| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| William Wordsworth. 1770–1850 |
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524. England, 1802
ii |
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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, | |
| 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. | |
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