THE GREEKS AND BROWNING 401 



So it is in the consideration of phases of life which may 

 be classified among those opposed to the customs of society, 

 convention, or morals. Under all these conditions the poet 

 teaches, be true to ourselves, no matter if this trueness is in 

 conflict with all outside. This truthfulness to ourselves may 

 not be rightful action as we may some day see when we have 

 journeyed farther on; but it is the right course for us if in all 

 conscience we cannot see anything better and truer at the 

 moment. And such a thought should inspire in all hearts 

 toleration, pity, and love towards our fellow beings slower than 

 ourselves in the upward climb. 



Perhaps it is not well to hurry the climber too rapidly in 

 his climb. The head must be steady and the pulse-beats 

 strong. Browning gives this warning: 



"Are you adventurous and climb yourself? 

 Plant the foot warily, accept a staff, 

 Stamp only where you probe the standing-point, 

 Move forward, well assured that move you may. 

 Where you mistrust advance, stop short, there stick! 

 This makes advancing slow and difficult?" 



He also tells us, 



"Weakness never needs be falseness: truth is truth in each degree, 

 Thunder pealed by God to Nature whispered by my soul to me." 



"It was not strange I saw no good in man, 

 To overbalance all the wear and waste 

 Of faculties, displayed in vain, but born 

 To prosper in some better sphere; and why? 

 In my own heart love had not been made wise 

 To trace love's faint beginnings in mankind, 

 To know even hate is but a mask of love's, 

 To see a good in evil, and a hope 

 In ill-success; to sympathize, be proud 

 Of their half-reasons, faint aspirings, dim 

 Struggles for truth, their poorest fallacies, 

 Their prejudice and fears and cares and doubts; 

 All with a touch of nobleness, despite 

 Their error, upward tending all though weak, 

 Like plants in mines which never saw the sun, 



