Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WRITTEN IN BUTLER'S SERMONS, by MATTHEW ARNOLD



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WRITTEN IN BUTLER'S SERMONS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Affections, instincts, principles, and powers
Last Line: In cloudy circles, to eternity.
Subject(s): Butler, Samuel (1612-1680)


AFFECTIONS, Instincts, Principles, and Powers,
Impulse and Reason, Freedom and Control--
So men, unravelling God's harmonious whole,
Rend in a thousand shreds this life of ours.
Vain labour! Deep and broad, where none may see,
Spring the foundations of the shadowy throne
Where man's one Nature, queen-like, sits alone,
Centred in a majestic unity;
And rays her powers, like sister islands, seen
Linking their coral arms under the sea:
Or cluster'd peaks, with plunging gulfs between
Spann'd by aerial arches, all of gold;
Whereo'er the chariot wheels of Life are roll'd
In cloudy circles, to eternity.





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