4 o8 LITERARY PAPERS 



sky of eternity, then the wise explorer knows full well that 

 the every- day mountain shoe and axe of these lower ranges 

 will not carry him on to those walls of everlasting white- 

 ness. To scale these summits requires new devices. The 

 would-be pioneer must start on a journey where experience 

 and knowledge from without are of little avail. These ad- 

 juncts have brought him far, but they cannot help him now. 



With Browning's attempt to ascend these altitudes he never 

 loses sight of the lowlands, and from time to time he returns 

 to the level to gain new force in order to advance a step higher. 

 He does not forget the heights from which he has descended, 

 but he reminds his readers of the "resting-place, the C major 

 of this life," and the obligation to use this life's materialities 

 for climbing and the soul's growth. He gathers happiness, 

 too, from earth's favors, as well as from earth's bitters. 



"Through wholesome hard, sharp soft, your tooth must bite 



Ere reach the birdling." 

 He says, 



" Man I am and man would be ... merest man and nothing more," 

 and in the same poem he exclaims, 



"Now on earth, to stand suffices." 



The poet teaches that although he and a chosen few may 

 advance farther on the snows, still those in the valleys who 

 desire to climb must be fed and nourished by the exertions of 

 their stronger fellow men. 



"God thus admonished: 'Hast thou marked my deed? 

 Which part assigned by providence dost judge 

 Was meant for man's example? Should he play 

 The helpless weakling, or the helpful strength 

 That captures prey and saves the perishing? 

 Sluggard, arise; work, eat, then feed who lack!' 

 Waking, 'I have arisen, work I will, 

 Eat, and so following. Which lacks food the more, 

 Body or soul in me? I starve in soul; 

 So may mankind; and since men congregate 

 In towns, not woods, to Ispahan forthwith.' " 



