

with

Death

in the Desert.

Is the

which, by its very nature,

consciousness
*

is able

human

mere

of remorseless

something
dignity that

it that

implement of a
knowledge goes, the plaything
a

power,

far

power,

must

BROWNING.

ROBERT

266

againstthe Power, although it cannot

the least evil,
its pitiless
course, or remove

witness

bear
arrest

"

work, his birth of heart and

His native grace, no alien gift at all ?

Man's

brain,

own

"

We

thus

are

revolt

man

creation ;

love, has given to

Himself.

owns

who

own

heart

something higher than

man

But

make

man's

man's

made

final

which

the

else God,

or

of

horns

pity and love,

are
against all suffering,

Either

dilemma.

the

between

caught

He

alternatives

of these

both

to

are

impossible.
"Here's

the

touch

that

bubble."

the

breaks

is
impossible,because man
link in the endless
by definition powerless,a mere
chain of causes,
incapableof changing the least
of things which
he condemns,
part of the scheme
The

first alternative

and

therefore

bring
power,

into

much

is

loveless

the noble

unable

more

might

world

no

more

is and

man

its
"

blind

to

Will

of

man

create

this my
hand, which strewed the beans
*
them
also from its finger-tips."

is

mere

loan

his love

limited

originelsewhere.

Back
And

has

his finite intellect and

less than

has had

abandoned

to

than

Produced

All that

or
initiate,

of love.
"

No

to

goes

ultimate,
A

its source,
source
prime
the single and the sole." f

creation

to

Bean-Stripe.

f Ibid.

power,

THE
The

PROBLEM
ends

argument

"

I shall not
of this

by bringingus
To

the

impotency,
stop my

God's

answer."

of the

mundi."
tingentia

back

omnipotence,
*

present to examine

at

267

"

These

form

EVIL.

starting-point,

Man's

pause

new

OF

old

argument,

the
"

value

Ex

con-

But

I may
point out in passing,
that the reference of human
love to a divine creative

is

of the idea of
accomplished by means
of the categories
of the thought which
one
cause,
Browning has aspersed. And it is a little difficult
to show
to doubt
our
why, if we are constrained
thought,when by the aid of causalityit establishes
source

connection

regard it

as

finite and
that

the

finite and

between

worthy

of trust

the infinite.

poet

knowledge,accordingas

denies

should

it connects

In fact, it is all too

or

assumes

when

finite,we

the

the

evident

of
possibility

it helpsor hinders his ethical

doctrine.

grant the ascent from the finite to the

infinite and
regard man's love as a divine gift"
well be although the poet'sargument
which
it may
the
is invalid
then a new
light is thrown
upon
But, if we

"

love.
to
The
this power
man
being who
gave
power," which alone could
necessity," the mere
of the
irresistible
discerned
be
by observation
of the world's events, acquires a new
movement
Prior to this discovery of love in man
character.
"

"

as

the work

of God

"

Bean-Stripe.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

268
"

praises, but heart refrains

From
loving's acknowledgment.

Head

Whole

losses

outweigh half-gains:

good is with evil blent

struggles but evil reigns." *

Earth's
Good

But
a

love

in

is

man

suggestionof

proof,in fact, that

is God's

love

in

which

the

in the

wrongs

love, for man's

is

love

pity that

of the

source

The

same.

being,itself rises

into

man

without

love

apparent evils in the world

of the

it, is the

excite

called

The

man.

shows, and

man

God

up
voice

The

world.

which

power
in man

against
moral

of the

consciousness,approving the good, condemning evil,

and strivingto annul
it, is the voice of God, and
has, therefore,supreme
authority. We do wrong,
of
therefore, in thinkingthat it is the weakness

against the might of evil

are
world, and that we
fightinga losing
It is an
incomplete,abstract, untrue view
is matched

which

man

in

the

battle.

puts God as irresistible

Power
in the outer
world, and forgetsthat the
irresistible Power
the higher
same
works, under
form of love, in the human
heart.
of the

"

facts of life which

God

Is not

His love

now

Visibly when
Love, wrong,

In this way,
the

moral

God.
*

i' the world

Is not

Reverie

is done
a wrong
and pain, what

he
"

first made

power

at issue still with

on
see

finds

Asolando.

of

earth

I else around

the

to

man

back

"

from

the

ultimate
t

sin,

therefore, the poet argues

consciousness

And

His

Death

goodness of
proof of this
in the Desert.

BROWXIXG.

ROBERT

27o

"

No

hope,

To-morrow
At

What

fear

no

advance

"

there to

were

as

need

retreat

or

through eternity ?

stand-still

our

brings
to-day, shall be

Time

bless

or

we
"

in such

curse,

form
uni-

universe/'
"Where

such

wise

"

Are

merged

in

alike

should

Why

speak ?

the trouble

voice said, So

Burn
Not

and
rest

Thou

wrong,
Best." f

neutral

divine

of man,

of
has

consciousness

promotion.

Array

still,without

poverty, satiate wealth,

of

them,

the

Rephan

"

best

of the moral

progressive. They
man

peace
for him ;

"

cheek,

your

"

whole

despairs,""

the conditions

fact that

The

be

old age, youth's hollow

in the body, sick in soul,

Pinched

of sin,

broken

been

Brow-furrowed
Diseased

test.

wealth

the

symbol

and, although the first consequence

are

the

by worth,
that's dearth,
past Rephan, thy place be Earth." %
with

of nature

state

You

pregnant breast
grew in my
would'st
thou strive,not rest,

content

art

evil, pain, is

"

Browning, than

smoulder, win

not

discontent

of the

strong,

foolish,right and

the

When

The

and

and

of life,thinks
better way
state of stagnation.

is

There

The

weak

has been
Asolando.

is

impossible.They

which
life,

is essentially

the consequences
startled up

are
"

of the

"

Ibid.

% Ibid.

" Ibid.

THE

PROBLEM
"

above

And

alike

Repel my
Oh, gain

Not

reach

and

ever

me

ray

by hate

indeed

were

below

to attract

EVIL.

to

see

to move,

"

height

"

flight,

taught love.
above
remove,

attain

aspire yet never

the object aimed
at." *

To

271

Infinite

an

descent

Supremacy

He

by

Discovered

depth

OF

"

who

placesrest above effort,Rephan above the

earth, places a natural good above a moral good,
The
demand
for the
stagnation above
progress.
absolute
of evil betrays ignoranceof the
extinction
of the highestgood. For rightand wrong
nature
relative.
are
Type need antitype." The fact
that goodness is best, and that goodness is not a
stagnant state but a progress, a gradualrealization,
though never
complete, of an infinite ideal, of the
perfectionof God
by a finite being, necessarily
"

moral

agent

what

is.

present

of

consciousness

implies the

If he

must

set

must

man

is to

seem

do

To

but

know"

should

above

be

aspireand attain, the actual

to him
inadequate, imperfect,

"

we

As

evil.

and

what

Though

still wrong

right'sservice,prove
of evil or good." t

men

of

in favour

to be abolished
a state
wrong,
And
therefore it follows that

Could

sin

wrong

must

weak

or

better.

right

were

needs

seem

wrong

strong,

Choosers

The

apparent
*

Rephan

"

existence
Asolando.

of evil is the
t Francis

condition
Furini.

of

BKO\

:r

272

goodness. And yet it must only be apparent. For

remain
if evil be regardedas veritablyevil,it must
so

for all that

any

fact

change its nature,

nor

were

cannot

and

annihilate

all effort would,

And, on the other

unreal, then there were

futile.

therefore, be
evil

do ; he

can

man

known

as

hand, if
need

no

quarrel with the present and

and no achievement.
That
therefore no aspiration,
is man's
which
highestand best, namely, a moral
is a progress
would
life which
thus be impossible,
and his existence would be bereft of all meaning and
And
if the highest is impossiblethen all
purpose.
is wrong,
the goalbeing a ruin, so is all the rest."
The
hypothesisof the moral life as progressive
is essential to Browning.
culties
But if this hypothesisbe granted,then all diffidisappear. The conceptionof the endless
acquirement of goodness at once
postulatesthe

of moral

effort,no

"

"

"

consciousness

evil,and

order

existingin
truth.

of

to

of it

as

such

And

be

the consciousness
Hence

overcome.

illusion

comes

of it
the

nearest

to

as

sciousness
con-

the

conceptionis essentially
implied
by the idea of morality. To speculativereason,
the poet believes,that
however, it is impossible,
as
evil should thus be at the same
time regarded as
both real and unreal.
Knowledge leads to despair
on

every
world
as

proves

for,whether it takes the evil in the

seeming or actual, it stultifies effort,and

side ;

that

moral

progress,

which

is best

of all

things,is impossible. But the moral consciousness

derives its vitality
It is
from
this contradiction.

THE
the

PROBLEM
and

meeting-point

and

its

it may

be

has

still

doubt.

He

that

his

in

273

actual

and

of

the

ledging
Acknow-

world,

outer

inner

sistent
incon-

himself, safe

own

ideal

however

knowledge.

within

retreat

has

of

of

ignorance

EVIL.

indisputable,

with

absolute

poet

conflict

is

testimony

OF

the

from

all
fragable
irre-

experience

proof
"

What
Be

The

How

things

outside, fact

good

is and

what

feigning

consciousness

interaction
"

it is
moved

by

of

ideal

an

throws

against

strife
the

and

at

"

once

love-

way."

the

effect

endless

and

this

the

though
best

joy.
*

Francis

be

condition

Furini.

man

worth,

in

all to

pain

and

steps in
of evil
of

ness.
good-

ever-realizing good,
fact

rightly bring,

it should

by

consciousness

The

of

process

all the

them

is the

intellect

absolute

illumines

and

the

be

not

realization

and

shows

brings despair,
;

And

gradual

which

unrealized,

The
which

light

despair, and

endless

is thus

this

will

he

that

it.

by

is sufficient

whence

contradictions

up

goodness

unknown

vantage

teach

taught

being

infinitelyhigh

back

or
feigning,
just the same,

teacher."

the

"

learning goodness,
of

"

outside

the

any

conjure

may

of

with

point

fact

be

or

evil

not

in

man's

tory
his-

despair, but

CHAPTER

CRITICISM

BROWNING'S

OF
FAILURE

"

hochsten

ben

OF

VIEW

kann

wird

er

nichts

nicht
so

genug
sprode und
gross

OF

THE

KNOWLEDGE.

Mensch, da er Geist 1st, darf und

Grosse
der
wiirdig achten, von

Der

Geistes

IX.

denken
hart

seyn,

soil sich
und
und

selbst

Macht

rait diesem

das

ihm

sich

des

seines
Glaunicht

Wesen
des
verborgene und verschlossene
Muthe
Universuras
hat
keine
des Erkennens
Kraft, die dem
leisten konnte
ihm
Widerstand
sich vor
es
muss
aufthun, und
:
und
seinen Reichthum
seine Tiefen ihm
vor
Augen legen und
eroffnete.

zum

Das

Genusse

zuerst

geben."

ing's
enteringupon a criticism of Brownter,
theory,as representedin the last chapof it.
it may
be well to give a brief summary
The most
feature of Browning's proof
interesting
of his optimisticfaith is his appeal from
the intellig

BEFORE
to

the

moral

consciousness.

To

show

that evil is merely phenomenal is, in

theoretically
his view, both
It is
impossible and undesirable.
intellect is incapable
impossible,because the human
of knowing anything as it reallyis,or of pronouncing
It
the ultimate
of any
nature
phenomenon.
upon
is undesirable, because
theoretical
a
proof of the
*

Hegel's Inaugural

Address

at

Heidelberg.

KNOWLEDGE
of

evanescence

DOES
evil

would

greatest of all evils.

is moral

But

moral

exists

in

order

exists in order

to

grow

help him.
possibleonly through conflict

is

growth

275

give rise to the

thing in the world

best

Man

world

the

FAIL.

itself

The

character.

better, and

NOT

to

to be evil; hence, to
againstevil, or what seems
disprovethe existence of evil would be to take away
the possibility
of learning goodness,to stultifyall
human
to
effort, and
deprive the world of its
meaning.
be reached
But, if an optimisticdoctrine cannot
by way of speculativethought, if the intellect of
the good in thingsevil, his moral
cannot
man
see

guarantees that all is for the best, and

the good is all in all." For, in distinguishing

consciousness
"

that

between

ideal

an

up

world, and
as

regard

the

pain, no

no

death.
made
No
that

world

Power

that

the
source

source

no

and

and

the

made

let

something

as

there

power,

of the
love

gain

woe

man

product

the

which

of that

it is.

world

no

in man,

to

be

would

failure,no
which
into it ?

himself

is part of

of that

the

evil in the

but

entrance

also

condemns

Man,

that he cannot

weakness,

the poet ; for

consciousness

as

then, better than the Power

Is man,

answers

world

the

only

sorrow,

the world

realized in the

world

the

had

If he

annulled.
be

evil in

of

is not

constituted

being,is so

moral

the

it condemns

sets

It conceives

actual.

againstthe
goodness which

over

of

scheme

consciousness

evil,the moral

and

good

Power.

The

the

moral

if it is

made
world

world, it is also the

which, by self-expendi-

ture, seeks
is

BROWNING.

ROBERT

276
merely

whence

remedy it. If
expressionof a

to
an

life in

the

moral

the

antidote

the

bane

well

as

is the

The

man

the

as

same

Power,

of
principle
Power
brings

And, further,
of the antidote, the

bane.

sake

exists for the

world

external

remorseless

which

love

the

comes

the

evil in
for the sake of the remedy. The
wrong
the world is means
to a highergood, and the only

for it calls into

possible;

means

element

in

and

man,

thereby

realization in his character.

opportunityfor

an

end

only
and

contributes

to

givesthe

its

necessary

regardedas ultimatelyreal.
to
a
stage in growth, as means
is
means
or
necessarily
perishes,

as

the

be

in,the attainment

absorbed

divine

the exercise of love.

Hence, evil cannot

It is real

It

activitythe

of the

It has

end.

no

From
significance
except by reference to that end.
this pointof view, evil is the resistance which makes
the negativewhich givesmeaning
progress possible,
to the positive,
ful.
the darkness that makes
day beauti-

This

be

not, however,

must

that evil is nothing. It is resistance

it does

the

oppose

good

overcome.
finally

there

would

moral
a

life
"

must

the

on

be

for the
unreal

be

no

But

is
although its opposition

life would

be

and

man,

two

the moral
conditions

hand, that

as

unreal,

were

the

the

capable of being overcome

purpose of being overcome,

except

mean

of callingforth
possibility

these

one

to

; it is negative;

If it did not, if evil

potency of

figment.

taken

means

to

the

of the moral

evil of the
and

good

is there
that

and
;

world

it is

and,

on

beneficentfe of God,

of the

indication

ignoranceto
pay for goodness.
Knowledge is not the

held
to

BROWNING.

ROBERT

278

even

be too

who

has

great a pricefor

fit atmosphere for

not
man

morality.

hope and trust but not

that lend vigour to the good life. We
certainty,
believe, and rejoicein the belief, that the
may
itself in all things, and
absolute good is fulfilling
that even
the miseries of life are reallyits refracted
the lightthat gains in splendour by being
rays
It is faith and

not

reason,

"

But

broken.

from

ascend

trust, and

faith

to

voice ;

Ignorance
on

but

confidence

of man's

highestwelfare

instrument,

it is

of the

strate.
demon-

not

of

; distrust

may
to its

intellect,faith

of

in love ; such

of his life,and

purpose

side

the

on

must

reason

the side of the emotions

absolute

cannot

knowledge. The heart

listens
trust, if it faithfully

must

natural

own

not, and, indeed,

must

we

knowledge,

is the

condition

only thus
world

that

which

the

is his

be achieved.

can

theory of
morals and religion
be made, without examining
can
its philosophical
presuppositions.Nor is such an
No

final estimate

examination

of the

in any

way

of this

value

unfair ; for it is obvious

that

offers us a philosophical
Browning explicitly
doctrine.
He
appeals to argument and not to
artistic intuition ; he offers a definite theory to

which

he

claims

poeticbeauty
ground that
nature

of

man.

attention,

that

it is

may
a

true

Kant's

not

on

lie within

account

it, but

of any
the
on

exposition of the moral

Metaphysic of Ethics is not

KNOWLEDGE

DOES

metaphysicalin

more

NOT

intention

FAIL.
than

279

the

poet's
later utterances
the problems of morality. In
on
La Saisiaz,in Ferishtah's Fancies, in the
Parleyings,
and, though less explicitly,
in Asolando, Fifine at the
Fair, and Red Cotton Nightcap Country, Browning
to demonstrate
states, and endeavours
definitely
theory of knowledge, a theory of the relation
knowledge to morality,and a theoryof the nature

evil ;

and

discusses

he

of the

the

soul.

adornment

truth

by

as

for the

of
of

mortalit
im-

rjbems his artistic

In these

instinct avails him, not

discoveryof

arguments

in his earlier ones,

for the

of intuition,but

for the

way

doctrines

of

already derived from a

metaphysicalrepository.His art is no longerfree,,
no
end, but coerced into an alien
longer its own
service.

It has

in

and

it has
purposes,
has appealed to

make

no

lengththe
between

is

the intellectual

possibleto
with
intelligence
life,and
religious
of the
the

of

man

subserve

to

Browning's theory ; and I need

further
apology for discussingat some
validityof the division which it involves

Is it

as

made

tive,
argumenta-

speculative
ceased
to be creative.
Browning
philosophy,and philosophymust

being

try his cause.

Such, then,

illustrative and

become

and

combine
the
to

latter ?

poet considers

the moral
the

weakness

strength
find in the
Does

human

it to fail ?

absolutelyincapableof
of things as they are ?

of

his

former

life of
of

man.

man's

moral
the

and
tion
condi-

knowledge fail,
Is the intelligence
ledge
arrivingat knowIf it does, if

man

the

know

cannot

These

BROWNING.

ROBERT

28o

It is

of the

one

he

can

that
questions

the

are

truth,

must

attain

be answered.

now

characteristics of

goodness ?

recent

thought

activity: the ancient philosophic

Scepticism has been revived and
of the
strengthened. Side by side with the sense
triumphant progress of natural science,there is a
conviction, shared even
by scientific investigators
teachers and by
themselves, as well as by religious
of philosophy,that our
students
knowledge
many
that it
relative value, and
has only limited and
of things.
always stops short of the true nature
of this general conviction
lies in the
The
reason
of its own
fact that thought has become
aware
realize more
; men
activity
clearlythan they did
in former
times that the apparent constitution of
things depends directlyon the character of the
which apprehends them.
intelligence
This relativity
of things to thought has, not unnaturally,
suggested the idea that the objectsof
our
knowledge are different from objectsas they
ferent
difof things is very
That the real nature
are.
from
what
make
of them, that thought
we
and thing are
divorced,that there is a fundamental
antithesis between
them," is, as Hegel said, the
cated
hinge on which modern
philosophy turns." Eduopinionin our day has lost its naive trust in
that it distrusts

its

own

"

"

"

"

itself.

