English poem
Great Men Have Been Among Us; Hands That Penned
Composed September, 1802.--Published 1807
Great men have been among us; hands that penned And tongues that uttered wisdom--better none: The later Sidney, Marvel, Harrington, Young Vane, [A] and others who called Milton friend. These moralists could act and comprehend: They knew how genuine glory was put on; Taught us how rightfully a nation shone In splendour: 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!
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More by William Wordsworth
- From False Assumption Rose, And Fondly Hail'D
- From The Dark Chambers Of Dejection Freed
- From This Deep Chasm, Where Quivering Sunbeams Play
- Go Back To Antique Ages, If Thine Eyes
- Grief, Thou Hast Lost An Ever Ready Friend
- Hail, Twilight, Sovereign Of One Peaceful Hour
- Hail, Zaragoza! If With Unwet Eye
- Hast Thou Seen, With Flash Incessant