3 66 LITERARY PAPERS 



some patriotic event. It must suffice here to take for granted 

 the existence of a large dramatic literature bearing on the 

 subject. National drama occupies a conspicuous place in a 

 nation's literature; but to be truly great, dramatic creation 

 needs to treat of noble subjects which shall stand as truths 

 for all races and times, irrespective of party feeling or creeds. 



An old writer has said, "You will do the greatest service to 

 the State if you shall raise, not the roofs of the houses, but the 

 souls of the citizens; for it is better that great souls should 

 dwell in small houses, than for mean slaves to lurk in great 

 houses." Again, the same writer says: "Truth is a thing im- 

 mortal and perpetual, and it gives to us a beauty which fades 

 not away in time nor does it take away the freedom of speech 

 which proceeds from justice." 



Among later dramatic writers, to Browning may be given 

 the appellation of the apostle of truth. Of truth he says, 



"Truth is the proper policy: from truth 

 Whate'er the force wherewith you fling your speech, 

 Be sure that speech will lift you by rebound, 

 Somewhere above the lowness of a lie!" 



And elsewhere he writes, "Love bids touch truth, endure 

 truth, and embrace truth; though, embracing truth, love 

 crush itself." 



In many passages of his dramatic writings, he insists upon 

 the full play of truth in word and action; and if truth be veiled, 

 or perverted from its direct course, the results are fatal. In 

 the long range of Browning's writings is the obligation in- 

 sisted upon again and again that he who would be a neophyte 

 of the noble way, must learn to pick out truth from the tan- 

 gled meshes of the life around him. Truth is the first, the 

 middle, the last of things. 



In the dramatic poem of "In a Balcony," at the final scene, 

 where Norbert, Constance, and the Queen meet, and the Queen 

 hears Norbert's words to Constance, "Now you know that 

 body and soul have each one life, but one: And here 's my 

 love, here, living at your feet," Constance is terrified at the 

 thought of the climax in affairs which this disclosure to the 



