New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-15
BROWNING'S LAST VERSES.
, GLIMPSE OF Ills EARLY METHOD.


| AsoIANDo FancIes and Facts BY Robert 70 nro"h'
ing iomo. PIP. III Houghton' M''h'n ~
This little volume contains what are piooaoy
tho last verses of Robert Browning; at least ~ III
cludes all that he willing I" give 10 uo - -,
lie up to last October and the presimP,'o,' - 49,
between the middle of that month-"'" ~
date of the dedication oil hsoi'n"v ',.a ,,.,
death bc wrote little or nothing so thao We may
oono,rde This % be his final expression ihere Is
| ,,,,;rc ~ snecial mark in the volume iV u
ohoraotsrizod nv all the poets later mahher'si"''
and-tbouch possibly this is an UNCONSCIOUS 80
tboucbt growing out of the known iacO Vi n,'
dcatb-it exhibits, even in ITS more e"e'e."
verses certain decline of vitality 10 oe eApeo"'
with the coming of the years. Bfownihgs iohu
noes for dramatic lyrics is perhaps more strongly
nor,,od bere than il had been for some tme
rreviously. but the lyrics themselves have not inc
passionate movement, the concentrated energy, OF
many of his early dramatic poems. Narrative ana
reflective interpretive verse had become preferred
tefore those of vivid action. The influence oil
Brownng's beloved Italy is strong; sometimes 100
much so for complete healthfulnesS lbs III
teectual rcstlessness and discomfort are expressed
even more nvolvedly than usual in such poems as
Rephan,. while in Revcre' he approaches d.
near a concrete definition of his belief REGARDING
curious and interesting poem the confession seems
IN he made that the author had thus lar Deeh
unable 70 recognize in the uni, erse anything pe-
rond pover But Power without Love cannot
no ncrfect and. as perfection must be the goal o'
.xistence either Man will develop here percep-
ton onahling him TO trace the workings OF Love
hobird tho manifestation OF what seems no" pho
loveIess Power; or in another state OF "eihe' inc
Power whose cold force alone we leei aV pte'e"0
will develop for us into the eHecu vi oup nv
M concluding lincs-the Epilogue -empody
| Tho idoa that after death the soul "is ih'o "o
1orcuorous trance but that it continues W ehei'
oze n bc active. to press forward ana 10 acn'e'c'
| The final stanZa runs thus .
eNo at MONDAY in the hustle OF MA" WI" "''''
r. rect the unseen with a cherr' - .,.h.r sho,Id ho
| strive and thrive" cry "speeo'-"s"' viz avn
| There as here. ~, p
7, Tho forepart of the volume are handful OF
LITTLE love POEMS far more dainty graceiui anu
eexibe than the public have learned 10 expect from
Robert Browning The four poems ehtitleu pau
Dreams are in substance, at least eAo'eric"nS'
very much what they are called ana 'hey oner
strong foundations to the eXegetlcal prochNilies
800 prourinc experts There are some narrative
nieces. mostly Italian in theme taken Iro'n r"pdi
,oditior local superstitions and beliefs, and ar
.ia,ia ,orord and fancy. OF such are The Cardl-
na1 and tho Dog "The Pope and the Net" Inc
Roan Feast "Ponte DELI Angels beatrice o's
norini, and "Imperante Augusta Natuo est
the last being in some respects, Inc ilosC s'ii>is
and vigorous, though Beatrice Signorin, may "
considered by some more suDtiy "rousn''
! The impatience of form which'wheh INC eu'coine
If intense and profound thought atohed lor 81 huch
that was crude or obscure In expression ineN i'""N
BECOMES loss tolerable when it falls into sloven-
gonlNl i'll.
hon beautiful will for a time make amends for
,ha do.rtb If thought; but when there is bad
form as the cover 10 poor thought, the eject Is
disannointinr In these his last verses Brown
ina cIings 70 his abrupt cryptographic style but
no M LONGER wells mighty matter with II. lie
hoe in his own peculiar way heretofore discussed
| III ,ho doener probems of life. though there Is no
o,.;dorcc that he had satisfied himself with any
| solutions At the last he seems to have tred 10
! content himself with hopes resting on 1allh
which he could not justify philosophicaly' pu'
which at the same time, he could not dispense
NTH lie maintained his familiar tuncuou u
critic observer reporter and p'ychologic ahassV'
70 the last. as these poems demonstrate one
can perhaps wish him nothing better thah tne
fruition of his ultimate speculation IN the hhdihg
of new sphere of action for his restless lh'elec.
a new world of wonders for his curious spili'
10 observe and ponder.
Here are a few of the least obscure verses oil
' sUMMUM BONUM.
All the breath and the bloom of the year IN INC Dag
| of one bee: -, -. l.. A. hoar.
of gem: H.. ..
In the core OF one pearl all the shade and the sne Oh
preath e and bloom. shade and shine-wonder wealth,
| and-how far above them
| Truth that's brighter than gem,
Trust that's purer than pearl
brightest truth puTcsi trust in the unlvelse-ah were
for me
In the kiss of one girl