THE little Athens from its pillared hill Yet reigns o'er spacious tracts of human mind: Britain, within her narrow bounds confined, Bends East and West to her sagacious will: While, recordless alike for good or ill, China extends her name o'er so much rind Of the round earth, and only stunts mankind To mean desires, low acts, and puny skill. Enormous masses of monotonous life! Teaching how weak is mere material power To roll our world toward its heavenly goal: Teaching how vain is each exhausted hour That does not mingle in the mental strife, That does not raise or purify the soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HARD TIMES IN ELFLAND; A STORY OF CHRISTMAS EVE by SIDNEY LANIER ON THE THREE PHILOSOPHICAL POETS by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE FALL; A GREAT FAVORIT BEHEADED by LUIS DE GONGORA THE PRINCESS; A MEDLEY by ALFRED TENNYSON IMAGES: 6 by RICHARD ALDINGTON |