Others abide our question. Thou art free. <br />We ask and ask--Thou smilest and art still, <br />Out-topping knowledge. For the loftiest hill, <br />Who to the stars uncrowns his majesty, <br /> <br />Planting his steadfast footsteps in the sea, <br />Making the heaven of heavens his dwelling-place, <br />Spares but the cloudy border of his base <br />To the foil'd searching of mortality; <br /> <br />And thou, who didst the stars and sunbeams know, <br />Self-school'd, self-scann'd, self-honour'd, self-secure, <br />Didst tread on earth unguess'd at.--Better so! <br /> <br />All pains the immortal spirit must endure, <br />All weakness which impairs, all griefs which bow, <br />Find their sole speech in that victorious brow<br /><br />Matthew Arnold<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/shakespeare/
