Poems. Volume 3. George Meredith

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      Swung on a time-piece, and by turns

      A quivering energy to jump

      For seats angelical: it shrinks, it yearns,

      Loves, loathes; is flame or cinders; lastly cloud

      Capping a sullen crater: and mankind

      We see cloud-capped, an army of the dark,

      Because of thy straight leadership declined;

      At heels of this or that delusive spark:

      Now when the multitudinous races press

      Elbow to elbow hourly more,

      A thickened host; when now we hear aloud

      Life for the very life implore

      A signal of a visioned mark;

      Light of the mind, the mind’s discourse,

      The rational in graciousness,

      Thee by acknowledgement enthroned,

      To tame and lead that blind-eyed force

      In harmony of harness with the crowd,

      For payment of their dues; as yet disowned,

      Save where some dutiful lone creature, vowed

      To holy work, deems it the heart’s intent;

      Or where a silken circle views it cowled,

      The seeming figure of concordance, bent

      On satiating tyrant lust

      Or barren fits of sentiment.