Chapter 5

[Footnote 4: An interesting corroboration of Mrs. Browning's words is found in the fact that the 1868 edition of Browning's works, by Smith Elder and Co., was reprinted as Numbers 1-19 of the _Official Guide of the Chicago and Alton R. R., and Monthly Reprint and Advertiser_, edited by Mr. James Charlton. A copy is in the British Museum. The reprint appeared in 1872-1874. See Mrs. Orr's bibliography.]

[Footnote 5: A particularly interesting dramatic event was Mrs. Lemoyne's presentation of _In a Balcony_ at Wallack's Theater, New York, in the autumn of 1900. Mrs. Lemoyne was the Queen, Otis Skinner was Norbet, and Eleanor Robson was Constance. See _The Bookman_, 12, 387.]

[Footnote 6: Mrs. Bronson has given a vivid picture of the Brownings at Asolo and at Venice in the _Century Magazine_ for 1900 and 1902.]

[Footnote 7: See Miss E. M. Clark in _Poet-Lore_, Volume II. page 480 (1890).]

[Footnote 8: _Poet-Lore_, Volume II. page 246 (1890).]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The great number of books and articles on Browning and his work is shown by the Bibliography of Biography and Criticism prepared by John P. Anderson of the British Museum and printed in William Sharp's _Life of Robert Browning_. The selection to be given here can hardly more than suggest this large amount of material.

The 1888-9 edition of Browning's _Works_ by Smith, Elder and Company incorporates Browning's last revisions and his own punctuation. The Macmillan edition in nine volumes in 1894 reproduces this text.

For biographical material important books are:

_The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett 1845-1846_, two volumes, 1902, Harper Brothers.

_The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Edited with Biographical Additions by Frederic G. Kenyon._ Macmillan, 1897. (Two volumes in one, 1899.)

_The Life and Letters of Robert Browning_ by Mrs. A. Sutherland Orr in 1891. A new edition, revised and in part rewritten by Mr. Frederick G. Kenyon, was brought out by Houghton, Mifflin and Company in 1908. Mrs. Orr and Mr. Kenyon were both friends of Browning and could speak with authority on many details of his life.

_Robert Browning, Personalia_, by Edmund Gosse. Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1890. This book consists of a reprint of two articles, one from _The Century Magazine_ on "The Early Career of Robert Browning," and one from _The New Review_ entitled "Personal Impressions." These articles are of exceptional interest because Mr. Gosse lived near Mr. Browning at Warwick Crescent and they were on terms of close friendship. In _Critical Kit-Kats_, 1896, Mr. Gosse gives the story of _Sonnets from the Portuguese_.

_Robert Browning._ In _Bookman Biographies_, edited by W. Robertson Nicholl. Hodder and Stoughton, London. Many interesting illustrations.

_The Century Magazine_ for 1900 and 1902 gives Mrs. Bronson's account of Browning at Asolo and at Venice.

For general handbooks see:

_The Browning Cyclopaedia._ Edward Berdoe, Macmillan, 1902. Elaborate analysis of each poem. Many textual notes. Interpretations often involved and far-fetched to the point of being untenable.

_Handbook of Robert Browning's Works._ Mrs. A. Sutherland Orr. First edition, 1885; sixth edition, 1891. Republished by Bell and Sons, London, 1902. Explanatory analysis of each poem. Edition of 1902 contains complete bibliography of Browning's works. Written at the request of the London Browning Society.

For criticism see, as books varying widely in point of view and scope, but each of distinct interest:

_An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry._ Hiram Corson. Boston, 1886.

_An Introduction to the Study of Browning._ Arthur Symons. London, Cassell and Company, 1886.

_Life of Robert Browning._ William Sharp. Walter Scott and Company, London, 1897.

_The Poetry of Robert Browning._ Stopford A. Brooke. Crowell and Company, 1902.

_Robert Browning._ G. K. Chesterton. Macmillan, 1903.

_Robert Browning._ C. H. Herford. Dodd, Mead and Company, 1905.

_Interpretations of Poetry and Religion_, by George Santayana, Scribners, 1900, contains an interesting presentation of Browning's work in a chapter entitled "The Poetry of Barbarism."

_Browning Study Programmes_ by Charlotte Porter and Helen A. Clarke, Crowell and Company, 1900, is a series of studies on separate poems or on groups of poems. Often very suggestive and helpful. In _Poet-Lore_, edited by Miss Clarke and Miss Porter, are, _passim_, many other valuable studies and notes on Browning. The Camberwell edition of Browning's poems, edited by Miss Clarke and Miss Porter with excellent annotations, was published by Crowell and Company in 1898.

