450. The Cell by John Thelwall
b"J Thelwall read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\nwww.classicpoetryaloud.com\\n\\n--------------------------------------------\\n\\nThe Cell\\nby John Thelwall (1764 \\u2013 1834)\\n\\nWithin the Dungeon's noxious gloom\\nThe Patriot still, with dauntless breast,\\nThe cheerful aspect can assume\\u2014\\nAnd smile\\u2014in conscious Virtue blest!\\n\\nThe damp foul floor, the ragged wall,\\nAnd shattered window, grated high;\\nThe trembling Ruffian may appal,\\nWhose thoughts no sweet resource supply.\\n\\nBut he, unaw'd by guilty fears,\\n(To Freedom and his Country true)\\nWho o'er a race of well-spent years\\nCan cast the retrospective view,\\nLooks inward to his heart, and sees\\nThe objects that must ever please.\\n\\n\\n\\nFirst aired: 31 January 2008\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009"