It’swiserbeinggoodthanbad；
It’ssaferbeingmeekthanfierce：
It’sfitterbeingsanethanmad。
Myownhopeis，asunwillpierceThethickestcloudeartheverstretched；
That，afterLast，returnstheFirst，Thoughawidecompassroundbefetched；
Thatwhatbeganbest，can’tendworst，NorwhatGodblessedonce，proveaccurst。
RabbiBenEzra。
1。
Growoldalongwithme！
Thebestisyettobe，Thelastoflife，forwhichthefirstwasmade：
OurtimesareinHishandWhosaith，”AwholeIplanned，Youthshowsbuthalf；trustGod：seeall，norbeafraid！”——
St。1。Growoldalongwithme！：IunderstandthattheagedRabbiisaddressingsomeyoungfriend。
Thebestisyettobe，thelastoflife：”Bythespirit，whenageshallo’ercomethee，thoustillshaltenjoyMoreindeed，thanatfirstwhen，unconscious，thelifeofaboy。”——
`Saul’，162，163。
2。
Notthat，amassingflowers，Youthsighed，”Whichrosemakeours，Whichlilyleaveandthenasbestrecall?”
Notthat，admiringstars，Ityearned，”NorJove，norMars；
Minebesomefiguredflamewhichblends，transcendsthemall！”
3。
NotforsuchhopesandfearsAnnullingyouth’sbriefyears，DoIremonstrate：follywidethemark！
RatherIprizethedoubtLowkindsexistwithout，Finishedandfiniteclods，untroubledbyaspark——
St。2，3。Theconstructionis，Idonotremonstratethatyouth，amassingflowers，sighed，Whichrosemakeours，whichlilyleave，etc。，northat，admiringstars，it(youth)yearned，etc。
4。
Poorvauntoflifeindeed，WeremanbutformedtofeedOnjoy，tosolelyseekandfindandfeast；
Suchfeastingended，thenAssureanendtomen；
Irkscarethecrop-fullbird?Fretsdoubtthemaw-crammedbeast?——
St。4。Irkscare：doescareirk……doesdoubtfret……
5。
RejoicewearealliedToThatwhichdothprovideAndnotpartake，effectandnotreceive！
Asparkdisturbsourclod；
NearerweholdofGodWhogives，thanofHistribesthattake，Imustbelieve——
St。5。NearerweholdofGod：havetitletoanearerrelationship。
SeeWebster，s。v。Hold，v。i。def。3。{Noeditionisgiven。}
6。
Then，welcomeeachrebuffThatturnsearth’ssmoothnessrough，Eachstingthatbidsnorsitnorstandbutgo！
Beourjoysthree-partspain！
Strive，andholdcheapthestrain；
Learn，noraccountthepang；dare，nevergrudgethethroe！
7。
Forthence，——aparadoxWhichcomfortswhileitmocks，——
Shalllifesucceedinthatitseemstofail：
WhatIaspiredtobe，Andwasnot，comfortsme：
AbruteImighthavebeen，butwouldnotsinki’thescale——
St。7。WhatIaspiredtobe：”’tisnotwhatmanDoeswhichexaltshim，butwhatmanWoulddo。”——`Saul’，v。296。
8。
WhatishebutabruteWhosefleshhathsoultosuit，Whosespiritworkslestarmsandlegswantplay?
