WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

��REAT men have been among us ; hands that penn'd And tongues that utter'd wisdom better none :

The later Sidney, Marvel, Harrington, Young Van'e, and others who call'd Milton friend. These moralists could act and comprehend :

They knew how genuine glory was put on ;

Taught us how rightfully a nation shone In splendour: what strength was, that would not bend But in magnanimous meekness. France, 'tis strange,

Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then. Perpetual emptiness ! unceasing change !

No single volume paramount, no code,

No master spirit, no determined road ;

But equally a want of books and men !

526. 2V

TT is not to be thought of that the flood

• Of British freedom, which, to the open sea

Of the world's praise, from dark antiquity Hath flow'd, 'with pomp of waters, unwithstood,' Roused though it be full often to a mood

Which spurns the check of salutary bands,

That this most famous stream in bogs and sands Should perish; and to evil and to good Be lost for ever. In our halls is hung

Armoury of the invincible Knights of old: We must be free or die, who speak the tongue

That Shakespeare spake ; the faith and morals hold Which Milton held. In everything we are sprung

Of Earth's first blood, have titles manifold.

�� �