Explore "Men of Genius" by Matthew Arnold on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Silent, the Lord of the world / Eyes from the heavenly height, / Girt by his far-shining train, / Us, who with banners unfurl'd / Fight life' many-chanc'd fight / Madly below, in the plain.
Thus saith the Lord to his own: --
"See ye the battle below?
Turmoil of death and of birth!
Too long let we them groan.
Haste, arise ye, and go; / Carry my peace upon earth."
Gladly they rise at his call; / Gladly they take his command; / Gladly descend to the plain.
Alas! How few of them all --
Those willing servants -- shall stand / In the Master's presence again!
Some in the tumult are lost: / Baffled, bewilder'd, they stray.
Some as prisoners draw breath.
Others -- the bravest -- are cross'd, / On the height of their bold-follow'd way, / By the swift-rushing missile of Death.
Hardly, hardly shall one / Come, with countenance bright, / O'er the cloud-wrapt, perilous plain: / His Master's errand well done, / Safe through the smoke of the fight, / Back to his Master again.