William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

MOTIONS and means, on land and sea at war

With old poetic feeling, not for this,

Shall ye, by poets even, be judged amiss!

Nor shall your presence, howsoe’er it mar

The loveliness of Nature, prove a bar

To the mind’s gaining that prophetic sense

Of future change, that point of vision whence

May be discovered what in soul ye are.

In spite of all that beauty may disown

In your harsh features, Nature doth embrace

Her lawful offspring in man’s art; and Time,

Pleased with your triumphs o’er his brother Space,

Accepts from your bold hands the proffered crown

Of hope, and smiles on you with cheer sublime.