414 
LITERARY PAPERS 
Likewise, — 
“You let your eyes meet mine, touch what you term 
Quietude, — that ’s an universe in germ — 
The dormant passion needing but a look 
To burst into immense life!” 
Many examples will occur to one, not only in Browning’s 
life and soul studies of those out and in soul flashes, but in 
the lives of real men and women where this sudden and de¬ 
liberate self-dedication of the person to a fixed and noble 
course quite opposite to the one before led denotes the ap¬ 
prehensiveness and readiness of the individual to respond 
to an inspiring voice. It is the voice of God, whether sound¬ 
ing within or without us. It speaks in a language all may 
learn, and needs no interpreter beyond the individual self. 
The sinner or saint alike may be spoken to, but the ear which 
has once heard will be deaf no more. 
Perhaps nowhere is this responsiveness to reaction more 
markedly portrayed than in the scene between Ottima and 
Sebald. In that situation the voice of God, by the simple 
instrument of a young girl’s song, penetrates above the words 
and storms of passion, and the Truth, bursting forth over 
that scene in all its horror and bareness, strikes, destroys, 
and creates the man and woman anew. They now possess 
the knowledge, by Truth, of passion and of the higher Love 
beyond the material which their own love so dimly fore¬ 
shadowed. Instantly was effected the transmutation of earthly 
love to hatred and the passing over from earthly to heavenly 
Love and unity with God. 
The sudden flashing and forcible emanation of Truth 
inspires as the creative God-principle held by every woman 
and man in common with others, worlds, and universes. Man 
the creation is also as a spark one with the Creator. 
Browning says, “Truth remains true, the fault’s in the 
prover.” Perhaps it may be the fault of our methods of search¬ 
ing, if Truth’s light is withheld for a time. But with a clear 
intent and as faithful workers, great or small, all ranking the 
same before God, with God’s lamp pressed close to breast, 
