Introduction to Robert Browning [144]
truth; that which is arrived at through the senses, and belongs to the domain of the "what Knows". Essential, absolute truth can be known only through a response thereto of the essential, the absolute, the "what Is", in man's nature. John has attained to a measure of absolute truth, and smiles on reverting to the very superficial truth of things.
121-123. See The Revelation of St. John, chap. 1.
125. your brother: he means himself, of course. --
"If I live yet, it is for good, more love Through me to men: be naught but ashes here That keep awhile my semblance, who was John, -- Still, when they scatter, there is left on earth No one alive who knew (consider this!) [130] -- Saw with his eyes and handled with his hands That which was from the first, the Word of Life. How will it be when none more saith `I saw'?
"Such ever was love's way: to rise, it stoops. Since I, whom Christ's mouth taught, was bidden teach, [135] I went, for many years, about the world, Saying, `It was so; so I heard and saw', Speaking as the case asked: and men believed. Afterward came the message to myself In Patmos isle; I was not bidden teach. [140] But simply listen, take a book and write, Nor set down other than the given word. With nothing left to my arbitrament To choose or change: I wrote, and men believed. Then, for my time grew brief, no message more, [145] No call to write again, I found a way, And, reasoning from my knowledge, merely taught Men should, for love's sake, in love's strength, believe; Or I would pen a letter to a friend, And urge the same as friend, nor less nor more: [150] Friends said I reasoned rightly, and believed. But at the last, why, I seemed left alive Like a sea-jelly weak on Patmos strand, To tell dry sea-beach gazers how I fared When there was mid-sea, and the mighty things; [155] Left to repeat, `I saw, I heard, I knew', And go all over the old ground again, With Antichrist already in the world, And many Antichrists, who answered prompt `Am I not Jasper as thyself art John? [160] Nay, young, whereas through age thou mayest forget: Wherefore, explain, or how shall we believe?' I never thought to call down fire on such, Or, as in wonderful and early days, Pick up the scorpion, tread the serpent dumb; [165] But patient stated much of the Lord's life Forgotten or misdelivered, and let it work: Since much that at the first, in deed and word, Lay simply and sufficiently exposed, Had grown (or else my soul was grown to match, [170] Fed through such years, familiar with such light, Guarded and guided still to see and speak) Of new significance and fresh result; What first were guessed as points, I now knew stars, And named them in the Gospel I have writ. [175] For men said, `It is getting long ago: Where is the promise of His coming?' -- asked These young ones in their strength, as loth to wait, Of me who, when their sires were born, was old. I, for I loved them, answered, joyfully, [180] Since I was there, and helpful in my age; And, in the main, I think such men believed. Finally, thus endeavoring, I fell sick. Ye brought me here, and I supposed the end, And went to sleep with one thought that, at least, [185] Though the whole earth should lie in wickedness, We had the truth, might leave the rest to God. Yet now I wake in such decrepitude As I had slidden down and fallen afar, Past even the presence of my former self, [190] Grasping the while for stay at facts which snap, Till I am found away from my own world, Feeling for foot-hold through a blank profound, Along with unborn people in strange lands, Who say -- I hear said or conceive they say -- [195] `Was John at all, and did he say he saw? Assure us, ere we ask what he might see!'
-- 156. I saw, I heard, I knew: expressions which occur throughout John's Revelation.
188-197. The poet provides, in these lines, for the prophetic character of John's discourse, its solution of the difficulties destined to beset
121-123. See The Revelation of St. John, chap. 1.
125. your brother: he means himself, of course. --
"If I live yet, it is for good, more love Through me to men: be naught but ashes here That keep awhile my semblance, who was John, -- Still, when they scatter, there is left on earth No one alive who knew (consider this!) [130] -- Saw with his eyes and handled with his hands That which was from the first, the Word of Life. How will it be when none more saith `I saw'?
"Such ever was love's way: to rise, it stoops. Since I, whom Christ's mouth taught, was bidden teach, [135] I went, for many years, about the world, Saying, `It was so; so I heard and saw', Speaking as the case asked: and men believed. Afterward came the message to myself In Patmos isle; I was not bidden teach. [140] But simply listen, take a book and write, Nor set down other than the given word. With nothing left to my arbitrament To choose or change: I wrote, and men believed. Then, for my time grew brief, no message more, [145] No call to write again, I found a way, And, reasoning from my knowledge, merely taught Men should, for love's sake, in love's strength, believe; Or I would pen a letter to a friend, And urge the same as friend, nor less nor more: [150] Friends said I reasoned rightly, and believed. But at the last, why, I seemed left alive Like a sea-jelly weak on Patmos strand, To tell dry sea-beach gazers how I fared When there was mid-sea, and the mighty things; [155] Left to repeat, `I saw, I heard, I knew', And go all over the old ground again, With Antichrist already in the world, And many Antichrists, who answered prompt `Am I not Jasper as thyself art John? [160] Nay, young, whereas through age thou mayest forget: Wherefore, explain, or how shall we believe?' I never thought to call down fire on such, Or, as in wonderful and early days, Pick up the scorpion, tread the serpent dumb; [165] But patient stated much of the Lord's life Forgotten or misdelivered, and let it work: Since much that at the first, in deed and word, Lay simply and sufficiently exposed, Had grown (or else my soul was grown to match, [170] Fed through such years, familiar with such light, Guarded and guided still to see and speak) Of new significance and fresh result; What first were guessed as points, I now knew stars, And named them in the Gospel I have writ. [175] For men said, `It is getting long ago: Where is the promise of His coming?' -- asked These young ones in their strength, as loth to wait, Of me who, when their sires were born, was old. I, for I loved them, answered, joyfully, [180] Since I was there, and helpful in my age; And, in the main, I think such men believed. Finally, thus endeavoring, I fell sick. Ye brought me here, and I supposed the end, And went to sleep with one thought that, at least, [185] Though the whole earth should lie in wickedness, We had the truth, might leave the rest to God. Yet now I wake in such decrepitude As I had slidden down and fallen afar, Past even the presence of my former self, [190] Grasping the while for stay at facts which snap, Till I am found away from my own world, Feeling for foot-hold through a blank profound, Along with unborn people in strange lands, Who say -- I hear said or conceive they say -- [195] `Was John at all, and did he say he saw? Assure us, ere we ask what he might see!'
-- 156. I saw, I heard, I knew: expressions which occur throughout John's Revelation.
188-197. The poet provides, in these lines, for the prophetic character of John's discourse, its solution of the difficulties destined to beset