Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/255

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A NAMELESS EPITAPH.
217

"No, I nothing can perceive!
Without that, all's dark for men.
That, or nothing, I believe."—
For God's sake, believe it, then!




THE LAST WORD.

Creep into thy narrow bed,—
Creep, and let no more be said.
Vain thy onset! all stands fast.
Thou thyself must break at last.


Let the long contention cease!
Geese are swans, and swans are geese.
Let them have it how they will!
Thou art tired: best be still.


They out-talked thee, hissed thee, tore thee?
Better men fared thus before thee;
Fired their ringing shot, and passed,
Hotly charged—and sank at last.


Charge once more, then, and be dumb!
Let the victors, when they come,
When the forts of folly fall,
Find thy body by the wall!




A NAMELESS EPITAPH.

Ask not my name, O friend!
That Being only, which hath known each man
From the beginning, can
Remember each unto the end.