"

givesthe
things.
without

The
lie
"

In

natural
"

to the

it is true,

belief of man,

doctrine

that

we

do
"

not

ever

know

life,"adds Hegel, we reflect

particularly
noting that this is the process
common

KNOWLEDGE
of

DOES

arrivingat

hesitation
coincides

the

and

in

with

truth, and
the

in which
the process
way
of the object,
it is at once
will

of

281

think

belief

But,

to the process

FAIL.

we

firm

*
things."

is directed

NOT

as

without

that

thought

soon

tion
atten-

as

to the

and
thinking,

affects

consciousness

our

concluded

that

thought
not given

reach

that thingsare
reality,
of
to us
as
they are, but distorted by the medium
and our
sense
intelligence,
through which they pass.
The
doctrine of the relativity
of knowledge is thus
very generallyregardedas equivalentto the doctrine
We
that there is no
true
knowledge whatsoever.
know
only phenomena, or appearances ; and it is
these, and not veritable facts, that we systematize
never

into
"

"

sciences.
shadows

the

We
of

practicalpurposes
| Not even
be

known

to

us

as

can

cave

our

of the
"

it

the

arrange

and

"

appearances
that, for the

is all that

cave,

quire."
re-

"

earth's least atom

reallyis ;

we

ever

can

it is for us, at the

best,
"

An

atom

Known

with

certain

some

about, thought of

as

properties
occasion

needs."

"

general distrust of knowledge, however,

different
there are, as
might be expected,many
degrees. Its originin modern times was, no doubt,
This divorce of thing and
the doctrine of Kant.
thought,"says Hegel, is mainly the work of the
In

this

"

"

critical
*

philosophy and

Wallace's

f Caird's

Translation
Comte.

runs

counter

to

the

of Hegel'sLogic, p. 36.

t A Bean- Stripe.

con-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

282

previousages." And the completeness

with tolerable accuof the divorce corresponds,
racy,
the critical philosophy
to the degree in which
has
for Kant's
been
understood
writings,like
;
those of all great thinkers, are
capable of many
gence
interpretations,
varying in depth with the intelliof the interpreters.
and generalform of this view
The most
common
of the limitation of the human
is that
intelligence
which
faith beyond
places the objectsof religious
the reach of human
knowledge. We find traces of
it in much
of the popular theology of our
day.
The great facts of religionare
often spoken of as
lyingin an extra-natural sphere,beyond experience,
into which
cannot
enter
men
by the native right
of all

viction

of

the

know

It is asserted that the finite cannot

reason.

that the
infinite,

nature

of God

is unknowable

"

interference,which
supernatural
of spiritual
a
discernment,
givesto men
new
power
and
above
reveals
to them
things which are
reason," althoughnot contrary to it. The theologian
except by

of

means

"

"

"

often shields certain of his doctrines from

on

the

which

ground,
we

must

for

demonstrate.
"

contends, that there

believe,but which it would

as

us

he

to

They

pretend to
are

the

are

understand

proper

facts

be presumptuou
or

objects

to

of

faith."
But

when
with
our

criticism,

this view

of the

intelligence
applied to supersensuous
facts,is held along
undisturbed
an
of the validityof
conviction
knowledge of ordinary objects. It is believed,
weakness

of the

KNOWLEDGE
in

DOES

word, that there

natural

and

knowable
It

FAIL.

kinds

of realities,

supernatural ; and

and

283
"

that the

former

is

the latter not.

requires,however,
to

acumen

validityof

two

are

NOT

lectual
great degree of intel-

no

discover

that

this denial

of the

knowledge of these matters involves

its denial
in all its applications.The
ordinary
knowledge of natural objects,which we begin by
regarding as valid, or, rather, whose
validity is
taken for granted without being questioned,depends
ideas of these supersensible
our
objects. In
upon
other

our

those

words,

fundamental

difficulties which

pious opinion discovers in the region of theology,

and which, as is thought, fling
the human
intellect
back upon
itself into a consciousness
of frailty
and
our
finitude,are found to lurk beneath
ordinary
knowledge. Whenever, for instance, we endeavour
led back
find that we
to know
are
any object,we
conditionall
along the line of its conditions to that which unit.

determines
the

for

reason

object.

We

another

along

neither

discover

The

are

the

us

to

an

Such

such.
the

nor

and

do

cause

would

unconditioned

thinking is

we

without

and
of itself,

cause

final result of

unknown

causes

first link

be

unconditioned, and
The

of

chain

the

first link must

know.

find

cannot

we

particularobject in a particular
from one
to
driven back endlessly

yieldsnone

For

we

thus

and, in consequence,

car

it.

ence
experibe

the

cannot
to

all

lead
our

no
to have
intelligible
seeming knowledge is seen
basis,and, therefore,to be merely hypothetical.If

BROWNING.

ROBERT

284

know

cannot

we

God,

cannot

we

know

thing.
any-

and the most

Positivists,
popular English exponent of it is, perhaps, Mr.
This

view

is held

by

the

Spencer. Its characteristic is its repudition of both theology and metaphysics as pseudoThat
for science.
sciences, and its high esteem
disturbed
is not
esteem
by the confession that
noumenal
causes," that is, the actual realityof
still lay claim to
can
; for we
things, are unknown
valid knowledge of the laws of phenomena.
Having
are
acknowledged that natural things as known
in all
merely phenomena, positivismtreats them
in
realities ; and it rejoices
respectsas if they were
the triumphant progress
of the natural sciences as
if it were
a veritable
growth of knowledge. It does
of known
not take to heart the phenomenal nature
objects. But, having paid its formal compliments
of all knowledge,
to the doctrine of the relativity
it neglects
it altogether.
Herbert

"

"

"

Those

who

understand

Kant

better

his
carry
the divorce

scepticismfurther,and they complete

man's
between
knowledge and reality.The process
of knowing, they hold, instead of leading us
towards
facts, as it was
so
long supposed to do,
takes

us

away

"

from
from

them

"

if either
i.e.,

"

towards

"

meaning when
appliedto two realms which are absolutelysevered
from one
another.
Knowledge is always concerned
with the relations between
ness,
things; with their likeor
unlikeness,their laws, or connections ; but

or

away

can

have

any

BROWNING.

ROBERT

286

Now,

of the

this view

absolute

of
impossibility

of the fundamental
account
on
knowing any reality,
difference between
thingsand our thoughts about
things,contains a better promiseof a- true view
of
both of realityand of knowledge, than
any
mentioned half-hearted theories. It
the previously
either to regardevery effort to
forces us explicitly
know as futile,or else to regardit as futile on this
theoryof it. In other words, we must either give
of knowledge
up knowledge or else giveup the account
advanced
by these philosophers.Hitherto,
however, every
philosophy that has set itself
of the knowledge of reality
againstthe possibility
has had to give way.
It has failed to shake the

faith of mankind
or

to

in its own

arrest, even

for

intellectual endowment,
moment,

attempt by

the

view
The
thinkingto know thingsas they are.
held by Berkeley,that knowledge is merely subjective,
because
the essence
of thingsconsists in
their being perceivedby the individual, and that
they are nothingbut his ideas,was refuted by Kant,
when
he showed
that the very illusion of seeming
knowledge was
impossibleon that theory. And
this later view, which
representsknowledge as
merely subjective,on the ground that it is the
of the thought of mankind,
product of the activity
working accordingto universal laws, is capableof
ence
The only differbeingrefuted in the same
manner.
between

the

Berkeleian

speculative
theoryis that, on
individual constructed

his

own

and

this

the former

modern

view, each

entities
subjective

KNOWLEDGE

DOES

illusions ; while,

or

of the

on

of
universality

their

minds,

NOT

FAIL.

the

latter,all men,

the

laws

the

create

same

of

287

by reason
thought governing

the
illusion,

same

subjectivescheme of ideas. Instead of each having

his own
privateunreality,as the product of his
perceivingactivity,
they have all the same, or at
least a similar, phantom-world of ideas, as
the
result of their thinking. But, in both cases
alike,
the realityof the world
without
is out of reach,
and knowledge is a purelysubjective
apprehension
of a world
within.
Thoughts are quite different
from
reason
can
things,and no effort of human
reveal any community between
them.
'

Now,
I

as

there

know, those

attempted

to

certain

are

who

meet.

fact, that all

obvious

hold
The
men

difficulties which,
this view

have

scarcely

lies in the

first of these

consider

at all times

far

so

that

demns
thinking,which the theory conas
futile,is the only way we have of finding
do we
what
the realityof things is. Why
out
reflect and
think, except in order to pass beyond

this very

the

process

illusions of

of

sensuous

appearances
?
are
Nay,

to the

ledge
know-

why do these
things as they
reflection,
reflect, when
philosophersthemselves
is knowledge of
instead of leadingto truth, which
leads only to ideas, which, being universal,
reality,
cannot
represent the realities that are said to be
of

"

individual."
The

second

is,that the knowledge of

command
thingsgivesto us practical
although,accordingto this view, laws
of

"

the laws
over

are

not

them

"

things,

288

BROWNING.

ROBERT

part of the

even
realityof things,nor
of things. Our authorityover
true representations
to grow
thingsseems
pari passu with our knowledge.
The natural sciences seem
to prove by their practical
that they are not buildingup a world
efficiency,
of apparitions,
like the real world ; but gradually
and
to
more
gettinginside nature, learningmore

nor

any

wield

her

and
powers,
of the purposes

his welfare.
"

divines

ballast

"

To

to

make

of man,

common-sense,

truths

them

that

and

the
the

which

"

it cannot

prove,

ments
instru-

means

of

frequently
and, like

ship, has often given steadiness to

human
although it is only a dead weight,
progress
"the
credibl
assertion that man
knows
nothing is as inall things. If it is
that
he knows
as
that the
inate
to domreplied,
things which we seem
of knowledge are
themselves
by the means
then
only phenomena, the question arises,what
the real things to which
are
they are opposed ?
What
right has any philosophy to say that there
is any reality
?
in any sense
know
which no one
can
The
knowledge that such realityis, is surely a
relation between
that
realityand consciousness,
and, if so, the assertion of an unknowable
reality
is self-contradictory.
For
the conception of it is
the conception of something that is, and
at the
in

"

same

To

time is not, out

of relation

to

consciousness.

thing realityis, is a still

more
remarkable
feat, if realityis unknowable.
Reality,being beyond knowledge, why is it called
say

what

"

particular or

kind

of

individual,rather

than

universal

KNOWLEDGE

DOES

is it known

How

different from
be

must

opposed
But,

the

ideas ?

true

like

FAIL.

to

of

the

terms

extent, if they

some

unlike, contrasted

or

289

being of thingsis

Surely both

regarded as known

called

are

that

NOT

compared,

or

identified.

or

this theoryhas
lastly,

that' it constitutes

what

for the fact

to account

is not

only unreal,

but

into the criterion of what is actual.

impossible,
If
knowledge of realityis altogetherdifferent from
human
to be its
knowledge, how does it come
criterion ? That
perfect
knowledge is inadequateor imbe known, only by contrasting
can
it with
its

that may
be.
A
proper ideal,whatever
criticism by reference to a foreignor irrelevant
own

criterion,or

the

imperfectbecause
end,

is

condemnation
it does

unreasonable.

object impliesa

not

All

reference

to

of

realize

an

true
a

theory as
impossible

criticism

more

of

an

perfectstate

of itself.

We
as

as

must,

then, regard the knowledge of objects

knowledge,
they are, which is opposed to human
ledge
only a completerand fuller form of that know;

or

else

we

must

cease

to contrast

it with

our

knowledge,as valid with invalid,true with

is complete
phenomenal. Either knowledge of reality
And, in
knowledge, or else it is a chimera.
the real
either case, the sharp distinction between
and the phenomenal vanishes ; and what
remains,
is not a reality
outside of consciousness,or different
from ideas, but a reality
related to consciousness,
reality. The disor, in other words, a knowable
human

"

10

BROWNING.

ROBERT

290
of

objectsinto phenomena and noumena,

i.e.,into things that 'for us exist, and things that
for us do not exist, is an Irish bull in philosophy,"
said Heine.
To
speak of realityas unknowable,
to speak of anythingas unknowable, is to utter
or

tinction

direct self-contradiction

is asserted

predicatewhat
a

still more

it is to

in the

negate in the

able

of

to

reference

difficulties

These

are

so

is

this know-

strange perversionto erect

emptiness into a criterion

call the latter phenomenal by

It

subject.
knowledge,

and

to it.

fundamental

and

so

obvious, that the theory of the phenomenal nature

of human
knowledge, which, being interpreted,
that

means

its hold,
of

human

were

it not

Side

the

doctrine

by

side with

that

think,

tain
nothing,could scarcelymain-

or,

in order

in other

with

confused
is

experience,that

with
truth.

know

we

that

another

apparently
can

man

know

fact

sistent
inconthe

the faith of
to know

words,

that

sciousness,
ordinaryconanythingwe must
knowledge shows

things really are, there is a conviction,

that we
never
strengthened by constant experience,
into the
know
things fully. Every investigation
of an
nature
object soon
brings us to an enigma,
a
do not know.
Failing to
we
something more
this something more,
know
we
generallyconsider
that we
have
fallen short of reaching the reality
of the object. We
pressed,
recognize,as it has been exthat we
have
been
brought to a stand,
also brought
and we
therefore conclude that we
are

us

what

to

the end.

We

arrive

at

what

we

do

not

know,

KNOWLEDGE
and

DOES
that

we

pronounce
; that is,we
from

nature

FAIL.

unknown

to

291

be

able
unknow-

regard it as' something different in

what

attitude

the

NOT

So far

do know.

we

as

can

see,

of

ordinarythought in regard to this

matter
might be fairlyrepresentedby saying,that^
it -alwaysbegins by considering
objectsas capable
of being known
in their reality,
or
as
they are, and
the
that
attempt to
experience always proves
know
them
as
they are to be a failure. The effort
although failure is the result,and even
ized
although that failure be exaggerated and universalhave
into that despairof knowledge which we
is continued

We

described.
be

to

thus confronted

are

contradiction

trust

with what

seems

in

distrust

and

knowledge. It can only be solved by doing full

elements
; and
justiceto both of the conflicting
then, if possible,
by showing that they are elements,
fact, except when
and not the complete,concrete
held together.
From
one
point of view, it is undeniable that in
come
we
problems
upon
every objectof perception,
that

solve.

cannot

we

dealing with
stop short of

the

when
to

has

grasp,

and

which

reality.All
a

bit of iron

there
more

is

its final secret.

and

over

the

fundamental

there

natural

is still

give

to

sciences

fail to exhaust
"

best, and

beyond
which

"

the

forced

cannot

object its

concentrated
the

it

apparently

science
to

even

when

Even

which

above

seems

ore

always a

at its

simplestof things,is

its law,

discovered

something

Science

truth

on

in it

in it, something still

is not

yet understood.

ROBERT

292
And

BROWNING.

that

something beyond, that inner essence,

that point in which
the laws meet
the
and which
sciences fail to lift into knowledge,is regarded as
is
just the realityof the thing. Thus the reality
to lie
supposed, at the close of every investigation,
outside of knowledge ; and conversely,
all that we
do know, seeingthat it lacks this last element, seems
to be only apparent knowledge, or knowledge of
phenomena.
In this way

the process of knowing seems

always
at the critical moment,
when the truth

stop short
is just about to be reached.
this aspect alone are apt
on
to

intellect is touched

it useless when

is like

that
weapon
the battle is hottest.

know

everythingbut

those

to conclude

who

dwell

that man's

impotence,which
it gets near
the reality.It
snaps at the hilt just when

with

makes

And

kind of

For

we

seem

to

be

able to

and
reality,
yet apart
from
the real essence
all knowledge seems
to be
merely apparent.
Physical science penetrates
of things to their
through the outer appearances
laws,analyzesthem into forms of energy, calculates
their action and predicts
their effects with certainty.
Its practical
is so
the forces of nature
over
power

great that it

the

got inside her secrets.

And
yet science will itself acknowledge that in
Its
unknown.
every simplest object there is an
of explainingseems
to be always
triumphant course
arrested

at

seems

the

to

have

reality.It
hypothesis, of the

threshold

theory, scarcelyan
of things,
nature
of
or

what

of

that

is in each

has

no

actual

object,

BROWNING.

ROBERT

294
in

Now,

the

method

of

the

that

saw

we

dealing with
moral

The

invalid.

life of

moral
hard

man,

alternatives

is

life, being progressive,

was

meeting point of the ideal and

the actual ; and the ideal of perfectgoodness was
regarded as manifesting itself in actions which,
never
nevertheless, were
adequate to express it.
achieved
condemned
The
was
ever
good when
attained
ever
as
unworthy, and the ideal when
pressed for more
adequate expressionin a better
shown

the

be

to

The

character.

ideal

realizingitself,but
The
the best

it

absolute

action,and

present

was

as

ized.
completely real-

never

was

potency,

as

reached
never
good was
never
completelymissed in

in
the

worst.

The
to

be

conflict of real and

same

essential to

anything grows
completely falls
is not

acorn

an

The

acorn.

is in the

man

whole

life.

As

from
away
oak tree, and
is not

with

the

yet it is
man

circumstances.

wherein

the

shown

long

as

completely attains, nor

The growing
its ideal.

child,and only needs

by interaction
growth is one
as

was

natural

every

it neither

child

unreal

not

and

be

to

The

mere

yet the
evolved

process

of

ideal is

always present,
reconstructive
gradually changing its
power
pression
vehicle,or organism, into a more
perfectexof itself. The

just because
there is

Now, it

it is present in the

end

no

is

that of the

ideal is reached

in the

beginning;

long as growth continues.

evident that knowledge, whether

end,
and

as

individual

man

or

of the

human

it be
race,

KNOWLEDGE
is

thing that

which

natural

which

the

DOES

NOT

The

grows.
science

by

process

makes

consciousness

FAIL.

