”TheChristhimselfhadbeennoLawgiver，UnlesshehadgiventheLIFE，too，withthelaw。”Mrs。Browning’s`AuroraLeigh’——
　　IfallChristendomcouldtakethisremarkablepoemof`ChristmasEve’
　　toitsheart，itstolerance，itsCatholicspirit，and，morethanall，thefealtyitexhibitstothePersonalitywhoessentiallyisLordofLife，whatarevolutionitwouldundergo！andwhatamassofdogmaticandpolemictheologywouldbecomeutterlyobsolete！
　　Themostremarkablething，perhaps，aboutthevastbodyofChristiantheologywhichhasbeendevelopedduringtheeighteencenturieswhichhaveelapsedsinceChristwasintheflesh，is，thatitisoccupiedsolargely，itmightalmostbesaid，exclusively，withwhatChristandhisdisciplesTAUGHT，andwithfiercediscussionsaboutthemanifoldmeaningswhichhavebeeningeniouslyextortedfromtheimperfectRECORDofwhathetaught。
　　BritishmuseumlibrariesofpolemicshavebeenwrittenindefenceofwhatChristhimselfwouldhavebeenindifferentto，andwrittenwithananimositytowardsopponentswhichhasbeencrystallizedinaphrasenowappliedinageneralwaytoanyintensehate——ODIUMTHEOLOGICUM。
　　IfthesignificanceofChrist’smission，oralargepartofit，istobeestimatedbyhisteachings，fromthoseteachingsimportantdeductionsmustbemade，asmanyofthemhadbeendeliveredlongbeforehistime。
　　Browninghassomethingtosayonthispoint，inthissamepoemof`ChristmasEve’：——”Truth’satmospheremaygrowmephiticWhenPapiststruggleswithDissenter，Impregnatingitspristineclarity，——One，byhisdailyfare’svulgarity，Itsgustofbrokenmeatandgarlic；——
　　One，byhissoul’stoo-muchpresumingToturnthefrankincense’sfumingAnvaporsofthecandlestarlikeIntothecloudherwingsshebuoyson。
　　Eachthatthussetsthepureairseething，Maypoisonitforhealthybreathing——
　　ButtheCriticleavesnoairtopoison；
　　PumpsoutbyaruthlessingenuityAtombyatom，andleavesyou——vacuity。
　　ThusmuchofChrist，doeshereject?
　　Andwhatretain?Hisintellect?
　　WhatisitImustreverenceduly?
　　Poorintellectforworship，truly，WhichtellsmesimplywhatwastoldIfmeremorality，bereftOftheGodinChrist，beallthat’sleft
　　Elsewherebyvoicesmanifold；
　　Withthisadvantage，thatthestaterMadenowisetheimportantstumbleOfadding，he，thesageandhumble，WasalsoonewiththeCreator。”
　　Browning’spoetryisinstinctwiththeessenceofChristianity——
　　theLIFEofChrist。Thereisnootherpoetry，thereisnowritingofanyform，inthisage，whichsoemphasizesthefactandit’sthemostconsolingofallfactsconnectedwiththeChristianreligion，thatthePersonality，JesusChrist，istheimpregnablefortressofChristianity。WhateverassaultsandinroadsmaybemadeupontheoriginalrecordsbyGoettingenprofessors，upontheaugustfabricoftheChurch，withitscreedsanddogmas，andformularies，andparaphernalia，thisfortresswillstandforever，andmankindwillforeverseekandfindrefugeinit。
　　Thepoementitled`Cleon’bearstheintimationthere’snothingdirectlyexpressedthereupon，thatChristianityissomethingdistinctfrom，andbeyond，whateverthehighestcivilizationoftheworld，thecivilizationofGreece，attainedtobeforeChrist。
　　Throughhimtheworldobtained”anewtruth——noconvictiongainedofanoldonemerely，madeintensebyafreshappealtothefadedsense。”
　　Cleon，thepoet，writestoProtosinhisTyrannythatis，intheGreeksense，Sovereignty。Cleonmustbeunderstoodasrepresentingtheripe，compositeresult，asanindividual，ofwhatconstitutedthegloryofGreece——herpoetry，sculpture，architecture，painting，andmusic，andalsoherphilosophy。
　　HeacknowledgesthegiftswhichtheKinghaslavisheduponhim。
　　Bythesegiftswearetounderstandthemunificentnationalpatronageaccordedtothearts。”Themasterofthygalleystillunladesgiftaftergift；theyblockmycourtatlastandpilethemselvesalongitsporticoroyalwithsunset，likeathoughtofthee。”
　　BytheslavewomenthatareamongthegiftssenttoCleon，seemstobeindicatedthedegradationofthespiritualbyitssubjectiontoearthlyideals，asweretheidealsofGreekart。
　　Thisismoreparticularlyindicatedbytheonewhiteshe-slave，thelyricwoman，whomfurtheroninhisletter，CleonpromisestotheKinghewillmakenarrateinlyricsongwemustsuppose
　　hisfortunes，speakhisgreatwords，anddescribehisroyalface。
