Sunday, December 21, 2014

England, 1802 -- William Wordsworth

John Milton (1608-1674)


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; 
  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 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





.




 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.