Page:Four Victorian poets; a study of Clough (IA fourvictorianpoe00broorich).pdf/100

 law baffled us. And when He sent us here He left us only the stress of them, and yet their full desires. And we know we shall never win their fulfilment. Yet, there is a power which rules us, and there is a chance in that, the vaguest of chances, but a chance. This is the Empedocles' argument over again, and it is interesting to contrast it with Browning's view of the same aspect of the problem. Browning, looking out of himself with love upon humanity, saw far and clear the certain end which the inabilities of life suggested, and to which they led. Arnold, loving the personalities of his own soul more than man, saw at this time of his life only one dim chance for man. Gross is the film which self-consideration draws over the eyes of the spirit.

Take another, Lines at a Death Bed. The face of the dead is calm. The settled loveliness of rest is there. Is this the end of life? this the attainment of its desire? Is youth so fresh and bright because of the hope of rest in death? No, youth desires light and joy, life and passion, here, on this side of death—

This, too, is but a fragment of the problem, enough for a lyric, and an unfinished one.

Take another—take Courage. Our business here is to tame the will to Nature's law. Renounce, or endure, keeping the soul free from fear or shame. That is his stoicism; but there is room, Arnold thought, for