　　Hecontinues，thatinsuchanactoflove，——thebestowalofprincelygiftsuponhimwhosesonggiveslifeitsjoy，——
　　menshallremarktheKing’srecognitionoftheuseoflife——
　　thathisspiritisequaltomorethanmerelytohelponlifeinstraightways，broadenoughforvulgarsouls，byrulingandtherest。
　　HeascribestotheKing，inthebuildingofhistowerandbythismustbeunderstoodthebuildingupofhisownselfhood，ahighermotivethanworkformerework’ssake，——
　　thathighermotivebeing，theluringhopeofsomeEVENTUALREST
　　atopofitthetower，whence，allthetumultofthebuildinghushed，thefirstofmenmaylookouttotheeast。*——
　　*Tennysonusesasimilarfigurein`TheTwoVoices’。Thespeaker，whoismeditatingwhether”tobeornottobe”，says：——”Werethisnotwell，tobideminehour，ThoughwatchingfromaruinedtowerHowgrowsthedayofhumanpower。”
　　Theruinedtowerishisowndilapidatedselfhood，whencehetakeshisoutlookupontheworld——
　　Bytheeventualrestatopofthetower，isindicatedtheaimoftheGreekcivilization，toreachacalmwithinthefinite，whilethesoulisconstitutedanddestinedtogravitateforevertowardstheinfinite——to”forceourstraitenedsphere……
　　displaycompletelyherethemasteryanotherlifeshouldlearn。”
　　`Sordello’。TheeventualrestinthisworldisnottheChristianideal。Earth-life，whateveritsreach，andwhateveritsgrasp，istotheChristianabrokenarc，notaperfectround。
　　Cleongoesontorecounthisaccomplishmentsinthearts，andwhathehasdoneinphilosophy，inreplytothefirstrequirementofProtos’sletter，Protos，asitappears，havingheardof，andwonderinglyenumerated，thegreatthingsCleonhaseffected；
　　andhehaswrittentoknowthetruthofthereport。Cleonreplies，thattheeposontheKing’shundredplatesofgoldishis，andhisthelittlechauntsosuretorisefromeveryfishing-barkwhen，lightsatprow，theseamenhaultheirnets；thattheimageofthesun-godonthelight-housementurnfromthesun’sselftosee，ishis；thatthePoecile，o’erstorieditswholelengthwithpainting，ishis，too；thatheknowsthetrueproportionsofamanandwoman，notobservedbefore；thathehaswrittenthreebooksonthesoul，provingabsurdallwrittenhitherto，andputtingustoignoranceagain；
　　thatinmusichehascombinedthemoods，inventingone；that，inbrief，allartsarehis，andsoknownandrecognized。AtthishewritestheKingtomarvelnot。Weoftheselatterdays，hesays，beingmoreCOMPOSITE，appearnotsogreatasourforerunnerswho，intheirsimpleway，weregreaterinacertainsingledirection，thanwe；butourcompositewayisgreater。Thislifeofmenonearth，thissequenceofthesoul’sachievementshere，hefindsreasontobelieve，wasintendedtobeviewedeventuallyasagreatwhole，theindividualsoulbeingonlyafactortowardtherealizationofthisgreatwhole——towardspellingout，sotospeak，Zeus’sideaintherace。Thosedivinemenofold，hegoesontosay，reachedeachatonepoint，theoutsidevergethatroundsourfaculty，andwheretheyreached，whocoulddomorethanreach?
　　Ihavenotchaunted，hesays，verselikeHomer’s，norsweptstringlikeTerpander，norcarvedandpaintedmenlikePhidiasandhisfriend；
　　Iamnotgreatastheyare，pointbypoint；butIhaveenteredintosympathywiththesefour，runningtheseintoonesoul，who，separate，ignoredeachother’sarts。Thewildflowerwasthelarger——
　　Ihavedashedrose-blooduponitspetals，prickeditscup’shoneywithwine，anddrivenitsseedtofruit，andshowabetterflower，ifnotsolarge。
　　AndnowhecomestotheimportantquestionsintheKing’sletter——
　　whetherhe，thepoet，hissoulthusinmen’shearts，hasnotattainedtheverycrownandproperendoflife——whether，nowlifeclosethup，hefacesdeathwithsuccessinhisrighthand，——whetherhefearsdeathlessthanhe，theKing，doeshimself，thefortunateofmen，whoassignsthereasonforthinkingthathedoes，thathe，thepoet，leavesmuchbehind，hislifestaysinthepoemsmenshallsing，thepicturesmenshallstudy；whiletheKing’slife，completeandwholenowinitspowerandjoy，diesaltogetherwithhisbrainandarm，asHEleavesnotbehind，asthepoetdoes，worksofartembodyingtheessenceofhislifewhich，throughthoseworks，willpassintothelivesofmenofallsucceedingtimes。
