REQUIESCAT. BY MATTHEW ARNOLD.
Reading edition
Matthew Arnold, son of the famous head master of Rugby, was born at Laleham, Middlesex, 1822. He studied at Winchester, Rugby, and Balliol College, Oxford, and was a fellow of Oriel. In 1851 he was made lay inspector of schools, and in ’57 received the appointment of professor of poetry at Oxford. He died at Liverpool in 1888. He wrote “Empedocles on Etna,” “Essays in Criticism,” “Study of Celtic Literature,” “Culture and Anarchy,” and other books of essays.
Strew on her roses, roses, And never a spray of yew! In quiet she reposes; Ah! would that I did, too,
Her mirth the world required; She bathed it in smiles of glee, But her heart was tired, tired, And now they let her be.
Her life was turning, turning, In mazes of heat and sound; But for peace her soul was yearning, And now peace laps her round.
Her cabin’d ample spirit, It flutter’d and fail’d for breath; To-night it doth inherit The vasty hall of death.