Author: Robert Browning Source: The Lost Leader

Just for a handful of silver he left us, Meaning: He abandoned us for a small amount of money.

Just for a riband to stick in his coat-- Meaning: He left for a mere decoration to wear on his coat.

Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us, Meaning: He found the one thing that fortune took from us.

Lost all the others she lets us devote; Meaning: He lost all the other things she allows us to dedicate.

They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver, Meaning: Those with gold gave him only silver.

So much was theirs who so little allowed; Meaning: They gave so little despite having much.

How all our copper had gone for his service! Meaning: All our small contributions would have been worth it for his service.

Rags--were they purple, his heart had been proud! Meaning: Even rags would have been like royalty to him if his heart were proud.

We that had loved him so, followed him, honoured him, Meaning: We who loved, followed, and honored him so much.

Lived in his mild and magnificent eye, Meaning: We lived under his gentle and impressive gaze.

Learned his great language, caught his clear accents, Meaning: We learned his great language and clear speech.

Made him our pattern to live and to die! Meaning: We made him our model for how to live and die.

Shakespeare was of us, Milton was for us, Meaning: Shakespeare, Milton, Burns, and Shelley were on our side.

Burns, Shelley, were with us,--they watch from their graves! Meaning: They watch from their graves.

He alone breaks from the van and the freemen, Meaning: He alone breaks away from the leaders and free people.

He alone sinks to the rear and the slaves! Meaning: He alone falls back to the rear with the slaves.

We shall march prospering--not through his presence; Meaning: We will march successfully without his presence.

Songs may inspirit us,--not from his lyre: Meaning: Songs may inspire us, but not from his poetry.

Deeds will be done,--while he boasts his quiescence, Meaning: Deeds will be done while he boasts of his inactivity.

Still bidding crouch whom the rest bade aspire: Meaning: He still tells people to crouch when others told them to aspire.

Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more, Meaning: Erase his name; record one more lost soul.

One task more declined, one more footpath untrod, Meaning: One more task refused, one more path not taken.

One more devil's-triumph and sorrow for angels, Meaning: One more triumph for the devil and sorrow for angels.

One wrong more to man, one more insult to God! Meaning: One more wrong to humanity, one more insult to God.

Life's night begins: let him never come back to us! Meaning: Life's darkness begins; never let him return to us.

There would be doubt, hesitation, and pain, Meaning: There would be doubt, hesitation, and pain.

Forced praise on our part--the glimmer of twilight, Meaning: Forced praise from us would be like twilight.

Never glad confident morning again! Meaning: Never again a glad, confident morning.

Best fight on well, for we taught him--strike gallantly, Meaning: We fight on well because we taught him to strike bravely.

Menace our heart ere we master his own; Meaning: He threatens our heart before we master his own.

Then let him receive the new knowledge and wait us, Meaning: Let him gain new knowledge and wait for us.

Pardoned in heaven, the first by the throne! Meaning: He will be pardoned in heaven, first by the throne.