Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: I. Personal: Great Writers | | To Milton | | William Wordsworth (1770–1850) |
| | “London, 1802”
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; | |
| Oh! 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. | | | | |
|
|