　　Cleonrepliesthatifinthemorningofphilosophy，theKing，withthelightnowinhim，couldhavelookedonallearth’stenantry，fromwormtobird，eremanappeared，andifZeushadquestionedhimwhetherhewouldimproveonit，domoreforvisiblecreaturesthanwasdone，hewouldhaveanswered，”Ay，bymakingeachgrowconsciousinhimself：all’sperfectelse，life’smechanicscannofurthergo，andallthisjoyinnaturallifeisput，likefirefromoffthyfingersintoeach，soexquisitelyperfectisthesame。But’tispurefire——andtheymerematterare；
　　ithasTHEM，nottheyIT：andsoIchoose，forman，thatathirdthingshallstandapartfromboth，aqualityarisewithinthesoul，which，intro-active，madetosuperviseandfeeltheforceithas，mayviewitselfandsobehappy。”Butitisthisquality，Cleoncontinues，whichmakesmanafailure。
　　Thissenseofsense，thisspiritconsciousness，grewtheonlylifeworthcallinglife，thepleasure-house，watch-tower，andtreasure-fortressofthesoul，whichwholesurroundingflatsofnaturallifeseemedonlyfittoyieldsubsistenceto；
　　atowerthatcrownsacountry。Butalas！thesoulnowclimbsitjusttoperishthere，forthencewehavediscoveredthatthere’saworldofcapabilityforjoy，spreadroundaboutus，meantforus，invitingus；andstillthesoulcravesall，andstillthefleshreplies，”Takenojotmorethanereyouclimbedthetowertolookabroad！Nay，somuchless，asthatfatiguehasbroughtdeductiontoit。”Afterexpatiatingonthissadstateofman，hearrivesatthesameconclusionastheKinginhisletter：”Iagreeinsum，OKing，withthyprofounddiscouragement，whoseestthewiderbuttosighthemore。Mostprogressismostfailure！thousayestwell。”
　　AndnowhetakesupthelastpointoftheKing’sletter，thathe，theKing，holdsjoynotimpossibletoonewithartist-gifts，wholeavesbehindlivingworks。Lookingoverthesea，ashewrites，hesays，”Yonrowerwiththemouldedmusclesthere，loweringthesail，isneareritthatI。”Hepresentswithclearness，andwithrigidlogic，theDILEMMAofthegrowingsoul；showsthevanityoflivinginworksleftbehind，andinthememoryofposterity，whilehe，thefeeling，thinking，actingman，shallsleepinhisurn。
　　Thehorrorofthethoughtmakeshimdareimagineattimessomefuturestateunlimitedincapabilityforjoy，asthisisinDESIREforjoy。Butno！Zeushadnotyetrevealedsuchastate；
　　andalas！hemusthavedonesowereitpossible！
　　Heconcludes，”Livelongandhappy，andinthatthoughtdie，gladforwhatwas！Farewell。”Andthen，asamatterofminorimportance，heinformstheKing，inapostscript，thathecannottellhismessengerarightwheretodeliverwhathebearstoonecalledPaulus。Protos，itmustbeunderstood，havingheardofthefameofPaul，andbeingperplexedintheextreme，haswrittenthegreatapostletoknowofhisdoctrine。
　　ButCleonwritesthatitisvaintosupposethatamerebarbarianJew，onecircumcised，hathaccesstoasecretwhichisshutfromthem，andthattheKingwrongstheirphilosophyinstoopingtoinquireofsuchanone。”Oh，hefindsadherents，whodoesnot。
　　Certainslaveswhotouchedonthissameisle，preachedhimandChrist，and，ashegatheredfromabystander，theirdoctrinescouldbeheldbynosaneman。”
　　Thereisaquietbeautyaboutthispoemwhichmustinsinuateitselfintothefeelingsofeveryreader。Intoneitresemblesthe`EpistleofKarshish，theArabPhysician’。Theverseofbothpoemsisverybeautiful。Noonecanreadthesetwopoems，and`BishopBlougram’sApology’，and`TheBishopordershisTombatSt。Praxed’sChurch’，andnotadmitthatBrowningisamasterofblankverseinitsmostdifficultform——aformfarmoredifficultthanthatoftheepicblankverseofMilton，ortheIdyllicblankverseofTennyson，argumentativeandfreightedwiththought，and，atthesametime，almostchatty，asitis，andbearinginitscourseexquisitelypoeticalconceptions。Thesamemaybesaidofmuchoftheverseof`TheRingandtheBook’，especiallythatofthemonologuesoftheCanonCaponsacchi，Pompilia，thePope，andCountGuidoFranceschini。Butthisbytheway。
　　’Cleon’belongstoagrandgroupofpoems，inwhichBrowningshowshimselftobe，asI’vesaid，themostessentiallyChristianoflivingpoets——thepoetwho，moreemphaticallythananyofhiscontemporarieshavedone，hasenforcedtheimportance，theindispensablenessofanewbirth，thebeingbornfromabovea’/nwqenastheconditionnotonlyofsoulvitalityandprogress，butalsoofintellectualrectitude。Inthisgroupofpoemsareembodiedtheprofoundestprinciplesofeducation