| Andrew Macphail, comp. The Book of Sorrow. 1916. | | | XIII. Farewell
The last word | | By Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) |
| | | CREEP into thy narrow bed, | |
| Creep, and let no more be said. | |
| Vain thy onset! all stands fast! | |
| Thou thyself must break at last. | |
| |
| Let the long contention cease! | 5 |
| Geese are swans, and swans are geese. | |
| Let them have it how they will! | |
| Thou art tired; best be still. | |
| |
| They out-talk’d thee, hiss’d thee, tore thee? | |
| Better men fared thus before thee! | 10 |
| Fired their ringing shot and pass’d, | |
| Hotly charged—and broke at last. | |
| |
| Charge once more, then, and be dumb! | |
| Let the victors, when they come, | |
| When the forts of folly fall, | 15 |
| Find thy body by the wall! | | | | |
|
|
