The wonderful passage which describes "spring-wind, as a dancing psaltress," passing over the earth, is marred by the presence of "young volcanoes" "cyclops-like Staring together with their eyes on flame," which young volcanoes were surely the offspring of the "young earthquake" of Byron.

But these are, as the French phrase has it, defects of the poem's qualities.

A few pieces of base metal are flung abroad unawares together with the lavish gold.
A companion poem to _Paracelsus_--so described by Browning to Leigh Hunt--was conceived by the poet soon after the appearance of the volume of 1835.

When _Strafford_ was published two years later, we learn from a preface, afterwards omitted, that he had been engaged on _Sordello_.
Browning desired to complete his studies for this poem of Italy among the scenes which it describes.

The manuscript was with him in Italy during his visit of 1838; but the work was not to be hastily completed.
_Sordello_ was published in 1840, five years after _Paracelsus_.