is utterances concerning his youthful
life printed in _Century Magazine_, 1881; he plans a series of
monodramatic epics; Browning's life-work, collectively one monodramatic
"epic"; Shakspere's and Browning's methods compared; Browning writes
"Pauline" in 1832; his own criticism on it; his parents' opinions; his
aunt's generous gift; the poem published in January 1833; description of
the poem; written under the inspiring stimulus of Shelley; its
autopsychical significance; its importance to the student of the poet's
works; quotations from "Pauline". Page 29.

CHAPTER III.

The public reception of "Pauline"; criticisms thereupon; Mr. Fox's
notice in the _Monthly Repository_, and its results; Dante Gabriel
Rossetti reads "Pauline" and writes to the author; Browning's reference
to Tennyson's reading of "Maud" in 1855; Browning frequents literary
society; reads at the British Museum; makes the acquaintance of Charles
Dickens and "Ion" Talfourd; a volume of poems by Tennyson published
simultaneously with "Pauline"; in 1833 he commences his travels; goes to
Russia; the sole record of his experiences there to be found in the poem
"Ivan Ivanovitch," published in _Dramatic Idyls_, 1879; his acquaintance
with Mazzini; Browning goes to Italy; visits Asolo, whence he drew hints
for "Sordello" and "Pippa Passes"; in 1834 he returns to Camberwell; in
autumn of 1834 and winter of 1835 commences "Sordello," writes
"Paracelsus," and one or two short poems; his love for Venice; a new
voice audible in "Johannes Agricola" and "Porphyria"; "Paracelsus,"
published in 1835; his own explanation of it; his love of walking in the
dark; some of "Paracelsus" and of "Strafford" composed in a wood near
Dulwich; concerning "Paracelsus" and Browning's sympathy with the
scientific spirit; description and scope of the poem; quotations
therefrom; estimate of the work, and its four lyrics. Page 49.

CHAPTER IV.

Criticisms upon "Paracelsus," important one written by John Forster;
Browning meets Macready at the house of Mr. Fox; personal description of
the poet; Macready's opinion of the poem; Browning spends New Year's
Day, 1836, at the house of the tragedian and meets John Forster;
Macready urges him to write a play; his subsequent interview with the
tragedian; he plans a drama to be entitled "Narses"; meets Wordsworth
and Walter Savage Landor at a supper party, when the young poet is
toasted, and Macready again proposes that Browning should write