Browning has given us one monologue which takes place during a walk, "A Grammarian's Funeral." The speaker is one of the band carrying the body of his master from the "common crofts," and so he is represented as looking up to the top of the hill and talking about the appropriateness of burying the master on the hilltop. Browning's intimate knowledge of Greek was shown by the phrase "gave us the doctrine of the enclitic _De_." The London "Times" criticized this severely when the poem was published, saying that with all respect to Mr. Browning, there was no such enclitic. Browning answered in a note that proved his fine scholarship, and called attention to the fact that this was the point in dispute which the grammarian had tried to settle. Even the stages of the journey are shown, "Here's the town-gate reached: there's the market-place Gaping before us." In another place he says, "Caution redoubled, Step two abreast, the way winds narrowly!" while all the time he pours out his tribute to his master: "Oh, if we draw a circle premature Heedless of far gain, Greedy for quick returns of profit, sure Bad is our bargain!... That low man seeks a little thing to do, Sees it and does it: This high man, with a great thing to pursue, Dies ere he knows it. That low man goes on adding one to one, His hundred's soon hit: This high man, aiming at a million, Misses an unit. That, has the world here--should he need the next, Let the world mind him! This, throws himself on God, and unperplexed Seeking, shall find him." Then, when they arrive at the top, he says, "Well, here's the platform, here's the proper place," and addressing the birds, "All ye highfliers of the feathered race," he continues, giving his thoughts, as suggested by the very situation: "This man decided not to Live but Know-- Bury this man there? Here, here's his place, where meteors shoot, clouds form, Lightnings are loosened, Stars come and go! Let joy break with the storm, Peace let the dew send! Lofty designs must close in like effects: Loftily lying, Leave him, still loftier than the world suspects, Living and dying." Browning's "At the 'Mermaid'" reproduces a scene of historic interest. The inn where Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and other sympathetic friends used to meet, is presented to the imagination, and Shakespeare is the speaker. Some one has proposed a toast to him as the next poet. Shakespeare protests, and the poem is his answer. Here are shown his modesty, his optimism, his reverence, and his noble views of life. He smilingly points to his works and talks about them to these his friends in a simple, frank way. "Look and tell me! Written, spoken, Here's my lifelong work: and where-- Where's your warrant or my token I'm the dead king's son and heir?