life of robert browning(罗伯特·布朗宁传)-第29部分
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being turned away by the monks 〃for the sin of womanhood。〃 She was too
much of an invalid to climb the steeper heights； but loved to lie under the
great chestnuts upon the hill…slopes near the convent。 At twilight they went
to the little convent…chapel； and there Browning sat down at the organ and
played some of those older melodies he loved so well。
It is； strangely enough； from Americans that we have the best account
of the Brownings in their life at Casa Guidi： from R。 H。 Stoddart； Bayard
Taylor； Nathaniel Hawthorne； George Stillman Hillard； and W。 W。 Story。 I
can find room； however； for but one excerpt：
〃Those who have known Casa Guidi as it was； could hardly enter
the loved rooms now； and speak above a whisper。 They who have been so
favoured； can never forget the square anteroom； with its great picture and
pianoforte； at which the boy Browning passed many an hour the little
dining…room covered with tapestry； and where hung medallions of
Tennyson； Carlyle； and Robert Browning the long room filled with
plaster…casts and studies； which was Mrs。 Browning's retreat and；
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dearest of all； the large drawing…room where SHE always sat。 It opens
upon a balcony filled with plants； and looks out upon the iron…grey church
of Santa Felice。 There was something about this room that seemed to
make it a proper and especial haunt for poets。 The dark shadows and
subdued light gave it a dreary look； which was enhanced by the tapestry…
covered walls； and the old pictures of saints that looked out sadly from
their carved frames of black wood。 Large bookcases constructed of
specimens of Florentine carving selected by Mr。 Browning were brimming
over with wise…looking books。 Tables were covered with more gaily…
bound volumes； the gifts of brother authors。 Dante's grave profile； a cast of
Keats's face and brow taken after death； a pen…and…ink sketch of Tennyson；
the genial face of John Kenyon； Mrs。 Browning's good friend and relative；
little paintings of the boy Browning； all attracted the eye in turn； and gave
rise to a thousand musings。 A quaint mirror； easy…chairs and sofas； and a
hundred nothings that always add an indescribable charm； were all massed
in this room。 But the glory of all； and that which sanctified all； was seated
in a low arm…chair near the door。 A small table； strewn with writing
materials； books； and newspapers； was always by her side。 。 。 。 After her
death； her husband had a careful water…colour drawing made of this room；
which has been engraved more than once。 It still hangs in his drawing…
room； where the mirror and one of the quaint chairs above named still are。
The low arm…chair and small table are in Browning's study with his
father's desk； on which he has written all his poems。〃 W。 W。 Story。
To Mr。 and Mrs。 Hawthorne； Mr。 Hillard； and Mr。 Story； in particular；
we are indebted for several delightful glimpses into the home…life of the
two poets。 We can see Mrs。 Browning in her 〃ideal chamber〃； neither a
library nor a sitting…room； but a happy blending of both； with the
numerous old paintings in antique Florentine frames； easy…chairs and
lounges； carved bookcases crammed with books in many languages； bric…
a…brac in any quantity； but always artistic； flowers everywhere； and herself
the frailest flower of all。
Mr。 Hillard speaks of the happiness of the Brownings' home and their
union as perfect： he； full of manly power； she； the type of the most
sensitive and delicate womanhood。 This much…esteemed friend was
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fascinated by Mrs。 Browning。 Again and again he alludes to her exceeding
spirituality： 〃She is a soul of fire enclosed in a shell of pearl：〃 her frame
〃the transparent veil for a celestial and mortal spirit：〃 and those fine words
which prove that he too was of the brotherhood of the poets； 〃Her
tremulous voice often flutters over her words like the flame of a dying
candle over the wick。〃
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CHAPTER 8。
With the flower…tide of spring in 1849 came a new happiness to the
two poets： the son who was born on the 9th of March。 The boy was called
Robert Wiedemann Barrett； the second name； in remembrance of
Browning's much…loved mother； having been substituted for the
〃Sarianna〃 wherewith the child； if a girl； was to have been christened。
Thereafter their 〃own young Florentine〃 was an endless joy and pride to
both： and he was doubly loved by his father for his having brought a
renewal of life to her who bore him。
That autumn they went to the country； to the neighbourhood of
Vallombrosa； and then to the Bagni di Lucca。 There they wandered content
in chestnut…forests； and gathered grapes at the vintage。
Early in the year Browning's 〃Poetical Works〃 were published in two
volumes。 Some of the most beautiful of his shorter poems are to be found
therein。 What a new note is struck throughout； what range of subject there
is！ Among them all； are there any more treasurable than two of the
simplest； 〃Home Thoughts from Abroad〃 and 〃Night and Morning〃？
〃Oh； to be in England Now that April's there； And whoever wakes in
England Sees； some morning； unaware； That the lowest boughs and the
brushwood sheaf Round the elm…tree bole are in tiny leaf； While the
chaffinch sings on the orchard bough In England now！
And after April； when May follows； And the whitethroat builds； and
all the swallows！ Hark； where my blossomed pear…tree in the hedge Leans
to the field and scatters on the clover Blossoms and dewdrops at the
bent spray's edge That's the wise thrush； he sings each song twice over；
Lest you should think he never could recapture The first fine careless
rapture！〃
A more significant note is struck in 〃Meeting at Night〃 and 〃Parting at
Morning〃。
Meeting。
I。
The grey sea and the long black land； And the yellow half…moon large
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and low； And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from their
sleep； As I gain the cove with pushing prow； And quench its speed i' the
slushy sand。
II。
Then a mile of warm sea…scented beach； Three fields to cross till a
farm appears； A tap at the pane； the quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of a
lighted match； And a voice less loud； through its joys and fears； Than the
two hearts beating each to each！
Parting。
Round the cape of a sudden came the sea； And the sun looked over
the mountain's rim： And straight was a path of gold for him； And the need
of a world of men for me。
The following winter； when they were again at their Florentine home；
Browning wrote his 〃Christmas Eve and Easter Day〃； that remarkable
‘apologia' for Christianity； and close…reasoned presentation of the religious
thought of the time。 It is； however； for this reason that it is so widely
known and admired： for it is ever easier to attract readers by dogma than
by beauty； by intellectual argument than by the seduction of art。
Coincidently； Mrs。 Browning wrote the first portion of 〃Casa Guidi
Windows〃。
In the spring of 1850 husband and wife spent a short stay in Rome。 I
have been told that the poem entitled ‘Two in the Campagna' was as
actually personal as the already quoted 〃Guardian Angel〃。 But I do not
think stress should be laid on this and kindred localisations。 Exact or not；
they have no literary value。 To the poet； the dramatic poet above all；
locality and actuality of experience are； so to say； merely fortunate coigns
of outlook； for the winged genius to temporally inhabit。 To the imaginative
mind； truth is not simply actuality。 As for ‘Two in the Campagna'： it is too
universally true to be merely personal。 There is a gulf which not the
profoundest search can fathom； which not the strongest…winged love can
overreach： the gulf of individuality。 It is those who have loved most
deeply who recognise most acutely this always pathetic and often
terrifying isolation of the soul。 None save the weak can believe in the
absolute union of two spirits。 If this were demonstratable； immortality
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