Toman，proposethistest——
Thybodyatitsbest，Howfarcanthatprojectthysoulonitsloneway?——
St。8。Thybodyatitsbest，Howfar，etc。：”Inourfleshgrowsthebranchofthislife，inoursoulitbearsfruit。”——`Saul’，v。151。
9。
Yetgiftsshouldprovetheiruse：
IownthePastprofuseOfpowereachside，perfectioneveryturn：
Eyes，earstookintheirdole，Braintreasuredupthewhole；
Shouldnottheheartbeatonce”Howgoodtoliveandlearn”?——
St。9。thePast：hemeansthepastofhisownlife。
10。
Notoncebeat”PraisebeThine！
Iseethewholedesign，I，whosawPower，seenowLoveperfecttoo：
PerfectIcallThyplan：
ThanksthatIwasaman！
Maker，remake，complete，——ItrustwhatThoushaltdo！”——
St。10。Theoriginalreadingofthe3dversewas，”I，whosawPower，SHALLseeLoveperfecttoo。”Thechangehasclearedupadifficulty。
TheAll-Greatisnowtome，inmyage，theAll-Lovingtoo。
Maker，remake，complete：thereseemstobeananticipationhereofthemetaphorofthePotter’swheel，instanzas25-32，andseeJer。18：4。
11。
Forpleasantisthisflesh；
Oursoul，initsrose-meshPulledevertotheearth，stillyearnsforrest：
WouldwesomeprizemightholdTomatchthosemanifoldPossessionsofthebrute，——gainmost，aswedidbest！
12。
Letusnotalwayssay”Spiteofthisfleshto-dayIstrove，madehead，gainedgrounduponthewhole！”
Asthebirdwingsandsings，Letuscry”AllgoodthingsAreours，norsoulhelpsfleshmore，now，thanfleshhelpssoul！”
13。
ThereforeIsummonageTograntyouth’sheritage，Life’sstrugglehavingsofarreacheditsterm：
ThenceshallIpass，approvedAman，forayeremovedFromthedevelopedbrute；aGodthoughinthegerm——
St。13。ThenceshallIpass，etc。：Itwillbeobservedthathereandinsomeofthefollowingstanzas，theRabbispeaksinthepersonofyouth；soyouthshouldsaytoitself。
14。
AndIshallthereuponTakerest，ereIbegoneOncemoreonmyadventurebraveandnew：
Fearlessandunperplexed，WhenIwagebattlenext，Whatweaponstoselect，whatarmortoindue。
15。
Youthended，IshalltryMygainorlossthereby；
Leavethefireashes，whatsurvivesisgold：
AndIshallweighthesame，Givelifeitspraiseorblame：
Young，alllayindispute；Ishallknow，beingold。
16。
For，notewheneveningshuts，AcertainmomentcutsThedeedoff，callsthegloryfromthegray：
AwhisperfromthewestShoots——”Addthistotherest，Takeitandtryitsworth：herediesanotherday。”
17。
So，stillwithinthislife，Thoughliftedo’eritsstrife，Letmediscern，compare，pronounceatlast，”Thisragewasrighti’themain，Thatacquiescencevain：
TheFutureImayfacenowIhaveprovedthePast。”
18。
FormoreisnotreservedToman，withsouljustnervedToactto-morrowwhathelearnsto-day：
Here，workenoughtowatchTheMasterwork，andcatchHintsofthepropercraft，tricksofthetool’strueplay。
19。
Asitwasbetter，youthShouldstrive，throughactsuncouth，Towardmaking，thanreposeonaughtfoundmade：
So，better，age，exemptFromstrife，shouldknow，thantemptFurther。Thouwaitedstage：waitdeath，norbeafraid！
20。
Enoughnow，iftheRightAndGoodandInfiniteBenamedhere，asthoucallestthyhandthineown，Withknowledgeabsolute，SubjecttonodisputeFromfoolsthatcrowdedyouth，norlettheefeelalone——
St。20。knowledgeabsolute：soulknowledge，whichisreachedthroughdirectassimilationbythesoulofthehiddenprinciplesofthings，asdistinguishedfromintellectualknowledge，whichisbasedonthephenominal，andmustbemoreorlesssubjecttodispute。
21。
Bethere，foronceandall，Severedgreatmindsfromsmall，AnnouncedtoeachhisstationinthePast！
WasI，theworldarraigned，Werethey，mysouldisdained，Right?Letagespeakthetruthandgiveuspeaceatlast！——
St。21，vv。4，5。Therelativesaresuppressed；——WasIwhomtheworldarraigned，orweretheywhommysouldisdained，right?
22。
Now，whoshallarbitrate?
TenmenlovewhatIhate，ShunwhatIfollow，slightwhatIreceive；
Ten，whoinearsandeyesMatchme：weallsurmise，They，thisthing，andI，that：whomshallmysoulbelieve?
