THE little Athens from its pillared hill Yet reigns o'er spacious tracts of human mind: Britain, within her narrow bounds confined, Bends East and West to her sagacious will: While, recordless alike for good or ill, China extends her name o'er so much rind Of the round earth, and only stunts mankind To mean desires, low acts, and puny skill. Enormous masses of monotonous life! Teaching how weak is mere material power To roll our world toward its heavenly goal: Teaching how vain is each exhausted hour That does not mingle in the mental strife, That does not raise or purify the soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOOK [OF THE WORLD] by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN A LITTLE CHRISTMAS BASKET by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR CASSANDRA by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON ASPECTA MEDUSA by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI VERSES ADDRESSED TO IMITATOR OF FIRST SATIRE OF HORACE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU |