BROWNING’S HEROINES

When this book was projected some one asked “What is there to say about Browning’s heroines beyond what he said himself?”—and the question though it could not stay me did chill momentarily my primal ardour. Soon however the restorative answer presented itself. “If there were nothing to say about Browning’s heroines beyond what he said himself it would be a bad mark against him.” For to suggest—to open magic casements—surely is the office of our artists in every sort: thus for them to say all that there is to say about anything is to show the casement stuck fast as it were and themselves battering somewhat desperately to open it. Saying the things “about” is the other people’s function. It is as if we suddenly saw a princess come out upon her castle-walls and hymned that fair emergence which to herself is nothing. Browning I think is “coming back” as stars come back. There has been the period of obscuration. Seventeen years ago when the Yellow Book and the National Observer were contend¬ing for les jeunes Browning was in the more “precious” côterie king of modern poets. I can remember the editor of that gold¬en Quarterly reading declaiming quoting almost breathing Browning! It was from Henry Harland that this reader learnt to read The Ring and the Book: “Leave out the lawyers and the Tertium Quid and all after Guido until the Envoi.”