23。
NotonthevulgarmassCalled”work”，mustsentencepass，Thingsdone，thattooktheeyeandhadtheprice；
O’erwhich，fromlevelstand，Thelowworldlaiditshand，Foundstraightwaytoitsmind，couldvalueinatrice：
24。
Butall，theworld’scoarsethumbAndfingerfailedtoplumb，Sopassedinmakingupthemainaccount：
Allinstinctsimmature，Allpurposesunsure，Thatweighednotashiswork，yetswelledtheman’samount：
25。
ThoughtshardlytobepackedIntoanarrowact，Fanciesthatbrokethroughlanguageandescaped：
AllIcouldneverbe，All，menignoredinme，This，IwasworthtoGod，whosewheelthepitchershaped。
26。
Ay，notethatPotter’swheel，Thatmetaphor！andfeelWhytimespinsfast，whypassiveliesourclay，——
Thou，towhomfoolspropound，Whenthewinemakesitsround，”Sincelifefleets，allischange；thePastgone，seizeto-day！”——
St。26。Potter’swheel：”Butnow，OLord，thouartourFather：
wearetheclay，andthouourPotter；andwearealltheworkofthyhand。”——Is。64：8；andseeJer。18：2-6。
27。
Fool！Allthatis，atall，Lastsever，pastrecall；
Earthchanges，butthysoulandGodstandsure：
Whatenteredintothee，THATwas，is，andshallbe：
Time’swheelrunsbackorstops：Potterandclayendure。
28。
HefixedtheemidthisdanceOfplasticcircumstance，ThisPresent，thou，forsooth，wouldstfainarrest：
MachineryjustmeantTogivethysoulitsbent，Trythee，andturntheeforthsufficientlyimpressed。
29。
WhatthoughtheearliergroovesWhichranthelaughinglovesAroundthybase，nolongerpauseandpress?
Whatthough，aboutthyrim，Skull-thingsinordergrimGrowout，ingravermood，obeythesternerstress?
30。
Looknotthoudownbutup！
Tousesofacup，Thefestalboard，lamp’sflash，andtrumpet’speal，Thenewwine’sfoamingflow，TheMaster’slipsaglow！
Thou，heaven’sconsummatecup，whatneedstthouwithearth’swheel?
31。
ButIneed，nowasthen，Thee，God，whomouldestmen！
Andsince，notevenwhilethewhirlwasworst，DidI，——tothewheeloflifeWithshapesandcolorsrife，Bounddizzily，——mistakemyend，toslakeThythirst：
32。
So，takeanduseThywork，Amendwhatflawsmaylurk，Whatstraino’thestuff，whatwarpingspasttheaim！
MytimesbeinThyhand！
Perfectthecupasplanned！
Letageapproveofyouth，anddeathcompletethesame！
AGrammarian’sFuneral。
ShortlyaftertheRevivalofLearninginEurope。
Letusbeginandcarryupthiscorpse，Singingtogether。
Leavewethecommoncrofts，thevulgarthorpes，EachinitstetherSleepingsafeinthebosomoftheplain，Cared-fortillcock-crow：
LookoutifyonderbenotdayagainRimmingtherock-row！
That’stheappropriatecountry；there，man’sthought，Rarer，intenser，[10]
Self-gatheredforanoutbreak，asitought，Chafesinthecenser。
Leavewetheunletteredplainitsherdandcrop；
SeekwesepultureOnatallmountain，citiedtothetop，Crowdedwithculture！
Allthepeakssoar，butonetherestexcels；
Cloudsovercomeit；
No，yondersparkleisthecitadel’sCirclingitssummit。[20]
Thitherourpathlies；windweuptheheights！
Waityethewarning?
Ourlowlifewasthelevel’sandthenight’s：
He’sforthemorning。
Steptoatune，squarechests，erecteachhead，’Warethebeholders！
Thisisourmaster，famous，calm，anddead，Borneonourshoulders。
Sleep，cropandherd！sleep，darklingthorpeandcroftSafefromtheweather！###第45章
He，whomweconvoytohisgravealoft，Singingtogether，Hewasamanbornwiththyfaceandthroat，LyricApollo！
Longhelivednameless：howshouldspringtakenoteWinterwouldfollow?
Tilllo，thelittletouch，andyouthwasgone！
Crampedanddiminished，Moanedhe，”Newmeasures，otherfeetanon！”Mydanceisfinished?”[40]
No，that’stheworld’sway；(keepthemountain-side，Makeforthecity！)
Heknewthesignal，andsteppedonwithprideOvermen’spity；
Leftplayforwork，andgrappledwiththeworldBentonescaping：”What’sinthescroll，”quothhe，”thoukeepestfurled?
