Chapter VI · The Province of Hunan

“You’ve seen the world —The beauty and the wonder and the power, The shapes of things, their colours, lights and shades, Changes, surprises—and God made it all! —For what? Do you feel thankful, aye, or no, For this fair town’s face, yonder river’s line, The mountain round it and the sky above, Much more the figures of man, woman, child, These are the frame to? What’s it all about? To be passed over, despised? or dwelt upon, Wondered at?... ... This world’s no blot for us, Nor blank; it means intensely, and means good: To find its meaning is my meat and drink.” —R. Browning.