life of robert browning(罗伯特·布朗宁传)-第33部分
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Barrett a dearly loved sister； the 〃Arabel〃 of so many affectionate letters。
Once more a winter in Rome proved temporally restorative。 But at last the
day came when she wrote her last poem 〃North and South〃； a gracious
welcome to Hans Christian Andersen on the occasion of his first visit to
the Eternal City。
Early in June of 1861 the Brownings were once more at Casa Guidi。
But soon after their return the invalid caught a chill。 For a few days she
hovered like a tired bird though her friends saw only the seemingly
unquenchable light in the starry eyes； and did not anticipate the silence
that was soon to be。
By the evening of the 28th day of the month she was in sore peril of
failing breath。 All night her husband sat by her； holding her hand。 Two
hours before dawn she realised that her last breath would ere long fall
upon his tear…wet face。 Then； as a friend has told us； she passed into a state
of ecstasy： yet not so rapt therein but that she could whisper many words
of hope； even of joy。 With the first light of the new day； she leaned against
her lover。 Awhile she lay thus in silence； and then； softly sighing 〃It is
beautiful！〃 passed like the windy fragrance of a flower。
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CHAPTER 9。
It is needless to dwell upon what followed。 The world has all that need
be known。 To Browning himself it was the abrupt； the too deeply pathetic；
yet not wholly unhappy ending of a lovelier poem than any he or another
should ever write； the poem of their married life。
There is a rare serenity in the thought of death when it is known to be
the gate of life。 This conviction Browning had； and so his grief was rather
that of one whose joy has westered earlier。 The sweetest music of his life
had withdrawn： but there was still music for one to whom life in itself was
a happiness。 He had his son； and was not void of other solace： but even
had it been otherwise he was of the strenuous natures who never succumb；
nor wish to die whatever accident of mortality overcome the will and
the power。
It was in the autumn following his wife's death that he wrote the noble
poem to which allusion has already been made： 〃Prospice〃。 Who does not
thrill to its close； when all of gloom or terror 〃Shall change； shall become
first a peace out of pain； Then a light； then thy breast； O thou soul of my
soul！ I shall clasp thee again； And with God be the rest。〃
There are few direct allusions to his wife in Browning's poems。 Of
those prior to her death the most beautiful is 〃One Word More〃； which has
been already quoted in part： of the two or three subsequent to that event
none surpasses the magic close of the first part of 〃The Ring and the
Book〃。
Thereafter the details of his life are public property。 He all along lived
in the light； partly from his possession of that serenity which made Goethe
glad to be alive and to be able to make others share in that gladness。 No
poet has been more revered and more loved。 His personality will long be a
stirring tradition。 In the presence of his simple manliness and wealth of all
generous qualities one is inclined to pass by as valueless； as the mere
flying spray of the welcome shower； the many honours and gratifications
that befell him。 Even if these things mattered； concerning one by whose
genius we are fascinated； while undazzled by the mere accidents pertinent
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thereto； their recital would be wearisome of how he was asked to be
Lord Rector of this University； or made a doctor of laws at that： of how
letters and tributes of all kinds came to him from every district in our
Empire； from every country in the world： and so forth。 All these things are
implied in the circumstance that his life was throughout 〃a noble music
with a golden ending。〃
In 1866 his father died in Paris； strenuous in life until the very end。
After this event Miss Sarianna Browning went to reside with her brother；
and from that time onward was his inseparable companion； and ever one
of the dearest and most helpful of friends。 In latter years brother and sister
were constantly seen together； and so regular attendants were they at such
functions as the 〃Private Views〃 at the Royal Academy and Grosvenor
Gallery； that these never seemed complete without them。 A Private View； a
first appearance of Joachim or Sarasate； a first concert of Richter or
Henschel or Halle； at each of these； almost to a certainty； the poet was sure
to appear。 The chief personal happiness of his later life was in his son。 Mr。
R。 Barrett Browning is so well known as a painter and sculptor that it
would be superfluous for me to add anything further here； except to state
that his successes were his father's keenest pleasures。
Two years after his father's death； that is in 1868； the 〃Poetical Works
of Robert Browning； M。A。； Honorary Fellow of Balliol College； Oxford〃；
were issued in six volumes。 Here the equator of Browning's genius may be
drawn。 On the further side lie the 〃Men and Women〃 of the period anterior
to 〃The Ring and the Book〃： midway is the transitional zone itself： on the
hither side are the 〃Men and Women〃 of a more temperate if not colder
clime。
The first part of 〃The Ring and the Book〃 was not published till
November。 In September the poet was staying with his sister and son at Le
Croisic； a picturesque village at the mouth of the Loire； at the end of the
great salt plains which stretch down from Guerande to the Bay of Biscay。
No doubt； in lying on the sand…dunes in the golden September glow； in
looking upon the there somewhat turbid current of the Loire； the poet
brooded on those days when he saw its inland waters with her who was
with him no longer save in dreams and memories。 Here he wrote that
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stirring poem； 〃Herve Riel〃； founded upon the valorous action of a French
sailor who frustrated the naval might of England； and claimed nothing as a
reward save permission to have a holiday on land to spend a few hours
with his wife； 〃la belle Aurore〃。 〃Herve Riel〃 （which has been translated
into French； and is often recited； particularly in the maritime towns； and is
always evocative of enthusiastic applause） is one of Browning's finest
action…lyrics； and is assured of the same immortality as 〃How they brought
the Good News from Ghent to Aix〃； or the 〃Pied Piper〃 himself。
In 1872 there was practical proof of the poet's growing popularity。
Baron Tauchnitz issued two volumes of excellently selected poems；
comprising some of the best of 〃Men and Women〃； 〃Dramatis Personae〃；
and 〃Dramatic Romances〃； besides the longer 〃Soul's Tragedy〃； 〃Luria〃；
〃In a Balcony〃； and 〃Christmas Eve and Easter Day〃 the most Christian
poem of the century； according to one eminent cleric； the heterodox self…
sophistication of a free…thinker； according to another： really； the reflex of a
great crisis； that of the first movement of the tide of religious thought to a
practically limitless freedom。 This edition also contained 〃Bishop
Blougram〃； then much discussed； apart from its poetic and intellectual
worth； on account of its supposed verisimilitude in portraiture of Cardinal
Wiseman。 This composition； one of Browning's most characteristic； is so
clever that it is scarcely a poem。 Poetry and Cleverness do not well agree；
the muse being already united in perfect marriage to Imagination。 In his
Essay on Truth； Bacon says that one of the Fathers called poetry ‘Vinum
Daemonum'； because it filleth the imagination。 Certainly if it be not
‘vinum daemonum' it is not Poetry。
In this year also appeared the first series of 〃Selections〃 by the poet's
latest publishers： 〃Dedicated to Alfred Tennyson。 In Poetry illustrious
and consummate： In Friendship noble and sincere。〃 It was in his preface
to this selection that he wrote the often…quoted words： 〃Nor do I
apprehend any more charges of being wilfully obscure； unconscientiously
careless； or perversely harsh。〃 At or about the date of these 〃Selections〃
the poet wrote to a friend； on this very point of obscurity； 〃I can have little
doubt that my writing has been in the main too hard for many I should
have been pleased to communicate with； but I never designedly tried to
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puzzle people； as some of my critics have supposed。 On the other hand； I
never pretended to offer such literature as should be a substitute for a cigar
or a game at dominoes to an idle man。 So perhaps； on the whole； I get my
deserts； and something over not a crowd； but a few I value more。〃
In 1877 Browning； ever restless for pastures new； went with his sister
to spend the autumn at La Saisiaz （Savoyard for 〃the sun〃）；
