suggested by the remembrance of a passage in John
Bunyan's "Life and Death of Mr. Badman." Bunyan relates there that some
twenty years ago, "at a summer assizes holden at Hertford, while the
judge was sitting on the Bench," a certain old Tod came into the Court,
and declared himself "the veriest rogue that breathes upon the earth"--a
thief from childhood, &c., &c.; that the judge first thought him mad,
but after conferring with some of the justices, agreed to indict him "of
several felonious actions;" and that as he heartily confessed to all of
these, he was hanged, with his wife, at the same time. Mr. Browning has
turned Hertford into Bedford; made the time of the occurrence coincide
with that of Bunyan's imprisonment; and supposed the evident conversion
of this man and woman to be among the many which he effected there. The
blind daughter of Bunyan, who plays an important part in "Ned Bratts,"
is affectingly spoken of in her father's work; and the tag-laces, which
have subserved the criminal purposes of Bratts and his wife, represent
an industry by which he is known to have supported himself in prison.
Mr. Browning, finally, has used the indications Bunyan gives, of the
incident taking place on a very hot day, so as to combine the sense of
spiritual stirring with one of unwholesome and grotesque physical
excitement; and this, as he describes it, is the genuine key-note of the
situation.

The character of Ned Bratts is made a perfect vehicle for these
impressions. His "Tab" (Tabitha) has had an interview with John Bunyan,
and been really moved by his majestic presence, and warning, yet
hope-inspiring words. But he himself has been principally worked upon by
the reading of the "Pilgrim's Progress;" and we see in him throughout,
an unregenerate ruffian, whose carnal energies have merely transferred
themselves to another field; and whose blood is fired to this act of
martyrdom both by yesterday's potations, and to-day's virtuously endured
thirst. "A mug," he cries, in the midst of his confessions; or, "no
(addressing his wife), a prayer!"

"Dip for one out of the Book!..." (vol. xv. p. 67.)

The precarious nature of his conversion is, indeed, vividly present to
his own mind. It is borne in upon him that he is "Christmas," and must
escape from the City of Destruction. He would like nothing better, in
his present mood, than to undertake the whole Pilgrimage, and, as it
were, cudgel his way through; and since it is