Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WORLD TO THE SOUL, by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Soul! That may'st have been divine Last Line: Death may give thee peace, not I. Alternate Author Name(s): Houghton, 1st Baron; Houghton, Lord Subject(s): Conscience | ||||||||
SOUL! that may'st have been divine, Now I claim and take thee mine; Now thy own true bliss will be In thy loyalty to me. Though thou seemest without stain, There is evil in thy grain; Thou hast tasted of the fruit Of which Knowledge is the root. So I must not let thee rest, Lull'd on Faith's maternal breast; Faith and Fancy mar the plan Of the making of a man. So thy tender heart I bare To Ambition's frosty air; So I plunge thee deep in doubt, That thou may'st grow hard and stout. So I bid the eager Boy Sense in every form enjoy; Stinting not the moment's pleasure, Save to gain some fuller measure. Thou wilt lose at last the zest, Thou wilt need some higher quest; Then I bid thee rise a Man, And I aid thee all I can. Fix thee on some worthy aim, Proving danger, fronting shame; Knowing only friends or foes, As they speed thee or oppose: Trampling with thy rapid feet Feelings fond and pleas discreet; Only for excuses sue In the great things thou canst do. If what shone afar so grand, Turn to nothing in thy hand, On, again -- the virtue lies In the struggle, not the prize; Only rest not: failure-curst Turn to Pleasure at the worst; That may calm thy conscience-cry -- Death may give thee peace, not I. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOUND WANTING by EMILY DICKINSON CONSCIENCE AND REMORSE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONSCIENCE by SEAMUS HEANEY TO HIS CONSCIENCE by ROBERT HERRICK SONNET: 151 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE A COWBOY ALONE WITH HIS CONSCIENCE by JAMES BARTON ADAMS THE COMBAT, BETWEENE CONSCIENCE AND COVETOUSNESSE by RICHARD BARNFIELD TO HIS WORSHIPFULL GOOD FRIEND, MAISTER JOHN STEVENTON by RICHARD BARNFIELD FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: MURDERER'S HAUNTED COUCH by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES |
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