 | Sursum Corda |  |
33
TO MATTHEW ARNOLD IN AMERICA.
O poet, who hast left awhile
For larger land and sea
The narrow limits of our isle,
What gain is come to thee?
For larger land and sea
The narrow limits of our isle,
What gain is come to thee?
What higher dreams? what holier mood?
What hopes for unborn years?
What noble deeds have warmed thy blood?
What sorrows waked thy tears?
What hopes for unborn years?
What noble deeds have warmed thy blood?
What sorrows waked thy tears?
What hast thou seen in sea or sky?
What in the wider earth?
What new light flashing on the eye?
What loveliness or worth?
What in the wider earth?
What new light flashing on the eye?
What loveliness or worth?
34
What ecstacy in dancing foam?
What wrath in roaring sea?
We are thy brethren—here thy home:
We look to share with thee.
What wrath in roaring sea?
We are thy brethren—here thy home:
We look to share with thee.
Too long thy lyre untouched has lien,
And thy melodious voice
Has tones that seem not truly thine:—
Is this, is this thy choice?
And thy melodious voice
Has tones that seem not truly thine:—
Is this, is this thy choice?
“Ah, yet consider it again!”
Thy Thyrsis sang of yore;
We borrow thy lost friend's refrain,
And bid thee sing once more!
Thy Thyrsis sang of yore;
We borrow thy lost friend's refrain,
And bid thee sing once more!
| Sursum Corda | |