s the main
fact, historical.]

[Footnote 118: A Talmudic doctrine still held among the Jews. The
"Halaphta," with whom Mr. Browning connects it, was a noted Rabbi.]

[Footnote 119: The "Bier" and the "three daughters" was a received
Jewish name for the Constellation of the Great Bear. Hence the simile
derived from this (vol. xv. pp. 217-244).

The "Salem," mentioned at p. 218, is the mystical New Jerusalem to be
built of the spirits of the great and good.]

[Footnote 120: "Chetw. Hist. Collect.," cent. I., p. 17. Quoted by Nath.
Wanley, "Wonders of the Little World," p. 138.]

SUPPLEMENT.

"FERISHTAH'S FANCIES."

The idea of "FERISHTAH'S FANCIES" grew out of a fable by Pilpay, which
Mr. Browning read when a boy. He lately put this into verse; and it then
occurred to him to make the poem the beginning of a series, in which the
Dervish, who is first introduced as a learner, should reappear in the
character of a teacher. Ferishtah's "fancies" are the familiar
illustrations, by which his teachings are enforced. Each fancy or fable,
with its accompanying dialogue, is followed by a Lyric, in which the
same or cognate ideas are expressed in an emotional form; and the effect
produced by this combination of moods is itself illustrated in a
Prologue by the blended flavours of a favourite Italian dish, which is
fully described there. An introductory passage from "King Lear" seems to
tell us what we soon find out for ourselves, that Ferishtah's opinions
are in the main Mr. Browning's own.

Fancy 1. "THE EAGLE," contains the lesson which determined Ferishtah,
not yet a Dervish, to become one. He has learned from the experience
which it describes, that it is man's mission to feed those hungry ones
who are unable to feed themselves. "The soul often starves as well as
the body. He will minister to the hunger of the soul. And to this end
he will leave the solitude of the woods in which the lesson came to him,
and seek the haunts of men."

The Lyric deprecates the solitude which united souls may enjoy, by a
selfish or fastidious seclusion from the haunts of men.

2. "THE MELON-SELLER," records an incident referred to in a letter from
the "Times'" correspondent, written many years ago. It illustrates the
text--given by Mr. Browning in Hebrew--"Shall we receive good at the
hands of God, and shall we not receive evil?" and marks the second stage
in Ferishtah's progress towards Dervish-hood.

The Lyric bids the loved on