Solikeawallattheworld’sedgeitstood，Withnaughtbeyondtolivefor，——isthatreached?——
　　Alreadyarenewundream’denergiesOutgrowingunder，andextendingfartherToanewobject；——there’sanotherworld！”
　　ThedyingJohnin`ADeathintheDesert’，ismadetosay：——”Isaythatmanwasmadetogrow，notstop；
　　Thathelpheneededonce，andneedsnomore，Havinggrownupbutaninchby，iswithdrawn：
　　Forhehathnewneeds，andnewhelpstothese。
　　Thisimportssolely，manshouldmountoneachNewheightinview；thehelpwherebyhemounts，Theladder-runghisfoothasleft，mayfall，SinceallthingssufferchangesaveGodtheTruth。
　　ManapprehendshimnewlyateachstageWhereatearth’sladderdrops，itsservicedone；
　　Andnothingshallprovetwicewhatoncewasproved。”
　　Andagain：——”Manknowspartlybutconceivesbeside，Creepseveronfromfanciestothefact，Andinthisstriving，thisconvertingairIntoasolidhemaygraspanduse，Findsprogress，man’sdistinctivemarkalone，NotGod’s，andnotthebeasts’：Godis，theyare，Manpartlyisandwhollyhopestobe。
　　SuchprogresscouldnomoreattendhissoulWereallitstrugglesafterfoundatfirstAndguesseschangedtoknowledgeabsolute，Thanmotionwaithisbody，wereallelseThanitthesolidearthoneveryside，Wherenowthroughspacehemovesfromresttorest。
　　Man，therefore，thusconditioned，mustexpectHecouldnot，whatheknowsnow，knowatfirst；
　　Whatheconsidersthatheknowsto-day，Comebutto-morrow，hewillfindmisknown；
　　Gettingincreaseofknowledge，sincehelearnsBecausehelives，whichistobeaman，Settoinstructhimselfbyhispastself：
　　First，likethebrute，obligedbyfactstolearn，Next，asmanmay，obligedbyhisownmind，Bent，habit，nature，knowledgeturnedtolaw。
　　God’sgiftwasthatmanshouldconceiveoftruthAndyearntogainit，catchingatmistake，Asmidwayhelptillhereachfactindeed。
　　ThestatuaryerehemouldashapeBoastsalikegift，theshape’sidea，andnextTheaspirationtoproducethesame；
　　So，takingclay，hecallshisshapethereout，Criesever，`NowIhavethethingIsee’：
　　Yetallthewhilegoeschangingwhatwaswrought，Fromfalsehoodlikethetruth，totruthitself。
　　Howwereithadhecried，`Iseenoface，Nobreast，nofeeti’theineffectualclay’?
　　Rathercommendhimthatheclappedhishands，Andlaughed，`Itismyshapeandlivesagain！’
　　Enjoyedthefalsehoodtoucheditontotruth，UntilyourselvesapplaudthefleshindeedInwhatisstillflesh-imitatingclay。
　　Rightinyou，rightinhim，suchwaybeman’s！
　　Godonlymakestheliveshapeatajet。
　　Willyerenouncethisfactofcreatureship?
　　ThepatternontheMountsubsistsnomore，Seemedawhile，thenreturnedtonothingness，Butcopies，MosesstrovetomaketherebyServestillandarereplacedastimerequires：
　　Bythesemakenewestvessels，reachthetype！
　　Ifyedemur，thisjudgmentonyourhead，Nevertoreachtheultimate，angels’law，IndulgingeveryinstinctofthesoulTherewherelaw，life，joy，impulseareonething。”
　　Browninghasgivenvariedandbeautifulexpressionstotheseideasthroughouthispoetry。
　　Thesoulmustrestinnothingthissideoftheinfinite。
　　Ifitdoesrestinanything，howeverrelativelynoblethatthingmaybe，whetherart，orliterature，orscience，ortheology，even，itdeclinesinvitality——ittorpifies。
　　Howevergreataconquestthecombatantmayachieveinanyofthesearenas，”stridingawayfromthehugegratitude，hisclubshouldered，lion-fleeceroundloinandflank”，hemustbe”boundonthenextnewlabour，heighto’erheighteversurmounting——
　　destiny’sdecree！”*
　　Aristophanes’Apology’，p。31，Englished。”RejoicethatmanishurledFromchangetochangeunceasingly，Hissoul’swingsneverfurled！”*
　　JamesLee’sWife’，sect。6。
　　Butthistabernacle-life，whichshouldeverlookahead，hasitsclaimswhichmustnotbeignored，anditsstandardswhichmustnotbetoomuchabovepresentconditions。Manmust”fittothefinitehisinfinity”`Sordello’。Lifemaybeover-spiritualaswellasover-worldly。”Letuscry，`Allgoodthingsareours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul！’”*
　　Thefigurethepoetemploysin`TheRingandtheBook’
　　toillustratetheartprocess，maybeasaptlyappliedtolifeitself——
　　thegreatestofallarts。Thelife-artistmustknowhowtosecuretheproperdegreeofmalleabilityinthismixtureoffleshandsoul。
