Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)

[See also 1852 and 1867]

To an Independent Preacher

Who Preached That We Should Be “In Harmony With Nature”

“IN harmony with Nature?” Restless fool,

Who with such heat dost preach what were to thee,

When true, the last impossibility;

To be like Nature strong, like Nature cool:—

Know, man hath all which Nature hath, but more,

And in that more lie all his hopes of good.

Nature is cruel; man is sick of blood:

Nature is stubborn; man would fain adore:

Nature is fickle; man hath need of rest:

Nature forgives no debt, and fears no grave;

Man would be mild, and with safe conscience blest.

Man must begin, know this, where Nature ends;

Nature and man can never be fast friends.

Fool, if thou canst not pass her, rest her slave!

Arthur Hugh Clough (1819–1861)

[See also 1839 and 1869]

“Blank Misgivings of a Creature moving about in Worlds not realised”

HERE am I yet, another twelvemonth spent,

One-third departed of the mortal span,

Carrying on the child into the man,

Nothing into reality. Sails rent,

And rudder broken,—reason impotent,—

Affections all unfixed; so forth I fare

On the mid seas unheedingly, so dare

To do and to be done by, well content.

So was it from the first, so is it yet;

Yea, the first kiss that by these lips was set

On any human lips, methinks was sin—

Sin, cowardice, and falsehood; for the will

Into a deed e'en then advanced, wherein

God, unidentified, was thought-of still.