295
of

means

or
by
progress,
child expands and

of the

of the man,
deepens into the consciousness
is best
made
from the point of view of evoluintelligible
tion.
It is like an
organic process, in which each
new
acquirement finds its place in an old order,
each
fact is brought under
new
the permanent
into
principlesof experience, and absorbed
an
intellectual life,
which
itself,in turn, grows richer
and

fuller with

ledge
acquisition.No knowis an aggregationof facts.
worthy
Wisdom
comes
by growth.
attains
Hence, the assertion that knowledge never
does not imply that it always misses it. In
reality,
morals
do not say that a man
is entirely
we
evil,
although he never, even in his best actions,attains
the true
of knowing
if the process
good. And
is

every new
of the name

that

one

ideal is

never

knowledge.
must

whatever
in the

presses

towards

onward

completelymissed

be

be, must

of fixed alternatives

forms, which

are

used

acquirement;

and

up

considered

yet

no

ideal,
active

as

and

movement,
of the

each
the

as

The

it.

present, guiding the whole

graduallymanifesting itself in
new

in the poorest

even

If it grows, the method

be inapplicableto

it may

ideal, that

an

raw

passing

material

passingform

of

pletely
com-

expresses the ideal.

that ideal of knowNor is it difficult to say what
legeis,although we cannot define it in any adequate
manner.

We

know

that

the end

of

morality is

the

ROBERT

296

BROWNING.

bonum, although we

summum

cannot,

as

long as

we

define its whole

content, or find it
progressive,
fullyrealized in any action. Every failure brings
new
truth, every higher grade of moral character
reveals some
new
height of goodness to be scaled ;
the moral
ideal acquiresdefiniteness and
content
as
humanity moves
upwards. And yet the ideal
is not entirelyunknown
at the first; even
even
to the most
ignorant,it presents itself as a criterion
which enables him to distinguish
between
rightand
evil and
goodness, and which guides his
wrong,
truth holds with regard
practicallife. The same
to knowledge. Its growth receives its impulsefrom,
and is directed and determined
by, what is conceived
the real world of facts. This truth, namely, that
as
the most
the ideal knowledgeis knowledge of reality,
but acknowledge. It
cannot
subjective
philosopher
is implied in his condemnation
of knowledge as
ledge
merely phenomenal, that there is possiblea knowof real being. That thought and reality
can
be brought together,
or rather,that they are
always
together,is presupposed in all knowledge and in
all experience. The
is the effort
effort to know
not
to explainthe relation of thought and reality,
to create
it. The
ideal of perfectknowledge is
are

the first; it generates the

present from
directs it, distinguishes
truth and
between

effort,

And

in the

that

which

man

ever

aims

at, whether

error.

dailythought,or through the

in the
or
patient labour of scientific investigation,
reflective self-torture of philosophicthought,is to

ordinaryactivities

of

KNOWLEDGE
know

the

ardour

world

DOES
it is.

as

of this endeavour.

NOT
No

all the

human

crowd

of

damps the
Relativists,
phenomenal-

thinkers

and
intellect,

realityso
mind

of

to

as
man

"

draw

make

ply

Neo-Kantians

who

the
cry down
charmed
circle around

this

unapproachable to
useless labour.
They

beneath

and

of

husk

or

it

seeking to penetrate
the

297

failure

Kantians
ists,agnostics,sceptics,
"

FAIL.

the

shows

of

the
are

sense

phenomena to the truth,

which is the meeting-point
of knowledge and reality
;
tual
they are endeavouringto translate into an intellecpossessionthe powers that play within and
around

outer

them

or,

in other

themselves
express
of their
the content

words, to make
in their

these

thoughts,and
life. The irony,
spiritual
supply
latent in their endeavour, gives them
no
pause ;
content
to pursue
what
they are in some
they
way
their thirst with
call phantoms, and to try to satisfy
from the presof a mirage. This comes
the waters
ence
of the ideal within them, that is,of the implicit
unity of realityand thought,which seeks for explicit
in knowledge. The
and
complete manifestation
as
thinkingactivity,
realityis present in them
working towards complete revelation of itself by
is real,
its presence
of knowledge. And
means
complete.
although the process is never
in morals, it is necessary
to
In knowledge, as
both of the truths impliedin the pursuit
remember
ideal
that a growing thing not only always
of an
The
also always succeeds.
fails to attain, but
in knowledge is
truth and error
distinction between
powers

"

BROWNING.

ROBERT

298
at

present

stage in the effort

every

the distinction between

as

which

is present
wrong
of
life. It is the source

absolute

actual

our

good,

which

distinction cannot

that

except by reference

condemns

truth,

rightand

in every phase of the moral

the intellectual effort. But
be drawn

to attain

to

criterion of truth,

knowledge ;

condemns

the

as

it is the

acter.
present char-

The
confused

ideal may
be indefinite,
and its content
and poor ; but it is always sufficient for

its purpose,

always

And,

better

in this

than

the

ment.
actual achieve-

the truth, the

reality,
veritable being of things,is always reached
by the
poorest knowledge. As there is no starved and
distorted saplingwhich
of
is not the embodiment
the principle
of natural life,so the meanest
acter
charis the product of an
ideal of goodness,and
the most
is
confused
opinion of ignorantmankind
an
expressionof the realityof things. Without it
there would
the semblance
of knowledge,
not be even
not

even

Those
between
the

error

who,
man's

the

sphere of
sphere of

the

bare

it has.

human

and

sense,

untruth.

division
a
Browning, make
thought and real things,and regard
knowledge as touching at no point
actual existence, are
attributingto
like

intellect

much

more

power

than

They regard mind as creatingits phenomenal

For,
knowledge, or the apparent world.
it is evident
having separated mind from reality,
that they cannot
avail themselves
of any doctrine
of sensations or impressionsas a medium
between
them, or postulate any other form of connection

KNOWLEDGE
or

of

means

kind

nature,

and

being
Hence,

here

and

has

The

it

denied

of

any
community of

of

thought

and

their

difference.

which

we

know,

known, does not seem

to consist of
be the product of the unaided human
isolated from all real being,
intellect,

wealth.

from

phenomena

299

as

the

It is

only create

can

Connection

beneath

"

of

manufactured

endless

FAIL.

imply some
put the unity

world

realities,
must
mind.

communication.

must

the

which

NOT

in the end,

must,

"

DOES

apparent universe, in all its

a

creative

illusions.

intellect,
although

It evolves

all its products

itself.

But

thought,set to
empty region,can

revolve

upon

its

own

axis in

produce nothing,not even

illusions. And, indeed, those who
deny that it is
to meet
in a unity,
possiblefor thought and reality
to bring over
have, notwithstanding,
something
to the aid of thought. There must
be some
effluence
from the world of reality,
manifestations of the
some
of the thing,
thing (thoughthey are not the reality
connected
with the
nor
nor
any part of the reality,
reality
!)to assist the mind and supply it with data.
is a hybrid, generated
The
phenomenal world
which
by thought and
something
yet is not
is a world of thingsin
reality
; for the real world
themselves, altogetherbeyond thought. By bringing
admitted
in these data, it is virtually
that the
an

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

human

mind

reaches

down

into itself in vain

for

for a phenomenal one.

world, even
Thought apart from thingsis quiteempty, justas
thingsapart from thought are blind. Such thought

ROBERT

300

BROWNING.

abstractions, hypostarealityare mere

of
sized by false metaphysics; they are elements
truth rent asunder, and destroyed in the rending.
of man
The
dependence of the intelligence
upon
is direct and complete. The foolishest dream,
reality
beneath
that ever
a nightcap,
played out its panorama
from the
came
through the gates of the senses
and

such

world.

actual

Man

is limited

in all

to his material

by the laws of
thought. He cannot
step beyond it. To
go one
have
transcend
experience is impossible. We
no
wings to sustain us in an empty region,and no
need of any.
It is as impossiblefor man
to create

that

he

knows,
"

ideas, as

Our

thought
is

We
to

do

no

not

is ruled

"

new

There

he

just as

it is for him

create

to

new

atoms.

with reality.
connected
essentially
mauvais
pas from thought to things.
in order
need
to leap out of ourselves
is

get into the world.

We

in it from

are

the

first,

physicaland moral agents, and as thinking

beings. Our thoughts are expressionsof the real
of things,so far as they go.
nature
They may be
and are
imperfect; they may be and are confused
and
inadequate,and express only the superficial
the inmost
fibres
; still,they
aspects and not
which
what
the reality,"
are
they are, in virtue of
finds itself interpreted
in them.
Severed from that
they would be nothing.
reality,
Thus, the distinction between
thought and reality
is a distinction
within
a
deeper unity. And that
unity must not be regarded as something additional
to both, or as a third something.
It is their unity.
both

as

"

"

"

ROBERT

302
or

the

objectivelaw

fulness

and

BROWNING.

of

of

in richness

goodness,grows
with

content

the

individual

who

apprehends it. His moral world is the counterpart

of his moral growth as a character.
Goodness
for
him
directlydepends upon his recognitionof it.
Animals, presumably,have no moral ideal,because
they have not the power to constitute it. In morals,
of man
its own
constructs
as in knowledge,the mind
world.
And
yet, in both alike,the world of truth
of goodness exists all the same
vidual
whether the indior
knows
law into

it in his
and

it

or

being,but

reappear

with

is not

does

not

call the moral

finds it without, and

life. The

own

He

not.

moral

law

then

does

not

realizes

vanish

its

It
by mankind.
recognition
chances
and changes of its life,

subjectto the
but a good in itselfthat is eternal.
?
Is it therefore independentof all intelligence
Can goodness be anythingbut the law of a self-conscious
being? Is it the qualityor motive or ideal
of a mere
Its relation to selfnot.
thing? Manifestly

consciousness

is essential.

With

the

extinction

of

goodness is extinguished.
The same
holds true of reality.The question of
the reality
or
unrealityof thingscannot arise except
self-consciousness all moral

in

neither illusions
Animals
have
intelligence.
The
truths
self-conscious.
unless they are
nor
adequat
inwhich
sets over
man
reality,
against his own
knowledge, is positedby him ; and it has
no
meaning whatsoever
except in this contrast.
And
to endeavour
to conceive
a
realitywhich no
an

"

one

knows, is

to

assert

relative term

without

its

KNOWLEDGE
which
correlative,
which

DOES
is absurd

NOT
; it is to

FAIL.

positan

303

ideal

is opposed to

nothingactual.
In this view, so commonly held in our
day, that
knowledge is subjectiveand realityunknowable,
have another
we
consist
example of the falseness and inof abstract
thinking. If this error be
committed, there is no fundamental
gain in saying
with Kant, that thingsare relative to the thought
of all,instead of asserting,
ing,
with Berkeleyor Brownthat they are relative to the thought of each.
The
final result is the same.
Things as known,
creations of thought ; things
reduced
into mere
are
as
they are, are regarded as not thoughts, and as
partakingin no way of the nature of thought. And
yet
reality is virtuallyassumed to be given at
the beginningof knowledge ; for the sensations are
from
it, or roused in
supposed to be emanations
consciousness
by it. These sensations, it is said,
"

man

the

"

does

not

concealed

make, but receives,and receives from

reality.They flow from it, and are

activity.Then, in the
next
moment,
realityis regarded as not given in
discovered by the
any way, but as something to be
effort of thought ; for we
always strive to know
things,and not phantoms. Lastly,the knowledge
thus
acquired being regarded as imperfect,and
experienceshowing to us continuallythat every
know, the reality
in it than we
object has more
and all knowledge
is pronounced to be unknowable,
is regarded as failure, as acquaintancewith mere
phantoms. Thus, in thought, as in morality,the
the

manifestations

of its

ROBERT

304

BROWNING.

ideal is present at the

beginning,it is

and
realization,
explicit

an

effort after

its process is never

complete.
Now, all these aspects of the ideal of knowledge,
that is,of reality,
held by the unsophisticated
are
of man
abstract
intelligence
; and
philosophyis
not capableof finally
gettingrid of any one of them.
It, too, holds them
alternately.Its denial of the
of knowing reality
is refuted by its own
possibility
; for it beginswith a given something,
starting-point
is
regarded as real, and its very effort to know
an
by thinking. But
attempt to know that reality
it forgetsthese facts, when
that
it is discovered
knowledge at the best is incomplete. It is thus
from

tossed
to

of

assertion

assertion; from
to the
reality,

When

to

denial, and

abstract

one

denial

from

one-sided

or

view

other.

different

aspects of truth are grasped

the point of view of evolution, there

these

together from

of escaping the difficulties to

way
they giverise. For the ideal must be present
to

seems

which

be

beginning,and cannot be presentin its fulness

tillthe process is complete. What
is here required
is to lift our
theory of man's knowledge to the
level of our theoryof his moral
life,and to treat
it franklyas the process whereby reality
manifests
at the

itself in the

mind

of

In

man.

avoid the absurdities of both

of

philosophy,to
of man
intelligence
neither
all ;

we

both

that

way,
of the abstract

of which

we

alike the

gives the lie. We

that man
knows
nothing,nor that
shall regard his knowledge, neither

shall

schools
native

shall say
he knows
as

purely

KNOWLEDGE

phenomenal

DOES

and

of

out

NOT

FAIL.

all contact

305

with

reality,
nor
as
an actual identificationwith the real
beingof
thingsin all their complex variety. For, in morality,
do not say either that the individual is
we
absolutely
evil, because

his actions

realize the

never

supreme

ideal of goodness ; nor, that he is at the last term

development,and
he

lives

Just

"

as

as

moral

every

become

towards

that

over

eye."

it has
of

failed to

actualize

thing
object leaves somehave not apprehended, which
is
we
real than anything we
know, and

truer

and

which

in all future

more

because

good, leaves
to be desiderated,something that
for new
movement
stepping-stone

knowledge

our

of

action, however

the ideal which

all

so

takingthe placeof God,"

in his great Taskmaster's

ever

something still
may

"

effort

we

an

strive to master.

And,

the very effort to be good derives its impulse

is
direction from
the ideal of goodness which

just as
and

strivingfor realization ; so the effort

to know
derives its impulse and direction from the
realitywhich is present,and strivingfor complete
We
know
realization in the thought of man.
reality
present, and

the first ; and

confusedlyfrom
attained

so

much

on

his

knowledge,

that

we

we

have

strive

for

by plantinghis
travels. It is by opposthe world that man
ing
that his knowledge
power to the givenreality

greater clearness
foot

it is because

and

fulness.

It is

grows.

When
of

once

knowledge,

truth

that

we
we

recognizethat realityis the ideal

able to acknowledge all the
are

is in the doctrine of the

phenomenalists,

ROBERT

306
without
We

into
falling
as

go

may

far

BROWNING.
their

errors

contradictions.

and

lectual
poet in confessingintelroundly call the knowledge

the

as

impotence,and
of man
lacquered ignorance." Earth's least
does veritablyremain
atom
an
enigma. Man is
actuallyflungback into his circumscribed sphereby
every fact ; and he will continue to be so flungto the
He will never
end of time.
be able
know reality,
nor
to hold up in his hand
the very heart of the simplest
For the world is an
thing in the world.
organic
its simplestthing will not be seen,
and
totality,
through and through, tilleverythingis known, till
"

"

"

every

fact and

event

is related

to

under

other

every

universal : just as goodness

which
are
principles
cannot
be fullyachieved
in any act, till the agent
is in all ways

lifted to the level of absolute

Physicscannot
in its placeon
that
No

maintain
fact

can

goodness.
keep a stone

reveal the forces which

the earth, till it has traced

starry systems in their

known
be thoroughlyknown, i.e.,
the

tillthe lightof the

reality,

course.

in its

focussed

has been

hand,

to

know

subject through and through would

all being. The
highestlaw and the

be

to

upon

it: and,

universe

forces

the

the

on

other

any

explain
of the

essence

can
simple fact, the universal and the particular,
other.
anonly be known
together,in and through one
will be
the least atom
Reality in
known, only when
knowledge has completed its
"

work, and

"

the

universe

sphere,penetrated in
of intelligence.

"

"

has

every

become
direction

transparent
by the shafts

KNOWLEDGE
But

DOES

NOT

FAIL.

307

this is

only half the truth. If knowledge is

never
complete,it is always completing
is
; if reality
never
known, it is ever beingknown ; if the ideal is
never
actual, it is always being actualized. The
complete failure of knowledge is as impossibleas
its complete success.
It is at no time severed from
its mere
reality
; it is never
adumbration, nor are
its contents
mere
phenomena. On the contrary,
it is realitypartially
pletely
revealed, the ideal incomOur very errors
actualized.
the working
are
of realitywithin us, and apart from it they would
be impossible. The process towards
truth by man
is the

of truth

process

in

man

the

of

movement

of
reality is the movement
knowledge towards
sciousness
realityinto knowledge. A purely subjectivecon-

knows, such

which

describe, is
consciousness
the

at

the

to

But

has

need

to

to

facts

no

relation

The

himself

away

in the

void.
in

out

is

to relate

alreadyrelated,and

that

relation,or, in other
Man
intelligible.

himself

frbm

prior to

his

to

facts ;

distinction

his

from

entirelylift
suspend his thoughts
from them, nor
being he is creation's
In his inmost
his knowledge he confusedlymurmurr

truth

them.

voice, and

go

be

related, to

need

no

its terms

both

make

not

to

is

He

his task is to understand

to

has

man

world.

words,

it would

related, and

once

world.

actual

himself

self-contradiction

poet tried

the

as

is that

deep thoughts.
aware
Browning was

he

cannot

its

cation

to

man's

moral

of

this truth

nature.

In

in

speakingof

the

ROBERT

308

BROWNING.

of love, he
principle

alternatives.
"

On

the

poorest love that

of

presence

though

was

tempted to apply fixed

contrary, he detected in the
not

was

that

which

"

offered

ever

is

the

veritable

perfect and

complete,

completely actualized. His interest

in the moral development of man,
and his penetrative
moral
insight,acting upon, and guided by the
truths of the Christian religion,
warned
him, on
this side, against the absolute
separationof the
never

ideal and

actual, the divine and

human.

poor in qualityand
God's love in man.
It

love, however
was

to him

the individual

in

flowingback
its primal source.

of this Primal

process
the

To him

limited in range,
was

First

through the

ever

he

of that

life

all moral

Love

Human

Love, which
of humanity
endeavour

consciouslyidentifies himself
and say,
language of Scripture,

man,
every
with
it, may
"

lean

upon.

It is not

of the

maxim,

Ignorant,according to
philosophywhich has made
"

Die

to

live/' which

the

whole

truth

as
use

I that

neither
a

guide

primarily is
of its theory

"

"

reach

to

all ances,
appeartian
the Chris-

of morality the basis

only a principle
of knowledge,he exaggeratedthe failure
to

is

is the

and

live,but Christ lives in me."

