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,"[B] Roused though it be full often to a mood 5 Which spurns the check of salutary bands, [1] 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 [2] 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 titles manifold. * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1827. ... unwithstood, Road by which all might come and go that would, And bear out freights of worth to foreign lands; 1803.] [Variant 2: 1807. ... must live ... 1803.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: It was first printed in 'The Morning Post', April 16. 1803, and signed W. L. D.--Ed.] [Footnote B: Compare Daniel's 'Civil War', book ii. stanza 7.--Ed.] * * * * * "WHEN I HAVE BORNE IN MEMORY WHAT HAS TAMED" Composed September, 1802.--Published 1807 [A] When I have borne in memory what has tamed Great Nations, how ennobling 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? 5 Now, [1] when I think of thee, and what thou art, Verily, in the bottom of my heart, Of those unfilial fears I am ashamed. [2] For dearly must we prize thee; we who find In thee a bulwark for the cause of men; [3] 10 And I by my affection was beguiled: What wonder if a Poet now and then, Among the many movements of his mind, Felt for thee as a lover or a child! * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1. 1845. But,... 1803.] [Variant 2. 1807. I of those fears of mine am much ashamed. 1803.] [Variant 3. 1845. But dearly do I prize thee for I find In thee a bulwark of the cause of men; 1803. But dearly must we prize thee; we who find 1807. ... for the cause of men; 1827. Most dearly 1838. The text of 1840 returns to that of 1827.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: But printed previously in 'The Morning Post', September 17, 1803, under the title 'England', and signed W. L. D. Also, see Coleridge's 'Poems on Political Events', 1828-9.--Ed.] * * * * * COMPOSED AFTER A JOURNEY ACROSS THE HAMBLETON HILLS, [A] YORKSHIRE Composed October 4, 1802.--Published 1807