life of robert browning(罗伯特·布朗宁传)-第11部分
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standard to which it was never meant to conform。 He then explains that he
has composed a dramatic poem； and not a drama in the accepted sense；
that he has not set forth the phenomena of the mind or the passions by the
operation of persons and events； or by recourse to an external machinery
of incidents to create and evolve the crisis sought to be produced。 Instead
of this； he remarks； 〃I have ventured to display somewhat minutely the
mood itself in its rise and progress； and have suffered the agency； by
which it is influenced and determined； to be generally discernible in its
effects alone； and subordinate throughout； if not altogether excluded： and
this for a reason。 I have endeavoured to write a poem； not a drama。〃 A
little further； he states that a work like 〃Paracelsus〃 depends； for its
success； immediately upon the intelligence and sympathy of the reader：
〃Indeed； were my scenes stars； it must be his co…operating fancy which；
supplying all chasms； shall connect the scattered lights into one
constellation a Lyre or a Crown。〃
In the concluding paragraph of this note there is a point of interest
the statement of the author's hope that the readers of 〃Paracelsus〃 will not
〃be prejudiced against other productions which may follow in a more
popular； and perhaps less difficult form。〃 From this it might fairly be
inferred that Browning had not definitively adopted his characteristic
method： that he was far from unwilling to gain the general ear： and that he
was alert to the difficulties of popularisation of poetry written on lines
similar to those of 〃Paracelsus〃。 Nor would this inference be wrong： for； as
a matter of fact； the poet； immediately upon the publication of
〃Paracelsus〃； determined to devote himself to poetic work which should
have so direct a contact with actual life that its appeal should reach even to
the most uninitiate in the mysteries and delights of verse。
In his early years Browning had always a great liking for walking in
the dark。 At Camberwell he was wont to carry this love to the point of
losing many a night's rest。 There was； in particular； a wood near Dulwich；
whither he was wont to go。 There he would walk swiftly and eagerly along
the solitary and lightless byways； finding a potent stimulus to imaginative
thought in the happy isolation thus enjoyed； with all the concurrent
delights of natural things； the wind moving like a spirit through the tree…
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branches； the drifting of poignant fragrances； even in winter…tide； from
herb and sappy bark； imperceptible almost by the alertest sense in the
day's manifold detachments。 At this time； too； he composed much in the
open air。 This he rarely； if ever； did in later life。 Not only many portions of
〃Paracelsus〃； but several scenes in 〃Strafford〃； were enacted first in these
midnight silences of the Dulwich woodland。 Here； too； as the poet once
declared； he came to know the serene beauty of dawn： for every now and
again； after having read late； or written long； he would steal quietly from
the house； and walk till the morning twilight graded to the pearl and amber
of the new day。
As in childhood the glow of distant London had affected him to a
pleasure that was not without pain； perhaps to a pain rather that was a fine
delirium； so in his early manhood the neighbourhood of the huge city； felt
in those midnight walks of his； and apprehended more by the transmutive
shudder of reflected glare thrown fadingly upward against the stars； than
by any more direct vision or even far…borne indeterminate hum； dominated
his imagination。 At that distance； in those circumstances； humanity
became more human。 And with the thought； the consciousness of this
imperative kinship； arose the vague desire； the high resolve to be no
curious dilettante in novel literary experiments； but to compel an
interpretative understanding of this complex human environment。
Those who knew the poet intimately are aware of the loving regard he
always had for those nocturnal experiences： but perhaps few recognise
how much we owe to the subtle influences of that congenial isolation he
was wont to enjoy on fortunate occasions。
It is not my intention it would； obviously； be a futile one； if
entertained to attempt an analysis or elaborate criticism of the many
poems； long and short； produced by Robert Browning。 Not one volume；
but several； of this size； would have to be allotted to the adequate
performance of that end。 Moreover； if readers are unable or unwilling to
be their own expositors； there are several trustworthy hand…books which
are easily procurable。 Some one； I believe； has even； with unselfish
consideration for the weaker brethren； turned 〃Sordello〃 into prose a
superfluous task； some scoffers may exclaim。 Personally； I cannot but
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think this craze for the exposition of poetry； this passion for 〃dissecting a
rainbow〃； is harmful to the individual as well as humiliating to the high
office of Poetry itself； and not infrequently it is ludicrous。
I must be content with a few words anent the more important or
significant poems； and in due course attempt an estimate by a broad
synthesis； and not by cumulative critical analyses。
In the selection of Paracelsus as the hero of his first mature poem；
Browning was guided first of all by his keen sympathy with the scientific
spirit the spirit of dauntless inquiry； of quenchless curiosity； of a
searching enthusiasm。 Pietro of Abano； Giordano Bruno； Galileo； were
heroes whom he regarded with an admiration which would have been
boundless but for the wise sympathy which enabled him to apprehend and
understand their weaknesses as well as their lofty qualities。 Once having
come to the conclusion that Paracelsus was a great and much maligned
man； it was natural for him to wish to portray aright the features he saw
looming through the mists of legend and history。 But over and above this；
he half unwittingly； half consciously； felt the fascination of that mysticism
associated with the name of the celebrated German scientist a mysticism；
in all its various phases； of which he is now acknowledged to be the
subtlest poetic interpreter in our language； though； profound as its
attraction always was for him； never was poet with a more exquisite
balance of intellectual sanity。
Latest research has proved that whatsoever of a pretender Paracelsus
may have been in certain respects； he was unquestionably a man of
extraordinary powers： and； as a pioneer in a science of the first magnitude
of importance； deserving of high honour。 If ever the famous German attain
a high place in the history of the modern intellectual movement in Europe；
it will be primarily due to Browning's championship。
But of course the extent or shallowness of Paracelsus' claim is a matter
of quite secondary interest。 We are concerned with the poet's presentment
of the man of that strange soul whom he conceived of as having
anticipated so far； and as having focussed all the vagrant speculations of
the day into one startling beam of light； now lambently pure； now lurid
with gross constituents。*
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* Paracelsus has two particular claims upon our regard。 He gave us
laudanum； a discovery of incalculable blessing to mankind。 And from his
fourth baptismal name； which he inherited from his father； we have our
familiar term； ‘bombast'。 Readers interested in the known facts concerning
the 〃master…mind； the thinker； the explorer； the creator；〃 the forerunner of
Mesmer and even of Darwin and Wallace； who began life with the
sounding appellation 〃Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus ab
Hohenheim〃； should consult Browning's own learned appendical note； and
Mr。 Berdoe's interesting essay in the Browning Society Papers； No。 49。
Paracelsus； his friends Festus and his wife Michal； and Aprile； an
Italian poet； are the characters who are the personal media through which
Browning's already powerful genius found expression。 The poem is； of a
kind； an epic： the epic of a brave soul striving against baffling
circumstance。 It is full of passages of rare technical excellence； as well as
of conceptive beauty： so full； indeed； that the sympathetic reader of it as a
drama will be too apt to overlook its radical shortcomings； cast as it is in
the dramat
