The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

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

Furl we the sails, and pass with tardy oars
    Through these bright regions, casting many a glance
    Upon the dream-like issues--the romance[132]
    Of many-coloured life that[133] Fortune pours
    Round the Crusaders, till on distant shores                        5
    Their labours end; or they return to lie,
    The vow performed, in cross-legged effigy,
    Devoutly stretched upon their chancel floors.
    Am I deceived? Or is their requiem chanted
    By voices never mute when Heaven unties                           10
    Her inmost, softest, tenderest harmonies;
    Requiem which Earth takes up with voice undaunted,
    When she would tell how Brave, and Good, and Wise,[134]
    For their high guerdon not in vain have panted!

FOOTNOTES:

[132] 1845.

    Nor can Imagination quit the shores
    Of these bright scenes without a farewell glance
    Given to those dream-like Issues--that Romance 1822.

    Given to the dream-like Issues--that Romance 1837.

[133] 1837.

    ... which ... 1822.

[134] 1837.

    ... Good, and Brave, and Wise, 1822




IX

"AS FAITH THUS SANCTIFIED THE WARRIOR'S CREST"


                     Composed 1842.--Published 1845

    As faith thus sanctified the warrior's crest
    While from the Papal Unity there came,
    What feebler means had fail'd to give, one aim
    Diffused thro' all the regions of the West;
    So does her Unity its power attest                                 5
    By works of Art, that shed, on the outward frame
    Of worship, glory and grace, which who shall blame
    That ever looked to heaven for final rest?
    Hail countless Temples! that so well befit
    Your ministry; that, as ye rise and take                          10
    Form spirit and character from holy writ,
    Give to devotion, wheresoe'er awake,
    Pinions of high and higher sweep, and make
    The unconverted soul with awe submit.[135]

FOOTNOTES:

[135] In a letter to Professor Henry Reed, Philadelphia, September
4, 1842, Wordsworth writes: "To the second part of the Series" (the
"Ecclesiastical Sonnets") "I have also added two, in order to do more
justice to the Papal Church for the services which she did actually
render to Christianity and humanity in the Middle Ages."--ED.




X

"WHERE LONG AND DEEPLY HATH BEEN FIXED THE ROOT"


                     Composed 1842.--Published 1845

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

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

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