| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| Written in Emerson’s Essays |
| | | Matthew Arnold (1822–88) |
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| “O MONSTROUS, dead, unprofitable world, | |
| That thou canst hear, and hearing, hold thy way! | |
| A voice oracular hath peal’d to-day, | |
| To-day a hero’s banner is unfurl’d; | |
| Hast thou no lip for welcome?”—So I said. | 5 |
| Man after man, the world smil’d and pass’d by; | |
| A smile of wistful incredulity | |
| As though one spake of life unto the dead— | |
| Scornful, and strange, and sorrowful, and full | |
| Of bitter knowledge. Yet the will is free; | 10 |
| Strong is the soul, and wise, and beautiful; | |
| The seeds of god-like power are in us still; | |
| Gods are we, bards, saints, heroes, if we will!— | |
| Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery? | |
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