　　Hemustminglegoldwithgold’salloy，anddulytemperingbotheffectamanageablemass。Theremaybetoolittleofalloyinearth-lifeaswellastoomuch——toolittletoworkthegoldandfashionit，notintoaring，butring-ward。”Ontheearththebrokenarcs；
　　intheheavenaperfectround”`AbtVogler’。”Oh，ifwedrawacirclepremature，heedlessoffargain，greedyforquickreturnsofprofit，sure，badisourbargain”`AGrammarian’sFuneral’——
　　*`RabbiBenEzra’——
　　`AnEpistlecontainingtheStrangeMedicalExperiencesofKarshish，theArabPhysician’，isoneofBrowning’smostremarkablepsychologicalstudies。Itmaybesaidtopolarizetheidea，sooftenpresentedinhispoetry，thatdoubtisaconditionofthevitalityoffaith。Inthispoem，thepoethastreatedasupposedcaseofaspiritualknowledge”increasedbeyondthefleshlyfaculty——heavenopenedtoasoulwhileyetonearth，earthforcedonasoul’susewhileseeingheaven”，aspiritualstate，lessdesirableandfarlessfavorabletothetruefulfilmentofthepurposesofearth-life，thanthatexpressedinthefollowinglinesfrom`EasterDay’：——”AworldofspiritasofsenseWasplaintohim，yetnotTOOplain，Whichhecouldtraverse，notremainAGUESTIN：——elsewerepermanentHeavenonearth，whichitsgleamsweremeantTostingwithhungerforfulllight”，etc。
　　TheEpistleisasubtlerepresentationofasoulconceivedwithabsolutespiritualstandards，whileobligedtoliveinaworldwhereallstandardsarerelativeanddeterminedbythecircumstancesandlimitationsofitssituation。
　　Thespirituallifehasbeentoodistinctlyrevealedforfulfillingarightthepurposesofearth-life，purposeswhichthesoul，whileintheflesh，mustnotignore，since，inthewordsofRabbiBenEzra，”allgoodthingsareours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul。”Thepoemmayalsobesaidtorepresentwhatis，orshouldbe，thetruespiritofthemanofscience。InspiteofwhatKarshishwrites，apologetically，hebetrayshisrealattitudethroughout，towardsthewonderfulspiritualprobleminvolved。
　　Itis，asmanyofBrowning’sMonologuesare，adoublepicture——
　　onedirect，theotherreflected，andthereflectedoneisasdistinctasthedirect。ThecompositionalsobearstestimonytoBrowning’sownsoul-healthfulness。Thoughthespiritualbearingofthingsistheall-in-all，inhispoetry，therobustnessofhisnature，thefulnessandsplendidequilibriumofhislife，protecthimagainstaninarticulatemysticism。Browningis，inthewidestanddeepestsenseoftheword，thehealthiestofalllivingpoets；
　　andingeneralconstitutionthemostShakespearian。
　　WhathemakesShakespearesay，intheMonologueentitled`AttheMermaid’，hecouldsay，withperhapsgreatertruth，inhisownperson，thanShakespearecouldhavesaidit：——”Haveyoufoundyourlifedistasteful?
　　Mylifedidanddoessmacksweet。
　　Wasyouryouthofpleasurewasteful?
　　MineIsaveandholdcomplete。
　　Doyourjoyswithagediminish?
　　Whenminefailme，I’llcomplain。
　　Mustindeathyourdaylightfinish?
　　Mysunsetstoriseagain。
　　Ifindearthnotgraybutrosy，Heavennotgrimbutfairofhue。
　　DoIstoop?Ipluckaposy。
　　DoIstandandstare?All’sblue。”
　　ItisthespiritexpressedintheselineswhichhasmadehispoetrysoentirelyCONSTRUCTIVE。Withthedestructivespirithehasnoaffinities。Thepoetryofdespairandpoetswiththedumpshecannotawaywith。
　　PerhapsthemostcomprehensivepassageinBrowning’spoetry，expressiveofhisidealofacompletemanundertheconditionsofearth-life，isfoundin`Colombe’sBirthday’，ActIV。
　　ValencesaysofPrinceBerthold：——”Hegathersearth’sWHOLEGOODintohisarms，standing，asman，now，stately，strongandwise——marchingtofortune，notsurprisedbyher：
　　onegreataim，likeaguidingstarabove——whichtasksstrength，wisdom，stateliness，tolifthismanhoodtotheheightthattakestheprize；aprizenotnear——lestoverlookingearth，herashlyspringtoseizeit——norremote，sothatherestsuponhispathcontent：butdaybyday，whileshimmeringgrowsshine，andthefaintcircletprophesiestheorb，heseessomuchas，justevolvingthese，thestateliness，thewisdom，andthestrengthtoduecompletion，willsufficethislife，andleadhimathisgrandesttothegrave。”
　　Browningfullyrecognizes，touseanexpressioninhis`FraLippoLippi’，fullyrecognizes”thevalueandsignificanceofflesh。”Ahealthyandwell-tonedspirituallifeiswithhimthefurthestremovedfromasceticism。Tothepassagefromhis`RabbiBenEzra’alreadyquoted，”allgoodthingsareours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul”，shouldbeaddedwhatDavidsingstoSaul，inthepoementitled`Saul’。