But, on the side of knowledge, he was
so
deeply interested,nor had he so good
to

ing
break-

wave

of science

particular
object, into a qualitativediscrepancy between
knowledge and truth. Because knowledge is never
complete, it is always mere
lacquered ignorance;
and man's
apparent intellectual victories are only
as

to

any

ROBERT

310

knowledge.

our

Browning,

consciousness

presence

of

progress

is

missed

evil

was

good,

that

perfection

life,

the

love
itself

to

The

side

he

man,

does

not

see

that

the

on

man,

is

achievement,

and

but

between
is God's

This

and

own

merely

turning
possible
we

his
for
shall

back

on

him

to

knowledge

appeal

inquire

in

the

to

next

quality

limit

seen,
a

weak

in
;

love

and

the

God,

itself
is

not

which
which

it

possible
im-

by

except
whether

moral

chapter.

deceptive.

think

but

to

impotence.

against

Browning
faith

re-establish

plete
incom-

intelligence

an

as

reason.

no

is

between

altogether
makes

is

already

and

perfect,

what

to

there

but

spirit,

side,

is

side,

divided

of

highest

as

Infinite

there

has

manifested

also

intelligence

have

he

the

side,

other

we

and

man's
is

as

and

has

and

side

God,

the

the

practical

the

absolutely

division,
flesh

one

on

is

nature

the

on

of

of

the

on

that

it

of

the

but

theoretical

quality

hence,

Human

morals

the

on

that

death,

means

acknowledges

to

love

man

of

knew
evidence

truth

self-communication
*

is

itself

corresponding

itself
he

the

on

If

revealed

indeed,

of

knowledge.

of

BROWNING.

it

ness,
conscious-

is

CHAPTER
THE

"

HEART

And

though

the

upon

AND

THE

all the

earth,

HEAD.

winds

truth

so

be

licensing and

prohibiting

and

grapple

in

falsehood
a

free and

has

in

been

the

knew

ever

shown

AND

her

REASON.

let loose

were

do

field, we

misdoubt

to

who

LOVE

"

of doctrine

to

strength.

truth

play

injuriously by

put

to

Let

the

her

worse,

encounter."

open

X.

that

Browning appeals, in
defence of his optimistic
lect
faith,from the intelHis theory rests on three main
to the heart.
assumptions : namely (i) that knowledge of the
of things is impossibleto man,
true
and
nature

IT

"

that, therefore, it is necessary

better

evidence

victory of good
knowledge is a
life,inasmuch

the

than

necessary

as

certain

all moral

effort either

after

failure

the

possible a
sufficient
The

first

deal

with

remaining

of

condition

knowledge

futile

or

the
of

heart, which

and

for the

failure
the

would

needless
there

other

give

can

(2) that

knowledge

of the

faith

intellect

evil ;

over

find

to

of

moral
render

(3) that

still remains
can

furnish

objectivebasis to morality and religion.

of these assumptions I endeavoured
to
turn
to the
in the last chapter. I now
two.
*

Milton's

Areopagitica.

Demonstrative,
of

BROWNING.

ROBERT

312

actual

the

or

nature

certain,or absolute knowledge

of things would, Browning

of a
destroythe very possibility
show
either
For such knowledge would
evil,or that evil is good ; and, in both
the benevolent
activityof love would
it would

In the first case,

that

evil is

alike,

cases

futile.

be

and

be thwarted

life.*

moral

asserts,

arrested

by despair; for,if evil be evil,it must remain evil

Man
effect a
do.
cannot
for aught that man
can
change in the nature of things,nor create a good
in a world
dominated
by evil. In the second case,
the savingeffect of moral love would be unnecessary
;
for, if evil be only seeming, then all things are
terfere
perfectand complete, and there is no need of inIt is necessary,
therefore, that man
should

be

in

existence

real

exist

strict

in order

he may

if this

of

view

in which
a

very

the bounds
into

that

and

of doubt
whether

only

devote

seem

as

to the

evil
to

does
exist

himself to the

good, f

sense

admits

and,

evil ;
seem,

service of

Now,

of

not, it must

or

to man,

state

permanent

of the
he

uses

poet be taken in the

it in this argument, it

It takes us beyond
easy refutation.
of all possiblehuman
experience,

imaginary region,as to which all assertions

It is impossibleto conceive
are
equally valueless.
of a being who
would
how
the conduct
is moral
be affected by absolute
knowledge ; or, indeed,
of such
to conceive
the existence
a
being. For
morality,as the poet insists,is a process in which
an

See

Chapter VIII., p.

255.

t U"*-

THE
an

ideal is

the

HEART

AND

THE

HEAD.

313

graduallyrealized throughconflict with

actual"

actual

an

transmutes

at

which

it both

produces and

stage of the

every

But
progress.
above
all process.

complete knowledge would

be
Hence
we
would
have, on Browning'shypothesis,
to conceive of a being in whom
perfectknowledge
combined

was
so

with

constituted

undevelopedwill.

an

would

be

agglomerate of

an

being
utterly

disparateelements, the interaction of which in a

single character it would
be impossibleto make
intelligible.
But, settingaside this point,there is a curious
flaw in Browning's
argument, which indicates that
he had
not
between
two
forms of
distinguished
optimism which are essentially
different from each
other, namely, the pantheistic
and the Christian.
To know
that evil is only apparent, that pain is
mask, that all forms of wickedness
only pleasure's
and misery are
telligen
only illusions of an incompletein"

would, he argues,
and

arrest

all moral

action

For love
which
love.
implies
stultify
necessarily
need in its object is the principle
of all right
action.
In this he argues justly,for the moral life
is essentially
conflict and
a
progress ; and, in a
world
in which
white ruled unchecked
along the
"

"

"

line," there

would

be

of
possibility
hand, if the good were
the reality,
the same
nor

would

the

follow.

absolute

"

White

the

neither

And,

progress.

merely

destruction
may

not
"

manner,

nor

may

we

need

of conflict

on

the other

phantom,

and

evil

of moral

activity
triumph," in this
clean

abolish,once

and
be

BROWNING.

ROBERT

314

white's

evermore,
"

faintest trace."

shade

the constant

All this is true ; but

militates

cast

on

There

must

life's shine."

the admission

of it in

no

way
conceptionof absolutelyvalid

againstthe
knowledge ; nor is it any proof that we need live
in the twilightof perpetual doubt, in order to be
For
the knowledge, of which
moral.
Browning
speaks,would be knowledge of a state of thingsin
which
moralitywould be reallyimpossible; that is,
in which
all was
it would
be knowledge of a world
evil or
all was
good. On the other hand, valid
knowledge of a world in which good and evil are
in

conflict, and

in

which

the

is realized

former

through victoryover the latter,would not destroy

morality. What is inconsistent with the moral life
there
is the conception of a world
where
is no
of charfrom evil to good, no evolution
acter,
movement
but merely the stand-still life of
Rephan."
But absolutelycertain knowledge that the good is
"

sin in the world, that

at issue with

of

there

attaininggoodness except through

the

is

no

way
conflict with

evil,and

that moral

is
insists,

which
all actual atconverts
tainment
process
rise
into a dead self,from which
can
we

to

is

"

deification
of evil

process,
is

as

which

equally true

asserts

so

frequently

tively
self,therefore, which is relawould, and does, inspiremorality. It
"

the

poet

higher things
evil

life,as

that all

of

evil

not

negated

it is in itself and

or

come,
over-

apart from

all

destroys morality. And the same

of a pantheisticoptimism, which
thingsare good. But it is not true

THE
of

HEART

AND

THE

HEAD.

315

Christian

asserts
that all
optimism, which
things are
working togetherfor good. For such
optimism implies that the process of negating or
of
overcoming evil is essential to the attainment
goodness ; it does not imply that evil, as evil, is
ever
that it
good. Evil is unreal, only in the sense
withstand
the power
cannot
which
is set against
it. It is not mere
semblance, a mere
negation or
absence
of being ; it is opposed to the good, and
its oppositioncan
be overcome,
only by the moral
An
effort which
it calls forth.
optimisticfaith of
find room
this kind can
for morality ; and, indeed,
the religiousbasis it needs.
it furnishes it with
Browning, however, has confused these two forms
driven
of optimism ; and, therefore, he has been
native
to condemn
knowledge, because he knew no alterbut that of either making evil eternallyreal,
A third alternative,
or making^itabsolutelyunreal.
however, is supplied by the conception of moral
evolution.
Knowledge of the conditions on which
to
a knowledge that amounts
good can be attained
conviction
is the springof all moral effort ; whereas
attitude of permanent doubt as to the distinction
an
between
good and evil would paralyseit. Such a
act at all,
can
be solved before man
doubt
must
a

"

"

or

choose

one

end

implies belief,and
action can
only come

the

than

ardour

from

another.
and

All action

vigour of

belief which

moral

is wholehearted.

in
the poet makes
assertion, which
knowSaisiaz, and repeats elsewhere, that sure

The
La

rather

further

ROBERT

316

BROWNING.

ledge of

the consequences
that follow good and
lead to the choice of
would necessarily

actions

and

good
destroymoralityby

of evil, and

avoidance

the

evil

destroyinglibertyof choice, raises the whole question

of the relation of knowledge and conduct, and
be adequately discussed here.
cannot
be
It may
said, however, that it
forms

rests

confusion

upon

tween
be-

of

and
: namely, natural
necessity
spiritual
necessity.In assertingthat knowledge of
two

the

of evil would
determine
human
consequences
action in a necessary
treats
way, the poet virtually
if he were
natural
as
man
a
sumption
being. But the asthat

is

responsibleand liable to
standing
punishment, involves that he is capable of withall such
determination.
And
knowledge
does

and

not

man

cannot

Reason

such

to

dignityof

to

such

bringsfreedom

the ends
It is the

lead

necessary
; for reason

desire

of the

good

convincingknowledge of the
the moral
law that they shall

themselves

desire

is that

"

stitutes
con-

of action.

constant

make

mination.
deter-

its devoted
the

"

to

attain
and

worth
be able

instruments.

to

Their

shall

supplant in them
all motives
that conflict against it, and
be the
inner principle,
of all their actions.
or
necessitjf,
Such complete devotion
to the good is expressed,
for
"

instance,in the words

Thy

ever

have

good

testimonies
for

they

are

inclined mine

alway, even

unto

have

of the
I taken

Hebrew
as

an

Psalmist

heritagefor

rejoicingof my heart. I
heart to perform Thy statutes
the end.
I hate vain thoughts,
the

ROBERT

3i8

is also

and

world,

BROWNING.
inner

the

principleof

man's

nature.

remains

There

view,

the

now

third element

in Browning's

namely, that the faith in

implied in morality and religion,can
established, after knowledge has turned
of

must

individual's

the

upon
power

within

love

try

now

the

"

to

out

of

consciousness

himself.

estimate

be

the

In

of

the

words, I

other

value

good,
firmly
tive,
decep-

Browning's

appeal"fromthe intellect to the heart.

Before doing so, however, it may
be well to repeat
that Browning's condemnation
of knowledge,
once
more
in his philosophical
is not partialor
poems,
hesitating.On the contrary, he confines it definitely
the

to

individual's

consciousness

of his

own

inner

states.
"

Myself I solely recognize.

They, too, may recognize themselves,
For aught I know
care." *
or

Nor

not

me,

does

this limited
to correct
Browning endeavour
states, by
testimony of the intellect as to its own
bringingin the miraculous aid of revelation,or by
an
postulating
unerringmoral faculty. He does not
intuitive power
of knowing right from
an
assume
he maintains
that ignorance enwraps
; but
wrong

man's

moral

sense,

And, not only

right and
whether

wrong
there
*

is

jare

in

we

unable

to

details, but

rightor

also

we

At

wrong.

Bean-Stripe. See
f See Chapter VIII.

know

La

the rule of
know

cannot

times

Saisiaz.

the

poet

THE

HEART

AND

THE

inclined to say that evil is

seems

"

Man's

Man, with
His

Man

What

to love

passes

within

the nature

fault
must

claim

right to

understanding."

past

man

At

inside

cram

understand

finding out.

Nay,

poet

without, and

to be

God

in this

of
surpassingemotion
heart.
he
But, when
philosophizing,
of knowledge. He is
this amount
even
"

Of love's
This
A

minute

Withdrawn

Thus

save

upon

defies

since"
into

the

clue to

is all but

the

human

withdraws

quality

that love

revealment

was
as

caused

thereby,

it seemed

thy longing looks,

unknowable

once

more."

up Browning's view of knowledge

ignorant of the world ; we do not know even

to

"

are

we

cause,

nigh

"

the

that, whatsoe'er

Assured

God

times, indeed, the power

to the

seems

of the Power

revealed

jured
con-

"

may

are
ways
is unknown.

Himself

the

mind,

narrow

infinitude, earth's vault

comprise the heavenly far and wide,

bids

Since

God's

fancy makes
the

finite God's

He

319

phenomenon
frail intelligence
of man.

the

by

up

HEAD.

sum

"

good, or evil,or only their semblance,

life ; and we know
that is presentedto us in human
of love
nothing of God, except that He is the cause
in man.
What
greater depth of agnosticism is
it is

whether

possible?
the

When

moral

and

of which
*

Bernard

doctrine

is

put in this bald form, the

consciousness
religious
the

theory

was

de Mandeville.

of man,

on

behalf

invented, revolts againstit.

f A

PM*r

**

Sebzcvar.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

320

Nevertheless, the
the

between

human
is not

distinction

intellectual and

life is very

in

common

made

by Browning

emotional

elements

religious
thought.

often, indeed, that either the worth

of
It

of love,

of

knowledge receives such emphatic

expressionas that which is given to them by the
generalidea of their relation
poet ; but the same
still more
often implied.
is often expressed,and
Browning differs from our ordinaryteachers mainly
in the boldness
of his affirmatives and
negatives.
They, too, regardthe intellect as merely human, and
the emotion
of love as divine.
They, too, shrink
from
the
of
with
the
reason
man
identifying
of God ; even
reason
though they may recognize
that moralityand religion
must
kind
postulatesome
of unity between
God
and man.
ceive
They, too, conthat human
knowledge differs in nature from
of God,
that
while
that
human
they maintain
in nature
with that of God,
goodness is the same
though different in degree and fulness. There are
two kinds of knowledge, but there is only one
kind
of justice,
Man
or
or
must
loving-kindness.
mercy,
be content
with
semblance
of a knowledge of
a
truth ; but
of goodness would
semblance
be
a
intolerable. God really
reveals Himself
in
to man
to
morality and religion,and He communicates
the divine
man
love."
But
nothing less than
or

the weakness

"

there
reason.

is

no

The

the
principle,
is

such

close connection

religious life of
indwellingof God

final and

fatal

defect

in

on

man

in him
man's

the

side of

is.'a

divine

but

there

knowledge.

THE
The

HEART

divine

AND

THE

HEAD.

love's manifestation

of

incomplete,it

is true,

but there is no

defect in its nature.

As

more

common

intellectto the heart.

may
his

best

of

ever

men

religious
at the present day, than
cerns
appeal,on all the high conand religious
life,from the

it is necessary to
of man's
moral

that

itself is

of this doctrine, few

consequence

opinionsare

in the

even

321

stillfeel ; and

Where

the

we

know,

cannot

man
religious

may

we

have, in

intimate
feelingof the divine, a more
of the reality
of that in which he trusts,
conviction
than could be producedby any intellectual process.
own

Enough to say, "* I feel

Love's sure
effect,and, being loved, must love
*
The love its cause
behind, I can and do.'
"

"

"

Reason, in trying to scale the heightsof truth,

and
falls back, impotent and broken, into doubt

despair;

is best and

which

"

thro' the

questionsmen

is another

there

come

we

to

have

we

way

to

try,
spun." f
may

find

God

doubt.

conquer

"

I heard

And

That

faith had

If e'er when
'

that

highest.

petty cobwebs

The

can

way

found;Him not in world or sun,

Or eagle'swing, or insect's eye
Nor

But

that

by

not

heard
tumbled

voice
an

fall'n

'believe

asleep,
more,'
no

shore
evcr-break'ing

in the Godless

deep

t In Memoriam.

Pillar at Sebzevar.
II

and

to

ROBERT

322

freezing reason's

And

like

of this

value

'

answer'd

and

up

would

colder

in wrath

man

then, I have

What,

the breast

The

Stood

and

within

warmth

BROWNING.

part,

the heart

I have

to

now

melt

felt.' "

ask, is the
?

emotion

appeal to

meaning
Can

love,

in any of its forms, reveal truths to man

If so, how
discover ?
his intellect cannot

emotion

or

which

shall

If not, how
of
either

?
that it can
good men
the appealto
to justify
the heart

how
from

by

for the

account

we

reason

or

utter

may

else to

We

have, in

truths

emotion
religious

which

tion
generalconvic-

the heart, by

account

that

ing
explain-

are

for the
to

seems

word,

hidden

illusion,

reveal

such

truths.

The

firstrequirementis shown

to be unreasonable

The intuitive
by the very terms in which it is made.
conviction of the
insightof faith, the immediate

render, and

heart, cannot

must

not

try

to

render,

of itself. Proof
is a process ; but
account
any
there is no process in this direct conviction of truth.
Its assertion is just the denial of process ; it is a
of all connections ; in such a faith of
repudiation
there
feeling
which

doubt

unity

of

because

are

no

could

cob-web

fact to fact,
lines relating

break.

Feelingis the immediate

the subject and
object. I am
pained,
rid myself of an element
cannot
which is

alreadywithin me ; I am lifted into the emotion of

or
happiness,or bliss,by the consciousness
pleasure,
that I am
alreadyat one with an objectthat fulfils
"

In

Memoriam.

THE

HEART

longingsand

my

to be

seems

the

AND

THE

satisfies my

HEAD.

needs.

323

Hence, there

ground for saying that, in this instance,

witness

lie ; for it cannot

cannot

fact, as

it is itself the

emotion

is

go before the
the fact.
If the

effect of

of the
pleasurableit is the consciousness
unity within ; if it is painful,of the disunity. In
feeling,I am
absolutelywith myself ; and there
therefore, to be no need of attempting to
seems,
of reason,
faith in God
which
a
justify,
by means

manifests
its

itself in emotion.
sufficient

own

intimate

union

Nay,

may

is

we

true

not

in the

view

with

man

one,

which

here

stated

is

intimate

proof.
what
can

and

object of

say

that

of

the

devotion.

the

demand

of

of those

"

faith"

in any
maintain

not

who

of human

it.

deny

to

of the

advocate

no

strong than

this does

But

contention

result

of the worth

or

the conviction

in which

more

the

and

reason,
dignityof human
knowledge, is called upon
sense

direct

itself is

betrays ignorance of the

of moral intuition and religious
feeling.
concerned
to deny the truth that lies

nature
am

witness,

further, and

go

unjust

an

of

emotion

The

There

that

"feeling"

or

of

process

any

wise

is

justifythe
we

can

feel

in any sense
know, or that the heart
to that of which the intellect is absolutely
testify
do

we

not

silent.
"

So let
But

In

these

us

say

rather,
two

not

"

'Since

'

Since
we

lines there
*

love,

are

know,

we
we

know

love,'

we

enough.'

combined

Pillar at Sebzevar.

the

"

truth

BROWNING.

