The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-08
PARACELSUS.

LECTURE BY THE REV. JOHN WEISS ON BROWN
mos PoEsi-wHo PARAcELsUs WAS AND
HOW THE POEM TREATS HIM.
The fourth lecture of the Rev. John Weiss at tho
American Geogra phical societys delivered
Yesterday and was Brownings dramatic poem,
.'Paracesus"
Mr. Walter Savage Landor he said, devoted sonnet
OF tribute his friend Robert Browning, declaring
that, shakespeare not being considered, Browning
stood alone Chaucer In the appreciation OF nature
ana stepped through the Jocund Eng
lish meadow with mind exalted and step lrce
Whom Lander wrote the sonnet he was right, but
Brownng's style has greatly changed since then.
II any young people should undertake to read Aris
tophanes' Apology" for instance they would need
Greek grammar and dictionary ana also they must
read the old Greek plays and criticisms they must
only perfectly acquainted with tho Greek literature
but also have high degree OF knowledge OF the
Greek mythology II you are going 10 the seaside next
summer do not take any Of Brownng's later poems
YOU but put in your satchel his dramatic Lyrcs'
take when the lips OF the ocean carcssng tie
land may send the wind their faint murmurs 10
the rhythm OF his and the genius OF
Browning will become clear. Aftcrward do what you
please with him; or better get an aloud
to you, and all at once you viii perceive the beauties
and Robert will be no more an psouble problem to
you. He expresses in dramatic the psychologic
problems which belong to various epochs and charac
ters Nothing is TOO distant, nothing is too near to
escape HIM. All through his poems the local colorng
is perfect. He Is pre.emincnlly In modern times the
who psychologists and then dramatizes the psy-
The difference between Browning and Shakespeare
is that browning never knows when 10 stop In his
later works the metaphysical faculty has got the
upper hand OF him ana destroyed his earicr style.
This earlier style is exlant IN "'aracesus"
PARAcELsUs sKErcHED
Paraccsus was born IN 1892 IN little hamlet near
Zurich. he was not carefully educated III his youth.
HIS father was physician 10 noble family IN the
syrian ALPS. His real name was Phillipus Aureolus
Thcophrasus Bombastus Honenheim, and the
eptheI "bombastc'' was derived from his turgd and
involved manner Of speaking He had towering per-
sonai pride which spurned all interference with him.
sell. He would have teacher and would find out
what he wanted TO know his own way. He loved
20 about tho streets and talk with the pedlers,
tinkers aud old He saw tho Styrian peasants
eat arsenic and thrive on u; he discovered
in Bohemia many metaliurgc and min
Ing secrc,s He was the first man who
ever gave a calomel phi, and the FIRST
with doses OF audanum. Hc was the father and
founder OF modern CHEMISTRY Magic. he said, was
nothing but the understanding OF The secret properties
OF objects. He devoured by desire Of Knowledge.
but absolutely stopped by his personal pride from
Browning makes man Of him and preserves him IN
spite of everything He also preserves your respect
Tor him Notwithstanding he gave himself up in middle
aud old age u immodcrate use OF wine and, per-
ha S, laudanum Through the play Festus. his friend,
If he were his conscience. Whenever Festus
speaks Is the better nature in "Paraceisus" which
decaut,d over Tor the convenience OF the poem INTO
the other CHARACTERS.
Paracelsus believed in the complete absorption OF
the individual into the innnte--he was Pantheist
THIS is at the bottom Of Emerson's philosophy, but
Browning wrote It in ParaceIsus before Emerson.
Paracclsus initiated in coarser way the method OF
Socrates and interviewed all the people, and picked up
IN that way many precious gem vi knowledge. In
Of the poem the desire Of loving comes
over him, to love Aprlic aid, who tells him Of his
love humanity and his desire to adorn II with all
grace beauty but still Paracelsus decaims knowl
edge mis- only ulteror purpose.
Tho prime central doctrine Of Paracclsus was the
doctrine OF signa urcs He said that there
IN all objects indicating their inh erent qualities. He
ran doctrine Enthusiastically in many directions, such
us TO cure hem0rrhage by the use OF flower with a
blood red vein. Browning seized upon tins idea that
into distinct lines OF being. This Is Darwinism antci
pat cd by the stress CT the poetic imagination.
Sir. Woss read many passages of tho poem In Illus
OF his remarks and TO show its beauties TO the
audience.
The concluding lecture of the will be delivered
on Saturday next the subject being --latest Form OF
Prometheus'