dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  524. England, 1802 ii

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Wordsworth. 1770–1850

524. 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.