Robert Browning , "Why I am a Liberal," (1886)
Transcribed from page 948 of the 1895 Houghton Mifflin edition of Robert Browning's Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works.
WHY I AM A LIBERAL
Contributed to a volume edited by Andrew Reid, in which a number of leaders of English thought answered the question, "Why I am a Liberal?"
- "WHY?" Because all I haply can and do,
- All that I am now, all I hope to be,—
- Whence comes it save from fortune setting free
- Body and soul the purpose to pursue,
- God traced for both? If fetters, not a few,
- Of prejudice, convention, fall from me,
- These shall I bid men—each in his degree
- Also God-guided—bear, and gayly, too?
- But little do or can the best of us:
- That little is achieved through Liberty.
- Who, then, dares hold, emancipated thus,
- His fellow shall continue bound? Not I,
- Who live, love, labor freely, nor discuss
- A brother's right to freedom. That is
- "Why."
Coins
Commentary
Fiction
Historical documents
Illustrations &
Cartoons
Paintings
Poetry
Sculpture
Seals