Come back again, old heart! Ah me! Methinks in those thy coward fears There might, perchance, a courage be, That fails in these the manlier years; Courage to let the courage sink, Itself a coward base to think, Rather than not for heavenly light Wait on to show the truly right.

Arthur Hugh Clough

Categorized in : Thinking Heart Light

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars.

Arthur Hugh Clough

liars may lying

In front, the sun climbs slow, how slowly, but westward, look, the land is bright.

Arthur Hugh Clough

land military sun

Thou shalt not kill; but needst not strive officiously to keep alive.

Arthur Hugh Clough

suicidal strive alive

Allah isgreat, no doubt, and Juxtaposition his prophet.

Arthur Hugh Clough

juxtaposition prophet doubt

Grace is given of god, but knowledge is bought in the market.

Arthur Hugh Clough

given grace knowledge

For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, Seem here no painful inch to gain, Far back, through creeks and inlets making, Comes silent, flooding in, the main. And not by eastern windows only, When daylight comes, comes in the light; In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly! But westward, look, the land is bright!

Arthur Hugh Clough

tired light land

This world is bad enough maybe; We do not comprehend it; But in one fact can all agree God won't, and we can't mend it.

Arthur Hugh Clough

enough facts world

I watched them from the window, thy children at their play, And I thought of all my own dear friends, who were far, oh, far away, And childish loves, and childish cares, and a child's own buoyant gladness Came gushing back again to me with a soft and solemn sadness; And feelings frozen up full long, and thoughts of long ago, Seemed to be thawing at my heart with a warm and sudden flow.

Arthur Hugh Clough

sadness heart children

Truth is a golden thread, seen here and there In small bright specks upon the visible side Of our strange being's party-coloured web.

Arthur Hugh Clough

golden here-and-there party

It fortifies my soul to know That, though I perish, Truth is so: That, howsoe'er I stray and range, Whate'er I do, Thou dost not change. I steadier step when I recall That, if I slip Thou dost not fall.

Arthur Hugh Clough

soul steps fall

A world where nothing is had for nothing.

Arthur Hugh Clough

world

Idonot likebeingmoved:for thewill isexcited;andaction Is a most dangerous thing: I tremble for something factitious, Some malpractice of heart and illegitimate process; We are so proneto thesethings with our terrible notions of duty.

Arthur Hugh Clough

malpractice process heart

Say not the struggle nought availeth, The labour and the wounds are vain, The enemy faints not, nor faileth, And as things have been, things remain.

Arthur Hugh Clough

vain struggle enemy

There is no God', the wicked saith, 'And truly it's a blessing, For what he might have done with us It's better only guessing.

Arthur Hugh Clough

wicked done blessing

When panting sighs the bosom fill,

Arthur Hugh Clough

pain angel eye

The horrible pleasure of pleasing inferior people.

Arthur Hugh Clough

horrible pleasure people

No graven images may be Worshipped, except the currency.

Arthur Hugh Clough

currency idols may

O tell me, friends, while yet we part, And heart can yet be heard of heart, O tell me then, for what is it Our early plan of life we quit; From all our old intentions range, And why does all so wholly change? O tell me, friends, while yet we part!

Arthur Hugh Clough

quitting doe heart

There is a great Field-Marshal, my friend, who arrays our battalions; Let us to Providence trust, and abide and work in our stations.

Arthur Hugh Clough

providence my-friends fields

Rome, believe me, my friend, is like its own Monte Testaceo, Merelya marvellous mass of broken and castaway wine-pots.

Arthur Hugh Clough

rome wine believe