life of robert browning(罗伯特·布朗宁传)-第14部分
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occupied the whole of one number of the local paper of Hameln； which is
a quaint townlet in Hanover。
Browning promised to consider the suggestion。 Six weeks later； in
company with Forster； with whom he had become intimate； he called upon
Macready； to discuss the plot of a tragedy which he had pondered。 He told
the tragedian how deeply he had been impressed by his performance of
〃Othello〃； and how this had deflected his intention from a modern and
European to an Oriental and ancient theme。 〃Browning said that I had BIT
him by my performance of ‘Othello'； and I told him I hoped I should make
the blood come。〃 The 〃blood〃 had come in the guise of a drama…motive
based on the crucial period in the career of Narses； the eunuch…general of
Justinian。 Macready liked the suggestion； though he demurred to one or
two points in the outline： and before Browning left he eagerly pressed him
to 〃go on with ‘Narses'。〃 But whether Browning mistrusted his own
interest in the theme； or was dubious as to the success with which
Macready would realise his conception； or as to the reception a play of
such nature would win from an auditory no longer reverent of high
dramatic ideals； he gave up the idea。 Some three months later （May 26th）
he enjoyed another eventful evening。 It was the night of the first
performance of Talfourd's 〃Ion〃； and he was among the personal friends of
Macready who were invited to the supper at Talfourd's rooms。 After the
fall of the curtain； Browning； Forster； and other friends sought the
tragedian and congratulated him upon the success both of the play and of
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his impersonation of the chief character。 They then adjourned to the house
of the author of 〃Ion〃。 To his surprise and gratification Browning found
himself placed next but one to his host； and immediately opposite
Macready； who sat between two gentlemen； one calm as a summer
evening； and the other with a tempestuous youth dominating his sixty
years； whom the young poet at once recognised as Wordsworth and Walter
Savage Landor。 Every one was in good spirits： the host perhaps most of all；
who was celebrating his birthday as well as the success of 〃Ion〃。 Possibly
Macready was the only person who felt at all bored unless it was Landor
for Wordsworth was not； at such a function； an entertaining
conversationalist。 There is much significance in the succinct entry in
Macready's journal concerning the Lake…poet 〃Wordsworth； who pinned
me。〃 。 。 。 When Talfourd rose to propose the toast of 〃The Poets of
England〃 every one probably expected that Wordsworth would be named
to respond。 But with a kindly grace the host； after flattering remarks upon
the two great men then honouring him by sitting at his table； coupled his
toast with the name of the youngest of the poets of England 〃Mr。 Robert
Browning； the author of ‘Paracelsus'。〃 It was a very proud moment for
Browning； singled out among that brilliant company： and it is pleasant to
know； on the authority of Miss Mitford； who was present； that 〃he
performed his task with grace and modesty；〃 looking； the amiable lady
adds； even younger than he was。 Perhaps； however； he was prouder still
when Wordsworth leaned across the table； and with stately affability said；
〃I am proud to drink your health； Mr。 Browning：〃 when Landor； also； with
a superbly indifferent and yet kindly smile； also raised his glass to his lips
in courteous greeting。
Of Wordsworth Browning saw not a little in the ensuing few years； for
on the rare visits the elderly poet paid to London； Talfourd never failed to
ask the author of 〃Paracelsus〃； for whom he had a sincere admiration； to
meet the great man。 It was not in the nature of things that the two poets
could become friends； but though the younger was sometimes annoyed by
the elder's pooh…poohing his republican sympathies； and contemptuously
waiving aside as a mere nobody no less an individual than Shelley； he
never failed of respect and even reverence。 With what tenderness and
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dignity he has commemorated the great poet's falling away from his early
ideals； may be seen in 〃The Lost Leader〃； one of the most popular of
Browning's short poems； and likely to remain so。 For several reasons；
however； it is best as well as right that Wordsworth should not be more
than merely nominally identified with the Lost Leader。 Browning was
always imperative upon this point。
Towards Landor； on the other hand； he entertained a sentiment of
genuine affection； coupled with a profound sympathy and admiration： a
sentiment duly reciprocated。 The care of the younger for the elder； in the
old age of the latter； is one of the most beautiful incidents in a beautiful
life。
But the evening was not to pass without another memorable incident；
one to which we owe 〃Strafford〃； and probably 〃A Blot in the 'Scutcheon〃。
Just as the young poet； flushed with the triumphant pleasure of the evening；
was about to leave； Macready arrested him by a friendly grip of the arm。
In unmistakable earnestness he asked Browning to write him a play。 With
a simplicity equal to the occasion； the poet contented himself with
replying； 〃Shall it be historical and English？ What do you say to a drama
on Strafford？〃
Macready was pleased with the idea； and hopeful that his friend would
be more successful with the English statesman than with the eunuch
Narses。
A few months elapsed before the poet； who had set aside the long
work upon which he was engaged （〃Sordello〃）； called upon Macready
with the manuscript of 〃Strafford〃。 The latter hoped much from it。 In
March the MS。 was ready。 About the end of the month Macready took it to
Covent Garden Theatre； and read it to Mr。 Osbaldiston； 〃who caught at it
with avidity； and agreed to produce it without delay。〃
It was an eventful first of May an eventful twelvemonth； indeed； for
it was the initial year of the Victorian era； notable； too； as that wherein the
Electric Telegraph was established； and； in letters； wherein a new dramatic
literature had its origin。 For 〃Strafford〃； already significant of a novel
movement； and destined； it seems to me； to be still more significant in that
great dramatic period towards which we are fast converging； was not less
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important to the Drama in England； as a new departure in method and
radically indicative of a fresh standpoint； than 〃Hernani〃 was in France。
But in literary history the day itself is doubly memorable； for in the
forenoon Carlyle gave the first of his lectures in London。 The play was a
success； despite the shamefully inadequate acting of some of those
entrusted with important parts。 There was once； perhaps there were more
occasions than one； where success poised like the soul of a Mohammedan
on the invisible thread leading to Paradise； but on either side of which lies
perdition。 There was none to cry ‘Timbul' save Macready； except Miss
Helen Faucit； who gained a brilliant triumph as Lady Carlisle。 The part of
Charles I。 was enacted so execrably that damnation for all was again and
again within measurable distance。 〃The Younger Vane〃 ranted so that a
hiss； like an embodied scorn； vibrated on vagrant wings throughout the
house。 There was not even any extraneous aid to a fortunate impression。
The house was in ill repair： the seats dusty； the 〃scenery〃 commonplace
and sometimes noticeably inappropriate； the costumes and accessories
almost sordid。 But in the face of all this； a triumph was secured。 For a brief
while Macready believed that the star of regeneration had arisen。
Unfortunately 'twas； in the words of a contemporary dramatic poet； 〃a
rising sorrow splendidly forlorn。〃 The financial condition of Covent
Garden Theatre was so ruinous that not even the most successful play
could have restored its doomed fortunes。
After the fifth night one of the leading actors； having received a better
offer elsewhere； suddenly withdrew。
This was the last straw。 A collapse forthwith occurred。 In the scramble
for shares in the few remaining funds every one gained something； except
the author； who was to have received 12 Pounds for each performance for
the first twenty…five nights； and 10 Pounds each for ten nights further。 This
disaster was a deep disappointment to Browning； and a by no means
transitory one； for three or four years later he wrote （Advt。 of 〃Bells and
Pomegranates〃）： 〃Two or three years a
