Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: I. Personal: Great Writers | | Dickens | | Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) |
| | | CHIEF in thy generation born of men | |
| Whom English praise acclaimed as English born, | |
| With eyes that matched the world-wide eyes of morn | |
| For gleam of tears or laughter, tenderest then | |
| When thoughts of children warmed their light, or when | 5 |
| Reverence of age with love and labor worn, | |
| Or godlike pity fired with godlike scorn, | |
| Shot through them flame that winged thy swift live pen: | |
| Where stars and suns that we beheld not burn, | |
| Higher even than here, though highest was here thy place, | 10 |
| Love sees thy spirit laugh and speak and shine | |
| With Shakespeare, and the soft bright soul of Sterne, | |
| And Fielding’s kindliest might, and Goldsmith’s grace; | |
| Scarce one more loved or worthier than thine. | | | | |
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