Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/649

 WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

53S

MILTON' thou shouldst be living at this hour England hath need of thce. the is a fen

Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower

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 hadbt a voice whose sound was like the sea.

Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,

So didbt thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart

The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

539 (^}

GREAT men have been among us; hands that penn'd And tongues that utter'd wisdom better none

The later Sidney, Marvel, Harrington, Young Vane, and otheis who calPd Milton friend. These morali.ts could act and comprehend

They knew how genmne glory was put on,

Taught us how rightfully a nation shone In splendour, what strength was, that would not bend But in magnanimous meekness. France, 'tis strange,

Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then. Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change'

No single volume paramount, no code,

No master spirit, no determined road;

But equally a want of books and men!

�� �