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VIII

O Britain! dearer far than life is dear,

If one there be 140
Of all thy progeny
Who can forget thy prowess, never more
Be that ungrateful Son allowed to hear
Thy green leaves rustle or thy torrents
roar.
As springs the lion from his den, 145
As from a forest-brake
Upstarts a glistering snake,
The bold Arch-despot re-appeared; -
again
Wide Europe heaves, impatient to be cast,
With all her armed Powers, 150
On that offensive soil, like waves
upon a thousand shore.
The trumpet blew a universal blast!
But Thou art foremost in the field: -
there stand:
Receive the triumph destined to thy hand!
All States have glorified themselves; -
their claims 		155

Are weighed by Providence, in balance
even;
And now, in preference to the mightiest
names,
To Thee the exterminating sword is given.
Dread mark of approbation, justly gained!
Exalted office, worthily sustained! 160


IX

Preserve, O Lord! within our hearts
The memory of Thy favour,
That else insensibly departs,
And loses its sweet savour!

Lodge it within us! -- as the power of
light 		165

Lives inexhaustibly in precious gems,
Fixed on the front of Eastern diadems.
So shine our thankfulness for ever bright!
What offering, what transcendent monu-
ment
Shall our sincerity to Thee present? 170
-- Not work of hands; but trophies that
may reach
To highest Heaven -- the labour of the
Soul;
That builds, as thy unerring precepts
teach,
Upon the internal conquests made by
each,
Her hope of lasting glory for the whole.
Yet will not heaven disown nor earth
gainsay 		176

The outward service of this day;
Whether the worshippers entreat
Forgiveness from God's mercy-seat;
Or thanks and praises to His throne
ascend 		180

That He has brought our warfare to an
end,
And that we need no second victory! ---
Ha! what a ghastly sight for man to see;
And to the heavenly saints in peace who
dwell,
For a brief moment, terrible; 185
But, to Thy sovereign penetration, fair,
Before whom all things are, that were,
All judgments that have been, or e'er
shall be;
Links in the chain of Thy tranquillity!
Along the bosom of this favoured Nation,
Breathe Thou, this day, a vital undula-
tion! 		191

Let all who do this land inherit
Be conscious of Thy moving spirit!
Oh, 'tis a goodly Ordinance, -- the sight,
Though sprung from bleeding war, is one
of pure delight; 		195

Bless Thou the hour, or ere the hour
arrive,
When a whole people shall kneel down in
prayer,
And, at one moment, in one rapture,
strive
With lip and heart to tell their gratitude
For Thy protecting care, 200
Their solemn joy -- praising the Eternal
Lord
For tyranny subdued,
And for the sway of equity renewed,
For liberty confirmed, and peace restored!


X

But hark -- the summons! -- down the
placid lake 		205

Floats the soft cadence of the church-
tower bells;
Bright shines the Sun, as if his beams
would wake
The tender insects sleeping in their cells;
Bright shines the Sun -- and not a breeze
to shake 		209

The drops that tip the melting icicles.
O, enter now his Temple gate!
Inviting words -- perchance already flung
(As the crowd press devoutly down the
aisle
Of some old Minster's venerable pile)
From voices into zealous passion stung,
While the tubed engine feels the inspiring
blast, 		216

And has begun -- its clouds of sound to
cast
Forth towards empyreal Heaven,
As if the fretted roof were riven.
Us humbler ceremonies now await; 220
But in the bosom, with devout respect
The banner of our joy we will erect,
And strength, of love our souls shall
elevate:
For to a few collected in His name, 224
Their heavenly Father will incline an ear
Gracious to service hallowed by its aim; -
Awake! the majesty of God revere!
Go -- and with foreheads meekly
bowed

-263-

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Publication Information: Book Title: Wordsworth: Poetical Works. Contributors: Thomas Hutchinson - editor, William Wordsworth - author. Publisher: Oxford University Press. Place of Publication: Oxford. Publication Year: 1904. Page Number: 263.
    
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