THE CONCEPTION OF TRUTH AMONG THE 

 GREEKS AND IN BROWNING. 1 



THE poem of "Ixion" suggests the aspirations of a soul 

 racked on the fiery wheel of life's troubles and despair, but 

 a soul that looks beyond the torments of time into the region 

 of purity, hope, and truth far away; for in all conditions 

 this life's journey is crowded with anxieties, griefs, and care. 



It is impossible to escape from under suffering's yoke. But 

 in reality, these so- considered barriers to happiness may be 

 made the means to elevate the soul to higher planes; and the 

 burden of the yoke, through truth and hope, is changed to 

 a silken scarf, if the eye be but fixedly turned upward. All 

 sorrow melts, to joy when the realization comes to the toiler 

 that true hSppiness is reached through pain. Grief may be 

 termed an essential factor in the evolution of character. Suf- 

 fering is the seasoning of life, the necessary condiment of 

 existence. There is no tinge of pessimism or despair in the 

 candid heart that acknowledges woe as the common heritage. 

 But in recognition of poison one must also recognize that 

 an antidote is to be applied. From the world's healers many 

 formulae have descended to us to save the human heart from 

 utter annihilation. 



The Blessed One spoke at Benares: "He who recognizes 

 f the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy, and its cessa- 

 tions has fathomed the four noble Truths: 

 "The Truth of suffering. 

 "The Truth of the cause of suffering. 

 " The Truth of the cessation of suffering. 

 "The Truth of the path which leads to the cessation of suf- 

 fering." 



1 Read before the Boston Browning Society November 17, 1895. Preceded 

 by the reading of " Ixion." 



