Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/431

405 With civil arts, and send their fragrance forth,

A grateful tribute to all-ruling Heaven.

From Culture, universally bestowed

On Britain's noble Race in freedom born;

From Education, from that humble source,

Expect these mighty issues; from the pains

And quiet care of unambitious Schools

Instructing simple Childhood's ready ear:

Thence look for these magnificent results!

Vast the circumference of hope—and Ye

Are at its centre, British Lawgivers,

Ah! sleep not there in shame! Shall Wisdom's voice,

From out the bosom of these troubled Times

Repeat the dictates of her calmer mind,

And shall the venerable Halls ye fill

Refuse to echo the sublime decree?

Trust not to partial care a general good;

Transfer not to Futurity a work

Of urgent need.—Your Country must complete

Her glorious destiny.—Begin even now,

Now, when Oppression, like the Egyptian plague

Of darkness stretched o'er guilty Europe, makes

The brightness more conspicuous, that invests