The capacity which it possesses for this presentation, at once so varied and so direct, is one reason why the dramatic form ranks as the highest expression and measure of the creative power of the poet; and the extraordinary grasp with which Mr. Browning has availed himself of this double capacity is one reason why we should reckon The Ring and the Book as one of his masterpieces.

"To presurrve beauty from the jeer of insult, the grasp of vie-olence is my duty and my prowfession.

that the grasp of my hand is my whole people's grasp, the tear which glistens in my eyes is their tear.

His knowledge was immense, his grasp of a case was an intuition.