Showmetheirshaping，Theirswhomoststudiedman，thebardandsage，——
Give！”——So，hegownedhim，[50]
Straightgotbyheartthatbooktoitslastpage：
Learned，wefoundhim。
Yea，butwefoundhimbaldtoo，eyeslikelead，Accentsuncertain：”Timetotastelife，”anotherwouldhavesaid，”Upwiththecurtain！”
Thismansaidrather，”Actuallifecomesnext?
Patienceamoment！
GrantIhavemasteredlearning’scrabbedtext，Stillthere’sthecomment。[60]
Letmeknowall！Pratenotofmostorleast，Painfuloreasy！
EventothecrumbsI’dfaineatupthefeast，Ay，norfeelqueasy。”
Oh，suchalifeasheresolvedtolive，Whenhehadlearnedit，Whenhehadgatheredallbookshadtogive！
Sooner，hespurnedit。
Imagethewhole，thenexecutetheparts——
Fancythefabric[70]
Quite，ereyoubuild，eresteelstrikefirefromquartz，Eremortardabbrick！
(Here’sthetown-gatereached；there’sthemarket-placeGapingbeforeus。)
Yea，thisinhimwasthepeculiargrace(Heartenourchorus！)
Thatbeforelivinghe’dlearnhowtolive——
Noendtolearning：
Earnthemeansfirst——GodsurelywillcontriveUseforourearning。[80]
Othersmistrustandsay，”Buttimeescapes！
Livenowornever！”
Hesaid，”What’stime?LeaveNowfordogsandapes！
ManhasForever。”
Backtohisbookthen：deeperdroopedhishead：
CALCULUSrackedhim：
Leadenbefore，hiseyesgrewdrossoflead：
TUSSISattackedhim。”Now，master，takealittlerest！”——nothe！
(Cautionredoubled！[90]
Steptwoabreast，thewaywindsnarrowly！)
Notawhittroubled，Backtohisstudies，fresherthanatfirst，FierceasadragonHe(soul-hydropticwithasacredthirst)
Suckedattheflagon。
Oh，ifwedrawacirclepremature，Heedlessoffargain，Greedyforquickreturnsofprofit，sureBadisourbargain！[100]
Wasitnotgreat?didnothethrowonGod(Helovestheburthen)——
God’stasktomaketheheavenlyperiodPerfecttheearthen?
Didnothemagnifythemind，showclearJustwhatitallmeant?
Hewouldnotdiscountlife，asfoolsdohere，Paidbyinstalment。
Heventuredneckornothing——heaven’ssuccessFound，orearth’sfailure：[110]”Wiltthoutrustdeathornot?”Heanswered，”Yes！
Hencewithlife’spalelure！”
Thatlowmanseeksalittlethingtodo。
Seesitanddoesit：
Thishighman，withagreatthingtopursue，Diesereheknowsit。
Thatlowmangoesonaddingonetoone，Hishundred’ssoonhit：
Thishighman，aimingatamillion，Missesanunit。[120]
That，hastheworldhere——shouldheneedthenext，Lettheworldmindhim！
This，throwshimselfonGod，andunperplexedSeekingshallfindhim。
So，withthethrottlinghandsofdeathatstrife，Groundheatgrammar；
Still，throughtherattle，partsofspeechwererife：
WhilehecouldstammerHesettledHOTI’sbusiness——letitbe！——
ProperlybasedOUN——[130]
Gaveusthedoctrineoftheenclitic`De’，Deadfromthewaistdown。
Well，here’stheplatform，here’stheproperplace：
Hailtoyourpurlieus，Allyehighfliersofthefeatheredrace，Swallowsandcurlews！
Here’sthetop-peak；themultitudebelowLive，fortheycan，there：
ThismandecidednottoLivebutKnow——
Burythismanthere?[140]
Here——here’shisplace，wheremeteorsshoot，cloudsform，Lightningsareloosened，Starscomeandgo！Letjoybreakwiththestorm，Peaceletthedewsend！
Loftydesignsmustcloseinlikeeffects：
Loftilylying，Leavehim——stillloftierthantheworldsuspects，Livinganddying——