ROBERT

324

acknowledge, and

would

the

error

confute.

I would

sufficient knowledge ; or, rather,

ledge,
it is the direct testimony of that completestknowLove

is,in

one

way,

in which
love

For, where

subject and objectinterpenetrate.

is, all foreignelements have been
is not

There

eliminated.

"

"

and

one

with

one

object is brought within

the self as constituting
part of its very life. This
is involved in all the great forms of human
thought
less than in morality and
in science and art, no
It is the truth that we love, and only that,
religion.
of love the
which is altogetherours.
By means
third

shadowy

the

; but

"

poet is
"

Made
His

with

one

voice

Of thunder

and

is made

to reveal

her

inmost

"

will

can

nothing

is the sole and

spring of

at the

his volition, and

movement."

ourselves with
own

to the song

he

Fichte,

and

music, from

it is because

is able

love

in all her

It is
an

interest,that

is heard

There

Nature.

of

moan

bird

night'ssweet

with

one

"

but

what

same

"

that

her

secrets.

he

Man," said

he loves ; his
the infallible

time

of all his lite's striving

only when

ideal,and made
we

the

strive to

we

have

identified

its realization
attain

it.

Love

our

is

in art, motive
knowledge, inspiration
and the fulness of religious
in morality,
joy.
love is greater than
But, although in this sense
knowledge, it is a grave error to separate it from
at least,the separaknowledge. In the life of man
tion

revelation

of the

in

emotional

both.

We

and
cannot

intellectual elements
know

that in which

tinguishes
ex-

we

ROBERT

326
creation.
that

rational,we

bird is not

If the

it builds

BROWNING.

and

its nest

the

meadows

burst

the whole
or,

if it be

of emotion

be

can

into flower.

brood,
the bidding

Without

thought. But such a natural

possibleto man.
Every activityin
and
his self-consciousness,

from

he

takes

something that

seeks to find himself

Thus

ledge,
know-

process is not
him is relative

character

new

His love at the best and

that relation.

is the love of

way

merely a natural one ;

it is so only in so far as the life
regardedas a foretaste of the life

of

to

same

is

process

more,

say

lines it for its

pines for its partner and loves it, at

of the returningspring,in much
the
as

may

love

he knows, and

made
not

can

ignorance. It is,indeed, an
the closer communion

of the

rich with
"

worst

in which
new

ciency.
suffi-

"

ally itself with

impulse pressingfor
lover with the object

of his love.
"

Like

two

Touch, mingle,

Burning, yet

But, for
is shut
the

up

one

are

ever

another's

within

expanding flame,
it become

transfigured;
inconsumable

substance

being such

as

conceived
whose

as

dark

still

ever

finding food."

walls

self-transcending
impulse of
inner

the same,

Browning describes,who

the blind

If man's

upon

of

spheres instinct with

Those

In

meteors

of his

love

would

consciousness

self,

own

be

is to

possibl
imbe

shuttingout the world,

trospec
shadowy phenomena the candle of inthrows a dim and uncertain
light,then
a

room

Shelley'sEpipsychidion.

HEART

THE
he

can

have

he

ever

AND

THE

interest outside

no

HEAD.

327

of himself

nor

can

that firststep in

take

goodness,which carries
him
to seek and
beyond his narrow
individuality
find a largerself in others.
in its
Morality,even
lowest
form, implies knowledge, and
knowledge
of something better
than
those
apparent other
"

mortals."

With

the

comes

actual

the

first dawn
of

consciousness

and

such

possible except
and

desired

the

attempt

to

it.

break
him

The

of the

ideal,which

an

with

who

the

has

known

ideas

life

is not

natural

endeavour

ethical

moral

of

is not

better
man

is

into

actuality; and
all his activityas moral
agent takes place within
ledge.
the sphere that is illumined by the lightof knowIf knowledge breaks
down, there is no law
he can
of action which
obey. The moral law that
be apprehended,and whose
must
authoritymust be
of being or
either sinks out
recognized by man,
is doomed
illusive phantom, if man
to
becomes
an
ignorance or false knowledge. To extinguishtruth
is to extinguishgoodness.
In like manner,
religion,which the poet would
of agnosticism,becomes
for man
fain defend
by means
if knowledge be denied.
Religion
impossible,
ever
can
mere
is not blind emotion
feeling,how; nor
Animals
feel, but
ecstatic, ascend to God.
they are not, and cannot be, religious unless they
The
love of God
know.
implies knowledge.
can
to

convert

"

"

I know
of

Him

whom

I have

religion. For

identification of

what
the

believed
is

"

is the

religionbut

self with

One

who

guage
lanscious
con-

is

ROBERT

328
known

to fulfil its

Agnosticismis
cannot,

BROWNING.
needs

and

?
its aspirations
satisfy
directlydestructive of it. We

thus

God

indeed, prove

the

as

of

conclusion

syllogism,for He is the primary hypothesisof all

reach Him
cannot
proof. But, nevertheless, we
without
reveals
no
knowledge. Emotion
object,
but is consequent upon the revelation of it ; feeling
yieldsno truth, but is the witness of the worth of a
truth
mere

would

for the

individual.

If

the awe
even
feeling,
be impossible. For

because

the

Unknowable

of

devout

Unknowable

It appears

emotion.

generate any

of the
the

shut

were

man

to

do

to

up

agnostic
cannot
so,

only

the

agnostic is not
unknown
to him ; but is a vast, abysmal
altogether
Something,"that has occupied with its shadowy
presence the field of his imagination. It is paganism
stricken with the plague,and
philosophy afflicted
"

with
God.

build

blindness, that
The

highest

and

altars

the

to

an

unknown

strongest faith, the

with the
deepest trust and the most loving,come
fullest knowledge. Indeed, the distinction between
of the agnostic,
is the lowest form of
the awe
which
love
and that highestform in which perfect
religion,
casteth out fear,springsfrom the fuller knowledge
of the nature
the
of the object of worship,which
latter implies. Thus, religionand
morality grow
with the growth of knowledge ; and neither has a
than
worse
spirit
ignorance. The human
enemy
cannot

great

grow
moral

deepening and

in

one-sided

manner.

Devotion

possible,only through
widening of man's knowledge of

ends

is

to

the
the

THE
of the

nature

render
So
be

HEART

unto

world.

Him

evident

AND

THE

Those

who

HEAD.

329

know

God

best,

the purest service.

is

this,that it

difficult to account

at first sightto

seems

for that

antagonism to the
intellect and distrust of its deliverances,
which
are
so
ing,
emphaticallyexpressedin the writingsof Brownand

which

marked

are

characteristics of the

ordinary religious
opinion of
examination, however, we
not pure emotion, or mere
is set above

discover

that

from

religiousman
which

levels

reason

appealto

the

against
"

the character
of the

conviction

doubts
the

closer

that

whose
feeling,

of reason,
but rather
is the result of knowledge. The

which

The

shall

On

day.

our

it is

authority

the emotion

appealof

and

the

difficulties,

faith,"is reallyan

that lies behind

the emotion.

heart, that refuses

to

yield

arguments of the understanding,is not

mere
feeling
; but, rather, the complex experience
of the past life,that manifests
itself in feeling.
When
an
ligious
individual, clingingto his moral or reI have
felt it," he opposes
to
faith, says,
the doubt, not his feelingas such, but his personality
to

the

"

in all the wealth

to the heart

of its experience.The

appeal

is the

appeal to the unproved,but not,

therefore, unauthorized, testimony of the best men
at

their best

moments,

when

their

vision

of truth

"

the loud and

pretends that
voice of untrained
passion and prejudice
and religious
of moral
authorityin matters
feeling may lack
though, in such cases,
feelings of
depth nor intensity.If the

is clearest.

No

one

"

empty
has

any
faith ;
neither

"

"

"

"

the
and

BROWNING.

ROBERT

330

were
good man
strippedbare

dissociated

from

his

character,

significance
they obtain

of all the

therefrom, their worthlessness

would

become

ent.
appar-

profound error of condemning knowledge

is hidden only by the fact
in order to honour
feeling,
and inspired
with
is alreadyinformed
that the feeling
knowledge. Religious agnosticism,like all other
forms of the theory of nescience,derives its plausibility
from
the adventitious help it purloinsfrom
the knowledge which it condemns.
That it is to such feelingthat Browning really
abundantly
appeals against knowledge becomes
evident, when we bear in mind that he always calls
is never
For love in man
love."
it
ignorant. It
its object,and is a conscious identification
knows
to Browning, the object
of the self with it. And
of that love by
love is at its best
of love, when
of which he refutes intellectual pessimism
means
revolt of the heart against all
The
is mankind.
In other
evil is a desire for the good of all men.
doubts which
words, his refuge againstthe assailing
ness.
springfrom the intellect,is in the moral consciousThe

"

"

"

But

it is

and

moves

consciousness

consciousness
in

which

sympathy

is

knows

with it.

no

mere

the
It is

emotion;

highestgood,
our

maturest

for it is the manifestation of the presence

activityof the ideal, the fullest knowledge

wisdom
and

that

Compared with this, the emotion

the poet speaks in
linked to ignorance,of which
his philosophic
theory, is a very poor thing. It is
and

the

poorer

surest.

than

the

lowest

human

love.

THE

Now,

HEART

AND

THE

HEAD.

331

if this

of the
term
higher interpretation
heart
be accepted, it is easilyseen
why its
authorityshould seem
higherthan that of reason
;
and
if it be remembered
particularly,
that, while
"

"

the

heart

is thus

consciousness
to
"

the
The

widened

of the ideal,"
of

power

to

take

the

reason

is reduced

mental

analysis.
intensest unity

is the

sense,

all direct

"

reflection, or

heart," in this

in

of the

complex experiencesof a whole life,while

the reason
is taken
merely as a facultywhich
invents arguments, and providesgrounds and evidences
is called, in the language of
; it is what
German
the
understanding." Now, in
philosophy,
this sense, the understanding has, at best, only a
borrowed
authority.It is the facultyof rules rather
of principles.It is ever
than
dogmatic, assertive,
its forces
hard ; and it always advances
repellent,
Its logicnever
in singleline.
convinced
any one
"

"

"

of

truth

which

unless, beneath

error,

or

it advanced,

the

arguments

there

deeper principle
lay some
of concord.
faith
Thus, the oppositionbetween
is that between
and reason/' rightlyinterpreted,
a
concrete
tion,
experience,instinct with life and convic"

and

mechanical

The

arguments.
?
It

with

but

reason,
"

said

is this

distrust

sometimes

reason

driven

of

the

"

am

weary

abstract

is not

heart

"Evidences

reasons.

weariness

arguments pro and

to

quarrelof

Coleridge;

of

arrangement

of
of the

evidence, of the

con,

which

and

knowledge,

believers to

has

the

with

anity
Christiword."
endless

caused

so

and

which

many

dangerous

has
ex-

BROWNING.

ROBERT

332

pedient of making

their faith

dogmatic

and

"

lute.
abso"

opponents of the faith been

slow to seize the opportunity thus offered them.
solicits the aid
From
the moment
that a religion
of philosophy,
its ruin is inevitable/' said Heine.
In the attempt at defence, it prates itself into
destruction.
like every absolutism, must
Religion,
Nor

the

have

"

"

not

seek

justifyitself.

to

the rock
not

by a silent force.
to
personified
power
remain

must

ventures

mute.

print a

to

the

moment

But

end.

brought

therein

us."

reckon

with

not

absolutism

end

an

It
singleword.
The
that a religion
moment
catechism
supported by arguments,
absolutism
that a political
utter

consists

adversaries

our

But,
;

to
we

both

to

their

near

are

triumph : we have
speech,and they must
is
religion
answer,
may

our

and, therefore,it is

it ventures

when

to

Yea, Aeschyluspermits

officialnewspaper,

publishesan

is bound

Prometheus

not

justifyitself.

near

On

its
the

ligious,
spiritualpower, be it moral or remaintain
if it assumes
its authority,
can
a
despoticattitude ; for the human
spiritinevitably

contrary,

moves

no

towards

freedom, and

that

movement

is the

deepest necessityof its nature, which it cannot

Religion,on the ground of its sanctity,
escape.
and law, on the ground of its majesty,often resist
the sifting
of their claims.
But in so doing,they
awake
not
a
inevitably
unjust suspicionthat their
claims are
ill-founded.
command
the
They can
unfeigned homage of man,
only when they have
"

Religionand

Philosophy in Germany.

ROBERT

334
moral

BROWNING.

life. It cannot
create
a religion,
religious
than physiologycan
The
produce men.
any more
is always secondary;
reflection which bringsdoubt
it can
only exercise itself on a given material.
As
Hegel frequentlypointed out, it is not the
stitute
function of moral
philosophy to create or to inbut to understand
a
moralityor religion,
facts must
first be given ; they must
them.
The
be actual experiences
of the human
spirit.Moral
philosophyand theology differ from the moral or
life,in the same
as
religious
geology differs
way
the heavenly
from the earth, or astronomy from
or

bodies.

latter

The

theories about
the

human

facts ;

are

the facts.

spirittowards

confused

Much

of the

the lack of

with

these

these

and

their reflective

in
difficulty

are

Religionis an attitude of
the highest; morality

is the realization of character

to be

former

the

not

are

interpretations.

matters

from

comes

and
beliefs

clear distinction between

creeds.
of the heart
Further, not only are the utterances
prior to the deliverances of the intellect in this

can

it may
also be admitted
do full justiceto the

but

sense,

never

former.

So

complex

is

of

means

our

is character

spirituallife,that

in

the latter

contents

of

content

and

we

can

that

enter

experience,which
absorbed
natural

and

the

into it.
is

subtle

our

Into

the

social environment.

of
We

so

all

organism

faith,there is

influences

the

by

never,

lift into clear consciousness

reflection,

the elements
of

rich

that

our

tinually
conplex
com-

grow

by

THE

of them,

means

the

HEART

soil and

and

errors

mental

us

the

as

the

for

AND

to

which

we

moral

and

plant

sunshine
set

THE

HEAD.

dew.

forth,one

by

thus

have

by feedingon

grows

and

life,as it is

to

335

It is
the

one,

worked

keep

as

truths

into
a

possible
im-

our

reckoning

of the

the natural
with which
life
physicalatoms
builds
the
body. Hence, every attempt to
up
justifythese truths seems
inadequate; and the
defence
which
the understanding sets up for the
ever
faith, always seems
partialand cold. Who
sciousness
fullyexpressedhis deepestconvictions ? The conof the dignity of the moral
law affected
Kant

like the

generated
could
the

not

saints

view

of the

feelingof

starry firmament, and

the

express

and

cannot

be

confined

the

sublime

which

words

religiousecstasy
within

the

of

channels

speech, but floods the soul with overmastering

possessingall its faculties. In this respect,
power,
that the greatest facts
true
it will always remain
of human
experience reach beyond all knowledge.
Nay, we may add further, that in this respect the
simplest of these facts passes all understanding.
that constitutes
Still,as we have already seen, it is reason
is presented to reason
them
; that which
for explanation,in knowledge and
morality and
Reason
religion,is itself the product of reason.
ment,
is the power
which, by interaction with our environof our
has generated the whole
experience.
the phenomAnd, just as natural science interprets
ena
given to it by ordinary opinion,i.e.,interprets
form
of knowledge by conlower
and
a
purifies

of

ROBERT

336

vertingit

into

BROWNING.

higher;

so

the

task

of

reason

it is exercised

is
moralityand religion,
upon
evolve, and amplify the meaning of its

when

simply to
from
own
products. The movement
morality and
and the philosophy
of
to moral
religion
philosophy
from
to
reason
religion,is thus a movement
from
the implicit
from the
to the explicit,
reason,
to the developed fulness of life and structure.
germ
In this matter,

in all others

as

wherein

the

human

spiritis concerned, that which is first by nature is

last in genesis
8' 6 TT/DWTOS
reAevratos fyxx/xwi/
The
whole
experience
historyof the moral and religious
of mankind
is comprised in the statement,
that the implicit
call
is
which
faith
reason
we
ever
developingtowards full consciousness of itself ;
and
that, at its first beginning,and throughout
the whole
ascending process of this development,
the highest is present in it as
a
self-manifesting
"

VIKO,

KCU

"

"

power.
But

this process
of

the

from

heart

the
towards

almost
the

tuition
instinctive in-

morality and

religionof freedom, being a process of evolution,

involves conflict. There
it is
are
necessarily
men,
moral and religious
faith
true, the unity of whose
is never
completelybroken by doubt ; just as there
who are not forced by the contradictions
in
are
men
the first interpretation
of the world
by ordinary
of
it by means
experienceto attempt to re-interpret
science and philosophy.
Throughout their lives they may say like Pom-

pilia
"

THE

HEART
"

I took

AND

I know

it and

THE

HEAD.

337

the

right place by foot's feel,

firm there ; wherefore
change ?

tread

"

Jean Paul Richter said that he knew another way

of being happy, beside that of soaring
far
so
away
above
the clouds of life,that its miseries looked
small, and

the

whole

external

littlechild's

world

shrunk

into

"

garden. It was,
Simply to sink down
into this little garden ; and there to nestle
yourself
so
snugly, so homewise, in some
furrow, that in
wise
looking out from your warm
lark-nest,you likediscern no
can
wolf-dens, charnel-houses, or
thunder-rods, but only blades and ears, every one of
which, for the nest-bird, is
and

rain-screen."

There

tree, and

is

sun-screen,

similar way

of

being

good, with a goodness which, though limited,is pure

and perfect
in nature.
Nay, we may even admit that
such
lives are
frequentlythe most complete and
beautiful,justas the fairest flowers grow, not on the
tallest trees, but on the fragile
plants at their foot.
Nevertheless,
have

never

even

broken

in the
from

of those

persons who
the traditional faith of the
case

past, or felt it to be inadequate,that faith has been

ledge.
synthesisof knowcannot
come
by inheritance ;
self,
must
but every individual
acquirea faith for himinto perenvironment
his spiritual
and
turn
sonal
be a heretic in the
experience. A man
may
and if he believe thingsonly
truth," said Milton,
the
because
his pastor says so, or
assembly so
reconstructed
silently
Spirituallife

in

new

"

"

The

Ring and

the Book"

The

Pope, 1886-1887.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

338

determines, without

other

knowing
true, yet the

his belief be
becomes

his

tradition

to him

heresy."
; it is

and

asks
to

the
flow

Is it not

not

but

of this

flict"
con-

this

The

onward,

of truth

stream

becomes

is the law

Movement

holds

conviction.

ignoble confidence,
Cowardly hardihood, that dulls and
Makes
the old heroism
impossible ?

