Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
William Wordsworth. 17701850526. England, 1802 iv
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 flow’d, ‘with pomp of waters, unwithstood,’ | |
Roused though it be full often to a mood | 5 |
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: | 10 |
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. |