Me rather may to tears unbidden move The meanest print that on a cottage wall Some ancient deed heroic doth recal, Or loving act of His, whose life was love, Than that my heart should be too proud to prove Emotions and sweet sympathies, until The magic of some mighty master’s skill Called hues and shapes of wonder from above: Since if we do no idle homage pay To what in art most beautiful is found, We shall have learned to feel in that same hour With man’s most rude and most unskilled essay To win the beauty that is floating round Into abiding forms of grace and power. |