Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
William Wordsworth. 17701850524. England, 1802 ii
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 | 5 |
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; | |
O 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: | 10 |
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. |