The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

Forbear:--to Thee--
    Father and Judge of all, with fervent tongue                 115
         But in a gentler strain[125]
    Of contemplation, by no sense of wrong
    (Too quick and keen) incited to disdain
    Of pity pleading from the heart in vain--[126]
         TO THEE--TO THEE                                         120
    Just God of christianised Humanity
    Shall praises be poured forth, and thanks ascend,[127]
    That thou hast brought our warfare to an end,
    And that we need no second[128] victory!
    Blest, above measure blest,                                  125
    If on thy love our Land her hopes shall rest,
    And all the Nations labour to fulfil
    Thy law, and live henceforth in peace, in pure good will.[129]

In an early MS. copy of this _Ode_, it concludes thus, after the line
"And that we need no further victory!"

    Ha! what a ghastly sight for man to see;
    And to the heavenly saints in peace who dwell,
            For a brief moment, terrible;
    But to thy sovereign penetration fair,
    Before whom all things are that were,
    All judgments that have been, or e'er shall be,
    Links in the chain of thy tranquillity!
    Along the bosom of this favoured nation,
    Breathe thou, this day, a vital undulation!
            Let all who do this land inherit
            Be conscious of Thy moving spirit!
    Oh, 'tis a goodly Ordinance,--the sight,
    Though sprung from bleeding war, is one of pure delight;
    Bless thou the hour, or ere the hour arrive,
    When a whole people shall kneel down in prayer,
    And, at one moment, in one spirit, strive
    With lip and heart to tell their gratitude
            For thy protecting care,
    Their solemn joy--praising the Eternal Lord
            For tyranny subdued,
    And for the sway of equity renewed,
    For liberty confirmed, and peace restored!

VARIANTS:

[Footnote 109: 1845.

    From all that man's performance could present,
    Stoops to that closing deed magnificent,                    1816.
]

[Footnote 110: 1845.

    ... is satisfied.                                           1816.
]

[Footnote 111: 1845.

    Whate'er your means, whatever help ye claim,                1816.
]

[Footnote 112: 1837.

    ... travelling faster than the shower,                      1816.
]

[Footnote 113: 1845.

    ... to devour;
    But this appearance scattered extacy,--
    And heart-sick Europe blessed the healing power.            1816.

    ... to devour,
            In summer's loveliest hour;
    But this assurance travelled fraught with glee,
    And heart-sick Europe blessed its healing power.            1837.

    ... to devour,
    But this assurance travelled fraught with glee,
    And heart-sick Europe blessed its healing power.            1841.
]

[Footnote 114: 1837.

    Such glad assurance suddenly went forth--                   1816.
]

[Footnote 115: 1837.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)Wordsworth, William

General

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

Forbear:--to Thee--
    Father and Judge of all, with fervent tongue                 115
         But in a gentler strain[125]
    Of contemplation, by no sense of wrong
    (Too quick and keen) incited to disdain
    Of pity pleading from the heart in vain--[126]
         TO THEE--TO THEE                                         120
    Just God of christianised Humanity
    Shall praises be poured forth, and thanks ascend,[127]
    That thou hast brought our warfare to an end,
    And that we need no second[128] victory!
    Blest, above measure blest,                                  125
    If on thy love our Land her hopes shall rest,
    And all the Nations labour to fulfil
    Thy law, and live henceforth in peace, in pure good will.[129]

In an early MS. copy of this _Ode_, it concludes thus, after the line
"And that we need no further victory!"

    Ha! what a ghastly sight for man to see;
    And to the heavenly saints in peace who dwell,
            For a brief moment, terrible;
    But to thy sovereign penetration fair,
    Before whom all things are that were,
    All judgments that have been, or e'er shall be,
    Links in the chain of thy tranquillity!
    Along the bosom of this favoured nation,
    Breathe thou, this day, a vital undulation!
            Let all who do this land inherit
            Be conscious of Thy moving spirit!
    Oh, 'tis a goodly Ordinance,--the sight,
    Though sprung from bleeding war, is one of pure delight;
    Bless thou the hour, or ere the hour arrive,
    When a whole people shall kneel down in prayer,
    And, at one moment, in one spirit, strive
    With lip and heart to tell their gratitude
            For thy protecting care,
    Their solemn joy--praising the Eternal Lord
            For tyranny subdued,
    And for the sway of equity renewed,
    For liberty confirmed, and peace restored!

VARIANTS:

[Footnote 109: 1845.

    From all that man's performance could present,
    Stoops to that closing deed magnificent,                    1816.
]

[Footnote 110: 1845.

    ... is satisfied.                                           1816.
]

[Footnote 111: 1845.

    Whate'er your means, whatever help ye claim,                1816.
]

[Footnote 112: 1837.

    ... travelling faster than the shower,                      1816.
]

[Footnote 113: 1845.

    ... to devour;
    But this appearance scattered extacy,--
    And heart-sick Europe blessed the healing power.            1816.

    ... to devour,
            In summer's loveliest hour;
    But this assurance travelled fraught with glee,
    And heart-sick Europe blessed its healing power.            1837.

    ... to devour,
    But this assurance travelled fraught with glee,
    And heart-sick Europe blessed its healing power.            1841.
]

[Footnote 114: 1837.

    Such glad assurance suddenly went forth--                   1816.
]

[Footnote 115: 1837.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

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