18。overcome：passover，overhang，overshadow；usedasinMacbethIII。IV。3，”overcomeuslikeasummer’scloud”。
39，40。Newmeasures，……finished?：doyousay?notatall。
42。Allinparentheses，throughoutthepoem，isaddressedbythespeakerdirectlytohiscompanions。
57。Actuallifecomesnext：doyousay?No。Ihavemoretodofirst。
86。Calculus：thestone。
88。Tussis：acough。
95。hydroptic：hydropic，dropsical。
129。Hoti：theGreekparticle`/Oti，conj。that，etc。
130。Oun：GreekparticleOu^’n，then，nowthen，etc。
131。theencliticDe：GreekDe{Deltaepsilon}；inregardtothis，thefollowingletterbyBrowningappearedintheLondon`DailyNews’
ofNov。21，1874：”TotheEditorof`TheDailyNews’。Sir，——
Inacleverarticlethismorningyouspeakof`thedoctrineoftheencliticDe’——`which，withalldeferencetoMr。Browning，inpointoffactdoesnotexist。’No，nottoMr。Browning：
butpraydefertoHerrButtmann，whosefifthlistof`enclitics’
ends`withtheinseparableDe’——ortoCurtius，whosefifthlistendsalsowith`De(meaning`towards’
andasademonstrativeappendage)’。Thatthisisnottobeconfoundedwiththeaccentuated`De，meaningBUT’，wasthe`doctrine’
whichtheGrammarianbequeathedtothosecapableofreceivingit——
Iam，sir，yoursobediently，R。B。”——`BrowningSoc。Papers’，PartI。，p。56。
AnEpistlecontainingtheStrangeMedicalExperienceofKarshish，theArabPhysician。
Karshish，thepicker-upoflearning’scrumbs，Thenot-incuriousinGod’shandiwork(Thisman’s-fleshhehathadmirablymade，Blownlikeabubble，kneadedlikeapaste，TocoopupandkeepdownonearthaspaceThatpuffofvaporfromhismouth，man’ssoul)——
ToAbib，all-sagaciousinourart，BreederinmeofwhatpoorskillIboast，LikemeinquisitivehowpricksandcracksBefallthefleshthroughtoomuchstressandstrain，[10]
WherebythewilyvaporfainwouldslipBackandrejoinitssourcebeforetheterm，——
Andaptestincontrivance(underGod)
Tobaffleitbydeftlystoppingsuch：——
ThevagrantScholartohisSageathomeSendsgreeting(healthandknowledge，famewithpeace)
Threesamplesoftruesnake-stone——rarerstill，Oneoftheothersort，themelon-shaped(Butfitter，poundedfine，forcharmsthandrugs)，Andwritethnowthetwenty-secondtime。[20]
MyjourneyingswerebroughttoJericho：
ThusIresume。Who，studiousinourart，Shallcountalittlelaborunrepaid?
Ihaveshedsweatenough，leftfleshandboneOnmanyaflintyfurlongofthisland。
Also，thecountry-sideisallonfireWithrumorsofamarchinghitherward：
SomesayVespasiancometh，some，hisson。
Ablacklynxsnarledandprickedatuftedear；
Lustofmybloodinflamedhisyellowballs：[30]
Icriedandthrewmystaff，andhewasgone。
Twicehavetherobbersstrippedandbeatenme，Andonceatowndeclaredmeforaspy；
Butattheend，IreachJerusalem，SincethispoorcovertwhereIpassthenight，ThisBethany，liesscarcethedistancethenceAmanwithplague-soresatthethirddegreeRunstillhedropsdowndead。Thoulaughesthere！
’Sooth，itelatesme，thusreposedandsafe，Tovoidthestuffingofmytravel-scrip，[40]
AndsharewiththeewhateverJewryyields。
AviscidcholerisobservableIntertians，Iwasnearlyboldtosay；
Andfalling-sicknesshathahappiercureThanourschoolwotsof：there’saspiderhereWeavesnoweb，watchesontheledgeoftombs，Sprinkledwithmottlesonanash-grayback；
Takefiveanddropthem……butwhoknowshismind，TheSyrianrunagateItrustthisto?
