_THE POET OF ART_ The theory of human life which Browning conceived, and which I attempted in the last chapter to explain out of _Pauline_ and _Paracelsus_, underlies the poems which have to do with the arts.

Browning as the poet of Art is as fascinating a subject as Browning the poet of Nature; even more so, for he directed of set purpose a great deal of his poetry to the various arts, especially to music and painting.

Nor has he neglected to write about his own art.

The lover in Pauline is a poet.

Paracelsus and Aprile have both touched that art.