England iv

By William Wordsworth

1770-1850

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
         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:
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.

DayPoems Poem No. 478
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/478.html">England iv by William Wordsworth</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
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