“I count life just a stuff
To try the soul’s strength on, educe the man.”
The glory of the imperfect lies in the power of progress, “man’s distinctive mark.” And progress comes by conflict; conflict with falsehood and ignorance,—
“Living here means nescience simply; ’tis next life that helps to learn—”
and conflict with evil,—
“Why comes temptation but for man to meet,
And master and make crouch beneath his foot,
And so be pedestalled in triumph?”
The poet is always calling us to be glad we are engaged in such a noble strife.