R430800A. Pippa Passes; King Victor and King Charles; Dramatic Lyrics; The Return of the Druses.
The Gentleman’s Magazine, August 1843, pp. 168–169.
As reprinted in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 7, 401.
Of Mr. Browning’s poetical powers and philosophical knowledge of the mind of man, we have a very high opinion, and on some of the eloquent and powerful passages in his former productions we have been delighted to dwell. His Paracelsus was a noble monster; but as regards the present work, we take it that Mr. Browning in poetry, as Mr. Turner in the sister art of painting, being self-delighted with the exercise of his acknowledged powers, writes for his own gratification and to his own will, without much regard to the approbation or applause of his readers. His mind is full of imagery, and all fancies quaint and noble; a copious flow of language is at his command; he is master of the passions that sway the human heart; and thus conscious of his powers, he mounts his steed, turns the magic peg in its ear, and instantly shoots aloft, and goes careering along in the high regions of the empyrean, hardly visible to ordinary mortals. Of his four numbers we like best his first, Pippa Passes. The scene between the wife Olivia and her paramour Sibald [sic], though wild and fantastic, is very poetically drawn; and so is the sketch of the Poor Girls who sit on the steps near the Duomo of S. Maria. In the second tragedy, King Victor and King Charles, we confess the ability, but consider the result inadequate. In “The Return of the Druses,” we did not feel at all interested. The dramatic lyrics are very clever in parts; but the following is perfect as a whole, as an excellent companion to the best of the spirited old political ballads and garlands.
cavalier tunes.—1. marching along.
1.
Kentish Sir Byng stood for his King,
Bidding the crop-headed Parliament swing,
And pressing on troops unable to stoop,
And see the rogues flourish and honest men droop,
Marched them along, fifty score strong,
Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.
2.
God for King Charles! Pym and such carles,
To the devil that prompts ’em their treasonous parles.
Cavaliers up! lips from the cup,
Hands from the pasty, nor bite take, nor sup,
’Till you’re (Chorus) marching along, fifty score strong,
Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.
3.
Hampden to hell! and his obsequies knell,
Serve Rudyard, and Fiennes, and young Harry as well.
England, good cheer! Rupert is near,
Kentish and loyalists keep we not here.
(Chorus) Marching along, fifty score strong,
Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.
4.
Then God for King Charles! Pym and his snarles,
To the devil that pricks on such pestilent carles.
Hold by the right, you double your might,
So onward to Nottingham, fresh for the fight,
March us along, fifty score strong,
Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.
The Cloister (Spanish) is the next best, in our belief, but we have not room to extract it.
Reviewed:
Bells & Pomegranates. No. I. Pippa Passes (RB), London: Edward Moxon, 1841.
Bells & Pomegranates. No. II. King Victor and King Charles (RB), London: Edward Moxon, 1842.
Bells & Pomegranates. No. III. Dramatic Lyrics (RB), London: Edward Moxon, 1842.
Bells & Pomegranates. No. IV. The Return of the Druses (RB), London: Edward Moxon, 1843.
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