The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-06-20
BROWNNG,S NEW POHN.

BROWNNG'S NEW POEM.
Robert Browning's new book OF poems
Just published In London consists OF La
Saisiaz, noble piece Of work, and The
Two Poets Of Croisic," q rather cruel
satire In which two very small butterflies
are broken on very large wheel. The
first poem only will attract special atten-
ton. In 1t we have Browning's -InMemo-
ram, the poem being the fruit, as Tenny-
sons was, Of the poets lament for dear
ly-lOved friend, and the outgrOwth of his
musings upon that after life which the
friend has gone to explore. He writes
this prelude:
Good, to forgive; .
Best. to forget;
Living, We fret;
Dying. we live.
Fretless and free,
Soul; clap thy pinion!
Earth have dominion,
Body. DER thee!
Wander at will,
Day after day
Wander away,
Wandering still
Soul thou canst soarI
Body may siumber;
Body shall cumber
Soul-hight no more.
Watt Of souls wing!
What lies above?
Sunshins and Love,
Skyblue and Spring!
Body hides-where?
Ferns Of all feather,
Moses and heather,
Yours be the care!
His mood appears In the following pass
ages:
You supposed that few or mono had known and
loved you in the world!
May bel flower that's uIl-biovn te,upts the but.
terny, not flower that's furled
But more learned sense unlocked you. loosed
But 20 bell and outspread nower-shape at the
least warm touch Of hand
May be. throb OF heart. beneath which-quick-
ening farther than il knew
Treasure oft was disembosomed scent all
strange and unguessed hue.
Dlsembosomed, re-embosOmed-musto one men,
Prove knew an Alpine-rose which all beside
named Edelweissr
II spirit Of the place
answer-what disgrace
Did stipulats Provided answer suit my hopes,
not fearsi"
days. weeks, months. or years?
Would shrink assurance on each point where
at can but guess
Does the soul ssi survive the body9 Is there
II know my mood, twers constant come in
whatsoer uncOuth :,
were but truth.
Witness. Dear and True. how little was ware
of-not your worth
That knew. my heart assures me. but Of what
Would the passage from my presence OF the tall
white figure throw
Der the ways We walked together! Somewhat
narrow, somewhat slow.
Ueed to seem the ways, the walking; narrow
WAYS arc well to tread
When there's moss beneath the fOOtstep, honey
Walking slow to beating bosom surest solace
soonest gives,
Liberates the brain o'erlaid-best Of all restora-
Nay. do forget the open vast where soon or
late conyerged
Ways though winding world wide, heaven
high sea where music slept surged
As the angel had ascendant. and Beethovsns
Titan mace
Smote the immense to storm. Mozart would by
fingers lifting chase?
Yes, knew-but not with knowledge such as
thrills me while view
Yonder precinct which hcnceforward holds and
hides the Dear and True.
Grant mo tonce AGAIN. assurance We shall each
meet each some day,
Walk-but with how bold q footstep! on q way
Worst were best, defeat were triumph utter
loss were utmost gain.
Can 1t be and must, and will It?
When he falls to thinking Of theOlOgies
anu OI men DcuelS, rs No ulu6L Ill SUCH
a mood, we have the poet In his strongest
strength, as witness this passage suggest
ed by his meditatiOns upon ByrOn's and
ROusseau's philosophy Of life:
In that squalid Bossex. under the obscene red
Like fiery flying serpent from its egg. a soul
Rousseau's.
Turn thencei Is it Diodati joins the elimmer Of
the lake?
There plucked a leaf one week since-iyy,
plucked for Byron's sake,
Famed unfortanatesI And yet, because Of that
phosphoric fame,
swathipg blackness' self with brightness till
putridity looked flame,
All the world was witched; and wherefore?
what could lie beneath, allure
Heart Of man to let corruption serve mans heal
ascynosure?
Was the magic in the dictum All that's good is
gone and past;
Bad and worse still grows the present, and the
worst Of all comes last:
Which believe-for believe it?" So preached
While melodious moaned the other. Dying day
with dolphin huesi
Storm. for loneliness and darkness, like q wom-
ans eye! Ye mounts
Where climb to 'scape my fellow, and thou
sea wherein he counts
Not one inch Of vile dominion! What were your
especial worth
Failed We to enforce the maxim OF all objects
found on earth
Man is meanest much too honored when COM
pared with.what BY odds
Beat. himasny dog; So let him go a-hovlins to
Which believe for belive II = such the comfort
man received
Sadly since perfogce he must; for why? the IA
nous bard believed!