The ring and the book. Author's ed, Volume 2

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Page 234 - For the main criminal I have no hope Except in such a suddenness of fate. I stood at Naples once, a night so dark I could have scarce conjectured there was earth Anywhere, sky or sea or world at all : But the night's black was burst through by a blaze — Thunder struck blow on blow, earth groaned and bore, Through her whole length of mountain visible : There lay the city thick and plain with spires, And, like a ghost disshrouded, white the sea.
Page 216 - I can believe this dread machinery Of sin and sorrow, would confound me else, Devised — all pain, at most expenditure Of pain by Who devised pain — to evolve, By new machinery in counterpart, The moral qualities of man — how else ? — To make him love in turn and be beloved, Creative and self-sacrificing too, And thus eventually God-like, (ay,
Page 224 - How can man love but- what he yearns to help ? And that which men think weakness within strength, But angels know for strength and stronger yet — What were it else but the first things made new, But repetition of the miracle, The divine instance of self-sacrifice That never ends and aye begins for man ? So, never I miss footing in the maze, No, — I have light nor fear the dark at all.
Page 310 - Art, — wherein man nowise speaks to men, Only to mankind, — Art may tell a truth Obliquely, do the thing shall breed the thought, Nor wrong the thought, missing the mediate word.
Page 206 - Was the trial sore ? Temptation sharp ? Thank God a second time ! Why comes temptation but for man to meet •' And master and make crouch beneath his foot, And so be pedestaled in triumph ? Pray " Lead us into no such temptations, Lord...
Page 63 - Be as the angels rather, who, apart, Know themselves into one, are found at length Married, but marry never, no, nor give In marriage ; they are man and wife at once When the true time is : here we have to wait...
Page 310 - Art may tell a truth Obliquely, do the thing shall breed the thought, Nor wrong the thought, missing the mediate word. So may you paint your picture, twice show truth, Beyond mere imagery on the wall, — So, note by note, bring music from your mind, Deeper than ever e'en Beethoven dived, — So write a book shall mean beyond the facts, Suffice the eye and save the soul beside.
Page 310 - Thy right is wrong, eyes hast thou yet art blind ; Thine ears are stuffed and stopped, despite their length: And, oh, the foolishness thou countest faith...
Page 213 - Life is probation and the earth no goal But start.ing-point of man : compel him strive, Which means, in man, as good as reach the goal...
Page 201 - Everywhere I see in the world the intellect of man, That sword, the energy his subtle spear, The knowledge which defends him like a shield — Everywhere ; but they make not up, I think, The marvel of a soul like thine, earth's flower She holds up to the softened gaze of God...

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