English Poetry II: From Collins to Fitzgerald.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 405. The Same |
| | | William Wordsworth (1770–1850) |
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| 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, | |
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| 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. | |
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| 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; | |
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| So didst thou travel on life’s common way | |
| In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart | |
| The lowliest duties on herself did lay. | |
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