_The London Browning Society's Papers_ and _The Boston Browning Society's Papers_ contain much valuable material on separate poems or on various phases of Browning's life and work.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

May 7, 1812. Robert Browning born in Camberwell, London. 1824. _Incondita_ ready for publication. 1825. Shelley and Keats read. 1826. Left Mr. Ready's school. 1833. _Pauline_ published anonymously. 1833-4. Travels in Russia and Italy. 1835. _Paracelsus._ 1837. _Strafford._ Acted May 1, 1837, Covent Garden. 1840. _Sordello._ 1841-6. _Bells and Pomegranates._ 1841. No. I. _Pippa Passes._ 1842. No. II. _King Victor and King Charles._ 1842. No. III. _Dramatic Lyrics._ 1843. No. IV. _The Return of the Druses._ 1843. No. V. _A Blot in the 'Scutcheon._ Acted Feb. 11, 1843, Drury Lane. 1844. No. VI. _Colombe's Birthday._ Acted April 25, 1853, Haymarket. 1845. No. VII. _Dramatic Romances and Lyrics._ 1846. No. VIII. _Luria_ and _A Soul's Tragedy_. Jan. 10, 1845. Correspondence between Mr. Browning and Miss Barrett begun. May 20, 1845. Their first meeting. Sept. 12, 1846. Their marriage at Marylebone Church, London. Oct. 1846. to April, 1847. In Pisa. April 20, 1847. Arrival at Florence. May 1848. Settled in permanent home at Casa Guidi. 1849. _Poems by Robert Browning._ Two volumes. March 9, 1849. Birth of Wiedemann (or "Penini") Browning. March 1849. Death of Browning's mother. 1850. _Christmas Eve and Easter Day._ June 1851. Mrs. Browning's _Casa Guidi Windows_. 1852. _Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley._ With an introductory essay by Robert Browning. 1855. _Men and Women._ In two volumes. Oct. 1856. Mrs. Browning's _Aurora Leigh_. June 1860. Browning found the "Yellow Book." June 29, 1861. Mrs. Browning died. She was buried in Florence. July 1861. Browning left Florence. 1862. Established himself at 19 Warwick Crescent, London, where he lived twenty-five years. 1863. _The Poetical Works of Robert Browning._ In three volumes. Chapman and Hall. 1863. _Selections from the Poetical Works of Robert Browning._ [Editors, B.W. Proctor and John Forster.] 1864. _Dramatis Personae._ 1866. Browning's father died and Sarianna came to live with her brother. 1868. _The Poetical Works of Robert Browning._ In six volumes. Smith, Elder and Company. 1868-9. _The Ring and the Book._ In four volumes. 1871. _Balaustion's Adventure._ 1871. _Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society._ 1872. _Fifine at the Fair._ 1873. _Red Cotton Night-Cap Country._ 1875. _Aristophanes' Apology._ 1875. _The Inn Album._ July 1876. _Pacchiarotto and How He Worked in Distemper._ 1877. _The Agamemnon of AEschylus translated._ 1878. _La Saisiaz; The Two Poets of Croisic._ Aug. 1878. Browning first revisited Italy. 1879. _Dramatic Idyls._ 1880. _Dramatic Idyls._ Second Series. 1881. The London Browning Society established. 1883. _Jocoseria._ 1884. _Ferishtah's Fancies._ 1887. Browning moved to De Vere Gardens. 1887. _Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning._ Riverside edition: Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1888-9. _The Poetical Works of Robert Browning._ In sixteen volumes. Smith, Elder and Company. [All the works collected by the author except _Asolando_.] Dec. 12, 1889. _Asolando._ Dec. 12, 1889. Robert Browning died in the Palazzo Rezzonica, his son's home in Venice. Dec. 31, 1889. Buried in Westminster Abbey.

SELECTIONS

FROM THE

POEMS AND PLAYS

OF

ROBERT BROWNING

SONGS FROM PARACELSUS

I

"HEAP CASSIA, SANDAL-BUDS, AND STRIPES"

Heap cassia, sandal-buds, and stripes Of labdanum, and aloe-balls, Smeared with dull nard an Indian wipes From out her hair; such balsam falls Down sea-side mountain pedestals, 5 From tree-tops where tired winds are fain, Spent with the vast and howling main, To treasure half their island-gain.

