impressive rites were held in
Westminster Abbey for Robert Browning. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Dean of Windsor, an aid-de-camp representing Queen Victoria, Dean Bradley,
the sub-dean, and many eminent canons, and Sir Frederick Bridge, of the
Abbey choir, all were present among the officiating clergy. The casket
under its purple pall, with a massive cross of violets, and wreaths of
lilies-of-the valley, and white roses (Mrs. Browning's favorite flower),
was followed by the honorary pall-bearers including Hallam Tennyson,
representing the Poet Laureate (whose health did not permit him to be
present), Archdeacon Farrar, the Master of Balliol (representing Oxford),
the Master of Trinity (representing Cambridge), Professor Masson
(representing the University of Edinburgh), and George Murray Smith. The
committal service was entirely choral, and Mrs. Browning's poem with its
touching refrain,

"He giveth His beloved sleep!"

was chanted by the full vested choir of the Abbey, to music composed for
the occasion by Sir Frederick Bridge. Preceding the Benediction, the
entire vast concourse of people united in singing the hymn,

"O God, our help in ages past!"

As that great assemblage turned away from the last rites in commemoration
of the poet who produced the largest body of poetry, and the most valuable
as a spiritual message, of any English poet, was there not wafted in the
air the choral strains from some unseen angelic choir, that thrilled the
venerable Abbey with celestial triumph:

"'Glory to God--to God!' he saith:
Knowledge by suffering entereth,
And Life is perfected by Death."

INDEX

Abinger, Lord, 18

"Abt Vogler," 205

"Andrea del Sarto," 152, 170

"Any Wife to Any Husband," 152

"Apprehension, An," 47

Arnold, Matthew, 112

Arnould, Joseph, friendship for Browning, 14, 39, 40, 129;
letters to Domett, 69, 94, 99, 103

Ashburton, Lady Louisa, 222

"Asolando," 5, 282, 292

"Aurora Leigh," 50, 52, 76, 127, 134, 143, 148, 158, 160, 164,
167, 171, 174-176, 210

"Balaustion's Adventure," 229

Barrett, Alfred, 16, 164

----, Arabel, 16, 50, 129, 137, 164, 202, 212

----, Edward (brother), 16, 22, 59;
death of, 18, 62, 135

----, Edward (father) legal name, 17;
marriage, 18;
character, 20, 21, 121, 164;
death, 178

----, Elizabeth. _See_ Moulton-Barrett, Elizabeth

----, George, 16, 50

----, He