54. FROM THE KIND. From our fellow-beings.

"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 5

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 forever. In our halls is hung

Armoury of the invincible Knights of old: 10

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.

4. 'WITH POMP OF WATERS, UNWITHSTOOD.' This is quoted from Daniel's

_Civil War_, Bk. ii, stanza 7.

Selections from Wordsworth and Tennyson · 第 42 / 169 题