Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/76

38 Changing the pure emotion

Of her high devotion,

To a skin-deep sense

Of her own eloquence;

Strong to deceive, strong to enslave,—

Save, oh! save.

From the ingrained fashion

Of this earthly nature

That mars thy creature;

From grief that is but passion,

From mirth that is but feigning,

From tears that bring no healing,

From wild and weak complaining,

Thine old strength revealing,

Save, oh! save.

From doubt, where all is double;

Where wise men are not strong,

Where comfort turns to trouble,

Where just men suffer wrong;

Where sorrow treads on joy,

Where sweet things soonest cloy,

Where faiths are built on dust,

Where love is half mistrust,

Hungry, and barren, and sharp as the sea,—

Oh! set us free.

Oh, let the false dream fly,

Where our sick souls do lie

Tossing continually!

Oh, where thy voice doth come,

Let all doubts be dumb,

Let all words be mild,

All strifes be reconciled,

All pains beguiled!