| Matthew Arnold (1822–88). The Poems of Matthew Arnold, 1840–1867. 1909. | | | | Empedocles on Etna, and Other Poems | | Revolutions |
| | [First published 1852. Reprinted 1855.]
BEFORE 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. | |
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| And Man has turn’d them many times: made Greece, | 5 |
| Rome, England, France:—yes, nor in vain essay’d | |
| Way after way, changes that never cease. | |
| The letters have combin’d: something was made. | |
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| But ah, an inextinguishable sense | |
| Haunts him that he has not made what he should. | 10 |
| That he has still, though old, to recommence, | |
| Since he has not yet found the word God would. | |
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| And Empire after Empire, at their height | |
| Of sway, have felt this boding sense come on. | |
| Have felt their huge frames not constructed right, | 15 |
| And droop’d, and slowly died upon their throne. | |
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| One day, thou say’st, there will at last appear | |
| The word, the order, which God meant should be.— | |
| Ah, we shall know that well when it comes near: | |
| The band will quit Man’s heart:—he will breathe free. | 20 | | | |
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