* * * * * LONDON, 1802 Composed September, 1802.--Published 1807 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 5 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: 10 Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet [A] thy heart The lowliest duties on herself [1] did lay. * * * * * VARIANT ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1820. ... itself ... 1807.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: In old English "yet" means "continuously" or "always"; and it is still used in Cumberland with this signification.--Ed.] * * * * * "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: 5 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 [1] magnanimous meekness. France, 'tis strange, Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then. 10 Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change! No single volume paramount, no code, No master spirit, no determined road; But equally a want of books and men! * * * * * VARIANT ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1807. But to ... MS.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: See Clarendon's 'History of the Rebellion', book iii.--Ed.] * * * * * "IT IS NOT TO BE THOUGHT OF THAT THE FLOOD" Composed September, 1802.--Published 1807 [A]