Volume I Part 9 (1/2)
12. THOUGHT OF A BRITON ON THE _SUBJUGATION OF SWITZERLAND_.
Two Voices are there; one is of the Sea, One of the Mountains; each a mighty Voice: In both from age to age Thou didst rejoice, They were thy chosen Music, Liberty!
There came a Tyrant, and with holy glee Thou fought'st against Him; but hast vainly striven; Thou from thy Alpine Holds at length art driven, Where not a torrent murmurs heard by thee.
Of one deep bliss thine ear hath been bereft: Then cleave, O cleave to that which still is left!
For, high-soul'd Maid, what sorrow would it be That mountain Floods should thunder as before, And Ocean bellow from his rocky sh.o.r.e, And neither awful Voice be heard by thee!
13. WRITTEN IN LONDON, September, 1802.
O Friend! I know not which way I must look For comfort, being, as I am, opprest, To think that now our Life is only drest For shew; mean handywork of craftsman, cook, Or groom! We must run glittering like a Brook In the open suns.h.i.+ne, or we are unblest: The wealthiest man among us is the best: No grandeur now in nature or in book Delights us. Rapine, avarice, expence, This is idolatry; and these we adore: Plain living and high thinking are no more: The homely beauty of the good old cause Is gone; our peace, our fearful innocence, And pure religion breathing household laws.
14.
_LONDON_, 1802.
Milton! thou should'st 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 Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh! 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; Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In chearful G.o.dliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on itself did lay.
15.
Great Men have been among us; hands that penn'd And tongues that utter'd wisdom, better none: The later Sydney, Marvel, Harrington, Young Vane, and others who call'd Milton Friend.
These Moralists could act and comprehend: They knew how genuine glory was put on; Taught us how rightfully a nation shone In splendor: what strength was, that would not bend But in magnanimous meekness. France, 'tis strange, Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then.
Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change!
No single Volume paramount, no code, No master spirit, no determined road; But equally a want of Books and Men!
16.
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 flowed, ”with pomp of waters, unwithstood,”
Road by which all might come and go that would, And bear out freights of worth to foreign lands; 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 every thing we are sprung Of Earth's first blood, have t.i.tles manifold.
17.
When I have borne in memory what has tamed Great Nations, how enn.o.bling thoughts depart When Men change Swords for Ledgers, and desert The Student's bower for gold, some fears unnamed I had, my Country! am I to be blamed?