This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ...and good and evil desires, that stir within them, and which find only intense expression because they are intensely felt. These characters range, we may almost say, through the entire scale of human nature. Beside the arch-villain, that true 'spark of hell' Count Guido, and his four cut-throats, we have notable ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ...and good and evil desires, that stir within them, and which find only intense expression because they are intensely felt. These characters range, we may almost say, through the entire scale of human nature. Beside the arch-villain, that true 'spark of hell' Count Guido, and his four cut-throats, we have notable specimens of the 'subordinated/ vile'; Marzi-Medici, pusillanimous Governor of Arezzo, who will not help the weak, lest he offend the strong; the 'hireling' Archbishop, who will not save from the wolf's paw, the lamb that is within reach of his crazier; the craven monk.. Guido's two brothers, the Abate 'fox-faced horrible priest', and the young Girolamo, hybrid between wolf and fox.. and the mother of these, 'The hag that gave these three abortions birth '.... Then we have types of average humanity--impulsive gossip-loving busybodies... some philosophical dandy... the lawyers... (p. 179). Lastly, to set off against all this superlative and subordinate villany, this humdrum of the commonplace, this professional insincerity and greed--to set off against these, and vindicate the majesty of human nature, stand forth Pope Innocent in all the clarity of wisdom, of Christian fortitude and grace; Pompilia in the purity, the sweetness of womanly innocence; Caponsacchi in the full brightness of spiritual chivalry, a passionate pure knight of God. In English literature the creative faculty of the poet has not produced three characters more beautiful or better to contemplate than these three; and if the ethical teaching of Mr. Browning were confined to the profound moral which underlies these characters, he would deserve the study which his writings exact at our hands Scattered throughout these volumes are passages of rare spiritual and ethical value; but the su...
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