The Norton Anthology of English literature. Volume 2

For the fullness of the days? Have we withered or agonized?

Why else was the pause prolonged but that singing might issue thence?

Why rushed the discords in but that harmony should be prized?

Sorrow is hard to bear, and doubt is slow to clear,

Each sufferer says his say, his scheme of the weal and woe:

But God has a few of us whom he whispers in the ear;

The rest may reason and welcome: 'tis we musicians know.

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Well, it is earth with me; silence resumes her reign:

I will be patient and proud, and soberly acquiesce.

Give me the keys. I feel for the common chord again,

Sliding by semitones, till I sink to the minor�yes,

And I blunt it into a ninth,2 and I stand on alien ground,

Surveying awhile the heights I rolled from into the deep;

Which, hark, I have dared and done, for my resting place is found,

The C Major3 of this life: so, now I will try to sleep.

1864

Rabbi Ben Ezra1

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

1. Cf. 2 Corinthians 5.1, where Saint Paul speaks 1167), was an eminent biblical scholar of Spain, of "a building of God, a house not made with but Browning makes little attempt to present him hands, eternal in the heavens." as a distinct individual or to relate him to the age 2. A discord that requires resolution. in which he lived. Unlike the more characteristic 3. A key without sharps or flats, representing the monologues, "Rabbi Ben Ezra" presents a meditaplane of ordinary life. tion on a theme, not an individual in the grip of a 1. The speaker, Abraham Ibn Ezra (ca. 1092� dramatic situation.

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130 6 / ROBERT BROWNING

The last of life, for which the first was made: Our times are in His hand 5 Who saith, "A whole I planned, Youth shows but half; trust God: see all nor be afraid!"

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Not that, amassing flowers, Youth sighed, "Which rose make ours, Which lily leave and then as best recall?" io Not that, admiring stars, It yearned, "Nor Jove, nor Mars; Mine be some figured flame which blends, transcends them all!"

3 Not for such hopes and fears Annulling youth's brief years, 15 Do I remonstrate: folly wide the mark!

Rather I prize the doubt

Low kinds exist without, Finished and finite clods, untroubled by a spark.

4 Poor vaunt of life indeed, 20 Were man but formed to feed On joy, to solely seek and find and feast: Such feasting ended, then

As sure an end to men; Irks care the crop-full bird? Frets doubt the maw-crammed beast?2

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25 Rejoice we are allied To That which doth provide And not partake, effect and not receive! A spark disturbs our clod; Nearer we hold of God 30 Who gives, than of His tribes that take, I must believe. 6 35Then, welcome each rebuff That turns earth's smoothness rough, Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go! Be our joys three parts pain! Strive, and hold cheap the strain; Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge the throe!0 anguish 7 For thence�a paradox Which comforts while it mocks - Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail: 40 What I aspired to be, And was not, comforts me: A brute I might have been, but would not sink i' the scale.

2. I.e., does care disturb a bird whose gullet ("crop") is full of food? Does doubt trouble an animal whose stomach ("maw") is full?

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RABBI BEN EZRA / 1 309

What is he but a brute

Whose flesh has soul to suit,

45 Whose spirit works lest arms and legs want play?

To man, propose this test�

Thy body at its best,

How far can that project thy soul on its lone way?

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Yet gifts should prove their use:

50 I own the Past profuse

Of power each side, perfection every turn:

Eyes, ears took in their dole,

Brain treasured up the whole;

Should not the heart beat once, "How good to live and learn"?

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55 Not once beat, "Praise be Thine!

I see the whole design,

I, who saw power, see now love perfect too:

Perfect I call Thy plan:

Thanks that 1 was a man!

60 Maker, remake, complete�I trust what Thou shalt do!" For pleasant is this flesh;

Our soul, in its rose-mesh'

Pulled ever to the earth, still yearns for rest;

Would we some prize might hold

65 To match those manifold Possessions of the brute�gain most, as we did best!

Let us not always say,

"Spite of this flesh today

I strove, made head, gained ground upon the whole!"

70 As the bird wings and sings,

Let us cry, "All good things

Are ours, nor soul helps flesh more, now, than flesh helps soul!"

'3

Therefore I summon age

To grant youth's heritage,

75 Life's struggle having so far reached its term:

Thence shall I pass, approved

A man, for aye removed

From the developed brute; a god though in the germ.

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And I shall thereupon

Take rest, ere I be gone

Once more on my adventure brave and new;4

3. The hody, which holds the soul in its net. 4. In the next lile.

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1308 / ROBERT BROWNING

Fearless and unperplexed, When I wage battle next, What weapons to select, what armor to indue.0 put on

15 85 Youth ended, I shall try My gain or loss thereby;

Leave the fire ashes,5 what survives is gold:

And I shall weigh the same,

Give life its praise or blame: 90 Young, all lay in dispute; I shall know, being old.

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