And Common-sense said: "You have done your best; do not be dismayed; you will only be surprised, and when the shock is over you will smile at your fear." And as he thought thus the whole sky became a sea of fire.

A fierce and vindictive scribble of red quick flame ran across it, and the universe was burned away.

"And I knew," thought Browning, "now that Judgment had come, that I had chosen this world, its beauty, its knowledge, its good--that, though I often looked above, yet to renounce utterly the beauty of this earth and man was too hard for me." And a voice came: "Eternity is here, and thou art judged." And then Christ stood before him and said: "Thou hast preferred the finite when the infinite was in thy power.

Earthly joys were palpable and tainted.
The heavenly joys flitted before thee, faint, and rare, and taintless.
Thou hast chosen those of this world.

They are thine." "O rapture! is this the Judgment?
Earth's exquisite treasures of wonder and delight for me!" "So soon made happy," said the voice.