Hisservicepayethmeasublimate[50]
Blownuphisnosetohelptheailingeye。
Bestwait：IreachJerusalematmorn，Theresetinordermyexperiences，Gatherwhatmostdeserves，andgivetheeall——
OrImightadd，Judaea’sgum-tragacanthScalesoffinpurerflakes，shinesclearer-grained，Cracks’twixtthepestleandtheporphyry，Infineexceedsourproduce。Scalp-diseaseConfoundsme，crossingsowithleprosy：
ThouhadstadmiredonesortIgainedatZoar——[60]
Butzealoutrunsdiscretion。HereIend。
Yetstay！mySyrianblinkethgratefully，Protestethhisdevotionismyprice——
SupposeIwritewhatharmsnot，thoughhesteal?
Ihalfresolvetotellthee，yetIblush，Whatsetmeoffa-writingfirstofall。
AnitchIhad，astingtowrite，atang！
For，beitthistown’sbarrenness，——orelseTheManhadsomethinginthelookofhim，——
Hiscasehasstruckmefarmorethan’tisworth。[70]
So，pardonif——(lestpresentlyIlose，Inthegreatpressofnoveltyathand，Thecareandpainsthissomehowstolefromme)
Ibidtheetakethethingwhilefreshinmind，Almostinsight——for，wiltthouhavethetruth?
Theverymanisgonefrommebutnow，Whoseailmentisthesubjectofdiscourse。
Thusthen，andletthybetterwithelpall！
’Tisbutacaseofmania：subinducedByepilepsy，attheturning-point[80]
Oftranceprolongedundulysomethreedays；
When，bytheexhibitionofsomedrugOrspell，exorcization，strokeofartUnknowntomeandwhich’twerewelltoknow，Theevilthing，out-breaking，allatonce，Leftthemanwholeandsoundofbodyindeed，——
But，flinging(sotospeak)life’sgatestoowide，Makingaclearhouseofittoosuddenly，ThefirstconceitthatenteredmightinscribeWhateveritwasmindedonthewall[90]
Soplainlyatthatvantage，asitwere(Firstcome，firstserved)，thatnothingsubsequentAttainethtoerasethosefancy-scrawlsThejust-returnedandnew-establishedsoulHathgottennowsothoroughlybyheartThathenceforthshewillreadortheseornone。
Andfirst——theman’sownfirmconvictionrestsThathewasdead(infacttheyburiedhim)——
ThathewasdeadandthenrestoredtolifeByaNazarenephysicianofhistribe：[100]——
’Sayeth，thesamebade”Rise”，andhedidrise。”Suchcasesarediurnal”，thouwiltcry。
Notsothisfigment！——not，thatsuchafume，Insteadofgivingwaytotimeandhealth，Shouldeatitselfintothelifeoflife，Assaffrontingethflesh，blood，bones，andall！
Forsee，howhetakesuptheafter-life。
Theman——itisoneLazarusaJew，Sanguine，proportioned，fiftyyearsofage，Thebody’shabitwhollylaudable，[110]
Asmuch，indeed，beyondthecommonhealthAsheweremadeandputasidetoshow。
Think，couldwepenetratebyanydrugAndbathetheweariedsoulandworriedflesh，Andbringitclearandfair，bythreedays’sleep！
Whencehasthemanthebalmthatbrightensall?
Thisgrownmaneyestheworldnowlikeachild。
Someeldersofhistribe，Ishouldpremise，Ledintheirfriend，obedientasasheep，Tobearmyinquisition。Whiletheyspoke，[120]
Nowsharply，nowwithsorrow，——toldthecase，——
HelistenednotexceptIspoketohim，Butfoldedhistwohandsandletthemtalk，Watchingthefliesthatbuzzed：andyetnofool。
Andthat’sasamplehowhisyearsmustgo。
Lookifabeggar，infixedmiddle-life，Shouldfindatreasure，——canheusethesameWithstraitenedhabitsandwithtastesstarvedsmall，AndtakeatoncetohisimpoverishedbrainThesuddenelementthatchangesthings，[130]
Thatsetstheundreamed-ofraptureathishand，Andputsthecheapoldjoyinthescorneddust?
Ishenotsuchanoneasmovestomirth——
Warilyparsimonious，whennoneed，Wastefulasdrunkennessatunduetimes?
AllprudentcounselastowhatbefitsThegoldenmean，islostonsuchanone：
Theman’sfantasticwillistheman’slaw。
Sohere——wecallthetreasureknowledge，say，Increasedbeyondthefleshlyfaculty——[140]
