Robert Browning

What? Was man made a wheel-work to wind up,
And be discharged, and straight wound up anew?
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What? Was man made a wheel-work to wind up,
And be discharged, and straight wound up anew?
No! grown, his growth lasts; taught, he ne'er forgets;
May learn a thousand things, not twice the same.

What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me.

What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me.

Just my vengeance complete,
The man sprang to his feet,
Stood erect, caught at God's skirts, and read more

Just my vengeance complete,
The man sprang to his feet,
Stood erect, caught at God's skirts, and prayed!
So, I was afraid!

Then I cast loose my buff coat, each halter let fall,
Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt read more

Then I cast loose my buff coat, each halter let fall,
Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all,
Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear,
Called my Roland his pet name, my horse without peer;
Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise bad or good,
'Til at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood.

For thence,--a paradox
Which comforts while it mocks,--
Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail:
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For thence,--a paradox
Which comforts while it mocks,--
Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail:
What I aspired to be,
And was not, comforts me:
A brute I might have been, but would not sink i' the scale.