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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Dunolly Castle

Eagles

By William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

DISHONORED rock and ruin! that, by law

Tyrannic, keep the bird of Jove embarred

Like a lone criminal whose life is spared.

Vexed is he, and screams loud. The last I saw

Was on the wing; stooping, he struck with awe

Man, bird, and beast; then, with a consort paired,

From a bold headland, their loved eyrie’s guard,

Flew high above Atlantic waves, to draw

Light from the fountain of the setting sun.

Such was this prisoner once; and when his plumes

The sea-blast ruffles as the storm comes on,

Then, for a moment, he in spirit resumes

His rank ’mong freeborn creatures that live free,

His power, his beauty, and his majesty.