New-York tribune., 1869-04-02

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE RING AND THE BOOK N
TuE RING AND THE BOOK. BY ROBERT BROWNING
2 2volsl2n Fields, Osgood, 4 Co. vi.

peas to the fancy!or 10 color with prsmatc glories
the tranquil routine OF vrtuous satisfections, MIR.
Browning can lay no claim TO having fulfilled the
functions of his. order in these terrible dramatic
pictures of malignant passion and loathsome crime.
The poem Is succession of narratives related with
the virile baroness of an appalling reality with no
attempt at poetica adornRent, no soft seductive
graces of dicon. but in which the brawny vlgor OF
the language in harmony with the tragic intensity
of the scene No cheerful light pierces through the
murky gloom of the atmosphere, no music OF flutes
and ageolets is mingled with the sharp cries of de-
spair, no entertainments of art relieve the evolution
of crime from its natural horrors The interest OF
the work consists in the wonderful dramatic fidelity
with which it carries out the conceptions of character
that are the keynote to its plot placing the leading
personages of the tale in variety of aspects that are
finally concentrated in burning focus of white
heat
The intention Of the author is illustrated by the
quaint conceit which he expands in the commence
ment of the poem and pointedy to on different
occasions during its progress. He describes King
of delicate workmanship, and OF such exquisite
tenuity of material that the artfcer could handle "
only after an adnixture of alloy Which enabled him
to give it the desired proportions and shape. After
the fine manipulation is completed. drop of fiery
acid causes the alloy to evaporate. .[
While self-sufhcicnt now the shape remains,
The rondure brave, the lilied loneliness. lo
Gold as 1t was, is. shall be eyermore: re- ~
Prime nature with an added artistry
B. i. No carat lost. and you have gained ring Ht 4
The poet here finds the symbol of square old yell
low book a pure crude fact a
secreted from mans life when hearts beat hard,
Aud brains bighblooded, licked two centuries since,
which he came across In stall In Florence contain
ing the story of Roman murder-case, in which
nobeman of ancient family, and four hired cut
throats were found guilty and condemned to death.
The nobleman was Count Guido Franceschini OF
Arezzo, lean, pallid, Jewish-looking man. fifty
years old, who four years before had married Pom
piha Comparini, young and beautiful Roman girl,
of unsulied virtue and tender nature. The marriage
proved wretched one, and after many months Of
intolerabe suffering on the part of Pompilia she re-
solved to flee 10 tho protection of her parents in
Rome Throwing herself the compassion of
Young priest of her acquaintance, Giuseppe Capon-
sacchi though with no evil act or intent she makes
the journey to Rome under his care, and short time
afterward with her parents was assassnated by her
husband who offered the plea of injury to his honor
IN defense of the deed. This slight history serves
the poet as the alloy for the construction OF the
Golden Ring which he attempts to round and COM
plete by the workmanship Of the artifcer. But the
amount of alloy which he permits to remain In the
poem is entirely out Of proportion to the pure gold
which enters into it's composition. The subject has
taken 80 deep possession Of his mind, so enthraled
his fancy by its urid glare that he cannot free him.
self from it's SPELL Every circumstance is dwelt upon
with fond tenacty till grow weary with its repe-
tition. The most trivial details, OF which hint
would answer the purposes of the narrative, swell
into dimensions that break down the patience OF the
most resolute reader Thus the tedious pleas of the
advocates each side, though imagined with inoom-
parable fidelity to the character Of the age can now
be read with as little uncton the dryest husks OF
the technical lawpapers of modern courts Think Of
the weary pages that are filed with such dead
mosaic of words as in this passage.
But eyen-prove tho pair not culpable,
Free unborn babe from c0nnlvHnce Az ....l .
Participation In their daughters fault:
Ours the mistake. In that a rare eycntf
Non seD'ei, 1t Is anything but rare,
In eontngentio taeti, that by chance,
Ifnptines epdscIint gO scotfree,
ON. suoh wellmeainng people as oursciFes'
JustO doiore mott. who aggrieyed r.. ID
With cause, dp1DOsueTllnt n1dnus, lay
Rough hands, Ia innooentes on wrong heads
Cite We an illustrative case in polnt ..l.r. .Y.
Muller SDuHed 9taoddm. good my lords.
A gentewOman lived IN Smyrna once, ..
NiruDa et dhum sS 60 coneeptnm, who
Both husband and Der son begot by him.
Killed. tnterfeeerd et quo, because
VIZ fiisra sa,na perdtcierat. her spouse
Had been beforehand with her, killed her SOM 10
Mdtrinonn print OF n previous bed
Deinde uocitsata then accused. .l
Apud Doiiabeildu, before him that sat . ..
Proconsul, ,iee dudbnse0 e0dfbus
Contamination Hbtrare, nor .|t|
To iberate "a woman dOnbly-dyed .r .. ..
With murder. rOit, made he up his mind.
Nee condemndre nor 10 doom TO DEATH '"
yaSto doIOre imP,dsan. one impelled .L
Id Ircopaoan, to the hin Of Mars,
Saptentissim0ritrt ti,dicum .t..|
eg.yn t9 that that assembly az en- ,; Sf the sage
Ubi. co0nit0 de ouusa, where. the oauss ~ ~
Te Weighed; rssS9,9 saT Soi ss sE gave reply $50
~ the suit. reiirenk, should back akain,
Post eentIm amos after hundred years. ....u
For jud guient; et SIC. by which sage decree, 10
D,rpiiei p1rrteidio rea, one ,+
Convicted Of a double parricide. - .....l1
Quamris eiian innOoenteD, though In truth H. .t
Out Of the pair, one innocent at least
She 0ectdisset, plainly had put 70 death, U.I |
UtdeQuGgie, yet she altogether scaped, ....- tr.
Eraslf impttnis. See the case at length '"
In Yalerius, fttmgly styled Aarimns,
That eighth book OF his Memorable Facts. .....f
Nor Cyriacus cites beside the mark;
Sipiitiicr Juror qife mdnddterdf,
just so, lady who had taken care, ...I .I
Hoinicidilm piri, that her lord Dc killed
!, Lx de,legQtOne debtt, ' t'
For denegaton OF n certain debt rt....' WON f
MdirimOnialis, he was 10th TO pay, .
Ittft ptcuftdrtd nuictd, was
Amerced iu a pecuniary mulct .l....
Puniid, et dd pGndDi, and TO pains, I....
In Donasterio, in a convent. ..tf
touch of this TO give the appropriate color to the
scene might be permitted TO tho skllful artist, but
the excess with which ii is laid is too much for the
indulgence of the gentlest charity. ..l t.aa
But let not the reader lose patience, and set him
self with sincere purpose TO the study of tho volume
he will gain on ample reward for his pains In the
subtle shaaines Of human passion and the frequent
passages of wonderful description which abound in
the narrative bat the full force Of which cannot be
appreciated except in the exercise Of faith and
love- that trusts the poet for what he dly shadows
forth rs we'll for that which he brightly reveals
II is i'll quoting detached passages illustrations
of this poem, In which the incidents and sentiment
are too compacty massed together TO admit Of analy
sis without injury, but it may appease curiosity to
exhibit a few specimens which must be regarded