The Second Part of “Casa Guidi Windows” is a sad sequel to the First, but Mrs. Browning does not deride.  She bows before the inevitable, but is firm in her belief of a future living Italy.

  “In the name of Italy
  Meantime her patriot dead have benison;
  They only have done well;—­and what they did
  Being perfect, it shall triumph.  Let them slumber!”

Her short-lived credence in the good faith of Popes was buried with much bitterness of heart:—­

  “And peradventure other eyes may see,
  From Casa Guidi windows, what is done
  Or undone.  Whatsoever deeds they be,
  Pope Pius will be glorified in none.”

It is a matter of great thankfulness that God permitted Mrs. Browning to witness the second Italian revolution before claiming her for heaven.  No patriot Italian, of whatever high degree, gave greater sympathy to the aspirations of 1859 than Mrs. Browning, an echo of which the world has read in her “Poems before Congress” and still later contributions to the New York “Independent.”  Great was the moral courage of this frail woman to publish the “Poems before Congress” at a time when England was most suspicious of Napoleon.  Greater were her convictions, when she abased England and exalted France for the cold neutrality of the one and the generous aid of the other in this war of Italian independence.  Bravely did she bear up against the angry criticism excited by such anti-English sentiment.  Strong in her right, Mrs. Browning was willing to brave the storm, confident that truth would prevail in the end.  Apart from certain tours de force in rhythm, there is much that is grand and as much that is beautiful in these Poems, while there is the stamp of power upon every page.  It is felt that a great soul is in earnest about vital principles, and earnestness of itself is a giant as rare as forcible.  Though there are few now who look upon Napoleon as

  “Larger so much by the heart”

than others “who have governed and led,” there are many who acknowledge him to be

  “Larger so much by the head,”

and regard him as she did,—­Italy’s best friend in the hour of need.  Her disciples are increasing, and soon “Napoleon III. in Italy” will be read with the admiration which it deserves.

Beautiful in its pathos is the poem of “A Court Lady,” and there are few satires more biting than “An August Voice,” which, as an interpretation of the Napoleonic words, is perfect.  Nor did she fail to vindicate the Peace of Villafranca:—­

  “But He stood sad before the sun
  (The peoples felt their fate): 
  ’The world is many,—­I am one;
  My great Deed was too great. 
  God’s fruit of justice ripens slow: 
  Men’s souls are narrow; let them grow. 
  My brothers, we must wait.’”

And truly, what Napoleon then failed, from opposition, to accomplish by the sword, has since been, to a great extent, accomplished by diplomacy.