Page:Poems by William Wordsworth (1815) Volume 2.djvu/100

92 Yet was Rob Roy as wise as brave;

Forgive me if the phrase be strong;—

A Poet worthy of Rob Roy

Must scorn a timid song.

Say, then, that he was wise as brave;

As wise in thought as bold in deed:

For in the principles of things

He sought his moral creed.

Said generous Rob, "What need of Books?

"Burn all the Statutes and their shelves:

"They stir us up against our Kind;

"And worse, against Ourselves.

"We have a passion, make a law,

"Too false to guide us or control!

"And for the law itself we fight

"In bitterness of soul.

"And, puzzled, blinded thus, we lose

"Distinctions that are plain and few:

"These find I graven on my heart:

"That tells me what to do.