ABSTRACT
Mr. Browning, as every one knows, is not seldom abstruse; more concerned to make manifest the hidden and recondite and unexpected relations of his subject than. to deal with the more general and apparent aspects of it. It may be that he has thus sacrificed popularity; but he has maintained individuality, and made it necessary that every student of literature should study him. This volume will have the good affect of showing that he can deal effectively with common things; and that his peculiar style is due as much to choice as to necessity. The very first poem, ‘The Flower’s Name’, may stand as a companion to ‘Evelyn Hope’, included in the first series; and ‘The Garden Fancies’ are full of character. ‘St. Martin’s Sermons’1 and ‘James Lee’s Wife’ are, in their different ways, exquisite. We are not quite sure if ‘Numphaleptos’, ‘Sludge the Medium’, and ‘Bishop Blougram’s Apology’, are quite so suitable for such a collection; but here they are. We vastly prefer ‘May and Death’, and some of the simpler lyrics.
