From 'Pauline'
O
God,
where
does
this
tend—these
struggling
aims?
What
would
I
have?
What
is
this
‘sleep’,
which
seems
To
bound
all?
can
there
be
a
‘waking’
point
Of
crowning
life?
The
soul
would
never
rule—
It
would
be
first
in
all
things—it
would
have
Its
utmost
pleasure
filled,—but
that
complete
Commanding
for
commanding
sickens
it.
The
last
point
I
can
trace
is,
rest
beneath
Some
better
essence
than
itself—in
weakness;
This
is
‘myself’—not
what
I
think
should
be
And
what
is
that
I
hunger
for
but
God?
My
God,
my
God!
let
me
for
once
look
on
thee
As
tho’
nought
else
existed:
we
alone.
And
as
creation
crumbles,
my
soul’s
spark
Expands
till
I
can
say,
‘Even
from
myself
I
need
thee,
and
I
feel
thee,
and
I
love
thee;
I
do
not
plead
my
rapture
in
thy
works
For
love
of
thee—or
that
I
feel
as
one
Who
cannot
die—but
there
is
that
in
me
Which
turns
to
thee,
which
loves,
or
which
should
love.’
Why
have
I
girt
myself
with
this
hell-dress?
Why
have
I
laboured
to
put
out
my
life?
Is
it
not
in
my
nature
to
adore,
And
e’en
for
all
my
reason
do
I
not
Feel
him,
and
thank
him,
and
pray
to
him—now?
Can
I
forgo
the
trust
that
he
loves
me?
Do
I
not
feel
a
love
which
only
ONE…
O
thou
pale
form,
so
dimly
seen,
deep-eyed,
I
have
denied
thee
calmly—do
I
not
Pant
when
I
read
of
thy
consummate
deeds,
And
burn
to
see
thy
calm
pure
truths
out-flash
The
brightest
gleams
of
earth’s
philosophy?
Do
I
not
shake
to
hear
aught
question
thee?
If
I
am
erring
save
me,
madden
me,
Take
from
me
powers
and
pleasures—let
me
die.
Ages,
so
I
see
thee:
I
am
knit
round
As
with
a
charm,
by
sin
and
lust
and
pride,
Yet
tho’
my
wandering
dreams
have
seen
all
shapes
Of
strange
delight,
oft
have
I
stood
by
thee—
Have
I
been
keeping
lonely
watch
with
thee
In
the
damp
night
by
weeping
Olivet,
Or
leaning
on
thy
bosom,
proudly
less—
Or
dying
with
thee
on
the
lonely
cross—
Or
witnessing
thy
bursting
from
the
tomb!
Robert Browning
Robert Browning (born May 7, 1812, London—died Dec. 12, 1889, Venice) major English poet of the Victorian age, noted for his mastery of dramatic monologue and psychological portraiture. His most noted work was The Ring and the Book (1868–69), the story of a Roman murder trial in 12 books. Through all the vicissitudes of critical reputation, however, Browning’s major contribution to the canon of children’s literature, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” has retained its popular audience. At the time of his death in 1889, he was one of the most popular poets in England.