THE GREEKS AND BROWNING 395 
earliest manifestation “deep down in a lie . . . and every 
lie quick with the germ of Truth,” to its highest query, — 
“Friend, did you need an optic glass, 
Which were your choice? a lens to drape 
In ruby, emerald, Chrysopras, 
Each object — or reveal its shape 
Clear outlined, past escape, 
“The naked very thing? — So clear 
That, when you had the chance to gaze, 
You found its inmost self appear 
Through outer seeming — truth ablaze, 
Not falsehood’s fancy-haze? ” 
Not only once or in any limited number of his poems, but again 
and again, with a persistent effort born of the firmest convic¬ 
tion and intuition, Browning whispers, pleads, nay thunders 
the truth of Truth, the religion of Truth, salvation by Truth; 
Truth in all worldly relations, and the infinite and absolute 
Truth, that deepest of all Truth which Shelley calls image¬ 
less. Browning makes no compromise with diplomacy and 
social usage. Our poet’s admiration for Shelley does not cease 
with approving words. Browning carries onward the torch of 
Truth from him he calls “ Sun-treader,” who teaches, “There is 
one road to peace, and that is Truth.” And the flame grows 
brighter with the onward march, for our poet tells us that —■ 
“ the troubled life 
Of genius, seen so gay when working forth 
Some trusted end, grows sad when all proves vain. 
How sad when men have parted with truth’s peace 
For falsest fancy’s sake! ” 
It seems almost needless to mention the fact, well recognized 
by all Browning readers and portrayed in his poems, of the 
deep impression made upon Browning’s mind by his wide 
and careful reading of Greek literature. Browning not only 
made transcriptions from the Greek drama, but he also se¬ 
lected Greek topics as subjects for several of his poems. 
The pearls of Greek philosophy and higher thought he set 
