Vigil and vision New Sonnets by John Payne |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
PROGRESS ------ OVER THE CLIFF. |
| VII. |
 | Vigil and vision |  |
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PROGRESS ------ OVER THE CLIFF.
MESEEMS,—in this our democratic day,When every wholesome check against abuse,
All lawful reverence and kindly use,
From wiser times inherited, away
Are swept, to give men's lusts the freer play,
When open stands Will's Revolution-sluice
And every dunce full freedom to the deuce
(None other!) has of going his own way,—
The world is like to one that stands, blindfold,
On a cliff-edge, above a raging deep,
What while his fellows hearten him be bold
Nor back a step for sake of safety go,
But, in the name of Progress, o'er the steep
Push on and plunge into the abyss below.
| Vigil and vision | |