The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-03
THE STORY OF ALKESTIS.
BROWNlNG'S SYMPATHY WITH
EURlPIDES.

Lave. the Former starts From Love and
FINDS Iife-EarthIy Life Has No value
Per Sc.
"One thing has many sides. but no good
suppants good.
"SOr beauty uudpes beauty
"All cannot love TWO great Names
vet some do
Out Of the rich mass Of material which
"Balaustion g Adventure offers to-
our investigation, choose the compar-
ison Of the different sides from which
Euripides and Browning approach that
zone thing '--The story Of Alkeslis.
The ancient and the modern poet has
each his own good and beauty. unlike
these are, but not anlagonistic. To
study them together is, think, to en-
hance the interest of both. Some can
ard do love two great names.
The poem consists Of three parts : ].
Balaustiou $ introduction Of herself and
her account Of her adventure. >. Hex
Interpretive recitalo Of Euripides play,
THE Alkestis.' g. IIef comments
thereon anu 81 P.vlo9'' io, J 'S'1
IL coFelS' Iheie,"ic' " hiS'' uo"i Va
ground trdhsi"li"" ca Ci''S''o 'i'5
cay coulp'e'e' eN~oP' i"i WV 0'l' P'...',
sion OF some unimportant scenes. and
set in an original story az Greek life,
with characters and Interests OF IFS own,
the new conception Of thcancient myth
by cur own poet: the deeply interest
ing ciltici-hl Oh I'i 'i'.'' ,'io d '''
OS hi"W mug '"1 '.''ii7'' o"' 80
Innate Oh poe|9 It's iu'i''lou' 10
It's influence ...,
broWnlnE ~ ihl ,t.Ny VIII Fun "5o
Is porn OF "Neue'' ne iluliilu -" l' iiii
ana i,al,'ih, ine ci'"i .e'e'' 's'0' -,
1'a'i"s ul9h i-u' 'i,.u.7 ',"iii ii9 Dio', .li
u'"nla'i'''' ~ 't.' a. .. o..
ch"l"0sc "a ,'' Wv '''i'- 'iN
ic''ot " es.opte S''5 oi '"c 0't',i0
passionate uin,'' ~ 'iii'I'' nv. ''l 80
lhe char'clcfla''c mari OF MS WI 'e,"1''
ana ihe secret OBJ hl' po" 'l'o ~
,l'' ,i',9 I oi.i.-in ~ "P'''''' " '-i 1'''
lIutii 10 Do" n'nE clio
b4lau''o" "a. v''''', ~
bteeh pay ~ ''' il7u0 aL.' '"""o' -"
Color ana mass "a uo''1'i III =" .'o.''io,
are 10 Inc cldS''C iel'o'e an" pen
ture. The same love OF nature auimates
both PAINTER aud SCULPTOR but they
work On different material. aud are
bound by different laws of convention
alitv. Each p0ufs his glowing mass
into mould OF different shape. But.
leaving aside the form, shall we not
lind that the glowing mass itself D. COM
posed IN each ease Of the same clements,
glowing with the same line OF life
EuriDidCs' cOucputIOu Of the "Alkes-
lis turns upon the good and beauty of
This earthly life per PC. The Greek
ile,l may De summed un us perfectiOn
- tl,, r.,t.,r.l iies. Cr.a- ,ror.hin ycas
10 ,l,riec.tfor ,f fif. Tra interest
- az, H., .,.,i,,.,. iron, tl,, .iro,if,-
~. -, L..t,,.., t.is srlen,Iil Nor.
-, AMI IN. v.aal,r,.. ANA Voc ~
;o,,.orfo~- hnr,anity. from fine inevira-
he clash berr.pen thi, lofty ideal and
the -imule resiiie. al human love and
sorrovv
Trooyoin.r's t-eafo-arf of this c1rcep.
,;o, ami mas, version of.ha Alkesti, eel
starts from line a.-umption that thi.|
earthly life has 10 value per sa. That
above lif.. sand. the con-lcratirn OF
| life Fnfipilo, works ont t'le gradual
triii,n,,h az taa real over the Heal. and
leave, the human sentiment supreme al
| the las. Brsvnine couseculesthe hu
man sentimcnl {, something higher
than itself. and mlt.s tae simple aus
real n.f su,rf..- hgt subs.rve. th.i
! ioffv ideal. Eurpilss starts from life
and Gods love Br1wpiuy starts from
/ love and finds life. I'm their several
| conception. orth.cberactaro Admetos
/ me kim Euriuills and Br0wuine
/ oIli-o r...,,ni1. t1. sririupql sw that
/ love f.. .,,n-er... b.-i. flrl-. th4 offender
| ,o.,i,,st ..'.-. fi.... ,lf.r th, con,snlan
COS. nu. ri. ancient i1lg.- him as one
10 whom Than Jaw wls .nlv revealed in
.e consequences of breaking ir the
modern Judges Ii.n as one vG0 wilfuiy /
SET itat oaurat. o.. Euripia.- the old .
myth Oh Alil..li5 .a. as parable. iu /
(which g.. l..I ..vin. meaning col