Explore "Written in Emerson's Essays" by Matthew Arnold on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"O monstrous, dead, unprofitable world, / That thou canst hear, and hearing, hold thy way.
A voice oracular hath peal'd to-day, / To-day a hero's banner is unfurl'd.
Hast thou no lip for welcome? " So I said.
Man after man, the world smil'd and pass'd by: / A smile of wistful incredulity / As though one spake of life unto the dead: / Scornful, and strange, and sorrowful; and full / Of bitter knowledge. Yet the Will is free: / Strong is the Soul, and wise, and beautiful: / The seeds of godlike power are in us still: / Gods are we, Bards, Saints, Heroes, if we will.
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Dumb judges, answer, truth or mockery?