Pope.

he

another

to

need

Browning fullyrecognizesthe
"

truth

very
It is truth
creed

though

reason,

damps,
"

when

it

ceases

malarious

of life ; and

swamp.
knowledge of the

of all other
of morality and religion,
as
principles
be felt from
in order
to grow,
must,
principles,
There
time to time as inadequate and untrue.
are
men

and

ages whose

mission is
"

"

to

shake
from

creed,
discarded, bring
That formidable
danger back, we drove
Long ago to the distance and the dark." f
This

torpor of assurance
Re-introduce
the doubt

our

to exerto many
cise
spiritof criticism seems
a
merely destructive power, and those who
have not felt the inadequacy of the inherited faith
of their
defend themselves
againstit,as the enemy
lives. But no logic,
doubt, could have
or
assailing
againstthe testimony of the heart," unless
power
than
in deeper and truer
rooted
it was
principles
it attacked.
those which
Nothing can
overpower

Such

"

Ring and the Book

t Ibid., 1853-1856.
The

"

The

Pope, 1848-1850.

HEART

THE
truth
the

except

AND

largertruth

in the old

truth

THE
;

view

HEAD.

and, in such

339
a

conflict,

will

ultimatelytake the
side of the new,
and
find its subordinate
position
within it. It has happened, not infrequently,
in
as
the ease
of the Encyclopaedists,
that the explicit
of

truths

reason

true, than
The

were

the

central

abstract, that

more

"

implicit faith which

of religionhave
truths
"

they

is, less
assailed.

often

proved
themselves
to possess some
stubborn, though semiarticulate power,
could
which
come
ultimately oversubordinate
the more
or
partialand explicit
truths
of abstract
science.
It is this that gives
the
to
idea, that the testimony of
plausibility
the

heart

is

reliable

more

But, in this
that

triumphed.

itself to

The

be

insurrection

the

was

immortal,

that

also, it

case

It

than

and

of the

was

truth

not

intellect

any

of the

lect.
intel-

reallyreason
which
proved
mere

emotion.

against the

heart

is

acter,
quelled,only when the untruth, or abstract charof the principleof the assailants has been
made
manifest, and when the old faith has yielded
its unjust gains, and
proved its vitalityand
up
strengthby absorbing the truth that gave vigour
to the attack.
Just as in morality it is the ideal,
moral
the unity of the whole
life,that breaks
or
up into differences,so also here it is the implicit

faith which,
In

both

as

it grows,
alike, the

breaks

forth into doubts.

which
negative movement
induces despair,is only a phase of a positiveprocess
towards
the process of reason
a
a
fuller,
more
articulate and complex, realization of itself.
"

cases

it follows

Hence
a

BROWNING.

ROBERT

340

faith

that

the

correspondsaccuratelyto
Those

overcome.

cannot

who

heroes.

home

come

"

stands

Man

Prepared
As

broke

we

Have

Faith,

in the
need

Whence

knows

the doubts

it has

forth

battle

to

It is

the
only when
towers, and destroyedthe

is, alive

old

at last.

faith of the

world,

up this the new

in the report
faith
thing, grown
to bravely disbelieve
report
age, to break

he

"

faith i' the

who

thing reports

"

belie

"

consider, that our

knowledge thriv6 by exercise,as well as

faith and

and

limbs

our

that

increased

Through

Well

up

next

we,

that

"

strengthof

again, pale, resolute,

out

die,

to

and

went

never

earthquakehas tried the

that
of security,
sense

"

value

to

uses

complexion."

thus, I conclude, a deep speculative

error

It was,

stantiat
Browning fell,when, in order to subhis optimistic
faith,he stigmatizedhuman
knowledge as merely apparent. Knowledge does
in which
not fail,except in the sense
morality also

into which

fails ; it does

truth, any

not

than

more

its activities f

at any

time

attain to the ultimate

life is in any
of
of the absolute
complete embodiment

the

moral

who
is essentially
good. It is not given to man,
the ultimate
of
to reach
term
progressive,
development. For there is no ultimate term : life
never

stands

is

no

ultimate

is

still.

historyof

But, for the

failure.

The

same

reason,

whole

there

historyof man
growth. If,however, knowledge did

The

Ring

See

Chapter IX.,

and

the Book"
p. 291.

The

Pope,

1862-1868.

ROBERT

342

conclude,

I
in

therefore,
in

that,

saying

BROWNING.

that

order

the

poet

right

was

human

comprehend

to

character,

"

needs

With

it

was

destruction

as

of

knowledge,

an

of

intellect

the

of

emotion

could

of

is

based

agnosticism

which

Browning

can

the

religion.

help

is

no

.1

Bean-Stripe

an

to

Ferishtah'
"

of

be

"

God

man

congruous
in-

Such

combined

love

that
for

explicit
must

Browning
s

well

of

truth.

We

in
as

quality

philosophy

one.

philosopher

the

motive

contained

quality

never

religion,

knowing

yield

principle
on

the

character.

and

and

could

not

which

morality

of

Life."

my

error,

"

man

assist

so

understand

to

incapable

unity

and

reason,

elements

of

quality

make

to

excludes

that

God,

profound

the

the

sight

human

it

love

of

quality

Mere

But

blend

must

Fancies.

into
mere

was

morality,
of

life

or

which

tion,
self-contradic-

appeal
the

from

poet.

CHAPTER

XI.

CONCLUSION.

"

Well, I can fancy how he did it all,

Pouring his soul, with kings and popes to see,
Reaching, that heaven
might so replenish him,
and through his art
for it gives way
Above
;
is wrongly put
and there again
That
arm
A fault to pardon in the drawing's lines,
Its body, so to speak : its soul is right,
He
understand."
means
right that, a child may
"

"

"

"

tried

1HAVE
life,

in

of

to

far

so

that

show

Browning's theory

it is

as

expressed

in

his

rests on agnosticism
philosophical
; and that
poems,
such
a
and
theory is inconsistent with the moral
The
idea that truth is
interests of man.
religions
unattainable
was
representedby Browning as a
of the faith, but it proved on examination
bulwark
to

haye
which

His

treacherous.

be
no

better
any

one

foundation

optimism

emotion

severed
*

from

Andrea

to

personal conviction,
deny, and which the

The
poet could in no wise prove.
he appealed,was
heart, to which
an

found

than

free to

was

was

evidence
the

of the

evidence

of

intelligence,
and, theredel Sarto.

ROBERT

344

BROWNING.

"The
content
whatsoever.
fore, without
any
the faith that
not
was
faith," which he professed,

and invites proof,but

anticipates
incapable of proof. In casting

validity of

knowledge,
of

nature
spiritual

of its

does

that

; for

man

blind

objectjsa

he

faith which

doubt

degraded
a

love that

impulse,and

not

know

the

the

upon

the

is

whole

isjgnorant
moral

law, is

sciousness
con-

possibl
im-

an

phantom a self-contradiction.
But, although Browning'sexplicitly
philosophical
theory of life fails,there appears in his earlier
where
his poeticalfreedom
not
was
yet
poems,
trammelled, nor his moral enthusiasm restrained by
the stubborn
difficulties of reflective thought,a far
In
and
richer
view.
this period of pure
truer
less abstract
was
poetry, his conception of man
his inspiration
than in his later works, and
was
direct and full. /The poet'sdialectical ingenmore
uity
tile growth of his reflective
increased
with
tendencies ; but his relation to the great principles
of spiritual
less intimate,
life seemed
to become
and
his expressionof them
more
halting. What
find in his earlier works
we
are
vigorous ethical
convictions, a glowing optimisticfaith, achieving
their
fittingexpression in impassioned poetry ;
"

what

we

find

in

his

later works

are

arguments,

with poeticmetaphors,
richlyadorned
have
lost the completenessand
of
energy
like chapletswhich
His poetic fancies
are
life.)

which, however

crown

his

the
poems

dead.
for

Lovers

of the

poet, who

inspiringexpressionsof

seek

their

in

hope

CONCLUSION.

345

and

faith,will always do well in turning from his

militant metaphysics to his art.
In his case, as in that of
others, spiritual
many
far richer
experiencewas
professed to explain it.

than

the

theory which
The
task
his
of lifting
moral
convictions into the clear light of conscious
The
philosophy was
beyond his power.
theory of
the failure of knowledge, which
he seems
to have
adopted far too easilyfrom the current doctrine of
the schools, was
fundamentally inconsistent with
his generous
belief in the moral
of man
;
progress
and it maimed
the expressionof that belief. The

philosopheris a confession
of complete ignoranceand the helplessasseveration
of a purely dogmatic faith.
of the
The
fundamental
error
poet'sphilosophy
of feelingand
lies, I believe, in that severance
finds expression
which
love and reason,
intelligence,
in La Saisiaz, Ferishtah's Fancies, The Parleyings,

result of his work

be

Such

Asolando.

and

found

Ben
and
these

in

Ezra, A
the Book
works

combination
which

is

an

spiritof

manifestations

is

division

is not

to

Easter-Day, Rabbi
in the Desert, or in The Ring
Death
In
in Fifine at the Fair.
even
; nor
not
are
perplexed by the strange
we
is love, and
whose
of a nature
principle
Christmas-Eve

and

gence
infinite progress, with an intellibest efforts end in ignorance. Rather,
man

is

regarded as

one,

in

all

its

all
on
and, therefore,as progressive

sides of its activity. The

which

absolute

capableof

whose
the

as

brought about

widening of his knowledge,

is
by increasingexperience,

346

ROBERT

parallelwith

BROWNING.

the

deepening and purifyingof his

moral life. In all Browning'sworks, indeed, with the
(loveis conceived
possibleexceptionof Paracelsus,
as
having a place and function of supreme
tance
imporin the development of the soul.
Its divine
obscured
ledge
originand destinyare never
; ]put knowis regarded as merely human, ancL_therefore.
truth.~lIn Easter-Day it is

the

contrasted
with love, and shown
to be
definitely
the deepest wants
of man.
incapableof satisfying
It is,at the best, only a means
to the higher purposes
of moral
marian's
and, except in the Gramactivity,
Funeral, it is nowhere
regarded as in
itself a worthy end.
"

'Tis

one

And

thing

thence

Is to furnish
For

to

that

motive

another

know, and

I conclude

practisingwhat

and
we

to

practise.

the real God-function

injunction
already."

know

Even

here, there is implied that the motive comes

otherwise
than
by knowledge ; still,taking these
earlier poems
that in
a
as
whole, we
may
say
is regarded
them[_knowledge
and

not

in any

as

of it.
ends

he

Man's

seeks

contrasted

motives
ends

are

are

to

means

with

rational

conceived

morality
tive
destruc-

or

and

pt for love
tmas-Eve
e

Ring

and

"

how

"Why
live,
love, unless they know

and

blindly

Easter-Day.
the Book
The Pope, 1327"1328.
"

stituted
con-

even

and not purposes

intelligence,
by instinct and impulse.

as

; the

motives

his

by
followed

sense

as

"

CONCLUSION.
the

asks

Moral

Pope.

apart from,
exhorted

or

to

347
is

progress

secured

not

in

spiteof knowledge. We
reject the verdict of the

illusive,in order

confide

to

in

not

are

latter

faith which

as

not

only fails to receive support from the defective

but maintains
its own
intelligence,
integrityonly
In the
by repudiatingthe testimony of the reason.
distinction between
and love
knowledge as means
as
end, it is easy, indeed, to detect a tendency
to
degrade the former into a mere
temporary
ends
be served.
expedient,whereby moral
may
The
such knowledge as is possible
poet speaks of
"

to

man."

The

he

attitude

and betrays a keen

apologetic,
of
limitation,and particularly
to

infinite.

represent the

Pope

which

towards

it is

consciousness

of its

assumes

In

its utter

inadequacy
the speech of the
regarded otherwise

scarcely be
than as the poet'sown
maturest
the
utterance
on
and
great moral
religiousquestionsraised by the
find this view
we
tragedy of Pompilia's death
vividlyexpressed:
"

can

-"

"

"

Thou

In such

"

as

represented here

conception

as

soul

my

to me

allows,
"

Under

Thy measureless, my atom width !

Man's mind, what is it but a convex
glass
Wherein
all
the
scattered
are
gathered
points
Picked
out of the immensity of sky,
To reunite there, be our
heaven
for earth,
Our known
to man
unknown, our God revealed

God

is
*

"

The

"

His

appreciable in
Ring

and

the Book

"

The

absolute

"

immensity

Pope, 1308-1315.

ROBERT

34$

BROWNING.

solelyby Himself."
is reduced

He

man.

:v."

In

"

while,

and

words,

quoted, the poet shows that

impressed with the distinction
ledge,and that knowledge
the

whole

and

nature

Christmas-Eve
".bsolute

might
profoundly

between
which
of

extent

that

is

he

of

suits man's

others

be

to

little mind

littleness that

to

these

the

by

human

is

adequate
being. And in

repudiateswith a touch of scorn,

is supposed to identify
idealism, which
he

altogetherhuman

The

"

important

he, the sage and

,:.iing,
Was

also

the

with

one

reason

critic for not

the German

he commends

divine

with

reason

and

making

stumble

humble,
*

Creator."

Browning, unless we except Paracelsus,

is there any
sign of an inclination to treat man's
knowledge in the same
spiritas he deals with
man's
love
from
namely, as a direct emanation
Nowhere

in

"

the

inmost

completes
the

and

and

to

as

give to

of character

in

in
grows
which
love

iuced
from
detect

to

divine
life

element

earth.

on

that
On

persistenttendenc
higherin nature than reason.
power
it a supreme
place in the formation
as

he

strength.
is made

nescience

the
principles,
even

man's

shows

and,

God,

crowns

he

contrary,
I love

of

nature

in

his
*

ency
older, that tendgrows
The
philosophical
poems,

all in
follow

influence
earlier

all, and

knowledge
by logicalevolution
of

works.

Ckristm*s-Eve.

which

we

Still, in

can

the

ROBERT

350

In infinite
From

whom

Proceeds."

believe

BROWNING.
ways
all

everlasting bliss,

one

"

all power

being emanates,

possible,
by the help of the
intuitions of Browning's highestartistic period,to
of his broken
bring together again the elements
faith, and to find in them
suggestions of a truer
philosophy of life than anything which the poet
himself achieved.
Perhaps, indeed, it is not easy,
utterances
nor
fair,to press the passionate
altogether
of his religious
physics,
rapture into the service of metaand
the unmeasured
to treat
language of
emotion
the expressionof a definite doctrine.
as
I

that

it is

Nevertheless, rather than

faith,which

the

assaults

his

of doubt

set forth

defence

new

agnosticismleft exposed to

and

denial, it is better

to

of
the

make

Browning correct his own errors, and to appealfrom

the metaphysicianto the poet, from the sobrietyof
of poetry.
the logical
understandingto the inspiration
I have alreadyindicated what
to me
to be
seems
the defective element
in the poet'sphilosophy of
of relife. His theory of knowledge is in need
vision
;

be
man

of
so

what

he asserts

of human

love, should

As
reason.
appliedpoint by point to human
is ideallyunited with the absolute on the side
moral
emotion
(ifthe phrase may be pardoned),
he is ideallyunited
the
with
the absolute
on

side
nature
so

and

of the

intellect. As

between

there

is

no

God's

there

is

goodness and

difference of nature
*

Paracelsus.

no

difference of

man's

goodness,

between

God's

CONCLUSION.
truth

man's

and

truth.

righteousnessor
of truth.

hatchet,"
a

each

other

is not

be

cannot

in nature

kinds

two

in two

the

infinite.

linked

to

an

if it were,

impulse or
religiondemand

moralityand
of a perfectideal,which
but

mixture,

blind

cut

of

with

poet impliesthat it is. There is in

and a higherelement, ever
at war
with

of the finite and

either

"

kinds

two

not

are

is not

nature

; still he

in nature

there

not

are

the

as

lower

man,

There

mercy

Human

351

the

love

erring

an

the

is at

agglomerate,
A love perfect
perfect
imintelligence

war

or

would

be
Both

one.

in man
presence
with his imperfections

ideal is

only to a being
possible,
with
endowed
a
capacity for knowing the truth.
In degradinghuman
knowledge,the poet is disloyal
of the Christian
faith
to the fundamental
principle
which he professed that God can and does manifest
;

an

"

himself in

other

the

On
of

man.

All -perfect,
as

nor

Man's

knowledge
is neither

we

can

the

of the

moral

do

so

to

moral

implying, on

identification

absolute

not

are

we

God, of man's

with

man

hand,

on

life and

take

the

ideal

with

moral

side

the

side,

finite with
the

unity

the
of

an

finite
in-

ledge.
know-

rational

activityin
of the highest. But man
is not
the original
; he

the process
last
first,nor

are

he

of his love, any

of his reason
than
more
;
of the whole to which
is not the divine principle

he

belongs, although he

author

Both

is

sides of his

in harmony
potentially
being are equallytouched

with

it.

with

imperfection his love, no

"

less than

his

reason.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

352

wisdom, as perimply perfectfect

wisdom, perfectlove. But absolute terms are
is ever
the way
who
to
not
on
applicableto man,
manifestingthe
goodness and truth, progressively
Perfect: love

of the

power
very

would

life is conflict and

"

Ah, but

what's

Or

Placid

dwells

ideal that

and

man's
a

whose

in him, and

acquirement.

reach

heaven

All is

for ?

perfect with

art

my

his grasp,

exceed

should

silver-grey
the worse."

prominent in
Hardly any conceptionis more
Browning'swritingsthan this,""f endless progress
towards an infinite ideal ; although he occasionally
manifests

desire to have

"

the

means
By
And, through earth

When

Why,

grown
of labour

uses

remaineth

And

I have

It is the
outlook

and

the child

sense

towards

life in unlimited

early poetry.
this lower

had

the

of

uses

Andrea

has

same

is heaven's
the test

stood
the

burn

you

surely done,
people of God,
troubles enough, for one." f

onward

"

series,"which

is

the
The

"

conceives

the

movement,

course,

He

"

for the

immortal

an

serene,

rod,

are

of endless

del Sarto.

seen

is best,

Good

after
the life,
his

in
inspiring

so

that

earth, just to learn

achievements.
*

soul has

its noise, what

man,

rest

lesson and
"

that

faith in the

our

The
There

When

of Evil

effort.

with

done

are

we

here,

form, the

one

on

mentary
ele-

alphabet of goodness,namely,
flesh

"

in

other

separationof

the

t Old Pictures

lives, other
soul from
in Florence.

its

CONCLUSION.
instrument

has

for it does

not

"No

The

little significance
to the poet ;
arrest the course
of moral development.
very

work

begun shall

spiritpursues
brave

which

353

ever

its lone

and

pause

other

on

way,

but

new,"

for death."

ever

"

towards

tures
advena

good

is;complete.
lives yet,
Delayed it may be for more
worlds
I
shall
Through
traverse, not a few
Much
is to learn,much
to forget
for taking you." *
Ere the time be come

."

