| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| William Wordsworth. 1770–1850 |
| |
525. England, 1802
iii |
| |
| GREAT men have been among us; hands that penn'd | |
| And tongues that utter'd wisdom—better none: | |
| The later Sidney, Marvel, Harrington, | |
| Young Vane, and others who call'd 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 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! | |
|
|
