| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | March 22 | | Death of Goethe | | By Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) |
| | (Died March 22, 1832)
* * * * * WHEN Goethe’s death was told, we said: | |
| Sunk, then, is Europe’s sagest head. | |
| Physician of the iron age, | |
| Goethe has done his pilgrimage. | |
| He took the suffering human race, | 5 |
| He read each wound, each weakness clear; | |
| And struck his finger on the place, | |
| And said: “Thou ailest here and here!” | |
| He looked on Europe’s dying hour | |
| Of fitful dream and feverish power; | 10 |
| His eye plunged down the weltering strife, | |
| The turmoil of expiring life— | |
| He said: “The end is everywhere, | |
| Art still has truth, take refuge there!” | |
| And he was happy, if to know | 15 |
| Causes of things, and far below | |
| His feet to see the lurid flow | |
| Of terror, and insane distress, | |
| And headlong fate, be happiness. * * * * * | | | | |
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