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WILLIAM
WORDS-
WORTH.

1770-1850.

LONDON, 1802.

O FRIEND! I know not which way I must look

For coinfort, being as I am opprest,

To think that now our life is only drest

For show; mean handiwork of craftsman, cook,
Or groom !-We must run glittering like a brook
In the open sunshine, or we are unblest :
The wealthiest man among us is the best :
No grandeur now in nature or in book
Delights us. Rapine, avarice, expense,
This is idolatry; and these we adore :
Plain living and high thinking are no more.
The homely beauty of the good old cause
Is gone; our peace, our fearful innocence,
And pure religion breathing household laws.

WILLIAM
WORDS-
WORTH.

1770-1850.

LONDON, 1802.

MILTON! thou shouldst be living at this hour:

England hath need of thee: she is a fen

Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,
Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
Have forfeited their ancient English dower
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
Oh! raise us up, return to us again;

And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.
Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea,

Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free;

So didst thou travel on life's common way,

In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart

The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

WILLIAM
WORDS-

WORTH.

1770-1850.

BRITISH FREEDOM.

It 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 flowed, '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.

WILLIAM
WORDS-
WORTH.

1770-1850.

UNFILIAL FEARS.

WHEN I have borne in memory what has tamed

Great nations, how ennobling thoughts depart

When men change swords for ledgers and desert
The student's bower for gold, some fears unnamed
I had, my country!-am I to be blamed?

But when I think of thee, and what thou art,

Verily, in the bottom of my heart,

Of those unfilial fears I am ashamed.

But dearly must we prize thee; we who find

In thee a bulwark for the cause of men;

And I by my affection was beguiled.

What wonder if a poet now and then,

Among the many movements of his mind,

Felt for thee as a lover or a child?

WILLIAM
WORDS-
WORTH.

1770--1850.

NOVEMBER, 1806.

ANOTHER year!-another deadly blow!

Another mighty Empire overthrown!

And we are left, or shall be left, alone;
The last that dare to struggle with the foe.

'Tis well! from this day forward we shall know
That in ourselves our safety must be sought;
That by our own right hands it must be wrought;
That we must stand unpropped, or be laid low.
O dastard whom such foretaste doth not cheer!
We shall exult if they who rule the land
Be men who hold its many blessings dear,
Wise, upright, valiant; not a servile band,
Who are to judge of danger which they fear,
And honour which they do not understand.

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