| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| From “Modern Love.” I. “All Other Joys” |
| | | George Meredith (1828–1909) |
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| ALL other joys of life he strove to warm, | |
| And magnify, and catch them to his lip; | |
| But they had suffer’d shipwreck with the ship, | |
| And gaz’ upon him sallow from the storm. | |
| Or if Delusion came, ’t was but to show | 5 |
| The coming minute mock the one that went. | |
| Cold as a mountain in its star-pitch’d tent | |
| Stood high Philosophy, less friend than foe; | |
| Whom self-caged Passion, from its prison-bars, | |
| Is always watching with a wondering hate. | 10 |
| Not till the fire is dying the grate, | |
| Look we for any kinship with the stars. | |
| Oh, wisdom never comes when it is gold, | |
| And the great price we pay for it full worth! | |
| We have it only when we are half earth: | 15 |
| Little avails that coinage to the old! | |
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