Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/315

Rh "Children of men! the unseen Power, whose eye

Forever doth accompany mankind,

Hath looked on no religion scornfully

That men did ever find.

"Which has not taught weak wills how much they can?

Which has not fallen on the dry heart like rain?

Which has not cried to sunk, self-weary man,—

Thou must be born again!

"Children of men! not that your age excel

In pride of life the ages of your sires,

But that ye think clear, feel deep, bear fruit well,

The Friend of man desires."

REVOLUTIONS.

man parted for this earthly strand,

While yet upon the verge of heaven he stood,

God put a heap of letters in his hand,

And bade him make with them what word he could.

And man has turned them many times; made Greece,

Rome, England, France; yes, nor in vain essayed

Way after way, changes that never cease!

The letters have combined, something was made.

But ah! an inextinguishable sense

Haunts him that he has not made what he should;

That he has still, though old, to recommence,

Since he has not yet found the word God would.

And empire after empire, at their height

Of sway, have felt this boding sense come on;

Have felt their huge frames not constructed right,

And drooped, and slowly died upon their throne.