| Matthew Arnold (1822–88). The Poems of Matthew Arnold, 1840–1867. 1909. | | | | The Strayed Reveller, and Other Poems | | Sonnets: Written in Emerson’s Essays |
| | [First published 1849. Reprinted 1853.]
‘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 noise 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 godlike power are in us still: | |
| Gods are we, Bards, Saints, Heroes, if we will.— | |
| Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery? | | | | |
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