London, 1802
William Wordsworth, 1807
Wordsworth’s sonnet calling on the spirit of Milton to return and raise up an England he sees as selfish and stagnant.
Milton! thou should’st be living at this hour:England hath need of thee: she is a fenOf stagnant waters: altar, sword and pen,Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,Have forfeited their ancient English dowerOf inward happiness. We are selfish men;Oh! raise us up, return to us again;And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.Thy soul was like a Star and dwelt apart:Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea;Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,So didst thou travel on life’s common way,In chearful godliness; and yet thy heartThe lowliest duties on itself did lay.