　　Wasthefullphysicallifeevermorebeautifullysung?”Oh！ourmanhood’sprimevigour！nospiritfeelswaste，Notamuscleisstoppedinitsplaying，norsinewunbraced。
　　Oh，thewildjoysofliving！theleapingfromrockuptorock，Thestrongrendingofboughsfromthefir-tree，thecoolsilvershockOftheplungeinapool’slivingwater，thehuntofthebear，Andthesultrinessshowingthelioniscouchedinhislair。
　　Andthemeal，therichdatesyellowedoverwithgolddustdivine，Andthelocust-fleshsteepedinthepitcher，thefulldraughtofwine，Andthesleepinthedriedriver-channelwherebulrushestellThatthewaterwaswonttogowarblingsosoftlyandwell。
　　Howgoodisman’slife，themereliving！howfittoemployAlltheheartandthesoulandthesensesforeverinjoy！”
　　Thoughthisissaidinthepersonofthebeautifulshepherd-boy，David，whoeverhaslivedanytimewithBrowning，throughhispoetry，mustbeassuredthatitisalsoanexpressionofthepoet’sownexperienceofthegloryofflesh。Hehashimselfbeenanexpressionofthefullestphysicallife：andnow，inhisfiveandseventiethyear，sincethe7thoflastMay，hepreservesbothmindandbodyinamagnificentvigor。
　　Ifhissoulhadbeenlodgedinasickly，ricketybody，hecouldhardlyhavewrittentheselinesfrom`Saul’。Norcouldhehavewritten`CalibanuponSetebos’，especiallytheopeninglines：”Willsprawl，nowthattheheatofdayisbest，flatonhisbellyinthepit’smuchmire，withelbowswide，fistsclenchedtoprophischin。And，whilehekicksbothfeetinthecoolslush，andfeelsabouthisspinesmalleft-thingscourse，runinandouteacharm，andmakehimlaugh：andwhileabovehisheadapompion-plant，coatingthecave-topasabrowitseye，creepsdowntotouchandticklehairandbeard，andnowaflowerdropswithabeeinside，andnowafruittosnapat，catchandcrunch，——
　　helooksouto’eryonseawhichsunbeamscrossandrecrosstilltheyweaveaspider-webmeshesoffire，somegreatfishbreaksattimes，andtalkstohisownself，howe’erheplease，touchingthatother，whomhisdamcalledGod。”
　　There’sagrandpassagein`Balaustion’sAdventure：
　　includingatranscriptfromEuripides’，descriptiveofHeraklesashereturns，afterhisconflictwithDeath，leadingbackAlkestis，whichshowsthepoet’ssympathywiththephysical。Thepassageismorevaluableasrevealingthatsympathy，fromthefactthatit’soneofhisadditionstoEuripides：——”therestoodthestrength，Happyasalways；somethinggrave，perhaps；
　　Thegreatvein-cordageonthefret-workedbrow，Black-swollen，beadedyetwithbattle-dropsTheyellowhairo’thehero！——hisbigframeA-quiverwitheachmusclesinkingbackIntothesleepysmoothitleapedfromlate。
　　Underthegreatguardofonearm，thereleantAshroudedsomething，liveandwoman-like，Proppedbytheheart-beats’neaththelion-coat。
　　Whenhehadfinishedhissurvey，itseemed，Theheavingsoftheheartbegansubside，Thehelpingbreathreturned，andlastthesmileShoneout，allHerakleswasbackagain，Asthewordsfollowedthesalutinghand。”
　　ItisnotsomuchthegloryoffleshwhichEuripidesrepresentsinHerakles，astheindulgenceofappetite，atatime，too，whenthatindulgenceismadetoappearthemoreculpableandgross。
　　Thisideaof”thevalueandsignificanceofflesh”，itisimportanttonote，alongwiththepredominantspiritualbearingofBrowning’spoetry。Itarticulateseverywherethespiritual，sotospeak——makesithealthyandrobust，andprotectsitagainstvolatilityandfromrunningintomysticism。
　　2。TheIdeaofPersonalityasembodiedinBrowning’sPoetry。
　　AcardinalideainBrowning’spoetryistheregenerationofmenthroughapersonalitywhobringsfreshstuffforthemtomould，interpret，andproveright，——newfeelingfreshfromGod——
　　whoselifere-teachesthemwhatlifeshouldbe，whatfaithis，loyaltyandsimpleness，alloncerevealed，buttaughtthemsolongsincethattheyhavebutmeretraditionofthefact，——
　　truthcopiedfalteringlyfromcopiesfaint，theearlytraitsalldroppedaway。`Luria’。Theintellectplaysasecondarypart。
　　Itsplaceisbehindtheinstinctive，spiritualantennaewhichconductalongtheirtremblinglines，freshstufffortheintellecttostampandkeep——freshinstinctforittotranslateintolaw。”Apeopleisbuttheattemptofmanytorisetothecompleterlifeofone。”`ASoul’sTragedy’。