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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  526. England, 1802 iv

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Wordsworth. 1770–1850

526. England, 1802 iv

IT is not to be thought of that the flood 
  Of British freedom, which, to the open sea 
  Of the world’s praise, from dark antiquity 
Hath flow’d, ‘with pomp of waters, unwithstood,’ 
Roused though it be full often to a mood         5
  Which spurns the check of salutary bands,— 
  That this most famous stream in bogs and sands 
Should perish; and to evil and to good 
Be lost for ever. In our halls is hung 
  Armoury of the invincible Knights of old:  10
We must be free or die, who speak the tongue 
  That Shakespeare spake; the faith and morals hold 
Which Milton held.—In everything we are sprung 
  Of Earth’s first blood, have titles manifold.