And strew faint sweetness from some old Egyptian's fine worm-eaten shroud 10 Which breaks to dust when once unrolled; Or shredded perfume, like a cloud From closet long to quiet vowed, With mothed and dropping arras hung, Moldering her lute and books among, 15 As when a queen, long dead, was young.

II

"OVER THE SEA OUR GALLEYS WENT"

Over the sea our galleys went With cleaving prows in order brave To a speeding wind and a bounding wave-- A gallant armament; 20 Each bark built out of a forest-tree Left leafy and rough as first it grew, And nailed all over the gaping sides, Within and without, with black bull-hides, Seethed in fat and suppled in flame, 25 To bear the playful billows' game. So each good ship was rude to see, Rude and bare to the outward view, But each upbore a stately tent Where cedar pales in scented row 30 Kept out the flakes of the dancing brine, And an awning drooped the mast below, In fold on fold of the purple fine, That neither noontide nor starshine Nor moonlight cold which maketh mad, 35 Might pierce the regal tenement. When the sun dawned, oh, gay and glad We set the sail and plied the oar; But when the night-wind blew like breath, For joy of one day's voyage more, 40 We sang together on the wide sea, Like men at peace on a peaceful shore; Each sail was loosed to the wind so free, Each helm made sure by the twilight star, And in a sleep as calm as death, 45 We, the voyagers from afar, Lay stretched along, each weary crew In a circle round its wondrous tent Whence gleamed soft light and curled rich scent, And with light and perfume, music too. 50 So the stars wheeled round, and the darkness passed, And at morn we started beside the mast, And still each ship was sailing fast.

Now one morn land appeared--a speck Dim trembling betwixt sea and sky. 55 "Avoid it," cried our pilot, "check The shout, restrain the eager eye!" But the heaving sea was black behind For many a night and many a day, And land, though but a rock, drew nigh; 60 So we broke the cedar pales away, Let the purple awning flap in the wind, And a statue bright was on every deck! We shouted, every man of us, And steered right into the harbor thus, 65 With pomp and paean glorious.

A hundred shapes of lucid stone! All day we built its shrine for each, A shrine of rock for everyone, Nor paused till in the westering sun 70 We sat together on the beach To sing because our task was done. When lo! what shouts and merry songs! What laughter all the distance stirs! A loaded raft with happy throngs 75 Of gentle islanders! "Our isles are just at hand," they cried, "Like cloudlets faint in even sleeping; Our temple-gates are opened wide, Our olive-groves thick shade are keeping 80 For these majestic forms"--they cried. Oh, then we awoke with sudden start From our deep dream, and knew, too late, How bare the rock, how desolate, Which had received our precious freight. 85 Yet we called out--"Depart! Our gifts once given must here abide. Our work is done; we have no heart To mar our work"--we cried.

III

"THUS THE MAYNE GLIDETH"

Thus the Mayne glideth 90 Where my Love abideth. Sleep's no softer; it proceeds On through lawns, on through meads, On and on, whate'er befall, Meandering and musical, 95 Though the niggard pasturage Bears not on its shaven ledge Aught but weeds and waving grasses To view the river as it passes, Save here and there a scanty patch 100 Of primroses too faint to catch A weary bee. And scarce it pushes Its gentle way through strangling rushes Where the glossy kingfisher Flutters when noon-heats are near, 105 Glad the shelving banks to shun, Red and steaming in the sun, Where the shrew-mouse with pale throat Burrows, and the speckled stoat; Where the quick sandpipers flit 110 In and out the marl and grit That seems to breed them, brown as they. Naught disturbs its quiet way, Save some lazy stork that springs, Trailing it with legs and wings, 115 Whom the shy fox from the hill Rouses, creep he ne'er so still.

CAVALIER TUNES

I

MARCHING ALONG

Kentish Sir Byng stood for his King, Bidding the crop-headed Parliament swing; And, pressing a troop unable to stoop And see the rogues nourish and honest folk droop, Marched them along, fifty-score strong, 5 Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song:

God for King Charles! Pym and such carles To the Devil that prompts 'em their treasonous parles! Cavaliers, up! Lips from the cup, Hands from the pasty, nor bite take nor sup. 10 Till you're-- CHORUS.--_Marching along, fifty-score strong,_ _Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song._

Hampden to hell, and his obsequies' knell Serve Hazelrig, Fiennes, and young Harry as well! 15 England, good cheer! Rupert is near! Kentish and loyalists, keep we not here, CHORUS.--_Marching along, fifty-score strong,_ _Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song?_

Then, God for King Charles! Pym and his snarls 20 To the Devil that pricks on such pestilent carles! Hold by the right, you double your might; So, onward to Nottingham, fresh for the fight. CHORUS.--_March we along, fifty-score strong,_ _Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song!_

II

GIVE A ROUSE

King Charles, and who'll do him right now? King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now? Give a rouse; here's, in hell's despite now, King Charles!

