Lucile By Owen Meredith [i.e. E. R. B. Lytton] |
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| VII. |
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| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. | XI. |
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| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| II. |
 | Lucile |  |
XI.
As it was, his chief fault was an unconscious awe
Of the little world, falsely call'd great, and the law
Of its lawless dictators;—an awe not indeed
Of that great world which justly on each human deed
Sits umpire, adjudging man's worth o'er man's grave,
Like those solemn Tribunals of Egypt, which gave
Or denied to her dead kings the tombs of the kings:
That grand court of Public Opinion, whence springs
Man's loyal allegiance to lofty control,
Which confines not his life, but concentrates his soul.
For obedience is nobler than freedom. What's free?
The vex'd straw on the wind, the froth'd spume on the sea:
The great ocean itself, as it rolls and it swells,
In the bonds of a boundless obedience dwells.
‘Ah, what will the world say?’.. the world!—therein lies
The question which, as it is utter'd, implies
All that's fine or that's feeble in thought and intent.
The distinction depends on the world that is meant.
Was it base, our own Nelson's life-cry for ‘A place
In Westminster Abbey, and Victory’? Base,
The Hero's last thought—‘Will men murmur my name
In Athens?’ Base? no!
Of the little world, falsely call'd great, and the law
Of its lawless dictators;—an awe not indeed
Of that great world which justly on each human deed
Sits umpire, adjudging man's worth o'er man's grave,
Like those solemn Tribunals of Egypt, which gave
Or denied to her dead kings the tombs of the kings:
That grand court of Public Opinion, whence springs
Man's loyal allegiance to lofty control,
Which confines not his life, but concentrates his soul.
For obedience is nobler than freedom. What's free?
The vex'd straw on the wind, the froth'd spume on the sea:
The great ocean itself, as it rolls and it swells,
In the bonds of a boundless obedience dwells.
‘Ah, what will the world say?’.. the world!—therein lies
The question which, as it is utter'd, implies
All that's fine or that's feeble in thought and intent.
The distinction depends on the world that is meant.
Was it base, our own Nelson's life-cry for ‘A place
In Westminster Abbey, and Victory’? Base,
35
In Athens?’ Base? no!
What is man's faith in fame,
But respect for the world's good opinion?
But respect for the world's good opinion?
What then?
Is it noble (since man owes submission to men
As the judges of man) the Fop's query—`Those cavillers
‘And gossips, what say they of me at the Travellers’,
‘Or White's?’ Noble? no!
Is it noble (since man owes submission to men
As the judges of man) the Fop's query—`Those cavillers
‘And gossips, what say they of me at the Travellers’,
‘Or White's?’ Noble? no!
Whence is faith weak in act,
But from fear of the world's false opinion?
But from fear of the world's false opinion?
| Lucile | |