Still the time

will

when

come

the

shall be satisfied ; for the need

was

awakened
created

need

in order

to be satisfied.
"

I hold

where

To

Unless

well

as

lover of
the

on

is thus

other

in every

movement

form

he

has

travelled

on

of

in

in knowledge,

good. The
imagination

earth and

after,

"

"

I have

(I shall say) so much since then,

times,
up myself so many

lived

Given
Gained

me

Ransacked

gains of various men,

the ages, spoiled the climes." J

the

In these earlier poems,

*

eye

Evelyn Hope, looking back

course

exclaims

thine

ear

seven-stringed instrument,
thee to beseech
me
play ?
f

onward
as

that

"

I meant

movement

for thee

direct

for music, and

Hungry

The

did I contrive

Wherefore

Evelyn Hope.

there is not,

f Two

Camels.
12

as

in the

later

% Evelyn Hope.

BROWNING.

ROBERT

354

maimed,

ones,

or

one-sided,evolution

towards

perfectlove

towards

an

illusive ideal

Knowledge,
"

settle

of the

progress

heart, and

the side of the intellect.

on

Hoti's business,

gave

side

its value, and

too, has

he who

lived to

Oun," and
the doctrine of the enclitic De," was,

"

who

the

on

"

us

properly based

to the poet,
"

Still loftier than

Living
"

Here's

and

the

Live, for
This

Here

suspects,

top-peak ; the multitude

they can, there :

this

Bury

world

dying.

decided

man

the

there

man

Live

to

human

but
as

"

Know

"

his

shoot, clouds

meteors

form,

effort goes to waste, no giftis delusive ;

giftand every effort has its proper place

every

stage in the

but

place, where
Lightnings are loosened,
Stars come
and go." *

No

here's

not

below

endless

process.

The

soul

bears

shall

live

in it all its conquests.

"

There
The
What

shall

never

before

more

good

What

was,

the

null, is nought, is silence implying sound ;

good, shall be good, with, for evil, so much

as

good

earth

round."

The

lost

one

evil is
was

On

be

the

broken

arcs

in

the

heaven,

perfect

f
"

of knowledge, like every

apparent failure
a
apparent failure,is
triumph'sevidence for the
"

"

fulness of the
*

days."

Grammarian's

The

Funeral.

doubts

that

knowledge

t Abt

Vogler.

CONCLUSION.

555

brings,instead of implyinga defective intelligence

doomed
to
spend itself on phantom phenomena,
the truth.
He
bids us
sting to progress towards
the pang ; dare, never
Learn, nor account
grudge
"

the

throe."
"

Rather

prize the doubt

Low
kinds exist without,
and finite clods, untroubled
Finished
I

the

of

time, their's

For

our

wider

ours,

"

for

nature

It seethes

They
We

are

the

with

perfect
"

how

faulty why

are

"

for

morrow

us

and

more.

They shall

else ?
not

eternity.

To-day's brief passion limits their range

"

character,

stature

Are

Preciselybecause

of further achievement.

promise

they perfect of lineament, perfect of

In both, of such lower types are we

"

spark."

in art, like defects in

defects
Similarly,
contain

by

We

have

never

time

change
in store."

a
scepticalphilosophy
period when
like a blight,and destroyed the bloom
down
came
of his art and faith,he thus recognizedthat growing
of growing
essential condition
an
knowledge was
goodness. Pompilia shone with a glory that mere
knowledge could not give (ifthere were such a thing

Prior

as

the

to

knowledge).

mere

"

see

That
The

Rabbi

in the world

Everywhere

the intellect

of

his subtle

sword, the energy

knowledge which defends
Ben

Ezra.

f Old

him

man,

spear,
like a shield

Pictures

"

in Florence.

Everywhere

But

BROWNING.

ROBERT

356
The

marvel

She

holds

but

of

make

they

to the softened

up

yet she recognizedwith

sustained

she had
"

saints must

The

bear

with

think,

gaze

of God."

patientpain
knowledge.

of

for want

up,

thine, earth's flower

soul like

not

me,

loss

impute the fault

by ignorance,

bud, so starved
Stinted of warmth, it will not blow this year
Nor recognize the orb which
Spring-flowers know."
To

soul i' the

the

in the

the poet shows

Pope's soliloquy,
that, at that time, he fullyrecognizedthe risk of
the
to
entrustingthe spiritualinterests of man
of elevated
enthusiasm
feeling,or to the mere

Further

on

of

intuitions

noble

sometimes

guide
Caponsacchi:

heart.

Since

the

other

hand, such
of

by knowledge
steadfast to the laws

conviction,lead
a

case

foot."

impulses,not
truth, and

the

man

is

no

impulses might

And
*

if his heart
mar

The

f The

J The

the

Ring
Ring
Ring

struct
in-

made

higherlife by a reasoned
rightlyonly by accident. In
guarantee
lead

to

of

other

of life.
But

of the

there

career

; other

"

of

allow

danced,
gaiety of heart, i' the main
bade him
we
right step through the maze

on

such

ourselves

in the

in

has

He
The

But,

intuitions will

happily,as

man

"

Such

had

measure

prompted
Why,

and

the Book

and

the Book

and

the Book

The

"

to break
we

must

Pope,

loose

submit,
1013-1019.

Pompilia, 1515-1518.

"

"

The

Pope, 1915^1917.

stancy
con-

ways

ROBERT

358
This

BROWNING.
in its moral

which, both

poem

artistic worth, marks

the

while
poeticinsight,

he is not

tide of

high

yet

as

and

Browning's

concerned

with

of any

defence

the

wisdom

theory or the discussion of any

abstract
contrasts
stronglywith the later
question,
where
knowledge is dissemblingignorance,
poems,
faith is blind trust, and love is a mere
impulse of
the heart.
Having failed to meet the difficulties
the poet turned
of reflection,
the intellect.
upon
to
him
an
offence, and to
Knowledge becomes
his faith he plucked out
his right eye and
save
entered into the kingdom maimed.
In Rabbi Ben\
the ascent
into another
life is triumphant, I
Ezra
like that of a conqueror
bearingwith him the spoilsV
of earth ; but in the later poems
he escapes with a C
and the loss of all his rich possessions
bare belief,
of \
knowledge, like a shipwreckedmariner whose goods \
have

been

thrown

overboard.

that

there
the

is another

poet,

as

I
philosophy^jvas

his faith.

^treacherous allyto
But

His

consideration

which

artist, recognizedthe

shows
need

of

than seems
to be
a largerfunction
givingto reason
accordingto the theory in his later works.
possible
there is no hint of the doctrine
In the earlypoems
that demonstrative
knowledge of the good, and of
the necessityof its law, would
destroy freedom.
On the contrary,there are suggestions
which point
to the opposite
ledge
doctrine, accordingto which knowis the condition

While
as

an

of freedom.

in his later poems

the poet speaks of love
to
impulse either blind or bound
erring
"

CONCLUSION.

knowledge

and

"

his earlier
work

he

ones

his

out

of the

359

heart
to

seems

made

as

treat

to

man

love, in
free to

as

and act out

his own
purposes,
here finds himself able to maintain

own

ideals.

Browning
the dependence
destroyingmorality.

of

man

God

upon

without

He

regards man's
impulses
blind
not
as
instincts,but as fallingwithin his
rational nature, and
the forms
of its
constituting
activity. He recognizesthe distinction between
a
of a tendency to act,
mere
impulse,in the sense
which
is directed by a foreign
power, and an impulse
informed, that is,directed by reason.
Accordingto
this view, it is reason
which
at once
gives man
the independence of foreign authority,
which
is
implied in morality,and constitutes that affinity
is impliedby religion.
between
and God, which
man
No doubt, the impulse to know, like the impulse to
is a gift,
nature
: his whole
love, was
put into man
pendent
and
he is therefore,in this sense,
completely deGod's
God
all, man's
nought."
upon
"

"

But,

the

on

hand,

other

it is

rational

nature

put into him, and not an irrational

impulse. Or, rather, the impulse that constitutes
is the
his life as
self-evolvingactivity of
man,
which

has

been

reason.
"

Who
Man's

However

the

be, whether

of man,
elements

speaks
very

then,

of

by emanation

brings freedom
*

with

or

man

has

to

come

creation, it

it,and

Christmas-Eve.

sever

man."

from

rational nature

not

must

sarily
neces-

all its risks and

ROBERT

360

It is
possibilities.

BROWNING.
of the

find its law

that it should

"

of

very essence
within itself.

reason

God's

all,man's nought :
But also, God, whose
pleasure brought
into being, stands away
Man
As it were
a hand-breadth
off,to give
for the newly-made
to live,
Room
And
look at Him
from a place apart,
his
of
And
use
gifts brain and heart,
Given, indeed, but to keep for ever." *

the absolute
Thus, while insisting
on
priorityof
of man
God, and the originalreceptivity
; while
that love,reason,
and every inner power
recognizing
and outer opportunity are lent to man,
Browning
does not forgetwhat
these powers
Man
are.
can
only act as man
; he must
obey his nature, as the
stock or stone
But to
or
plant obeys its nature.
is to act freely,
and man's nature
act as man
is not
that of
but

dead
a

stock

or

be rational.
is

matter

He

stone.

Hence

he

is rational,and
can

ruled,by natural

bird, the life of innocent

neither
law

impulseor

be
nor

cannot

ruled,as
live,like

instinct.

"

He

the table land

placed,from the very first,on
life upsprings aspiringto be immortality/'
whence
He is a spirit,responsible
because
he is free,and

is

"

free because
"

Man,

he is rational.

therefore,stands

Of love

and

And, looks
Of the rock

power
to

God

from

Christmas-Eve.

as

who
His

on
a

his

own

stock

pin-point rock,
ordained

boundless

divorce

continent."

f Ibid.

CONCLUSION.
The

divorce

is real,

possibleonly in
constitutes

his

so
own

free himself

to

man

although ordained, but it is

far as man,
of reason,
by means
ends of action.
notImpulse can-

it about.

bring

361

It

is

from

the

and

by reconcilinginner
Thus
And

also

it

is

to

outer

is the

reason

the

enables

despoticauthorityof

law, to relate himself

outer

that

reason

an

inner

to

attain

law, and

goodness.
of all morality.
for it
religion,

source

principleof

to

fullest manifestation

impliesthe highestand

of the

absolute.

Although the first aspect of self-consciousness is

its independence,which
is,in turn, the first condition
of morality,still this is only the first aspect.
his own
The
rational being plants himself
on
stands
aloof and alone in the rights
individuality,
of his freedom, in order

that he

out

from

of

knowledge
in which
he is placed.
and
action, of the world
is potentially
Reason
absolute, capable of finding
is
honouritself everywhere. So that in it man
clothed and glory-crowned."

thence

to

take

by
possession,

set

may

means

"

"

This

is the honour,

that

"

conceive, but I can

Somehow,
by use of hand,

Feel

Man,
and

or

by his knowledge,
hostilityof the world

discovers
between

that
it and
*

there

thing

no

make
or

own

my

head,

overcomes

is not

I know,

without

or

the

him,

resistance
or

but
hostility,

himself.
Prince

heart."

Hohenstiel-Schwangau.

rather,

affinity

BROWNING.

ROBERT

362

glory," that in all conceived,

I recognize a mind
Or felt or known,
for the double
Not mine but like mine,
joy,
*
for
Him."
for
and
all
me
me
things
Making
is the

"This

"

"

well

as

is finite is hemmed

which

That

determined

as

limit

to

alien

it.

foreign to

or

other.

each
above

and

far

so

finite.

the

His

on

In

It

image

own

"

To

Able, His
But
a

create

Man

of his

glorifyHim

prayed

"

Rejoice
And

Who

we

never

do,

within

unaware

himself, be the

passiveor

source

receptive,but

allied

are

doth

spark disturbs

Nearer

him

praised,
aught but praise or prayer,
a thing of course."
f

provide
partake, effect and

not

leave

effective.

which

That

To

we

man

too,

could

activity,not

outgoingand

then

all

or

perfect as

own

make

plan to

saith, to grieve Him,

machine

find his law

must

and

man

word

Of its fitness for

Made

God's

was

tude,
infini-

absoluteness, imply
is free, he is lifted

man

as

and

"

to

mere

That

thing
nothing finally

own

able

As

other

no

is

things,

infinite is

the

Freedom

reason.

self-determination

it

There

other

by

but

for

exists

determine

or

them

by

There

all-inclusive.

in

hold

clod

receive

of God

gives, than
*

our

not

of His

Prince

t Christmas-Eve.

tribes that

take, I

must

believe."

Hohenstiel-Schioangau.
J Rabbi

Ben

Ezra.

CONCLUSION.
This

363

between
the
affinity
is just what
Browning seems
later poems,
when
he speaks as
order
to

divine

near

maintain

to

stint its

its

giftsand
In

reason.

there

own

the

human

repudiate in his
if the absolute, in

to

supremacy

endow

and

over

man,

had

him

fective
only with a deperiod of the poet

earlier

is far less

that the
timidity. He then saw
greater the gift,the greater the Giver ; that only
God
is glorified
in
spiritcan reveal spirit
; that
man," and that love is at its fullest only when it
gives itself.
In insisting
such identityof the human
on
spirit
"

with

the

divine, our

poet does

the risk of

any time run

absoidentityis not lute.
not

at

forgettingthat the
Absolute
identitywould be pantheism, which
God
leaves
lonely and loveless, and extinguishes
his morality.
as well as
man,
"

is not

Man

Master

Somewhat

Man,

at

obey,

to

cast

course

as

term

God's
to

end

to serve,

take,

off, somewhat

to

towards

best, only moves

conceived
is the

hath

God, but
to

become."

his ideal

God

is

ideal.
God, in short,
ever-existing
is
for us the Being who
which
signifies

eternallyall

the

in all, and

who,

therefore, is hidden

only moving towards perfection,

glory.
of the brightnessof His own
in the excess
the grandeur
Nevertheless, as Browning recognizes,
And
is justHis outflowinglove.
of God's perfection
that love is never
complete in its manifestation, till
from

us

who

are

Death

in the Desert.

it has

given

in nature

one

BROWNING.

ROBERT

364

itself. Man's
with

that

life,as

of the

is
spirit,

absolute.

But

thus
the

is only potenunity is not complete,because man

tially
perfect. He is the process of the ideal ; his
life is the divine activitywithin him.
Still,it is
also man's
activity.For the process, being the
of spirit,
is a free process
in which
one
process
himself
man
that, in doing God's
energizes
; so
will,he is doing his own
highestwill,and, in obeying
the law of his own
deepest nature, he is obeying
The
God.
within
unity of divine and human
life of man
is a real unity,justbecause
the spiritual
is free ; the identitymanifests itself through
man
and the difference is possible
the difference,
through
the unity.
is moral,
Thus, in the light of an ideal which
ideal graduallyrealizing
and therefore perfect an
"

"

itself in

is endless

which
process
maintain
at once
a

"

the

poet is

the

community between
is necessary
and
and God, which
to religion,
man
is necessary
to morality.
their independence,which
The
as
giving,which is the
conception of God
and of man
akin
main doctrine of Christianity,
as
with God, is appliedby him to the whole
spiritual
and
of man,
not
nature
merely to his emotion.
able

to

process of evolution is thus

truth, as well as goodness; in
The

truth
is
not

be

known

process

towards

fact,goodness and

inseparable.Knowledge, too,
What
is
endowment.
Divine
a
gift of man
What
from God
descended ?
giftof God can
deceptive?
are

as

"

"

ROBERT

366

BROWNING.
of the

It is this movement

aspirationtowards
goodness which can
that

constitutes

"

could

this

knowledge and perfect

be completely attained,

never

man.

not, what

What

he considers

Come

but

Getting

in man,

the full

Man, therefore,thus
He

absolute

conditioned,
he knows

that

to-morrow,
of

increase

he

know

now,

knows

he will

must

expect
first

at

to-day,

find mis-known
since

he learns

knowledge,
lives,which is to be a man,
Set to instruct himself
by his past self :
First,like the brute, obliged by facts to learn,
Next, as man
obliged by his own
mind,
may,
turned
to law.
Bent, habit, nature, knowledge
God's gift was
that man
shall conceive
of truth
And
to gain it,catching at mistake,
yearn
*
As midway help till he reach fact indeed
?
Because

he

"

"

mark

fact

"

man's distinctive
says, is
The endlessness
of the progress, the
alone."
mistruth known
that every
to-day seems

Progress,"the poet

known

only pointsto

achieved
ideal once
every
and becomes
itself a stepping

that

to-morrow,

another

stone, does
to him.

not, as in his later days, bring despair

For the consciousness
of failure is possible

morality, only because there

fuller light. Browning does
has come
a
not, as
in
yet, dwell exclusivelyon the negative element
progress, or forgetthat it is possibleonly through
does not think that, because
a deeper positive. He
backs on what
have gained,we
turn
are
we
our
we
therefore
not
going forward ; nay, he asserts the
in

knowledge, as

in

Death

in the Desert.

CONCLUSION.

contrary. Failure,even

triumph'sevidence

the failure of

in these earlier

failure,the unchecked
is therefore
"

367

knowledge,is
days ; and complete

rule of evil in any

impossible.We

form,

deny

Recognized

truths, obedient to some

truth
Unrecognized yet, but perceptible,
Correct the portrait by the living face,
Man's
God, by God's God in the mind
of man."
"

Thus

the

poet

God

in

the

mind

and

the

end

of

God's

which

of

and

is man's

free

whereby the
process
to itself. (JThe process,

life and

ideal, which

is

conception of
the beginning

is the self-conscious worker

man

will, the

the

to

God

man.

is first,returns

growth,
the

returns

ever

and

being;

is eternal

and

last
the

it falls within

all in

all.

The

spirituallife of man, which is both intellectual and

moral, is a dying into the eternal, not to cease
to
be in it, but to live in it more
fully; for spirits
)He dies to the temporal
necessarilycommune.
interests and

ends

narrow

of the

exclusive

self,and

ever-expandinglife in the life of others,

and more
that spiritual
principle
manifesting more
lives

an

life of

is the

which
all

things.

with

whom

"

we

God
are

God, who

is

in

lives and

being in whom
principleone ;

loves
we

with

in

exist ;
whom

that
spiritis identical, in the sense
the human
He
is all which
spiritis capable of
becoming." f
From
this point of view, and in so far as Browning
the

human

The Pope, 1871-1874.

Ring and the Book"
to
Ethics, p. 198.
| Green's Prolegomena

The

368
is

divine

the

He
for

conceptionof

the

loyalto

in

BROWNING.

