Milton! by William Wordsworth
Wordsworth read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\nhttp://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com/\n\nGiving voice to classic poetry.\n\n---------------------------------------------------\n\nLondon, 1802, Sonnet CCXIII\nby William Wordsworth\n\nMilton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:\nEngland hath need of thee: she is a fen\nOf stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,\nFireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,\n\nHave forfeited their ancient English dower\nOf inward happiness. We are selfish men:\nO raise us up, return to us again;\nAnd give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.\n\nThy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:\nThou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea,\nPure as the naked heavens, majestic, free;\n\nSo didst thou travel on life's common way\nIn cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart\nThe lowliest duties on herself did lay.