William Wordsworth

British Freedom

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," 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 every thing we are sprung Of Earth's first blood, have titles manifold. NOTES Form: abbaaccadedede Composition Date: ca. 1802-04 4. "with pomp of waters, unwithstood": see Daniel, The Civile Wars, II, vii, 5. 5-6. These lines were first substituted in 1827 for the original version which read: Roads by which all might come and go that would, And bear out freights of worth to foreign lands. It has been plausibly suggested that Wordsworth refers to the disturbances which led to the agitation for Catholic Emancipation and the Reform Bill, to both of which he was opposed.