ROBERT

and

he

human,

the

is able

maintain

to

his faith

spite of knowledge, but through

of knowledge within
him.
movement
very
in his later works, to look
is not obliged,
as
proofs,either in nature, or elsewhere ; nor to

God,

in

not

of love
argue from the emotion
of that emotion.
He
needs no
to

of the

community

arrive

God

at

; for the very

in man,

to

cause

syllogistic
process
of his own
activity

which thinks and

the reason
as
as intelligence,
spirit
of God within him.
acts, is the activity
Scepticism
for the very act of doubting is the
is impossible,
ledge
activityof reason, and a professionof the knowof the truth.
Put

The

dreadful

such

no

Within

whose

question to myself,

circle of experience burns

truth, Power, Wisdom, Goodness,

outlive a thing ere know
it dead :

central

I must
When

I outlive

When

the faith there

is

And

He

died

this view
also

Beneath

"

in dark

whence

of God

forecloses

moral

never

is necessary

arose.'

"

in man's

of
possibility
of which
possibility

life,lies the
for

heap,

all

working through contradiction

Failure

morn

immanent

as

the failure,the
in

sun,

lie,ashes to the very soul,

Someone, not I, must wail above the

'

God

"

man,

divine

to its

own

because

perience
ex-

failure.
volved
is in-

element,
fulfilment.

he

grows :
failure is not final.

the
but, for the same
reason,
Thus, the poet, instead of denying the evidence of
his intellect as to the existence of evil,or casting
*

The

Ring and

the Book

"

The

Pope, 1631-1639.

CONCLUSION.
doubt

the

on

369

distinction between

reducing the chequered course

into
a
phantasmagoria of mere
can
regard the conflict

or

right and

wrong,

of human

history

mental

evil

and

real

as

He

earnest.

face, recognizeits stubborn

and

between
look

can

resistance

appearances,
good and

evil in the
the

to

good,

still

regard the victory of the latter as sure

and
complete. He has not to reduce it into a
in order to give it
phantom, or mere
appearance,
the divine order.
He sees
the night,
a place within
he also sees
but
the day succeed
falls
it. Man
into

sin, but
his

to

with

he

cannot

he

undertook

satisfied.

is

is God's

is not

could

within

Mephisperform,

declare

Faust
the

will

see

self
him-

kingdom
whose

last

"

"

'

'

The
What
The

soft streaks
but

are

the

in

the weakness

incentive

to

humanity,

How
And

can

that

man

which

love
men

what

think

"

dear.

faith supplies
no

Absolute, irresistible,comports
but

and

beautiful

strength
?

yearns to help ?
within
weakness
strength,
he

of

obscured,

day succeed the deepest night

?
I speak but as I know
How
speech
can
my
It will end :
Must
be, throughout the darkness.
Clouds
!
obscure
The light that did burn, will burn
obscuration
all were
But
for which
bright ?
Too
suffused,
hastily concluded ! Sun"
blind by blaze,"
soothe the eye made
A cloud may
:
Better the very clarity of heaven
While

"

it.

satisfythe spiritof man,

goodness,whose nature, however
giftof Himself.

evil what
law

There

content himself
he

make

to

It is contradictory

through
than

more

it.

cannot

is driven

topheles promised
when

he

nature,
he

it, and

in

rest

BROWNING.

ROBERT

370

But
What

it

were

But

repetition

The

divine

That

No,

The

never

I
"

Ring

else

and

the

but

of

ends

and

miss

footing

THE

stronger
made

things

first

yet
new,

self-sacrifice

of

the

and

miracle,

the

light

have

strength

for

instance

never

So,

know

angels

nor

aye

begins
in

the

fear

Book"

The

END.

the

for

man

at

all."

maze,

dark

Pope,

1640-1660.

"

1798

ESTABLISHED

NELSON

T.

SONS

AND

PRINTERS

PUBLISHERS

AND

ALREADY
THE

GREAT

ISSUED.

ANDES

THE

OF

EQUATOR.

Edward
This is Mr.

Whymper's second

Whymper.

great travel

book, the
continuation to
Scrambles Amongst the Alps." He
of the great volcanoes of Ecuador, and
the pioneer
was
"

The

of Chimborazo

the first ascents

made

book

Cotopaxi.

and

is fully
illustrated.

EIGHTEENTH

CENTURY

VIGNETTES.
Dobson.

Austin

in his poetry has long made

the
eighteenth
province.No English
century his special
writer has more
itsdelicateevasive
completely
recaptured
Mr.

Austin

Dobson

In his

"

"

Eighteenth
CenturyVignetteshe gives
us
century characters and
prose studies of eighteenth
than his poetry.
scenes, and his prose is no less engaging
grace.

THE

EARLY

LIFE

OF

CHARLES

JAMES FOX.
Sir GeorgeO. Trevelyan.

George O. Trevelyanin this work, and in the

Revolution,"
subsequentvolumes of his "American
has written the political
historyof England around
the life of his hero.
It is not onlya brilliantstudyof
character and politics,
of the inner life
but a picture
of the later eighteenth
century. Like his uncle,Lord
the master
Macaulay,Sir George Trevelyanis so fully
of his subject
that he can
giveit the picturesqueness
of a modern
chronicle seen
and vivacity
by an eyewitness.
In his hands scientific history
is invested
Sir

with all the charm

LONDON
Mr.

of

POLICE
Thomas

Holmes

romance.

COURTS.
is well known

Thomas
as

one

Holmes.
of the chief

life. In the presentvolume he gives

prison
his experiences
court missionary.
as
a police

authoritieson

TV

BOOK

ABOUT

Dean

Hole

but his

THE

GARDEN.

famous
chiefly

was

as

garden interests were

Dean

expert

an

confined

not

rose

to

Hole.

grower
partmen
deone

in the present volume

he gossips
wisely
about
all the thousand
and
entertainingly
one
and

and

thingswhich
SIR

within the limits of

come

FRANK

garden.

LOCKWOOD.

AugustineBirrell,
K.C.,M.P.
Sir Frank

Lockwood,

Gladstone's
loved
a

last

who

class

of the

and
politics

law and

best-

carried
wherever

Like Lord
true

"

one

bluff Yorkshireman

The

breath of fresh air into

he moved.

Solicitor-Generalin Mr.

was
administration,

of his time.

men

was

Bowen, he was one of that rare

will long
legalhumorist,and his sayings

The book iswritten

as a tradition of the Bar.
preserved
and is illustratedby several
by Mr. AugustineBirrell,
and caricatures from Sir Frank's pen.
cartoons
delightful
be

(Lord Brampton).

HAWKINS
The

late Lord

the

Bench

the Bar
from

Brampton

the most

was

on
figure
original

duringthe last twenty years,

was
employed in nearlyevery

he

the

HENRY

SIR

OF

REMINISCENCES

THE

Tichborne

downwards.

Case

and

while at

notable
In

case,

popular

enjoyeda fame which

cences,"
Reminisno
lawyer has probablyever equalled.His
is a
brother lawyer,
edited by a distinguished
record of a great legalcareer, and a mine of
fascinating
good stories and good sayings.
estimation

"Henry

Hawkins"

"

MEXICO
The

AS
future

problems of
which
is the best

IT.
SAW
is
of Mexico
I

one

statecraft. Mrs.

Mrs. Alec Tweedie.

of the chief modern
Tweedie's

she has revised and

pictureof
existing

varied interests.

rative,
vigorousnarbrought up to date,

modern

Mexico

and

its

MODERN
This

UTOPIA.

is Mr.

Wells's

H.
dream

of

G. Wells.

ideal future when

an

shall have been reconstructed on

of
society
principles
and good sense.
The book is a brilliantfantasy,
justice
full of stimulating
and original
thought.

THE

RING

AND

THE

BOOK.

Robert

Browning.

are
publishers
glad to be able to add to their
Librarythe greatestof modern epics."The Ring and
is not only Browning's
the Book
greatestpoem, but it
is probably
the finest poetical
achievement of the nineteenth

The

"

drama

has his

there is

case, and

own

pointof
intelligible.
a

every actor in a human

that even
with the vilest

view from

FROM

POT-POURRI

how

It shows

century.

which

their actions

GARDEN.

SURREY

Mrs.
Mrs.

Earle's

become

from
"Pot-pourri

the chief

with

shrewd

and

THE

need

such
precisely

GOLDEN

The
and

art

Grahame
has
"

grown-ups,

had
Golden

no

of life are

touched

of advice and

manual

of thousands

the hands

Kenneth

AGE.

Mr. Kenneth

life which

This new
kindlywisdom.
corrected by the author,will,
it

and

which has been

edition,
is hoped,bringthe book into
who

Earle.

SurreyGarden" has
classic in.modern
garden literature.
and most
thingsbesides gardening,

It deals with many

branches of the conduct
upon

are

has

Age

"

"

land."
Alice in Wonder-

is a book

since it is the work

Grahame.

classic of child-

produceda

rivals since

tainment.
enter-

of

both for children

a

cultivated and

deep
mind, reflecting
original
upon the past,and seeing
into the tangled
of childhood.
philosophies
VT

CONFIDENCES.

MY

The

late Mr.

the
Locker-Lampson,

was
Lyrics,"

and

verse

Frederick

Locker-Lampson.
author of

of the best modern

one

"

London

writers of

light
"his day.

of the foremost connoisseurs of

one

this book

In

he tells the story of his life. It is full

of the best kind of talk and delightful
confessions as
to

his

THE

in art, literature,
and
preferences

GREAT
This

BOER

is by far the

WAR.

African War, and

have

been

volume

THE

LIFE

the

Conan

A.

is the

Mr. Herbert Paul's

"

only single

war.

GLADSTONE.

OF

Doyle.

itsfairnessand accuracy

questioned. It

of
history

nature.

account
popularand picturesque

most

of the South
never

human

H.

Paul.

W.

"

Life of

pladstoneappeared before

Morley'slarger Life,"and is stillby far the best

short biography
The book is not only
of this statesman.
but from itscharm of styleis an admirable
good history,
pieceof literary
portraiture.
"

Mr.

LIFE

OF

R. E. Prothero.

STANLEY.

DEAN

Stanleyexercised an
in modern
astical
ecclesiinfluence which is without parallel
with Queen Victoria and
history.His friendship
Dean

As

with all the great men

a

of the Victorian

epitomeof

wonderful

the

of
history

era

makes

his life

his times.,

AugustineBirrell.
littlebooks in which Mr. Birrell has published
Essays have been cherished by all lovers of good
ESSAYS.

SELECTED
The

his

Dean

of Westminster

"

"

literature. The

present volume

half

been

approved by Mr.
as an
anthologyof

taken

dozen

of his books.

from

consists of
The

selection has

Birrell himself,and
his best work.
VII

selection

may

be

are

lovers of

of oratory,all
well as the myriads

WALTER
Edited

this selection from his best work.

SCOTT.

by

Horace

Mrs.

have

get

exhausted

will be

Hughesof Uffington.

of Scott's

Lockhart

and

in its

welcomed

of Sir Walter.

much

too

SIR

G. Hutchinson.

book
delightful
edition by all lovers
can

OF

RECOLLECTIONS

This

reader

art

as
Englishstyle,
in Mr. Spurgeon'steaching,
inspiration

AND

LETTERS

LL.D.
Nicoll,

Robertson

pure

welcome

should

SPURGEON.

H.

interested in the fine

found

who

C.

by Sir W.

Selectedand Edited
All who

REV.

THE

BY

SERMONS

the

No

cheap
right-minded

and those who

life,
"Journal"will find

here further entertainment.

Matthew
he

notable prose work, in which

tion.
his philosophyof conduct and educa-

Arnold's

expounds

Arnold.

Matthew

ANARCHY.

AND

CULTURE

most

It contains his famous

division of the

English

and
"The
people into "Barbarians,""Philistines,"
and
Populace,"and that gospel of self-development
culture which is chiefly
associated with his name.

LORD

RUSSELL

OF

Sir Charles Russell

was

KILLOWEN.

R. B. O'Brien.

the greatestof modern

advocates

after Sir

the
Henry Hawkins, and he was certainly
He
most
impressive
figureon the modern Bench.
his work in
as
playeda great part also in political
life,
connection
The

with the Parnell Commission

book

bore witness.

givesus a wonderful pictureof a massive

and passionate.
personality,
fearless,
just,subtle,
VIII

IN

G. W.

This is
the most

after "With
probably,

to

some

months

Khartum,"
He

spent

the
traversing

on
searchlight

that

to

brilliantof the late Mr. Steevens'sbooks.

India when
Lord Curzon went
out, and

went

life.

Kitchener

Steevens.

the

peninsulaand turninghis
conditions of native and
European

Those
no

familiar with the

country have declared
other book is so accurate, and one
critic has

said that the reader

almost

can

smell the East

in Mr.

Steevens's pages.

THE

ENGLISH
It

CONSTITUTION.

W.

Bagehot.

that constitutional questions

now
desirable,
much
in the air,
are
so
to republish
the most
famous of
British constitutional manuals.
Since Bagehot wrote in
1872 there have been some
tional
changesin our constitubut nothinghas materially
position,
affected the
argument of his book.
Bagehot was an observer of
extraordinary
acuteness, and as a writer he had a
of style
which makes
his treatment
crystal
limpidity
of
arid subjectsnot
only perfectlyclear but highly
interesting.

THE

seems

ALPS

FROM

END

TO

END.

Sir William

Martin

Con way.

of the Alps from

This story of the completetraverse
the Maritime Alps to the Tyrol is a delightful
holiday

book, and the best introduction

that could

be found

to

the scenery of the " Playgroundof Europe." Sir Martin

Conway is not onlya famous travellerand mountaineer,
but
more

and no
one
can
writer,
the charms of a landscape
and
vividly
of the different mountain
regions.

an

admirable

TX

reproduce
the atmosphere

RULES

BLACK

WHERE

WHITE.
H. Hesketh

In this book

Prichard

Hesketh

Mr.

tells of

Prichard.
a

visit to

that little-known country,the Republicof Hayti. He

methods
of the government
describes the extraordinary
and the curious social conditions in a land " where black
rules white." It is a

and original
travel book,
fascinating
the subjectyet
and the only authoritative work
on
published.

THE

LIFE

PARNELL.

OF

R.

Barry O'Brien.

has
for which Mr. John Redmond
reprint,
Life
of the great
of the standard
written a preface,
the most
Parnell's career
Irish leader.
was
amazing
and Mr. Barry O'Brien
of modern
romance
politics,
well brings
out its dramatic aspects. It is essentially
a
which
book for the times,
that the legacyof policy
now
Parnell left is beingre-examined by all parties.

This

is

"

LIFE

CANON

OF

"

Edith

AINGER.

Sichel.

Temple was for long

and as the
of the best known
one
Englishpreachers,
held a high
of Charles Lamb
editor and biographer
in modem
letters. His
Life,"
by Miss Sichel,
position
is a sympathetic
studyof a rare and fascinating
ality
personCanon

Aingeras

of the

Master

"

"

touch

THE

in close
lover of old ways, was
world.
with all that is best in.the modern
one

who, while

ROMANCE
GEORGE

OF

PRO-CONSUL

James

GREY).

(SIR
Milne.

largepart of both modern

of the
South Africa,
one
New
Zealand and modern
was
first prophetsof a united empire. The
story of his
is
dream
brilliantcareer
and his far-reaching
imperial
well told in Mr. Milne's biography.
Sir

in

George Grey,creator

MEMORIES

GRAVE

This book

AND

Dr.

was

storiessince Dean

THE

Ramsay's famous

STRENUOUS
This

LIFE.

HISTORICAL

Lang

powerfulfigurein

criticsof the

is

day,and

learned historians. The

alleysof historywhich
fully
penetrated.

this book

Rochdale
"

long when
volume

COBDEN.

OF

Speakingat

at

into

thousands

of

scores

about
very

offer
It

FRANK
Buckland

of

homes

to

should

instruct

country." The
edition of
the first cheap library
the brilliance
is needless to praise

of families in this

Morley'streatment,
subject.

or

BUCKLAND.
was

the most

the inherent

interest of

G. C.
whimsical

and

Bompas.
original

and this cheap and popularedition

naturalists,
by many readers.
story of his lifewill be welcomed

of modern
of the

before

come

that this volume

than

of Lord

Frank

will

Brightsaid

to giveit in one
publishers
price,for I can conceive of

moderate

this classic work.

OF

Morley.

it will suit the

now
publishers

the

time

some

been

never

Viscount

the

hope

of thousands

scores

is a selection

have

in 1881, John

hardly anythingbetter
enter

of the most

one

present volume

of the blind

LIFE

Lang.

his historicalworkshop,dealing
with

chipsfrom

THE

of
politics

the

brilliantessayists

is also

he

be

must

Andrew
of the most

one

Roosevelt.

who

one

MYSTERIES.

Mr. Andrew
and

work.

Theodore

is the confession of faith of

regardedas the most

the world to-day.

LIFE

John Kerr.

firstpublished
in 1901, and was welcomed
the best volume
of Scotch reminiscences and good

as

of

GAY.

XII

REMINISCENCES

OF

LADY

DOROTHY

NEVILL.
who was born in 1826, has passed
Lady Dorothy Nevill,
a
long life in the heart of the best society.She has
known
Lord

every statesman, poet, and artist of note from

Palmerston
downwards.
Her
"Reminiscences"

kind of

of our own
written with a
times,"
"history
skilfulhand by a very shrewd and witty
observer. As
of Disraeli'smost intimate friends,
she has much
one
to
of British statesmen.
say about that most mysterious
are

THE

POACHER.

AMATEUR
"The

Poacher"

Jefferies

is

perhaps the most widely

Richard Jefferies's
It contains some
works.

Amateur

popularof

Richard

of his closestobservation and much

of his most

beautiful

work.
descriptive

DEPARTURE.

SOCIAL
is

This

Sara

tale of the travels of two

J. Duncan.

ladies round

the

Unchaperonedand untrammelled theyset out

and littleescapes their notice
and cities,
to see peoples
Canada
from
to
Simple
Japan. Readers of "The
and sure
know how light
of a Memsahib
Adventures
world.

"

found

not

less

present volume

will be

and picturesque.
wittyand light-hearted

Edmund

LHASA.

OF

UNVEILING

THE

The

author's touch.

is the

Candler.

was

with
correspondent
He
Tibetan expedition.
Francis Younghusband's
in the firstbattle,
losingan arm,
wounded
severely

but

recovered,and entered Lhasa

Mr.
Sir

Candler

Sis book
and

the

is

romance

was

the

Daily MaiFs

brilliantaccount
of the

"

Hidden

XIII

with the

of the work
I^nd."

expedition.
of the army