Death & Dying

Stanzas in Memory of Edward Quillinan

by Matthew Arnold 1822–1888

From Elegiac Poems

Death & Dying

I saw him sensitive in frame,
I knew his spirits low;
And wish'd him health, success, and fame--
I do not wish it now.

For these are all their own reward,
And leave no good behind;
They try us, oftenest make us hard,
Less modest, pure, and kind.

Alas! yet to the suffering man,
In this his mortal state,
Friends could not give what fortune can--
Health, ease, a heart elate.

But he is now by fortune foil'd
No more; and we retain
The memory of a man unspoil'd,
Sweet, generous, and humane--

With all the fortunate have not,
With gentle voice and brow.
--Alive, we would have changed his lot,
We would not change it now.

✦ ✦ ✦

Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold (Macmillan, 1891)

MLA

Arnold, Matthew. “Stanzas in Memory of Edward Quillinan.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/arnold/100/.

Chicago

Arnold, Matthew. “Stanzas in Memory of Edward Quillinan.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/arnold/100/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Matthew Arnold