Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/627

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:
 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.
Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change!
 No single volume paramount, no code,
 No master spirit, no determined road;
 But equally a want of books and men!

 

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 flow'd, 'with pomp of waters, unwithstood,'—
Roused though it be full often to a mood
 Which spurns the check of salutary bands,—
 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:
We must be free or die, who speak the tongue
 That Shakespeare spake; the faith and morals hold
Which Milton held.—In everything we are sprung
 Of Earth's first blood, have titles manifold.