·
3 мин
Слушать

Progress

The Master stood upon the mount, and taught.  He saw a fire in his disciples’ eyes;  ‘The old law’, they said, ‘is wholly come to naught!    Behold the new world rise!’    ‘Was it’, the Lord then said, ‘with scorn ye saw          The old law observed by Scribes and Pharisees?  I say unto you, see ye keep that law    More faithfully than these!    ‘Too hasty heads for ordering worlds, alas!  Think not that I to annul the law have will’d;         No jot, no tittle from the law shall pass,    Till all hath been fulfill’d.’    So Christ said eighteen hundred years ago.  And what then shall be said to those to-day,  Who cry aloud to lay the old world low          To clear the new world’s way?    ‘Religious fervours! ardour misapplied!  Hence, hence,’ they cry, ’ye do but keep man blind!  But keep him self-immersed, preoccupied,    And lame the active mind!’          Ah! from the old world let some one answer give:  ‘Scorn ye this world, their tears, their inward cares?  I say unto you, see that your souls live    A deeper life than theirs!    ‘Say ye:

The spirit of man has found new roads,         And we must leave the old faiths, and walk therein?—  Leave then the Cross as ye have left carved gods,    But guard the fire within!    ‘Bright, else, and fast the stream of life may roll,  And no man may the other’s hurt behold;         Yet each will have one anguish—his own soul    Which perishes of cold.’    Here let that voice make end; then let a strain,  From a far lonelier distance, like the wind  Be heard, floating through heaven, and fill again          These men’s profoundest mind:    ‘Children of men! the unseen Power, whose eye  For ever doth accompany mankind,  Hath looked on no religion scornfully    That men did ever find.          ‘Which has not taught weak wills how much they can?  Which has not fall’n on the dry heart like rain?  Which has not cried to sunk, self-weary man:    Thou must be born again!    ‘Children of men! not that your age excel         In pride of life the ages of your sires,  But that you think clear, feel deep, bear fruit well,    The Friend of man desires.’

0
0
72
Подарок

Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son …
Комментарии
Вам нужно войти , чтобы оставить комментарий
Сегодня читают
Ryfma
Ryfma - это социальная сеть для публикации книг, стихов и прозы, для общения писателей и читателей. Публикуй стихи и прозу бесплатно.