An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry

My Star.

The following passage from ‘Fifine at the Fair’, section 55, is an expansion of the idea involved in ‘My Star’, and is the best commentary which can be given on it:—

          “I search but cannot see
  What purpose serves the soul that strives, or world it tries
  Conclusions with, unless the fruit of victories
  Stay, one and all, stored up and guaranteed its own
  For ever, by some mode whereby shall be made known
  The gain of every life.  Death reads the title clear—
  What each soul for itself conquered from out things here:
  Since, IN THE SEEING SOUL, ALL WORTH LIES, I ASSERT,—
  AND NOUGHT I’ THE WORLD, WHICH, SAVE FOR SOUL THAT SEES, INERT
  WAS, IS, AND WOULD BE EVER,—STUFF FOR TRANSMUTING—NULL
  AND VOID UNTIL MAN’S BREATH EVOKE THE BEAUTIFUL—
  BUT, TOUCHED ARIGHT, PROMPT YIELDS EACH PARTICLE, ITS TONGUE
  OF ELEMENTAL FLAME,—no matter whence flame sprung
  From gums and spice, or else from straw and rottenness,
  So long as soul has power to make them burn, express
  What lights and warms henceforth, leaves only ash behind,
  Howe’er the chance:  if soul be privileged to find
  Food so soon that, at first snatch of eye, suck of breath,
  It shall absorb pure life:” etc.