BROWNING'S “PIPPA PASSES.” [Reprinted from The Christian Leader, July 23rd, 1891.] It ONE of the most striking poems written by Robert Browning is the drama which he has named Pippa Passes. Pippa is a young girl who works at the silk mills in Asolo, a little town not far from Venice. is New Year's Day-her one holiday in the whole year and she rises early with the hope that it will be a bright and happy day for her. She considers who are likely to be the four happiest persons in Asolo that day; and she resolves that in the morning, at noon, in the evening, and at night, she will, in turn, fancy herself to be each of these four. She will thus enjoy her New Year's Day to the full. those who are in happier circumstances than her own; for she believes that she is doubtless as dear to God" as they are; and her New Year's hymn "all service ranks the same with God." for one day, indulge in the pleasures of Fancy, and imagine herself to be in the positions of " the happiest four in Asolo." And so, in the course of the day, she passes, in turn, the four houses where these four persons are; and, as she passes each of them, she sings a song. Hence the poem is called Pippa Passes. Not that she envies tells her that But she will, First of all, in the morning, she passes the mansion of her employer-the old man who owns the silk mills. She fancies herself to be the young wife of this old man-living in wealth and luxury. She knows the gossip of the town-that this young wife has a lover; but little does she dream of the terrible tragedy which has just been enacted within that mansion. The wife's lover has murdered the old man, in order to get him out of the way; and now the guilty pair are trying hard to drown all remorse for the crime in the passionate utterance of their mutual love. Just then Pippa passes outside; and, as she passes, she sings her song: "The year's at the spring The hill-side's dew-pearled; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heaven All's right with the world!" The guilty pair hear these words. The man cannot bear them. The contrast between the foul crime which he has just committed and this happy song sung in the fresh morning air by the simple-hearted girl, rouses all his better nature. The words, "God's in His heaven," keep ringing in the man's ears. The spell is broken. His eyes are opened to see the enormity of his crime. "That little peasant's voice," he says, “ has righted all again." He turns away with loathing from the woman who has lured him to the deed of murder. He cannot bear the sight of her. He denounces and renounces her, and then kills himself through the remorse that has taken full possession of his conscience. Meanwhile Pippa has passed on, all unconscious of what has been going on within the house, and of what her singing has done. Then again, at noon, she passes the house of an artist, and fancies herself to be the young and beautiful bride whom the artist has that day married. But, although Pippa knows nothing of the actual facts of the case, it turns out that the artist has been tricked into this marriage, through forged letters, by a rival artist who hates him. Now that he has brought home his bride, he discovers that she is simply an ordinary girl in humble life-very different from the ideal maiden whom the forged letters had presented to his imagination. He resolves to give her all that he has and leave her. But, just as he is forming this resolution, Pippa's voice is heard outside, singing a peasant's song about a page who loved a queen. This song, coming at the critical moment, alters the artist's resolve. Why should he not stoop where he expected to worship? This young bride, whom he has just married, really loves him; she has been simply a tool in the hands of others; and so he makes up his mind not to leave her, but to take her away with him to some distant island, and make her happy. Then again, at evening, Pippa passes the house where a young man and his mother, who love each other dearly, are known to be talking together. Pippa, who is herself an orphan, fancies how delightful it must be to enjoy the tenderness of a mother's love. The young man is an Italian patriot, and has pledged himself to kill the Austrian despot. The Austrian police, unknown to him, are at this moment watching his move ments; and, if he stays another night in the town, they will arrest him. His mother is seeking to keep him with her and to dissuade him from his purpose of assassination. He is almost beginning to waver under the influence of her pleading; but, just then, Pippa's voice is heard outside, singing a song about a good king who "lived long ago." The song reminds him, by contrast, of the tyranny under which his beloved Italy is groaning; his patriotic spirit is roused; and he departs, that very evening, on his mission. He has no idea of the immediate danger which he thus escapes : and Pippa passes on, all unconscious again of what her song has done. Finally, Pippa passes, at night, the house where the bishop is visiting. It is the house of his dead brother; and he has come to look into that brother's affairs. Pippa thinks it must be best of all to be that holy man, living constantly in the light of God's love, and with the peace of God resting within his heart! As she approaches the house, the bishop is engaged in conversation with the steward of his dead brother. This steward is a bad man, and has done some wicked deeds for his late master. Amongst other things, he had, years before, put out of the way his master's niece-an infant whose life stood between his master and the inheritance of an elder brother's estate. The bishop, who has been secretly investigating these matters, and who supposes that this infant had been murdered, and that he himself is now heir to the estate, is determined to punish the wicked steward for his crimes. He tells him so. The steward then informs the bishop that his niece (who is none other than Pippa herself) was not murdered, but still lives, and that therefore she now stands in the way of the bishop's inheritance of the estate; but he offers to plot the girl's ruin, and get her out of the way, if only the bishop will let him leave. the country with the ill-gotten gains of his past iniquity. For a moment it almost seems as if the bishop were tempted to listen to the villain's offer; but, just then, Pippa's voice is heard outside, singing of God's care for young souls. The bishop is roused; he sees how he stands on the verge of dallying with a terrible temptation; and, in his strong revulsion of feeling, he at once summons his servants, and orders them to arrest the steward on the spot. And now, all unconscious once more of what she has done, Pippa passes on and goes to her own humble dwelling. There, before retiring to sleep, she reviews her holiday and she wonders whether it is possible that she should ever come near to any of those four persons whom she has fancied herself to be-come near to them, so as really to "touch" or move them, or influence their lives even in " some slight way!" : Such is the story of this dramatic poem. It is a poem which shows more genius even in its idea and plan than in its execution: for there can be little doubt that, as a work of art, it would have been more effective if the story had been more clearly told, and especially if the songs sung by Pippa had been of a simpler and more popular character. The poet himself seems to have been conscious of a certain failure to realize his own conception; for, in his inscription of the drama to his friend, Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, he uses the significant words, "I dedicate my best intentions in this poem." The poem may be regarded as a kind of parable, illustrative of the fact that humble and |