William Wordsworth

Sonnet: "It is not to be thought of"

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 everything we are sprung Of Earth's first blood, have titles manifold this sonnet is used as an introduction to the book:'Verse of Valour' published in 1943. An anthology of war poems of Land-Sea-Air selected and arranged by John L Hardie.