Who gave me the goods that went since? 5 Who raised me the house that sank once? Who helped me to gold I spent since? Who found me in wine you drank once? CHORUS.-- _King Charles, and who'll do him right now?_ _King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?_ 10 _Give a rouse; here's, in hell's despite now,_ _King Charles!_

To whom used my boy George quaff else, By the old fool's side that begot him? For whom did he cheer and laugh else, 15 While Noll's damned troopers shot him? CHORUS.-- _King Charles, and who'll do him right now?_ _King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?_ _Give a rouse; here's, in hell's despite now,_ _King Charles!_ 20

III

BOOT AND SADDLE

Boot, saddle, to horse, and away! Rescue my castle before the hot day Brightens to blue from its silvery gray, CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!_

Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you'd say; 5 Many's the friend there, will listen and pray "God's luck to gallants that strike up the lay-- CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"_

Forty miles off, like a roebuck at bay, Flouts Castle Brancepeth the Roundheads' array; 10 Who laughs, "Good fellows ere this, by my fay, CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"_

Who? My wife Gertrude; that, honest and gay, Laughs when you talk of surrendering, "Nay! I've better counselors; what counsel they? 15 CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"_

THE LOST LEADER

Just for a handful of silver he left us, Just for a riband to stick in his coat-- Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us, Lost all the others she lets us devote; They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver, 5 So much was theirs who so little allowed; How all our copper had gone for his service! Rags--were they purple, his heart had been proud! We that had loved him so, followed him, honored him, Lived in his mild and magnificent eye, 10 Learned his great language, caught his clear accents, Made him our pattern to live and to die! Shakespeare was of us, Milton was for us, Burns, Shelley, were with us--they watch from their graves! He alone breaks from the van and the freemen, 15 --He alone sinks to the rear and the slaves! We shall march prospering--not through his presence; Songs may inspirit us--not from his lyre; Deeds will be done--while he boasts his quiescence, Still bidding crouch whom the rest bade aspire. 20 Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more, One task more declined, one more footpath untrod, One more devils'-triumph and sorrow for angels, One wrong more to man, one more insult to God! Life's night begins; let him never come back to us! 25 There would be doubt, hesitation and pain, Forced praise on our part--the glimmer of twilight, Never glad confident morning again! Best fight on well, for we taught him--strike gallantly, Menace our heart ere we master his own; 30 Then let him receive the new knowledge and wait us, Pardoned in heaven, the first by the throne!

"HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX"

I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; "Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gatebolts undrew; "Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, 5 And into the midnight we galloped abreast.

Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place; I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight, Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right, 10 Rebuckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit, Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.

'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear; At Boom a great yellow star came out to see; 15 At Dueffeld 'twas morning as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, So Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!"

At Aershot up leaped of a sudden the sun, And against him the cattle stood black every one, 20 To stare through the mist at us galloping past, And I saw my stout galloper Roland at last, With resolute shoulders, each butting away The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray;

And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back 25 For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track; And one eye's black intelligence--ever that glance O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance! And the thick, heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on. 30

By Hasselt Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! Your Roos galloped bravely--the fault's not in her; We'll remember at Aix"--for one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees, And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, 35 As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; 40 Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!"

"How they'll greet us!"--and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight 45 Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate, With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim.

Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, 50 Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood.

And all I remember is--friends flocking round 55 As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent. 60

GARDEN FANCIES

THE FLOWER'S NAME

Here's the garden she walked across, Arm in my arm, such a short while since; Hark, now I push its wicket, the moss Hinders the hinges and makes them wince! She must have reached this shrub ere she turned, 5 As back with that murmur the wicket swung; For she laid the poor snail, my chance foot spurned, To feed and forget it the leaves among.

Down this side of the gravel-walk She went while her robe's edge brushed the box; 10 And here she paused in her gracious talk To point me a moth on the milk-white phlox. Roses, ranged in valiant row, I will never think that she passed you by! She loves you, noble roses, I know; 15 But yonder, see, where the rock-plants lie!