Explain the following with reference to the context:

“‘Paid by the World,—what dost thou owe

Me?’—God might question; now instead,

'Tis God shall repay: I am safer so.”

These lines are taken from Robert Browning’s (1812-1889) poem “The Patriot” (1855). In this poem, a patriot tells the story of how the people once loved him but now hate him. One year ago, they welcomed him with flowers and cheers. But now they believe he has done wrong, so they are taking him for execution. These lines appear in the last stanza, where the poet shows the patriot’s deep faith in God.

In the lines, the patriot imagines God asking him a question: “Paid by the world,—what dost thou owe me?” This means God knows people and society have done injustice to the patriot. They have forgotten his sacrifice. They have given him be