_BROWNING'S THEORY OF HUMAN LIFE_ _PAULINE AND PARACELSUS_ To isolate Browning's view of Nature, and to leave it behind us, seemed advisable before speaking of his work as a poet of mankind.

We can now enter freely on that which is most distinctive, most excellent in his work--his human poetry; and the first thing that meets us and in his very first poems, is his special view of human nature, and of human life, and of the relation of both to God.

It marks his originality that this view was entirely his own.

Ancient thoughts of course are to be found in it, but his combination of them is original amongst the English poets.

It marks his genius that he wrought out this conception while he was yet so young.