of his life and writings. His poetry was the honest expression of his thought and feeling. In the unfriendly reception his works long met with, he showed the strength of conscious genius. With something of the sublime confidence of Wordsworth, he pitied the ignorance of his critics and counted on future recognition. As he grew older, he had a large circle of devoted friends; he was particularly drawn to noble women, who repaid him in admiration and affection. Though of a modest, retiring nature so much so that he could never make a public speech he was often a brilliant talker. He bestowed much labor on the revision of his poems. "People accuse me," he said, "of not taking pains! I take nothing but pains.” In his later years he worked regularly, and counted that day as lost in which he had not written something. In his political and social views he was an avowed liberal and sympathized especially with the movement for the emancipation of women. His last years brought increasing physical infirmity, and he died at the home of his son in Venice, Dec. 12, 1889. A few days later, his body was buried in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. 517. A Great Teacher.- Like Tennyson, Browning was a great teacher, a prophet for his people. He taught the reality of invisible things. The age needed his message. For many years there has been a strong drift in the direction of what is visible and perishable. To many life has seemed a hard and hopeless struggle-a brief period of toil and suffering, which ends at last in darkness. In the midst of these wrong and depressing tendencies, Browning appeared with a voice of courage and hope. He preached God, and righteousness, and immortality, not in the language of cant, but with the freshness and vigor of one conscious of a divine mission. FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY. Orr (Mrs.), "Life and Letters of Browning," Sharp, "Life of Browning" (Great Writers Series), Stedman, "Victorian Poets," Alexander, "Introduction to Browning," Cooke, "Browning Guide Book," Corson, "Introduction to Browning." A study of the diction and versification of the selections given, Painter's Guide to Literary Criticism," Part III. A critique of the following poems: "Incident of the French Camp," "The Last Ride Together," "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," Prospice," "Confessions," "Abt Vogler," "Rabbi Ben Ezra," "Pheidippides," "The Flight of the Duchess." 99 66 The story of the two dramas "Luria" and "A Blot on the 'Scutcheon." Character studies of Andrea del Sarto and his wife Lucrezia. An analysis of “Cleon.” A review of “An Epistle containing the Strange Medical Experiences of Karshish, the Arab Physician." A study of "A Death in the Desert." In the study of all these poems, the use of the Introductions mentioned above is earnestly recommended. These little works will give the student a clear insight into the spirit and method of Browning, after which he will go forward with satisfaction and delight in the perusal of this great poet and teacher. “The Lost Leader,” “How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix," "Evelyn Hope," "Home-Thoughts from Abroad,” "My Last Duchess," and "Hervé Riel" are given among the selections of Part II. 66 THOMAS CARLYLE. 518. Faith in Heredity.-Carlyle had strong faith in the principle of heredity. In his famous Edinburgh address, he says: "There is a great deal more in genealogy than is generally believed at present. I never heard tell of any clever man that came of entirely stupid people." In his own biographical writings he gives prominence to ancestry and in his Reminiscences," he pays an affectionate tribute to his parents, from whom, as he points out, he inherited his leading physical and mental characteristics. Along with extraordinary mental vigor, his father, who was a mason, spoke in a style bold, glowing, and picturesque. His mother possessed the sturdy sense and forceful uprightness that made her a worthy companion of her husband. They lived in humble circumstances at Ecclefechan, Scotland, where their gifted son was born Dec. 4, 1795. 519. At the University. It was the wish of his father that he should study for the ministry; and, accordingly, in 1809, he was sent to the University of Edinburgh. He made the journey of nearly a hundred miles on foot. Not many details of his university career have been preserved. He studied diligently, lived in comparative seclusion, and devoted a considerable part of his time to miscellaneous reading. From the chaos of the library he fished up more books perhaps than had been known to the keepers thereof. The foundation of a literary life was hereby laid." Like Bacon, Milton, and a few other illustrious English authors, he found fault with the subjects of study and methods of instruction. In the autobiographical part of " Sartor," he says, with humorous exaggeration: "It is my painful duty to say that, out of England and Spain, ours was the worst of all hitherto discovered universities." He completed his studies in 1814; and while none of his professors seem to have discovered his ability, his intimate associates, with greater discernment, foretold his future eminence. 66 |