BROWNING AND HIS CENTURY

Browing and His Century by Helen Archibald Clark, author of “_Browning’s Italy_,” “_Browning’s England_,” etc.; Illustrated from photographs

CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1. THE BATTLE OF MIND AND SPIRIT
CHAPTER 2. THE CENTURY’S END: PROMISE OF PEACE
CHAPTER 3. POLITICAL TENDENCIES
CHAPTER 4. SOCIAL IDEALS
CHAPTER 5. ART SHIBBOLETHS
CHAPTER 6. CLASSIC SURVIVALS
CHAPTER 7. PROPHETIC VISIONS


PROLOGUE

TO ROBERT BROWNING

“Say not we know but rather that we love,
And so we know enough.” Thus deeply spoke
The Sage; and in men’s stunted hearts awoke
A haunting fear, for fain are they to prove
Their life, their God, with yeas and nays that move
The mind’s uncertain flow. Then fierce outbroke,--
Knowledge, the child of pain shall we revoke?
The guide wherewith men climb to things above?
Nay, calm your fears! ‘Tis but the mere mind’s knowing,
The soul’s alone the poet worthy deeming.
Let mind up-build its entities of seeming
With toil and tears! The toil is but for showing
How much there lacks of truth. But ‘tis no dreaming
When sky throbs back to heart, with God’s love beaming.