404 LITERARY PAPERS 



In "Bifurcation" he says: 



" Duty and love, one broad way, were the best 

 Who doubts? But one or other was to choose, 

 I chose the darkling half." 



Where duty and sentiment conflict and duty is chosen, love 

 should not be simulated. Life's "worn causeway" should 

 not be walked "arm in arm with friend," while caressing the 

 ear with words of "truth turned falsehood." "How I loathe a 

 flower, how prize the pavement!" It is right that the one for 

 whom we choose duty should know how few of heart's flowers 

 we have to offer. Dead fruit as well as sacrifices are not always 

 acceptable gifts : this should not be forgotten by altruists. 



The Truth is often painful to tell; it is painful to hear. 



Truth in whatsoever way it comes, even if it brings a shock, 

 is better than a lie. Browning speaks of the 



"rough but wholesome shock, 

 And accident which comes to kill or cure. 

 A jerk which means a dislocated joint! 

 Such happy chance, at cost of twinge, no doubt, 

 Into the socket back again put truth, 

 And stopped the limb from longer dragging lie." 



And for those who have grown indolent with "maws out of 

 sorts" he prescribes a healthful cure. 



" Don't nettles make a broth 

 Wholesome for blood grown lazy and thick ? " 



Very few pages of Browning's works do not contain some 

 reference to Truth. It is always to the same purport; death 

 were better than untrue life; for death will bring the truth of 

 many a thing to the surface. This is reasoned over in the poem 

 " Before and After." Willingness to die for the truth is brought 

 out witr/telling power in "Ned Bratts" and "In the Balcony." 



To give up worldly honors for Truth is beautifully and 

 simply expressed by Colombe. "I take him, give up Juliers 

 and the world." And in "Daniel Bartoli" the wife of but an 

 hour, to save her husband's "honor" and her "soul, " gives up 

 the duke, and wealth. How little are the materialities of life, 



