George Meredith
Deepest and keenest of our time who pace
1
The variant by-paths of the uncertain heart,2
In undiscerned mysterious ways apart,3
Thou huntest on the Assyrian monster’s trace:4
That sweeping-pinioned Thing—with human face,5
Poor Man, with wings hoof-weighted lest they start
6
To try to breeze above this human mart,7
In heights pre-occupied of god-like race.8
Among the stammering sophists of the age
9
Thy words are absolute, thy vision true ;10
No hand but thine is found to fit the gage
11
The Titan, Shakespeare, to a whole world threw.12
Till thou hadst boldly to his challenge sprung,13
No rival had he in our English tongue.14