401. We Must Be Free or Die

William Wordsworth (1770—1850)

  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

  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 for ever. In our halls is hung

  Armoury of the invincible knights of old:

  We must be free or die, who speak the tongue

  That Shakespeare spoke: the faith and morals hold

  Which Milton held.—In everything we are sprung

  Of Earth’s first blood, have titles manifold.