'In harmony with Nature'? Restless fool,
Who with such heat dost preach what were to thee,
When true, the last impossibility;
To be like Nature strong, like Nature cool:
Know, man hath all which Nature hath, but more,
And in that more lie all his hopes of good.
Nature is cruel; man is sick of blood:
Nature is stubborn; man would fain adore:
Nature is fickle; man hath need of rest:
Nature forgives no debt, and fears no grave;
Man would be mild, and with safe conscience blest.
Man must begin, know this, where Nature ends;
Nature and man can never be fast friends.
Fool, if thou canst not pass her, rest her slave
To An Independent Preacher
Matthew Arnold
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Poem topics: never, sick, good, fast, strong, harmony, true, grave, cool, adore, slave, conscience, fool, nature, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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About To An Independent Preacher
To An Independent Preacher is a poem by Matthew Arnold. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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